Chapter 550: The Most Useful Episode of Alakdo (Happy New Year!

Deep in the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range, a hidden cave hidden in the crevices of the rock layer.

There is no light source here, only the ghostly blue magic array on the ground emits flickering micro-light, reflecting the uneven rock walls around like a tomb.

"Hoo—!"

In the center of the magic array, Edgar Kaufman, who was sitting on the ground, woke up suddenly.

He was like a drowning person finally rushing out of the water, breathing violently, and cold sweat instantly soaked the gray mage robe.

Only one second away—

That cold light would have pierced the lower back of his clone!

Just as Luo Yan guessed, the one confronting Xixi in the forest just now was not Edgar's main body, but a "mirror" clone he created using the Academy's secret recipe, based on a slice of his own soul.

With a faint blue light spot drilling into the tip of his nose from the void, the pain of the soul being torn apart was slightly relieved.

His trembling right hand pressed on his chest, and Edgar spent a full few minutes calming down the heart that was beating wildly, and his breath gradually returned to stability.

"So close..."

Although killing the clone would not kill the main body, the backlash at the soul level would still damage his extraordinary foundation.

If he hadn't run fast just now, being caught by that elusive guy, the consequences would be simply unimaginable...

After calming down, Edgar's eyes became extremely gloomy, and he began to carefully savor the last question he heard before dissipating just now.

'Who do you want to interrogate?'

That innate pressure and the teasing hidden in the laziness soon made him think of a person... a guy who talked about "science" in the magic hall.

"Colin?!"

The moment this name popped into his mind, Edgar's pupils shrank sharply.

As a member of the Academy, although he had no direct intersection with Prince Colin, he would not be unfamiliar with the "appearance" of this Highness.

After all, that guy was in the limelight in the Academy, and even brought down a "candidate sage"... although in the end, this guy was also forced away.

However, Edgar couldn't figure out why this noble Highness, as a prince of the empire, would appear in this godforsaken place?!

Not only is the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range a godforsaken place, but Spinor County south of the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range is clearly in this category.

And—

That demon even called him Majesty.

Edgar's expression gradually became solemn, even revealing a trace of faint panic.

He didn't understand why a human prince would have a relationship with a little demon from hell, and he didn't understand why a human prince would be called Majesty by a little demon.

But one thing is certain—

If the Majesty in the mouth of that little demon is really Colin, then things are completely troublesome.

"Must destroy the data..."

Edgar muttered, not daring to stay for a moment, stumbling and standing up from the magic array.

There is still his laboratory and altar near Buried Bone Peak!

Since Prince Colin appeared in Spinor County, stepping on Buried Bone Peak is also a matter of lifting his feet...

Grabbing the crystal staff leaning against the wall, he stuffed the notes about soul experiments into his arms, and then walked out of the door in a hurry.

However, just as he stepped out of the door of the stone room, he saw that the corridor outside was in a mess.

Countless Ratmen were scurrying around like headless flies, shrill calls came one after another, and even many Ratmen were trampled to the ground in the crowding.

Edgar grabbed a passing Ratman foreman and asked sternly.

"What happened?"

The Ratman foreman was grabbed and squeaked, pointing to a direction in the depths of the cave with a terrified face.

"I, I don't know! But the brothers saw smoke lit near Buried Bone Peak! Many guys are saying... saying that the human army has attacked!"

Ratmen are always low-level creatures that are easily startled, a little wind and grass movement can scare them out of their wits, and a little misunderstanding can make them suddenly awesome.

Buried Bone Peak is still a long distance from here, separated by several strongholds, even if humans really attacked, it is impossible to break through the defense line so quickly.

Edgar didn't believe what this little guy said, but he was still shocked by another piece of information revealed in these words—

Colin's foot really stepped on Buried Bone Peak!

He swallowed a mouthful of cold sweat with difficulty.

What a fast action!

At the same time, Buried Bone Peak, the rat hole under the granite was already in a mess.

Countless Ratmen wearing ragged leather armor were screaming and scurrying in the intricate tunnels, shouting everything.

"Damn! Human things have attacked!"

"Damn! Who saw my captives?"

"Tail!! My tail!"

"Don't care about your tail! Send the flag to the King quickly—!"

"Who stole my gold coins!?"

Just now, the main camp in the rear suddenly sent a messenger, sent a brand new battle flag, and brought a piece of news that made all rats both surprised and terrified—

They are free!

Mo Ke, the leader of the Rotten Flesh Clan, announced that the territory around Buried Bone Peak would be completely given to the local general "Wild Bite Shrike" and the Shrike family, and promoted him to a new Ratman clan warlord in the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range.

Sitting on the stone throne piled with bones, Shrike, who had just been promoted to "Wild Bite Warlord," looked at the flag with the broken tooth totem in his hand, his heart both excited and terrified.

What made him excited was that becoming a warlord was the lifelong pursuit of Ratmen!

However, the Ratman's coin also has two sides, Mo Ke satisfied his lifelong pursuit so easily, Shrike always felt that there was fraud in it.

No accident—

That fat pig treated him as an abandoned child,

Although they occasionally had friction with human kingdoms before, it was clear that they had poked a big hole this time.

At least a count must have come!

"Get moving! A group of lazy goods!"

Inserting the flag symbolizing power firmly on the ground, Shrike roared at his subordinates who were already scurrying around.

"Hurry up and reinforce the cave entrance! Prepare rolling stones and poison gas! Also, hurry up and clean up the biggest cave for me! Now this big king is a warlord, the count's palace is no longer worthy of my identity! I want to build a bigger palace!"

He was shouting, when a gray-headed Ratman little brother rolled in in a panic, kowtowing and worshiping.

"Big King! Something big is wrong! Big King!"

"Call me Warlord! Idiot!"

Shrike kicked over, kicking the mouse a few circles.

The little brother couldn't care about the pain, turned over and climbed up from the ground, trembling and crawling on the ground, his voice carrying a crying voice of fear.

"War... Warlord adult! Several caves under Buried Bone Peak have been occupied!"

"What?!" Shrike widened his eyes, his teeth clattering with anger, "This group of waste... who came? The count of Spinor?"

"No, no! Not human! It's cave spiders!" The Ratman little brother had snot and tears, his mouth constantly trembling, "Everywhere is spiders! The number is so many that it can't be counted at all! They are like a black tide... directly flooded in!"

"Cave spiders?!"

Shrike was startled, all the gray hair on his body exploded.

Cave spiders are not rare in the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range, Ratmen occasionally treat them as snacks, but cave spiders acting in the form of an army can't make the rats laugh.

There is something dirty behind these guys!

Shrike instantly tasted the meaning, and finally understood why Soul-Crusher Mo Ke threw this hot flag to himself!

This cunning coward!

Shrike cursed in his heart, hurriedly threw the flag he had just regarded as a treasure aside, pulled out the rune short sword he had snatched from the Dwarves, and roared colorfully.

"What are you looking for me for? Go call my guard! Rush up and kill them all! Gelluo is above, a few spiders scared you like this, I am really ashamed for you!"

"Yes, yes!" Sucking the snot back into his nasal cavity, the Ratman little brother who was scolded hurriedly changed direction and ran out of the cave, going to the rat hole to shake people.

It is worth mentioning that although Ratmen always give humans a messy feeling, chaos is actually their characteristic, and their combat power is not weak.

Under Shrike's command, the heavy-armored Ratman guard quickly gathered, and a large army composed of Clan Rats and Slave Rats rushed to the front line.

The slaughter had just begun.

And at the same time, Shrike, who gave the order, did not lead the charge like a Dwarf lord, but turned and drilled back into his nest, shouting at the Ratman concubines who were enjoying delicious food inside.

"Stop eating! Pack your luggage!"

A commotion among the mother rats.

A few plump mother rats raised their heads somewhat dissatisfied, chattering.

"What are you packing for?"

"Could it be that those humans have attacked?"

"Aren't human things our allies?"

"You know a fart!" Shrike cursed while frantically stuffing gold coins and gems into his sack.

"Something ten thousand times more troublesome than human things has attacked! If we don't run, we will all become spider shit!"

There are also smart rats among Ratmen.

Seeing that Shrike the Great King was so panicked, a group of mother rats finally realized the seriousness of the problem and hurriedly began to pack the bottles and cans in the palace, preparing to migrate deeper into the mountains.

At the same time, in those lost caves outside Buried Bone Peak, a one-sided slaughter was being staged, and the fierce cave spiders were gorging themselves.

"Hiss—!"

A huge black giant spider like a small mountain was grinning and biting a Ratman centurion who tried to resist into two halves, blood splashing on him, making him look even more ferocious.

That is Alakdo.

As the Demon King's mount and magic general, although he was always a well-behaved and flattering pet in front of Luo Yan, he looked more like a Demon King than the Demon King in front of outsiders.

After all, the Demon King's smile only makes girls blush, while Alakdo's smile can scare the undead to pee.

Behind him, the vast sea of cave spider swarms surged into the cave like a black flood, and the expression of despair was printed on the face of every little rat.

"Kill them all!" Alakdo let out a hoarse roar, and a deafening insect sound rang through the entire cave.

Chi chi chi—!

That hair-raising sound scared the Ratmen so much that their legs were weak, and they all scattered like birds and beasts!

"Help!"

"Don't kill me—"

"Ah ah ah! My tail!"

Alakdo ignored it.

That huge body was like a black curtain sweeping across the stage, and every time the nimble front limbs reached out, a few Slave Rat warriors would die.

Today's Alakdo is no longer the Alakdo of the past, but the Gold-level Alakdo! And today's Shadow Weaving Clan is even less the small tribe that was struggling at the bottom of the labyrinth!

With the resource tilt of the Demon King's cemetery and the efforts of Lady Arachnos to lay eggs, this spider army has been armed to the teeth!

The battle spiders in the front row are covered with refined steel plate armor built by the cemetery workshop, and the armor pieces are also engraved with "sturdy" and "sharp" underworld runes flashing with ghostly green magic light.

They brandish their front limbs like sickles, and every charge can cut down a row of Ratmen like wheat!

And in the rear, there are even more lethal arms!

Those slightly smaller agile spiders carry skeleton archers holding crossbows on their backs, following the battle spiders pushing forward like tanks, pouring waves of arrow rain in the narrow cave.

The night vision of the undead is even better than that of Ratmen!

Those little rats have almost nowhere to hide!

Where have the Ratmen in Buried Bone Peak seen such a battle? Their proud numerical advantage is like paper in front of a steel torrent that is no less than them!

"Wait, wait a minute! Don't kill me!!"

A Ratman general wearing half-body armor was forced into a dead end, he dropped his weapons and screamed for mercy.

"Is there any misunderstanding? We have no grievances in the past, no hatred in the recent days..."

"Misunderstanding?"

Alakdo's eight compound eyes flashed with cruel light, his mouthparts opened and closed, making a hair-raising low laugh.

"You forgot about the things outside the Yellow Twilight City, our Majesty has not forgotten. Daring to touch the Majesty's things, this is the end."

The thief-eyed general's eyeballs turned, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling and explaining.

"Misunderstanding! This is definitely a misunderstanding! Adult! We are not the Rotten Flesh Clan! I, we just became independent! We are the Wild Bite Clan! Those things that attacked humans were all done by that bastard Mo Ke, it has nothing to do with us—"

Crack.

A huge Shadow Weaving battle general beside him clearly didn't have the patience to listen to his nonsense, directly biting his head, chewing it like crunchy bones, and then burped with satisfaction.

"Boss, why does this little rat have so much fart?"

"Tsk."

I haven't pretended enough yet!

Alakdo glanced at the headless corpse on the ground with disgust, ignored the troublesome subordinate, and continued to push forward with eight legs.

The Shadow Weaving Clan is too lazy to distinguish which clan they belong to, and I believe the Demon King doesn't care either.

At this time, a nimble scout spider slid down the rock wall and quickly came to Alakdo's side, making a hurried chattering sound in its mouth.

"Alakdo adult! There is a situation at the big cave entrance in the south! A large group of humans are running out of the prison inside, looking like slaves raised by these Ratmen."

"Quantity?" Alakdo asked in a low voice.

"Several hundred!"

Hearing that there were several hundred, several cave spiders beside them instinctively began to secrete saliva, their compound eyes flashing with the desire to eat.

Alakdo just scanned a circle majestically, and the Gold-level pressure instantly calmed the restless subordinates.

"Our goal is those rats, swallow your saliva for me, you group of waste things!"

The sound of swallowing saliva came one after another, and the spiders really swallowed the saliva back, but this sound echoed in the dark cave, making it even more chilling.

Alakdo turned to look at the scout who came to report, and ordered in a low and majestic voice.

"Don't worry about those humans, let them run!"

Alakdo always kept the Demon King's instructions in mind, this operation's goal is to clear the Ratmen, control key facilities, and open up roads for the vanguard troops.

As for humans, they are not the target.

Keeping them is troublesome, it's better to let them run by themselves.

"Understand boss! What about those humans in the cage, should I let them out?" The scout spider continued to ask.

"No need, put them there... um, throw them a few rats, don't let them starve to death, the Demon King has use for them."

Alakdo has absolute confidence, he is the magic general who understands the Demon King best.

After all, ordinary magic generals only have the identity of a magic general, even Sarah is no more than a pet title, and he Alakdo is not only a pet, but also a mount above that!

After receiving the order, the scout spider immediately raised its front limbs and performed a standard Demon King Army salute.

"Yes!"

The mighty cave spiders killed toward the depths of the cave, and soon engaged in short-handed slaughter with the Ratman reinforcement troops that rushed over.

The cave was flowing with blood, piled with the corpses of Ratmen and cave spiders.

Shrike's subordinates used their milk-feeding strength to barely block the cave spiders' attack, but were still nested by those spiders on several mountain tops.

All the Ratmen had expressions of lingering fear, not knowing where these spiders came from, and not knowing how many of them there were.

It's fortunate they don't know the truth, otherwise they would have to be desperate again.

Cave spiders are just the Demon King's construction team, their boss has already seen those methods in the Twilight Province, and the Demon King hasn't even served them up yet...

The slaughter on Buried Bone Peak is still continuing, and the cave spiders nesting at the foot of the mountain did not drive the Ratman soldiers to extinction, but went straight to the sacrificial altar and laboratory, and cooperated with little demons and Hell Dwarf engineers to blockade the Buried Bone Peak area.

The Demon King's people want to think about the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range, but they don't necessarily have to take the Campbell railway, after all, the Hell Dwarves on Broken Rock Peak have long been the Demon King's buddies.

Even strictly speaking, the railway from North Peak City to Calamity Castle is the first railway in the history of the Aus Continent.

As for the Campbell railway, it should be considered the first in the human world—

"Clatter—clatter—"

The sound of wheels rolling over the rail joints echoed by the window, Princess Ailin looked out the window from time to time, and looked at the door of the carriage from time to time, looking restless.

At this time, the carriage door suddenly opened, and Colin walked in from the next carriage calmly.

Those emerald green eyes were like frightened rabbits, scurrying back to the dark night outside the window, and only moved back after a while as if casually.

"Why did you go for so long?"

Princess Ailin was still sitting at the table, holding a book in her hand.

However, Luo Yan saw through her disguise at a glance—the pages of that book were still on the one when he left, and even the position of the folded corner had not changed.

In that concerned inquiry, there was a trace of resentment that was desperately concealed.

That was not out of distrust of Sarah, she just instinctively felt a bit jealous about "the sweetheart and the opposite sex being alone in a closed space for an hour."

"Sorry, there was indeed a sudden situation just now... but fortunately, it has been handled." Luo Yan gave Princess Ailin an apologetic look and naturally sat back opposite her. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

The calm and composed appearance, as if he had never left the next carriage, and had nothing to do with the slaughter hundreds of kilometers away.

"Is that so? It's good that it's handled." Princess Ailin breathed a sigh of relief, the emotion contained in those emerald green eyes

Ever since that kiss at Gladstone Castle, the relationship between the two had become strange, as if separated by a thin layer of window paper, yet also as if they both knew it clearly.

Luo Yan extended his index finger, subconsciously wanting to use magic to reheat the cup of black tea on the table that had surely gone cold.

However, the moment his fingertip touched the side of the cup, a wave of warmth greeted him, causing an expression of surprise to surface on his face.

Watching the surprise on Kelin's face, Princess Ailin curled her lips in triumph; that was the reaction she had been looking forward to for a full half-hour.

The raised index finger tucked her bright silver hair and the moonlight behind her ear, her eyes holding a hint of a heart-stirring smile.

"I helped you heat it up."

"Thank you," Luo Yan replied in a rush.

Although the Demon King of Lei Ming County was always attacking, perhaps the Demon King himself was not as skilled at defense as he had imagined.

He was just particularly good at keeping a straight face; after all, there was a Hearing You You who was particularly bad at it to laugh for him.

"Hahahaha! Demon King—"

"Shut up."

"Wuwu..."

Fortunately, the Hero was also someone with high attack and low defense; a short "thank you" was enough to dye those fair cheeks a scorching red.

"No, you're welcome, you often take care of me too..."

She hurriedly averted her gaze, her index finger pinching the page of the book, finding topics to talk about just for the sake of it, as if to say "there is no silver buried here."

"Speaking of which... are you really okay drinking tea at night? Won't you be unable to sleep?"

Picking up the teacup and taking a sip, Luo Yan's face regained its calm and composed smile, and he answered in a gentle tone.

"I generally don't sleep."

"Don't sleep?" Princess Ailin looked at him in surprise, asking a question she herself felt was very silly, "But... what do you do when you're tired?"

"Mages are accustomed to using meditation to replace sleep."

Luo Yan put down the teacup and continued in a pleasant manner.

"In a meditative state, mental power is reshaped, and bodily functions are also rested; the effect is actually the same, and it's even more efficient than sleeping."

"Mage... really is a convenient profession."

Princess Ailin sighed lightly, her tone carrying a hint of envy.

"That way, you don't have to worry about insomnia."

"Have you been suffering from insomnia lately?"

"It hasn't just been lately..."

Princess Ailin's fingers unconsciously rubbed the corner of the book page as she muttered softly, "Ever since I became... that way, I've become very energetic at night, and it's very hard to fall asleep. Sometimes I lie in bed, listening to the wind outside the window, and it takes a long, long time to fall asleep."

Although legend had it that the Blood Clan were creatures that did not need sleep, and were even more excited the later it got, it was clear Princess Ailin had not yet fully adapted to her non-human identity.

Human habits were still clashing with the instincts of the Blood Clan, which led to a tug-of-war between her mental exhaustion and physiological excitement.

Otherwise, given Princess Ailin's strength, she would never have let that brat Wei Weian "take advantage of the weakness" so easily.

Luo Yan spoke after a moment of thought.

"I happen to have some calming and sleep-aiding potions here; perhaps they could improve your situation."

"Really?"

Those emerald-green eyes lit up instantly, and Princess Ailin looked at him with joy, though she quickly gave a light cough and returned to a solemn appearance.

"Then... I'll trouble you, Prince Kelin."

If it were anyone else, she would never have entrusted her health to them, but handing it to Mr. Kelin gave her a sense of peace.

Perhaps it was more than just peace.

There was also a hint of a racing heartbeat.

Looking at that face filled with trust, Luo Yan smiled slightly and said like a gentleman.

"It is my honor to be of service."

The train carrying the Chosen One was still advancing in the direction of the County of Count Laimen, and under the same night sky, the outpost of Hancheng was gradually welcoming the dawn of the east.

The morning breeze blew through the watchtower, making the previously sleeping Kelake jump, suddenly opening his eyes and flipping up from the ground.

However, his movement was too wide, and he stepped on the edge of the ladder, nearly flipping off the watchtower.

Thanks to Tang Mu, who was sitting nearby, being quick-witted and pulling him back.

"Careful!"

Grabbing Tang Mu's arm, Kelake, breaking out in a cold sweat, leaned against the pillar to barely stand steady, and sat down on the edge of the watchtower railing.

He knocked on his own head with his fist and cursed under his breath.

"Damn it... what happened?"

His head felt like a ball of water-soaked cotton, with only fragmented memories remaining.

Vaguely, he remembered a little demon, seemingly sitting on the railing he was now holding, reciting some spell at him with a playful smile on its face.

He subconsciously glanced behind him.

It was empty, with only wood dampened by dew.

An illusion?

Honestly, he hoped it was an illusion.

"Boss... did you steal a drink last night?" Watching the captain who had calmed down, Tang Mu let go of the arm he was holding and asked softly while sitting back in his chair. "You have a strong smell of alcohol on you."

What he actually wanted to say was—

Why didn't you bring me along?

Kelake froze for a moment and subconsciously raised his sleeve to sniff; indeed, a smell of inferior alcohol rushed straight into his nasal cavity.

He couldn't remember when he had drunk it, or how much. But if a hangover had caused hallucinations, everything made sense.

After all, how could there be a little demon here?

The labyrinth of Lei Ming County was unknown how far away, and that was already the closest place to the Netherworld he knew of.

"... Speaking of which, how did I get here?"

Hearing the captain's voice, Tang Mu's expression was a bit awkward, and he was too embarrassed to say that he didn't know either.

Last night he had yawned and fallen asleep, and when he woke up, he saw the captain lying at his feet. He was still wondering, when did this drunkard climb up?

Looking at Tang Mu, who was stuttering and unable to speak, Kelake shook his head and finally waved his hand, saying "Forget it."

Although he always felt that last night's events were permeated with a sense of evil, his years of experience struggling on the border told him... since he was still alive and no parts were missing, it was best not to delve any deeper.

And that witness named Hailageer; all the strange things seemed to have happened only after that guy revealed the truth.

He was just a small person; let the Grand Duke worry about such troublesome matters.

Kelake glanced at the outpost below the watchtower, his mind made up; he couldn't delay another day, he had to hand this hot potato over to the royal family as soon as possible.

Just as he was thinking this and preparing to climb down the watchtower to wash his face and clear his head, Tang Mu suddenly sprang up from his chair and leaned against the railing.

"What's wrong?" Kelake noticed the sentry's movement and cast an inquiring look at him.

However, Tang Mu did not respond, grabbed the monocular telescope hanging to the side, and peered toward the direction of the northern forest.

"There seems to be movement in the north... Saint Xisi above!"

Hearing that short and surprised curse, Kelake's heart sank, and an ominous premonition climbed into his heart once again.

He stood up from the ground, leaning on the railing, walked to Tang Mu's side, and took the telescope the latter handed over.

"See for yourself, Boss..." Tang Mu's voice was a bit hollow, as if he had seen something incredible.

Kelake raised the telescope and looked in the direction he was pointing. And at this very moment, this cavalry captain who had served for many years also changed his expression.

In the forest to the north, a few sparks were faintly glowing, shining along with the morning light upon a group of ragged people.

They were supporting each other, their faces filled with panic, or simply covered in wounds.

Some were likely too badly injured and clearly couldn't run anymore, but were still limping toward the south, as if avoiding something.

Kelake said nothing, handed the telescope back to Tang Mu, and threw out a "You keep watch here."

Afterward, he shook the alarm bell hanging under the shed roof twice with force, then picked up the rifle that had fallen to the side and hurriedly climbed down the ladder.

The outpost of Hancheng quickly sprang into action.

The wolf smoke rose first.

Then, a dozen or so sleepy-eyed sentries were fully armed and mounted, their heads foggy and heavy, rushing toward the northern border of the County of Count Laimen.

They didn't run too far from the outpost before they saw a shocking scene at the edge of the forest—hundreds of refugees were crawling out from the forest of the Wan Ren Mountain Range!

"... It seems Hailageer wasn't lying," the veteran on horseback swallowed his saliva and said in a low voice, "Even if he told me now that the Ratmen had captured a whole city, I'd believe him."

"There are hundreds who ran out; how many must have been buried..."

"That, only the undead would know."

"Damn, what a hellish joke."

Listening to the whispers of his comrades, Kelake's Adam's apple moved, and he only felt a chill down his spine.

He had just wanted to get rid of that hot potato at the outpost, and hundreds of bigger, hotter potatoes had smashed into his face, impossible to dodge.

He only hoped now that these guys weren't carrying the "plague," and wouldn't implicate the folks of Hancheng...