Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 375: Not Tiamat 2.0

As soon as he entered the room, Tiamat’s purple eyes locked on him from her intricate throne, confusion, disappointment and reluctant resignation mixing in their soft glow.

She let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "At least you still look good... What’s done is done, but I want to understand how and why."

Adam moved before her throne, scratching his head. "I can’t really help with that. The system notified me that your path wasn’t the only one. With my chaotic body, I went with the flow." He pointed his thumb at his smiling face, trying to lighten the mood. "And that’s how I look, handsome enough for you to admit it."

Tiamat gripped her forehead and sighed. "You have no idea what you forsook. A dragon of titanic proportion, each flap of its wings able to warp reality, a being that can breathe destruction and exhale creation, a form no weaker than mine... but it’s all gone for what? What are you now? What gave you, an unlucky brat, the guts to gamble with your final evolution?"

"Wouldn’t I have become a lesser version of yourself, a powerful being limited by your past achievements?" Adam’s eyes slipped to the side, his smile turning crooked. "You know that was never my goal."

His gaze sharpened, and his voice firmed. "I’m not Tiamat 2.0, nor a random deity. I’m Adam, someone who started as less than a speck of dust but will tower above all. Training and growing through battles never scared me. I’m the first Twilight Draconian Emperor, and as my species name, I’ll bring the gods’ rule to its end."

They locked gaze as a tense silence settled in the room. No one averted their eyes, each second seemingly lasting an eternity until Tiamat finally closed them.

"I don’t know." Her voice came in a low, uncertain murmur. "Our authorities might have overlapped, but... I could have shared my dominion with you. No... I already decided I would if we won this impossible war. Your powers would have grown passively, but now nothing is certain anymore. Your chaos is already different from mine—less about natural evolution and more about extreme adaptation."

She bit her quivering lip. "Is it for better or worse? Only time will reveal if your mad bet was worth it. But..." The corner of her lips curled. "I like your species’ name, and your essence is the same as mine, at least."

A satisfied grin split Adam’s face as he nodded. Her acceptance felt like a stone was removed from his guts.

"Right? Makes me feel like I’ll bring Ragnarök. But I have more urgent matters to tend to, like the conquest of Mab’s realm. How is it progressing, and can you ask her to bring me there?"

"Few clashes with Oberon’s fairies, but nothing major has happened yet." Tiamat’s eyes narrowed into draconic slits. "That bitch, Titania, forced her into a stalemate. But time is on our side. Relocate the city, rebuild your army, and devour the fairy forest’s territory."

She waved her hand theatrically, an eager edge filling her thundering voice. "My gift is on its way. Coupled with the heretic guild and another surprise, you’ll have everything you need to overthrow these imposters."

Surprises and the legendary queen of fairies, Titania? He whistled. "Can’t wait to see them. When can I depart?"

"Soon." She moved her head toward the window. "After you meet with Mimi. The poor girl has been worrying sick for the past year."

"Ouch." He gripped his chest, feeling a sting pierce his heart.

He had kept contact with her during the underworld expedition but forgot to tell her about his return between the shock of almost dying and the urgency to evolve. What a terrible big brother...

"I’ll check on her." He moved to the door, waving his hand.

"You’ll find her with a few lords who claim to be allies in the villa next door." She shrugged. "I couldn’t bother with these ants, so don’t ask me who or why." novelbuddy.cσ๓

"Thanks for telling me. I’ll visit everyone until Mab returns."

He shared the news with Garduck and left his palace, wondering if the lords were Behemoth and his friends. Achilles’ state also intrigued him. Had he awoken yet? There was also Merlin and the mystery of Gawain’s addition to his territory.

’Mimi first, though.’ He pushed the villa’s door open, his gaze landing on a group of four lords seated around a table.

Their faces snapped toward him the moment the door creaked open before red hair fluttered and stomps reverberated.

Smiling, he caught Mimi in his arms. "I’m back."

She trembled, a tear of relief trailing down her cheek as she enjoyed the hug for a moment.

Then, she pulled back and hammered his chest with a soft pout. "No more dangerous expeditions, alright, bad brother?"

"No more. Sorry, Mimi, and thank you." He patted her hair. "But how do you always recognise me? Is it because you know only an evolved version of myself can beat my previous handsomeness?"

Finger on his jaw, he tilted his head, shook his black and white hair, and winked with his scarlet eye.

"You wish." She stepped back, pulling her tongue cutely. "I visited while you slept like a log... but." A blush crept on her face. "You look good. Less demonic, more human—more balanced... more handsome."

She muttered the last part, but his eyes narrowed, and his smile curled into a grin. "Irresistible, right? Hahaha!"

"Humph. Your head’s becoming so big you won’t pass doors soon." She stomped down, turning in the same motion to hide her deepening blush before it struck her.

The three other lords were watching them, jaws and eyes wide. "I-It’s not what you think!"

Behemoth scratched his red hair, coughing. "If anything, it’s... well, reassuring? Yes, reassuring to see power didn’t alter your bond." He turned to the others. "Right?"

Lord 6369 instantly snapped his mouth shut and rubbed his hands before his sparkling gray eyes.

"Exactly! I can’t believe I stand among a dragon among men, a shining star brighter than Helios at midday." With an elegant bow, he tucked his neatly trimmed brown hair behind his ear. "It’s my honor. No! A wish come true to meet you at last."

Mimi covered her forehead, an exasperated sigh escaping her twitching lips. This shameless man had never changed since the days he trolled everyone on the chat!