BZZZT!
Julian stepped out of the rift back into his room.
The room was just as dark, regal and imposing as the last time that he left but this time, Julian's perception of it was different.
With Qi Sight active and his eyes subtly glowing red, he was able to notice the ambient qi that was abundant in the atmosphere in his room.
Julian realized. 'The density of qi in Dreadmoor is far higher than outside'.
It was just one hunting experience, but it changed him completely.
Now, he was no longer just Julian Reid, a bouncer who transmigrated into the body of a Demon Lord. Now, he was Zaratul, a powerful Demon villain who was forged in fire and blood, an experienced Awakened.
This one hunt changed everything about him, the way he carried himself compared to hours earlier was far different.
Also now, he had an air of arrogant dominance around him that manifested as a subtle red aura.
This was the qi manifestation of a Demon with a Dragon's pride, Julian awakened it after going on his first true hunt.
Aside his pride as a Dragon, Julian also noticed that his other emotions were far more vibrant and expressive than before he left Dreadmoor.
With his current mastery over his emotions, he could almost sense them indistinctly. And at this moment, after such an exciting hunt where he embraced a different facet of the concept of debauchery, Julian felt thrilled and excited.
His emotions were slightly overflowing.
Thud! Thud!
He casually threw the corpse of his 2 biggest hunts on the ground, staining the marble floor with blood.
Shortly after, he noticed a clear fluctuation of purple qi through his Qi Sight.
Mirror Step!
Pandora stepped out of the void.
Looking at her this time, Julian's lips could not help but curl up slightly as he appreciated the beauty of this Succubus Princess even more.
This was another difference from the Julian that left Dreadmoor hours ago. Compared to that Julian, the current Julian was bolder.
It was no longer an act, he was now truly bold and unhinged.
He blatantly admired the sumptuous size of her breasts and the gentle contours of her body. For the first time, he truly appreciated the beauty of this Succubus.
"You look delightful". Julian casually commented.
"Delightful?" Pandora was confused.
Julian grinned. "It means you look extremely beautiful".
"Ah…!" Pandora covered her cheeks with both hands as she blushed, then she finally diverted her attention to the two prey on the ground.
"A Basilisk and a Cockatriss!" She identified and cheered. "Exquisite meat!"
Her genuine excitement filled Julian with positive energy as he smiled, then he instructed her. "Take them both to the chef to make a meal for both of us".
"I'll join you in the dining hall soon".
"Ok!" She nodded in a bubbly manner before easily picking the 2 game and disappearing out of the room with another Mirror Step.
Julian exhaled, then he walked straight to the bathroom.
He had a thorough bath, cleaning his body of all the sweat, filth, and blood that gathered throughout his hunting session.
Only then did he leave the bathroom and casually approach his wardrobe, and finally Julian saw a vivid expression of his wealth.
The modest wardrobe was actually a spatial artifact with a much more expansive interior like a hall. The clothes inside were so many that Julian couldn't even count, he guessed that there were at least 10,000 clothes inside.
This was how rich Zaratul was.
With a grin, Julian casually picked a black regal robe and wore it after wearing new underwear, then he navigated his way to Dreadmoor's dining hall.
Before leaving, he keenly noticed that the blood stains on his bedroom's floor before he entered the bathroom were gone, but he didn't overthink it as all his attention was now on the dining hall.
The dining hall was just as extravagant as the rest of Dreadmoor.
It was a large hall with massive soaring columns on both sides radiating wealth and commanding authority, the soaring columns were charcoal black veined faintly with silver.
The hall looked antique.
Like the rest of Dreadmoor, it was dimly illuminated but Julian could see clearly as he walked inside the grand dining hall.
Chandeliers hung heavy from the vaulted ceiling, casting a low, molten glow on the hall rather than sparkling brilliance.
The vast floor was polished with black and obsidian tones, inlaid with subtle, intricate patterns that resembled sigils or ancient crests as reflections rippled darkly beneath the light, giving the room an almost mirror-like depth.
Tall arched windows loomed along the walls, draped in thick velvet red curtains, allowing only slivers of the sunlight to pierce the interior.
At the center, the long banquet table stretched like a ceremonial altar.
The linen was rich black damask embroidered with metallic thread.
The chairs were high-backed and imposing, upholstered in dark leather, each one feeling more like a throne than a seat.
As for the floral arrangements, they were restrained and dramatic with deep burgundy blooms, blackened foliage, and silver branches rising between clusters of black candles whose flames flickered slowly and deliberately.
The overall atmosphere screamed power and solemn grandeur.
This was the dining hall of a Demon Lord.
Julian grinned, taking it all in then he finally laid his eyes on the feast that was already prepared for him.
The aroma was tantalizing.
The chef was a tall and mature Demoness dressed in common chef attire, while standing behind her was a row of beautiful Succubus maids in maid attire who stood, quietly awaiting their Lord.
Pandora stood at the front ahead of all of them.
"Welcome Lord Zaratul". They bowed and welcomed him respectfully.
Julian acknowledged them with a nonchalant nod before sending them off, and then he sat with Pandora in the high-back dining chairs before the feast.
He didn't start eating immediately, first he took a moment to admire Pandora's beauty again, making her cheeks blush red then he indulged in the food.
Julian didn't know if it was because of the Basilisk and Cockatriss meat, but the food was delicious.
It was the most delicious food that he's ever eaten!
As Julian indulged himself alongside the beautiful Succubus, enjoying a different type of pleasure as his tongue feasted in the myriad flavors, the system lit up again with a new notification.
DING!
~----~
[Congratulations! You have crossed another major threshold in understanding a different form of debauchery!]
[You have been rewarded with +5,000,000 EXP!]
…
[EXP to Level 17: 6,553,600/6,553,600]
[You have leveled up to Level 17!]
…
[EXP to Level 18: 4,036,405/13,107,200]
~----~
Julian's eyes gleamed. 'Indulgence in food is another facet of debauchery?'
He was learning more about the concept of debauchery every day.
At some point, as he ate alongside the beautiful Succubus, Julian keenly sensed a different emotion apart from the pleasure derived from food slowly flooding his senses as the atmosphere in the dining room turned a bit hot.
A subtle sexual tension ignited between the feasting duo.
And then, after eating his fill, Julian finally raised his head to look at Pandora and he saw that her face was already flushed red.
It was not just him, she was feeling the same emotion that he felt.
Pandora was no Lilith though, she was not shy when it came to taking charge.
Seeing the look in his eyes, she understood the hint immediately as she toppled the dining chair over and quickly approached Julian. Julian stood up as they hugged tightly, looking into each other's eyes.
Passion ignited and they leaned in for a passionate kiss.
Mirror Step!
They both disappeared to the large bedroom.