As I chatted with Elizu, I discovered that in The Demon King Rises world, there weren't just one, but three demon kings - and I was one of them! This revelation was a far cry from what I had read in the game's synopsis, which only mentioned one demon king. Apparently, due to a bug, three of us were ruling over different parts of the world: me, the demon king of the south, and two others, the demon king of the north and the demon king of the west, each commanding our territories independently.
Instead of a linear path with just one final boss, the game had become an open world adventure. As a hero, I would have had the freedom to choose how to progress and face the demon kings, but as a demon king myself, my options were limited. Still, I couldn't complain - it was pretty cool being a final boss.
Under my command were five loyal commanders, with Elizu being the most devoted. However, the others followed me mainly because of my strength, which had been maxed out to the extreme. Whoever had balanced the game had gone overboard with my stats. Not only was I one of the final bosses, but my abilities even surpassed those of Elizu, my strongest commander.
Elizu, a half-succubus-half-human, was a fierce swordswoman, but not exactly a master of her succubus powers. It was clear to everyone that she was completely obsessed with me, and didn't give anyone else a second thought. I wasn't complaining - who doesn't love a little attention? However, no one dared to make a move on her because she was the strongest of the bunch, and everyone saw me as her "husband." It was like a forbidden fruit.
As for me, well, let's just say that succubus romance wasn't really my thing. I was a demon king, but not a freak.
There was also Azazel, who followed me blindly as the "pinnacle of strength." But I had to keep my guard up around him. He was a master of illusion and manipulation, and if I ever showed a hint of weakness, he'd be the first to abandon me. So I had to keep up the facade of being the perfect leader, always strong and never showing a crack in my armor. After all, in this game, losing your army of demons was no joke.
As I stepped into the dojo, I couldn't help but admire the rows of swords lining the walls. Elizu stood in the center of the room, her sword at the ready. She turned to face me and gave a small smile, her long red hair flowing gracefully down her back.
But as I looked closer, I noticed something odd about the dojo. There were subtle touches of succubus influence scattered throughout the room, from the red silk curtains to the suggestive paintings on the walls. It was like a hidden message, reminding me of Elizu's true nature.
I cleared my throat, trying to focus on the task at hand. "So, this is your area of command, huh?" I said, gesturing around the dojo.
Elizu nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, it is. As you can see, swords are my specialty. But I also have a few tricks up my sleeve."
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh, really? Like what?"
Elizu winked, showing her succubus side. "A girl has to have some secrets, doesn't she?"
I couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy with Elizu's advances towards me. After all, she was half-succubus, and her powers of seduction were not to be underestimated. But, as a responsible gamer, I knew better than to let myself be carried away by such things.
"Calm down, I'm only 16 years old, and she's just an NPC," I reminded myself, trying to shake off the temptation.
But it wasn't only her seductive powers that made me nervous. There was also something about the dojo that gave me the creeps. It was dark, mysterious, and had subtle touches of succubus influence everywhere. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something about this place just didn't feel right.
"Better show me around the dojo... I mean, your area," I said, trying to distract myself from my thoughts.
Elizu nodded and led me through the dojo, showing me the various swords and techniques that she had mastered. But as we walked deeper into the dojo, I noticed that she was hiding something.
"So, what's behind this door?" I asked, pointing to a closed room.
Elizu hesitated but eventually gave in and opened the door. Inside, I saw something that surprised me - my own paintings, which she had been secretly collecting.
"So, Master, it's been some time since your last visit, and I've taken the liberty of making a few changes around here," Elizu said, trying to conceal a room from my view.
"Interesting," I said, trying to hide my shyness. "Show me more."
As we explored the dojo, I couldn't help but notice the subtle touches of succubus influence everywhere. It was almost as if Elizu was trying to seduce me through the environment itself. But despite her best efforts, I knew better than to let myself be tempted. After all, I was just a gamer, and she was just an NPC.
Elizu's area was a strange blend of dojo and succubus, with her all-female subordinates lurking around, except for me. She hated men, but I guess I was the exception to the rule. Although, let's be clear here, I'm not going to do anything with her - she's an NPC, and I'm not that kind of guy.
"My master," Elizu suddenly spoke up. "I know that the current times are tough with the summoning of heroes, but I want you to know that I will always be by your side no matter what." She looked at me with a gaze that could melt steel.
I felt a bit uncomfortable. If she weren't an NPC, I'd be in trouble. But, hey, I'm not that kind of guy. I'm too principled for that. Still, I couldn't help but wonder what Elora and Emma were up to.