Chapter 12: Reencounter with Virenth

After hiding in the Red Moon Plane for three years, Sakavi not only reached adolescence but also became a Level 12 Necromancer, on the verge of advancing from Master to Legendary Mage.

Arriving at this mid-sized plane, Sakavi finally understood why none of his ancestors had reached Legendary status; according to local belief, the size of a plane directly determined how much magic it could gather.

The larger the plane, the easier it was to produce a Legendary; legends claimed that in super-large planes, even some beasts could reach the Legendary realm. Moreover, each Legendary’s presence caused massive magical disturbances—if a plane reached its maximum capacity of Legendaries, no new one could ever emerge.

Typically, a small plane could support 3 to 5 Legendaries, a mid-sized plane 10 to 30, or 1 to 5 Half-Gods; as for large planes, no concrete details were yet known.

After learning this, Sakavi realized he needed to return to Cardowen before becoming Legendary—otherwise, the intense magical disturbances from a small plane would inflict irreversible damage on both himself and the entire plane. Cardowen hadn’t produced a Legendary in years; it was likely already at full capacity.

After assigning the goblinoid dwarves their production tasks for the next six months, Sakavi prepared to depart immediately for Cardowen; with the Level 9 Assassin Gop holding the line, dealing with opportunistic drow elves should pose no problem.

The first thing Sakavi did upon returning to Cardowen was audit the accounts—as a dragon, money was the only thing that mattered. As he patiently studied the account book over a meter tall, a roar suddenly echoed in his mind.

“Sakavi, get out here right now!”

Virenth? How did she get here? And she looks like she wants to kill me. I haven’t done anything to offend her these past years.

“Oh, it’s Virenth! Long time no see—what brings you here?”

“Shut up, you disgrace. I have no friend like you. Give me your life!”

With that, countless leaves, sharp as blades, shot toward Sakavi, homing in like guided missiles. Seeing evasion impossible, he cast Withering Wall, draining all moisture from the leaves that struck it.

Watching the withered leaves fall, Virenth grew even angrier, cursing: “I was blind to have ever known a filthy creature like you. I should’ve crushed you the moment I saw you—saved the world from your filth.”

“Virenth, are you mistaken about me? Why attack me the moment we meet?”

“Mistaken? You murdered a Priest of the Church of Light—that’s a mistake? You used necromancy right before my eyes—that’s also a mistake? I won’t believe you again!”

Clearly, reconciliation was impossible. If so, only strength could decide. Three necrotic arrows shot toward Virenth, but she dodged them effortlessly. Where she had stood, grass and plants withered and froze under thick frost.

The necrotic arrows’ power was evident; Virenth didn’t yield, launching countless seeds at Sakavi, forcing him into desperate evasion. Seeds striking rocks sprouted instantly, turning massive boulders into rubble within seconds.

Failing to land a decisive blow, Virenth chanted again—spores surrounding Sakavi exploded. Having inhaled many into his lungs, he spat blood and plummeted downward.

Just before hitting the ground, Sakavi flapped his wings, flipping midair to soar again. The spot he’d intended to land on erupted with sharp wooden spikes.

His counterattack was equally fierce—a skeletal warrior wielding a dagger suddenly emerged from his shadow, striking straight for the vital point. As the blade neared the stag’s throat, flowers burst across the skeleton’s body, its arm going limp and collapsing. Moments later, the entire figure crumbled to dust.

The dagger had barely hit the ground when a water cannon slammed into Sakavi’s face. Virenth had no time to breathe—she hastily raised a shield and leapt aside, as dozens of water cannons struck her former position. Hundreds more followed in rapid succession, each landing just half a step too late.

Just evading that assault, the black dragon’s claw struck—only to be swatted away by a massive bear paw. Where the dragon landed, three sharp thorns erupted from the earth, then immediately withered and rotted. The charging bear suddenly stumbled as the ground beneath it erupted, then dozens of water droplets pierced its body.

Seeing she was outmatched, Virenth turned and reverted to her stag form to flee. Behind her, the Dirge of Decay began to play—trees and plants around her withered and rotted, and she screamed in agony. A massive skeletal arm appeared silently at her left side, only to be shattered by a single palm strike. A beam of holy light struck—the earth giant’s skull shattered instantly.

Another holy beam shot toward him. Sakavi had no time to dodge—the light pierced clean through his right chest. A wisp of vapor instantly condensed, heated, and exploded at Virenth’s right wrist, blasting her staff and entire arm into fragments.

Without hesitation, Virenth fled into the forest—only to be slammed meters away by a dragon claw. Watching her spit blood, Sakavi landed beside her and said: “The fight is over. I return your arm. Today ends here.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

Suddenly, trunks from two trees behind Sakavi pierced his body and began to dry and rot.

“If I hadn’t removed my heart in advance, that would’ve killed me.”

“What a pity—you’re a madman.”

“Virenth, you shouldn’t have meddled. Go back to your forest.”

A beam of holy light suddenly illuminated the entire forest. Had Sakavi not prepared, he’d have been purified into ash instantly. Reality admits no “what ifs”—Virenth’s final trump card was gone.

“I nearly forgot—elves also worship the Church of Light.”

“Then strike. Outmatched, I have no words.”

“Very well. I’ll personally send you back to your forest home.”

“Get lost!”

Without looking back, Virenth walked away. Watching her depart, Sakavi stood frozen—she told him to leave his own home? Then so be it—he’d obey.

Back in his lair, Sakavi immediately summoned all his vassals, dissolved their vassal pacts, and declared: those willing to follow him would sign new pacts; those unwilling would receive their share and leave.

To Sakavi’s shock, only the swamp toad shaman Grap was willing to leave with him. Loen claimed he couldn’t abandon his homeland; the fishman chief said he was too weak and would only be a burden.

Worse still, the serpent folk claimed they’d gained nothing from serving Sakavi and had long wanted to leave. Fine. As an old friend once told him: sand you can’t hold is better thrown away.

After distributing the gold, Sakavi asked the question that had puzzled him: how had Virenth known he’d returned so instantly? He’d been extremely cautious, terrified of being caught by enemies.

Loen’s answer made Sakavi want to strangle him—Virenth had been lying in wait here for three years, living among the lizardmen tribes the whole time.

During that period, she’d managed all affairs in the Great Swamp; the moment Sakavi returned, the lizardmen notified Virenth immediately.

Hearing Loen’s answer, Sakavi wondered if the man had lost his mind—she’d come to kill him, yet he let her live here for years? He clearly enjoyed chaos. He should be grateful the vassal pacts were dissolved early—otherwise, he wouldn’t have lived to see tomorrow’s sun.

With the gold distributed, it was time to flee. The battle last night had been loud enough that the ogre chieftain MoGe surely knew. Rumor said the ogres had two other Legendary commanders besides him—one was enough to crush Sakavi.

Back in the Shadow City, Sakavi suddenly remembered—he’d sent Grap to kill a dragon, and he’d never asked for the result. Now was the perfect time.

Grap said he’d completed the mission three years ago—he’d used illusion magic to make a nearby red dragon bite through Domina’s neck, then added a dragon’s breath to ensure instant death. The method was undeniably professional—no surprise from a professional assassin.

Thinking of this, Sakavi suddenly realized—he’d returned to Cardowen without accomplishing his main goal. The harpy tribe still existed. Unforgivable.

He immediately ordered Gop to capture the harpy chieftain. Gop departed. At that moment, Grap announced he’d advanced to Level 7 Druid. He could kill and burn just as well as Gop.

Wait—when did swamp toads start self-training as Druids? And reach Gao Jie on their own? Could Grap be a reincarnator? Or someone with a built-in system? This boy couldn’t be allowed to live.

But Sakavi was overthinking. Perhaps Grap sensed his misunderstanding and quickly explained: his Druid path was taught by Virenth.

It wasn’t rare for someone to master multiple magical schools or hold multiple classes—the dragon was a classic example. Clearly, Virenth’s debt remained unpaid.

With this great Druid, the potion industry could reopen. Later, he’d subdue a few underground goblin tribes to grow herbs for him. As for paying for it—Sakavi declared he was too poor to spend a single coin. He’d have to steal.

Cardowen’s affairs settled, the next step was expansion to the surface. Sakavi ordered his drow elves to scout above and identify all factions present.

As for the drow’s infamous reputation, Sakavi asked: was it worse than his own, being hunted worldwide by the Church of Light?

His bounty notice had even reached Cardowen—he hadn’t expected it. The ogres of Cardowen were cowards; they accepted bounties at the drop of a hat. But seeing the ten million gold reward, Sakavi almost considered selling himself.

In this world, a live chicken cost five copper coins; one gold coin equaled one hundred silver coins; one silver coin equaled one thousand copper coins.

This currency was issued by the Church of Justice, one of the Three Great Sects of the Pantheon. Other factions could issue their own—but whether it was accepted outside their territory was another matter.