Chapter 25. Hourglass.

The sound of deep breathing permeate the confines of the green camo tent. The warm and content sounds coming from the very affectionate daemon nestled against my chest, wrapped in a warm embrace. Maria nuzzled my neck and tightened her grip around my waist. Her tender wings encased my entire body in a black cocoon.

She was purely content with sleeping with me now that we have settled our differences. The night before she tried to kill me with a succubi's greatest weapon against men—A simple kiss. Of course, it didn't work on me since I was immune to all forms of seduction based magic. When she learned of that fact, she tried to murder me in another way, and it was in the shape of her tail.

Luckily, I was able to catch her tail before it could impale my throat with its razor sharp tip. I liked how she froze as I brought it up to my lips and her wings went fully erect just at the sight of it. Like the gentleman that I was, I gently nibbled the tip, causing her to melt into putty in my hands. After a few minutes of playing with her tail as she begged me to stop, she finally broke and confessed her feelings for me. I was quite surprised to hear that she wanted me to be her new master. How she came to that conclusion was beyond me, but from how she explained it to me, I think I could understand.

It was interesting, to say the least, to learn that it was a sacred tradition for a male to defeat a female in combat for the succubi. Never would I have believed that if I fought a dæmon succubus and win without a scratch, that she would beg for me to take her as my bride. And since she was no longer bound to her old masters, she was allowed to pursue me as her husband. Though, when she found out about my immunity, she said that the Queen of the Dæmons would do everything in her power to have me for herself. It was at that moment in the conversation that I sealed the deal with another kiss and some choice words, firmly claiming her as my new waifu.

"Sleeping with that freak of nature are we?" Raven said through our link. I smiled as it was only five o'clock in the morning and she was already trying to put me down. I bet she is just jealous that I chose the dæmon over her...And because she was a milf in a child's body and can't get laid.

"My birth form is similar to the dæmon. So what's your point?" I replied internally as I felt Astoria's, (Maria's real name), tail coil around mine.

"You used to look like that putrid filth? Being a dragon is quite the improvement," she replied with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes that no matter how much I try to get on her good side, she always tries to put me down in my place.

"Yeah, well, having a twelve-inch-dick that is almost as thick as my wrist is plus, but I do miss my dexterous lips. Then again, my fourteen-inch tongue makes up for that. My body is stronger, faster, and agiler. I can control how tall I could get, so I can stay six-foot-four for eternity. The natural armor that is nigh impervious to magic and conventional weapons is nice. Though, my claws are a bit annoying at times if I don't clip them, but in the end. I still prefer my old body over my new one," I replied, practically feeling her blush from the other side of camp.

"I didn't need to know that?!" she screamed through our link. I smiled evilly at her response as I felt the leech snuggled up with me leave a kiss on my neck before she cooed at how comfortable I was.

"I know, that's why I told you. So do me a favor and wake me up when the camp is under attack. Otherwise, I will flood your side of the link with dirty thoughts of my magical staff of white destruction," I replied again.

"Fuck you," she said before she left me alone for the rest of the morning. I giggled at her response and just as I was about to fall asleep again, I saw Astoria's horns change in a flash of fire. 'Okay, that's weird,' I thought after the horn transformation was completed. Both of her horns lost their goat-shape entirely and now looked similar to mine. Her two black horns flowed back and curved up beautifully and naturally with her head. It was surprising, to say the least, but it was a pleasant improvement. Not sure why it happened, but I'm not complaining.

I closed my eyes again, hoping to get some more sleep before we had to move into Black Rock village that was just an hour march away in the morning, but Murphy had other plans. Astoria woke up and instantly locked lips with mine. I felt her tongue beg for entry as she leaned in an act of dominance over me. As much as I loved waking up this way, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I pushed her back much to her dismay, with a raised, unamused brow.

"What are you doing?" I asked her politely as she gave me a hurt look.

"I thought I would show you how much I want to be with you," she said as she playfully licked my chin.

"Okay, we just met, and I like to take my time. I do like the treatment, but I just want you to know that if you want to be my bride. You need to meet my pace and prove yourself to me of your commitment to us—And what happened to your horns?"

"Oh, s-sorry," she said sheepishly before she frowned and reached up to feel her horns. Astoria's eyes lit up like she just went to Disney Land and became a princess when she touched her horns. She didn't say another word, but judging by her reaction and the amount nuzzling and hearing cute little squees, the change must have been a good thing.

I stood in the clearing in the wee hours of the morning with a smile on my face. I wasn't necessarily happy with everything that was going to happen today. Just knowing that my hidden stalkers were gone put me on edge. Though, I didn't show it. My mercenaries were packing up, and Luna was recuperating from raising the sun. Armed and enjoying the fresh scent of morning dew. I knew that something was going to happen.

I had my two magnums at my side instead of my sword's with a pocket-infinity enchantment on them as a just in case. Even though the cons of having nigh unlimited bullets ready to be used was going to be a problem after the one-hundredth bullet, it was a risk I was going to take.

As I stood vigil with my arms crossed. I saw a shape fly in from the horizons. I watched the shape turn into many shapes in the form of a small battalion of armed Griffins. I chuckled as two of them flew ahead of the pack and landed right in front of me, in their oversized, highly impractical armor. They strutted up to me with their boots sinking into the mud, making cute little "squishing," as they walked.

"Greetings grunts. How are you this morning?" I greeted with a curt bow. Both of them didn't respond as the stared at me through their bucket helms stoically.

"Not going to talk?" I asked as the rest of the group slowly caught up. They just shuffled in place. I decided to check up on the others through Raven and I's link.

"Hey, Raven? Is everyone ready yet?"

"Almost. Princess Twilight and her friends are being a pain, but, at least Ruby is back with the mercenaries and being useful. And why is the Dæmon wearing what it appears to be: I school girl outfit with a miniskirt and leggings that leave nothing to the imagination?" Raven responded with a hint of disgust.

"Huh, well it's good that Ruby is being useful, and I quite like Astoria's new look. So stop being jealous that I prefer the Dæmon with the twelve-inch tongue over you. It's rather annoying," I mocked as the group of armed Griffins landing at the far end of the clearing.

"You are sick! Not even, my master, Grogar would touch those wretched creatures! And he made them from the ground up!" she shouted through the link. I just rolled my eyes as what appears to be the head honcho himself walk up to me with his entourage in a full set of red armor.

"Well, excuuuuse me, Princess, If you want me so much, then prove that you can handle my preferences. Anyway, the King of Eden is here with his crew, so I kinda have to deal with him now. Talk to you later!" I said, blocking her and turning my attention to a pompous looking brat glaring me down.

"You need something, Runt?" I asked as I raised a brow to the Griffin wearing something that George Washington would wear in court. He didn't like that I called him that name and drew his sword and pointed it at me in a threatening way.

"You got some nerve to insult me, Dragon," he seethed. I let out a snort of laughter at his little dick syndrome, causing the rest of the guards to stare at me to see what I was going to do.

"Please, I could kill that assassin over there without a second thought, and you are rather cute with that toothpick of yours," I smirked as I pointed Ash at the invisible assassin stalking me like he was the greatest hunter in the world.

My smirk deepened into a wolfish grin as I felt the air around me shift to fear of me, however, the King was not impressed. I felt the assassin move away from his old position like I didn't know where he was, but I didn't let him. The sound of a gun firing caused everyone to pull out their weapons and point them at me while I chuckled at them as the assassin's dead, invisible body, began to stain the grass with blood. I brought the gun up to my face and blew the smoke before I holstered it and directed my attention back to the midget.

"So, now that you know that I can't be undermined. Give me one reason not to kill you all and take the throne for myself?" I said blankly.

"What purpose would you dare think of such thoughts agent of the Sun Tyrant?" the midget hissed.

"Agent of Celestia?" I laughed manically as I realized that they thought I was with her. They all took a step back, and if I could see most of their faces. After a few moments of losing my shit, I spoke up again.

"Sorry amigo, but I am here to kill Celestia, not join her. Why do you think Luna and the Elements of Harmony are with me? Like seriously. Are you fucking mentally retarded?" I mocked as I tried to hold back another wave of chuckles.

They all took another step back in shock at my premonition, but they still held their weapons out. I bet they absolutely thought that I was Celestia's personal bitch, and was ready to fight me at a moments notice. Thought I had to wonder: What would happen if I just killed the King and took over right then and there. With Luna at my side, I bet could take over all of Eden and start phase two of my plans with Celestia.

"That is rather surprising coming from a Dragon, but I am not buying it. What are your really hear for?" the King, himself, spoke up as he pushed aside the midget and loomed over me like a giant. Just as I was about to reply, I felt something strange. It was like the entire universe around me was in flux. I looked around to see what was wrong, causing the King and his guards to back away as they all looked up towards the sky collectively. I frowned and looked up as well and instantly regretted it.

*Thump! Thump!*

"There is no fucking waAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" I screamed in agony as I felt my left eye burn like I there was a million white hot rusty screws drilling it. I collapsed to the ground, panting and sweating on one knee as I recovered from the sudden pain. But I knew that it was a good pain. I quickly tested my left eye to see what was wrong as I was lifted back up by the Griffin guards, and was happy to learn that, The Eye of Vanity returned to me, but I still had the problem with the magic circle overhead.

"What the fuck is that?! What did you do, Dragon!" the King demanded as one of his guards punched my chest, but I couldn't answer as I didn't know.

"Well?!" he shouted as I saw Luna and Astoria rush to my side. I grunted in pain as I perfected my transformation so that my mana pool could grow and snapped my fingers, causing my Hourglass spell to activate.

I broke free from the death grips of the Kings guards and looked up to the sky again. The sun had a giant magic circle that was slowly growing in complexity and size. Judging from how big it was, I was on a timer before the spell activated. I could safely assume that the spell would activate in a few weeks time, however. There was the problem with Celestia.

I bet she is feeling the immense amount of pain of losing one piece out of seven the second she came back into this world. I had the sneaking suspicion that my power would return this way, but that just means that I would have to wait for the rest to break free from Celestia's grasp. It's only a matter of time before I return to my old self, but right now. I have to deal with the King who now thinks that I lied and was here to kill him.

With a groan of irritation, I decided that just killing him and taking his crown was the way to go. Without hesitation, I killed his honor guard and mortally wounded him. I placed his crown on my head. and released the spell, causing Luna and Astoria to slid on the wet grass to stop them from tripping on the dead bodies as I held the King by his throat.

He looked at me in utter shock as I wiped away the blood from my left eye. He saw his crown placed on my head while all the rock-tiger-fur-things burst out of the forest to come to his aid, but when they saw that I was in charge now. They bowed to me. Luna stared at me in horror while the mercenaries came to my aid without taking their eyes off of the rock golems. Astoria, however, looked at me in awe and bowed to me just like the golems.

"What are you doing?" the King choked out as I tightened my grip. Luna looked at me with the same question.

"It's simple. I cannot trust you, thus, I am taking your place. Once I have Eden under my rule, I will go to Mount Liberty and take over the Dæmon realm too. Then, once I have everything that I need here. My spies in Canterlot will initiate phase two. My new army will march and take over the Frontier before that magic circle in the sky activates. Then for phase three, we march on Canterlot and kill Celestia. You happy?" I growled.

"This is blasphemy! This is madness!" he shouted through strained breaths.

"Madness?" I asked as I turned to Luna who was absolutely appalled with me. I just growled and turned back to the struggling King.

"You are right. I am mad with worry, and if I am worried. Then not even Hades can stop what I do about it," I hissed before I flicked my wrist, snapping his neck instantly. His limp body fell to the ground with a hard, *thump,* before I turned to the gathered group of people, staring at me in shock.

"We take over Eden today! So MOVE OUT!" I shouted. The rock golems bolted from the clearing towards the small village in the east, initiating phase one.