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*****
{Chapter: 135: What A Pity}
Whether in his previous life or his current existence as a demon, Dex had never once felt reverence toward the so-called gods.
He didn't fear them. He didn't worship them. Not then. Not now. At best, the gods were amusing curiosities—powerful entities whose influence swayed mortals, but who were still bound by rules, weaknesses, and desires. The awe others held for them was something he found baffling, almost pitiable. Statues, temples, hymns... none of it impressed him.
No matter how pious their followers were—kneeling in reverence, burning incense, spilling blood—Dex only ever saw them for what they truly were: apex predators on the food chain of existence. Not divine. Just dominant.
In Dex's worldview, power was the only thing worthy of fear and respect. Not the symbols worn around necks or names uttered in prayer, but real, tangible might—raw and merciless. From the moment of his rebirth in the abyss, this truth had been engraved into his soul.
As those thoughts faded, his crimson eyes scanned the ornate ceiling above the plush bed where he lay. The intricate carvings shimmered faintly with enchantments—warding glyphs and sigils of resistance. This hotel was no ordinary lodging; it was a fortress masquerading as luxury, designed to cater to powerful beings who desired both comfort and absolute security.
He lifted a hand and pressed a black gem embedded in the gold-inlaid headboard—a signal to summon the staff.
Although he wasn't truly hungry, there was something deeply satisfying about indulging in a lavish feast before stepping into the unknown. In Dex's mind, food was more than sustenance—it was an experience, a ritual. And with another world awaiting exploration and potential conquest, he intended to indulge while he still could.
'Who knows what swill they serve in Mi Ling World? Might as well treat myself here…'
Minutes later, a chime rang through the room. The grand double doors creaked open, revealing a quartet of strange creatures waddling inside with exaggerated steps.
They were over a meter tall, with rotund bodies, deep azure skin, and oversized heads topped with bony ridges. Their bulbous bellies jiggled with every movement, and their blue eyes sparkled with faint enchantments as they rolled in a cart the size of a wagon.
The cart overflowed with delicacies from across the planes—succulent meat roasted in abyssal fire, fruits that shimmered with demonic vitality, flasks of burning liquor distilled from nightmares, and strange desserts topped with wriggling cream that defied gravity.
The smell was intoxicating—sweet, spicy, smoky, all blended in a chorus of temptation.
Dex barely looked at them as he flicked a few iridescent coins onto the cart, clinking like crystal. The four servants squealed in delight and bowed awkwardly before waddling away, their smiles frozen and servile.
"Disgusting little things," Dex muttered with amusement, plucking a piece of glistening roast meat and biting into it with satisfaction. "But at least they know how to cook."
He ate slowly, savoring each bite. Not for nourishment—his demonic body required little—but because luxury was his philosophy. The aroma. The taste. The illusion of mortality. These things reminded him of a time when he was still human, still limited, still climbing.
But now... he had reached heights few dared imagine.
---
Three days passed.
He used the time well. With patience and a flair for mischief, Dex managed to "harvest" ten souls from unwitting mid-tier demons foolish enough to cross his path. In this city, everything had a price—even souls—and as long as he didn't cause a public spectacle, few would question his methods.
Ten [Middle-level Demon] souls. Each one glittered in a sealed vial like cursed stardust.
With these, he activated the transdimensional prop.
A ripple passed through him.
In an instant, his body was engulfed in a shroud of energy—flickering shadows and jagged light coiling around him like ribbons. He didn't resist. There was no need. This wasn't an attack; it was a transportation protocol encoded with authority.
He became a lance of red light, piercing through dimensional barriers with terrifying speed.
In the city of black spires and endless fog, aerial mobility was strictly regulated. Dozens of magical grids and surveillance enchantments patrolled the skies. Normally, fast movement through these layers would trigger alarms and draw the wrath of sentinels.
But this prop granted temporary access—true bypass clearance. He streaked across the skyline like a falling star, unhindered.
The next moment, he reappeared on solid ground, surrounded by chaos.
---
A massive war camp lay sprawled before him, alive with movement.
The sound hit him first—like an ocean of growls, screeches, howls, and grunts. Thousands, no—tens of thousands—of demons milled about in a loosely organized swarm. From giant quadrupeds with molten fangs to spindly spider-legged horrors, the crowd stretched far beyond the horizon.
Dex stood at the edge, surveying the spectacle with cold curiosity.
This… this is no army. It's a barely tamed beast. One wrong spark, and they'd devour each other.
The air was thick with sulfur and blood. Demonic banners fluttered in smoky winds, etched with house sigils and personal glyphs. Massive pylons pulsed with chaotic magic, barely holding the camp together with spells of suppression and obedience.
Ninety percent of them were [Little Demons]—weaklings in the grand hierarchy. Their strength was comparable to wild beasts, their intellect barely above that. They were expendable, bred for war, for dying in droves.
But there were greater presences hidden among them—commanders, lieutenants, warlocks, fiends of ancient lineage watching silently from towers or armored caravans.
Dex exhaled slowly.
So many lives. So much energy. If only I were allowed to harvest them freely…
A savage grin tugged at his lips.
He snapped his fingers. A [Little Demon] crouched nearby, chewing on a bloody limb, froze. Its dull eyes glazed over, locked onto Dex. He casually stepped onto its back, using it as a mount.
The creature didn't resist. Instead, it let out a confused grunt and began lumbering forward, compelled by an unseen command.
Dex adjusted his coat and looked toward the pulsing gate at the far end of the encampment.
A steady surge of space energy pulsed from that location—strong, directed, constant. Reinforcements were arriving. Or perhaps troops were being deployed into Mi Ling World by the thousands.
His token warmed in his pocket, confirming his destination.
His ride carried him forward at a slow but steady pace, weaving through crowds of clawed feet and shrieking wings.
He felt eyes on him—curious, wary, respectful, but not challenging. His aura exuded control, precision, lethality. He was no commander, no banner-carrier... but even among demons, he stood apart.
Looking around at the endless mob, he whispered with a faint tone of mockery, "Leeks. Just... endless leeks waiting to be harvested."
He chuckled darkly.
If I were allowed to slay them by the dozens... I'd never need to leave this world.
But he knew the rules. Slaughtering demons within the bounds of the city or its army camps without cause was tantamount to declaring rebellion. Even Dex wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could get away with it.
Not yet, anyway.
So, he let the moment pass, crossing his legs on the back of the demon mount as it trudged toward the war portal.
He had a world to invade.
And maybe—just maybe—a few gods to kill.
*****
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