Chapter 285: Shameless Bone Dragon
Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Pranav
Dark clouds blotted out the sky. It would seem that whenever there was a fight against a super boss of this level, a dark environment such as this was only natural.
Black dust drifted down from the sky. It contained a hint of corrosion that obviously wasn’t conducive for healthy air. Large complex spell arrays were visible even from here as the SemiG.o.d Undead Emperor, who was floating in midair, manipulated that death magic forbidden spell of his which would drain all life.
Before us was an endless sea of undead.
Of course, Aso had others he could rely on in order to dare to directly cast a forbidden spell. Thanks to the Undead Lords Gricasio and Feyman slacking off, the undead armies’ acc.u.mulation had reached a state where just their number alone took up most of this small area. The constant reorganization and training that these undead did while waiting was the best pre-combat preparation for them to become slaughtering machines.
Once the SemiG.o.d Undead Emperor descended, any idle chatter or slacking off vanished completely—Aso was watching them. Under the lead of liches and death knights, the undead had completed their military formation as they rushed our vanguard.
A random a.s.sortment of skeleton soldiers that were barely under control was tossed out in front as their vanguard. Their tiny souls were filled with nothing more than the desire to destroy everything in their path. This countless sea of skeletons charged towards their enemies, enjoying the feeling of slaughtering or being slaughtered.
This entire area was filled with the clacking sounds of bones against each other. Since skeletons were far too low-level as a troop, no matter how many of them were lost, it wouldn’t hurt at all—more skeleton soldiers than any other troop type had been teleported over. Their number couldn’t even be described using the word endless. My entire vision was filled with grayish white bones. The clacking sound of bones served as the angry roars of war for this otherwise silent army.
An ordinary skeleton soldier wouldn’t even be able to defeat a slightly trained farmer in a one on one fight. However, one definitely couldn’t underestimate the skeleton swarm. That endless sea of skeletons was forever the most fearsome part of the undead army. As long as they were sufficient in number, even ants would be able to overcome an elephant. Not to mention that I could also faintly make out that special skeleton troops and high-level undead were mixed in among them. The overconfident would be given a deadly lesson.
The undead army, which consisted of over ninety percent skeletons, started spreading out, with dangerous skeleton archers, skeleton mages, skeleton knights, skeleton a.s.sa.s.sins, skeleton giants, and various distorted skeleton beasts mixed in among them. This earthshaking army was sufficient to make any courageous warrior feel afraid, and any that died while fighting the undead would become yet another member of the skeleton army. In history, countless powerful countries and heroes had perished to this lowest-level of all swarm of skeletons.
But, today, these skeletons were destined to meet their most dangerous mortal enemy, an existence who had specially evolved to counter the undead’s low-level swarm tactics.
Humility of the Seven Virtues, who was now also known as Jill…
This young purple-haired wood spirit stood at the forefront and glanced over at the skeleton swarm before her with a dissatisfied expression. She then disappeared into the wind, before transforming into a purple plant that grew at a speed that seemed to pick up with the wind.
10 meters, 100 meters, 1000 meters. The top of this plant reached into the clouds, as if it was a certain magical beanstalk from a fairy tale. The next moment, Jill bloomed.
Countless seeds explosively shot into the earth and took root, sprouted, and bloomed. In just a short instant, the skeleton swarm’s path was blocked by a field of flowers.
The seeds had deeply embedded themselves into the ground, and large sunflowers suddenly emerged from underground with large mouths filled with sharp teeth that instantly devoured countless skeletons. With this nutrition acting as the fertilizer, parasitic vines began growing thanks to the nourishment from these bones, and a familiar scene from Red Maple Castle reenacted itself here, with the reappearance of a frightening piranha plant garden.
Just like my Seven Deadly Sins that were still undead, the Seven Virtues were both a unique species of their own as well as wood spirits. However, the difference between the Seven Virtues and a normal wood spirit was like the difference between a Seven Deadly Sin and a normal skeleton soldier… Fine then, perhaps I should say that apart from their physical appearances being similar, nothing else was same at all.
“Humility” had been born as a moving piranha plant garden to deal with “Pride” Omar’s low-level skeleton swarm tactics. And now, the current “Humility” was no longer an a.s.sa.s.sin who could only ambush others from the shadows. She was now a moving wood spirit fortress.
Piranha plants and magical vines were familiar members of her garden, while peashooters that shot all sorts of magical projectiles, suddenly erected firm nut walls, and various other plant types from “Plants vs. Zombies” could all be seen. Every magical projectile was capable of exploding a large group of undead. A sea of magical plants would deal with the sea of skeletons, as magical plants were of slightly superior quality, and bringing the battle to one of attrition where the magical plants would endlessly steal souls and nourishment from the undead to continuously create new plants was Amelia’s chosen strategy for “Humility.”
After this flower garden was developed, several large fissures appeared in the ground. Numerous gigantic roots emerged and spat out various gigantic strengthened outer sh.e.l.ls and magical plants as reinforcements.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
“For Mother!”
The wood spirits cheered as they jumped into the gigantic strengthened outer sh.e.l.ls. With this flower garden and their mother forest’s support, plant puppets as tall as mountain giants resembled historical beasts from epics stood up. They began attacking the undead that were being restrained by the flower garden.
Skeletons began fighting with plants, liches and peashooters exchanged ranged attacks, Abominations and vines began melee battles, and green plant giants went on a rampage, stomping hordes of undead to death with each step. But then arrived a Bone Dragon, who knocked over a green giant.
The battle was currently at a stalemate. It appeared that the wood spirits might even have the upper hand. However, I knew that the undead still retained the advantage.
Most liches and great liches were still hiding in the rear safely. They were either using all their power to connect to the other Undead Planes to continuously summon new undead or simply summoning undead from the energies. Some were constantly casting death magic on the undead to heal their injuries as well. Meanwhile, most of the death knights and other high-level undead were guarding Aso, staying behind as backup.
Since this was an all-out final battle, this strategy of theirs might seem a bit too conservative, but I understood their choice. After all, their only goal was simple: to stall for time!
The Song to End All Souls was a siege battle level forbidden spell. This forbidden spell would open a large dimensional portal to the Undead Planes, summoning countless souls and death magic to baptize the world. The moment that this forbidden spell was finished casting, everything in a huge AoE around the caster would be transformed by death magic into a land filled with negative energy. All the living would undergo repeated attacks by the most powerful instant death magic. Not a single living creature would be able to escape becoming yet another undead soul.
This spell had only been successfully cast three times in history and caused the deaths of several million in total. It was also the signature forbidden spell of Undead Emperor Aso from the Desecration Plane.
What I was most concerned about was how long he would take to finish casting this spell. After all, when his incantation finished, that would result in all our deaths.
As for what I was currently doing…
“I’m riding a girl, I’m holding a girl in my hand, and I’m leading a group of girls on a charge. I suddenly feel like I’ve become such a winner in life… Hey, don’t bite me!”
Alright then. I didn’t even get to feel proud of myself for two minutes as I watched the battle unfold before me when my weapon, which I was holding, suddenly bit me. I suppose that only someone like me could experience such a thing.
“Can’t you be a little more serious!? We’re in the middle of a battle here!”
Well, I suppose that Gria was justified in being so angry. Gricasio, who she was fighting with, wasn’t easy to deal with at all. The two gigantic Bone Dragons clashed against each other, causing cracks to appear on Gria’s finger bones that she had just polished, which really pained her heart.
An aerial troop’s greatest advantage was doubtlessly in high-speed aerial ambushes. The moment I showed up, Gricasio led several Bone Dragons to attack me.
“Hey, long time no see, Gricasio. You’ve changed employers now? You’re having fun acting as a lapdog for the Undead Emperors?”
How could I possibly miss the all-too-familiar sensation of fear in Gricasio’s soulfire? It would be the most astonis.h.i.+ng thing of all if this sly old dragon was willing to fight all-out and risk his life. I figured that Gricasio’s personality was unlikely to change; he probably had hidden motivations.
“…Your Majesty, how could you say that of me? Am I not making things more convenient for you? I’ve already found out so many secrets and information about the SemiG.o.d Undead Emperors for you!”
Was this supposed to be Gricasio’s way of betraying the Undead Emperors right in the midst of battle? I had underestimated his lack of limits once again. He was more shameless than even I expected.
To be honest, even though I already knew that Gricasio was so shameless, I was still rendered speechless at hearing him say what he just did so proudly.
At the very least, Gricasio was supposed to be an Undead Lord, not to mention the strongest undead in all of Xiluo plus the First Senator for many years. Could he possibly get any more shameless?
“You should know that I’m actually not the ambitious type. Working under you is definitely my best choice.”
From Gricasio’s standpoint, he was actually telling the truth here. As a rare existence who didn’t have any beliefs or honor that he lived by, the only thing he really wanted out of life was to live comfortably. The only reason why he sought to improve his power level was to help him live even better and safer.
“Surviving by simply relying on someone else stronger than me will require just a slight loss of face. Such a great deal!”– Gricasio
When Gricasio had still been alive, he had been a Gold Dragon with a truly unique personality. He was utterly different to those other Gold Dragons that were filled with a sense of justice, busying themselves every day. Instead, Gricasio spent every day thinking about how he could live longer and live comfortably to the end of the world.
That was why, back in the day, he was willing to be a steed in order to rely on the G.o.d of Holy Light’s protection. During the Yongye era, he served me in order to rely on my protection. When he himself became one of the strongest around, he actually basically did nothing every day, simply spending his days idly as time pa.s.sed by.
The only reason he would join and serve the Undead Emperors from the Undead Planes would be because he felt that they were powerful enough to serve as his protection. Not to mention that in this land of Eich, where the Holy Light was the prevailing religion, it would be suicidal for an undead to try joining most factions. However, things were now different for Gricasio.
The Undead Emperors were invading the mortal plane, which doubtlessly meant tremendous large-scale battles. Since Gricasio could freely move about in the mortal plane, he knew that he was likely to become part of the front-most vanguard. As an old Bone Dragon who was a lover of peace (self-proclaimed), this was far too dangerous for him—whoops—he meant this was too unjust. How could he stand for such a thing?
Gricasio had also heard about what happened in the Northlands. He detected traces of “that person’s” familiar plots and trickery and also heard about how the undead were capable of living out in the open under the sun there. In that case, perhaps the Holy Church was no longer the only option available to him in the mortal plane, and he could choose another way of living that would be the most relaxing and safest for himself.
Perhaps, he could even sleep out in the open on a street and bask in the sunlight one day. Gricasio felt that he would definitely sleep wonderfully if he tried it out.
“Your Majesty! I have all sorts of information on all the various Undead Emperors. As long as you give me a safe territory and try to refrain from sending this old dragon into the front lines of battle, I shall serve you loyally once again. Besides, I believe that you currently need my a.s.sistance.”
I never knew that an Immemorial Bone Dragon could smile in such a depraved fas.h.i.+on. Meanwhile, behind Gricasio was a black spell array that was continually increasing in size—it was tremendous to begin with already. Undead Emperor Aso’s forbidden spell was a ticking time bomb.
“Gricasio, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You’re a shame upon all dragons! Can you have at least a little pride as a dragon!?”
Even though Gricasio’s betrayal of the Undead Emperors was beneficial for us, even Gria was unable to withstand Gricasio’s shamelessness.
“It’s better to be alive as a coward than dead as a hero. Little Gria, all of those famous and heroic dragons from our generation are now nothing but dust, while someone like me that you refer to as a shame upon dragons is still living just fine. What’s reputation supposed to be? Can I eat it? What’s a dragon’s pride supposed to be? Can that help me live forever? I have just one question for you. Can any of these formalities help me to live longer?”
Gricasio’s words seemed to have some twisted logic to them that rendered me speechless. Gria also paused in surprise at Gricasio’s utterly shameless words. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she was completely blocked off from saying anything more due to his lack of shame.
“Fine. Show me your sincerity. How about being my steed again after all this is over?”
As for me, I quite welcomed someone who knew which side he should be supporting.
“I knew that Your Majesty would be magnanimous! Steed? Wonderful, this is what I’m the most skilled at! I still have a saddle left behind from Xiluo that I’ve been keeping as memorabilia. I promise it’s quite comfortable to ride on.”
The delighted Gricasio immediately turned around and started smas.h.i.+ng himself into the other Bone Dragons, spewing out dragon breath at his own former undead army. Even the typically silent undead army was thrown into a huge commotion by this.
The sudden turn of events shocked Feyman so much that even his chin bone fell off. This was utterly unexpected. The death knights that suddenly surrounded him was the best evidence that Feyman was now in an awkward position as well.
Meanwhile, Aso, who was in the distance, laughed out loud. No Undead Emperor was any kind person filled with trust so how could he have possibly not been on guard?
He didn’t stop his incantation at all, but pointed with his fingerbone and lightly flicked the air using the dense power of death magic.
*Grawrl!!!*
A magical accessory that Gricasio had obtained from Aso exploded, causing Gricasio to fall out of the sky, injured by the sudden explosion. When he fell, he smashed a large amount of undead to death and created a large hole in the ground.
“The Emperor is the mightiest!!”
“d.a.m.ned Gricasio! I knew he was unreliable.”
“Milord, please know in your wisdom that I knew nothing about what Gricasio was intending. I’m your loyal and wholehearted follower!”
Feyman was eager to prove his innocence and obtain recognition as he attempted to suck up to Aso. However, Feyman didn’t notice the displeased look on Aso’s face. The explosion Aso caused just now was far smaller than he’d expected, yet that powerful Bone Dragon had fallen too quickly and pitifully.
At the current moment, I was clicking my tongue as well.
“That d.a.m.ned sly old fox.”
Just like Aso, I had seen through the Bone Dragon’s acting. Gricasio was simply pretending to have fallen!
“So shameless, so contemptible, so base, so uncaring about his own reputation. It’s better to be any dragon other than Gricasio!”
Gria was filled with anger. As a fellow Myth-ranked Bone Dragon, it wouldn’t possibly escape her eyes that Gricasio had simply been acting. Later, in the future, “it’s better to be any dragon other than Gricasio” became a famous phrase across this land, just like my other phrase, “it’s better to be a naïve idiot than it is to be Emordilorcan.”
“Forget it. I never counted on this b.a.s.t.a.r.d to begin with. Who would dare ride such a steed?”
When I looked over at Aso, he, too, just happened to look in my direction. There was no mistaking his killing intent. What was about to happen next would definitely be a hard battle.
And, so, I moved my thumb across my throat, which represented my intention to take his head.
“Senior, let us have a fun battle to the death.”
I used this method to express my respect as a junior to my senior. Meanwhile, Aso responded with uproarious soundless laughter via soul communication.
“Death shall accompany us for eternity! And you shall be the first to embrace death!”
“Senior, please speak something I can understand.”
“Brat, you’re dead!”