Chapter 328: The Kneeling Ten Elites, The Battle of the Hills Ends
*Boom—*
Despair filled the Alliance Leader's cold, white eyes. The bones of his chest emitted a crisp crack as the piercing power of the Silver Knight's Lance effortlessly shattered his spine.
His body was torn in two in mid-air!
His magical power had long been exhausted, and his armor and various magic items had been destroyed while resisting the Archangel Dominion earlier.
*Crack!*
Having lost all effective means of defense, the Alliance Leader was pulverized by the magical attack, turning into a shower of bone fragments and a sundered body.
The silver spear, its momentum unspent, continued to blast backward, crashing into the distant jungle with a tremendous roar.
*CRASH!*
Countless trees were pierced and destroyed. A shockwave radiated from the impact, shaking the very earth.
『Gained Experience: 368925』
[Experience Bar: 658160/310000]
The Alliance Leader?
The dangerous smile on Clementine's face froze. Her eyes flicked to the shattered bone fragments, her pupils contracting instinctively.
Terrifying, powerful!
The Alliance Leader, feared by all nations, was actually dead?
He hadn't died at the hands of the Archangel Dominion, which possessed the power to fight a demon god, but had instead fallen to a minor character she had completely ignored!
*Whoosh—*
Clementine's slender, powerful arms tensed in an instant, veins bulging on her hands as she forcefully threw the stiletto she was holding at Tang Zheng.
The moment the stiletto left her hand, a flash of blue lightning burst from it, transforming into a straight, piercing bolt that shot through the air toward Tang Zheng.
"Lightning Strike"
This was the third-tier spell, "Lightning Strike," infused into the stiletto through enchantment.
As if still not feeling secure, while throwing the stiletto with one hand, Clementine made the one in her other hand glow with red magical energy.
"Fireball"
This fireball was not aimed at Tang Zheng, but at the ground between them.
*BOOM!*
The fireball hit the ground and caused a massive explosion. A cloud of dust and rising flames obscured their vision.
She knew that "Teleportation" magic required a line of sight to lock onto a target and location, so she first used "Lightning Strike" to force the red-robed mage to defend, then used "Fireball" to block his view.
"Gale Stride—"
Clementine roared inwardly. A faint blue glow enveloped her body, and she retreated at an extraordinary speed, vanishing as if fleeing for her life.
This entire series of actions was completed in the space of a single breath!
As the dust settled, the Shadow Clone appeared, completely unharmed. It stared at the spot where Clementine had vanished, remaining silent for a moment before walking over to the Alliance Leader, collecting his shattered body, and disappearing.
......
Meanwhile, on the battlefield.
Tang Zheng's eyes flickered as he silently complained, "She sure runs fast. But that's fine."
The Alliance Leader was dealt with, and his corpse was relatively intact. The next step was to resurrect him for information, an operation he was familiar with.
He also needed to observe if there was any possibility of the Alliance Leader being resurrected by someone else.
Tang Zheng mentally reviewed the entire process.
The power displayed by the Shadow Clone was within a controllable range and didn't reveal any unusual information.
The escaped Clementine was a minor problem. She now knew his identity was exposed, but this gave his Shadow Clone persona more leverage and even the initiative.
What Tang Zheng needed to consider now was the possibility of controlling Zuranon. The only troublesome part was his inability to disguise himself as an undead.
This would complicate his plan to use Zuranon to indirectly contact the Body of the Abyss, since that true secret society was composed entirely of undead members.
"Kill these detestable humans!"
"Ah—"
"Run!"
"Gather around me—"
"......!"
The battle cries of the demi-human faction echoed from all directions.
The demi-humans could manage the ordinary angels, but the thirty-two fourth-tier Tranquility Archon Angels displayed terrifying power the moment they appeared, completely overwhelming them.
Even the stronger trio of Gagaran, "Beast General" Hector Weiss, and "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh were no match for such a large number of fourth-tier angels.
Moreover, having just survived a life-and-death battle, all the demi-humans were already exhausted.
After a brief resistance, a massacre by the angels unfolded on the battlefield.
The thick stench of blood permeated the air.
Screams of pain and roars of fury echoed relentlessly across the sky!
The people of the Holy Kingdom were elated, finally venting their long-held resentment from the demi-human invasions. The Sunlight Scripture troops, however, watched the scene in silence.
Captain Nigun was dead, and Clementine was missing!
The remaining forces of the Sunlight Scripture were clearly in no mood to pay attention to this.
The Green Leaf Witch frowned, her eyes filled with a mixture of pity and indignation. Her hand tightened around her staff, her expression a mask of complexity.
Although she had no connection to these demi-humans, she was also a demi-human herself. Seeing them being slaughtered naturally struck a chord within her.
"Isn't this... a bit too cruel?"
Hearing the incessant screams, the Green Leaf Witch finally couldn't hold back and cautiously looked at the expressionless Tang Zheng beside her.
If anyone could stop this, it was her master.
Cruel?
Hearing the slight tremble in the Green Leaf Witch's voice, Tang Zheng looked at the angels flying through the air, attacking everywhere.
Humans were too weak in this world. The true cruelty was seeing humans in the center of the continent treated as food and livestock.
"I have no reason to stop them."
Tang Zheng raised his hand and gently stroked the Ghoul Dog's cheek.
His stance was on the side of the humans.
Furthermore, Tang Zheng had noticed that these angels did not attack the Green Leaf Witch, who was also a demi-human. It wasn't hard to guess why.
It was merely a deliberate arrangement on Kelart's part, a way of expressing goodwill toward him.
The Green Leaf Witch's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head.
Suddenly.
"Reason?"
The Green Leaf Witch's bright yellow pupils lit up.
She had some understanding of her master's temperament. According to his personality, he wouldn't waste words on her unless it was necessary; she just needed to obey his orders.
So—the key was "reason."
The Green Leaf Witch swallowed, her mind racing to think of a reason that could persuade her master to intervene.
After thinking it over!
The Green Leaf Witch realized there was no such "reason," or rather, with her status, she couldn't possibly offer a suitable one.
Her sister?
Not enough.
The same went for the demi-humans. They also had no... no, there was one person.
Gagaran!
This name surfaced in the Green Leaf Witch's mind. It was as if she had suddenly awoken from a deep sleep. Her throat spasmed uncontrollably, and she glanced at Tang Zheng from the corner of her eye.
Thinking about everything that had happened, the Green Leaf Witch realized with horror, could everything have been part of her master's plan?
On the earth, stained red and piled high with the blood and severed limbs of the undead.
"Firm Strike!"
Gagaran roared, swinging his spiked club, and clashed with the weapon of a Tranquility Archon Angel, the brute force knocking it back.
But in the next moment!
Two more Tranquility Archon Angels thrust their spear-like staves.
*Pfft!*
*Pfft!*
The sharp spearheads pierced through Gagaran's chest from front and back. A large amount of blood sprayed from the wounds like arrows, dyeing the ground red once more.
"Outer Skin Reinforcement!"
"Outer Skin Super Reinforcement!"
"Flowing Water Acceleration!"
"Divine Skill: Flash!"
Gagaran grunted, unleashing a continuous stream of martial arts. He roared and knocked back the three Tranquility Archon Angels surrounding him. Clutching his spiked club with both hands, he gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.
Dealing with one Tranquility Archon Angel was no problem, and two were manageable. But facing three, Gagaran knew that defeat was only a matter of time.
And there were a total of thirty-two angels of this level!
"Beast General" Hector Weiss and "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh were also surrounded by several Tranquility Archon Angels each, and their situation was even more perilous.
This couldn't go on!
They couldn't possibly withstand these powerful angels in their current state.
Gagaran wasn't stupid. Having met all sorts of complex humans in the Empire had taught him to think, unlike the ogres and trolls who only knew how to rely on brute force.
Since the humans were making their move now, they probably intended to annihilate all the demi-humans.
Gagaran's eyes were bloodshot. Unknowingly, he had long since started to consider himself a part of the hills' demi-humans.
Who could save them?
The first person that came to Gagaran's mind was Tang Zheng. He thought of his astounding performance in eliminating the Death Knights and defeating the Alliance Leader.
But—
He was also a human. Would he really save a group of demi-humans?
Tang wasn't from the Holy Kingdom, and he was an adventurer with a demi-human companion in his team. Maybe…
A friend.
Gagaran shook his head, then gritted his teeth. He knew this was no time for deep contemplation. He turned and ran towards Tang Zheng's position.
His massive, three-meter-tall figure charged forward.
Facing one angel after another blocking his path, numerous wounds burst open on his body. By the time he reached Tang Zheng, Gagaran had become a man of blood!
"Help me, Tang!"
"Sorry."
Gagaran's expression stiffened for a moment. A bitter smile appeared on his lips, and he turned to charge back into the battlefield.
"Cuiye," Tang Zheng said.
"Plant Growth"
"Plant Entanglement"
The Green Leaf Witch activated her magic. Thick vines burst from the ground, rapidly entangling Gagaran.
"What are you doing? Let me go!"
Gagaran was both shocked and enraged, tearing at the vines wrapped around his body.
The plants grew extremely fast, and since Gagaran had already expended a great deal of stamina, he couldn't break free immediately and was soon completely bound by the vines.
"You are my friend."
Tang Zheng looked at Gagaran, who was bound in place. His face maintained a pale and weak expression as he said seriously, "I will ensure your safety."
"You... Mmph... Mmph!"
Gagaran wanted to say more, but his mouth was sealed by a vine.
This scene unfolded in everyone's view.
Although Free Will consisted of only three people, one of whom was unconscious, their every move attracted the attention of all.
After the war to exterminate the undead, no one dared to underestimate this adventurer team named Free Will.
Remedios watched this unfold, one hand resting on her sword hilt, her gaze shifting between Tang Zheng and Gagaran.
*Shing!*
The holy sword was drawn.
"Leader Tang, I hope he is the only demi-human you are protecting."
Remedios said with a grim face.
She couldn't understand or suppress her anger at the fact that this man, who clearly possessed such great strength, would choose to protect a demi-human.
After saying this, Remedios charged out with her holy sword in hand. She had seen that Gagaran's actions seemed to have given the demi-humans a glimmer of hope.
Two other strong demi-humans she had been keeping an eye on were now rushing towards Tang Zheng.
The ground beneath Remedios's feet exploded as her body disappeared, leaving an afterimage as she sped towards the two approaching demi-humans.
"Beast General" Hector Weiss and "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh!
"You damn demi-humans, don't push your luck!"
Remedios's eyes were icy, her voice a cold roar filled with killing intent. "All of you will die here!"
"Hector Weiss!"
"Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh's crimson pupils were exceptionally grave as he quickly spoke, "Help me hold her off. The only one who can save us now is that human."
From Tang Zheng's attitude towards Gagaran, "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh sensed that the young, black-haired human didn't seem to loathe them.
"Alright!" "Beast General" Hector Weiss nodded forcefully. He pushed off with his four feet and charged forward to block Remedios.
"Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh bypassed the intense battle in front of him. His seven-colored, shimmering snake scales undulated as he rushed to Tang Zheng's position.
The Green Leaf Witch immediately assumed a defensive stance.
However!
To everyone's surprise.
This leader of the "Ten Evils of the Demi-Humans," "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh, who held the most revered position among all the demi-human tribes, actually prostrated himself stiffly on the ground before Tang Zheng. With his arms braced on the ground and his head pressed against the dirt, he assumed the most humiliating posture of surrender.
That the demi-humans, who had always held themselves in high regard and viewed humans as a vile, weak race, would make such a gesture caused an uproar not only among the desperately resisting demi-humans but even among the human faction.
Humiliating?
When the lives of his tribesmen, the fate of the women and children of every tribe, were like meat on a chopping block, what did this bit of humiliation matter?
"Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh knew that as the weaker party, the bargaining chips he could offer were limited. To get this human to help, he had to present something that could truly move him.
Except for the few people near Tang Zheng, no one knew what "Seven-Colored Scales" Kōkosh said. Everyone only saw Tang Zheng sigh, then walk towards Kelart.
The members of the Cleric Corps and the Holy Knight Order looked at Tang Zheng, who was now confronting Kelart, with a mixture of shock, suspicion, and fear.
"Let's end it here, shall we?" Tang Zheng said helplessly.
"This is a grudge between the Holy Kingdom and the demi-humans of the hills!"
"You are not from the Holy Kingdom. You don't understand this pain and calamity."
Kelart gritted her teeth, her voice turning somewhat shrill from agitation.
"After the losses caused by the undead, the demi-humans will not pose a threat to the Holy Kingdom for at least twenty years."
"I want to eliminate all these demi-humans right now!"
"They still have tens of thousands, while your forces have less than two hundred soldiers left."
"So what!"
"Let's end it here."
"You're an adventurer; you shouldn't interfere in matters between countries!"
"The method I used to merge with the powerful angel before wasn't a special magic or innate ability, but a potion that I concocted myself."
Kelart's pupils dilated slightly. A trace of shock and pleasant surprise appeared in her narrow, sinister eyes. After a brief silence, she took a step back.
"You actually intend to use the merit from handling this incident in the hills to plead for this group of demi-humans!"
"What do you take Her Majesty the Holy Princess's reward for!!"
"Fine, don't regret it!"
Kelart acted extremely infuriated as she spoke loudly.
A barely perceptible smile touched Tang Zheng's lips. He knew that Kelart's words weren't meant for him, but as an explanation for the Holy Knight Order and Cleric Corps.
And she was using Holy Queen Calca's name to back her up!
Communicating with a clever person like Kelart was indeed much easier sometimes.
"The incident in the hills is finally over." Tang Zheng's gaze swept across the bloody battlefield, filled with the stench of rot.
(end of chapter)