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overlord_ Welcome the Birth of the King_chapter_0297_part_02
Chapter 357
chapter 297 part 2
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 )
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 )
