Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

[You and your subjects have defeated 269 Lvl11 reinforced ants. You have gained 20 175 experience points.]

[Congratulations on levelling up. Please check your interface and decide how to distribute your points.]

He grinned at the messages and scanned the xp progression, noticing a few changes.

Starting from level eight, the numbers became round and increased by one thousand. After level ten, it became two thousand, making him ponder.

'Will it become four thousand after reaching level twenty?'

'I'll discover the answer soon enough.'

After a moment of frowning, he smirked and observed his interface.

Name: Adam

Race: Lesser imp

Affinity: demonic energy

Talent: F grade (Upgradable): I'm a gamer!

Job: /

Class: /

LVL: 12

Exp: 2146/7000

HP: 230/230

Vitality: 13->23

Strength: 13->23 (+2)

Agility: 13->23 (+5)

Demonic essence: 14

Free attribute points: 30->0

Items: Bandit dagger.

Note: The ancient Mesopotamian god Inanna is pleased by your progress and management. She wants to contact you. Hestia wants to offer you a contract after your brave victory. Baal wishes to revise his offer. Demeter is gazing at you. Odin, Erlang Shen, Montu and Ares are showing interest.

"Why did it increase?! I'm just an imp. Don't gaze at me!"

A knot of pure dread tied around his heart at the idea of having so many mighty gods scrutinising his every move. Worst, most were war gods from distinct pantheons!

Amidst his dread, a notification popped up, giving him the reason for their sudden interest.

[Congratulations on being the first lord to reach level 10! Awarding the special building: demon lord Altar for this achievement!]

As he read, the ground rumbled, alerting his resting or eating citizens.

They gathered at the campfire with wary steps, just in time to witness the ground split under the crackling flames and the earth reach for the sky.

Speechless, they gawked as it solidified into a colossal fountain spewing demonic energy into the air.

Despite its ominous design and the obsidian-like earth stretching like corrupted fingers, they rejoiced at its appearance.

Adam trembled in shock, too, before opening his territory tab and seeing the building's information.

Demon lord Altar

Introduction:

Connected to the deepest mountain in the demon realm, the demon lord altar releases the purest form of demonic energy into the air.

Note: Increase your tier to level this special building up. The higher it is, the more it will raise the energy concentration in the air.

His constricted pupils trembled as his citizens' celebration echoed in the distance. With this building, they could finally increase their demonic energy naturally and walk towards evolving!

Without wasting time, he rushed to it and inhaled a mouthful of air.

Instantly, the warm energy entered through his system, dissolving into a negligible quantity of demonic essence after a few seconds.

Still, he grinned in joy. He knew it would take time, but they had a reliable solution now!

Before he could jump in joy, a new notification shattered his thoughts and forced him back onto his interface.

[Class selection delayed. Inanna took control of the interface.]

[Yo, kid! I enjoyed watching you. Forget about Hestia or the other brats playing with swords because I'm better at everything they can do.]

Intrigued, he tucked his fingers around his chin.

"Who are you?"

[Tsk. I guess you might know the other name humans used. I'm Ishtar.]

'Ishtar?! The goddess of war, love, and fertility?'

Of course, he knew that name since she was one of the oldest gods humanity worshipped during the Mesopotamian era... and because many games featured her as a powerful beauty.

Despite the tempting offer, his face turned somber.

'If memories serve me right, she proposed to Gilgamesh, and they became enemies after his refusal.'

Signing a contract with her would mean crossing Gilgamesh as a potential summon. After all, she had even sent a celestial bull to kill the king's best friend. Their enmity ran too deep for cooperation.

On the other hand, he had gods like Erlang Shen, who showed interest.

'The warrior god who captured the monkey king. He might be a good choice and lead to a potential summoning of this incredible figure.'

[Why are you wasting time? I can enhance your land and make it a production haven. I can also double your and your subject's experience point acquisition. Finally, I'll raise your territory's chance of having offspring. What will the others give you? A mere mythological figure who might not submit to your rule?]

His jaw hung open at her incredible buffs.

'My territory will leap like a dragon with those buffs! She is indeed an incredible goddess.'

However, the notification window glitched in front of his enlarging eyes, and the text changed.

[You're making too much noise, Inanna. Shut up for a bit.]

"Hah?! What's happening?"

He reeled in shock at the sudden intervention. Even Baal couldn't do that!

[I've observed you. You have grand ambitions and defy established orders. I can offer you a contract if you promise to reclaim my dominion. I don't want you to conquer a single realm. I want them all! Are you up for the challenge?]

"W-Who are you?"

A deflated stutter escaped his lips as his legs chattered. No doubts were permitted. The person talking to him was a big shot that could obliterate him.

[Hahaha. What a foolish question! I'm the goddess of chaos, and primordial water. I'm the one who created the cosmos, as you know it. As for the benefits? I'll merge your demonic affinity with my chaotic one and improve your evolution path.

You'll be more than a mere demon: a demonic draconian!]

"I accept."

Before he could think, his mouth moved on its own. The offer appealed to him that much because it resonated with his gamer's mindset.

A powerful affinity he would have to discover and an evolution tree he would have to grind with his own hands. The prospects excited his drumming heart to no end.

"Let's do it, Tiamat! I never considered anything but conquering all the realms! I'll beat this game and stand as the absolute number one."