Reli knelt in front of the Demon King who looked exactly like the Vampire that had killed a God. The same hair, the same eyes, even the same kind of clothes. Everything fit exactly as if the two were overlapping. In Reli’s mind, she saw the umbrella over his head, saw him splitting God apart. Horror came over her as she realized that she looked like a child Um’ra. Sweat gathered on her forehead hoping that he would not recognize that she was a Shadowdragon and even Um’ra’s heir. She did not know the reason why she felt that way. She just knew, if the Demon King would recognize her, she would be in serious trouble.

“Welcome Heavenly Guards, I Melchior La’fayette greet my Heavenly Guards. It has been too long since all of you have assembled here together,” the Demon King spoke with a voice that sounded like Haoc as well, as he tossed blood in a crystal glass around, “I am happy that all of you returned safely. Let’s hear your reports. Selixa, let’s begin with yours.”

The little girl let out a sigh of relief. For now, she seemed safe.

“Yesss, my Demon King. I and my sssubordinatesss have investigated the Pike Region for newborns. We found around 400 of which we could take around 300 into our ranksss. Thessse 300 are to be evaluated by the registration. A report will be sssend to my Demon King. The 100 we could not sssubdue, sssadly had to be put down on the ssspot. We collected their meat and gave it to the center,” the Lamia explained, “From what we have ssseen, there is sssome potential for the military and inner sssecurity, but not much. There isss no Demon we wisssh to gain and we will be happy with whatever Demonsss we will get allocated

“Any irregularities?” Melchior asked inbetween sips.

“No irregularitiesss.” Selixa replied.

“Well done Selixa. Like always, after resting, you are to return to your post.” the Demon King said already visibly bored.

“Thank you,” Sleixa said as she lowered her head again.

“How about your report then, Dux? Maybe it is a little more… interesting,” Melchior said while gesturing for someone to refill his glass.

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Reli looked at Melchior trying to invoke her skill 'Identify', but failed.

Her mind began to race. It was the first time that her skill ‘Identify’ failed completely, instead a sharp pain punctured her head. She could have sworn it would have given her a snarky comment on how Melchior La’fayette was obviously the King of Demons or something along those lines, yet there was none. Nothing. She wondered if there was a deeper meaning to it.

This whirlpool of thoughts and emotions let her forget where she was and the audience with the Demon King, her new ruler, moved along in a blur.

“Reli!” Cho said as he put his hand on her head, ripping her out of her thoughts, “Go and give him your status.”

This startled Reli, causing her to jump up in surprise. She had been so lost in thoughts that the reports went totally over her head.

Embarrassingly, her being lost in thoughts and ripped out of them caused laughter from Selixa and Dux and Theors looked annoyed with the chimera next to him not bothering with her and being self-indulged in his own mightiness.

As she slowly started to move towards La’fayette she tried to see his mood but was entirely unable to read it. If he was angry with her or amused about her mishap, he did not let it show.

When she arrived in front of him, Reli knelt down again, stretching her arms out and presented her fake status to the Demon King.

After what felt like an eternity to her, he had seen enough.

“A Dragon, but poison. Lucky you. Become an asset to us and Cho and live. Do not wander astray on the treacherous path your kin do. Be loyal and you will be rewarded. If not, your body, bones and blood, not even your soul or shadow. All will be torn apart and vanish as if it was never there to begin with. I hope I made myself clear, little dragon. We have slain many of your kin and even more terrifying things, one more puny Dragonchild that just hatched will not be a problem. You are hereby dismissed, child.”, Melchior said with a voice cold as ice.

Reli returned to the side of Cho, still confused as to what was happening. It was totally unimaginable to her how Haoc could have survived. Even the thought of Melchior being a descendant of Haoc seemed unlikely, it had been millennia. There was no way he would just look like him.

“Looking at you I feel pity. These things, that don’t deserve the name clothes, are not worthy to be in my presence. You should have known better Cho. She may be cute, but as she is, she is just ugly. Servant, prepare some transformative clothes. And while you are at it, bring that sword out of the treasury,” the Demon King declared, “while we wait fo-”

“That is unfair! This kid that’s still green behind its ears gets gifts?”, the Chimera screeched, “I am way more worthy of them than her! Stronger, faster, more intelligent! I mean look at this pitiful excuse of a Demon. There is no question who’s the more superior Demon. I demand to get the presents she was supposed to have!”

For a moment everybody went silent, not knowing what to expect would happen after that outburst of emotion.

Then the Demon King laughed. He laughed and laughed. Then stopped abruptly.