After what felt like an eternity, the door to the dimly lit room creaked open, and two towering crocodile demons lumbered in. Their scales gleamed with a dark, oily sheen under the faint light, and their eyes glowed with a sinister red hue.
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier with their presence, charged with the raw, primal energy they exuded.
The demons paused as they entered, their gaze locking onto Aengus, the half-breed demon who stood before them. They had been of his sudden rise to power, but now, seeing him in person, their curiosity burned even brighter.
They were joined by four more of their kind, making a total of six crocodile demons, all neatly lined up in front of Aengus. Their powerful tails dragged across the floor, leaving faint scratches on the stone, but their posture was one of obedience.
“My Lord, congratulations on becoming the new Baron of the Dark Valley,” they said in unison, their deep, gravelly voices resonating through the room. There was a subtle undercurrent of respect in their tone, a recognition of the power and authority Aengus now held.
“We have been notified officially,” one of them continued, bowing his massive head slightly. “Now, we hereby swear loyalty in the name of the Demon God.”
Aengus, who had been sitting quietly, deep in thought, furrowed his brows and rose to his feet. His muscles tightened as he stood, the recent influx of energy from the demonic cores making him feel stronger, more confident. He straightened his posture, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the crocodile demons before him with keen interest.
These were no ordinary demons; their loyalty was not given lightly. The fact that they had come to swear fealty meant that his new title as Baron of the Dark Valley had already started to ripple through the ranks. The power structure here was harsh and unyielding, but respect was earned through strength and cunning.
Although, their loyalty was not 100%, it was going to rise eventually. He would make them hundred percent loyal.
He stepped forward, his gaze never leaving the demons in front of him.
“Rise,” he commanded, his voice firm, yet tinged with a newfound authority. “Your loyalty is noted, and it will be rewarded. Together, we will strengthen the Dark Valley, and any who dare challenge us will be crushed.”
“Yes, My Lord… ”
The crocodile demons straightened their backs, their eyes filled with a mix of respect and uncertainty. Their new half-breed Lord was surprisingly ambitious it seemed.
Aengus’s words resonated with them, and they could sense the power radiating from him, a power that was still growing, still evolving.
Aengus studied them carefully, noting the raw physical strength they possessed, as well as the dark energy that seemed to ripple beneath their scales.
“So, now tell me,” he began, his voice carrying an edge of impatience, “how many people are in our ranks currently?”
The crocodile demons lowered their heads in shame, their massive bodies hunching slightly as they spoke. “My Lord, we only have 20 lesser demons in our ranks, including the butler and the maid who serve your needs,” one of them admitted, his voice mixed with frustration.
“The number was seriously low compared to the other baronies under the Fortress of Lady Bella’s rule. It’s due to our previous Baron’s reckless spending and carelessness.”
Aengus crossed his arms, his expression darkening as he absorbed the disappointing news. The room, which had been filled with a sense of triumph just moments before, now felt heavy with Aengus’ discontentment.
They felt the indistinct pressure from their new Baron, and shivered, not daring say anything out of proportion.
“Anyway, did the former Baron live alone or something? No family?” he asked,noticing their fear as he wanted ease the situation a little.
“Yes, my Lord,” the guards replied in unison, their heads slightly bowed. “He lived alone.”
Aengus seemed to ponder this for a moment, his mind already working on a plan to address the situation. The former Baron’s mismanagement and reckless spending had left the Dark Valley in a vulnerable state, but Aengus saw this as an opportunity.
Such a small number of demons in his service could be a disadvantage, but it also meant there were fewer individuals to interfere with his business. .
“Alright,” he finally said, his tone decisive. “Gather everyone. I need to talk to them.”
The crocodile demons nodded and quickly left the room to carry out his orders. Aengus watched them go, his mind racing with thoughts of what needed to be done. Loyalty would be the first thing he would need to secure.
These demons had served under a weak leader, and their allegiance might still be shaky. He needed to ensure that they saw him as their only lord and master, that they understood their survival and prosperity depended on their unwavering loyalty to him.
But loyalty alone wouldn’t be enough. Aengus would also need to assess their potential. The Dark Valley had been neglected for too long, and he needed to identify those with the strength and talent to rise above the rest.
He would make them stronger using Universal Synthesis, but only if they proved their worth. Those who showed promising would be rewarded; those who didn’t have both, they will be casted out immediately.
He knew this process would take time. Rebuilding the ranks of his barony and transforming a disloyal and weakened force into a formidable one couldn’t be done overnight.
But Aengus was confident. He would fill their mind with temptations of power, which no one could ever hope to possibly achieve.
Aengus observed the group gathered before him, his gaze sharp and unyielding. The demons stood in neat rows, their heads slightly bowed as they felt the weight of his Darkness Haki pressing down on them. The aura he exuded was palpable, filling the room with a sense of dread that made even the bravest among them tremble. Despite their attempts to stand tall, Aengus could see the fear in their eyes, the uncertainty in their stiff postures.
As he surveyed his new subjects, a wave of disappointment washed over him.
These demons were of common blood, lacking the powerful abilities or noble lineage that could have made them valuable assets. Most of them relied on their physical strength, and while they had some species-specific traits—like the crocodile demons’ scale armor or the fish scale demons’ ability to breathe underwater—there was little else to commend them.
They were strong, but strength alone wasn’t enough.
Among the twenty demons present, 13 were combatants of Imps and Lesser demons power rank , their sole purpose being to fight and defend the territory. (AN: Imps= lowest level demons, not the exact species)
The other five were administrative demons, tasked with handling the official matters of the barony.
And then there were the last two—a butler and a maid—whose duties revolved around attending to the Baron’s personal needs. None of them stood out as particularly exceptional, and that was a problem.
Aengus needed more than just foot soldiers; he needed individuals who could help him execute his plans, expand his power, and ensure his dominion over the Dark Valley and beyond.
He let the silence stretch, allowing the pressure of his Haki to sink in deeper, making them feel small and insignificant.
Then, in a voice that was calm yet edged with authority, he spoke. “Look at you,” he began, his tone laced with disappointment. “A ragtag group of demons, barely capable of holding onto what little power this barony has left. Do you think this is enough? Do you think you can serve me, protect this land, and rise above your current state with just this?”
The demons looked at each other uncomfortably, but no one dared to speak. They knew better than to challenge their new lord, especially when he was making it clear just how unimpressed he was with them.
“You are weak,” Aengus continued, his words cutting like a blade. “But weakness can be overcome. I will not tolerate mediocrity in my ranks. If you wish to remain here, if you wish to serve me and not be cast aside as failures, then you must prove your worth. I will give you the opportunity to grow stronger, to rise above your current status. But know this—failure will not be forgiven.”
He paused, allowing his words to sink in. The demons were listening intently now, fear mixed with a glimmer of hope. Aengus had them where he wanted them—desperate, eager to prove themselves, and willing to do whatever it took to gain his favor.
“You all will have unimaginable power, and I will make sure it by myself,” Aengus declared, his voice growing darker.
“Power that you could never hope to achieve on your own. But this power comes with a price. You will serve me without question, without hesitation. You will dedicate your lives to my cause, and in return, I will make you stronger than you ever imagined. Together, we will rebuild this barony, and we will make those who look down on us tremble in fear.”
The room was silent, the weight of his words heavy in the air. The demons looked at each other, uncertainty giving way to determination. They knew they had little choice but to follow Aengus. He was their new lord, and he held their fates in his hands.
