Karlos had also arrived with two people in his hands by then.
Karlos dropped the two captives—one clearly the enemy king, bruised and beaten, and the other a terrified mage who looked like he had seen the gods descend from the heavens. (because, well, he pretty much did).
With a proud gleam in his eyes, Karlos bowed deeply.
"Lord Velsun, your captives as requested. And as for the souls… 20,000 has been successfully transferred per the contract. Please verify, my lord."
I turned slightly, casually checking the spiritual flow around me. Yep—20,000 souls humming with energy, stored neatly within the dimensional reserve formed through the Mephistopheles pact.
"Great work, Karlos," I said, giving him a thumbs-up and a grin.
That's when it happened.
Karlos froze.
His eyes dilated, hands slightly twitching, and then… he shuddered.
"Ah…! Th-thank you, my lord!" He stammered, blushing furiously and smiling like I just handed him the universe on a silver platter.
I blinked.
"Bro… What the hell was that reaction?"
I looked away, pretending I saw nothing.
"Yeah… cool, anyway…" I mumbled.
Even Zalario raised an eyebrow.
Karlos stood straighter, seemingly reborn from the simple praise. This dude really might die if I pat him on the head…
Meanwhile, the citizens, the king, and even Reinhart looked at Karlos like, what is wrong with this guy…?
"So, King Darius, what will you do with your captives?"
I asked, wanting to know what he would do.
King Darius, who had just barely recovered from the shock of witnessing an entire army vaporized by what looked like a sun the size of a melon, turned his eyes toward the captives. His hands trembled slightly from the sheer emotional weight of what had just unfolded.
He looked at the enemy king, who now looked like a broken man—bloodied, his crown cracked, and his pride shattered. Then at his head, the mage, who was trying very hard to not wet himself.
Darius inhaled deeply, then turned toward me.
"My lord Velsun… If it were up to me, I would have them executed immediately for the suffering they caused my people. But…" he paused, glancing at me with a hint of admiration and careful calculation. "Since it was you who captured them, I feel it would be disrespectful to act without your decision. Tell me, what would you have me do?"
Zalario crossed his arms behind me, nodding with faint approval. Reinhart just stood silently, eyes wide with awe and respect.
Karlos, of course, was still beaming like he'd been blessed by the gods.
I tilted my head slightly, arms folded. "Hmm… now that's a responsible answer."
I turned my head towards the king, and his head mage both flinched just by my head looking at them.
"For a king to lose everything he has in one go and for a mage to not be able to use any magic is the greatest punishment they could get."
"Karlos, seal the mage's magic forever and send them both for eternal imprisonment."
King Darius was stunned for a moment, then quickly bowed his head in agreement. "As you command, Lord Velsun."
The enemy king and the mage looked up in terror. The mage screamed,
"Wait—no! Please, anything but that! Not my magic! Not—!"
But Karlos had already raised his hand, his eyes glowing with infernal power.
"By the authority granted through Mephistopheles, I hereby strip you of all magical capabilities for eternity."
A dark crimson seal etched itself into the mage's forehead, pulsing once before fading completely. The mage collapsed to the ground, weeping.
Karlos then snapped his fingers, and both the former king and mage were instantly bound in black daemon chains.
"Enjoy your forever," he said with a cruel smirk, before two shadowy daemons emerged from the air and dragged the captives into a portal—straight to an eternal prison created within Karlos's own domain.
I dusted off my hands.
"That should teach them."
Zalario glanced at me and chuckled softly, "Merciful in your own way… and terrifying as always."
The people of Bermud who were watching from the walls were dead silent for a moment… then erupted into cheers.
"ALL HAIL LORD VELSUN!"
Even Darius looked like he was ready to cry from the relief and hope swelling in the hearts of his people.
Karlos, as usual, looked like he was having the time of his life.
King Darius stepped forward, his steps heavy with both hesitation and determination. His regal robe, though tattered from the hardship of war, still carried the dignity of a ruler who hadn't abandoned his people.
He knelt before me.
"Lord Velsun," he said, his voice loud enough for all to hear.
"You've not only saved my kingdom, but you've also reignited the hope in our hearts. No reward I can offer would match the grace you've bestowed upon us…"
He took a deep breath, eyes meeting mine with unwavering sincerity.
"So I ask, no—I beg you… please accept the throne of Bermud. Rule this land as its true king. Lead us not just to survival… but to glory. The people already revere you as a god… let us worship you as our sovereign."
The crowd gasped; even Zalario raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but not opposed. Karlos smirked behind me, whispering, "Well, that escalated quickly."
I stood there, eyes scanning the kneeling king, the hopeful people, and the ruined land behind them.
"It's just as lord velsun planned Darius offered the kingdom to Lord Velsun. Truly the most cunning being I ever saw." sighed Karlos inwardly
"Wow, I kind of expected that my influence would grow and all, and I was going to create my own kingdom later on as well, but Darius making me king was not completely expected."
I took a deep breath and gave a sincere look.
"Darius, I can't just accept the role of kingship unless the population accepts me as their king."
Then I walked forward and spread my hands.
"People of Bermuda, do you accept me and want me to be your king?"
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Then one voice shouted,
"All hail Lord Velsun!"
Another joined, and another—until the entire crowd erupted in cheers and chants.
"ALL HAIL LORD VELSUN!"
"LONG LIVE OUR KING!"
"THE TRUE DRAGON REIGNS!"
The cheers echoed through the battered kingdom like a divine chorus. Old and young alike bowed, cried, and reached out with trembling hands, as if merely being near me was a blessing.
Darius lowered his head even further, overwhelmed by emotion.
"The people have spoken, my lord… Bermud belongs to you now."
Karlos, watching with a mix of awe and twisted admiration, thought,
"Truly terrifying… He didn't even try, and yet the world bends to his will. This is beyond cunning—this is divine orchestration."
Zalario folded his arms, smirking. "Congratulations, Velsun, you got yourself a kingdom."
I stood tall, smiling. 'Yeah… this is going to be fun.'
Then I turned towards Karlos and inquired through the mental link.
"Did you get a demon lord seed by now?"
After all, he is a daemon lord now and has ended all the rest of the injured and well enemies because if he has it, I will ask Mimir to use ten thousand souls later to awaken Karlos into a true demon lord, the first demon lord, even before the primordials.
But can't evolve him in front of everyone.
Karlos stood tall beside me, his head slightly bowed in respect. The air around him had changed—he had grown immensely powerful since our arrival in Bermud.
I turned towards him, eyes narrowed with curiosity.
Karlos raised his head slowly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Yes, my lord... I can feel it inside me. A seed… burning with potential."
Perfect. Just as I planned.
But I couldn't do it here—not in front of all these high humans. A Daemon Lord evolving into a True Demon Lord, especially before the Primordials themselves had achieved it? That would be fascinating, even among the angels. Not to mention the fear it would spread across nations.
So I smiled casually and whispered mentally to Mimir.
"Mimir, once we return to our private sanctum, I want you to initiate the Harvest Festival. Use 10,000 souls and begin Karlos' awakening into a True Demon Lord. Make him the first one—even before Guy Crimson or the Primordial Daemons."
Mimir's voice echoed in my mind, calm and ancient as ever.
"As you wish, lad. The preparations will begin. Karlos shall become a True Demon Lord. The first demon lord in the history"
I turned my attention back to the crowd with a warm smile, hiding the storm that was quietly building under my command.