Chapter 548: New Allies

Damian returned to his throne with Malachi and Shin flanking his sides, the two young demons standing slightly behind him as Fulgur stepped forward.

The dragon demigod cupped his fists and bowed respectfully before turning toward the representatives waiting behind him.

The heads of the Lycan, Strawman, Baxia, Murloc, and Elcor clans stood together before the throne, each with their heads lowered as they waited for Damian to acknowledge them.

They had spent the entire court session anticipating this moment, yet Damian seemed far more interested in Malachi than any of them. Now that the introductions were finally about to begin, every representative straightened slightly, ready to present their clan and demonstrate why their presence would benefit Velmora.

Damian stared at them with empty purple eyes while the fingers of his bandaged hand tapped slowly against the armrest of his throne. Each tap echoed through the silent court, making the anticipation in the room increasingly uncomfortable. He looked over the gathered representatives for several seconds before finally speaking.

"You are all welcome to my realm. Unfortunately, my court is already filled with loyal followers, leaving no space for other clans, and honestly, I have no plans of removing them from their posts to accommodate your clans."

His words were blunt enough to immediately catch everyone off guard. The representatives raised their heads in surprise, exchanging brief glances as uncertainty spread through the room. They had expected Damian to offer them positions after accepting their allegiance, especially considering the importance of their respective clans.

"However, that won’t be the situation for long. During my coronation a month from now, the Prince of Gildreach Vault will make an attempt at my life. I will kill him and naturally, I will have you people run that court and the affairs of that region. I believe that should be satisfactory enough for you all."

Damian shrugged as though he had just discussed an ordinary administrative appointment rather than the assassination of a God Realm Prince.

The reaction was immediate.

The eyes of the representatives widened, and several of them stared at Damian as though they were looking at someone who had completely lost his mind. He had spoken with such casual certainty about killing a God while still being a Demi God that the difference in power seemed nonexistent in his mind.

Even those who had heard stories about Damian’s battle with Dantalion found themselves struggling to reconcile the Prince standing before them with the impossible confidence behind his words.

A lanky, frail figure from the Strawman clan eventually stepped forward. He looked remarkably human, with golden hair, hollow eyes, and limbs slightly longer than those of an ordinary demon. His thin frame made him appear almost fragile, yet when he spoke, his deep voice carried clearly throughout the court.

"Sire, forgive my impudence, but dealing with a God is far different from dealing with a Demi God. Ignoring the vast difference is a fatal mistake." Strawman Donatello spoke firmly, without intending disrespect.

He was simply stating what every experienced cultivator in the room already knew. The difference between the Demi God and God realms was not merely a matter of having more demonic force. It was a fundamental transformation of existence, and attempting to bridge that gap without an overwhelming advantage could result in death.

The other clan representatives nodded firmly in agreement, their expressions showing that they shared Donatello’s concern. Damian, however, merely chuckled. He lifted one finger and flicked it lightly, causing a small cigar box to materialize in his hand.

"In a show of good faith, I will tell you this..." Damian opened the box and calmly pulled out a cigar.

The court watched in silence as he closed the box, after which it immediately disappeared into the ring on his finger.

Damian placed the cigar between his lips before continuing. "I have a secret which only members of my Velmora court are aware of... That secret is what has kept me undefeated all these while, and I have complete faith in it. I’m certain my subordinates feel the same way now."

The old members of Damian’s court responded immediately. Talos, Jugo, Fulgur, Kan, and Loyd all nodded firmly, their expressions carrying absolute confidence.

The newcomers stared at them with visible surprise. Whatever this secret was, the confidence of those who already knew it was impossible to ignore. These were not inexperienced nobles blindly following their Prince. They had fought alongside Damian, witnessed his battles, and seen things that the newcomers could only hear about through rumors. If all of them were willing to stake their lives on the secret, then there had to be something behind Damian’s confidence.

A beautiful woman with a slender frame stepped forward from among the Lycan representatives. Her physique was striking, with pronounced feminine curves that contrasted sharply with the wildness in her eyes.

She was the matriarch of the Lycan clan, and unlike Donatello, she did not challenge Damian’s statement. Instead, she bowed lightly before speaking.

"Sire, it would be an honor if you share this secret of yours with us as well."

Damian looked at her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly before he placed the cigar between his lips. The end immediately ignited. He took a deep drag and slowly exhaled a thick plume of smoke into the court before rising from his throne.

"In this court, nothing is given freely. Everyone who knows the truth of my power has proven themselves in one form or another. Once you newcomers achieve the same, I’ll entrust you with this secret."

Damian’s gaze swept across the representatives before settling on all of them. His voice became more serious as he continued.

"But let it be known that my goal is not merely to rule Velmora and Gildreach. My goal is to unite all realms under my banner and become the first true Demon Lord in thirty thousand years... All the Princes of the Underworld will fall to me, and that damned elf will only be the first of many. It will either be a long and wild ride or a short and decisive one. Regardless, I am a Prince with a dream to conquer both the Heavens and the Underworld, and everyone who chooses to follow me must be prepared for this daunting journey ahead of us. I cannot assure you victory, but I assure you that I will not stop fighting for this dream until the moment I draw my final breath!"

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The original court of Velmora erupted into a thunderous cheer. The voices of Damian’s existing followers shook the entire chamber, their enthusiasm completely drowning out the silence of the newcomers.

The representatives of the newly arrived clans remained still, their expressions frozen between disbelief and fascination. Conquering the Underworld was already an ambition bordering on madness, but Damian had openly declared that he intended to reach beyond it and challenge the Heavens as well.

If they had not heard the declaration themselves, none of them would have believed anyone would be bold enough to make such a statement from the throne of Velmora.

Damian descended the stairs while the cheers gradually settled, and the representatives instinctively moved aside to create a path for him. He walked through the crowd with the same empty expression, Malachi and Shin following closely at his sides.

As he passed through the gathered nobles, however, two unfamiliar faces caught his attention. One was a man from the Damika clan who bore a striking resemblance to Duke Darbin. He possessed long black hair tied into a ponytail and a neatly maintained goatee, while his posture carried the restraint of someone who knew exactly how precarious his position was.

Beside him stood a young Demi God of Ifrit lineage whom Damian recognized from Amon’s mansion.

Damian stopped and looked between the two. "I didn’t expect your clan would remain in Velmora after the violent purge it suffered at my hands."

His eyes shifted toward the Ifrit beside him. "It seems the Amon and Damika clans still wish to serve this God?"

Both men immediately lowered themselves onto their knees and bowed deeply.

"As the new patriarch of the Damika clan, it’s in my best interest to safeguard my clan and move in its best interest..." The Damika patriarch slowly raised his face until his face met Damian’s. "Sire, I, Loki of the Damika, have concluded that serving you is in the interest of my weakened clan, and I wish to serve you and rectify the wrongs my father brought upon this court!"

The young Ifrit beside him followed immediately. "Yes, sire... I, Luthor, new patriarch of the Amon clan, wish to dedicate my life to rectifying the wrongs of our predecessors..."

Damian stared at the two men for several seconds. Their decision did not erase the crimes committed by their predecessors, but Damian understood the political reality before him.

Eventually, Damian gave a small nod.

"Give them the last two ministerial positions still vacant... And see to it their people are integrated into my court without problems." Damian looked over his shoulder toward Fulgur.

"As you wish, sire!" Fulgur immediately bowed.

Loki and Luthor both blinked in surprise. Neither had expected such generosity. They had been prepared to begin at the bottom, prove their loyalty through years of service, and slowly rebuild their clans’ reputations. Instead, Damian had handed them ministerial positions almost immediately.

Bam!

"Thank you, sire!" The two patriarchs chorused as they slammed their heads against the ground.

Damian continued looking down at them, his expression becoming slightly colder. "Just don’t make the same mistakes your predecessors made because there will be no mercy for me to give!"

Neither man dared respond with anything more than another deep bow. Damian turned away and continued walking toward the exit, his robes trailing behind him as Malachi followed at his left and Shin at his right.

Shin glanced back briefly at the kneeling Loki, curiosity evident beneath his blindfold, but after a moment he turned away and followed his master without asking a question.