Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Adam's eyes trembled as Ozymandias crossed the portal.

His immaculate turquoise clothes ruffled with his fearless steps, and his blue eyes sparkled with determination.

Though the man's arrogance always made him roll his eyes, he couldn't help but raise his thumb as he felt Luna's trembling calm down. No, not only Luna. Even he and the others drowned in Ozymandias' unhinged pride and charisma.

'But why did he come? He said he wouldn't fight.'

As his brows creased in confusion, Ozymandias snorted at Wukong. Then, he turned to Bart and the army.

"Sheep rushing into a wolves' den. Pathetic."

With a deafening clap, his voice thundered in the demon realm.

"Return! Anyone who doesn't heed my command will suffer a hundred days strapped under the burning sun. I'll tie your mouths open to let you feel the weight of your disobedience as your bodies dry inside out."

Bart halted, hesitation distorting his features as his eyes darted between Leraje's charging army and Ozymandias. Yet the forceful command helped his mind clear. Even if he were impatient, this mindless charge... the balors would gut them like pigs.

He bit his lip and cursed himself for his folly.

"Rush back and ignore any of my next commands!"

The soldiers sighed in relief and turned on their heels. In a heartbeat, they scrambled back and thanked Ozymandias in their minds.

Meanwhile, Adam frowned at Ozymandias and raised his palm in a silent question.

However, Ozymandias brushed it off, his commanding voice not leaving any place for discussion.

"I take command of the army. Stand back with your woman and show me the result of Karna's training." He turned to the elven archers and djinns. "Stand on the towers and walls and bombard those invaders. My empire shall never fall!"

Though he didn't care about not commanding the army, Adam's frown deepened.

'What walls and empire? Did he lose his mind?!'

However, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets as Ozymandias' palms heated like two suns. The scent of burning sand filled his nose before the man's majestic voice thundered.

"Desert's Dominion!"

The dry ground rumbled under his feet before it dissolved into golden sand. His jaw dropped at the sight of time-worn pillars rising to create half-crumbling temples, houses, walls, and a gorgeous palace.

Sand storms raged before the walls—a second after Bart and the army returned, obscuring the antique city in a veil of raging winds.

Atop the wall, he saw more and shuddered at four colossal statues. Though they were headless, and a few missed a limb or two, he could swear they were representations of Ozymandias... and they moved subtly.

'What the heck is happening?! Isn't he just an arrogant builder?'

A sense of awe washed over his and the others' trembling limbs as Ozymandias' eyes shone golden inside the palace.

He sat on his intricate throne, his voice a conductor's baton impossible to disobey.

"Protect these weaklings, monument four."

A fierce statue rumbled to life at his command. Dust and cracking noises echoed its movements as it leapt before the walls.

In its right hand, a curved Khopesh glinted under the blazing sand, while its left clutched an ankh shield representing the empire's immortality as long as its guardians stood.

"Nock your arrows and strike while the storms slow the demons! Defeat shall not taint my glorious name!"

With his words, a golden aura suffused everyone, inspiring them. No, Adam's breath caught in his throat as he felt his strength and speed shoot through the roof.

"A real commander..."

His brows creased as he experienced the elusive pharaoh's powers before he grinned and raised his fist.

"Obey Ozymandias's commands! Bombard the demons and carve our first victory against demonic forces in Baal's eyes!"

Luna's eyes narrowed as she pulled back, her posture determined now. She nodded at him, demonic flames flickering on her clenched fists.

"Let this be a message to Zepar, too. I won't ever flinch again!"

He nodded, his eyes sparkling at her newfound resolve.

Inspired by it and Ozymandias' leadership, he summoned the Storm Bow he couldn't use after losing his left hand.

The heavy weapon pressed down on his palms as he ran a finger along the dragon maw from which the arrows formed and chuckled at the sparkling string that seemed to call to his fingers.

"All right, buddy, let's obliterate our enemies like we did in the past."

Storm Bow

Introduction:

A weapon dropped from the hardest dungeon few ever conquered in a certain MMORPG. Built using the bones of a storm dragon, its lightning arrows terrorised Adam's adversaries during his PvP sessions.

Rarity: Epic

Level requirement: 50Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Critical strike +15%

Enhancements:

Chain Lightning: Arrows arc up to 3 nearby enemies.

Lightning Strike: Every fifth shot on the same target calls down a lightning bolt.

Shockwave: Every critical hit knocks enemies 5 meters back.

Standing by Luna and drawing the bowstring, he offered her a warm smile.

"I admire you." He chuckled at the bright blush creeping onto her face. "I know how hard it is to overcome our trauma, but you're doing it one step at a time and improve with each passing day..." He raised his thumb and turned his head aside, his heart hastening in his chest. "Anyway, you're doing great."

A soft smile curled onto her lips as she whispered.

"Thank you for your patience and support." She started before her eyes narrowed into slits and her jaw clenched.

Following her gaze, he noticed the shadows moving inside the sandstorms and released his first arrow.

"They're at range! Fire!"

The wall rumbled to life with his command.

The djinns unleashed a hellish barrage of elements below, creating a chaotic cacophony of sizzles.

Behind them, the elven archers' bows twanged, arrows whistling through the air like bullets.

Finally, the Jotuns gripped broad sand balls Ozymandias had prepared and hurled them at the giants like living artillery.

Adam nodded at them as his arm blurred on his bow. He fired five crackling arrows each second before a lightning strike pierced the sky to explode on a balor's head.

A bloody stench slowly permeated the chaotic battlefield. Though he could only see shadows, he heard the agonising wails grow louder after Luna moved into action.

He noticed her eyes blazing a demonic green as she hurled colossal, fiery serpents down. Her hair whipped around her as she increased the tempo, eager to thwart a mighty demon king's plans.

However, cracking noises drew his attention to the ruined city behind him. He couldn't put his finger on what it was, but something felt... strange.

'Focus on the enemies in front, and trust Ozymandias.'

He reminded himself, casting the feeling aside to shoot faster and waiting for the perfect opportunity to unleash his flames.

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AN: We didn't reach the win-win requirements this month :'(