Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Havi's eyes narrowed into slits, purple mana wafting as his voice grew somber.

"Don't you think you're reacting a tad too aggressively for mere suspicions? True, my name refers to Odin, like many names refer to Thor. What's so wrong with that?"

"Hmm, I wonder?" The weight of centuries permeated Merlin's voice as he continued. "A strategist who didn't share any plan or oversee the battle."

He pointed at Ragnar and the five thousand men looming in the distance like shadows.

"You saw them, yet you didn't inform anyone. Finally, there is no hero or demigod named Havi." His tone turned as somber as Havi's. "Are you going to continue, or will you drop the act?"

As his words reverberated in the isolated space, Havi shrugged.

"Humans' lives are as fleeting as days to me. You might survive for a bit longer, but you'll eventually end up in my hands, and by then..." He let his words linger, a cruel smirk splitting his face. "Let's say you'll regret your cleverness today."

"Hahaha. Delightful, really. I'll wait for our next meeting with impatience, my dear Odin. After all, drinking from Mimir's Well is one of my goals, and you still have an eye."

Without waiting for an answer, he snapped his fingers, the noise echoing like a death sentence. And with it, the blazing blade hovering above Havi roared to life and crashed down.

BOOM

A pillar of crackling flames rose and charred the space as Havi's body disintegrated into glistening particles. Yet, not without leaving a final threat behind.

"Your efforts are vain. Heracles will destroy you all."

As his words lingered in the heavy silence, Merlin shrugged and turned to Ragnar's team.

With a snap of his fingers, the crystalline staff lit up like a star. Sharp winds whistled and swirled into a tornado that mercilessly lacerated the ambushers into pieces.

Without sparing them another glance, his brows creased at Heracles' figure.

After enduring many wounds, he understood melee combat wouldn't yield any results. Reluctantly, he now stood a hundred meters away from Adam, his war bow gripped and an arrow releasing toxic fumes nocked.

"Mhh." Merlin tilted his head, worry gnawing at his heart as his mind raced.

Odin wasn't one to make empty threats. So, how would the losing Heracles crush them?

"The fragment's influence and abilities surpassed my expectations already. It's a miracle for Adam to overwhelm Heracles with his speed..." His eyes narrowed as he mentioned the fragment. "Did Odin offer him another artefact? If yes, why didn't Heracles use it yet?"

His fingers drummed on his staff before his eyes widened as Adam dodged the laser-like arrow and slashed at Heracles again.

Yet, where pain should have distorted the man's manly features, a confident smirk blossomed.

"The equipment requirement?! Don't attack him, Adam!"

However, Adam's movements melded into one another in a blur. And with his wings, there was no way Heracles could avoid his harassment. Not that he wanted to, anyway.

Instead, he gripped Tyr's hand and roared.

"You're as worthy as Achilles to fight me, dragonling. But this farce ends now!" The hand glowed gold as he continued. "With my divine blood and after losing half my life force, I can tap into Tyr's divine powers!"

A golden dome spread from the hand and encased everyone in a thirty-meter radius. Shimmering runes pulsed on its surface as power infiltrated his veins.

Icy sweat dripped down Merlin's brows as he felt Heracles' strength, speed, and resilience increase by half. Even worse, the dome was a horrifying skill that boosted his allies' strength while reducing his enemies' speed, meaning Adam was in lethal danger.

Urgency imbuing his words, his mana-infused voice pierced through the battlefield as he rushed to support Adam.

"Karna, Achilles, Wukong, kill Heracles without delay!"

As he flew above the elven archers and Amazon ballistas, he cursed Odin's madness and regretted the disturbance in his plan. But it was not over yet. Adam held much longer than predicted, and the fragment's hate probably almost fused with his mind.

While he pondered, Wukong rolled his eyes at Sigurd's exhaustion and chuckled at his ragged breath.

"That's it, princess? I didn't even unseal my powers yet."

"What kind of monster are you?"

Sigurd huffed, fragments falling from his cracked and caved-in armor.

"How can you control energy so well? It's as if..." His breath caught in his throat as his trembling fingers dropped Balmung. "As if you were a weakened god."

Wukong mischievously placed a finger over his lips and chuckled.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Don't insult me, though. A god? I'm their equal without being one!"

As Sigurd's eyes trembled at the revelation, Wukong swung his Ruyi Jingu Bang.

BAM

With a loud crunching noise, Sigurd's head exploded into morsels before his body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

"Sorry, princess... No, Sigurd. You have great potential for a mortal. Maybe you could have risen to my level one day. Sadly, time waits for no one."

His eyes narrowed as he rushed to join Adam before Heracles mastered the hand's power.

Meanwhile, Karna patted Mimi's lowered head.

"Listen to your sister, Luna, and never leave her side."

She nodded, tears welling in her bright eyes.

"I'm so weak I can't even help..."

Luna shook her head and hugged the girl, her lips quivering as she caught Adam's distorted face.

"We all are." A deep sigh escaped her lips as worry engulfed her. "But we must move forward, one step at a time."

She ruffled Mimi's scarlet hair, forcing a smile.

"If I learned something from Adam, it's to never give up despite unfair challenges."

Her eyes softened, a tear rolling down her cheek as she muttered. "I don't know what's going on with you, but please, be safe."

"I'll ensure he is," Karna answered, his eyes blazing like two miniature suns. "No matter the price."

With his words, he rocketed to the central battlefield, catching up with Achilles and scrutinising his bloodied heel.

"I know what you think, but I'm fine." Achilles' lips twisted with each step.

Without his rage fueling him and with the adrenaline gone, he could only endure the burning pain.

"Before you propose something stupid like stepping aside, know I'll summon my chariot soon. So, don't worry and focus on yourself."

Karna offered him a conflicted nod. After all, if there was someone he considered as a friend and rival, it was Achilles.

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Are you ready for the boss fight? :D