Late that night, the Grand Imperial Palace stood quiet, its vast halls mostly empty except for a few stationed guards and flickering lanterns casting long shadows.
With the completion of a simple coronation ceremony earlier that evening, the occupation of the Empire was officially finalized. Aengus, now formally recognized as Emperor Zero, declared the region under the banner of the Liberation Empire.
The news of the regime change spread like wildfire, reaching hundreds of millions of citizens and surrendered nobles alike. Surprisingly, the Imperial Capital—a city housing nearly two billion people—accepted the transition with little resistance.
In some districts, the streets lit up with fireworks as ordinary citizens celebrated the end of the former oppressive rule. Others quietly welcomed the promise of change, hopeful yet wary of the new order.
Temporary roles were swiftly assigned to maintain peace and structure within the massive city, and despite the rapid upheaval, order remained surprisingly intact.
Deep in the night, Aengus sat in his quarters within the sprawling palace. His appearance was unassuming, stripped of grandeur, as he leaned back in his chair. The flickering candlelight reflected in his eyes as he gazed out into the darkness beyond the windows.
He was alone, his thoughts heavy. Victory was his, yet the responsibility of an empire now rested on his shoulders.
While Aengus sat in contemplation, one of his clones worked tirelessly in a secluded chamber deep within the palace. The clone was consumed with a singular purpose: to level up as quickly as possible.
Surrounded by a chaotic assortment of resources: corpses of enemies, shimmering mana orbs, demon cores, discarded weapons, and treasures deemed unnecessary—the clone devoured them relentlessly. Each item was converted into raw energy, pushing his level higher and higher.
Aengus's ultimate goal loomed before him like a distant horizon: level 1000. Only then could he unlock the true power of the God Stone and ascend to a state where no one in this world could challenge him.
Once he reached that peak, his plans could truly begin on a grand scale.
Until then, he focused on consolidating his hold over the continent. The remaining kingdoms would fall under his control, either through conquest or diplomacy. His armies, already massive, would expand further as he recruited new soldiers from every corner of the land.
---
The Demon World, Abyss
In Crimson City, recruitment for the Liberation Army was in full swing.
Each day, the army enlisted millions of new demon minions to strengthen its rule.
However, the resources required to support this growing force were immense. For now, the treasures and reserves of Crimson City's treasury were sufficient to sustain them for a few days without issue.
In one of the rooms of the Demon Lord's Castle, Aengus, Aria, and Bella were deep in discussion.
Belial smiled warmly, clearly pleased by Aengus' respectful demeanor. "Haha... Don't be so humble, Son-in-law. You can ask me anything, anytime. What do you want to know?" he replied, his voice carrying a hint of pride at being consulted.
How unbelievable was that?
Aengus asked, "What main component do you use that allows travel across such long distances?"
"Oh, that? I discovered some incredible space-related stones in one of the mines. I made some tweaks here and there using my crafting knowledge. That's how it works... Why are you asking?"
Aengus looked intrigued. "Can you show me one? It could be very important to me."
"Haha, alright..."
Belial quickly searched through his Spatial Device before presenting a transparent blue crystal.
---
[Appraisal ]
Item: Law Crystal (Space)
Description: A highly coveted item for seekers of Space Law. It is greatly capable of increasing one's affinity and understanding of space.
---
Aengus examined the crystal's information, becoming exhilarated. His guess was spot on.
This was one of the Law Crystals used in the Primal Realm. He had seen his father use these many times.
"Father-in-law, I need these Crystals as much as you can provide." Aengus said seriously, not wanting to hear no.
Belial was surprised by his sudden excitement.
Just what was he going to use it for?
"Son-In-Law, Although, they are rare. I will hand you everything I had."