Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3675

"One drop to fill a small keg?" Feela the Behemoth grunted. "It’s enough to turn dozens of humanoids into Thralls every day. The transformation is gradual, so Meln needs to give small doses every day. It’s amazing his army was that small."

"Undead Divine Beasts are always dangerous, but this is much worse." Inxialot the Lich King said. "Melina doesn’t need to feed on his peers to maintain his powers, and his Upyrs will not fear sunlight after the transformation is complete.

"Once your dumb younglings realize it, there will be a line to join Melgoth’s ranks around the block."

"Hey!" Lotho jumped from his seat. "Plant folk are not the enemy. Meln is."

"I wasn’t referring to you, Lotho." Inxialot looked at the Treant like he were dumb. "I was referring to all of you." He then pointed at Feela and Raagu.

The two women flushed in outrage but said nothing. They knew young Awakened were indeed reckless and stupid enough to consider Orpal’s offer.

"The silver lining is that we undead couldn’t join him even if we wanted." The King of Liches continued. "We can only take one of Night’s prisms, but I doubt anyone is foolish enough to do it after what happened in the past."

"This raises an uncomfortable question we all have, Lith." Feela shifted awkwardly on her seat. "Forgive me for asking so bluntly, but you are the only one who can answer it. Are Upyrs superior to your Demons?"

Lith pondered for a while, trying to find the right words to avoid alarming the Council.

"Your question is simple, but the answer is not." Lith replied. "We have to admit that Meln can create more Upyrs than I can conjure Demons, and that while my soldiers fade, his remain.

"To make matters worse, my Demons draw their powers from me. The Upyrs will depend on Meln’s blood only during the Thrall phase. Once the transformation is complete, their power will be their own, and Meln will be unburdened to create more."

"This is just terrifying." Raagu shuddered at the thought. "You’re telling us he could potentially replace the entire Awakened population in a region in a matter of months."

"Indeed, but there are many catches." Lith raised his hand for silence. "My Demons are loyal. They don’t do anything or go anywhere without my permission. Meln’s Upyrs are only bound to him by the need for his blood.

"There is no loyalty. Once a Thrall becomes a real Upyr, nothing stops them from walking away, and Meln knows it. Also, I can raise my Demons in a matter of minutes, and they are immediately ready to fight.

"Upyrs are adult Awakened who spent decades to reach their current level, if not centuries. It takes them months to become full Upyrs and even longer to master their powers. The more effort they put in their training, the less willing they will be to die for Meln."

"I see what you mean." Feela mulled over those words. "The Upyrs could rebel, run away, or even betray Meln in exchange for a full pardon from the Council. He can’t just take everyone in."

"Exactly." Lith nodded. "Meln needs Awakened who already have at least the bright blue core. He can turn them into deep violets easily, whereas going from deep blue to bright blue could take years.

"Yet the more he gives, the fewer reasons his Thralls have to stay loyal to him. He can draw people to his side, but he can’t keep them."

"In other words, he’s a paper tiger." Inxialot understood where Lith was going and laughed in amazement.