Is that a Wisp?

"…"

Krune felt a headache as he watched the figures of Wrister and Flita tremble like broken leaves caught under a storm. They were currently hidden behind him like a broken recorder, their expression pale, their eyes trembling like a drug addict, and their minds broken down.

The cause was the Red Demon that was before them at the moment, prostrating on the floor in a subservient expression. From the moment it appeared, it didn't speak anything, silently landing on the ground before assuming its prostrating pose.

It had arrived all of a sudden in the middle of the night that none of them were able to do anything, shocked. As for Krune, even though he was shocked at the start, after feeling a similar presence on the Red Demon, he was no longer afraid of it.

First of all, it was the Red Demon he had freed from the prison. Second, it currently had the tremendous aura of a Motor Fish in it, the aura of a Motor Fish that had been completely tamed by him for generations together.

Plus, he had elevated its race from weaklings to the level of a Monster Emperor. So, one could say that he was basically their race's savior. Moreover, it was ingrained in them to the extent that it had formed another extent in their genetics, that was the instinct to submit to Krune automatically.

Even though they were a tamed species, it meant that anyone could tame and control them. However, the Motor Fishes that Krune produced were slightly different. Even though they were still tameable by others, their control only came second to Krune's.

If Krune wished to, all the Motor Fishes would execute his commands first with the highest priority. So, it could be said that they had genetically become subservient to Krune. Even while forming and by birth, they would already express their loyalty to Krune.

And now, almost 60 Blood Essence Crystals, derived from the very same Motor Fishes, had been swallowed by the Red Demon. So, it needn't be explained what had happened here. Among the 70 Blood Essence Crystals it had swallowed in total, the remaining 10 were from the Great Dipper and the Tongue Fish.

Even though the Red Demon had escaped its racial restriction of swarming human cities, it had now fallen under Krune's control. That's why the moment it had finished reeling from the side effect of consuming 70 Blood Essence Crystals and finished evolving, it immediately tracked Krune's presence and arrived at the Ralk family mansion.

"Lord Krune, I express my undying loyalty towards you," the Red Demon said.

"What's your name?" After some time, Krune sighed as he massaged his head, feeling his headache worsen as he asked.

"I don't have one." The Red Demon smacked its head on the floor as it said. However, the floor cracked from its action, alarming Wrister and Flita even further. The Red Demon hesitantly lifted its head, pleading, "Please…can you bestow upon me a…"

"Alright," Krune said with a tone of joy, pumped at the fact that he could name an overpowered individual in Layer 2, immediately thinking of one based on the way the Red Demon arrived. "I'll call you Hazak, then."

"Hazak…so, that's my name." The Red Demon was enamored, going into a trance as it cried, "My gracious lord, I am unworthy of such a magnificent name."

"It's fine." Krune smiled, waving his hands. "Also, you can just call me Krune. No need to address me with unnecessary titles."

"B-But, Lord Krune…" Hazak, the Red Demon stammered, unable to articulate its words as it didn't wish to show even the slightest of disrespect.

"Krune is fine. And for the moment, address me as Pestlor," Krune clarified. "If you still want to address me with a title, a simple sir is fine."

"Understood, Sir Pestlor," Hazak responded, getting up once it was prompted to do so by Krune.

Krune then looked at Wrister and Flita, saying, "You guys don't need to worry about it. It's loyal to me."

"B-But, it…" Wrister trembled as he said, "It's stronger than the strongest of Red Demons I've seen to date."

"Well yeah," Krune coughed once as he thought, 'It has swallowed 70 Blood Essence Crystals and managed to digest them all. Of course, he would be insanely strong.'

"Anyways, you don't need to fear it." Krune then looked at Hazak, saying, "These two are important comrades that have helped me tremendously. Treat them well."

"Yes." Hazak bowed immediately, even cupping its fists while facing Wrister and Flita one by one. But even after it had done so, showing a respectful demeanor, the grandfather and grandchild were still unable to calm down.

To them, the strength of a Red Demon was apparent. And precisely because of that, to the Red Demon before them that surpassed the strength of all Red Demons, they could only assume it to be on the same level as the strongest extent in their world—Layer 2.

Demon God!

A demon of myth, almost legend that had only fleetingly appeared on the battlefields rarely. A figure that was said to be capable of destroying a city almost on its own, unless the city unleashed all the trump cards it had been saving up for at least a century.

And now, a being almost on its level stood before them. So, it would be strange if they were calm. But upon seeing that they were struggling to cope with it, Krune excused himself, motioning for Hazak to follow him as they headed towards the second reservoir.

Upon seeing all the yellow fishes, Hazak was gobsmacked, his eyes widened to the extent it seemed like his eyeballs would fall out, "T-This is?"

"Ah, this? That's just our food." Krune replied, lightly dismissing it. But, his casual actions ended up stunning Hazak into submission even more, the faint vestiges of its former self vanishing without a trace,

"Now, before we talk about serious business..." Krune looked around, thinking for a moment as he smiled, noticing Hazak's thin appearance before suggesting, "Let's eat first."