Report to the Demon King

Valeria emerged from the swirling darkness into the grand hall of the Demon King's castle.

At the far end of the hall sat the Demon King, his imposing form draped in a cloak as dark as the void itself. His throne, carved from obsidian and adorned with jagged, blood-red crystals, loomed above the rest of the chamber. His eyes, a piercing crimson, glowed from beneath his hood, tracking Valeria's every movement as she approached.

Valeria moved with purpose, her footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. Despite the weight of the rifles she had taken, her gait was steady. The dark magic that had swirled around her during her assault on the elven armory still lingered, crackling faintly in the air around her.

The Demon King's gaze remained fixed on her. Valeria came to a halt several paces from the throne, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment of his authority. There was no need for formalities between them; she was one of his most trusted generals, and he expected results, not pleasantries.

"What have you brought me, Valeria?" the Demon King's voice was a low rumble, deep and resonant, reverberating through the hall.

Valeria raised her head, her dark eyes meeting his piercing gaze. With a flick of her wrist, she materialized several of the rifles she had taken from the elven armory. They hovered in the air before her, suspended by her dark magic.

"These," she said simply. "Weapons of the humans. Devoid of magic, yet they possess a power we have not encountered before."

The Demon King leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the rifles. He waved a hand and the rifles hovered towards the throne, settling into a slow rotation before him.

His eyes burned brighter as he examined them, each rifle turning to reveal its full form under his scrutinizing gaze.

He reached out, and one of the rifles floated into his grasp. He turned it over in his hands. His expression remained inscrutable, but the faint lines of tension around his eyes betrayed a growing interest. He ran his clawed fingers along the barrel, feeling the smoothness of the metal, the precise craftsmanship of the human weapon.

"A weapon without magic," he mused, his voice a rumble that echoed through the hall. "Such a thing is almost... insulting to our kind. And yet, you say it holds power?"

Valeria nodded, her expression grave. "Yes, my lord. These weapons rely on a different kind of power-a science the humans have mastered. Though it can't pierce through my barrier, but if there was no barrier, I would incur damage."

The Demon King turned the rifle over in his hands once more, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed Valeria's words. "Interesting," he murmured. "Humans have found a way to level the battlefield without the use of magic. They seek to challenge the natural order."

He set the rifle aside, letting it float back into the air where it continued to hover along with the others.

"You fear these weapons," he stated, not as a question, but as an observation. "You fear what they might become."

Valeria hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, my lord. They are nothing on their own, just metal and mechanisms. But the humans who created them-they understand something we do not. They have found power in places we have ignored. If they learn to combine that power with magic, they could become a force beyond what we can easily control."

The Demon King reclined on his throne, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "They seek to ascend," he said, his voice contemplative. "To rise beyond their mortal limitations and grasp at power that has always been denied to them."

He gestured, and the rifles floated back to Valeria, encircling her in a slow orbit. "Then they must be reminded of their place," he declared, his tone turning cold and authoritative. "You will study these weapons. You will dissect their secrets and turn their own power against them. We will show the humans that no matter how far they reach, they remain beneath us."

Valeria bowed her head, accepting the command. "As you wish, my lord. I will ensure that their secrets become ours."

The Demon King's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction. "Good. But there is more. These humans have armed the elves, giving them tools they do not understand. The elves have become pawns in this game, believing themselves stronger. We will use this to our advantage."

"How so, my lord?" Valeria asked, her gaze steady on him.

"We will let the elves continue to believe in their newfound power. They will grow confident, bold. And when the time is right, we will strike. We will shatter their illusion of strength and remind them why they have always feared the darkness."

Valeria felt a surge of dark energy at his words, a cold smile spreading across her face. "They will learn," she said softly. "They will learn that power without understanding is a double- edged sword."

The Demon King nodded, a malevolent light in his eyes. "Go, Valeria. Begin your work. The humans have taken a bold step into the unknown, but they will find that they have only stepped into the shadow of their own doom."

Valeria turned, the rifles following her as she moved toward the exit of the throne hall. The Demon King's voice echoed behind her one last time.

"And Valeria," he called, "do not let them grow too powerful. If they begin to approach the threshold, remind them of the darkness that awaits."

"Of course, my lord," Valeria replied, her voice carrying a note of finality. She walked away, the shadows parting before her as she made her way to the depths of the castle, where she would begin her work on understanding and subverting the power the humans had so arrogantly grasped.

In the grand hall, the Demon King remained on his throne, his gaze fixed on the darkness where Valeria had disappeared.

"Looks like I have to speed things up before the humans can catch upto our power," he muttered to himself, his voice a mere whisper that echoed ominously through the empty hall.