Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

As Hestia discovered the town, every lord stared at their interface wide-jawed and noses almost passing through the notification. And the most shocked of them all was none other than Adam.

Sprawled in a pool of sweat, his eyes trembled as he read it aloud to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

[Hestia, the goddess of hearth, home, and family, leaves the competition. Her realms are now free for the taking, and her believers shall not receive guidance or help from her...]

The message continued, listing how she lost the ability to contract lords, but it didn't matter. Instead, confusion devoured his thoughts as he searched for more information.

However, the other lords spammed the chat with the same question.

'Why did she give up out of nowhere?'

Not finding answers, he swiped the chat box close and sat up, unaware that Hestia was discovering the joy of shopping with Tiamat and Luna a few streets away.

'It's great news, anyway. The Oikos kingdom is sure to fall the moment I step out.'

He stared at Wukong, his fists trembling in impatience. Though the training room bore the brunt of his two weeks' progress, the monkey king never seemed satisfied and always pushed him further.

The last strike he unleashed before collapsing in exhaustion still rumbled. Dark flames devoured the melted ground and licked the cracked walls. Yet, an incomprehensible layer of frost spread everywhere.

Wukong observed it, smelling the freezing scent and assessing the temperature with his finger.

"Not bad!" He smirked as he raised his blue finger. "It even affects me now. I'm still unsatisfied, but let's say you got the average."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Yes!" Adam raised his fists in triumph. "Thank you for your guidance, big brother. But the town is calling for me."

Wukong waved goodbye and watched him bolt out of the room. Then, his smile froze as he glared at his darkening finger. A chill ran down his spine.

"You indeed barely got the average..." He muttered, his Qi roaring at his fingertip to heal the necrosis. "If I rate your progress using divine standards."

Meanwhile, Adam stormed out of the castle, his first destination: Luna's house!

Dreams of her smile and shy expressions had filled his mind during the training, making him understand how important those small moments with her were.

However, the long-awaited reunion didn't happen for he found her house empty.

'Is she in Foliaris?'

He bit his lip in her living room. A disappointed sigh escaped his lips as he ran his fingers on the table.

"I hope you're fine."

With a last glance at the dustless furniture, he left the house and strolled through the town.

The citizens greeted him on his way, but his mind was elsewhere—to the war in the west. He pushed those thoughts aside, though, knowing he couldn't leave without checking on Karna. Recovery was slow according to Wukong, but he had woken up a few days ago and spent his time in the chaos forge, the noise of hammers pounding metal lulling him.

After a brief walk, he entered the familiar place and went to the second-floor resting area.

He paused inside the doorway, his lips twisting when he saw the dark patches covering his pale skin. His sunken eyes and feeble smile pierced his heart as he crouched before the sofa he rested on.

Before he found the right words, Karna's palm reached for his shoulder, and his gentle voice resounded.

"I suffered worse, and I'm just glad everyone returned home." He chuckled softly. "The backlash of using astras at full power is no joke, but I'll recover to peak condition in another two weeks. So don't worry and cheer up."

Adam's lips quivered as he lunged into a warm hug. He had missed Karna and always imagined the worst. What if he never recovered? Was it his fault? These questions tormented him for the past two weeks, even if he had tried to hide it.

"Take your time to heal and come back stronger than ever, teacher." Explore more stories at empire

A tear of relief trailed down his cheek as he felt Karna's warm hand pat his back.

"I will enjoy my rest and learn a few things. You have no idea how fascinating Muramasa's knowledge is. He and I are working together to craft a bow that'll surpass the Vijaya." He chuckled as he pulled back. "Perhaps we'll even create a new astra."

Adam knew Karna tried to lighten the mood, but a steely glint flashed in his eyes.

"I'll get you the best materials. Let's craft the most fearsome divine bow!"

He saw Karna's smile broaden and felt his enthusiastic patting on his shoulder.

"I'm afraid even Hephaestus will raise the white flag. But that's something for later. Don't you have a war to win?"

"Yeah. Some weird stuff happened with Hestia, so we might win faster than expected. Still, I think you'll recover before the end." He waved his hand and walked to the door. "If you need anything, just ask. Until then, farewell."

His heart at peace and his steps determined, he walked out of the forge and planned to meet with Tiamat...

"Tiamat?!"

He halted in the middle of the street, staring at the primordial goddess, a youthful woman wearing a fashionable white dress embroidered with floral patterns, and the missing Luna.

"Is my name so cool that you have to yell it?" Tiamat chuckled before she pointed at Hestia, her smirk making him roll his eyes. "Guess who she is!"

He scrutinised the charming woman, a pensive frown creasing his brows before the obvious struck his mind with the strength of a sledgehammer.

"Don't tell me..."

"Bingo! You have before you the realm's former owner: Hestia!"

"What?! How? I mean, why?"

He lost the ability to think for a second, his jaw dropping at the ridiculous situation. Wasn't she his enemy?

Meanwhile, Hestia laughed as she stepped gracefully to him. She stretched her palm out, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"I'm delighted to meet you in person, Adam. I've watched your growth and dedication to the citizens and want to work with you to build a better future."

He hesitated before she answered his doubts directly.

"I allowed the cultist and kobold incidents because of Zeus' and my other brothers and sisters' forceful requests. You're quite hated by the original Olympians, you know?" She sighed, her hazel eyes firming. "But it was their requests alone. I never cautioned them and even less accepted them. That's why I'm here. To live peacefully, far from their intrigues."

'You have no idea about the number of gods hating me for no reason. It's perhaps because I became more handsome than them?'

Though reassured, he could see in her eyes that there was something more. After all, she renounced everything—something that would never happen without good reasons.

'Did they threaten her?'

The moment the question flashed in his mind, he saw her place her finger over her lips as Tiamat snickered at his curiosity.

"Go conquer this realm for me instead of wasting your time! I want my left leg back!"

About to tell her that he'd go now, Hestia caught his attention with her quivering lips and fidgeting fingers.

Noticing his gaze, she shook her head.

"The leg isn't in Oikos. You'll find it further west, in the griffin's lair."

He rolled his eyes at the daunting news, his mind freezing for a second as he remembered even Achilles had failed to pierce its thick feathers.

'Shit...'