Activating Evil Dragon's Descent

The Temple of Nature and the White Bone Mausoleum.

It's easy to see how much those two new structures strengthen the territory.

First, Zhang Nu spent nearly 90k gold to max out his 30k skeleton soldiers limit.

These small units are cheap and have very low daily upkeep. Even at high numbers, they still won't be too much of a burden on his economy.

Just as Zhang Nu was considering how to strategically divide up this labor force in order to get the most value out of them, the draconian priest Li Si came forth and reported, "My lord, our Detection Tower sent up an alert. Two targets suspected to be infiltrators have appeared nearby."

"Infiltrators?"

"Heroes again?"

"The Detection Tower hasn't even been built for more than a handful of days, and it already caught some rats?"

Zhang Nu was quite satisfied.

The Queen's blueprint certainly was worthwhile.

This Detection Tower really is something that every territory needs.

It constantly scans the nearby area like a radar. So long as any units that haven't been registered appear, it will immediately give an alert.

As a level 1 structure, the Detection Tower's ability isn't perfect.

If one has a strong enough stealth skill, then it's possible to dodge the detection.

However, maintaining stealth over a long period of time isn't easy. The moment the skill is canceled, the user would be instantly discovered. This is also one of the strengths of the Detection Tower.

Zhang Nu spoke, "Show me just who this is."

Li Si had already activated the Omniscient Crystal Ball set in the castle's throne room.

Figures gradually appeared in the crystal. Two sneaking figures were moving about near Darkness City. It was obvious at a glance that they aren't normal residents of the canyon, but rather two green-skinned orcs.

There are no orcs in Darkness Valley.

There are no orc tribes near Giantree City either.

Those two likely have some relation to Berserk Beast City.

They're approaching Darkness City carefully, so they don't seem to be here to try to raid the Altar. They're most likely scouts here to observe and gather information on the Demon King instead.

The more information Heroes have before attacking a Demon King, the better.

Information like the Demon King Territory's unit types, force disposition, organization of forces, and the makeup and locations of defensive structures are especially important.

Such information useful for strategy can lessen the losses from invasion.

"Zhang San, go deal with the rats. Remember to leave one alive though."

The draconian marshal Zhang San acknowledged the order and immediately charged out of the throne room in a blur.

The two Heroes were sent by Tu Xiuming of Berserk Beast City.

They entered Darkness Canyon via drake beasts, but the Valley has the magical fog from the Tower of Fog obstructing any observation, so they weren't able to survey the geography or structures at all.

"Shit!"

"We've miscalculated!"

"I can't see anything!"

"We really should have prepared potions of true seeing."

"That or have learned a few higher leveled detection skills."

"If this continues, not only would we be unable to get any information, we might even end up discovered by the Demon King's minions. Let's pull back for now!"

The two were quite cautious, and they immediately reached an agreement.

They planned to retreat and make preparations first.

Who could have predicted, however, that a violent qi slash suddenly cut through the fog in front of them right at them. Both of the two were startled and barely dodged out of the way.

"Who!"

"Get out here!"

Just as Feng Wan said that, a three meters tall draconian covered in golden scales came out from the fog. He looked down at the two orcs with eyes filled with ridicule and disdain.

Feng Wan and Fang Hou were both struck dumb.

That guy looked vicious and terrifyingly powerful!

He's a mid to high tiered level 3 Lord at the very least!

He gives off a powerful pressure just standing there without moving. What a terrifying being, they've never seen such a thing.

Fang Wan asked, "You're the Demon King, aren't you?!"

Zhang San had no interest in communicating with mobs, so he just grinned, showing his white teeth, making that grin look all the more vicious.

The next second, the bladed polearm slashed forth.

Fang Wan blocked it with his battleax.

Then, with a clang, the ground around them sank down into a crater.

The terrifying strength was as heavy as a mountain, forcing Fang Wan to vomit out a mouthful of blood.

He's a first class elite Hero, and has dealt with quite a number of Demon KIngs before. Yet, he's never been overpowered to such a degree, where he almost couldn't even take a single blow. Yet, at just that moment, a wave of violent qi erupted from Zhang San's body.

Fang Wan's breastplate shattered like glass.

The shockwave from the qi ripped apart the ground in every direction for three meters.

Fang Wan's HP dropped by nearly half. He knew now that there's no way he's a match for this terrible opponent. He also finally understood just why Wang Gang's group died here.

They guy is way too monstrous.

He's strong beyond reason!

He's definitely among the very top even among level 3 Lord monsters. He's basically on the very ceiling among Lords.

"Wait!"

"I surrender!"

"I'll tell you everything!"

Zhang San didn't give him any chance though.

Another two blows forced Fang Wan several meters back. Then, Zhang San covered himself in qi and, with a violent charge, sent Fang Wan flying before finally splitting the Hero in half with a swing of his blade.

The battle ended cleanly.

[You've slain a level 3 Hero. Soul +1!]

Zhang Nu observed the entire battle through the Omniscient Crystal Ball.

That Hero's single combat ability is about on par with Du Mingfeng's, but he was defeated so easily here. The draconian marshal's power was great, as expected.

Based on Zhang Nu's orders, one was killed and one was captured.

Zhang Nu's request that one be captured alive is, of course, for the sake of interrogation. This Fang Hou is only level 2, so he'd be relatively easier to keep under control as well.

Besides that, a level 3 Hero is especially rare, so he will definitely kill them and harvest the soul whenever he encounters one.

Zhang Nu immediately sacrificed the soul.

[You sacrificed a level 3 Soul, gained x Talent Points] (T/N: The number got eaten by the raws I'm using again, so just pretend there's an appropriate number here)

After opening his status menu, he has reached 1102 Talent Points.

Zhang Nu was overjoyed. He had just been worried recently due to having completely decimated the high leveled Hero population near Giantree City, so he didn't know where to find more prey.

That's solved now.

This big EXP bundle that delivered himself right to his door got him enough Talent Points to go over the threshold.

Zhang Nu spent 1000 Talent Points to activate his second level 3 Talent.

[You've activated the level 3 Talent "Evil Dragon's Descent"!]

This skill is very powerful.

It's a transformation type skill.

Although it costs a lot, after transformation, he can transform into an apocalyptic evil dragon. His skills will change and even greatly increase in power.

Its boost to his combat power is even greater than the Dragon King's Sanctum.

The Dragon King's Sanctum is a signature ability, but when Zhang Nu uses it at his current power, the greatest effect from it is the crowd control ability that greatly weakens his enemies and suppresses their skills.

Compared to that, Evil Dragon's Descent is a direct boost in power.

It explosively increases his destructive power and damage potential.

As for exactly how much that increase is, that's something that Zhang Nu isn't all that certain of right now either. He'll need some research and testing before he can really answer that question.

Zhang San and Li Si have returned.

Li Si spoke, "He's confessed everything."

"He's a highly placed member of Berserk Beast City's Hero Guild. He was hired by a Hero who is one of the city lord's sons', Tu Xiuming, to come and collect information on us in preparation for an upcoming attack on our territory."

"Is that so? So it's Berserk Beast City as I thought!"

Berserk Beast City.

This orcish city doesn't have much history behind it.

Unlike the openness and diversity of Giantree City, Berserk Beast City is basically all orcs. The main reason why they were able to rise up in a few short decades to the point where their power overshadows that of Giantree City is because they're actually basically fully militarized.

Simply put, they basically survive via conquest, sacks, and raiding.

Berserk Beast City has little productivity. They instead greatly encourage wars and raiding.

They madly attacked the nearby tribes and raided other cities, including Giantree City. They fuel their wars with conquest. Their entire population are soldiers and bandits, and all their properties came from taking them from others.

This kind of expansionist policy also has a legendarily famous orc leading it.

This is also why Berserk Beast City was able to get the status it now has.

Berserk Beast City has been looking greedily at Giantree City for a long time now, so how could they possibly be willing to let a Demon King take control over Giantree City? This is on top of the fact that Zhang Nu had killed Berserk Beast City's lord's son, Gaim!

Given Berserk Beast City's way of doing things, there's no way that they can simply let this be.

Berserk Beast City should be coming at him again soon.

Based on the information, Zhang Nu deduced that Berserk Beast City's lord may have reached level 3 Overlord. He may even be stronger than the Giantree Forest's fallen chief.

That makes him a very strong opponent.

This isn't even mentioning the Hero Tu Xiuming.

His body is that of one of Berserk Beast City's eight Masters of Ten Thousand. He stared out with the strength of a level 3 Lord.

Currently, having gained the status of a Hero, that guy's also quickly growing stronger, so he may very well be just as strong as Berserk Beast City's lord.

In that case then, Berserk Beast City is not to be underestimated!

Zhang San asked, "How should we deal with this prisoner?"

Zhang Nu thought for a moment before speaking, "Let him escape."

Zhang San was somewhat uncomprehending, "He had offended my lord though, so why do you permit him to escape? That's letting him off far too easily!"

Zhang Nu answered, "The power you displayed before them is enough to make them think that you're the Demon King. By letting him return to report, it can work to draw them all out."

The fact that the Demon King has the power of a Monarch is something that only those who were drawn into the domain before knows of.

Du Mingfeng, Gaim, and the orcs with them had all been wiped out. There's also no way that Nancilia and the various elven leaders would leak this information either.

In other words, this is currently still a secret.

Although this secret will end up discovered by others sooner or later, Zhang Nu still wants to take advantage of this information disparity while he still can.

If the city lord of Berserk Beast City and the Hero Tu Xiuming knows that the Demon King has the power of a Monarch, then there's no way that they'd dare to lust after Giantree City and Darkness Vally.

In fact, they'd instead do exactly the opposite and stay on the defense in order to keep Zhang Nu from attacking them.

If that happened, then Zhang Nu would have no choice but to attack head on.

Berserk Beast City has a powerful army. Their entire population is militarized and they're militarily stronger than Giantree City. Add in the fact that they are far away, even if Zhang Nu personally leads the army to attack, it would still be very costly for him.

In that case then, wouldn't it be better to draw them out to attack instead?

Doesn't Berserk Beast City want to swallow up Giantree City no matter what? Doesn't the Hero Tu Xiuming want to destroy Darkness Valley? In that case, he might as well go along with their plans. Let them come!

Zhang Nu would welcome them!

The Hero, Fang Hou, wasn't imprisoned in the Dark Prison.

It's because there's no way that he'd be able to escape if he was put in the Dark Prison.

The draconians locked him into a temporary iron cage instead. There are also eight high soldiers guarding him, making it look like he's under heavy guard.

Zhang Nu knew that, given that guy's capabilities, he'd definitely be able to escape somehow.

Just as expected, Fang Hou was secretly overjoyed.

"Thank goodness!"

"They're overconfident!"

"The Demon King has relaxed his guard against me!"

"Now is my only chance to escape."

His combat ability isn't on Fang Wan's level, but when it comes to the power to run away, he's definitely super first class with very few Heroes being able to match hiim.

He took a deep breath and activated the "Ground Dive" Talent Skill.

The high soldiers just heard a clanging sound as the cuffs and chains fell to the ground in the cage. However, the person imprisoned in the cage was nowhere to be seen.

"No no!"

"The war prisoner has escaped!"

"Find and catch him, quickly!"

The draconian high soldiers started yelling.

Fang Hou had already escaped several hundred meters away via Ground Dive though.

He then immediately activated Shadow Sneak. It's a high leveled stealth ability, strong enough to let him avoid the vast majority of detection skills under C rank.

Finally, several minutes later, Fang Hou finally managed to get away to safety.

He then took out the special whistle and blew into it hard. A drake beast descended from the sky, grabbed Fang Hou, lifted off, and headed out of the Valley.

"That was way too close!"

"I just managed to get out from the maw of death!"

"Thank goodness I had these escape skills."

Fang Hou's tensed up heart finally relaxed.

This scout trip can't really be called a success. He hadn't scouted out the structures of Darkness Valley, and he doesn't know a thing about the military force disposition either.

Thankfully though, he did manage to bump into the Demon King.

Fan Hou's memory crystal has also completely recorded the entire battle.

He has faith that this bit of information was barely good enough as a report.

After all, even the especially strong Fang Wan got taken out. He really lucked out in being able to get out alive. He can't get too greedy here.

He took another glance toward the direction of Darkness Valley and shivered in fear again.

That Demon King is just too powerful and vicious!

He just hopes that he won't ever encounter something like this again in his life!