The Demon Lord Castle

As Lilith lay in her bed, her thoughts drifted to her next dungeon run. Well, I've stayed in this town for a week now, she mused. To anyone watching, it would look like I've been gathering supplies. But honestly, since I don't need food and can create water with magic, I've mostly been strolling around, listening to stories about the dungeon.

She smiled faintly as she recalled the tales she'd overheard. Apparently, the deepest anyone has gone is the 31st floor. The further down you go, the stronger the monsters get.

Lilith's mind wandered to the quirks of dungeon monsters. I've learned that some monsters won't attack unless provoked. And it's best to avoid resting near water—the creatures still need to drink and eat, unlike me. Strange, though... They're created by magic but can't live on mana alone. She furrowed her brow. Maybe there's more to their creation than I understand.

Meanwhile, back in Eldoria, Elara wiped the sweat from her brow and surveyed the grand structure before her. "Phew, I did well, if I do say so myself," she said with a grin.

Levy and Ella, flitting around her, cheered in excitement. "So, it's finally done?" Ella asked.

"Yes!" Elara declared proudly. "Lilith's demon castle is complete. With the help of you two and the World Tree's magic, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. And let's not forget the body double Lilith created—it really made the process smoother." She paused, a touch of amazement in her voice. "It only took us ten years, but we're done!"

Turning to the throne room, Elara gestured to the body double. "Lili," she called, addressing the double by the nickname they'd given it, "go sit on the throne."

The body double, an identical replica of Lilith, moved mechanically to the throne and sat down. Though it looked like Lilith, it lacked her soul, capable only of following simple commands.

Tami, no longer a puppy but now a towering Fenrir, stretched lazily beside the throne, her presence both regal and imposing.

Ella floated down beside Tami, smiling wistfully. "We've worked so hard. It feels like Lilith never left. The castle looks just like something she'd create."

"Yeah," Levy agreed, nodding. "But don't forget—time flows differently between realms. One year here is only about one months in Xandoria. At least, that's what I figured out after asking the goddess years ago."

Ella chuckled softly. "I was so sad when Lilith left to travel to Xandoria. But now, with all the work we've done and her body double, it feels like she's still here with us."

Levy turned to Elara. "Are you sure you don't want to join Lilith? Of the three of us, you're the only one who can leave this realm."

Elara tilted her head thoughtfully. "If she comes back, I'll go with her," she said with a faint smile. "But for now, I'll stay here and wait for her return."

Oria gazed into her orb, her eyes narrowing as the image of a towering tree came into focus. It wasn't merely a tree—it was the World Tree. No longer a sapling, it had grown rapidly, its branches stretching high into the heavens, emanating an ethereal glow.

It's grown much faster than I anticipated, Oria mused, her tone tinged with both awe and confusion. The new Demon Lord... It seems she's played a significant role in this.

Her gaze lingered on the scene, and her astonishment deepened. Intertwined with the World Tree's massive trunk was a castle—majestic and imposing. Bark and stone merged seamlessly, creating a structure that looked as if it had sprung naturally from the tree itself. The design carried an elegance reminiscent of elven craftsmanship, but it was grander, more pristine, and infused with a powerful, otherworldly magic.

"How did they build this?" Oria muttered to herself. Her fingers lightly traced the orb's surface as if trying to grasp the answer. "A castle within the World Tree... This shouldn't even be possible."

She sighed and leaned back, still transfixed by the spectacle. I should really start watching over this world more often. There are things happening here that even I don't understand.

The castle glimmered in the orb.

Oria leaned closer to the orb, her breath catching as she examined the castle in greater detail. It wasn't merely built within the World Tree; it was part of the tree. The massive trunk served as both foundation and structure, with its bark forming walls that shimmered faintly, infused with magical energy. This wasn't a fortress carved by mortal hands—it was a masterpiece, grown and shaped through ancient, powerful magic.

The castle's towers spiraled upward like branches, adorned with crystalline windows that caught the sunlight and refracted it into dazzling rainbows. Vines and moss wove along the edges, but instead of appearing unkempt, they added to its beauty, as if the natural world had carefully decorated the structure. Between the towers, bridges of living wood arched gracefully, their railings intricately carved with flowing patterns of leaves, stars, and runes that glowed softly.

Massive gates, seemingly carved from the roots of the tree itself, stood at the entrance. They were reinforced with shimmering metal inlays, engraved with symbols of protection and strength. The gates seemed alive, pulsing faintly as if attuned to the magic of the castle.

Inside, Oria could see glimpses of grand halls lit by floating orbs of light. The floors gleamed with polished stone and wood that seemed untouched by time, their surfaces reflecting the vibrant greens and golds of the tree's interior. Columns of bark twisted upward, their surfaces etched with flowing elvish-like script and depictions of the World Tree's history.

At the heart of the castle, a throne room emerged, its ceiling open to the heavens, allowing sunlight to filter down through the leaves. The throne itself was carved from the purest part of the tree, its surface glowing faintly as if imbued with life. Around it, glowing runes and sigils floated in the air, warding the space with layers of protection and power.

Oria couldn't help but marvel. This is no ordinary castle. This is a sanctuary, a fortress, and a symbol of dominion over both nature and magic.

Even the air around the castle shimmered faintly, heavy with an aura of magic so potent it was almost suffocating. It was as if the World Tree and the castle had become one—a union of nature and creation that surpassed anything she had seen in ages.

She frowned slightly, her awe mingling with unease. If the Demon Lord could achieve this much in such a short time... What else could she accomplish?

Lilith unknown to what was happing in Eldoria had started her dungeon grind.

Lilith wiped a bit of sweat from her brow, still grinning as she stepped over the remains of the goblin king. "Now that was a king," she muttered to herself, admiring the challenge he had posed. Unlike the cowardly king she had faced before, this one had fought with ferocity, his guards fiercely loyal to him. He hadn't hidden away in some hut, relying on others to fight his battles. No, he had stood on the battlefield, wielding his weapon with surprising skill for a goblin.

As the final echoes of the battle faded, she turned her attention to the center of the room, where the chest materialized with a faint shimmer of magic. Lilith approached cautiously, her senses on high alert. Let's see if there are any traps this time... She closed her eyes, allowing her mana to flow outward like a web, scanning for even the faintest trace of danger.

After a moment, she smirked. "Nothing. Looks like it's safe." She opened the chest, her hopes briefly rising. But instead of a rare weapon or artifact, all she found were several medium mana crystals nestled inside.

"Just crystals this time," she sighed, pocketing them. "Not a bad haul, but not as exciting as last time. That dagger we found earlier sold for 10 gold—maybe I was spoiled by that. Still, I can only keep improving."

She glanced around the room one last time before turning her attention to the orb glowing softly in the corner. Placing her hand on its surface, she channeled her intent into it, causing a doorway to appear. A faint breeze from below carried the scent of damp earth and faintly glowing moss.

Lilith adjusted her cloak, the mana saber on her hip humming faintly as she prepared to descend. "Let's see what the 11th floor has to offer," she said, stepping through the doorway and into the unknown.