Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2646: 1456: Deeper into the Black Fog (Part 2)

Leo Ray was fully aware that both Loris and Sina stood as mighty powers unlikely to yield to anyone else. Thus, it became obvious he was the ideal pick for that role.

That being said, Leo Ray made a nominal assignment of Loris and Sina to vice-commander posts. With that, the mighty force of almost ten thousand warriors launched forth in spectacular array, charging toward the black fog-veiled Howling Land.

…

“Have they truly arrived?”

Far inside the Howling Land, inside a sprawling palace of bones, the Witch Demon Leader fixed his gaze on the crystal ball in front of him. A flicker of scorn crossed his rune-marked features, as though he had foreseen this development from the start.

Next, he turned toward the hazy, enormous silhouette at the hall's front, displaying unusual deference as he inquired: “My lord, the foes approach with overwhelming might; I fear they won't be simple to handle.”

The Witch Demon Leader's deferential demeanor revealed this as the true force propping up the witch demons.

Furthermore, this was an immense entity indeed, with the colossal form occupying the back half of the bone palace entirely, much like a towering mountain.

“You command 80 Tier 3 Legions and 20 Tier 4 Legions, making up a million-strong undead army right here. Those insects total no more than ten thousand, and even if every one surpassed Tier 5, they'd wear themselves out until nothing remained.”

The giant shadow's deep tones rumbled flatly, continuing: “Remember, this is your territory. These vapors sap the insects' power while bolstering yours and that of the undead forces. Through this shift in strength, the opponents pose no real threat.”

“My lord, even as you speak true, recall that the Human Race's Emperor travels with them. Weaker than the two alliances in raw might, yet he's without doubt the toughest to confront.”

The Witch Demon Leader's expression grew grim as he pressed on: “His presence alone could twist the tide of events.”

“Ultimately, they're mere insects. It amounts to little. Be it the Human Domain or those two alliances, soon enough they'll all become realms of torment.”

A hint of contempt laced the giant shadow's reply: “Our scheme stands perfect without flaw. Should those insects dare to resist, I'll crush them with my own hands.”

“Haha, with your words, my worries vanish entirely. Next to you, those fools mean nothing.”

The Witch Demon Leader let out a cold laugh, declaring: “Since these insects seek their doom, we'll oblige them fully.”

…

Carried by a fierce blast of wind, Leo Ray led Loris, Sina, and the rest as they dove first into a swath of utter darkness fog.

Notably, prior to stepping into the Howling Land, Leo Ray had effortlessly drawn forth tens of thousands of Tier 5 portable magic potions and various top-grade supplies, granting substantial enhancements to each powerhouse in the ranks. Loris and Sina exchanged stunned glances once more, grasping that their own stockpiles fell far short of such extravagance.

After the Shadow Market clashes, the pair now beheld yet another glimpse of Leo Ray's bottomless reserves.

Beneath the crowd's admiring stares, the instant they crossed the threshold, Leo Ray sensed a momentary halt in the dual energy swirls within his body. Though subtle, this pause clearly signaled the black fog's eerie nature beyond initial guesses.

Through the thick shroud of black fog, no sunlight pierced through, plunging everything into total gloom, like night crashing upon the day.

Beyond that, sight suffered heavy restriction, with clear views stretching no farther than a hundred meters. Even shielded fully by energy shields, a sharp, decaying odor assaulted their senses, nearly overwhelming them.

“Truly, this isn't a domain for the faint of heart.”

Leo Ray's brow creased faintly as he tried unleashing a handful of Tier 6 sacred and light purification magic scrolls, only for them to dissolve harmlessly into the mist without a trace.

“Your Majesty of the Humans, such efforts prove futile.”

Sina shook her head with a sigh, explaining: “In those days, our Desert Alliance assembled every specialist in purification to banish this strange poisonous black fog, yet nothing changed. It appears fused inseparably with this lifeless terrain, beyond any control.”

“Yes, we'll have to push through regardless.”

Loris, who had clearly tested akin methods in the past, brimmed now with battle fervor as he proclaimed: “Our Rainforest Fortress Alliance failed to make headway before and withdrew, but this time we advance together under Your Majesty of the Humans' lead, vowing to wipe them out for good!”

Loris's bold words ignited the warriors from both alliances nearby, filling them with restless zeal.

This Howling Land, squeezed between the Rainforest Fortress Alliance and the Desert Alliance, had long stirred endless turmoil without reprisal, even razing whole settlements and strongholds, piling up endless grudges. With the opportunity at hand to annihilate them, the soldiers' spirits blazed high.

“Onward we go.”

Sensing the rising fervor, Leo Ray nodded approvingly and urged the group deeper.

After a brief trek, the barren expanse shifted, unveiling clusters of crumbling walls riddled with fissures.

Blanketed by the pervasive black fog, the roadside remnants bore a dull, somber hue, eroded by time and age. Farther off, rows of tomb markers stood in grim array, evoking deep unease.

Leo Ray sharpened his focus, observing that while these remnants carried an ancient air, they differed markedly from the traces of the Era of Blankness.

“Your Majesty of the Humans, more than two millennia back, this Howling Land hosted a third-class forces alliance, vibrant and verdant. Then, without warning, it fell under witch demon rule, devolving into the desolate waste seen today.”

Sina, hovering close to Leo Ray, elaborated: “These stand as the leftovers from that era, and the former dwellers formed the core of the undead army.”

“So this place carries such a tragic past.”

Leo Ray's forehead furrowed anew as he eyed the crowded tombstones looming afar.

Evidently, once the witch demons seized control, the holdouts refused to bow and battled until the last breath.

The outcome was plain: in this savage realm where the mighty consumed the frail, the vulnerable met inevitable ruin.

Right then, as Leo Ray pondered this, a dim, gigantic outline emerged ahead, revealing upon scrutiny a vast bone-white stronghold radiating dense death aura.

“Your Majesty of the Humans, that's the witch demons' Skeleton Fortress.”

Loris's grave tone rang out, detailing: “Such bone-built citadels dot the Howling Land, each warded by vast undead hosts, making them incredibly tough to breach.”

After Loris finished, his face hardened further.

Previously, despite toppling several such bone fortresses in succession under his command, exhaustion had forced their withdrawal, with more white-bone bastions still barring the path.

And presently, those razed structures had risen anew, stirring inevitable dread within him.

“With our numbers constrained, tearing down each one in turn wastes too much time and proves unwise.”

Leo Ray wasted no moment, nodding to his companions as he stated: “Strike at the head to fell the body; skirt these roadside fortresses and drive directly to the enemy's core.”

At Leo Ray's directive, the elite fighters assented and swiftly veered around the enormous bone-white stronghold.

As they sped on, further ruins and burial grounds appeared en route, along with additional skeleton fortresses they evaded, while the black fog in the atmosphere thickened relentlessly.

Yet no one spotted that, mere moments after dodging the initial skeleton fortress, a colossal sealing barrier had silently arisen, trapping the whole Howling Land inside.

As the group distanced themselves, undead troops from the skirted skeleton fortresses slipped forth unseen, gradually surrounding and trailing their advance.