Chapter 11.2. Demon Kings Recovery (2)

  The air vibrated with raw power as the runes pulsed rhythmically, signalling a transformation that would change the balance of the Demon Realm forever.

  Kane watched silently as Lucifer’s body was reconstructed by the sheer force of his breakthrough. His bones thickened, becoming nearly indestructible, while his skin hardened beyond steel. Muscles rippled and expanded, giving him a physique that radiated power. The runes that had once covered him gradually dimmed, and when they finally faded, a massive wave of flaming red energy erupted outward, scorching the ground and sending shockwaves through the Wildlands.

  Lucifer hovered down, his glowing red eyes now calm, the intensity of his power temporarily hidden beneath his exhausted form. As his feet touched the ground, his body wavered, on the verge of collapse. Kane rushed forward, steadying him.

  “My Lord… are you okay?” Kane asked, concern evident in his voice.

  “Haaa… yes, I’m fine. Actually, I’m better than fine. I’ve finally broken through… I’ve entered the Overlord Realm,” Lucifer said, his voice heavy with exhaustion but tinged with excitement.

  “I’m happy for you, my Lord… but it doesn’t seem like you’ve recovered at all,” Kane replied, noting the deep fatigue etched across his master’s features.

  Before he could respond, Lucifer’s body went limp, succumbing to the sheer strain of the transformation. Kane turned to see Sabertooth lying unconscious as well, completely drained from the battle.

  With a sigh, Kane enveloped both Lucifer and Sabertooth in separate energy spheres, their surfaces shimmering with restorative power. Slowly, he levitated, carrying the spheres and transporting them back to the Demon King’s castle. The Wildlands fell silent behind him, a graveyard of defeated monsters scattered across the battlefield, a testament to the overwhelming force of their combined might.

  By the time they reached the castle, Kane knew it would take time for both his master and his companion to fully recover—but now, the Demon Realm had a new Overlord to be reckoned with.

  Lucifer grabbed a clean button-up shirt from a nearby dresser, slipping it on as Astarte and Ammit’s eyes remained fixed on him. His muscles flexed slightly as he moved, the contours of his newly reformed body catching the dim light of the room. It wasn’t just strong—it was perfected, a body that radiated raw power and control.

  “So… this is what the Demon King looks like after breaking through,” Astarte muttered under her breath, unable to hide a mixture of awe and… something else.

  Ammit smirked, her arms crossed as she tilted her head slightly. “I have to admit… even after all this time, seeing you like this is… impressive.”

  Lucifer paused mid-motion, raising an eyebrow. “Impressive, huh? Careful, or I might start thinking you’re here for more than just curiosity.” His voice was low and teasing, but the energy radiating off him made it clear that he could snap anyone in the room in an instant if he wanted.

  Astarte’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she maintained her composure. “Don’t get any ideas, Lord Lucifer. We’re simply here to see how our… King of Hell fares after his little adventure.”

  Lucifer chuckled, running a hand down his chest as he finished buttoning his shirt. “Hmph, little adventure, you say? That ‘little adventure’ nearly tore the Wildlands apart. But I survived—and so did Sabertooth, though barely.” He walked over to the window, looking out over the Demon Realm. “And now… I’m ready for whatever comes next.”

  Astarte and Ammit exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the sheer aura of power that now emanated from Lucifer. Even without realizing it, they felt the weight of the Overlord Realm settling in the room, a silent reminder that the Demon King had transcended even the mightiest limits they had known.

  Lucifer turned back toward them, his eyes glowing faintly with residual energy. “Now… do either of you still intend to stick around, or are you finally going to let me have my space?”

  Astarte and Ammit hesitated, then both smiled slightly, realizing that in the presence of this new, perfected Lucifer, even their boldness needed to be tempered.

  Lucifer’s eyes glimmered with excitement as he leaned forward, inhaling the aroma of the perfectly cooked feast. He could practically taste the flavours in the air, each scent sharper, richer, and more tantalizing than the last.

  Kane set himself a small plate across from him, observing the Demon King with a faint smile. “Careful, my lord. You’ve just returned from a gruelling battle and you’re not exactly… subtle when it comes to food,” he remarked.

  Lucifer chuckled, a deep, satisfied sound that resonated through the dining hall. “Subtlety is overrated, Kane. If you’re going to enjoy something, enjoy it fully. And this…” He gestured toward the feast, “is an absolute masterpiece.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  He picked up the knife and fork, slicing through the pork first. The aroma intensified, and the juices glistened in the dim light, promising a perfect balance of tenderness and flavour. With a swift motion, he brought the first bite to his mouth and closed his eyes, savouring it.

  Kane watched him for a moment, shaking his head. “You really know how to enjoy the simple things, my lord. Even after reaching the Overlord Realm, a perfectly cooked meal can make you this happy?”

  Lucifer opened his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. “Even the most powerful beings need their pleasures, Kane. And this… this is worth every calorie.”

  He moved on to the beef, cutting through it like butter, and then the grilled chicken, each bite more satisfying than the last. By the time he leaned back in his chair, a satisfied glow on his face, the room was filled with the quiet hum of contentment—Lucifer at his simplest, yet most formidable.

  “You know Kane,” he said, wiping his mouth with a cloth, “there’s something about a good meal that makes even conquering worlds feel… lighter.”

  Kane couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, my lord. Just don’t let the enemies know your weakness… or they might use it against you.”

  Lucifer’s grin widened. “Weakness? Eating? Hardly. If they dare attack me while I’m eating, they’ll regret it. Now pass me the wine, Kane. If I’m going to enjoy this meal, I’m going all out.”

  The Demon King’s feast had only just begun, and even the Overlord Realm itself seemed to pause for a moment to acknowledge the moment.

  Just as Lucifer was about to dive into the food, Astarte and Ammit walked in wearing elegant gowns and sat on opposite sides of the table.

  Demonic maids followed shortly after, carrying trays of food for them. Their meals were similar to Lucifer’s, the only differences being a bowl of soup and noticeably smaller portions of meat.

  Once everyone had been served, they began eating.

  Lucifer hadn’t started before Astarte and Ammit, not out of courtesy, but because he remembered something his parents once told him—food always tasted better when eaten alongside others.

  Remembering that put a smile on his face before he started eating.

  All the meat he consumed was demonic beast meat, but unlike before, it wasn’t able to restore even the slightest bit of his power. His body had grown too accustomed to the energy contained within demonic meat. Now, instead of eating to replenish himself, Lucifer was eating purely for enjoyment.

  Astarte and Ammit finished before he did. Afterward, they informed Lucifer that they would be returning to their kingdoms for a while and would be back in two days, which coincidentally was the day before their planned attack on the human world.

  Lucifer permitted their leave, and the two departed.

  Once he finished eating, the demonic maids came in and collected the dishes. As usual, Lucifer’s plates were completely clean.

  “Kane, how are the repairs going on the floors I destroyed?” asked Lucifer.

  “So far, everything is proceeding as planned, my lord. There’s no need to concern yourself with it,” Kane replied.

  “Well then, that’s good,” said Lucifer as he stood up.

  Lucifer and Kane exited the dining hall and teleported to the first floor. Lucifer headed straight for the front door to leave the castle.

  As he approached, the doors opened and he walked out, taking five steps before suddenly stopping.

  “Kane, what is this?” Lucifer asked, staring forward at seemingly nothing.

  “My lord, what do you mean?” Kane replied.

  “Hmmm, don’t act like you don’t know. I can see it. This barrier in front of me carries the same power as you,” said Lucifer.

  Lucifer reached out, and the moment his hand touched it, he felt an invisible wall crackle with electricity.

  “So, you not only placed a barrier around the castle, but you made it electric as well. Fascinating. Do you still want to pretend you know nothing?” Lucifer said.

  “My lord, in my defence, I did this for your own good,” Kane replied.

  “For my own good? What do you mean by that?” asked Lucifer.

  “You have yet to fully recover your strength. It would be better for you to remain within the castle’s vicinity so that what happened yesterday is not repeated,” Kane explained.

  “Why would that be repeated? I’m not crazy enough to do that again, especially with only three days left,” Lucifer said.

  “I’m glad you’re mindful of the days remaining, my lord, but I won’t be removing the barrier anytime soon. At full strength, you could easily break through it, but at your current level you wouldn’t even leave a scratch,” said Kane.

  “We will see about that,” said Lucifer as he clenched his right fist.

  He stepped back and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, he twisted his body and launched a corkscrew punch straight into the barrier.

  For a brief moment, nothing happened.

  Then cracks spread across the invisible wall, reaching as high as the space above the castle. Just as quickly, the cracking stopped. The barrier repaired itself, leaving no trace that it had ever been damaged.

  “Hmmm, I stand corrected,” Kane said. “I expected you to crack it, my lord, but not to that extent—and without even using your Ki. Still, the barrier remains intact.”

  “So then, my lord, shall we return to the confines of your castle?” Kane asked, bowing as he gestured back inside.

  “Haaa… I can’t believe I’m being put under house arrest by my own subordinate. Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” Lucifer muttered as he face palmed and walked back into the castle.

  “I believe I should be the one saying that line, my lord,” Kane replied.

  As Lucifer walked back toward the pyramid, he heard Aurora laughing from the bottom of the bridge.

  “Aurora, you do know that I can hear you, right?” said Lucifer.

  The laughter immediately stopped. He continued walking, and once he and Kane entered the pyramid and stood near its centre, they were teleported to the throne room.

  Lucifer sat upon his throne and tried to think of something to pass the time, but for once, nothing came to mind. He rested his fist against his cheek, elbow on the armrest, left leg over his right, and his other arm laid across the opposite armrest. He was bored.

  “My lord, if I may,” Kane said. “Why is your power taking so long to recover? Before, you never really ran out of magic, so I’m finding it hard to understand. Does this have to do with Qi energy being different from magic energy?”

  “That’s exactly it,” Lucifer replied. “It has everything to do with that difference.”

  “As you know, magic energy serves as fuel for spells, and it can also be used to enhance one’s physical power through body enhancement. However, there is a limit to how much magic can enhance the body.”

  “That is where Qi comes in,” Lucifer continued. “Qi enhances the body all the way to its limit, and if you’re lucky enough, it pushes you far beyond those limits.”

  “Qi is absorbed from nature, from one’s surroundings,” Lucifer said. “The amount of Qi you can absorb only increases with each cultivation realm you break into.”