Lucifer opened his eyes before dawn; it was the next day, but still dark outside. Sleep had eluded him, replaced by the thoughts that had filled his mind throughout the night. Gears shifted as an outline of a plan formed within him. He stood up from the bed he had slept on. He shared the same bed as Seraphina, though Seraphina's subordinates had brought in a bed last night. It was not possible to sleep on different beds, as the bed in Seraphina's room was Emperor-sized, measuring 8 by 8 feet.
Using his eyes, he scanned the room and then her, wanting to ascertain if she was asleep so she wouldn't hear him. He could see her aura was extremely stable, confirming she was indeed asleep. He went as far as he could before the pain struck again. Then he activated another feature of his treasured Eye of the Abyss. This ability allowed him to summon demons of various kinds: lesser demons, high demons, demon nobility, and more. It also connected him to a realm called the Abyss, where he could store his captured demons and summon different kinds from there.
Lucifer focused on summoning his most powerful demons and began to chant the spell. In the game, every spell had a chant; it was not like normal games where you just pressed a key. The design aimed to make the experience feel more realistic.
"Blessed with the power of death, I invoke you to gaze into my abyss. Hereby, I summon the Seven Deadly Sins." His purple eyes shone with dazzling brilliance, and a black vortex appeared. Seven figures emerged from it, 10 feet away from him, and knelt after coming toward him.
They were:
Avaris, the Sin of Greed: A tall, handsome male demon dressed in a robe adorned with various jewels and precious metals. He had a glimmering bag full of precious gems. His eyes glinted with a mix of ambition and something sinister, making him look both regal and dangerous.
Sedare, the Sin of Lust: A beautiful female demon with long, flowing crimson hair, wearing a tight-fitting red gown that accentuated her curves. Her sultry eyes drew attention, and her enchanting smile hinted at her seductive nature.
Furios, the Sin of Wrath: A muscular male demon with wild red hair and fierce, glowing eyes. He wore dark armor that looked battle-worn and held two battle axes, exuding the presence of a barbarian king. His tense posture suggested he was ready for battle at a moment's notice.
Lethis, the Sin of Sloth: A female demon dressed in loose, comfortable robes, with a relaxed posture. Her heavy-lidded eyes suggested she could fall asleep at any time, yet there was a hint of cunning in the way she observed everything around her
.Gulthor, the Sin of Gluttony: A large, round demon with deep purple skin, carrying a bag filled with food. He munched on various treats, his face smeared with sauces, showcasing his indulgent nature.
Arrogantus, the Sin of Pride: A striking figure with a straight posture and an air of confidence. He wore a fancy outfit that displayed his wealth, and his golden hair shone. His icy blue eyes reflected his belief that he was superior to everyone else.
Jealith, the Sin of Envy: Dressed in dark green and black, her sharp features framed by dark hair. Her green eyes were always watching others with a look of longing, as if she wished to take what they had.
These top demons had helped him become the current Demon Lord, serving as his main force in overcoming all who opposed him in the game. They had been NPCs, but he wondered if they would act like normal people in this world.
He inquired, "Who are you?"
"We are your servants, my lord," they replied simultaneously.
Lucifer nodded in satisfaction; they seemed like real people here. He spoke to Gulthor, "Will you stop eating?" Though dissatisfied, Gulthor nodded. Lucifer then issued an order: "Kill that princess over there."
Furios was the first to move toward her with intent to kill, but just as the words left his mouth, a sharp pain struck him again. His knowledge of summoning increased; he realized he could neither harm her nor ask someone else to do so. He needed someone to act on their own volition to harm her.
"Stop! Stop! Don't do it," he commanded.
Furios paused and gazed back at him, puzzled. "No need to kill her, Now." Lucifer had a meaningful smile as he gestured for him to come back and then he addressed the Seven Sins, "I want you to spread throughout this empire, slowly gather information, and secretly form an organization. We have to take over. Do you understand?"
He also handed them a ring from his storage ring. This was the Ring of Undead, capable of summoning infinite undead skeletons, mages, fighters, cavalry, and more, as long as it was supplied with enough mana.
The Seven nodded, with Arrogantus stepping forward to take the ring, and then he flew out from the window of the princess's suite, which was 20 feet away from Seraphina's bed. The others followed him. Yes, they could fly, and so could Lucifer, but only for a short time. Saints could only fly for a limited duration, while Saint Lords, one rank above him, could fly as much as they wanted. All his summons were one rank higher than him, yet he could still control them because he had raised them and invested many resources in them, along with his other summons.
Raising seven Saint Lords and numerous Saints that matched his own level was no easy feat; he had achieved this through sheer will and countless hours of grinding through infinite dungeons and God knows how many quests. That was why he was one rank shorter; if not for that, he might have already reached godhood, which was two ranks above him.
He approached his bed and checked on Seraphina. Seeing she was still asleep, he lay down as well. One thought crossed his mind: his pet should also be here, right? He needed to take him out of the castle. At least there would be someone to share his feelings with in such a world.
With those thoughts swirling in his mind, he eventually drifted into an unknowing sleep.
As dawn broke, a gentle light crept into the chamber, filtering through the curtains from the far end of the room where the window resided. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the designs on the wall, casting a soft glow around the room. Still, Lucifer clung to his sleep, shrouded in the comforts of his dreams. He was exhausted by all the planning he had done last night.
Suddenly, a soft knock resonated from the door, slicing through the calm and quiet morning. It was the maids of the palace here to wake Seraphina and help her with her daily tasks.
"Your Highness, it's morning. May I enter to assist you in preparing for the day?" No reply came, so the maid said again, "Your Highness, are you awake? Shall I bring in your bathing and dressing attendant, Princess? We're ready whenever you are."
Still, no reply came. She carefully asked again, "Is there anything wrong, Your Highness? Is there danger? Do you need some help?"
Seraphina began to stir, her eyelids fluttering open. "Wait!" she shouted loudly, fearing the maid would come in otherwise. A flicker of awareness passed over her face as she realized the proximity between her and Lucifer, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment.
Lucifer stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Seraphina's body next to him. Their bodies were almost intertwined under the sheets. He saw her face was flushed and slowly backed away. "Who is it disturbing me in the morning?" Lucifer said.
"They are my maids; they are here to help me get ready."
"Oh, then what's the problem?"
"Go and get ready."
"Did you forget you cannot stay more than 5 feet away? I cannot let anyone know you were in my personal quarters all night. My dreams of getting the empire will be shattered before even taking one step toward it."
"Don't worry, I can go invisible; no one will be able to see me."
"Good, do it then." She heaved a sigh of relief.
Lucifer used another of his chants. In the game, it had a cooldown, but after he had come here, he noticed one thing: he could use any of his spells without cooldown as long as he chanted the spell and constantly provided it mana. He chanted, "Shadows unseen, conceal my form, shroud me in the veil of the void." And just like that, Lucifer disappeared.
Seraphina took a look around and nodded in satisfaction. Now no one would be able to see him, but she was also concerned with one thing: how would she bathe then? She said loudly toward the door, "Come in."
Five maids entered the chamber and looked towards Seraphina. They all bowed and said, "Your Highness, shall we go?" She nodded and followed them toward the bathroom, and Lucifer followed her, still invisible.