Chapter 296: Surprise! The Zuranon Alliance Leader Appears
Author: Amnesty L
Khajiit grew more and more fervent as he spoke, an utterly wicked smile appearing on his face uncontrollably.
He had originally thought that Tang Zheng's cooperation meant starting the preparations anew in the "Common Cemetery" of E-Rantel.
But instead, the other party had brought him to the Abelion Hills, a region ruled by various demi-human races. What he hadn't expected, even more, was that Tang Zheng had already taken control of a demi-human faction here.
Chaos, death, and conflict! This was the true theme of the Abelion Hills.
Compared to hiding and sneaking around in E-Rantel, there was no need to worry about such things here.
"Gyehehe, this place is simply fantastic."
Khajiit stood on a hill, gazing at the vast hills in the distance, unable to resist opening his arms to embrace this chaotic land.
His former goal was to accumulate power and destroy all of E-Rantel, creating a city of the dead. He didn't care about humans, let alone these demi-humans.
Excitement was one thing. But Khajiit was, of course, well aware that his ability to safely set up the "Spiral of Death Ritual" relied entirely on the mysterious person before him.
Without the demi-human tribe controlled by the other party, he wouldn't even be able to collect a large number of demi-human corpses, let alone survive for more than a few days with his own power.
The "Heroic Realm" was too strong!
This was a level he desperately yearned to reach, a strong individual considered top-tier among nations, someone who would be sung about by bards.
Who exactly was this person, and why had he never heard of them?
The thought flashed through Khajiit's mind, his smooth, hairless head reflecting faintly under the scorching sun.
"Old friend, how did you manage to make those powerful demi-humans submit?" Khajiit asked, bowing with a mix of curiosity and reverence.
He didn't know the mysterious man's identity, and the other had never told him. Naturally, Khajiit wouldn't ask such a superfluous question.
"Old friend" had become a sort of name-like address, even if those two words were a humiliation to Khajiit.
"Heh, what do you think?" Tang Zheng snapped back from his thoughts on the two rituals.
Khajiit's expression stiffened; he knew he had asked a stupid question.
Tang Zheng glanced at Khajiit indifferently. The atmosphere fell silent.
This group of demi-humans was indeed not easy to control, especially the Demonkin, Nasurini, one of the Ten Evils of the Demi-Humans.
The reason the kings of these demi-human races now obediently submitted to Tang Zheng was entirely because he could initiate a ritual that allowed Lizardman Kuru Xue to cast the sixth-tier magic, *Weather Manipulation*.
As long as the kings of these demi-human races weren't fools, the power this represented made it clear what they had to do.
As for the common demi-humans, they didn't resist either, largely because the hills had clearly fallen into a drought, lacking water and food.
Tang Zheng possessed the ability to provide them with sufficient food and water.
Speaking of the "drought." A thought stirred within Tang Zheng. Feeling the scorching heat, he looked up at the cloudless sky and the blinding, fiery sun.
Recently, he had rarely needed to assist Lizardman Kuru Xue and the others in casting the *Weather Manipulation* magic.
Because it was no longer necessary.
Even Tang Zheng hadn't realized at first that continuously casting the sixth-tier *Weather Manipulation* to blow away the rain clouds, leaving the hills constantly exposed to the sun, had a sustained influence that was now gradually evolving into a true drought.
"Climatic phenomena have always been unpredictable. To think that continuous magical intervention could actually, gradually change the course of the climate," Tang Zheng thought to himself.
The more one understood tier magic, the more one realized that some of its spells couldn't be judged by a simple tier level.
"The preparations for the ritual need to be acceler— Hm?!" Tang Zheng spoke coldly, but before he could finish his sentence, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
Suddenly!
"To have undergone the baptism of death and still be able to ask such a foolish question."
"Khajiit!"
"Your wisdom has become nearly as rigid as an undead's."
A dry, hard voice resounded across the flat top of the hill, like two bones rubbing together. Yet, the sound that should have been grating possessed a unique magnetism, making it not unpleasant to hear.
Almost at the instant the voice sounded!
In the space behind Khajiit, the empty air suddenly rippled, then distorted and blurred as a black figure appeared out of thin air.
Fifth-tier teleportation magic!
There was no need to check the information displayed on his stat panel. As a frequent user of this magic, Tang Zheng recognized it immediately.
He knows Khajiit, a member of Zuranon? Khajiit has something like location magic on him!
Several thoughts flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. His gaze turned cold as he looked at the black figure that had appeared from nowhere.
The figure was enveloped in a black, mist-like energy, making it impossible to see their appearance; only their general physique was discernible.
A chilling aura spread out.
The originally hot temperature dropped by several degrees with the figure's arrival. That black mist was Negative Energy!
Khajiit's pupils trembled. Hearing that familiar voice, his expression went rigid, and he turned around slowly, in disbelief.
When he got a clear look at the figure standing behind him, Tang Zheng observed Khajiit give an almost imperceptible shiver. His already pale, bloodless face seemed to turn a shade whiter.
Noticing this subtle emotional shift, Tang Zheng's gaze focused, and a glint of magic power flashed in his eyes. "Ninjutsu: Detect!"
*Flash!*
Suddenly, a deep, dark light flashed within the thick black mist shrouding the figure.
"It was blocked?"
"It's anti-detection." Tang Zheng's eyes quickly scanned his stat panel, but there was no reaction.
A passive ability? Or some kind of magical item?
*Voom—*
*Second-tier magic "Magic Detection" discovered. Required magic-based spellcasting level (8-14). Current conditions met...*
At the same time Tang Zheng activated his detection magic, the other party also activated a detection magic.
*Magic Detection* is a type of detection magic that can probe whether an opponent is carrying any magical items.
Although it couldn't obtain information about the opponent, it could be used to analyze them and pinpoint their location based on the number of magical items they possessed.
"Detection Interference."
A faint light flashed on Tang Zheng's body, blocking the opponent's detection ability.
The two had yet to speak a word!
A brief offensive and defensive exchange of detection spells had already concluded in the blink of an eye.
"A-Alliance Leader." Khajiit fell to his knees in a panic, planting his hands on the ground and lowering his head, his voice filled with terror.
The Alliance Leader didn't look at the terrified Khajiit, instead fixing his gaze on Tang Zheng opposite him.
"In this world, only a power that cannot be resisted can make a demi-human tribe filled with wildness submit to another race."
The Alliance Leader answered Khajiit's earlier question unhurriedly. "I am now realizing that resurrecting you may have been a foolish decision."
"Wouldn't you agree, my High Disciple?"
*Whoosh!*
Fear immediately flooded Khajiit's heart. He pressed his head directly against the ground and said in a panic, "Alliance Leader, this subordinate... this subordinate has absolutely not leaked any information about the organization."
The Zuranon Alliance Leader!
Hearing Khajiit's form of address for this person, Tang Zheng's eyes showed astonishment from beneath his red hood. He had thought he might meet this Alliance Leader in the future, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon.
Then, hearing Khajiit's panicked claim of "not leaking any information," a cold sneer couldn't help but form on his face behind the mask.
In truth, Khajiit really didn't know much. Zuranon was a loose organization to begin with. Forget about this mysterious Alliance Leader; even the other High Disciples rarely met one another, let alone knew each other well.
Facing this suddenly-appeared Alliance Leader, Tang Zheng grew vigilant but wasn't worried. With his current strength, unless there was a massive, cross-tier gap in power, such as with a True Dragon Lord or a God-kin...
As for anyone else?
Tang Zheng wouldn't mind blasting them all away with a single tenth-tier magic, *Heating*. What he was wary of was whether the opponent's sudden appearance would affect his plans.
According to Khajiit, this Alliance Leader should currently be in the territory of Fear, one of the three legendary Night Liches!
That was a small, destroyed nation located between the Baharuth Empire and the eastern Katze Plains, a place that had long since devolved into a true land of the undead.
"This is indeed a good place."
"Why didn't I think of this before, using the chaos of these demi-humans... Hmm, I think I did consider it, probably over 20 years ago."
"Strange, why did I give up on the idea back then."
The Alliance Leader raised an arm wrapped in the black mist of Negative Energy, stroking his chin and muttering to himself in thought as if no one else was there.
He seemed to pay no mind to either the terrified Khajiit prostrated on the ground or Tang Zheng standing a short distance away.
Over 20 years ago?
Tang Zheng remembered that was also when Zuranon became truly infamous among the nations as a heretical group.
This Alliance Leader had occupied a ruin and used the "Spiral of Death Ritual" to cause chaos, indirectly destroying a city.
"I remember now," the Alliance Leader spoke again.
"There are quite a few powerful demi-humans here, which would waste too much energy. The degree of chaos that could be created in secret would also be limited. And most importantly—this place is too close to the Slane Theocracy."
"Heh, heh. The current abnormality in the hills is your handiwork, isn't it? I don't believe you possess that kind of strength."
"Tell me, how did you do it?"
The Alliance Leader extended a dry, skin-and-bones finger from within the black mist and pointed at the sky.
"This string of questions you're asking yourself has made me forget that this is supposed to be my territory." Tang Zheng's voice was hoarse and cold. "I don't like uninvited guests. It makes it impossible to tell if they're a guest or an enemy!"
A tense atmosphere spread between the two!
"Enemy? Ha."
"Just a moment. I'll hear it from your own mouth soon enough. But before that..." The Alliance Leader paid Tang Zheng no mind, his tone full of arrogance and dismissal. His gaze fell coldly on Khajiit, who was still prostrated on the ground.
"Tell me, why did you suddenly appear here? You should be in E-Rantel right now."
"I had to use *Teleportation* magic several times in succession to find your precise location. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, death will not be your final destination."
For anyone who became a High Disciple of Zuranon, the Alliance Leader would place a special magical ritual on them. This both allowed him to determine his subordinates' locations and, as a precaution, to resurrect them if they were killed.
Upon sensing Khajiit's sudden disappearance from E-Rantel for unknown reasons and his appearance in a much more distant location, the Alliance Leader had rushed over to investigate the situation. After all, the recent deaths of two High Disciples in a row had made him suspect that someone was targeting Zuranon.
Khajiit, prostrate on the ground, didn't hesitate for a moment and quickly blurted out, "It's the 'Spiral of Death Ritual'!"
Before Khajiit could finish, the Alliance Leader seemed to understand. "As expected. The only thing about you that would attract someone's attention is that ritual."
"It's been a while since someone dared to covet something belonging to Zuranon."
The Alliance Leader let out a low laugh, as if he'd found something amusing. He raised his arm, aimed at Khajiit, and began to speak: "Fir..."
He naturally didn't believe that Khajiit hadn't leaked any information about Zuranon. He had originally thought the man's talent was decent and that he had some value to be cultivated.
Now—die!
"Alliance Leader! The Orb of Death is on him! He can summon a Bone Dragon!" Khajiit sensed death's approach and roared with a shrill voice.
The Alliance Leader's hand paused as he felt a flash of lightning strike from a distance.
"Dragon Lightning."
A blinding white light illuminated the surroundings. A terrifying, surging bolt of crackling lightning, like a bared fang and brandished claw, formed in the air and shot forward.
"Teleportation!"
The Alliance Leader's figure flashed and vanished from the spot in an instant.
A massive roar resounded!
The spot where the Alliance Leader had been standing was blasted into a huge, charred pit by the thunder. The intense heat generated where the lightning passed formed an airwave, sending the prostrated Khajiit tumbling.
*Pfft! Pfft!*
The rubble from the exploding ground turned into flying bullets, spraying in all directions.
"Aah, ah!"
Khajiit had no time to react. He was first thrown off his feet, rolling several times on the ground, and then struck by the scattered debris, causing him to cry out in pain.
Keen intuition.
It allowed Tang Zheng to immediately spot the Alliance Leader, who had teleported more than ten meters into the air. He looked up. "What do you think you're doing to my partner?"
Khajiit couldn't die now; the "Spiral of Death Ritual" hadn't been fully set up yet.
"Flight!"
After appearing in the sky, the Alliance Leader immediately used *Flight* magic to suspend himself in mid-air and prevent himself from falling.
"You're courting death!"
The unique, magnetic voice that sounded like two bones rubbing together was now laced with fury.
"No one can provoke Zuranon and walk away unscathed!" The Alliance Leader's pale pupils, hidden behind the black mist, were incomparably cold.
"Fifth-tier: Crumbling Bone Prison!"
*Pff— Pff!*
The ground beneath Tang Zheng's feet ruptured as sharp, blackish-grey bone spikes shot up from below.
A binding sensation surged from the ground, making him realize that this magic could interfere with the use of teleportation magic.
The Alliance Leader clearly knew that he, too, had mastered teleportation magic, which was why he had used a magical attack with binding and movement-restricting properties.
Seventh-tier *High-Tier Teleportation* could easily break free of this restraint, but Tang Zheng saw no need to use magic of that level.
"Come forth, Bone Dragon!"
A dark light flashed across the surface of the *Orb of Death* in Tang Zheng's hand.
*Voom—*
A giant magic circle appeared at his feet.
The pale figure of a Bone Dragon emerged from the ground, effortlessly destroying the *Crumbling Bone Prison* magic that had risen at Tang Zheng's feet.
He can actually summon a Bone Dragon!
The Alliance Leader was somewhat astonished.
He hadn't fully believed Khajiit's words just now. He knew about the *Orb of Death* magical item; Khajiit had spent several years collecting Negative Energy and still hadn't managed to summon a single Bone Dragon.
How long had that magical item been gone?
(end of chapter )