Reinhart gave a respectful nod before turning to leave, no doubt heading back to his duties. Darius followed suit, and the weight of the ongoing efforts to stabilize Solara seemed just a little bit more manageable.
Once both Darius and Reinhart left the room, I let out a deep sigh. The political and military meetings were draining, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of relief as the room cleared. But then Mimir's voice rang in my mind, pulling me back to something I had completely overlooked.
Lad, when are you going to evolve Karlos into an awakened Demon Lord? He already has the Demon Lord egg, and you've been so caught up in all this politics that you forgot about it.
"Shit, I forgot about that," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples.
"How could I have let that slip?"
I looked at Karlos seriously and said, "Karlos... I'm sorry. I completely forgot about evolving you. You should've reminded me, you dummy."
But Karlos, ever the loyal butler, immediately freaked out, dropping to one knee with his head bowed low. "Lord! Please, there is no need for you to apologize! It is I who should be punished for my insignificance. I did not deserve to be in your memory in the first place. Forgive me for failing you!"
Man... such a good butler. Always so humble and loyal. I shook my head with a sigh, feeling a bit guilty. "Get up, Karlos. You're more important than you think. Now, let's get this started."
I stepped forward, gathering my magicules, and with a focused breath, I transferred 10,000 souls into Karlos. At the same time, Mimir's booming voice rang in my mind with excitement:
Lad, the Harvest Festival has begun. The evolution of the Daemon Lord Karlos into a True Demon Lord is underway!
As the souls poured into him, Karlos's body was enveloped in a dazzling aura of dark crimson and gold. The very throne room itself seemed to tremble slightly under the overwhelming pressure he started to emit. I could feel it — the energy of evolution, the raw power of ascension.
Karlos gasped slightly, his body instinctively absorbing the vast number of souls. His aura became denser, richer, almost regal in its intensity. His normally composed face twisted slightly in pain — no, not pain, but intense change — before slowly settling into a calm, powerful expression.
Zalario watched silently, arms crossed, his eyes glowing faintly, while I kept a steady hand ready just in case anything went wrong.
The Harvest Festival was a sacred phenomenon, not just a simple evolution — it was the forging of a being on par with the rulers of the world.
Karlos's shadow stretched unnaturally, covering the entire floor, and the golden light above him — my influence — intertwined with the darkness, blessing his rebirth.
Minutes passed like hours. Then, suddenly, the pressure vanished, replaced by a powerful, commanding silence.
Karlos opened his eyes — now a striking gold-red, radiating authority. His aura had transformed completely: where once he was a loyal butler, now he was a king among demons. A True Demon Lord.
He stood up straighter, placing a hand over his heart, and knelt once more — but this time, not from fear or insignificance. It was a gesture of absolute loyalty between two kings.
"My lord," Karlos said, voice deeper, more resonant, "I am reborn. And now, I shall serve you with power befitting your name."
Zalario's eyes widened slightly — a rare reaction from him. After all, even when Karlos was still a Daemon Lord, one of the second-highest forms of daemon evolution, he was already formidable enough that most would think twice before challenging him.
But now… Karlos had truly awakened into something far greater: a True Demon Lord.
Even someone like Zalario, who was one of my most powerful retainers, knew instantly that if they were to fight now, it wouldn't be easy. He would actually have to struggle — maybe even go all-out — against Karlos.
For Zalario, who rarely acknowledged anyone seriously, this subtle widening of his eyes spoke volumes.
Karlos, meanwhile, was simply kneeling there respectfully, completely unaware of the storm his new presence had caused. His aura no longer leaked bloodlust or intimidation — it was refined, noble, dense like an immovable mountain.
I couldn't help but smirk seeing all this.
"Haha... seems like things are going to get even more interesting from now on," I chuckled, resting my hand on Karlos's shoulder.
He looked up at me, unwavering loyalty burning in his new golden-red eyes.
"My lord, give your command. I am ready to bring glory to Solara under your sun."
Zalario gave a rare grunt of approval under his breath. "Hmph... not bad."
I couldn't help but grin as Mimír's voice echoed in my mind, his usual cryptic tone now laced with something that almost sounded like amusement.
Lad, you just created a monster...
He continued, and the excitement in his voice was palpable. Take a look at what Karlos is now.
And just like that, I received an image of Karlos, no longer just a Daemon Lord, but an Awakened True Demon Lord. With the potential to become something far, far greater.
The list of abilities he now possessed flashed before my eyes.
New Abilities Karlos Could Awaken:
Ultimate Skill: Abyss King "Nox" (奈落之王 ノックス, Naraku no Ō Nokkusu)Concept: Ultimate dominion over darkness, void, and death.
Abilities:
Manipulate darkness into physical weapons or shields.
Open mini "void rifts" to swallow attacks or even enemies.
Passive curse aura — weak enemies die just from approaching him.
Can erase souls (not just kill bodies).
Racial Evolution: Daemon Emperor (魔帝, Ma-Tei)Physical Changes:
His body becomes a high-tier spirit-flesh hybrid, immune to normal weapons.
Natural regeneration (even decapitation isn't instant death unless soul is destroyed).
Boost:
His magicule level explodes to the level of a True Dragon's descendant (but a little below Veldora).
Unique Skill: Authority of Subjugation (支配の権能, Shihai no Kennō)Concept: Mind control and dominion over lesser beings.
Abilities:
Instantly dominate weaker wills (like Orc Lords, weaker Majin, humans, even mid-tier monsters).
Can create "Daemon Generals" by granting his magicules to loyal followers.
Forms a pseudo-army instantly.
Innate Magic: Dimensional Ruler (次元支配者, Jigen Shihaisha)Concept: Spatial manipulation magic.
Abilities:
Teleport across battlefields instantly.
Lock enemies into pocket dimensions.
Slash space itself to create unavoidable attacks.
I stared at the list in stunned silence. Mimír wasn't kidding—Karlos was a completely different beast now. Every single one of these abilities was a potential game-changer, not just in battle but in every other aspect of Solara's rise.
"Well... Karlos, looks like you're no longer just my right hand. You're practically a walking disaster at this point." I chuckled, turning to him, but my voice had a serious undertone.
He knelt, eyes glowing with that ominous power. "My lord, I shall wield these powers in your name, bringing Solara into an era of domination."
I couldn't help but reflect on the sheer scale of Karlos's newfound strength. "Now that I think about it... Karlos is far more formidable now," I muttered to myself, almost in awe.
The weight of his transformation hit me all at once. "The first true Demon Lord, even before Guy Crimson, which I know from my previous world knowledge... which, of course, I can only tell Mimír," I said, turning my thoughts inward.
Mimír's voice echoed, Indeed, lad. What you've done is far beyond what anyone could've imagined. Karlos now stands as a true powerhouse, even before those like Guy Crimson.
"Before, Karlos, as a Daemon Lord, could have been considered a disaster or calamity-class threat. But now..." I paused, my mind processing the magnitude of his abilities. "Now, he's definitely a catastrophe-class threat. His very existence alone could shake the foundations of the world."
Karlos stood tall, the aura around him crackling with power, though his expression remained ever so humble.
"I will serve you with everything I have, my lord. With this power, we will bring Solara into an era of unrivaled dominance," he said, his voice as steady as always but now carrying a weight that was impossible to ignore.
Zalario, still a quiet observer, gave a slight nod, his piercing gaze never leaving Karlos. The air between them had shifted, and even Zalario couldn't deny the change in the dynamic.
I glanced between them both and sighed. "Well, no point in holding back anymore. Karlos, Zalario, let's start planning our next move. Solara's future is at our fingertips."
And with that, the world suddenly seemed both smaller and larger all at once. With Karlos now a true Demon Lord, there was nothing that could stop us from reshaping the very fabric of reality itself.
_______
If you enjoyed the story, feel free to follow me on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes, and to suggest ideas!
Username: _gottle(I'll even shout you out if I use your idea!)
And if you'd like to support my work further and get exclusive content, early access to chapters, behind-the-scenes details, and more, check out my Patreon! Your support helps me create even more exciting stories. Plus, there are some cool rewards waiting for you!
Patreon: patre0n.com/Gottle
(Replace the 0 with an o)