[Evolution Points: 1,213,749,732]
“1.2 billion points!”
Since he had evolved his Psionic Chitin Armor from Level 7 to Level 8 just before the fight with Kuralgal, he had earned 1.2 billion points from this single battle.
‘Should I undergo species evolution, or create a special entity?’
Choi Kangjoong fell into a happy state of indecision.
The option that appealed to him more was the special entity.
‘Since I captured Duke Akirif, the Demon Realm won’t just sit still. A Demon Duke might step in. Maybe even a Legion Commander…’
If he were to fight a Demon Duke, he would likely have to deal with several Demon Dukes using Great Magic at the same time. To reduce the consumption of nutrients in such a scenario, he needed to secure more entities like Lutal.
‘A Giant Class seems better than a Warrior Class.’
A Giant Class special entity could use the power from its massive body to sweep away Demon Barons and Demon Counts alike. Since subordinate demons were essential for maintaining Great Magic, the magic would naturally dissipate as they were eliminated.
‘Should I just produce a Titan Class special entity?’
The Titan Class special entity known as Earthshaker possessed a massive physique and strength capable of causing earthquakes, just as its name suggested. It seemed like a good idea to use Earthshaker’s overwhelming physical power to deal with demons using Great Magic.
‘No. Even so, nothing can match the versatility of Lutal and Booster.’
Even though it was a combination of two special units, only Lutal was capable of excelling in one-on-one combat while also being able to shred Dimension Ships, Dragons, and mages thanks to its flight ability. Above all, the Brutal Lord Lutal was the representative unit of the Apocalid and Choi Kangjoong’s favorite special entity.
‘I’ll produce one more Lutal and then start production on other Apocalids.’
The nutrients obtained from the Orcs, the Goblins they brought along, the Dimension Boars, and from devouring the dimension itself were substantial. It was enough to produce fifteen Hive Class Apocalid units.
‘I could even open the Colony Class, but it’s still too early for that.’
The Colony Class was a colossal Apocalid on the scale of a dimension. It was comparable to the Bluestone Fortress or an Island Whale. Its Breath was naturally more powerful than a Hive Class, and its dimensional erosion speed was much faster.
‘I’ll raise Kuongi into a Colony Class. I should also produce plenty of Giants, Titans, and Super Titans.’
To properly support a Hive Class, he needed at least 100 Super Titans. Only then could they form a solid defensive wall that would allow no enemy intrusion during dimensional erosion. Since he had significantly increased the number of Walkers and Scouts, it was time to produce more high-rank classes.
“3,000 Giants, 500 Titans, and forty Super Titans.”
With this, he would have a total of 5,000 Giants, 800 Titans, and fifty Super Titans.
**[Production of Apocalid units complete in 750:00:00]**
“Now it takes over a month.”
Choi Kangjoong decided to wait patiently. Having consumed so much “delicious food,” there was no reason to rush.
“I wonder how the demons will react.”
Choi Kangjoong sent Kai to the Demon Realm and waited for him to bring back information.
***
A massive dimension located at the center of the Demon Realm.
As the largest and most developed place even within the Demon Realm, which governed countless dimensions, it served as the capital and the venue for the Legion Meeting. Even the Legion Commanders who normally traveled outside would come to the capital at this time to decide the major affairs of the realm.
There was an exception.
The Ruin Legion Commander, true to being a demon obsessed with battle, remained on the battlefield and sent a Demon Duke as a proxy to the Legion Meeting.
In the meeting room where three Commanders and one Duke were gathered, long debates and arguments ensued over every agenda item. The voting power of the Ruin, Chaos, and Immortal Legions was roughly equal. Although the Ruin Legion was represented by a Duke, their status as the strongest legion made that possible.
The Greed Legion, the weakest of them all, could not even speak up. Whatever they said was usually ignored.
As the meeting grew more heated, the Outer Mind was mentioned.
“So, this fellow called the Outer Mind captured Duke Akirif?”
Chaos Legion Commander Luciana said indifferently.
To the naked eye, Luciana looked like a blue-skinned Elf. She didn’t wear flashy decorations or armor, making her look perfectly ordinary. However, even while her Demonic Energy was suppressed, anyone who saw her ocean-like power would never call her an ordinary Elf. Possessing such immense strength, she felt no particular emotion over the capture of a mere Duke.
“Duke Akirif? Which legion does he belong to?”
Immortal Legion Commander Osmalla asked. Seven Life Vessels, symbolic of his status as an Archlich, orbited around him.
“He is a demon under my command,” Greed Legion Commander Slein said with a frown. He knew exactly what the other Commanders were about to say.
“What’s the big deal about a single Demon of Greed getting captured?”
“Exactly. You should have spent less time hoarding wealth and more time gathering troops.”
Chaos Legion Commander Luciana and Immortal Legion Commander Osmalla mocked him.
“I knew you’d say that. But this Outer Mind is not someone to be taken lightly.”
“And your evidence is?” Luciana asked.
“Ladespina died by his hand.”
“Any of our legions could do that much. Well, except for the Greed Legion.”
“That’s not all. Silvius has made contact with him.”
“That Dark Elf?”
Chaos Legion Commander Luciana finally showed some interest. Silvius, the executor of Crystal Silica who called herself a princess, was an opponent even Luciana could not afford to underestimate. Their existence was one of the reasons the demons looked down on the Enterprise Union. Compared to them, the Enterprise Union was close to a primitive civilization.
“Yes. He is someone we must either crush before he becomes a subordinate of Silica or before he grows any larger.”
“It would be troublesome if he receives the blessing of Silica,” Immortal Legion Commander Osmalla said, stroking his jewel-encrusted chin with a skeletal finger.
“However, I believe it was the Greed Legion that first provoked the Outer Mind.”
“The one who fought the first major battle was Duke Royal of the Chaos Legion.”
The two Commanders looked at Luciana.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You said two Archdukes are involved. We can just send them both.”
“You mean Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock. We can appoint them as commanders and have the Greed Legion provide support.”
Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock were the demons who had supported Duke Royal. They were a Demon of Chaos and an Immortal Demon, respectively, and were two of only twelve such beings in the vast Demon Realm. The military force those two Archdukes could mobilize on their own amounted to 5% of the Demon Realm’s total strength. If they received support from the Greed Legion and borrowed troops from allied demons, they could potentially utilize 10% of the Demon Realm’s power.
“No objections, right?”
The three Commanders agreed, and the proxy for the Ruin Legion Commander was unlikely to refuse a war. The decision of the Legion Meeting was quickly delivered to Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock. They were also in the capital because of the meeting.
“This is actually for the best. It was hard to just sit by and watch the Humans, Elves, and Metra grow so rapidly.”
“I’ll be able to increase my Undead.”
Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock enjoyed the situation. For a Demon of Chaos, causing chaos was the greatest joy, and an Immortal Demon would do anything if it helped achieve eternal life. To an Immortal Demon, the Undead were like spare batteries; the more they had, the better.
That didn’t mean they planned to take it lightly. This was a task entrusted by the Legion Commanders. If they failed, they could lose their positions as Archdukes.
“Archduke Luderlock, I have a good idea.”
“What is it?”
“The Outer Mind is interested in the Devil of Devouring. Go capture it.”
“That is a simple task, but wouldn’t it be faster if you did it yourself?”
In the Demon Realm, no demon would do a favor for another without compensation.
“I plan to shake up their rear. It just so happens that an Elf named Iselin is having her coronation, which is a perfect opportunity.”
“That’s not enough. That only benefits you as a Demon of Chaos.”
“I will give you the Dark Elf with the Death Spirit without any conditions.”
“With those terms, I can agree.”
The light in Luderlock’s eyes intensified. To an Immortal Demon, a Death Spirit was like an elixir of life.
The two demons left the capital early, even before the Legion Meeting had fully concluded. They gathered scattered demons and magic beasts and assembled Dimension Ships. Since the combined territory of the two Archdukes was ten times larger than the Akirif Duchy, even that took quite some time.
Archduke Ventresca secretly sent Duke Manfried to the Enterprise Union. He was a demon skilled in schemes and had shown excellent results in wars against other demons, earning Ventresca’s trust. He was to reorganize the Disorder, which had almost vanished from the Union, and carry out terrorism and sabotage.
Using the assets left behind by Disorder, Duke Manfried disguised himself as an Elf businessman and infiltrated Marsala.
***
There were several reasons why Iselin had delayed her coronation even after recovering the Spirit Tree. First, the losses to the fleet were significant, making it difficult to put on a proper show for the ceremony. It was better to not show anything at all than to show a pathetic, small number of Dimension Ships.
The threat from the Demon Realm also remained. A coronation for a High Elf would naturally draw countless Elves and Humans, making it an ideal environment for terrorism. Cost was also an issue. Having just returned to Marsala, the Nachromel family was poor, so most of the settlement support for the Dark Elves was being provided by the Derael family.
The cost of rebuilding the fleet was also considerable. Although Serad was building the Dimension Ships at what was practically a giveaway price, Dimension Ships were inherently expensive items. Additionally, there were emotional reasons regarding her parents and her busy schedule with the creation of the raid party.
To her, ensuring the safety of the Marsala Elves as a member of the Derael family took precedence over her coronation.
However, as of now, most of those problems had either disappeared or faded. The fleet reconstruction was nearly finished, and the Akirif Duchy was gone. Disorder had been crushed through the joint efforts of the Enterprise Union’s secret intelligence agency and Choi Kangjoong.
Then, Serad sent word that he had nearly completed Iselin’s new flagship. If she had that Dimension Ship, which was twice the size of the Divine Arrow, it would be appropriate for announcing the majesty of the Derael family.
Once the conditions were met, Iselin ordered preparations for the coronation. She requested that the exterior be finished first, leaving the interior for later. Serad boasted that it could be done before the ceremony.
Not only M2721, but every Elf in the Derael family grew busy. Since it was the day the respected High Elf Iselin would finally become Queen, there could not be a single mistake. Even Arthil, who was almost always with Iselin, was busy moving about.
Arthil kept a particularly close eye on EEE. The Elf extremist organization was unlikely to stay quiet during an event where Humans and Dark Elves were also attending.
While every Elf associated with the Derael family was in an uproar, Choi Kangjoong was waiting in his room for the mass production of the Apocalids to finish.
‘Iselin’s coronation is coming up soon. I should give her a gift. I wonder what would be good?’
Choi Kangjoong paced the room, wondering what Iselin would like. A few things came to mind.
‘I think Iselin would like a big, powerful Dimension Ship. But what she’d like most would be the heads of demons, right? The stronger and more numerous, the better.’
Conveniently, the mass production of the Apocalids had finished. He now had 800 Titans and fifty Super Titans. It was a scale similar to the fleet Duke Royal had organized with the support of Archduke Ventresca and Archduke Luderlock. If he fought that fleet again with this force, he could devour them all with almost no losses.
‘Should I turn Kuongi into an Anti-Demon Fleet?’
He could add one trait to the Apocalid fleet led by a Hive Class. If he chose to increase resistance to Demonic Energy or increase attack power against demons, they could become even stronger against them.
‘Let’s move for now. I’ll think about what’s best on the way.’
“Ku-eong.”
Kuongi, who carried two Lutals — one of which would soon be completed — inside his belly, began to advance toward another Duchy located next to the Akirif Duchy along with numerous Apocalids.