Chapter 21: The New Demon Lord is a Human

"What the hell…? This is the fortress you were talking about?" Xender said, his voice dripping with irritation as he stepped through the crumbling gates.

"Y-Yes, my lord," Lilithar replied hesitantly, bowing her head.

"The demons have no finer place to offer. This is... the best we can provide."

Xender surveyed the ancient fortress with a mixture of disdain and disappointment. The structure was massive, clearly once a grand bastion of human ingenuity. Now, it was little more than a decaying shadow of its former self.

The walls, once strong and unyielding, were cracked and covered in creeping vines. Dust blanketed every surface, and skeletons—both human and demonic—lay scattered across the courtyard, remnants of battles fought long ago.

The air was heavy with the scent of mildew and decay, and the eerie silence of the place only added to its desolation. Despite its sorry state, the fortress had a certain dark allure. Its towering walls and jagged spires whispered of a history soaked in blood and power.

"This fortress belonged to humans once," Lilithar explained cautiously, noting Xender's expression.

"Five centuries ago, during the Great War, the demons seized it. But after our defeat, we abandoned it, retreating into the ruins of the conquered dungeons. The humans... they never reclaimed it, leaving it to rot like this."

Xender exhaled, his annoyance evident.

"It's a dump," he muttered, kicking a loose stone that clattered across the courtyard.

"But... I suppose I can't be picky right now. It'll do... for now."

As they moved deeper into the fortress, Xender's mind wandered. He realized how long they had been traveling from the ruins to this place, and one peculiar thing gnawed at him.

"Why the hell weren't we attacked? Not a single monster in this cursed forest even tried to come near us," he said, his sharp gaze flicking to Zephyra.

Zephyra hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice calm but reverent.

"That's because of you, my lord. You now carry the power of a demon lord. The monsters can sense it—they're terrified of your presence. And besides that..." She gestured to herself and Lilithar.

"As elite demons, we command authority over the creatures of the Dark Forest. They wouldn't dare approach us, let alone harm us."

Xender paused, letting her words sink in. A slow, wicked smile spread across his face.

"Perfect. That'll make things easier. If the monsters fear me, then I'll make everything in this world kneel before me soon enough."

He turned back to the fortress, surveying the ruins with a calculating eye.

"Zephyra, Lilithar," he said, his tone sharp and commanding.

"I want this place cleaned and rebuilt immediately. Gather every demon you can find. I don't care if they're weaklings or beasts—make them work. I want these walls reinforced, the halls scrubbed clean, and the rubble cleared. When they're done, I don't want to see a single speck of dust."

And he added with a smirk, "prepare a throne... something worthy of a—"

He paused, frowning slightly.

"Of a... what?" The title of "demon lord" hovered on his tongue, but it felt strange. After all, he was still human—or at least, he used to be. What was he now? A human with the powers of a demon lord? Or something entirely new?

"Ah, whatever," he muttered, brushing the thought aside.

"A throne worthy of a demon lord will do... for now."

Zephyra and Lilithar exchanged glances before bowing deeply.

"It will be done, my lord," they said in unison.

As they hurried to fulfill his orders, Xender stood in the center of the ruined fortress, gazing at the sky above. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, casting the land in a dull, oppressive light.

A grin crept onto his face as he imagined the future. This was just the beginning. Soon, this decaying fortress would transform into the seat of his empire, and the world would tremble at his feet.

"Let's see how far this power can take me," he murmured to himself, his voice carrying the weight of dark ambition.

"And let's see who's foolish enough to stand in my way."

Over the course of a week, the fortress underwent a dramatic transformation. The once-ruined stronghold, filled with dust, vines, and decay, had been restored to a semblance of its former glory—perhaps even surpassing it.

Demons of all sizes and shapes worked tirelessly, their monstrous forms moving with surprising coordination and purpose under Xender's orders.

The walls were repaired, the cracks sealed with blackened stone imbued with dark magic. The courtyard, once a graveyard of skeletons and debris, now gleamed with polished obsidian tiles.

Great torches lined the walls, their flames burning unnaturally bright with an eerie green glow. At the center of the fortress, a massive throne made of dark iron and inlaid with glowing crimson runes was erected—Xender's seat of power.

Xender inspected the work with an appraising eye, seated on his new throne.

"Not bad," he murmured, his tone betraying reluctant approval.

"At least you demons are good for something."

Lilithar and Zephyra knelt before him, heads bowed.

"We are grateful for your praise, my lord," Lilithar said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Good. Now onto the next phase," Xender said, rising from the throne. His presence was overwhelming, exuding power that even the strongest of demons dared not challenge.

"Gather every demon warrior you can find. I don't care if they're hiding in caves, lurking in shadows, or rotting in some forgotten dungeon. I want an army."

Lilithar and Zephyra immediately bowed lower.

"It will be done, my lord," they said in unison before disappearing to carry out his orders.

For the next week, Xender's fortress buzzed with activity as demons from across the Dark Forest arrived. Armored beasts, shadowy wraiths, and monstrous warriors assembled in the courtyard.

The ground trembled under the weight of their numbers. Xender watched from his throne, his wicked grin growing wider as he surveyed the army he was building.

"Not bad for a start," he muttered, leaning back.

"The world won't know what hit it."

Meanwhile, back in Alderoth, the remaining four heroes trained relentlessly, pushing their bodies and magic to their limits. A sense of urgency hung over them like a storm cloud. In their hearts, they clung to hope—hope that Xender might still be alive. But as the days passed, doubt crept in.

"He's probably gone," Leo admitted one night, his voice heavy with guilt.

"If the demon lord has truly awakened, Xender wouldn't have stood a chance."

"Don't say that!" Max snapped, slamming his fist against the wall.

"We're heroes! We don't give up on our own!"

"But we can't deny the possibility," Mei said softly, her eyes downcast.

"All we can do now is prepare ourselves to face whatever is out there. Whether it's to save Xender… or avenge him."

Their training paid off. Over the week, each hero honed their abilities to an extraordinary level. Max mastered every spell in his arsenal, his power radiating with the strength of advanced magic.

His shield spells could now deflect even the mightiest of blows, and his offensive spells hit with devastating force.

Mia's light magic evolved into a dazzling display of destruction and protection, her Empyrean Radiance spell now capable of obliterating entire squads of enemies. Mei's spirit magic grew more intricate, her fusion spells combining multiple spirit warriors into near-invincible entities.

Even Leo, who was often the most doubtful, had grown immensely stronger. His Absolute Zero spell had reached a terrifying level, capable of freezing not just the air but the very fabric of magic around him.

Their power levels had skyrocketed, each now surpassing 80. It was a remarkable transformation, and they could feel it in their bones. They were no longer the inexperienced heroes they had been a week ago.

"I can feel it," Max said, clenching his fists. "We're strong enough to take on those elite demons now. Maybe even the demon lord himself."

"We have to be," Mei added, her voice filled with determination.

"Xender would want us to finish this, no matter what."

Unbeknownst to them, the Xender they thought they knew was gone. He was no longer the comrade they had fought alongside.

He had embraced the darkness, now sitting on a throne of shadows, commanding an army of demons, and waiting for their inevitable arrival.

Xender grinned to himself as he sat in his fortress.

"Let them come," he said, his voice echoing through the hall.

"I'll show them what it means to face true power."