Chapter 1196
These are the rules of the Abyss: all creatures under a lord's command are their private property. In war, a defeated lord is either killed or forced into submission, and those legions become the spoils of the new master, to be used however they wish.
Word had already spread: several hundred kilometers away, a newly risen Bone Demon named Stell had appeared, his rise terrifyingly fast. In less than a year, he'd seized control of hundreds of kilometers of territory.
So high-profile, rising so quickly—other than the Bronze Orc Stell, Leon couldn't think of any other possibility...
Hadn't even gone to finish off that idiot, and he delivered himself right to my doorstep. Guess I'll just dispose of him while I'm at it...
A new territory awaited. Upon arrival, Leon discovered vast resources here—yet Stell hadn't cared about these treasures, so precious in the Northend World.
Because he simply had no way to take these resources with him...
When you finally leave the Abyss and reclaim your body, all you can take with you is your soul. Nothing here can be brought along.
But Leon could. These resources, so rare in the Northend World, were piled up and tossed into his demi-plane.
Leveling up slowly, Leon's path of conquest hadn't stopped. As long as he didn't perish, he'd eventually leave this place, so why worry? Better to grab as many precious resources as possible while he could.
A Level Thirty-Five Pureblood Hellfire Demon, commanding almost a thousand kilometers of territory. Once word spread that Leon had killed Stell, the nearby minor lords decisively chose to submit.
Then, upon learning that their new lord was a Pureblood Hellfire Demon with a penchant for collecting rare materials, a flood of precious resources was delivered to Leon as tribute.
Picking up the heartwood of an Abyssal Bloodthirst Tree, Leon watched as it was instantly charred to ash. He crushed the charcoal in his magma-covered hand and sighed softly.
No wonder Pureblood Hellfire Demon territories are always volcanic, filled with magma, or worlds thick with fire element and flames...
So many precious materials, most can't even be touched. Alchemical instruments burn to ash at the slightest contact, and even the hardest metals turn to molten iron in seconds...
No wonder alchemy can't thrive in the Abyss. Most demons can't even handle alchemical instruments. Except for those magic books made from powerful beast hides, everything else is destroyed by the magic clinging to their bodies the moment they touch it...
Come to think of it, that's exactly it. Abyssal magic books are themselves powerful magical artifacts. Books that can hold knowledge are extremely rare—each one is a magic item in its own right.
Leaving the warehouse full of rare materials, Leon glanced back at the charred doorway and sighed helplessly.
"Octavius, why has our conquest slowed down lately?"
Leon kicked Octavius, who was waiting outside the door, sending him flying. The scorching magma burned Octavius, eliciting a miserable scream.
Octavius, who had just evolved into a low-tier demon, scrambled over, a bit hesitant as he explained.
"Great master, your territory has now expanded to a range of two thousand kilometers. Of the eight neighboring minor lords, seven have already submitted, and the one who refused has been wiped out.
However, if you expand your territory any further, you'll encroach upon the Iron Fortress's domain. The rulers on all four sides are powerful demons—three are demon lords, and one is a level thirty-nine peak minor demon lord.
Their legions are formidable, and their numbers are vast. The northern ruler has already sent an envoy demanding your submission..."
As Octavius spoke, he kept a wary eye on Leon's expression. Seeing Leon's face darken slightly, he immediately added:
"But master, you are a mighty Pureblood Hellfire Demon! How could you ever submit to a Bone Demon? That damned envoy—he's already been dealt with and tossed to the crawlers as food.
And that idiot Bone Demon? Just wait until he's turned to charcoal by your glorious flames..."
Damn, good thing I was clever enough to capture that arrogant, hot-tempered envoy first. I knew master would never bow to a Bone Demon. A Bone Demon, of all things, daring to demand submission from a Pureblood Hellfire Demon—he must have a death wish.
His soul is destined to be thrown into the bottomless Abyss for torment. Yeah, once I leave, I'll personally deal with that foolish envoy. The taste of the Horned Demon isn't bad, though it's a bit too gamey. Whatever, I'll just toss him to the crawlers—those guys aren't picky. The great Octavius is a demon now, after all; I can't just go eating filthy scraps...
War ignites once again. The massive Abyssal legions are thrown into another drawn-out conflict. With over two thousand kilometers of territory, the number of abyssal creatures is more than enough to sustain this endless war.
These abyssal creatures are like weeds after a rain—give them something to eat, cut down a layer, and another springs up instantly. The battlefield is the perfect opportunity for these gluttonous fools to gorge themselves endlessly...
This war is destined to drag on. Leon continues to gulp down mana water, steadily raising his level.
Elsewhere, all across the world, demons of various races are emerging at a terrifying pace. Over a dozen different kinds have risen, each locked in constant battle.
The strongest humans and beastmen, after a year or two, have mostly reached level thirty or higher. With their experience of once breaking through to the Heavenly tier, even reincarnated as demons, they can still level up fast.
Resource plundering has become the only way to accelerate this process.
And to secure enough resources, you have to expand your territory. To expand territory, you have to wage war...
Not everyone is as unlucky as Leon, trapped in the center and surrounded by three demon lords and a near-demon lord.
Morgan’s luck is actually decent. He reincarnated in the underground world, a place of chaos and absolute darkness, where the Dark Demons have the highest bloodline.
In that labyrinthine underworld, he took down another Dark Demon and seized the dungeon. Resources flow to Morgan in abundance—anything that helps him level up is kept, and the rest is distributed to his demon followers.