30 minutes later.

We've finally reached it!!!! Anise shouts while preparing to run into the swamp only to be pulled back by Davien before she enters.

Hey, why did you do that?

Dangerous.

I'll be okay, lord made us stronger.

Still dangerous, even previous demon lords didn't dare to simply enter and leave like it's their home.

Fine fine.

Anyways lord, how are you supposed to make a shield big enough for us to hide in?

Hearing this, Xanis makes a shield, but it doesn't suffice despite being huge.

Lord, how about we try creating a shield too?

Unnecessary.

Then how?

Xanis starts creating a bunch of medium sized barriers enough to cover all of them easily.

Miss Xania, can I try hitting it to test if it can hold up against the curse?

Sure.

The death knight, Davien raises his sword before bringing it down on the barrier with all his strength, causing it to crack.

Is it strong enough?

Should be able to last a couple of days.

Good enough, let's go.

As Xania replaces the damaged barrier, they all set off into the cursed swamp looking for a way to create a home there safely.

So, where is this dead dragon you told me of?

Well…

Well?

I have no clue, it was just a rumor.

Does anybody here have a clue where it is?

Silence…

Fine, I'll set up a somewhat safe area here with shields, Anise you help to maintain it, the other three, protect her.

Ok, sure. Anise does a playful salute and watches as Xania expands the shields around them, filling the gaps up with more shields when they do appear as Xania uses her wings to fly up creating more shields around her while leaving her own safe area she made.

As Xania leaves, she sees Anise starting to supply the shields with mana as she starts going off to the center of the swamp to look for ways to remove this curse.

But it's strange, even though curses are part of dark magic, I don't sense any dark magic around here at all.

Xania continues moving into the center, encountering some not so intelligent monsters who evolved to the cursed and seem to be able to deal curse damage.

How weird.

As Xania keeps going in further, she finds the dead dragon Anise was talking about, reduced to just bones.

As Xania checks around its body, she finds traces of magic being used, similar to dark magic.

Was there an ability of dark magic I didn't know about?

Xania fly's back to Anise who's still maintaining the barrier easily as Graunter, Sliver and Davien kill any monsters approaching.

Lord, your back already?

Indeed, I have a question.

I'll answer to the best of my ability.

What are the abilities of dark magic?

Dark magic can attack, use curses and dilute the environment.

Dilute the environment?

It basically poisons the environment, preventing any living being from surviving for long.

Can a dragon use dark magic?

Some can.

I thought it was limited to demons only?

No, but it is mainly used by demons, so it is seen as evil, some humans also use it but it costs them to do so.

Costs them?

Such as sacrifices.

Like what I gave to Davien?

Indeed, they usually use other humans to do so.

No wonder they're seen as evil, anyways, how do I remove the poison caused by dark magic?

You need holy magic which we don't have. How annoying, but I guess if we make use of this, it can serve as protection.

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How?

Follow me.

Xania shrinks the barrier once again, using magic to levitate them all while maintaining the shield around them as she brings them to the center of the swamp with the dragon's skeleton.

Oh wow, that's a big skeleton, it must have been a fully grown adult.

Indeed.

It would be nice to keep it.

Do you want it?

You don't?

What would I do with it?

True…

You four decide how to distribute it amongst yourselves. Xania says while levitating the skeleton and using dark magic to destroy the ground below them in a couple kilometer radius, replacing it with new land using earth magic.

Lord… won't it just become poisoned again?

I controlled it, I only used enough mana for each shot for there to be no remaining mana.

Oh.

As for the rest of the mana in the air, I'll use wind magic to blow it all away.

But it'll affect other people.

Do you care or know them?

Not at all lord.

Seeing how dangerous this swamp is, I doubt they would dare enter to find the cause as long as the damage isn't too severe.

Xania starts materialising a castle in the center of the land she just made.

Lord, should you really be wasting your mana like this?

I have more than enough, and my mana recovery is fast enough if I concentrate it's even faster anyways.

Oh but lord you should be careful, how much of your mana is left?

Basically all.

Don't lie lord.

Fine, I'll show you later.

How?

Later. Everybody, I'll create a shield here but is there a way to sustain it?

A magic circle. Anise says.

A magic stone would be better. Davien says.

What are those things?

A magic stone can hold mana.

How much?

Depends on the toe of magic stone, with the most being able to hold an entire archmages mana.

An archmage?

They are humans who achieved the highest tier of a type of magic.

How many do they usually master?

Just one type like demons, but archmages are much rare in humans due to their shorter lifespan.

How many of these archmage do they have?

Currently one for every element with fighting capabilities except holy and dark magic.

Hmmm, seems worth it.

But a magic circle amplifys magic!! Anise argues back.

What do you mean?

It can amplify the strength of a magic as long as your magic circle is skilled enough, letting you easily maintain the shield for a low amount of mana.

Couldn't I just use both?

I guess but won't it take too long?

Not at all, teach me how to make a magic circle.

Sure, but it took me 3 months and even then, it was considered faster.

I'm a very fast learner.

Alright.

3 hours later.

My lord.

Yea? Xania asks while easily maintaining multiple magic circles at once and upgrading them to improve the efficiency non-stop.

This isn't fair!!!!! It took me 3 months but you 3 hours and you're already more skilled than me!!!

It was easy though?

Hearing that, Anise gets stuck between cussing at Xania and not doing so due to Xanias being the demon lord and her being her assistant.

Seeing this, Xania sighs and uses the familiar binding magic to give Anise her knowledge on magic circles, letting her see magic circles as easily as Xania does.

Lord, you didn't need to do that.

You didn't seem happy.

That wasn't true at all!!

I can feel your emotions vaguely from the familiar pact.

Oh, any emotions?

Any and all of them.

No exceptions?

Don't worry, I have no interest in what you feel when you think, feel or do when you think nobody is looking. Xania says calmly, making Anise look around at the other demons while embarrassed, flailing her arms about.

No guys, it's not what you think!! Anise says as they nod Their heads, despite having an expression that they don't first her.

But I'm a succubus, isn't it normal?!

Technically, after I gave you so much of my mana, controlling yourself shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Yea but I've been on the run for the past 25 years so I hadn't even had time to find a partner!!!

The only reason I'm saying this Infront of everyone is because you still keep drawing those pictures of me.

Yea, but the only person I can even do it with right now is you, and I'm not into women and I sure as hell doubt you are!

Actually, I have no clue seeing as the only demons I've seen are you four.

Then how about you just use seduction magic on me? It works, you know?

Why would I do that?

Then stop making fun of me!!!!

Fine, anyways we need a magic stone now, where do we get one?

To get one big enough for an area like this, we would probably need one from a dragon's den, but I doubt they would lend it.

Then let's go kill a dragon. Xania says while using magic to locate one.

Hey, I was joking, you know?

I wasn't, do you want to follow or stay here?

Do you need me?

No.

Then why ask me to follow?

Because you seem to like a dragon's body.

Oh yea, could you bring it back? And could you stop levitating the skeleton of the dead one?

Not until I create the shield.

Oh ok.

Anyways I'll be back, just stay right here.

Sure, just wait a mo… a moment… you still hadn't placed the Skeleton down. Anise finished her sentence despite Xania having teleported away mid sentence.

Xania starts approaching the dragon, s she finally reaches only to be treated by a breath of fire which she easily counters with water.

Demon, why are you here to taunt me?

How am I taunting you?

Is bringing a skeleton of my kin here not doing so?!

Ah right, forgot about this, no you see I found this.

Don't lie demon, where could a kin of mine having lived to have grown so large have died from so long that only bones are left?

The cursed swamp, I'm not here to argue, just give me your best magic stone and I'll be on my way.

Lies demons, even dragons can't survive in that swamp, how could you have done so?

Look, stop wasting my time and pay up.

The dragon breaths another breath of fire as it costs other magic at the same time, all of which Xania uses dark magic to counter and shoot the dragon back with a decent strength shot, injuring it greatly.

Pay up the magic stone, or I'll find it after your death.

You're not a normal demon, who are you?

What does it matter to you? Just give me what I need. Xania says while preparing hundreds of attacks made from dark magic, ready to shoot on her command.

As the dragon glares at Xania, looking as if it's about to attack again it simply goes back into its den and uses magic to throw a magic stone the size of Xania at her.

Now that I think about it, Anise also wanted a dragon body so I'll give you three choices, make a familiar contract with me, die or get a slave contract forced upon you.

This wasn't the agreement demon.

Choose now or die. Xania warns while making thousands more attacks.

A familiar contract. The dragon answers reluctantly, clearly unsatisfied with its current situation.

Very well.

Xania uses magic to force a familiar contract upon it, turning it's scales from a vibrant blue to a pitch dark black colour.

Why has your colour changed?

Are you mocking me?

No, I'm simply curious. Xania answers while getting rid of her magic.

Fine, it's because I can use dark magic now, making me into a demonic dragon, happy?

Can you transform into a humanoid figure?

Of course, transformation magic is simple for dragons. He says proudly.

What's your name?

Dragrove.

What a weird name.

Xania teleports the both of them back to the cursed swamp with Anise there, not surprised anymore due to all the crazy stunts she's seen Xania pull.

Here Anise, a dragon like you wanted. I'm going to set the shield up now so leave me alone.

Xania goes over to the center, setting up the magic circle and magic stone as she fills the magic stone up with her mana and uses wind magic to blow all the poisonous gas away while activating the shield.

Everybody, even the dragon, admires the shield as it starts shining, slightly rainbow in colour due to the quality of the magic circle and magic stone, providing highly concentrated mana, causing a slight rainbow color from the sun.

What a sight.

Indeed my lord, but you said you would show me how much mana you had earlier.

Not yet Anise, the dwarves are able to make magic items, yes or no?

Yes, why?

I need to provide you guys with a way out don't I?

I suppose but couldn't you just teleport us?

Indeed, but what about when I'm away or if other demons come and you're stuck in here?

… I suppose that would be a problem.

Good, you agree, let's go to the dwarves next, dragon. You stay here and decide if you want to serve me or not. If the answer is yes, you'll be serving Anise, if not, I'll kill you.