Chapter 129: The Moon waxes and wanes, and so does my mercy.
Chapter 131: The Moon waxes and wanes, and so does my mercy.
“The one I wish to see is the Undead Overlord. What, a Demigod of the illustrious Dynasty dares not meet me?” Yonglan warned the Lich.
“My Lord is above. He is unable to act directly, so he has sent me to convey his message. Rest assured, everything I say represents my Lord’s will.”
Yonglan looked up. Upon the fortress forged by the Divine Construct, a skeletal Construct sat on a massive Throne. Unlike the standard Constructs, this skeletal one was clad in heavy armor with more intricate patterns. Its skeletal body was adorned with dazzling gemstones, jade, and gold, making it a truly magnificent sight.
Wearing a Crown symbolizing his status and a crimson Robe, the skeletal Construct’s Throne had a Blade Spear leaning beside it, sized for a giant. The Undead Overlord, a skeletal Demigod perched high above, stood like a sculpture. The crimson Spirit Fire burning in its empty eye sockets gazed down.
*He’s putting on an act, is he?!* Yonglan found it somewhat amusing, but he didn’t dwell on it. He said to the Lich, “If the Undead Overlord fears contact with me so much, then I shouldn’t be so persistent, lest I appear unapproachable.”
“My Lord does not fear you!” the Lich retorted immediately, flustered.
“If you say so,” Yonglan replied, raising an eyebrow.
“…Godslayer, have you come to wage war on the Dynasty?” The Lich, knowing it was hard to argue this point, quickly returned to the main topic. Its body visibly stiffened, and it spoke with forced words, clearly being controlled by the Undead Overlord.
Yonglan: “Whether we go to war depends on your answer. But considering your incursions into the Land of the Long Night over the past decades, isn’t this already a state of war?”
The Lich remained silent for a long time before conveying a message: “The two are not comparable. Before, you were merely a Mortal kingdom, and I, a Demigod, possessed the Authority to rule over Mortals. Attacking you was an undeniable act… But now, you who possess the power to slay Fiends are on par with me. Continuing to fight will only result in mutual destruction.”
“Godslayer, my intention is to cease hostilities at this river. How about it?”
Yonglan lowered his eyelids, maintaining a half-smile. He paced back and forth by the riverbank and said slowly, “I did not come here to stop the war. In fact, I am not here to bargain with you. Your sins and transgressions should be punished with absolute annihilation. However, I am willing to show mercy and give you one last chance.”
Yonglan paused. Facing the full might of the Undead Dynasty and the Demigod seated on his Throne, he declared loudly, “Kneel, prostrate yourselves at my feet, swear eternal loyalty, and offer all your wealth, territory, and power for my use. Only then will I forgive your arrogance and transgression.”
Yonglan’s voice was not loud, but through a special vibration technique, it could reach across the battlefield, allowing the Knight army on the other side of the great river to clearly hear the conversation.
“Godslayer! You insult me too much!” The Lich’s stiff words wavered, showing its agitation. “You do have the record of slaying Fiends. You are an incredibly powerful Warrior! But that does not mean you can act with impunity! Do you truly think you have me cornered?!”
Yonglan scoffed indifferently, “This is my final act of pity. You had best accept it.”
“…You want the Overlord of the Dynasty to prostrate himself before you?!”
“There’s no need for further words. Destruction or survival rests on your decision.”
*Creak—*
The skeletal giant on the Divine Construct stood up, no longer using the Lich as a mouthpiece. The Undead Overlord used Spirit Matter to vibrate the air, its resonant and deep voice echoing, “Insolent fool, you have angered me! Godslayer! You must know there are always greater powers!”
The skeletal giant grabbed its Blade Spear and slammed it onto the ground. The very next moment, the runes on the surface of the cubic Divine Construct shifted wildly. Then, it began to glow brilliantly.
*Whoosh—*
The rune formations unleashed a destructive beam of cyan light. In an instant, it grazed Yonglan’s cheek and shot into the river. The calmly flowing water suffered an unprovoked disaster; it vaporized into solidified crystals, and the riverbank was gouged by a deep, charred ravine that water flowed into. The beam vaporized everything around it, creating a miniature valley.
“Godslayer! How about that? Can you still say those words?!” The Undead Overlord’s voice carried a hint of pride. More rune cannons on the surface of the Divine Construct were activated and began charging. Clearly, that attack was merely a warning. A simple deduction would reveal the devastating power of these rune cannons if they were to unleash their full force.
“Is this your response?” Despite narrowly avoiding such a terrifying attack, Yonglan remained unfazed, merely shaking his head slowly. “The moon waxes and wanes, and so does my mercy… You have chosen annihilation, and I will mercilessly slaughter you like pigs and dogs. You may now begin praying to your fallen gods.”
The Undead Overlord snorted, “You can boast about such things after you’ve achieved them.”
Yonglan smiled at the skeletal giant. “This is my advice to you, lest you regret it too late.” With that, Yonglan turned and walked away, stepping onto the glassy surface of the lake. The Undead Overlord did not stop him, for he was genuinely awestruck of an individual who had actually slain a Celestial God.
Nothing made a Demigod understand the chasm between Fiends and Mortals better. Let alone a Celestial God as relatively intact as the Mirror-Corroding Duke, even a phantom of a Fiend with only remnants left was unimaginable for the Undead Overlord to fight against. One who slew Fiends as a Mortal was undoubtedly a monster he could never defeat. Thankfully… the grace of the Father God remained. Even facing a Godslayer, he believed he could instill fear. Leaning back on his Throne, the Undead Overlord gazed down from its aerial cubic fortress, feeling utterly at ease.
Returning to the front of the Knight army, Yonglan shrugged to everyone. “The talks have broken down. My good intentions were trampled upon. It seems we must fight after all.”
Jiali: “It sounds regretful, but it would be more effective if you restrained that smile.”
*You did it on purpose!*
Indeed, Yonglan had deliberately proposed such harsh conditions, intending to provoke the Undead Overlord’s refusal. After all, no ruler, however timid, would openly agree to such demands. This way, a war could be initiated with a clear conscience. After all, Yonglan had his sights set on the Demigod’s soul for his upgrade, so he had to slay the Undead Overlord, even if he had to find an excuse. Of course, if the other party had actually accepted such a demeaning request, he would have complied. With such a humiliating surrender, defeating such a cowardly enemy would bring him no satisfaction.
“Majesty and mercy, you should possess both. You shouldn’t be solely bent on slaughter…” Shariel placed her hands before her abdomen. Just as Yonglan thought she was going to advocate for kindness, the King of Hram’s tone shifted, and she affirmed Yonglan’s actions. She raised her head, her True Red eyes filled with compassionate regret. “But the shameless Undead Dynasty is not within the scope of compassion. Their very existence is blasphemy against my kin.”
