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「◈ 73rd Demon Lord, The Outcast Arzalon.」
「◈ Solomon's Calendar; Year 2001, Month 5, Day 2. 」
「◈ Arzalon's Dungeon, Lowest Floor (36th)」
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Vwooooooom...
The steady humming of an object nearby tickled my senses as I slowly began to open my eyes. The first thing that greeted my vision was the system message that filled the air in front of me.
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Welcome Demon Lord, Arzalon
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Like me, the other demon lords should be seeing the same thing. This message heralded the beginning of the war for the throne, to become the ruler of all demonkind. I dismissed the floating dialogue and looked around.
I'm really back in time, huh. The sensation of mana circulating through my entire body down to the littlest feeling of air gently brushing my skin was all shreds of evidence that I'm alive again. I looked to my left, locating where the humming sound was emanating from, and there I found it.
More beautiful and precious than any gemstone that humankind can even compare. A floating ball of pure condensed mana as big as my palm rotated steadily while occasionally pulsing a dim arcane light that illuminated the surroundings. This was the dungeon core, the control center of my dungeon.
I've lost you too early in my past life. I shall not make the same mistake again. I caressed the smooth surface of the core, and it began to shake gently with the light press of my fingers.
"Come out, Faro,"
An imp smaller than most of his kind emerged out of the dungeon core. He was about the same size as my palm. Tan skin and red horns with translucent wings akin to a butterfly's. One would mistake that he was a fairy, but that assumption was half correct and half mistaken.
Faro is a half-breed. On one sweet summer night, an imp and a fairy intertwined their bodies leading to the birth of this little guy. Those stupid parents very well knew that the demonkind didn't tolerate half-breeds.
Like I, Faro was an outcast. I treated him harshly in my past life due to him being a half-breed. Honestly, I was just venting out my hatred on him. Seeing another outcast kept reminding me that I was one myself.
"Your highness,"
Proper etiquette. I disregarded his talents due to our difference in caste. I admit that was stupid of me. He could've been much more useful in my past life if I didn't feed him to the hell hounds. I regret that decision, slightly, that is.
"Faro,"
He raised his head and gazed at me. Those arctic cold eyes were void of emotions, the only time he showed even the tiniest of spark in those eyes was when he was suffering the hellish jaws of the hounds.
"Tell me the details about the war for the throne,"
"This one shall state what your highness has asked for,"
Faro straightened his back and lifted one of his hands. A small purple magic circle rotated at his palm and activated. A parchment made of leather appeared out of thin air in front of him. He opened it and began to read.
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1. All 72 Demon Lords must participate in this war. Those who withdraw shall have their land and nobility taken from them.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
2. All Demon Lords' cultivation levels have been reduced to their lowest state so that an equal playing field is possible.
3. An appointed guide would be summoned for each Demon Lord. Each will be at the preference of each Demon Lord.
4. Each Demon Lord will be given a dungeon to gain strength from.
5. Humans will be granted varying powers to avoid their extinction.
6. To win the war, you can either exterminate all the other demon lords or unite them under your power.
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"This one has given all the crucial details,"
"Interesting."
I found out about the details a little too late in my past life. I thought it was an insult to my name as a Demon Lord to have a half-breed companion, which is why I avoided getting advice nor guidance from Faro.
"Calendar,"
「◈ Solomon's Calendar; Year 2001, Month 5, Day 2. 」
The war would rage on for about 40 years. Month 5, Day 2. 6 months from now, the humans would gain their powers and start entering our dungeons.
"Faro, do you know why there is a 6-month delay before the humans awaken their Luminescence?"
I noticed Faro's eyes widen a bit before returning to their normal state. Was I imagining things?
"This one knows, your highness,"
"Speak,"
"It is to give time to the Demon Lords to strengthen themselves. The humans are considered obstacles that would hinder the Demon Lords throughout the war,"
Faro spoke briefly.
"Strengthen ourselves, you say?"
"That is what this one has stated, your highness,"
If the other Demon Lord heard what Faro just said, his head wouldn't be attached to his neck anymore. It was like he was stating that the Demon Lords, the strongest of the demonkind, sacred and noble, would have a hard time against the inferior race of humanity.
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. I, too, was fooled by the frailty of humanity, but their boundless potential is capable of striking fear into the many hearts of the 1st ranked Demon Lord Baal.
"Faro, what's the purity of the lumina in my dungeon?"
"About 47%, your highness,"
47%, not an insufficient number, but it can do better. Our dungeon quality was based on our ranks. Being the 73rd meant I got the worst. The minimum purity of lumina for cultivating was 20%.
"Faro, lead me to the cultivating platform,"
"Follow this one, your highness,"
Faro bowed before turning his back at me, his little wings fluttering quickly to keep him afloat. The room we were in only consisted of the dungeon core in the center. Only the guide would know which room to unlock and which turn to take that is why I couldn't use the platform in my past life.
As we walked through the endless corridors of the 36th floor, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic. The walls were in perfect condition, with veins of mana pulsing through them, enriching their toughness. 2 years after the humans have awakened, I would lose my dungeon to a human called Cole Dreysfin. He would later become the symbol of hope in humanity.
I need to concoct a plan. Set a stage where I'm the main actor, and the rest are nothing but side characters that dance to my pace.
"Your highness, we are here,"
Faro snapped me out of my train of thought as he began to slowly push the rusty door in front of us open. For something as small as him, you don't expect him to show a display of strength that would usually be impossible for him.
I took a step forward and entered the room. Immediately the hairs on my body began to stand on ends as I felt the purity of mana and lumina increase. Perfect.
The cultivation stages for demon lords have 7 different levels of strength, which are further divided into three sub levels. All of us start at the lowest cultivating level, which was 'Greed'.
"Status,"
「◈ 73rd Demon Lord, Arzalon.」
「Cultivating Stage: The Deadly Sin of Greed (1/7)」
「Cultivating Substage: Selfishness」
「Next Substage: Covetous」
The highest stage I've reached in my past life was a meagre third stage. Everyone had already broken through the fifth stage at that point in time. I indeed was the weakest Demon Lord.
But that's in the past. I've gone back, and the future is in my hands. In my mind was the most dangerous weapon in war. Information.
"Faro,"
"Your highness,"
"Will you support me in my journey?"
"This one does not know what your highness is implying,"
"I'm appointing you as my first vassal, do you accept?"
"This one does not deserve such a grand position, I cannot accept for I am a half-breed I am nothing but a stain of society, your highness,"
"These societal standards will crumble when I become the Demon King,"
Faro paused for a moment. His calm and cold eyes shook for a moment at my words. Even the calmest of waters can be disturbed by the gentle falling of leaves.
"I apologize, this one does not know how to react to your highness,"
"It is fine, take your time in deciding. When you have found your answer you must go out of your way and tell me,"
"Understood, your highness,"
The first step of my plan is acquiring an ally that would be dependable. There was no Demon Lord in my past life who appointed their guide as their vassal. All of them were thrown away once they have served their purpose in guiding the Demon Lords at the beginning of the war.
Even I failed to see their true value. Only when the Great Rebellion happened were my eyes, and the other Demon Lords' were opened.
I peered into Faro's eyes. It was a barren, dark land where no emotions grew, but something was different. I've planted a seed of curiosity, and soon that will bloom.
I walked towards the white altar at the center of the room and sat under it.
"Faro, you can take your leave,"
Faro nodded his head and flew towards the door, slowly closing it in his exit.
It is time for me to obtain a slight lead against my fellow brethren.