Baal PoV

I woken when I felt something small walking on top of me. Feeling groggy Iforced my eyes open. What met me when I woke up was a small red creature with tiny red bat wings a head slightly big for its head and very tiny horns which would be better called the tips of the horn since they were barely out of the head yet.

(the tiny red one would be a lesser http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs46/f/2009/176/6/a/Demon_and_Imp_by_Ixa_has_Cookies.jpg)

Baal: Imps? No their smaller then what I saw then these are lesser imps.

From the size it matched  my size when I was a baby. The strange thing is the color. Unlike the Imps Isaw in the imp dungeon which was pure blood red these have a much lighter red almost orange color. It reminded me of my color as a high Imp. When I sat up the one on top of me jumped of and scurried up the large arms of the corner of the bed and climbed up with lots of agility.

Baal: For small guys they are fast. Also I feel like he is smart unlike those stupid imps I saw in the dungeon.

I look around and spot 5 others like him on or around me bed. Just then the doors swung open and Lilian came in and behind her a group of tiny imps were lined up outside looking in front the corner of the door.

Lilian: Baal! What did you do to summon so many imps!

Baal: I didn’t do anything I was asleep until just now.

Lona: Don’t blame him missy this is the dungeon itself bringing new demons here through the rift. But man these are some strange Imps though. I’ve seen pictures aren’t they suppose to be blood red not almost orange.

Baal: I had that color when I was an imp maybe they took after me after I repaired the dungeon.

Lona: That could be possible. The main creature of the dungeon changed from brute to Tengu and they follow your evolution path.

Lilian: So now we have a huge pack of smartish imps on our hand.

Lona: To me they seem more like babies then monsters.

Baal: They are lesser imps so I think they are infants for now. I’m sure soon they will grow larger when they rank up to Imps.

I head some running footsteps and saw Hugh arrive at the door.

Hugh: Oh good you're up please help us control these bratty imps. They aren’t evil or anything but they are mischievous. I think you can control them.

I got up and the imp that was on top of me jumped on my shoulder wrapped its tail around my neck.

Lona: Oh it seems she likes you. She also has a quality above the rest as do the other four.

Lilian: Since the door was closed all this time they must have been born in the room and were affected by the miasma Baal was releasing while he slept. You have to control that! Sheesh.

We walk out and done to the 9th floor and found a lot of imps running around. As soon as I appeared they all turned to me and stopped moving before bending over and looking down.

Everyone was bewildered at the sudden change in the little beasts that were pranking them.

Hugh: Guess we were right. Baal please lead them down a floor there are many low class demons appearing in the dungeon and its chaos. The imps were all born up in the 9th and 10th floor but the rest are just mindless demons. Take them hunting.

Baal: Wha! why me?

Hugh: Becoming the boss of the dungeon you made them appear so you take responsibility.

Baal: When did I become a dungeon boss? I just repaired the dungeon.

Lona: Ya only the dungeon boss can do that. He can change the look and habits of most creatures in the dungeon. Even if they appear or not and what floor a certain creature may or may not appear on and if they do appear there they are attacked.

Baal: That sucks! If its like that then I’ll do it then. *sigh* All of you follow me. Kitsu, Rook where are you?!

With my call the rabbit and fox appeared bounding over the tent of the paladins.

Kitsu: You called master.

Baal: Yes as you can see these Imps appeared and are my servants after I became the boss of the dungeon. I need help protecting them and teaching them to hunt in the lower levels until they can do so on their own.

Rook: We will help protect babies. We can get the others to help and also eat ourselves.

When I looked up the rabbits and fox were all ranked up to 2 or 3 tails while the rabbits were all bihorns.

Rook: Ok have each one take one or two with them they are the protectors until the imps rank up.

They nodded and with a few shouts the animals picked up a few animals.

Baal: Ok lets go hunting.

We all walked through the rooms and picked up stragglers and soon we entered the 8th floor only to find chaos.

The place had somewhat thick layer of miasma floating around and within there were many demon crows, rats, rabbits, etc all running around attacking each other.

Baal: Ok lets start with you.

I called out to the little imp on my shoulder.

Baal: Jump on the back of the rat over their and stab him with your claw and bite him on the neck and begin eating him.

The bright brown eyes of the imp showed it understood and it jumped off my shoulder and ran on all fours like a small monkey and jumped on the distracted rat that was fighting a rabbit and killed it instantly with a stab to its mid section and a bite to the neck ripping out chunks of meat.

The other Imps looked at the display and soon I head a very distinct sound in the middle of the squeaks and sounds of animals. Yep the sound of their stomachs growling. At once they spread out jumping off the rabbits that brought them onto lesser demon animals and quickly killing them. The more impressive ones aimed for and caught the crows in the air after climbing the walls using their claws to hook onto the nooks and crannies between the bricks. After jumping they used their still underdeveloped wings to glide a bit and would catch the birds. Others didnt even use the wings and just jumped off the wall after one got to close.

The fight between the animals soon turned into a fight of survival to not be caught by the imps.

Baal: Vigorous little guys aren’t they

After eating all the animals in the room it got pretty quiet since only they were left.

Kitsu: So much for needing our help.

Baal: I was thinking the same thing. Guess they just need an example and they can learn instantly.

Rook: fast learners. Once ranked up teach to read in library make smart and strong then.

Baal: I guess we don’t need your help. You guys can go around eating for yourselves I will take care of them.

They all nodded and soon left to the corridor to the left while it took the straight one.

Kitsu: I think one more room of hunting should be enough for them to reach imp stage.

Baal: really it took me a while to reach it.

Kitsu: Because you have a curse that slows your aging to a humans pace as long as you don't rank up. Since you have you are a 2 and a half year old in a 12 year olds body. Your mind also grew with your body to match its growth.

Baal: Hmm is that so. No wonder I felt myself get smarter and thinking like an adult so early on.

As we reach the next room I didn’t even need to give an order for the Imps to advance on the demon animals. Like before they climbed the walls catching flyers and ambushing the fighting animals. It took 10 minutes to empty the room. The imps all and bulging bellies so we returned to the 9th floor and I told them they can go sleep. The five that I found in my room ran upstairs probably to sleep their.

Baal: Imps that like comfort. They would probably make the strongest demons of all of them since they seem smarter. I should take them to the library and teach them to read or maybe someone can do that for me..

Rachet: Oh so the new boss is back from feeding his new minions.

Baal: Ya all I did was instruct them once and they devoured the whole room by ambushing the animals.

Rachet: I say about half of them will become normal imps. The rest will rank up tomorrow.

Baal: Any new ones appear?

Rachet: Yep lots of groups of paladins were sent down to the lower levels to find as many imps as they could to maximize the amount of minions you can get. Little bastards had to be stuffed into bags to bring them up.

He pointed to a huge pile of moving bags.

Baal: Mind helping me out I’ll take those down to feed as well and clean up the 8th floor.

Rachet: Sure don't forget to absorb the miasma in the room with the stairs. Those rooms should stay clear of demons. I was the lord of a dungeon in the underworld. I’ll teach you a bit about it later.

I nodded and we began to open the bags and let the tiny imps crawl out. They were all angry at first but soon became really quiet after seeing me and just waited as we undid all the bags letting all the others out. I went for another round of feeding and like he said I absorbed the loose miasma in the 8th floor room with the stairs going to the 9th floor. I had to go down another floor since the floor was cleaned out by the rabbits and fox.

Like the others it took 2 room full to satisfy them so we climbed back up and I let them go to sleep. I already spotted a few that ranked up and were now at the size of a 5 year old with more developed wings, a more visible horn, sharper claws and so on.

It was early still even after all I did it wasn’t even past noon so I went to talk with Slade. He was training Lilian in some staff fighting forms.

Lilian: Oh Baal look the weapon coating thing we were trying to do before I can do it perfectly now.

She shows me and hear white staff starts glowing a bright blue as mana coated the staff. She slammed it on the ground making cracks, which started glowing and slowly fixed itself.

Baal: Cool so that means I might be able to do it.

I pull my scythe out and start coating it. I was successful on the first try but unlike before where the mana was blue, now it was black and turned the scythes blade an abyss black that seemed to suck in all light.

Lilian: woah that looks menacing.

Slade: thats the result of absorbing miasma. Though it would have become the same way after you started releasing it naturally.

Baal: thats cool. Anyway I was wondering if there was a way to set up a branch of the church in the castle or in the town outside.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I released the mana coating and the blade returned to normal. Slades brow lifted up a bit.

Slade: Can Iask a reason?

Baal: I want to establish this village as a proper city and I also need people to teach magic to my minions so they can train more. They seem to have similar affinity that I had when I was an imp so they have some higher level of light affinity I just need teachers.

Slade: he...hahaha. Good good, at least you make a good leader. I would have asked to do the same thing if you didnt approach me anyway. There are a few things that need to be done before that can happen though. Here.

[tds]Close all of the rift portals throughout the castle after all Imps have ranked up

List to do for Baal so we can set up a branch hereRemove miasma from various locations.

Floor 2-3 all workshops, (blacksmith, tailor, ect)

Floor 6 Library

Floor 1 completely for safe entrance.Find and train all Lesser imps into Imps (almost done)[/tds

Baal: This looks like an annoying chore list.

Slade: Yes but this place was made to be the centerpiece of the village for the start. After it became a dungeon many of the equipment were broken by the after affect of the rapid aging that happened. So just go and remove the miasma from those floors and rooms and it will be find. Non sentient demon monster can only survive inside the miasma of a powerful demon. Removing it will make the area safe.

Baal: I guess. Can I trust that you have already sent a message to the pope of the intention.

Slade: Of course. I did so when you were still sleeping and I got an answer back saying that workers were being gathered and that the place should be ready by the time they arrive. Your mother will also me coming here in the place of the Pope or any bishop that would have come. Seems she really misses you two.

We both blush hearing him say that.

Baal: I should get going. If the Imps wake up before I return begin training them to use weapons and magic you can teach them.

Lilian: count on me to help out with that.

She smiled as I jumped out of the open window and transformed into my demon form and flying to the 6th floor and speeding through the corridors looking for the library.

Lilian PoV

I watched as my brother casually jumped from the window to cover more ground. After he vanished I couldn't help but make a wary expression.

I've been feeling that I'm being left behind by Baal. Though we both ranked up at the same time he seems more powerful. I talked with uncle Slade about this and he just laughed it off.

Slade: Ah child, it is simply in your own head. Let me ask you something. How exactly has Baal gotten stronger?

Lilian: Well...he is a variant Tengu and now a dungeon boss. He got that really powerful weapon we saw before and just seems to get stronger by the day.

Slade: Want to know why that is so?

I nod.

Slade: Its because we are within his dungeon. Within the confines of this castle which now makes up Baal's territory he becomes more powerful the more he trains himself and his minions. It can best be compared to a god. They have followers to pray and believe in them and that gives them power. I do not know exactly how it works but I would suggest meditating on it. You can also try praying to our goddess and ask her about it.

Lilian: But an angel praying to a goddess seems kind of strange.

Slade: I have read books that speak of the interaction between gods and angels. When an angel prays to a god they open a telepathic link between the two and can speak through the realms.

Lilian: Is that so...then I will speak with her.

I walk around a bit then decide to go upstairs to prey in privacy. The bed chamber has five small imps in their so I walk into the throne room.

The room had lots of miasma floating about but none of it can near me. When I got to the center of the room I kneel down and sit on my legs and close my eyes. Istart a prayer that I was taught by the priests. As I chanted the prayer I felt myself fall into a trance. Without noticing my angel wings spread and folded itself around me like it was giving a hug.

In my trance I soon found myself in a white room made of clouds.

???: Oh my little angel finally called me on her own.

Before I could look for the source of the voice two slender arms wrap around me in a hug from behind. I could feel the two great mounds of the goddess behind me pressing on my back.

I looked up and see Valeria looking down at me while he hugged.

Lilian: Its nice to see you. Thank you for answering my prayer and letting me talk with you face to face.

Valeria: There are no need for any thanks. I'm always watching over the two little babies that were abandoned on my doorstep.

Lilian: So you know why I'm here then?

Valeria: Of course. Your worried that Baal will leave you behind correct?

I nod.

Valeria: Tell me, what is the current difference between you and Baal besides being angel and demon.

Lilian: ...He is now a dungeon boss, he has minions, he has a variant demon form, he gained a powerful weapon, he seems to get stronger each day while I am at a bottleneck.

Valeria: Bishop Slade told you about how he is being treated as a kind of god and is gaining power from his minions who believe in his power correct.

I nod once again.

Lilian: He compared Baal to a god while he is in his dungeon.

Valeria: That isn't a wrong comparison but instead of god both Baal and you, Lilian, are in a stage comparable to what humans call a demigod. Demigods are humans who have stepped into the realm of a god but are not completely gods yet. Angels are demigods as well, the same can be said about higher demons. The reason Baal is growing while you stopped is because for a demigod to ascend to godhood he requires followers or worshippers.

In my mind the pieces were finally connecting. The Imps that were appearing are Baal's followers and as he takes care of them and raises them he grows.

Valeria: If you try and search up all records of higher or royal demons you will find that most of them are the boss of a dungeon with a few exceptions being their elite or unique minions who also gain believers from their families. Only a handful aren't, like that green brute you picked up. She got to the peak of higher demon by showing her strength and royal demon by eating the body of her old boss. Unless she creates her own dungeon, or she shows an incredible number of people who trust and believer in her the power she has, it will stagnate at what it is forever, the same for the exile who arrived.

Lilian: Wow I never knew it was so complicated. So having people believe in you is all it takes?

Valeria: Like I said they need to have Faith in your strength as well as believe in you.

Valeria let me go and sat on the clouds near us and watched smiling as I pondered what I was to do but still nothing came to mind after a long time.

Valeria PoV

I was sitting the the coach of clouds within my pocket dimension while watching Lilian rack her young head thinking of how she would get out of this situation. I couldn't help smiling and almost laughing at the cute expressions she made. I, on the other hand, had long since thought up of a solution.

In this world, there are many lesser god and few greater god. Lesser gods take care of few people since they are normally in charge of a small region that sees little growth. Greater god, such as myself, are looked upon by a great many people because of the power and teachings we pass on and that have spread far and wide. As the goddess of light my followers search and destroy evil as such many believe in me for my protection.

Most of this worlds people have a god and when a new lesser god appears either a fight between two that live close together happens and one is killed, the weaker one will see the other is stronger and leave or they will live together if their natures are different (ex: god of hunting + god of nature = peace). As such this world has only a few types of beings without gods. Monsters, though intelligent ones take up a religious of peace or war, and demons, who have no god because gods want little to do with them considering them all evil by nature.

I look at the little angel who is one of the few who show good demons compassion, me being another to do so. After a while she just sighs defeated, which makes a grin appear on my face.

Valeria: Lilian what were you thinking about?

Lilian: well...its just that when I think about it, their are lots of lesser gods who have people praying to them. If an angel appears trying to get followers they will instantly kill me.

Valerio: She noticed really quickly, she has such a good head on her shoulders. Have you thought of the demons?

Lilian: The Imps believe in Baal not me.

Valeria: And what of the townsfolk, also you could always join your brother as this dungeons boss and make it a mixed dungeon between angel and devil. The minions will believe in the strength of all the bosses and elites of the dungeon

Lilian: But do demons pray to a god?

Valeria: No because most gods hate demons. That couldn't care less. I'm sure a few demons would be skeptical but their would probably be a lot of demons that if you help would come to love you and believe in both you and Baal.

Her eyes wandered a bit and as soon as she grasps the idea firmly her eyes go wide and a bright smile appears on her face. She suddenly jumped on me hugging me.

Lilian: Thank you so much!! I was worried I would have to separate from Baal.

She started to cry as she hugged me tight.

Valeria: She may look older but she is still just a little girl.

I pat her head with a warm smile as she cries. Soon she fell asleep and I took her in my arms and returned her to her body.

Valeria: So much is happening so quickly in these last few years. I'm curious to see how strong Lilian and Baal can do as a Demon Goddess and a Demon Lord.