Apocalypse Reborn: Demon Lord 4

Apocalypse Reborn: Demon Lord 4

…

Yep.

This body definitely came with mental resistance or some sort of bonus against going crazy.

All around me were the last of the rambunctious, uncontrollable elements of my people. Now that we were established, I’d given them the choice to settle down or stay their current course as slavers, hedonists, and individuals who I couldn’t completely control. They chose the latter every time it was given, so this was the result.

A field of corpses and my body covered in blood.

“Sound off, if you’re still alive. I’ll be giving you mercy in a moment.” I called out idly, but no one replied. It was to double check. My memory told me that I did properly kill everyone mercifully during the battle. They died the instant whatever attack I sent they way hit. Heat of battle, while they fought for their freedoms and culture, and without a hint of pain. Probably the best death I could give. Just as I expected, no one called out and I couldn’t hear anyone or anything breathing. “Good.”

With that, I was left to enter the Citadel, and I didn’t hesitate to call up some Guardians the moment the gate opened, since I heard hoofbeats in the distance.

I had a few hundred and more marching to deal with the bodies by the time Riegert arrived with his contingent of troops.

“Your majesty.” Riegert greeted me and dismounted to kneel. His troops followed. More than fifty of them stank of fear, while I felt nothing. Riegert, meanwhile, was wondering how he could fight me before discarding the idea. Good. He’s got a spine. Take him down first, put the fear of god in the rest, and then hunt them down when they flee. The horses they have are pretty weak and built for speed. None of them would escape. That’s my plan if things go south, somehow. “Your orders?”

Not even a question as to why I did what I did.

He either put it together, or knew better than to ask someone who killed over a thousand people without getting winded or wounded why he killed a thousand people.

I can work with him either way.

“Set up outposts and start securing the area. Contact nearby villages and bring them here. We’re settling this land and will shall exploit it.” By my estimates, we had a chance at getting a third Citadel before things popped off, but that would be contingent on getting another control ring. Thankfully, that was easy. I just had to grab the ring while whoever had it confronted the neutral monsters. Deal with two armies locked in combat, then I could get the ring. March, kill, and acquire. As simple as breathing. “Did you see any try to flee?”

“A few dozen. I sent flying knights after them. They’ll get put down.”

“Well done. Rest assured that you’ve proven your competency this day, Riegert.” I addressed him directly and left no space for doubt. It was better to allay the fears of his soldiers. They saw me as a monster that they had to treat with. I needed them to see that I had my own morality that they could understand and replicate. After all, even with all my strength and power, I had to be wary of the plotting and planning of people hidden in the dark. They need only succeed once, while I must succeed every single time. Better to have more allies and soldiers than enemies. “Rest assured that you and your men will be properly rewarded for your work here. Not only that, but you need not fear this same fate. These people were the last holdovers of the various tribes I gathered that refused to accept my order to live as normal people do. Not as thieves, rapists, and brutal murderers.”

“I’ll pass that information along. Good to know you rid yourself of these folk, then.” Riegert gave me a nod, while I whistled into the air. A few horses that escaped the battle cantered over to me. I gave another whistle and they rested on their folded legs. Some on their former riders. I locked eyes with one and it cantered near me, ready to be used as a mount. “Where will you be going?”

“I saw a nearby ruin, and I’ll be exploring it. No, guards would only slow me down.” Riegert paused before nodding. “Settle into the Citadel and set up tents at the ground floor. I will return before the sun falls.”

With that information shared, I gave him another nod, before going off.

If there’s any real pleasure to be had in my current life, it would be the fact that with al my power and strength, I could delve into dungeons and clear them without any issue for the rewards within.

Turn my brain off, explore the unknown, and leave with prizes and treasure within a day.

The best way to destress after a long day working.

…

Interlude: Khanrow

…

News arrived swiftly about the conquest of another of the Ancient’s crown jewels, one of the few remaining supply spires that they used to supply all the needs of their people, and of course it was through the actions of the barbarian chieftain that ruled over us.

How could it not when he seemed beyond any normal mortal by every respect.

Mere months after taking his Citadel, the place began to team with tens of thousands of people. While one would expect that arrivals of so many would introduce overcrowding, sickness, and malnutrition, we stayed the path that we were bid by the chieftain, and everything fell into place.

The residential structures were built just in time with the arrivals of migrants.

The bureaucracy needed to tax and put them all to work finished establishing themselves just in time to administer the next batch.

Merchants arrived and found crowds hungry for their wares, and plenty of things to purchase in warehouses wholesale to sell to other places.

As bandits began to sniff around, the first patrols of the borders met them and they were put to the sword.

Interested parties from other factions and warlords were found by those I put to patrol after mere weeks of training.

Everything was falling exactly in place, just as they were needed, in accordance to the plans and whims of the barbarian chieftain that took the Citadel over.

The more I looked, the more it seemed that Riegert’s concerns were true: we were dealing with an individual who had every advantage from birth and who excelled in all things because of those advantages.

An Ancient reborn.

The lands were being swiftly pacified. The people he stole from their homes and villages were forgetting their previous lives and enjoying their new ones. Those he put to the sword were forgotten, as bellies became full, as hearths became warm, and as money flowed like water into the pockets of those who came to work in his lands.

Those who had questions would simply look at the plans he left in his stead.

At first, they pored over it, now they treated it like a holy book, only allowing one of their number to read and speak of it in fear of ripping a page. Those who feared him now adored him. The fear remained, of course, but that merely kept them obedient. The loyalty that he created from the comfortable lives he now gave combined with that obedience and ensured all would heed his commands.

I was sure that if I called upon my old officers and army, many would argue against my actions, and far more would report us to those loyal to our new king.

They would do so not because of only fear against reprisal, but because they wished to keep their new lives.

Tempted as I was to call to insidious, I knew that the truth was that the barbarian child merely created a place that the beleaguered and fearful people of the continent wished for: a place where they could live without fear.

In exchange, they merely had to pay the same tithes to a new individual, and that individual had crushed all those that had opposed him before.

And, of course, there was the matter of that he continued to grow stronger.

“News from the front! Our King has secured another Citadel! The valiant sacrifice of many tribal warriors occurred, but now those who wish to live under his rule have another land to call home!” Such was the words proclaimed by a messenger running through the streets. I drank deep from my cup and left money on the table, as I walked towards the Citadel and took it all in. None noticed me. None feared me. I was but another face in the crowd. A crowd becoming ecstatic with great speed. “Our king’s words are thus: This land needs strong arms and backs. Come here if you have need of work. This land needs sharp minds and deft hands. If you are able, you shall aid me govern.”

Those words reached many and the crowd all but came apart in a blur of movement. Many present had looked upon those who were taken first. Those who were forced to this land were now in positions of power and influence. Mere scribes elevated to government officials whose words could allows fortunes to be made or denied. Simple shop owners now headed budding guilds that looked to make vast holds of gold.

The call for laborers and clerks sent the minds of many to dream and despite the dangers of traveling there, many were going to throw themselves towards that new dream.

They barely took note of the fact that our king told them all that he slew all that did not accept his every demand.

None cared for the deaths of the tribal warriors who would not assent to seeing their culture and lives replaced by becoming a settled people.

They were a whisper in the wind, forgotten with ease, and opportunity beckoned to others whilst standing atop a mountain of corpses.

Truly, the child is without equal.

…

There’s a thin line between good and evil.

Not going lie.

I’ve jumped back and forth over the line like I was using it a jump rope, since I had to be mindful of the coming endgame crises. Though I’d certainly like to believe that I could handle it, I was going under the assumption that every crisis was going to happen at once. Since I didn’t have any concrete information on the subject, I was operating under the worst possible scenario happening, which was getting hit with numerous awful things at the same time.

I mean, if I’m given this much power, it’s only natural that there’s going to be a shitshow for all the power that I had to play its part.

So, I’m doing awful things to pave the way for a nation-state that can survive the coming end of the world multiple times over.

Thankfully, I’ve also got the time to do decent things.

“Your village is safe and this region is under my protection, now.” After traipsing through an Ancient Ruin and picking it clean, I’d stumbled upon a village to rest, found that it was being extorted, and killed the extorters. Wandering murderhobo with a heart of gold is one of the few pleasures that I had in life. Well, a murderhobo that incriminated the ruling household of the town to be part of the bandits, killed them, and let most of the village get burnt down during the fighting, so that he’d get more population. Maximum gains for minimal effort. “Unfortunately, the foes I can vanquish with my sword is gone, but others remain. Gather your things, and I will house you in my Citadel.”

The villages thanked me profusely, while one of Riegert’s soldiers came up to speak to me.

No, it wasn’t just one of his soldiers.

It was one of the few existences in this planet that had a chance at matching me.

Emphasis on chance.

“All foes are dead.” Ilych stated simply with helm tucked under her arm. Her gaze was dull, dark hair matted, and shoulders square. Atop her horse, she loomed over me, but even off of I’d only reach her sternum. She had giants blood in her, and didn’t show any of the typical defects that came with being blooded as such. Her mind was whole, her body wasn’t ripping itself apart, and she wasn’t being struck by a hunger that she couldn’t manage. Overall, she lucked out immensely with the genetic lottery. She even looked attractive. “What is next?”

“Next, you and a squadron will escort these people to their new home under my protection.” She spoke to the winds, displayed disproportionate strength and power for an individual her age, and obeyed those who commanded her without question. Sounded like a maxed-out loyalty Champion with some decent melee perks. With immense luck, she’ll get ridiculous perks as she levels up and learns, then put anyone coming after us down. “Take a moment to rest, then help them pack. Requisition ladders and labor as necessary to get them to the Citadel before nightfall.”

“Will there be monsters coming in the evening?” Monsters came out to play during the evening, making use of Ancient Ruins and the underground transport system made by the Ancients. I’d tried see if I could subjugate them, but my efforts were futile, though I did appreciate the chance to practice fighting while I was kid. My conquest would’ve been a lot easier if I managed to rally all the monsters that I found, but it wasn’t to be. They either decided to run or fight the moment they saw me, and I had to kill as a result. Not that I was bothered with having to kill monsters. They needed to be put down, since all they did was pillage and raid. Not even a hint of developing agriculture. “You have frightened many away.”

“Then, guard them against those with minds, but are too foolish to be afraid.” I told Ilych simply and she nodded. I went over to the front of an abandoned inn and took a tarp off the top of a stall. With a few movements, I had a hammock hanging off the side of a building and I climbed into it. I wasn’t tired, but it still felt good to get some weight off my legs after the long day. I could feel myself relaxing the moment that I hoped in. “Watch out for bandits. Run from them. Don’t worry. None will be alive come tomorrow morning.”

Ilych gave me a bow, and I allowed myself to rest.

A nap, some food, and then I’ll clear the region out of bandits and idiots.

Same thing, really, if they haven’t run away after seeing what just happened.