Kiara stared at Lycius, her violet eyes glinting with amusement. Though she was created to love and revere him, she couldn't help but lift a hand to her face in a mock slap of exasperation.
Her lips parted, her tone both cheeky and forward, yet unmistakably laced with obedience.
"Master, really?" She sighed dramatically. "This was the easiest thing to figure out. I almost feel insulted that you'd ask me to investigate something so obvious."
Lycius simply stared at her, his golden gaze calm, unreadable, as he tried to discern where she was going with this.
She smirked, tilting her head slightly, as if waiting for him to piece it together himself. But when he didn't respond, she continued—
"Master, how could you overlook something so fundamental? This place—this entire city—is simply the heart of the kingdom, the Royal Capital." She gestured around them, her long, flowing violet hair shifting like liquid amethyst. "Destroying it might have meant you've crushed its core, but the kingdom itself? Oh no, it still stands."
Her eyes gleamed, enjoying her moment of playful correction.
"Each kingdom is divided into provinces, governed by Lords who rule on behalf of the King or Queen. These Lords aren't just decorative pieces, Master. They hold real power, real influence. A kingdom typically has anywhere from twenty to eighty provinces, depending on its size and strength."
She took a step closer, lowering her voice just slightly, as if sharing a delicious secret.
"This particular kingdom? Fifty provinces—including this one, the Royal Capital. And guess what? The moment you razed this place to the ground, every single one of those Lords probably started scrambling to put together a counterattack."
She chuckled, resting a delicate finger against her lips. "In fact, they're probably preparing an ambush as we speak, thinking they can take you down before you get to them."
Lycius smirked, a cruel amusement flickering through his eyes. "An ambush?" He echoed, more to himself than to her.
"Who in their right mind would try to ambush someone who destroyed the Royal Capital without even breaking a sweat?"
He scoffed at the thought. The very idea was laughable.
But something else now occupied his thoughts. The vastness of the kingdom.
"If it's as big as you say," he murmured, tapping his fingers against his arm, "then that hinders my plans." His gaze flicked toward Xylara, who stood tense, silent.
"Considering how weak she is, I had planned to be done with the betrayal in a few hours. But with a kingdom this size, it looks like I'll have to make some adjustments."
His thoughts brushed against Kiara's mind, his voice echoing through their link.
"How many of the Desire Kind are there?"
Kiara's response was immediate, her voice calm and measured, as if reciting a simple fact rather than condemning an entire race.
"Approximately eighty-point-four-one million, Master. However, only twenty-point-five-one million are situated within this kingdom. The rest are scattered across various other kingdoms. Quite a small number, considering the kingdom's vastness."
Lycius suddenly coughed—a dry, sarcastic sound, utterly unprepared for the sheer magnitude of the number she had just dropped.
Regaining his composure, his expression darkened, his mental voice turning venomous, wrathful, and commanding.
"After my departure with Xylara, you will begin the purge."
Kiara grinned in delight at his words.
"Kill as many as you can. Your kill count should not be anything less than five million." His voice was absolute, merciless. "I'll deal with the rest once Xylara tires out."
A pause. Then his tone deepened, thick with cruel pleasure.
"And Kiara… make sure they suffer."
Her smile widened.
"Remind them of their sins."
"Make them regret ever following a woman who betrayed my mother."
His voice dipped lower, promising devastation. "They should die in agony, drowning in sorrow and despair."
Kiara's violet eyes gleamed as she placed a hand over her heart, bowing gracefully.
"As you command, Master."
Lycius's grin was slow, dark, intoxicating.
Then, as an afterthought, he added, "Oh, and don't kill any of the Lords. Capture the few you encounter."
His golden gaze flickered with something cold and calculating.
"They'll make fine gifts for my mother and aunt."
Kiara laughed softly, the sound almost melodic—except for the wickedness buried within it.
Her Master's desires resonated within her very being.
She was, after all, born from his will alone.
Lycius might still be possess restrictions from the seal his mother and aunt had placed on him, a lingering suppression of his true nature…
But even in this state, his cruelty was already breathtaking.
And Kiara couldn't wait to watch him fully embrace it.
Lycius's Drakonix Aetheria wings unfolded with a slow, deliberate grace—an ethereal masterpiece of divine supremacy. Their sheer presence commanded attention, the very air vibrating with the immense power they exuded. Majestic, mesmerizing, terrifying.
Even Xylara, despite her attempts at composure, found herself momentarily spellbound, her violet eyes widening in awe before she forced herself to recover.
Yet, her moment of trance did not go unnoticed.
"Xylara. Follow me."
His command was absolute, leaving no room for hesitation.
Without a word, Xylara unfurled her own succubus-purple wings, the dark, leathery appendages flaring out as she swiftly ascended to his side.
From below, Kiara let out an exaggerated sigh.
And then—a deliberate, sarcastic slap to her own face.
Her master had forgotten something. Again.
Her violet eyes twinkled with mock disappointment as she seamlessly transferred the precise locations of the remaining provinces into Lycius's mind.
The moment the information reached him, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Perfect."
Kiara's violet hair shimmered like flowing amethyst, her smile playful yet full of unwavering devotion.
Then, without another word, Lycius reached into the void.
Reality warped.
Darkness curled and twisted around them, folding the very fabric of space itself—and in an instant, both he and Xylara were gone.
_______
When they reappeared, they were high above a vast city, sprawling with houses and intricate streets. Yet, despite its size, the atmosphere below was eerily subdued.
The streets held few wandering souls, and the ones present moved sluggishly, heads lowered, eyes vacant. The city seemed void of life, its vibrancy dulled by an invisible weight.
Lycius observed in silence, his keen gaze sweeping over the scene before realization struck.
"Ah… of course."
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"They must be grieving their fallen Queen."
The thought amused him—the sight of a city mourning for a ruler unworthy of their loyalty.
But as his laughter lingered, an unsettling realization crept into his mind.
Why am I laughing at something so mundane?
It was unlike him.
He was not someone who found humor in the obvious. He did not waste thought on things so trivial.
And yet, here he was—chuckling at nothing.
Before he could dwell further, a holographic blue screen materialized before him, its glowing text answering his silent questions.
[System Notification: Explanation for Master's Uncharacteristic Laughter]
[Master's current childish mind leads to subconscious amusement at minor incongruities. Laughter stems from an instinctive recognition and resolution of perceived absurdities. This is a trait of youthful cognitive processing.]
[Solution: Manual evolution of Master's body to its prime state. Immediate mental and physical maturation will rectify this behavior.]
[Request: Permission to initiate manual body evolution.]
Lycius narrowed his eyes at the text, his thoughts turning sharp.
"I thought Kiara was the system… so why are you still here?" He asked telepathically, his voice laced with curiosity.
The system responded instantly—
[Lady Kiara has devoured and transformed me into a guardian spirit crafted from the Abyss, much like herself.]
[Like Lady Kiara, my sole purpose is to serve and honor Master. My existence is bound to your will.]
Lycius's expression remained unreadable.
"Another servant, then…?"
A brief pause.
"Do you also embody my will?"
[Yes, Master. I have reconstructed my very essence to reflect the embodiment of your will.]
Lycius let that answer settle, a slow, knowing smile curving his lips.
"Good."
His golden eyes gleamed, piercing through the void itself.
"Begin the process. I grant permission."
The moment the words left his mind, the air around him trembled—
And then, the transformation began.
_____________
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(A/N: This is the end of volume 1)