After the battle, Pietro stood among the fallen bodies of Rungald and his crew.

  "What should we do with this one?" Pietro mused aloud before exclaiming, "Aha! I have an idea!"

  He opened his enchanted book and discovered a peculiar ritual. It described that by placing an orb resembling a heart into an organism's body and infusing it with his blood, he could transform the creature into his companion.

  Determined to test this newfound knowledge, Pietro began performing the ritual on Rungald's lifeless body.

  "Through the power bestowed upon me, this body before me shall rise as one of my vassals, accompanying me on my journey as the Demon Lord of this realm," Pietro chanted.

  As he completed the incantation, Rungald's body began to levitate, glowing with an ethereal light. His transformation was extraordinary—his red eyes shifted to hazel brown, and his fur darkened from brown to black. Slowly, his form morphed into that of an ancient Aswang known as Harimondon.

  Harimondon, a legendary Aswang, is renowned for its ability to shapeshift into animal forms and its intelligence in manipulating the world with ease.

  Once fully transformed, Rungald—now Harimondon—bowed deeply before Pietro and addressed him respectfully.

  "My lord, I have been dormant for centuries. This unfamiliar energy and surroundings—is this Earth now?" Harimondon asked.

  Pietro replied with curiosity, "Who are you? Are you not Rungald?"

  "I do not recognize that name, my lord," Harimondon responded. "Perhaps it is merely the vessel you speak of as Rungald."

  He introduced himself as Dulvo, an Elder Harimondon who had played a significant role in the Great Aswang War instigated by Agaras' influence—a conflict that brought devastation to their kind and led to the death of their former leader, Hanagob. Dulvo explained that he too perished in that war but had now been revived through Pietro's ritual.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "My lord," Dulvo warned solemnly, "never trust the Agaras—they embody betrayal and evil. Their power rivals Hanagob's, and though our former leader sealed their chief on another planet, I fear they have escaped and may be present here."

  Pietro's interest piqued as he asked, "Do you mean they are here in Revertha?"

  Dulvo nodded gravely. "I sense faint traces of their energy, but their scent is unmistakably strong."

  Turning to Rak'ishi, Pietro inquired if he knew of any unusual demon lords who seemed out of place in this world.

  Rak'ishi hesitated before revealing a terrifying truth: "There is one such being—a monster feared by all demon lords due to its physique and strange appearance. Over the past six years, it has killed at least 20 active demon lords. Out of 37 remaining lords, many fear attempting ascension lest they be devoured by this creature."

  Pietro reflected on his encounter with an Agaras during his battle with Rungald but was reassured by Dulvo that it had been an ancient Agaras—not one corrupted by evil. Dulvo elaborated on how Agaras were once kind-hearted beings until a single leader led them down a path of destruction, turning them into ruthless creatures who preyed on weaker beings—including Harimondons—and even humans.

  Rak'ishi interjected nervously: "I believe that same leader is here now! He ranks tenth among demon lords and commands formidable troops."

  Pietro resolved to stay vigilant against this looming threat while continuing his journey as Demon Lord. He then turned back to Dulvo with more questions about his unique consciousness compared to Anika's—a girl who had received powers from Pietro but retained her individuality. Dulvo explained that after the Great War, their souls had been trapped within Pietro’s book and required vessels to live again. Unlike Dulvo’s revival through a deceased body, Anika had gained her powers directly from Pietro without dying.

  Satisfied with Dulvo’s explanation, Pietro tasked him with summoning Harimondon troops and ensuring they adopted forms similar to orcs for seamless integration into society without alarming nearby villages. He also instructed Dulvo to establish peaceful truces with these villages rather than conquering them outright—a strategy designed to expand Pietro’s territory diplomatically.

  Dulvo agreed wholeheartedly but demonstrated his ability to transform into human form—a strikingly handsome appearance that briefly dazzled everyone around him before reverting back to his animal form upon Pietro’s request.

  Meanwhile, back at the village devastated by orc raids, Pietro assisted goblins in rebuilding their homes while frequently checking on Anika’s recovery.

  "Is she still asleep?" Pietro asked one goblin.

  "Yes, my lord," the goblin replied sadly. "It may take two to five days for her wounds to heal."

  As Pietro worked alongside Rak'ishi repairing structures, he asked why Rak'ishi had never aspired to become a demon lord.

  Rak'ishi recounted his struggles: "The hobgoblins always belittled me for not evolving like them—only two out of ten goblins gain such traits—and mocked my attempts at leadership." He lamented how even his village chief rejected him but expressed gratitude for Pietro’s intervention during Rungald’s raid.

  Moved by Rak'ishi’s loyalty despite years of rejection, Pietro declared: "If I am one of your people now as a goblin lord—you are one of mine." At that moment, Pietro’s book glowed alongside his tattooed crest which transferred onto Rak'ishi’s hand—transforming him into a hobgoblin.

  Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude toward Pietro for granting him this evolution, Rak'ishi bowed deeply while proclaiming unwavering devotion.

  The other goblins witnessed Rak'ishi’s transformation and began revering Pietro not just as a demon lord but as a Fallen God—solidifying their allegiance under his rule.

  Thus ended Chapter 3.