5 To The Overworld

(1900 A.D 1st of the Blooming Lotus)

Artemis opened his eyes and started standing up for the first time in over 1000 years.

'Finally, it feels good to be awake, though it appears I have lost much worship over these years. Looks like I'll have to fix that. I also still need to retrieve my son, what a headache.'

After Artemis finished thinking to himself he started walking to a pair of gigantic doors, he gazed up at them before slightly smirking. From the other side these doors looked like nothing more than a huge wall, but this was not the most astonishing thing, it was the fact that the wall was situated directly behind the throne room in the new emperors palace. If the many assassins that had died in an attempt to kill the emperor came to know that there was a secret room that they could have used to sneak up on the emperor, they would surely turn in their graves from the indignation.

'Hahaha finally, the time has come for my return.'

Artemis pushed open the doors with so much force that they weren't even able to swing open properly and instead slammed into the ground. As the fog cleared Artemis vigilantly waited for someone to raise the alarm or attack, but what greeted him instead was complete silence. He remained vigilant as he stepped forward and looked around frowning at what he saw. Everything was covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs.

'What events would have had to take place to leave the throne room to be in such a state. An uprising? No, there are no bodies or the smell of blood. I need to find someone and ask them what happened.'

Artemis closed his eyes and focused on his hearing, he was able to faintly hear a slight pitter patter of footsteps, he opened his eyes and disappeared heading towards the place he heard the footsteps at extreme speed.

'Shit I've got to find something this time, anything that I could trade to go through the portal.'

A figure in light leather armor including a hood and face mask was cautiously going through rooms one by one trying to find valuable items that weren't nailed down or too heavy to take with them. Just as they were about check another room they felt a tremor in their heart and intense feeling of danger. Just as the figure looked up they saw a shadow before feeling extreme pain and being launched down the hallway.

'What the fuck?! Who was that and how could they be so agile while retaining their strength?!'

The figure was thinking at light speed about what just happened and ways for them to escape as they hit the wall at the end of the hallway and collapsed over. As the figure collapsed over Artemis approached before picking them up by the neck.

"Answer my questions and survive, don't and I'll rip you limb from limb before slowly burning your soul for an eternity. Understand?"

The figure quickly did their best to nod their head up and down. In response Artemis loosened his grip and dropped them, allowing them to catch their breath. As they were catching their breath Artemis reached forward forcefully removing their hood and ripping off their mask. What was revealed was a woman with blonde hair that contained a tint of red along with two horns and crimson red snake like eyes.

"Hmph a succubus, how did a weakling like you end up here? Shouldn't you be in the Venom Plains?"

The succubus continued to catch her breath for a moment before glaring at Artemis and proceeding to respond to his questions.

"I came to go through the portal like everyone else, and the Venom Plains were burnt to the ground and ravaged 1400 years ago, ha you must have been living under a rock to not have such basic information."

Artemis merely smiled in response to her provocation.

"What is the portal you speak of and where is everyone that should be managing the palace."

The blonde succubus opened her eyes wide in realization.

'This fool truly knows nothing, but how is that possible? Has he truly been living in some sort of cave all his life? No that can't be, if that was so then what would he suddenly be doing here?'

The succubus thought for a moment before deciding it wasn't worth thinking about, she would just answer him and go on her way afterwords.

"100 years ago the emperor led an invasion to the overworld and had resounding success, as a result everyone is trying to find things of value to trade for admission into the portal. That's everything I know so let us go our separate ways."

The succubus began to stand up again preparing to leave, but before she could start walking away Artemis stopped her before asking another question.

"One last thing what is your name? Look into my eyes and don't dare lie."

The succubus looked into his eyes as she was about to make up a random name but found herself in a daze before unconsciously stating her name. After she came out of her daze she was horrified at what just occurred. The succubus's had a similar ability that they would use on humans that would not allow them to resist as they questioned them. This ability caused them to be used as spies or intelligence officers when an invasion was happening. This ability was exclusive to their race which is why she was so horrified at what happened. Artemis stared at her and smiled before lifting up his arm and making a grasping motion at her.

"Barthiz of the succubus race, as of this moment your ruler binds you. You will obey my every command, you will never rebel and you will serve until you are released from my service either through death or by my will."

Barthiz stared at Artemis for a moment before breaking out into extreme laughter, completely forgetting the fear she felt just a moment ago.

'As my ruler he binds me? HAHAHA who does this man think he is, the emperor? No not even Artemis the most powerful emperor was ever heard of having such power, does he fancy himself a god? HAHAH.'

In reality Artemis had such an ability before he was rebelled against but he had been too naive and trusting never thinking there was any chance of any demon rebelling against him. As a result of this though he would make sure to never make such a mistake again, his only exception being his son. As he believed his son would be truly loyal once he learned the truth.

As Barthiz continued laughing she suddenly felt her heart tighten as if it was being gripped and bound by scorching chains, she stopped laughing and immediately fell to the floor grasping at her chest in pain. Seeing this Artemis smirked and chuckled lightly.

"Enough messing around, we are going to the overworld now. There is something important I must retrieve before anything else lets go."

With the wave of his hand Artemis opened a small portal, now that his injury was fully healed opening a portal for him and Barthiz was child play. After the portal was opened he did not wait for Barthiz to recover simply picking her up and throwing her into the portal, afterwords Artemis looked at this place before sighing deeply.

'Even though I have lost everything for now it does not matter, I shall retrieve my son and with him by my side we shall rebuild my empire.'

With these final thoughts Artemis stepped through the portal anticipating his glorious future empire.