Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Adding Humans to the Ranks

Aengus was calm, but his tone grew dangerous. "We'll say they're our slaves. It will solve out the current problem. And if anyone meddles too much, they'll be dealt with."

Bella's smile widened. "Alright darling, I support you. We're in this together." She took his hand, gripping it firmly with determination.

Aengus looked at her intertwined and met her gaze, her eyes filled with affection and purity. For a moment, his heart stirred, touched by the love she showed him—but deep inside, he felt nothing.

From inside, Manas watched with growing worry, already plotting the right moment to replace his heart with something new. She couldn't bear to see her master like this. A being utterly devoid of real emotions.

"Who is your representative? Step forward," Aengus's voice echoed across the battlefield, commanding the attention of the Dragon Empire soldiers.

The injured soldiers, clad in battered armor, exchanged wary glances. With their leadership decimated, they hesitated before selecting two representatives to step forward in their place.

One was a tall male warrior, his armor dented from battle, while the other was a female fighter, her head wrapped in a blood-stained bandage but still moving with a determined stride. The duo marched toward Aengus and Bella, their expressions resolute despite their injuries.

As they approached, the representatives first cast a glance at Bella, her succubus features subtle but unmistakable. Then, their eyes shifted to Aengus, the demon leader.

From close, Both Aengus and Bella shared human-like appearances, their features far more familiar than the monstrous visages of the other demons surrounding them. The representatives realized they were standing before two half-breeds—a rare sight, something only spoken of in tales and rumors.

The female warrior spoke first, her voice steady despite her injuries. "We represent the Dragon Empire soldiers. What is it you want with us?"

Aengus locked eyes with them, his gaze unreadable. "Your leaders are gone. You have only one choice: Join us or face your demise. There is no third option."

The male warrior, Lupert, furrowed his brows in deep thought. "By joining you, do you mean we'll serve you as your subordinates?"

"Yes," Aengus responded firmly, his voice unwavering.

Bella, standing beside him, smiled knowingly. "Well, that's the reality we face. We can't exactly afford thousands of slave collars, can we?" She glanced at the others before continuing, "But if they try anything treacherous, a single thought from me could wipe them all out."

Her words caused a ripple of confidence among those loyal to her, especially Vespera and Bella's personal subordinates, who now served under the banner of the Army of Liberation. They were well aware of Bella's immense power, and her reputation as an Archdemon was not earned lightly. Even among all Archdemons, she was extraordinary.

Aengus glanced down at the fallen human bodies, drawing everyone's attention in the same direction. Almost instantly, their eyes lit up with anticipation.

The allure of gaining more power was hard to resist.

"So, who's next?" Aengus asked, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates.

Many of them were eager to volunteer but held back, not wanting to appear overly eager or give the wrong impression.

Seeing no one step forward, Aengus was about to choose someone himself. He hoped that at least one of them, driven by both ambition and loyalty, would rise to the challenge.

"Darling, why don't you make me stronger?" Bella teased with a playful smirk, causing him to roll his eyes.

"No, Bella Bellfrost. I doubt they'd be much use to you," he replied bluntly.

"Tch..." Bella clicked her tongue, knowing he was right. "And here I am, working hard for everything," she added, feigning sadness.

It sometimes felt unfair to her—while Aengus possessed immense power with ease, she had to struggle, spending countless hours honing her abilities and consuming countless demon cores to grow stronger.

As their playful banter died down, someone finally stepped forward.

"I want more power, my lord!" the figure declared, the person's voice filled with determination.