Page 54 of The Dark Lord Awakens
I offered the cup to General Smashington, who had been watching the proceedings with military discipline but undisguised curiosity. His massive four-armed frame dwarfed the cup as he accepted it, sniffing the steam cautiously before taking a bite.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The general’s eyes widened, then began to glow with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. He straightened to his full height, his obsidian skin seeming to shimmer with new energy.
“By the dark abyss,” he rumbled, his voice somehow even deeper than usual. “I feel… power flowing through me! The void sustenance—it strengthens not just the body, but the spirit!”
He flexed his arms, and to my astonishment, the obsidian-like material of his skin actually cracked slightly, revealing glowing red energy beneath that quickly sealed itself, leaving his arms looking more defined, more powerful than before.
“What the…” I muttered, then caught myself. “I mean, yes! The void energies are transforming you, General. Your true potential is being unlocked.”
Was the food actually magical? Or was this some kind of placebo effect? I hadn’t ordered enchanted ramen—just regular cup noodles. But then again, this was a fantasy world with actual magic. Maybe the interdimensional shipping process had imbued the food with special properties?
More demons crowded forward, eager to try the miraculous food that had visibly strengthened their general. I quickly organized an impromptu tasting station, having servants prepare more cup noodles and distribute bread, protein bars, and water to the assembled crowd.
The results were consistent and astonishing. Each demon who consumed the “void provisions” experienced some kind of enhancement—increased strength, brighter glowing eyes, more vibrant magical auras. Even the smallest imp demons stood taller, their spindly limbs suddenly capable of lifting crates that should have been beyond their capacity.
“My lord,” Azrael murmured beside me, “the void sustenance appears to be increasing their magical essence. Their mana reserves are visibly expanding.”
“Yes, exactly as I… intended,” I replied, making a mental note to order exclusively from OpenSesame from now on. Apparently, their food came with magical performance enhancers built in. The FDA would have a field day.
Duke Splashypants approached, his webbed hands clutching an empty cup noodle container. The gills on his neck were flaring with excitement, and the water that constantly dripped from his amphibious form now seemed to glisten with tiny sparks of blue energy.
“My lord,” he gurgled, “the Void Soup has awakened ancient powers within my aquatic lineage! The Moist Dominion shall serve you with renewed vigor!”
“Excellent,” I replied, trying not to laugh at the phrase ‘Moist Dominion’ for the hundredth time. “Your loyalty will be remembered.”
A small commotion drew my attention to the far side of the courtyard, where a group of lower-ranking demons was excitedly examining one of the nutritional supplement bottles designed for the severely malnourished. One of them, a sickly-looking demon with translucent skin and visible bones, had apparently consumed some.
Before my eyes, the demon’s form began to change. His hunched posture straightened, his skin took on a healthier hue, and the bones that had protruded sharply beneath his skinreceded as muscle and tissue formed. Within minutes, he looked like an entirely different creature—vibrant, strong, and literally glowing with vitality.
“The Elixir of Transformation!” someone shouted. “The Dark Lord has brought us the legendary elixir!”
Oh boy. This was getting out of hand. If regular cup noodles and protein bars were causing this kind of reaction, what would the actual medical supplies do?
“These provisions must be distributed carefully,” I announced loudly. “The most potent sustenance must be reserved for those in greatest need. The rest will be shared equally among all citizens.”
I turned to General Smashington, who was still flexing his newly enhanced muscles. “General, prepare your troops to transport these supplies to the Ashen Fields. The strongest void sustenance should be delivered directly to Healer 47 for distribution to the most vulnerable.”
“At once, my lord!” the general boomed, his voice carrying easily over the excited chatter of the crowd.
I pulled Azrael aside. “We need to control this situation,” I said quietly. “If these supplies are having such dramatic effects, they could cause chaos if not properly managed.”
Azrael nodded, his crimson eyes fixed on a group of servants who were practically arm wrestling for the chance to try a protein bar. “Indeed, my lord. Such power must be distributed with care. Perhaps we should establish stricter protocols for the camp?”
“Agreed. And we need to understand exactly what these ‘void provisions’ are doing. Have Magister Wiggles study them—discreetly.”
As the supplies began to be loaded onto wagons for transport, I couldn’t help but notice several demons surreptitiously pocketing extra cup noodles or protein bars. Oneparticularly sneaky imp had somehow managed to stuff three packages of instant ramen into his tunic without being noticed by anyone but me.
Great. I’d just inadvertently created a black market for cup noodles. If these things really did enhance magical abilities, they’d be worth their weight in gold to the demons. I’d have to monitor the situation carefully to prevent hoarding or exploitation.
But there was also opportunity here. If I could control the supply of these “void provisions,” I’d have another lever of power besides just being the “prophesied Dark Lord.” And if I could figure out why ordinary human food was having such dramatic effects on demons, maybe I could replicate or enhance the process.
“Azrael,” I said, “I think we should establish a permanent trade route to the void realms. These provisions could transform our kingdom.”
“A most wise decision, my lord,” Azrael replied, bowing deeply. “Your mastery of void commerce will surely cement Iferona’s power among the shadow realms.”
I nodded sagely, as if I’d planned this all along instead of stumbling into it through a cosmic shopping spree. “Indeed. Perhaps a dedicated facility for receiving and distributing void goods. A… Void Emporium, if you will.”
“Brilliant, my lord. The demons will flock to your Void Emporium, strengthening both themselves and your rule.”
