Chapter 975: Plague lord
In all this ti, Aerin hadn’t spared a single thought for alchemy. She and the few other elves who had managed to escape their settlent had been relentlessly hunted. In one life-or-death battle after another, her combat skills and awareness had been honed, sharpened by grim necessity.
After all, this new strength had been purchased with ten of her own lives.
Even now, as her mind was focused on the Survivor’s Platform, her body remained on high alert. She sat in the pitch-black tree hollow with a bow on her back and a sword at her hip. She didn’t even dare to light a fire. “Panic” was no longer a strong enough word to describe her state of existence.
Orion was her only lifeline. If he’d told her to strip, she would have done it without a second thought. For a survivor who wanted nothing more than to keep breathing, concepts like dignity and sha were worthless luxuries. And for those gifted with the Survivor’s Platform, the will to live was an overwhelming, all-consuming drive.
I will survive this, she told herself, clutching the Scarecrows he had sent her. It was a mantra she had repeated to herself through countless nights on the run.
Sotis, she missed the person she used to be. But that nostalgia was always followed by a wave of self-loathing. The Aerin of today could take on a hundred of her old self. No, a thousand.
She took a deep breath and focused her mind on the Survivor’s Platform again, laying out the whole story for Orion.
It all started with the demonic monsters. They were creatures that looked vaguely human, or perhaps elven, but their souls were utterly twisted by evil. They knew no good or evil, only the drive to kill.
Worse, they carried a plague—a horrifying infection that could demonize other species.
The Forest of Nature had fallen because a Wood Elf had been infected. The corrupted elf had torn down the protective wards from the inside. After the barrier fell, the Wood Elf queen was killed in battle. The elders were either slaughtered or demonized themselves. Only a handful made it out alive, leading small, scattered bands of survivors deeper into the forest, hoping to find a way out into the wider world.
Aerin and her small group were among those refugees.
But then, one of the elders who had managed to escape the forest returned with devastating news. The world outside the Forest of Nature was even worse than the hell they were fleeing. Aside from the core territories of a few major races, the rest of the world had been completely overrun. Eighty percent of her world now belonged to the demonic monsters.
Stoneheart City. The Castle.
On his throne, Orion’s brow furrowed. He muttered sothing under his breath, too low to be heard.
Demonic monsters, a plague, the Forest of Nature, a Wood Elf in distress… and her territory… This looks like an opportunity I can make a play for.
Aerin had just explicitly asked him to get her out of her world. That gave him a perfect justification to get involved.
Hmm. This needs so careful planning.
He spent a few more minutes calming Aerin down, then traded her a squad of cave spiders for so extra protection. He promised he would contact her again in three days. By then, he would have decided whether to launch a full-scale invasion or simply focus on her extraction.
His mind churned with the possibilities of Aerin’s world. Finally, he opened his friends list and sent a ssage to Tangere.
Orion: You free? ssage
back when you are. Need to talk to you about sothing.
He’d chosen Tangere because the man was a plague lord—a master of the craft. Orion figured this could be a chance to strengthen their relationship and get a better read on the guy’s character.
Invading Aerin’s world was not sothing he, a single arch lord, could do alone. Any faction capable of overrunning an entire world had to have demigod-level power behind it. His plan was to establish a beachhead, figure out what he was up against, and then call in his Champions Alliance bros to carve up the spoils. But before that, this was a perfect chance to test Tangere, Caesar, and even Aerin herself.
As for Scarecrow, the guy had been radio silent for a while, and he hadn’t posted any food for sale recently either. Orion guessed he was in the middle of his advancent to the Legendary level and hadn’t finished yet. So, for now, Scarecrow was off the table.
Two hours later, a reply ca through.
Tangere: I’m here. What’s up?
Orion: Interested in teaming up to invade another world?
The other end went silent for a long ti.
Tangere: Are you serious?
Orion: I am.
Tangere: Okay, lay it on . I’ll give it serious consideration.
Orion appreciated Tangere’s caution. It showed he was the kind of person who got things done. Anyone who made it to the Legendary level, especially a lone wolf like Tangere, had to have a good head on their shoulders.
Orion: I have a friend whose world has been demonized. There’s a mysterious plague spreading everywhere…
He gave Tangere the short version of Aerin’s story.
Tangere: You “have a friend”?
Tangere: When a story starts like that, I tend to assu it’s bullshit.
Orion smiled. Tangere’s skepticism was a good sign. It ant that despite his caution, he was already hooked.
Orion: Just give
a yes or no. Are you in?
Orion: If not, I’ll find other partners.
Once you’ve piqued a man’s interest, you apply pressure. It was a negotiation tactic he’d picked up from spending so much ti with Leonidas and Arthas.
Tangere: That fast? You’re not going to let
think about it?
Orion: You can think. You’ve got one day.
After sending that, Orion ignored the overly cautious man and opened a chat with his apprentice. His tone shifted completely.
Orion: Caesar, you busy? How’d you like a ticket to the big leagues? A high-stakes adventure in another world.
For so reason, interacting with Caesar was always easier, more relaxed.
Caesar: The big leagues?
Caesar: Big boss, I am absolutely free.
Caesar: Big boss, just tell
what you need. As long as it doesn’t violate my code, I’ll get it done, and I’ll do it right.
Caesar replied instantly. He was all in.
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