Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 371: Unexpected Gifts

Tiamat’s onyx hair fluttered with the opening door, her gem like purple eyes locking with Adam’s.

He saw the lingering fear, relief, and the deep delight in their depths despite her attempts to show stoicism through her features and lighthearted tone.

"Hehehe. Back already? I thought you’d tour the underworld a little longer."

’I guess I could if I wanted to spend an eternity of suffering in Tartarus.’ Adam sighed, waiting for an answer that didn’t come. Instead, Tiamat scrutinised him, a slight frown creasing her brows.

A brief silence lingered before he raised his palms. "Thought you’d counter with one of those snarky remarks you have the secret of."

"Mhh? And how would I? Your thoughts are not mine to browse anymore. I just wanted to see the proud divinity you’ve become, and I must say, I’m not disappointed." Tiamat placed a finger on her cheek, her smile broadening. "I feel chaos roil in every part of your body, sometimes fierce, other calm. It’s a melody of evolution to my ears."

Understanding flashed in Adam’s eyes. Albeit much weaker, his existence had finally reached hers, making his thoughts unreadable. Despite the good news, he sighed at her wording. Proud? Not really. He had fled, leaving someone behind in his stead.

What he felt was hard to explain, but the sting was present, always prickling his spine to force him forward. Stepping back—he just hated it. And he hated to be responsible for someone else’s sufferings even more. It reminded him of Shihan’s death, a traumatism he didn’t want to go through again.

Tiamat noticed his darkening face. She coughed to break his negative thoughts, shaking her head. "We’ve seen you rise from the weakest to one of us, Adam. You’re still weak, yes, but doesn’t everyone start somewhere?"

She extended a vial of dark liquid so thick he would have thought it was a solid if not for the barely noticeable ripples on its surface.

Her voice turned solemn, yet excitement flashed in her eyes. "My concentrated essence. Use it to fuel your last evolution to become an Apocalyptic Dragon Tyrant—an embodiment of total, cosmic power. Just like me at my prime, you’ll have ultimate control over creation and destruction after mastering your authorities."

Adam scrutinised the vial, his eyes narrowed. ’She doesn’t know I already severed her evolution path? It should make sense now that my system is my own only. Gods can’t interfere with it anymore.’

His eyes sparkled as he reached for the vial. ’I need all the help I can get to become stronger. I can still return it later if it’s not useful.’

He gave her a thankful nod before shifting the discussion to his earlier question. "How can I manipulate my talent to get the rewards I want?"

Confused by the question, Tiamat tilted her head. "That’s... strange. Perhaps you’ll get total control over it after evolving?"

Indeed, it was strange. His talent had already grown before he evolved, and he still had no control over it. Still, he nodded. Perhaps she was right.

He was about to leave, but Tiamat was far from over. One after another, chaotic materials flashed in his hands: a piece of violet fairy wings, a transparent molted skin covered in scale patterns, a golden apple from which ancient inscriptions almost faded, but he still could read ’fairest’ on it.

He recognised their origins: Mab, Apep, and Eris’ golden apple. But his eyes widened on the last item—a flask filled with turbulent golden flames that made him shudder.

"The last one is a gift from Izanami." She smirked. "He most likely couldn’t wait to get rid of it."

"What is it?" Adam asked, mesmerised by the flames’ erratic movement. "Did they come from Amaterasu?"

"That little girl is just a replacement. No. Long before Izanagi created her from his left eye, his deep love for Izanami bore a child—one that broke his heart." Tiamat sighed. "The newborn was too powerful, too uncontrollable. He burned his mother to death while she delivered him, and the poor Izanagi watched it all, powerless. But rage quickly overwhelmed him. He cleaved his child in eight pieces, each creating a new Kami. And this." She pointed at the flask. "Is what remains of the monstrous Kami of fire, Kagutsuchi."

Adam twisted his lips. What kind of horrible story was that? It stretched morality a little too much, even for him. Was the child guilty enough to deserve to be killed in the crib, or was Izanagi’s grief sufficient to justify the act? He didn’t know. Better, he didn’t even want to think about it.

Shaking his head and exhaling, he whispered. "Thank everyone for the gifts."

Tiamat slapped his back, grinning. "Don’t mind it. They’re all eager to see you join our planning reunions once you’re powerful enough."

She nudged him toward his room, her voice softening before she surprised him with a hug. "I’m glad you’ve returned in one piece. I-I almost choked when Hades and Zeus teamed up to kill you."

Adam enjoyed her warm embrace for a second, feeling her genuine worry as she continued. "I wanted to help, but... I’m barely stronger than the chained Titans. Even the others couldn’t contend against these two monsters. So..." She brushed his hair like a mother would, her voice cracking. "Do you regret contracting me?"

"That’s unlike you, Tiamat." Adam pulled back, a playful smile curving his lips, but his fingers tightening on Kusanagi. "Shouldn’t you be cursing Zeus?"

She chuckled. "I did so much that the bastard cut his chat off."

"Hahaha." He pushed his room’s door open, whispering. "You know how I value loyalty. I won’t regret anything if you don’t betray me."

"I won’t. We’re in this together. Good luck with your evolution." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

He saw her clutch her chest and smile as he closed the door. He moved to his chair by the window and splashed the sparkling water on his face. The cold dissolved his doubts and emotions. It was time to evolve, and he needed none of them to distract him.

A moment later, the materials he had just gotten sparkled on his bed, each placed to touch his body in an almost ceremonial circle before he brushed his interface panel, excitement rumbling in his chest. This was it. The moment he’d reach his final form. Still, he prayed inwardly not to look like an ugly dragon again!

[Evolution materials detected: Tiamat’s condensed essence, Mab’s wing, Apep’s molted skin, Eris’ apple of discord, Kagutsuchi’s blazing essence.]

[Use to evolve? Yes/No.]

He slid under his blankets, ready for the long sleep that would follow. Yet another notification burst louder than the others.

[Additional material detected: Yamata-no-Orochi’s tail.]

Confused, his wide eyes darted between the materials. Since when did he have the eight-headed serpent’s tail? However, he found nothing except...

Kusanagi’s cold metal pressing in his palm drew his attention instinctively. But why? It was a blade.