Creating A Succubus Army In A Fantasy World!-Chapter 97 - 24hrs Is Way Too Short! [Bonus]

[Part 10/10 of the Castle Mass Release! There we go fellas! Go get that castle!]

Creed adjusted his coat as he stepped forward, his expression calm and unreadable as he approached Layla and Amara.

The moment Layla noticed him, her eyes lit up with recognition. "Creed!" she said, her voice carrying the same friendly warmth as always. "I didn’t think I’d run into you here."

Creed gave a small nod, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "It’s a small world, I guess."

Layla folded her arms, tilting her head curiously. "But seriously, how did you even get into an auction like this? I thought only people with serious connections or insane amounts of money could get in."

Creed shrugged lazily, letting an air of mystery settle around him. "I have my ways."

His voice was completely casual, but his deliberate vagueness made it seem like he had all sorts of secrets.

Layla frowned. "That’s not an answer—"

Before she could press him further, Amara shifted beside her, her gaze flickering toward Creed.

There was hesitation in her eyes, like she wanted to say something—like there was a weight in her chest she needed to lift.

For a brief second, Creed thought she might actually do it. Could she have grown so much?

Maybe she was about to apologize for what happened between them. Maybe she would say something—anything—to acknowledge the rift between them.

But then, she didn’t.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. She just lowered her gaze instead, as if some invisible force was stopping her from speaking.

Creed felt nothing.

No anger. No disappointment. Not even curiosity. He simply didn’t care.

And so, he did exactly what he had done before; he ignored her completely.

But just as the silence was about to turn unbearably awkward, another voice cut through the air like a cold blade.

"Layla," the voice said, low and firm.

A tall, athletic young man with dark hair and sharp, piercing eyes strode toward them.

His movements were controlled, disciplined, like someone who had spent years refining his elegance to perfection.

Creed immediately recognized him.

Damien. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

It had been a while since their paths had crossed, but Creed remembered him well—he was the one who had escorted him, Layla, and her aunt back to their home after the beast tide that brutally wiped out the Moon Lake Bastion.

At the time, Damien had been at least a bit professional, almost distant, but now?

Now, as he glanced at Creed, there was nothing but pure, ice-cold dismissal in his gaze.

Not even acknowledgment. Just complete and total disregard, like Creed wasn’t even worth the effort of looking at.

Tierra, standing behind Creed, immediately narrowed her eyes. She could feel the hostility radiating from this guy, and she didn’t like it one bit.

Lilith, meanwhile, looked mildly amused, as if she was watching a tiny dog trying to growl at a wolf.

Damien turned back to Layla, completely ignoring Creed. "We shouldn’t waste time talking to low-class people," he said coolly.

"Master Yvan’s training is about to begin, and we need to be there."

Creed’s eye twitched slightly.

Did this guy just... call him low-class?

Layla pouted, crossing her arms. "Ugh, do we have to go right now? I was just catching up."

Amara, standing beside her, remained silent, but a slight nod of agreement came from her. It was clear she wasn’t against what Damien had just said.

Creed didn’t react outwardly, but inside, his fists were already itching.

Damien had one of the most punchable faces he had ever seen. Seriously.

Some people just had that perfect ratio of arrogance and smugness that made you want to put your fist through their nose!

But Creed wasn’t an idiot.

Fighting Damien here—right after spending all his money—would be stupid.

Besides, Damien was already walking away with Layla and Amara in tow, not even giving Creed another glance.

Layla barely managed to toss him a quick "See you around!" before Amara pulled her along.

Creed sighed as they disappeared down the stairs.

"Man," he muttered, shaking his head. "That guy has the kind of face that practically begs to be punched."

Lilith smirked. "I noticed you were holding back. I almost expected you to trip him down the stairs."

Tierra chuckled. "He’s lucky Creed is feeling polite today."

Creed stretched his arms with a sigh, rolling his shoulders. "Oh, I’ll fight him one day," he said with a casual grin.

"I’ll make sure of it. But not for free. If I’m going to punch that guy, I want an audience and a fat paycheck."

He had to do his own fair share of faceslapping, after all!

Lilith burst into laughter. With that, they turned and walked out of the auction house, the night air cool against their skin.

Today was their last day in Azure Sky Bastion. It was time to go home.

.....

The carrier hummed softly as it touched down, the doors sliding open with a quiet hiss. A cool breeze swept through as Creed stepped out, his boots pressing into the familiar ground of Infernal Ice Bastion.

The towering buildings of the stronghold stretched high into the sky, their exteriors laced with glowing blue frost formations, a signature of the bastion’s unique environment.

Unlike the vibrant, bustling Azure Sky Bastion they had just left behind, this place was calmer, simpler, and far more disciplined—a bastion built for survival, not luxury.

But Creed felt at home here.

He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as a satisfied smirk formed on his face.

"That vacation was a damn good idea," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "I think that’s the closest I’ve ever felt to you two."

Beside him, Lilith let out a soft chuckle, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "We definitely have to do that again master!"

Tierra stretched her arms above her head, grinning. "Definitely. We’re more in sync than ever. Honestly, we should do that again sometime."

Creed nodded in agreement. Spending time in Azure Sky Bastion had been more than just a vacation—it had been a necessary step.

Binding with his summons on a deeper level had allowed their connection to reach a whole new height, and now, they could move, fight, and even think together in battle far more seamlessly than before.

But now, the break was over.

Creed’s eyes turned sharp as he stepped onto the shuttle that would take them deeper into Infernal Ice Bastion.

There was only one month left until the Ambassadors Academy Entrance Exams, and if he wanted to make it through excellently, he had a mountain of training to do.

He let out a breath, leaning against the window of the shuttle as he organized his thoughts.

Right now, he had 35 unused Primordial Essence.

This was his biggest advantage, and he needed to use it wisely to drastically increase his combat power before the exams.

There were six major things he needed to accomplish in the next month, and each of them was essential to his success.

First, he had to master his Lightning, Space, and Spear Intents to Stage 2 at the very least.

Intent was the foundation of everything in combat—it determined how powerful and efficient one’s attacks were and the power of techniques.

His Lightning Intent made his lightning attacks blindingly fast and destructive, his Space Intent gave him unpredictability and versatility in movement, and his Spear Intent refined his spear techniques to an even deadlier level.

If he could push all three to Stage 2, his overall combat prowess would skyrocket.

Second, he needed to enhance his two Fundamental Sources to Stage 2.

If he could reach Stage 2 in both his sources, he’d have an even stronger foundation for battle, allowing him to sustain high-intensity combat for far longer than the average fighter.

Third, he had to push his physique to Stage 3. While his combat techniques and energy mastery were already powerful, his physical body needed to be even better.

It was his strong point.

With the right training, he could push his bones, muscles, and overall durability to inhuman levels, making it nearly impossible for anyone at his level to overpower him physically.

Then, there were the three most important things; the game-changers!

The first was comprehending the Path of Killing using his Primordial Essence.

Paths were one of the highest forms of enlightenment, and his Path of Killing was an absolute monster of a path.

If he could fully grasp it, he could start creating his own Arts, shaping his unique combat style. His goal before the entrance exams?

Create his first true art. If he managed that, he would step into a whole new realm of strength!

The second was binding his Spear Spirit and mastering its Domain Suppression and Enhancement.

This was a huge step forward for him—once he bound the spirit, his spear techniques would be on a completely different level.

The 500-meter domain would allow him to suppress enemies within his range, while at the same time boosting the power of his spear techniques.

If he could fully master the spirit before the exams, he would be able to dominate most opponents on the battlefield easily!

The third and final goal was to keep absorbing the Fragments of Killing to boost his Killing Intent and, hopefully, evolve the Path of Killing from a Basic Path to a True Path.

Right now, the Path of Killing was still in its early stages, but if he could break past that threshold, he would step into a whole new tier of comprehension and power.

The stronger his Path of Killing, the more deadly and efficient his Arts would become.

And that wasn’t even everything.

He also needed to find strong and compatible techniques for Lilith and Tierra, helping them master their talents and Intents more effectively.

A team was only as strong as its weakest link, and while Lilith and Tierra were already monsters in battle, he wanted to push them even further; because when they fought together, they were unstoppable.

Creed let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his head as the shuttle sped through the icy streets of the bastion.

"Man..." he muttered, shaking his head. "Twenty-four hours is way too short for a day."

Lilith smirked. "Regretting your workload already?"

"Not a chance," Creed said, his eyes flashing with excitement. "I just can’t wait to see how strong I’ll be once I’m done with all this."

He would be a beast for sure!