'This was no dream'
Dah was sure of that now.
Ever since he had been summoned to this world he could feel it. His humanity had slowly been fading. Replaced with a desire for power, respect, and destruction.
Dah wasn't afraid of these feelings but rather embraced them.
'I always did love being the bad guy'
After his collapse he had been bedridden for nearly a week racked with intense agony. His body was going through an even more extreme transformation. His already sculpted muscles became harder and began revealing striations that seemed to ripple when he moved. His mind seemed sharper then before.
He had gotten used to his daily routine. Annabelle would bring him his meals and books about this world that he had requested. Through these books he had learned a great many things.
'Power is the way I survive'
What that meant in this world Dah was not yet sure of but he knew it was something he would obtain, that he had in fact already obtained.
This world was divided into three main kingdoms the Demon Lords Domain (located in the North), the Kingdom of Anavir, which was controlled by humans (located in the West), and the Territory of Kilore, which was inhabited by demi humans and beastmen (located in the East).
The three kingdoms were constantly at war with each other and due to their relative equal strengths no one could gain the upper hand. This was in large part Dah discovered thanks to the work of the Goddess who controlled this world.
In no small part the current war lay squarely on the Goddess. As Ral'guud had said even the Goddesses need their entertainment. This left Dah much to speculate on what the other Gods and Goddesses thought of this.
'Perhaps they just don't care.'
Annabelle interrupted his thought process by walking into the room, "It's time."
Nodding Dah stood up and got dressed into his usual outfit. As he had suspected the shirt and pants he wore did indeed possess magical enhancements. They possessed both blade and magic resistance. Today he also put on a black cape with a blood red trim. This cape boosted magical abilities and mana production.
He followed Annabelle out the door as he reflected back on his first conversation with her after he had collapsed.
…
"Their is a price to pay for power"
Racked in agony Dah could only agree.
"Most Demon Lords obtain this power that has been passed on through the years by displaying themselves proudly on the battlefield. Performing many great feats and taking many lives."
She continued, "For you to receive the full effects of the power that's been transferred to you and to help keep the Demon Lords Domain from being overrun from invaders you will have to also claim many souls as your own."
"Souls can either be taken through force when you claim someone's life on the battlefield. Or they can be taken when someone gives you theirs freely. Once a soul has been given it can not be taken back."
"The strength of a soul varies but usually souls freely given are more powerful then those that are claimed." She paused, "but since they are much harder to receive a Demon Lord will need to claim many lives to reach his peak power."
"Ral'guud was only able to transfer some percentage of his power into you and the rest will need to be recovered through obtaining these souls."
"Souls whether beastmen, demihuman, or human are all relatively comparable in power. Other magical creatures souls are usually larger as some such beasts souls may be well worth over 1000 humans, but such beasts are few and far between. Demons are the only known race without a soul."
'Perhaps if demons are the only race without a soul that's why we everyone is so desperate to get their hands on one'
"You are an exception to this rule since you were originally a human. A Demon Lord with a soul.. should be able to generate far more power then any previous Demon Lord has. Ral'guud was convinced that you would be the key to tipping the balance in the scales of war."
'I may very well be at one point but it sounds like I'm pretty weak right now'
As if reading his mind Annabelle continued, "Even a Demon Lord that hasn't absorbed countless souls is still a demon. They will be among the strongest on the battlefield."
"So when do I get my first soul?" Dah asked.
"After you've recovered there's a mixed village to the west that we have purposefully left untouched as a sacrifice for you."
"Mixed?"
Explaining that it meant that the village was comprised of a mixture of races from this world, Dah slowly drifted off to sleep. Consumed by the tiredness that was taking it's toll on his body.
…
According to Annabelle the village numbered only around 40 inhabitants and didn't possess a fighting force, although it was normal in this world for most households to have some type of weapon with which to defend themselves even if it was just a short sword or some form of hunting bow.
One of the spells he had inherited from Ral'guud, along with his power, was teleportation but unfortunately this was a mana intensive spell and it only worked on places he had been before. Seeing as how he had never set foot outside of his castle to this point he would have to get there the old fashioned way.
Riding Nucleus. Nucleus was a rare breed of animal that resembled a warhorse. It's species, the Strivico, were quadrupedal and had a jet black hide, eyes were tinted red, and usually were about 1.5 times the size of an average horse. Nucleus however was rare among rare and stood easily twice as large as the largest horse Dah had ever seen. Unfortunately there were not many left as they had been driven to nearly extinction due to their nightmarish appearance. However in the Demon Lords Domain they were welcomed.
Due to the large size of the Strivico what might've taken 5 days of marching, could be completed in a half day trip.
This meant he would be gone for about 3 days. One day to ride out, one day to slaughter, and one day to return.
Dah certainly held no animosity towards the inhabitants of the village but they would become a stepping stone on his rise to power.
'Really they should feel honored.'