Time seemed to freeze as Lyra followed Adam's gaze to peer into the skies above, tracing the sleek, black structure that promised to carve a path towards their future.
The raw, potent mana emanating from the obelisk was undeniable.
It resonated with the shadowy depths of her own new nature.
"...It is... a treasure," She conceded, her voice less sharp than before.
The sheer scale of his ambition was a cold splash of water on the flames of her residual rage. This was beyond anything she had conceived in her dreams of vengeance, of her plans which had only included survival.
And his greater strength was definitely attributed to his incredible luck. Luck was something that she was not blessed with upon her rebirth. The difference in their starting point made all the more apparent by their current situation.
'Well, there was also the fact that his past life was vastly different from mine…' Flashes of Adam's memories lingered in her mind, recalling the time when he invaded her mind.
"And the view from the top," Adam's voice broke her train of thoughts, pride evident in his tone, "Is unparalleled. You can see every corner of my domain. You can feel the winds of the land and hear hell's heart beat… a feeling of freedom."
Adam's eyes glimmered, infatuated with this new home of his.
Lyra also subconsciously closed her eyes and truly felt the air of hell's womb for the first time.
The anger, hatred, and wild instinct had made her go on a rampage at the first instant when she was reborn. Then it was just survival after that.
Flickering thoughts were born in this moment of ironic tranquility.
'I am reborn… as a devil.' The acceptance and reaffirmation sent a shiver of excitement through her body.
'… and this is my new home!' Her silver eyes opened and seemed to pulse in resonance with hell itself; her emotions more aligned, her breathing easier, and her body more relaxed yet ready, like a sprung ready to burst.
Her gaze drifted to that beast, to Adam, once again.
'His understanding has already reached such a level long ago, hasn't it?'
A devil's talent stood at the pinnacle; the main thing restricting their growth being their own mind, their understanding and mastery of their new bodies.
"Crack."
Just then, Agri and Blair approached, their expressions a mask of obedience that barely concealed their burning envy.
Agri carried a massive, supple hide of a deep-grey demon beast, its surface still faintly shimmering with vicious red mana.
"Master," Blair said, her voice even, "We have brought the hide for the new mistress's cloak. We can take her measurements somewhere private, if it pleases you."
She was only doing what she was commanded, but a small part of her wanted to separate the beautiful devil from her master.
Adam ignored the subtle desire hidden within them, their emotions unknowingly blatant to him through the brand, as he had plans of his own regardless.
"The room at the peak will do," He stated, gesturing upwards.
Lyra followed his gaze, a flicker of unease crossing her features. The climb was long, a vertical journey of a kilometer.
"It is a great height," Lyra voiced, her tone filled with disapproval.
"The location is... impressive. But the ascent is long, and I have no desire to scale a tower every time I need a moment of quiet." It wasn't quite a refusal, but a statement of preference, a small assertion of her desire within her new forced captivity.
Adam looked from her to the towering obelisk, then back at her.
Surprisingly, he didn't flat out dismiss her concern.
He mused on it, his hellish eyes scanning the bustling workers below. Then his gaze settled on Roh, who was directing a team of demons hauling stone slabs.
"Roh."
Adam's voice was casual, but it cut through the noise of the workers with the clarity of a lightning bolt.
Roh jerked in slight shock before he reacted to suddenly hearing his name. To him, it was not a call; it was a summons.
He immediately ceased his management, his massive form cutting through the horde and reaching Adam before he dropped to one knee before them, his head bowed.
"Masters," He stated, the plural coming naturally as his gaze flickered to Lyra for a fraction of a second, "What is required?"
'What was he doing?' Agri and Blair watched, their confusion mounting in silence.
They didn't wait for long, as Adam's next words made their jaws go slack with incredulity.
"The room at the peak is too distant," He declared, as if it were a simple fact, "We will build a new building… hmm~ Here!" He pointed to the raised stone platform that housed the dimensional gate's control pedestal and the half-completed, shimmering archway.
"Extend the platform, build a terrace that overlooks the basin. Make a room atop with ample space."
"…"
The air around Agri and Blair grew thick with their stunned disbelief.
Their master, who had been difficult to please since their first interaction with him, was altering the entire layout of his fortress because his new 'toy' had found the existing accommodations... inconvenient?!?
He was having a balcony home built over the most strategically vital part of their entire operation!
This wasn't just favoritism; it was spoiling her!
But most importantly, it was a level of indulgence he had never shown either of them!
Their eyes met, a silent, furious conversation passing between them.
'He's building her a queen's chamber.' Blair's gaze screamed.
'While we had to earn our place to reach the peak!' Agri's answering look was one of bitter jealousy.
Although shocking, Roh, ever the pragmatic, simply saluted.
"It will be done, Masters."
He rose and immediately began bellowing orders, redirecting demons and resources to this new, sudden priority. His demonic voice creating waves in the air as it seemed to disrupt the mana in the air.
Adam pulled his eyes back down at Lyra, a satisfied smirk on his face.
He had given her a display of his power earlier, and now he had given her a demonstration of his authority and willingness to wield it for her comfort.
Something that she had lacked in her days within hell's wild landscape.
The message was clear: her submission came with privileges.
She was not just a captive; she was his queen, and her every whim would shape the very foundations of his budding kingdom.
Adam smiled and laid his gaze onto Lyra's enchanting face, her observant silver pools following the demons working on his commands, "Anything for you, my little queen."
The title settled over her like a coronation.
'My little queen.'
Queen!
It spoke of authority, of a power!
Internally, a thrill of fierce, secret pleasure shot through Lyra.
This was what she was owed, what was expected. This was the respect her devilish birthright demanded. She was not some common demon to be used and set aside; she was royalty, forged by hatred and guided by sin.
Now, Adam was someone who understood her worth.
She leaned into his side, her body molding against his with a new, lazy possessiveness.
'Maybe being at this beasts' side isn't so bad after all.' The notion solidifying even more in her mind.
"The new chamber will suffice," She said, her tone dripping with regal indifference.
Her voice, when she spoke, was no longer that of a defiant captive or a victim. It was like a command, soft yet absolute, from a monarch to her subjects.
"Good, let us head up for now, while the new chamber is built." Adam said, satisfied with Lyra's malleability to the situation.
"Yes, however…" She continued, tilting her head back to look up at his face, her mercury eyes glinting, "I find myself... fatigued. The needed ascent is beneath me in my current state," Her beautiful, mystical eyes lingered back to him, "Therefore, you will carry me."
The following demonesses stilled from shock.
It was an audacious demand.
The height of a kilometer was a triviality for any devil or demon; a few minutes of easy climbing.
But every ounce of Lyra's energy had been spent the previous passionate sex they had, devoured by Adam's insatiable lust.
Lyra's groin ached with a lingering symphony of pain and pleasure; a constant, throbbing reminder of him. Her legs felt like weak, trembling jelly, utterly incapable of supporting the climb.
It was a weakness, but she presented it as a privilege he should be honored to accommodate.
Also, the satisfaction of commanding someone who had dominated her felt like a small victory in the sea of loses.