Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Raylo watched Master Wendel’s fluid, effortless display, and the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

"Master Delin."

Raylo ignored Wendel’s smug expression and turned his gaze to Mage Delin.

"What do you think? Is there any way to completely control this guy?"

"To make him... our servant?"

Raylo revealed his true intention.

A Demon Monarch from the Abyssal Plane—even in his current wretched state, his abilities, his experience, and his knowledge of the Abyss were an invaluable treasure.

If he could control him, he could have the Demon Monarch expand Black Stone Territory’s influence in the Abyssal Plane and gather resources unique to the Abyss.

The benefits for Black Stone Territory’s future would be unimaginable.

"Controlling a Catastrophe Level Demon Monarch?"

Mage Delin pondered for a moment.

"Difficult."

"But not impossible."

He looked at the heart and said slowly.

"This Agrean is at his weakest right now. His will has been gravely wounded, leaving him at his most vulnerable, with the least capacity to resist."

"If we can bind him with a Master-Servant Contract at this moment, there’s a very good chance we’ll succeed in controlling him."

"Master-Servant Contract?"

Raylo nodded. That was what he had been thinking, too.

He had used a Master-Servant Contract to control the Black King before, but the Black King was only at the Domain Level. Raylo had been confident in his ability to control him and deal with any potential backlash.

But this Demon Monarch was a true Catastrophe Level powerhouse. Only with Mage Delin’s help and oversight could the Master-Servant Contract be completed without any loopholes.

"Yes."

Mage Delin’s tone shifted.

"However, with your current Power, forcibly binding a Catastrophe-Level will with a Master-Servant Contract would be pushing it."

"Even though he’s weak right now, the moment the contract is being forged, he will inevitably launch a frenzied counterattack. If we fail, our very souls will be gravely wounded."

"Therefore, the best method is to make him... willingly... sign the contract with us."

"Willingly?"

Master Wendel scoffed from the side.

"Delin, have you lost your mind? Getting a Demon Monarch to willingly become someone’s slave? You’d have better luck waiting for pigs to fly."

"It’s not impossible. When faced with complete annihilation, clinging to life—no matter how wretchedly—is the default for all sentient beings."

"This is true for humans, and Demons are no exception," Mage Delin remarked calmly.

"He wants to live, he wants to return to the Abyss, and he wants revenge."

"And we are his only hope."

"That’s our leverage."

Listening to the two Legendary Mages converse, a plan gradually formed in Raylo’s mind.

He looked at the dark-red heart, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Master Wendel, Master Delin."

"I think it’s time we had another little ’chat’ with him."

Mage Delin reached out and once again "plucked" the wisp of remnant demonic will from the depths of the heart.

"Agrean, right?"

Raylo looked at the illusory, flickering dark-red phantom of light and got straight to the point.

"You want to live, don’t you?"

"..."

Agrean’s will remained silent, offering no reply.

But its violently fluctuating form of light betrayed its inner turmoil.

"You want to return to the Abyss, take revenge on your mortal enemy, and reclaim everything you’ve lost, right?" Raylo pressed on.

"..."

Agrean was still silent.

"We’re interested in the deal you mentioned. But *we* will be the ones dictating the terms," Raylo said slowly.

"The terms?" the Demon Monarch Agrean finally spoke.

"Very simple," Raylo said.

"Sign a Master-Servant Contract with me."

"Become my servant."

"What?!"

Agrean’s will fluctuated violently, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke in the world.

"You want me... the great lord of the Bone-Burning Plain, Agrean... to become the servant of a mere Mortal like you?"

"You... are insulting me!"

A furious and violent will erupted.

But before it could fully flare, it was quashed by a single cold glance from Mage Delin.

The burgeoning rage was extinguished in an instant.

"An insult?"

Raylo smiled.

"No, I’m giving you a chance."

"A chance to live, to regroup, and to take back everything you’ve lost," he said slowly.

"Right now, you have only two choices."

"First, you refuse me. Then, we completely erase this last wisp of your will. After that, we’ll slice your heart into a thousand pieces and study it at our leisure."

"Believe me, we’re more than capable."

Agrean’s will shuddered at Raylo’s words.

He had no doubt that the three humans before him would absolutely do such a thing.

Especially the old man who looked so kindly, but whose Spiritual Power was monstrously terrifying.

"Second."

Raylo held up two fingers.

"Sign the Master-Servant Contract and pledge your service to me."

"In return, I will guarantee your survival. And when the time is right, I will help you recover your Power and return to the Abyss."

"The choice is yours."

Having said his piece, Raylo fell silent.

He just watched quietly, waiting for the former Demon Monarch to make his choice.

A deathly silence fell over the room.

Agrean’s will flickered violently in mid-air.

He was struggling, hesitating.

He had once been an overlord, holding power over the lives and deaths of a million Demons, enjoying supreme authority and glory.

The thought of pledging his loyalty and soul to a Mortal, a being as weak as an ant in his eyes... this was a humiliation worse than death.

But...

He didn’t want to die.

He still wanted to return to the Bone-Burning Plain. He still wanted to tear the nemesis who had stolen everything from him to shreds!

He refused to accept such a fate: to be annihilated in this strange world, a humiliated failure.

Time passed, one second at a time.

Raylo was very patient.

He knew that this proud Demon Monarch needed time to accept this rather cruel reality.

After a long while.

The violently fluctuating form of light finally began to settle.

"...Fine."

A hoarse voice, thick with resentment and humiliation, emanated from the wavering red light.

"I agree."

"However, I have one condition."

"Oh?"

Raylo raised an eyebrow.

"You think you’re in a position to be negotiating with me?"

"This contract must have a time limit!" Agrean’s voice turned resolute.

"I can pledge my loyalty and serve you."

"But not forever!"

"One hundred years!"

"In the name of the Abyss, I, Agrean, am willing to pledge my allegiance to you for one hundred years!"

"This is my final line—the last stand of an Abyssal Monarch!"

In that moment, his weak will erupted with a startling, unyielding resolve.

It was as if, should Raylo refuse, he would rather choose complete self-destruction.

Raylo looked at the violently shaking red phantom.

One hundred years.

For a Mortal, that was almost a lifetime.

But to a Demon Monarch, whose life was nearly eternal, a hundred years was but a brief moment in their long existence.

One hundred years of service in exchange for a chance at freedom.

The condition... it sounded fair.

"Master Delin, what do you think?"

Raylo turned to Mage Delin.

Mage Delin mused for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Acceptable."

"A hundred years is more than enough time for us to squeeze every last drop of value out of him."

"Besides, a servant with hope is always more useful than a slave in complete despair."

Hearing Mage Delin’s words, Raylo’s mind was made up.

He turned his gaze back to Agrean.

"Fine."

"I accept your condition."

"One hundred years."

Hearing Raylo’s answer, Agrean’s will let out a palpable sigh of relief.

Even his spectral form became much more stable.

"Well then. Shall we begin?" Raylo said.

"Let’s begin," Agrean’s voice replied.