Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 318: The Architect of Suffering

They laughed around tea before Zephyr joined them with heavy bags.

Lilia and Zane rolled their sleeves as they retrieved fresh vegetables and meat.

"Let me show you how great of a cook I became, big brother." Zane lunged behind the room’s stove.

An inferno ignited in Lilia’s eyes as she joined. "I’ve developed recipes for ten years. I’ll definitely make you discover a wonderland of flavors!"

With those declarations, the stove’s flames brightened their focused faces. The splashing of bubbling water and the sharp noise of slicing ingredients followed. Soon, the scent of garlic, salt, and pepper melded with the grilling meat and fresh vegetables.

Adam watched their precise movements before Muramasa uncorked a bottle of homemade sake and poured him a cup. The powerful smell and the soft traces of peach gripped his nose as he picked up the traditional porcelain cup and continued to talk with the others.

Their joy, the peaceful atmosphere, and the emotional recounting of their ten-year journey to master their fields warmed his heart. Of course, a bitter aftertaste lingered when he compared their mundane problems to the despair and challenges he had faced, but he rapidly forgot about it. Seeing this group and the other generals happy was all that mattered.

Just like that, they shared this warm moment, drinking and eating until the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars cast their dim lights on the city.

After covering many topics, Adam leaned toward the six former imps and asked with a raised brow. "How come you only evolved once?"

He remembered they should have become balors by now, and there was no way they still lacked essence after ten years.

"We don’t want to become ugly giants, big brother," Zane shuddered at the horrible idea.

"Can’t do precision work if I’m several meters tall," Sylas added, clenching and unclenching his fists.

Adam exploded into laughter and slapped his leg as he watched the other’s lips twist in disgust. "So, you decided to skip it. Unwise but understandable."

With a mysterious grin, he retrieved the six dark rings—formerly the eldritchs aureoles—and handed one to each of them. "A souvenir from the abyss."

Confused by the plain rings, they glanced at each other before Sarah raised her hand. "Y-Yeah... Thank you for the gift, big brother."

Adam rolled his eyes as the others followed without conviction. "I thought you would like them." His voice grew solemn. "A pity since it’s the material you’ll need to evolve beyond a balor."

As their heart drummed in their ears, Muramasa leapt from his seat. The chair crashed on the ground, the noise drawing confused glances. But he didn’t care.

"Those materials!" He snatched Sylas’ ring, his pupils constricting. "You killed those abominations?!"

A drop of sweat rolled down his brows as he remembered his meeting with the twisted giant on the first floor... along with his shameful retreat. And that had happened when he was at his peak. But Adam had killed it along with the ones he had taken great care to avoid on the lower floors. How?

The others gasped as Adam answered with a shrug. "They guarded something I needed. Wait? Wasn’t retrieving their remnants the reason you schemed my exile?"

A deep furrow creased his brows. Now that he thought about it, Tiamat didn’t mention the remnants either, only the need to stop Ahriman from allying with the devils. In fact, even Ahriman didn’t know.

"Surtr echo only mentioned the possibility of finding remnants. He wasn’t sure... So, the only one who knew was Mimir?"

Muramasa returned the ring and sighed. "I don’t know what Merlin saw, but he declared you’d bring ruins to the universe in the future. The only way to avoid it was this exile and the retrieval of a brazier on the last floor."

Before Adam could answer, the air hummed, and space warped by the door. A bright blue portal condensed, drawing his narrowing eyes to the youth stepping through it.

"You need the brazier’s power to resist my father’s manipulation."

He heard Merlin’s words, but they didn’t register. Instead, a wolfish grin split his face as he shot like a beam, his fist trembling with power. "Clench your teeth, bastard!"

Before he struck, hundreds of mana barriers formed between them. Each thicker than the last, their curved shapes drew the wind as they spun to diffuse any impact. But would they stop him?

Never! Not when the architect of his sufferings stood before him.

With a guttural roar, his arm pierced the air like a spear and collided with the first barrier.

CRACK

It shattered like glass, fragments flying before dissolving into drifting mana as he met the second, the tenth, and then the fiftieth.

He gritted his teeth, noticing his waning momentum and recognising how Merlin’s infinite mana made things troublesome. "Drop the barriers and eat my fist!"

Merlin stepped back, paling. "With all due respect, I’ll die If I do. How about sitting and letting me explain? I’m sure we can resolve this with a discussion."

"You’ll die if you don’t!" Adam huffed, plasma flickering dangerously around his eyes and fist. "You thought your dramatic entrance or our delayed meeting would save you? Please, continue to try my patience and let me carve the outcome in your ashes."

Before his words faded, the ground caved under his stomp as he unravelled his true strength. After all, he would have really killed each one of them if he hadn’t held back.

Knowing Adam wouldn’t compromise and unwilling to escalate the confrontation, Merlin’s lips twisted to let out a defeat sigh. "Please control your strength. Even if you’re angry, I want to at least explain why you had to go to the abyss."

The few remaining barriers vanished, letting Adam through. He repositioned himself in a heartbeat, his fist opening as he swung. "Right. I can’t knock you off."

SLAP

A shrill slap reverberated, blood and teeth flying out of Merlin’s mouth.

The room distorted and multiplied in his eyes as his legs buckled. Yet a firm hand gripped his shoulder before he collapsed. The wind whipped his silver hair as Adam threw him before his limp limbs sank into the soft sofa the next second, and a snort echoed in his ringing ears.

"Now you can explain yourself."