Summon First Subject
Current Resources: 220 Units of Stone, 120 Units of Wood
New Quest Completed: Gather Resources
Rewards: Advanced Construction Skill, Summoning Portal Unlock
The rewards were immediately useful. I felt knowledge flood my mind, details on construction techniques and summoning rituals. The summoning portal was now unlocked, ready for use in the throne room.
I made my way back to the throne room, eager to test the summoning portal. The circle of runes etched into the floor glowed faintly, inviting me to begin.
New Quest Unlocked: Summon First Subject
Objective: Use the Summoning Portal to summon your first demon subject.
Rewards: 50 Units of Stone, 25 Units of Wood, New Skill: Basic Summoning
"Let's do this," I murmured, stepping into the circle. The runes flared brightly as I focused, channeling my energy. The air shimmered, and a small, impish demon materialized before me, looking up with wide, curious eyes.
"Who are you?" it asked, its voice high-pitched and slightly nervous.
"I am your queen," I replied, my voice steady and commanding. "And you are my first subject."
The demon bowed low. "At your service, my queen."
I examined the demon, noting its stats displayed by the system.
Demon Imp: Servant
Level: 1
HP: 30/30
MP: 10/10
Strength: 5
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 8
Skills: Minor Fireball, Quick Step
Not the most formidable ally, but a start.
Current Resources: 270 Units of Stone, 145 Units of Wood
I considered my next move. The system's quest for resources had been crucial, but now we needed to think about survival. Food was essential, and for that, we'd need to hunt.
"Follow me," I told the imp. "We need to find food."
It nodded eagerly, falling into step behind me as we left the castle and ventured into the surrounding forest. The twilight deepened, the woods growing darker and more ominous.
As we moved through the underbrush, I kept an eye out for any signs of wildlife. My new demon senses heightened my awareness, allowing me to notice things I would have missed before.
"Look there," the imp whispered, pointing to a clearing ahead.
I peered through the foliage, spotting a deer grazing peacefully. The system helpfully displayed its stats.
Forest Deer
Level: 2
HP: 50/50
MP: 5/5
Strength: 8
Agility: 12
Skills: Swift Hoof, Keen Senses
"We need to take it down," I said softly. "Are you ready?"
The imp nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across its face. "Ready, my queen."
We approached the deer quietly, careful not to startle it. When we were close enough, I gave the signal.
"Now!"
The imp launched a minor fireball at the deer. It hit, singing the deer's fur and causing it to rear back in alarm. I charged forward, using my newfound strength to tackle it. The deer kicked and struggled, but between the imp's fireballs and my attacks, we managed to bring it down.
Forest Deer defeated.
EXP Gained: 50
I felt a surge of energy as the experience points flowed into me. The system chimed, indicating I had leveled up.
Level Up: Demon Queen Emily
Level: 2
HP: 120/120
MP: 60/60
Strength: 18
Agility: 14
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 22
The imp also leveled up, its stats improving slightly.
Level Up: Demon Imp
Level: 2
HP: 40/40
MP: 15/15
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 9
I felt a sense of satisfaction as we prepared the deer for transport. The hunt had been a success, and the experience had made us stronger.
"Good job," I told the imp, who beamed with pride.
We returned to the castle, the imp carrying the deer. Once inside, we set to work preparing the meat. The system provided guidance, and soon we had a makeshift kitchen set up in one of the partially restored rooms.
As we cooked, I reflected on our progress. The castle was slowly coming back to life, and with the resources we had gathered and the meat from the hunt, we were well on our way to establishing a sustainable base.
The system chimed again, interrupting my thoughts.
New Quest Unlocked: Establish Basic Food Supply
Objective: Secure a regular source of food.
Rewards: 100 Units of Stone, 50 Units of Wood, New Skill: Basic Farming
The next step was clear. We needed to ensure a steady supply of food. Hunting was effective, but not sustainable in the long run. Farming would be essential.
But first, I wanted to explore the potential of summoning more demons. With our food needs temporarily met, I returned to the throne room and prepared for another summoning.
Once again, I focused my energy on the summoning circle. This time, a larger, more imposing demon appeared. It had leathery wings, sharp claws, and eyes that glowed with a fierce intelligence.
Demon Warrior: Servant
Level: 3
HP: 80/80
MP: 20/20
Strength: 25
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 12
Skills: Blade Strike, Wing Shield
"Welcome," I said, impressed by its formidable appearance. "You will serve as my protector and hunter."
The demon warrior knelt before me. "At your command, my queen."
With a stronger ally at my side, I felt more confident in our ability to secure food and resources. We ventured out once more, this time deeper into the forest.
As we walked, the system alerted me to the presence of a more dangerous creature.
Forest Bear
Level: 4
HP: 100/100
MP: 10/10
Strength: 30
Agility: 10
Skills: Heavy Swipe, Roar
"This one will be tougher," I warned the imp and the warrior. "Be prepared."
The bear was massive, a hulking form of muscle and fur. It spotted us and let out a roar, charging forward. The warrior stepped in front, using its wing shield to block the initial attack. The imp circled around, launching fireballs to distract it.
I joined the fray, using my increased strength and agility to strike at its flanks. The battle was intense, the bear's heavy swipes causing significant damage. But with coordinated efforts, we wore it down.
The warrior landed a final, decisive blow with its blade strike, and the bear collapsed.
Forest Bear defeated.
EXP Gained: 100
The victory brought another level up for all of us.
Level Up: Demon Queen Emily
Level: 3
HP: 150/150
MP: 70/70
Strength: 22
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 22
Charisma: 24
New Skill Unlocked: Basic Dark Magic
Level Up: Demon Imp
Level: 3
HP: 50/50
MP: 20/20
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Intelligence: 10
Level Up: Demon Warrior
Level: 4
HP: 100/100
MP: 30/30
Strength: 35
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 14
We gathered the bear meat and returned to the castle. With our improved stats and new skills, we were better equipped to handle future challenges. I decided to put my new dark magic skill to the test, using it to enhance the efficiency of our farming efforts.
Back at the castle, we designated a plot of land for a farm. Using the system's guidance and my new skills, we began planting crops. The process was surprisingly smooth, and I felt a sense of accomplishment as the first seeds went into the ground.
Quest Completed: Establish Basic Food Supply
Rewards: 100 Units of Stone, 50 Units of Wood, New Skill: Basic Farming
With the farm underway, we had taken another significant step towards rebuilding the kingdom. The system displayed the updated status of the castle.
Castle Status:
Throne Room: Rebuilt (Level 1)
Main Hall: Rebuilt (Level 1)
Bedrooms: Rebuilt (Level 1)
Kitchen: Under Construction
Library: Inaccessible
Dungeon: Sealed
Current Resources: 290 Units of Stone, 195 Units of Wood
Our progress was encouraging, but there was still much to do. With our food supply secured and the castle slowly being restored, we were on the right track.
I looked around at my small but loyal group of demons, feeling a sense of pride. We were building something together, creating a home and a kingdom from the ruins.