Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 350: The Price of Passage

The fields of mourning turned into a somber blur in Adam’s eyes as he cleaved the Styx’s murky water like a dark meteor.

Achilles’ roars reverberated, calling out his madness while Garduck pleaded for him to stop before it was too late. But he ignored them. They had embarked on a train to the deepest part of the underworld, and as its driver, he would never stop—he couldn’t stop.

How could he when each passing day was a countdown towards doom? The gods’ threats increased the longer he delayed, not to mention the elusive devils’. No. He would risk everything in a mad gamble. He would pass the Furies, reach Tartarus, and recruit the Hecatonchires. And finally, he’d become a god by killing one of the chained Titans.

Honestly, he had thought about it a few times. How would he feel after rising to the pinnacle of existence and becoming a perfect being? The answer always came out the same, and this time was no exception—he didn’t care. Even worse, he couldn’t see this so-called perfection in his enemies. They were powerful fools at best, enraged dogs at worse in his eyes. So why would he pride himself on matching them?

Perfection was an illusion shimmering like the brightest star before any living being’s eyes. Mortals and gods had tried to reach for it, to grasp its essence for eons, but none succeeded. Why?

’Because they’re blind. Perfection is nothing more than a crooked reflection of the inner self they try to escape. Something unachievable and not even desirable. After all, perfection is an unalterable constant—something that can’t evolve because of its very nature. Why would any creature living by the rush of pure wind and the taste of freshwater want to remain emotionless before life’s simplest joys, the discovery of new knowledge, or the sensation of improving?’

He shook his head. ’They can keep this flawed perfection for themselves. I just want to live unchained, to experience life to its fullest, and to enjoy my time with my friends.’

His eyes narrowed into chaotic slits, plasma flickering at their edges. ’But for that, the gods who can’t remain still in their realms must disappear. I’ll swallow divinity and infernity, tailor them as bloody weapons to cleave their heads, then store them away to collect dust until the universe collapses on its own. Mortals need no gods. They only need peace.’

Of course, he didn’t think of himself as the chosen one who would liberate everyone—not before and even less now. He would still do it, though, for himself.

’Would a wannabe hero be reincarnated as a demon? Would a perfection glazer manipulate chaotic energies? It would be the height of irony.’ The corner of his lips rose before they sank back down.

A noise and it was approaching.

His face snapped to the right, where he had picked up the thundering noise of wind being split apart.

He raised his hand and loosened his fingers, grumbling at the two men inside. "Quiet. One is passing by."

Achilles and Garduck instantly trembled like leaves. Adam had insisted on betting, and now he had lost. The Fury would find them. She’d plunge her clawed fingers into their guts and eviscerate them slowly before torturing their souls. And once her fun faded into boredom, she would throw the rags left of them into Tartarus, where they’d suffer even more—for eternity.

Somehow, they both hoped the Styx would kill them. At least they’d suffer a little less.

However, Adam had other plans. The nine jets propelling him vanished as he adjusted his trajectory downward.

The moment his clawed feet touched the murky water, an ethereal pain slammed against him like a divine hammer.

His soul wept as if it had been plunged into a basin of the most horrifying acid. Yet, cheeks trembling, teeth sinking into their gums, he clenched his jaw and dived until his body vanished into the river of hate in silence. But this unnamable agony... he’d endure it alone.

"Punch my hand once she’s gone." His voice came out in a guttural, almost incomprehensible grumble as the icy water devoured his head.

The hand he used to carry Garduck and Achilles fell on the desolate bank. Scales smoothened then cracked, giving the impression of a broad rock holding up against the current’s erosion.

Unable to see, he closed his eyes. Suffering without a sound, without a shudder as he forced his body into stillness. But his mind was the opposite.

Curses flew everywhere in a raging tempest of resentment and rage. ’Everything is because of them! You damned gods will feel my pain a thousand folds—a million folds. I won’t stop until I erase even the fleeting memory of your pathetic existences.’

The agony was unbearable, and soon, despair melded into the rage as the river exacerbated his emotions to the limit. ’Why me? Why do I deserve so much pain... It hurts... Luna! Why did you go alone? Stupid Merlin. I should have shattered your teeth, you obnoxious fool...’ ’...’ ’...’ ’NO! I don’t even know what I’m thinking. I’m losing my mind!’

He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to bolt out. ’Focus on a single thought—forget the rest.’

The peaceful night of the castle inauguration came to mind first. He would never forget the shining stars and the warmth of Luna’s back resting against his torso. His friends’ celebratory voices and laughs replayed as Bart declared his love and Shihan gave their relationship a chance. It was as if he had returned ten years into the past—before everything changed forever. ’Don’t think about the changes! Focus on the positive only!’

Immersed in his memories, he did his best not to react to his rotting scales. Underneath, the draconic muscles had already lost a third of their volume. Achilles was right. Each water drop was a piranha devouring his tissues, and they would soon attack the bones.

Meanwhile, Achilles and Garduck peeked through Adam’s trembling fingers. Breath ragged, biting their lips in horror, they glared at the Fury cleaving the sky like a divine falcon.

She was much faster than any of them. Barely sixteen seconds had passed until she turned into a distant black dot on the horizon. So, why did seconds seem to drag into an eternity of regretful incertitude?

But they had no time to think about that. Without wasting a millisecond, they hurled their fists against Adam’s palm.

SPLASH

Adam’s head emerged amidst roiling water. He opened his mouth wide, gasping for oxygen as he scrambled onto the bank. He crashed on the barren soil in a dust cloud, his scarlet and blue eyes rolling and his consciousness slipping into darkness.

Garduck covered his mouth, while Achilles clutched his head. He was alive, but at what cost?

Skin sagged on the bonny dragon’s twitching limbs. Painful to watch stumps replaced his tail and wings, leaving him a shadow of his former majestic self.

And now they were stranded in the middle of the fields of mourning. Now, they were no better than lost lambs at the mercy of wolves. Now, death has become a luxury compared to what awaited them the next time a Fury passed.