"Violet, break down the Gastrea bodies."
"Preserve their bloodline essence. Use the rest as offerings for the summoning."
Damien's plan mirrored Rimuru's from the original story, using a vast amount of flesh to summon powerful daemons.
In the Cardinal World, the strength of summoned daemons depended on the quantity and quality of the offerings.
Rimuru had sacrificed 20,000 soldiers, while Damien offered nearly 2 billion massive Gastrea.
However, due to the differences between worlds, the overall quality of 20,000 soldiers far surpassed ordinary humans.
Even so, 2 billion Gastrea, including high-level specimens, should at least equate to hundreds of thousands of soldiers, Damien reasoned.
Thus, while sacrificing the flesh, he awaited his majins' actions.
Until Snow Empress sent a telepathic message: "The count is complete. Everyone has boarded the Void Ark!"
"Good."
Damien returned to the Cardinal World, lying on his bed. "Violet, begin the summoning."
"The offerings are prepared."
"Commencing the summoning…"
As the vast amount of Gastrea flesh was sacrificed, a magic circle slowly materialized before Damien.
The next moment, a terrifying surge of magicalule, laced with unimaginable malice, erupted from it.
Boom!
"Not bad. That's some impressive magicalule. Looks like we've summoned something extraordinary."
Given the scale of Damien's summoning, it could theoretically call forth daemons ten times stronger than those Rimuru summoned.
In theory, it was enough to summon 100 Archdaemons.
Yet, when the magical fluctuations subsided, only four figures appeared before Damien.
One man and three women.
The man was a strikingly handsome youth with jet-black hair and eyes, dressed in a butler-like outfit reminiscent of Western European style. He knelt on one knee, offering his respect to Damien, his summoner.
The three women... one with white hair and white attire, another with purple hair, and the last with blonde hair... knelt similarly, awaiting Damien's orders.
"Primordials…"
Damien wasn't as ignorant as Rimuru.
The appearances of these four, particularly their colors, made their identities clear.
The Seven Primordial Daemons, the oldest and most powerful daemons, stood at the pinnacle of their kind.
Damien was pleasantly surprised.
Each Primordial was a talent, possessing potential on par with Snow Empress.
If he could keep them, his power would soar to new heights.
"But why are you so respectful toward me?"
Based on Damien's knowledge, aside from Primordial Purple - Violet, who was somewhat approachable, the other three were not easy to deal with.
Primordial White - Blanc was cruel and delighted in slaughter.
Primordial Yellow - Jaune had a fiery temper, quick to fight at the slightest provocation.
Primordial Black - Diablo, Rimuru's future devoted follower... was drawn to Rimuru initially because he saw him as the convergence point of Hero Chloe's timeline and maybe see his true potential.
"This should be our first meeting, right?"
Damien was puzzled. He wasn't in a rush to awaken; that could wait.
For now, he needed Violet to prepare thoroughly to maximize his acquisition of Ultimate Skills.
Ultimate Skills would determine his strength in the Demon Lord domain.
No amount of caution was too much.
"You carry that one's aura."
Noir said, "Is that reason enough for you?"
"Not quite."
Damien shook his head. Veldanava's bloodline was impressive, but he sought a different kind of loyalty.
Of course, he wasn't worried the four Primordials would break their contract or harm him.
Even they wouldn't violate a summoning contract.
Especially after Damien offered such a vast sacrifice, a simple command to protect him until his awakening was well within their obligation.
"You're quite cautious, aren't you?"
"But I don't dislike it. In fact, I'm rather fascinated by your existence."
"What?"
Damien was stunned by Noir's bold words.
Though daemons lacked a concept of gender, they still had self-perceptions tied to their forms.
Well, except for Guy.
That one could switch between male and female forms and had no qualms with either.
"Please don't misunderstand. My fascination isn't like human relationships."
"It's that I'm captivated by your charisma…"
Noir spoke truthfully. Ever since Damien awakened as a Demon Lord Seed, especially after his Unique Skill Planeswalker evolved into Gate of the Void, he exuded an aura that enthralled daemons.
Like moths to a flame.
To Noir, Damien was a beacon in the darkness, drawing him to follow and draw near.
"I don't quite understand, but afterward, I'll allow you to follow me."
"Thank you for your grace!"
Noir bowed lower, his demeanor even more deferential. "I will spare no effort to ensure your awakening succeeds."
"And you three?"
Damien turned to the other Primordials.
"I heard a voice. She said you could give me what I want."
Violet, the weakest of the seven, enjoyed observing worlds, planting seeds, and reaping amusement.
In short, she was a mischievous imp who loved causing trouble.
In Damien, she saw an endlessly fascinating future.
Following him, staying by his side, she'd never be bored.
"Are you after my Void Ark?"
Damien didn't mind if his secret of world traversal was exposed.
After all, he was about to become a Demon Lord.
By then, only beings on Guy's level could challenge him in the Cardinal World.
And Violet was certainly not among them.
"Just for fun. With the key to infinite worlds, I'll never be bored."
"That's…"
Violet grinned with delight. "Far too exciting!"
"My turn, then?"
Jaune spoke up. "You're strong. I want to fight you!"
Her attitude nearly provoked Noir to lash out.
How dare she disrespect his master? Jaune!
***
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