The Devouring Dragon-Chapter 47: Sending A Message

"How much further is it?"

"It won't be long," The tiny blue dragon hanging onto my shoulder, which was actually Tiamat, responded. She wasn't happy about having to take on such a small form, but I was able to convince her.

For the first time since arriving in this world, I had actually left the area that was once the Familiar Forest. Though you wouldn't know it by looking at me, as I was actually in the process of sprinting through another forest.

"Are you sure this is wise?" Tiamat questioned on my armored shoulder as she hung onto me.

"I need to strike immediately," I replied bluntly, "They'll become wary and start watching my moves once they realize what happened to Rias, Sona, and Ravel. I won't be able to leave my territory carelessly once that happens."

It had only been roughly an hour since the 'kidnapping' of Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri, and Ravel Phenex had occurred. Considering that familiar searching could take multiple hours, and sometimes even over a day if you were picky, there hadn't been any alarm bells rung yet.

That meant this was the perfect time for me to make a move. I needed to do something that would make the Maou fear me.

Upon learning who I'd taken as hostages, they'd have to pay attention to me, but they probably wouldn't take me all that seriously. It wasn't much of a feat to take down three young devils and a few members of their peerage. As a result, there was a risk that Sirzechs and Serafall would just show up together to tag-team me and get their beloved sisters back.

Of course, Tiamat helped negate that risk a bit, but they didn't know she was my familiar. As far as the Maou knew, she had reported to Ajuka that she'd taken care of the 'problem' - which was me - after struggling to track me down for a couple of months. The excuse was to buy me time to let my army recover, but it was an obviously flimsy one.

Tiamat was an all-powerful dragon - she shouldn't have had trouble finding someone in the Familiar Forest, especially when my territory was considered small compared to some of the noble clan's lands. Upon learning that I was alive and had taken hostages, they'd assume that Tiamat was just being lazy and making excuses for it.

The dragon actually losing to me would be far from their first thoughts, as her losing to anyone at all was shocking, much less to someone as young as me who had practically appeared out of nowhere a few months ago.

And so, I needed something to show the Maou that I wasn't weak. I needed to show them that they couldn't carelessly show up on my doorstep and that Tiamat was on my side. Because, even if I thought me and Tiamat might have a chance against two of the Maou, I didn't particularly want my entire new territory to be destroyed in a battle.

"Are you sure she can handle them?" Tiamat asked doubtfully, snorting lightly and causing a burst of blue flames to light up the dark forest around me a bit.

"You only think she's weak because of how strong you are," I replied dryly, "Kuroka can handle them all on her own, and she's got Vargan with them."

The situation Tiamat was referring to was the hostages sitting in my palace. I needed to move quickly and I needed Tiamat to come with me, so I had just left them there under Kuroka and Vargan's watch.

The duo would be more than enough to handle the group of inexperienced devils, and Tiamat was still maintaining the anti-teleportation bounded field around my territory even as we were far from it. Despite not using any real magical skills in our fight aside from [Karma Control] and [Controlled Chaos], Tiamat could actually use a large variety of magic.

I was glad she didn't, which was because, in her own words, 'those types of methods are cowardly, and my skill is low.' Essentially, she viewed her 'weak' magic, which was still leagues above any high-class devils and many ultimate-class devils, as useless because it wasn't as strong as her other abilities.

There was a slight worry that Kuroka might just take Koneko and run, leaving Vargan to hold off the young devils alone, but I didn't think she was that stupid. I'd certainly hold a grudge, and I think throughout the months of knowing me she would've figured that out.

Vargan would also probably be fine alone, as the devils would still have to fight their way out of my territory.

"Ajuka will be pissed," Tiamat smirked lightly on my shoulder as I burst out of the forest, the grass turning into a stone road as I approached a large floating building, "You'll have three Maou at our necks now."

"He'll view it as a personal attack, but he won't be that mad," I hummed in response, "He's not all that fond of the guy."

The building in front of my was not the main home of the Astaroth family, but it was where their heir lived: Diodora Astaroth.

This little trip doubled in taking out the trash that was Diodora and sending a message to the Maou. I'd kill the Astaroth heir, then head back to my territory as Tiamat ravaged the rest of the territory.

Inevitably, someone would come to their aid, likely Ajuka, but I could simply recall Tiamat through our familiar contract. The message would be sent, and we'd be sitting safe back in my palace before anyone could react.

Killing a heir and destroying the territory of a family from the 72 pillars couldn't just be ignored, especially considering that half of those pillars were already extinct. Along with the hostages I had, I'd be able to force the Maou to walk on eggshells and play my game.

It would also act as a message to the other powerful devil group in the underworld - the Old Devil Faction.

I would destroy the previous family of one of the new Maou, but I'd also kill Diodora, who was working with them through the Khaos Brigade, in the process. They wouldn't know what to make of it, but they wouldn't try to attack my territory when I could be an ally.

"Go have fun," I said simply as I tensed my legs, shooting upwards in the air towards the floating building in the air as I skipped the steps.

"I will," Tiamat grinned, casually falling off my shoulder as I flung into the air. A moment later, a loud boom resounded throughout the area as Tiamat grew much larger and landed on the ground.

I landed in front of the building, which was grand as it had large marble pillars framing the outside, and casually approached the door. No one stopped me as I pushed open the door, but a voice called out to me as soon as I arrived.

"Who the hell are you? Did you come for her?"

[High-Class Devil] [Diodora Astaroth] - Level 67

Reputation with [Diodora]: Slightly-Disliked

In the room was a flat hallway lined with pillars, which led to an elevated stage at the end. Sitting on the stage was Diodora Astaroth, the man looking about how I remembered him, though maybe a bit younger looking.

He had dark blue hair and a rather plain looking face. He was wearing a black button-up shirt and long black pants, and his body was overall thin. All around him stood various robed figures, which I knew was his peerage.

"If you've come to get my prize, you can't have her," Diodora grinned widely, staring down his nose at me. The 'prize' in question seemed to be a woman, who was being hung upside-down next to him.

She had long pink hair and was dressed in a long blue nun-outfit, though the skirt of the outfit was flipped completely upside down as it hung over her rather pretty face - thus showcasing her legs and panties to the world.

The woman obviously didn't seem to appreciate the position that she was in, as there were tears streaming down her face.

[Nun] [Adalina Relo] - Level 27

Reputation with [Adalina]: Neutral

"I don't know why you've come for her," Diodora continued before I even answered, licking his lips as a creepy look formed on his face, "But this one will be my most prized possession! I will make her my Queen! She's so pure! So beautiful! I will enjoy breaking- GAH!"

[Devouring Stab] has claimed stats from [Diodora]!

+100 HP!

+10 MAXHP!

+25 CHA

+29 INT

+40 MP

His eyes went wide as he jerked backward, his eyes filling with pain as I appeared next to him.

Unfortunately for the heir of Astaroth, he was far too weak to even track my movements. My sword sliced through the air, severing three of his fingers as he gestured toward Adalina.

"I don't know who she is, but if it'll piss you off," I hummed, casually catching Adalina as Diodora broke the spell to clutch at his bloody hand, "I'll take her off your hands. Get it? Hands, because I cut your fingers-"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"KILL HIM!" Diodora roared, raising his hand as a green magic circle appeared on it. I didn't think the pun was all that great either, so I couldn't blame him.

The robed figures rushed at me, leaping forward to protect their King.

[Devil] [Gina Terrelo] - Level 17

Reputation with [Gina]: Neutral

[Devil] [Aza Pacl] - Level 15

Reputation with [Aza]: Neutral

All of the robed figures were the same - as in, they were low-level cannon fodder. It wasn't surprising considering that Diodora only targeted weak and vulnerable nuns.

But they were only attacking me because of the mind-control magic Diodora was using on them, so I'd forgive them for their insolence.

I laid down Adalina, then shot forward, easily dancing around all of Diodora's peerage members and the burst of magic that he shot at me. In a split second, I was standing in front of Diodora again.

"I would say no offense, but that would be a lie," I said bluntly as I lashed out, cutting across the man's chest before he could even react. The blade cut through his flesh like butter, and he rolled out of his throne as he clutched at his chest painfully.

[Devouring Stab] has claimed stats from [Diodora]!

+170 HP!

+17 MAXHP!

+49 CHA

+41 INT

+57 MP

"GRAHHHH! YOU BASTARD!"

"Simply put, you're a one-episode villain," I said dryly, watching as he rolled in pain and screamed, "Well, you were a one-episode villain to Issei. Against me, you're not getting more than a minute of screen time."

"W-Why?!" He hissed, staring up at me with wide eyes, "W-Who even are you?! Do you know who I am?! I'm Diodora Astaroth, a high-class devil! The heir to the noble Astaroth Clan! You won't get away with-"

My blade slashed through his neck, and his head rolled off his body.

[Devouring Stab] has claimed stats from [Diodora]!

+410 HP!

+41 MAXHP!

+95 CHA

+78 INT

+117 MP

"I'm the Beast King, but names don't matter to dead men," I said simply, lashing out with my sword and flinging off the blood on the blade. Around me, the mind-controlled women all slumped forward, lying unconscious as the spell user was killed.

Well, that was rather easy. Though, considering how weak Diodora actually was, I wasn't all that surprised. I leaned down, placing my teeth on the man's arm and biting down.

[Devour] has been used on [Diodora Astaroth] [High-Class Devil] - Level 67

You have gained:

+1,750 HP (77,290/77,290)

+170 MAX HP (77,460/77,460)

+179 CHA

+270 INT

+200 MP

+2,000 XP

+ 20 [Devour] Skill XP!

+[Demonic Teleportation] Skill!

+[Demonic Hypnosis] Skill!

[Teleportation] - Utilize [Demonic Power] to teleport!

[Demonic Hypnosis] - Utilize [Demonic Power] to hypnotize someone!

I nodded approvingly at the results. Despite his low level, the man had actually given me a pretty large number of stats. I figured it was because he was all CHA, INT, and MP. He hadn't taken any of my attacks well and overall was just physically weak.

The two skills were good too - being able to teleport was all around useful, and hypnosis could be good for getting information out of prisoners I captured. It could also be used to ensure loyalty if there were any rebellions amongst my subordinates.

I leaned down, my finger glowing as a flame of [Hellfire] appeared on it. Killing him was one thing, but I needed to make sure Ajuka knew who did it.

I walked over to Diodora's throne, pressing my finger into the back and burning through the stone as I left a pitch-black burned trail of words.

It simply read: Beast King.

"T-Thank you so much..." I turned around, almost forgetting about one remaining conscious person in the room with me. Adalina looked at me gratefully, tears in her eyes, "I-I was so scared... all the things he said he'd do to me..."

"Well, he's dead now," I said bluntly, grinning at her through my helmet, "So don't worry about it."

"R-Right!" Adalina nodded gratefully again, "Did the church send you?"

"Nah," Her face fell at my words, and I immediately understood why. Diodora's whole evil villain thing was tricking women, specifically nuns, to fall in love with him, thus getting them excommunicated from the church for loving a devil.

The women, including Adalina, would have nowhere to turn to except for him. Then, they'd find out just how evil he truly was, inevitably becoming broken puppets.

So, while she was saved from Diodora, the woman still had nowhere to go.

"But, I'll be taking you now," I stated, then had to clarify as she looked up at me with fear. I guess my armor probably didn't make me look all that friendly.

"Not like that," I quickly comforted her, "He was a creepy unredeemable type of villain, but I'm more of a 'conquering worlds' supervillain. I want you for your power - not because I wanna do fucked up stuff to you."

In the series Adalina would become Diodora's Queen, and she was actually a pretty powerful one. Not crazy powerful, as she still lost to Rias and Akeno, but powerful enough to be helpful.

Right now, I needed to grow my army as much as I could. Even if she wasn't game-changingly strong, every bit of power added to my forces helped. It would add up in the end.

"Who... who are you?" Adalina asked, wiping away her tears as she finally composed herself.

"My name is Valon, but you can refer to me as the Beast King," I nodded at her, "That won't mean anything to you now, but it'll be a title known to the entire world soon."

Very soon.

"I'd prefer if you came with me willingly, but if you really don't want to, I can leave you here," I hummed. She wasn't strong enough that I'd waste effort trying to force her to serve me.

"Though, I should warn you," I waved my hand as another boom resounded from outside the building, "My dragon friend is kind of destroying the entirety of the Astaroth territory right now, so if you choose to stay... good luck."

"I-I'll come with you!" Adalina nodded quickly, pushing herself to her feet, "It's not like I have anywhere else to go anyway..."

I snapped my fingers, using my new [Demonic Teleportation] skill as a blank magical circle appeared under everyone in the room. I couldn't ask the unconscious nuns if they wanted to come too, but I figured they'd prefer joining my army to being blown up by Tiamat, so I took them anyway.

I couldn't teleport directly into my territory because of Tiamat's magic, but I'd bring them right outside and get some subordinates to help carry them.

The magic circle glowed, and we were whisked away.

In that moment, my days of being unknown ended.

The Beast King had officially entered the Underworld.

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AN: Thank you for reading! The next Chapter will be out tomorrow!

You can also read Chapters early on Patreon.com/Koyon ! Up to Chapter 54 is available there!