Chapter 347: Legendary Tyrant

Three days later.

The endless cold wind over the plateau suddenly ceased, the dark clouds hanging in the sky dispersed, and the long‑missed sun appeared; it was a rare fine day.

But the MakuRage inside Astatet City felt an even heavier gloom in their hearts.

Lei En stood on the highest tier of the city wall, looking down at the plain beyond; the once boundless snowy ground was now black‑filled with enemies.

A rough count gave at least two thousand!

Most of them were barbarians, wearing only a layer of fur in the cold wind; some stood with chests bare, showing rock‑solid muscles.

These barbarians did not share the same features; they fell into two main types.

One type were the brown‑eyed, gray‑haired Kaguba, broad‑foreheaded; their arms were long, fingers and palms larger than ordinary barbarians', they bore great bows, quivers full of arrows at their waists, with plateau wolves at their feet, dressed like hunters.

In fact, the Kaguba Tribe were the finest hunters on the Saen Plateau, most of the clan being barbarian archers.

For centuries, countless MakuRage have perished beneath their arrows.

Over three hundred Kaguba Archers gathered, obeying the command of a few taller barbarian warriors.

Their hair was jet‑black, eyes deep red; though not as tall as the MakuRage—about a little over two meters—they were broad‑shouldered, each as solid as a wall, many bare‑torso, the cold wind seemed to have no effect on them.

Lei En had seen such barbarians before; they came from the Dolak Tribe.

The Dolak Tribe rose on the plateau not only because of their great numbers but also because they produced many berserkers!

Dolak Berserkers who worship the Black Emperor are renowned across the Old Continent.

One battalion after another of berserkers arrived outside Astatet City, numbering close to a thousand, each wielding heavy arms—great axes, two‑handed war hammers, massive swords, and some crudely forged weapons—each weighing at least two to three hundred pounds.

With so many berserkers marching swiftly, a surge of blood‑lust and killing intent seemed about to boil, soaring toward the sky.

They halted a thousand paces from the wall, roaring toward the city as if to intimidate.

The enemy numbers kept swelling.

More figures emerged behind the ranks; Lei En, with the sharpest sight, spotted a group of towering ogres in the distance.

They stood over four meters tall, cloth bands around their waists, wielding massive wooden clubs; only a few dozen, yet the surrounding barbarians dared not approach, keeping far away.

Among the ogres' ranks were a few unusual beings.

"Ogre Mage!"

"The northern Logosh Tribe has also joined in."

Malius beside him wore a grave expression; wars on the plateau rarely involved spellcasters—aside from troll shaman priests, only Ogre Mages could wield magic.

Ogre Mages were easy to identify; they all had two heads.

Ordinary ogres were dim‑witted, beast‑like, surviving on instinct, but there was a chance of birthing two‑headed ogres, who were far smarter than their kin and gifted, able to master spells from childhood.

Thus Ogre Mages held a status far above ordinary ogres within the tribe, though they were few.

Lei En counted and found seven Ogre Mages.

Their attire differed greatly from their kin: loose long robes cinched with belts, long red‑pine staffs in hand; though still crude, they bore a civilized air, the four eyes on their two heads showing intellect and thought, unlike the foolish, blind ordinary ogres.

Because they were too far, Lei En could not gauge the Ogre Mages' strength.

However, Ogre Mages lacked inheritance; most relied on instinct to cast, only a few could grasp magical principles, making it almost impossible to reach the legendary realm.

As long as they weren't legendary mages, there was no need for further worry.

Behind the ogre ranks lay the Troll Tribe, numbering two to three hundred; Malius had extracted the information a few days earlier, and the southern Blood Spear Tribe had already fully defected to the Kralad, so it was no surprise.

Among those Blood Spear trolls, notable were dozens of troll hunters riding green swift dragons, and a dozen shaman priests; the hunters' dragons darted like wind, swift and agile, the trolls leapt from their backs to hurl spears, delivering massive killing power.

The ground trembled lightly, perceptible even within the city.

Gray Lizard Cavalry incoming!

Soon, a large herd of barbarian cavalry surged from the distant ground; in under two minutes they charged from the edge of sight to outside Astatet City.

Well‑trained, they circled the already‑formed ranks of the main army and then halted in perfect order.

One by one, the cold‑toed gray lizards exhaled, forming mist.

Dolak barbarians on their backs soothed their mounts; clad in leather armor, they raised their long spears, resembling a thicket of brambles.

"Jiliman above!"

"So many Gray Lizard Cavalry..."

The MakuRage on the wall let out low cries; the number of Gray Lizard Cavalry far exceeded their expectations, at least six hundred riders.

If that many cavalry charged across the plateau, how terrifying it would be!

Some MakuRage's confidence wavered, repeatedly glancing at the chieftain atop the wall and the human beside him.

Malius noticed the gazes but showed no hint of worry.

Since extracting the information from that troll's mouth three days ago, he and Lei En had already devised a plan; though some details remained unclear, Lei En's confident demeanor suggested they were not frightened by the enemy.

Even so, Malius wondered if it was his own illusion, but Lei En seemed a bit excited.

The young man's gaze toward the outside was odd; he seemed to see not foes but a once‑in‑a‑lifetime feast.

"Your Excellency, Count," Malius called.

"Chieftain," Lei En snapped back, suddenly pointing to a spot within the enemy camp and asking, "Do you think that man is Kaligula?"

Malius looked over and immediately noticed a group of peculiar enemies.

Specifically, about thirty enemies of various races clustered around a heavily built Dolak.

Their racial makeup was complex: mostly barbarians, not all Dolak, plus human transcendants of varied professions, elf mages, dwarf warriors, troll shaman priests, as well as orc warriors, minotaur, and ogres—a veritable exhibition of sentient races.

"It must be him," Malius nodded.

Kaligula was the leader and commander of this assault on Astatet, learned from that troll's mouth; the Kaguba Tribe had also been subjugated by him.

Kaligula was not a pure barbarian, but a half‑human savage.

Yet within the Dolak Tribe, no one dared to look him down upon.

Because Kaligula was a legend, his transcendent profession was "Tyrant," and his most awe‑inspiring title was the Black Emperor's Divine Chosen!

Today, within the Dorak tribe, Kali Gula's status is second only to the tribal chief, a Legendary High-rank berserker.

However, Kali Gula is a thorn in the tribal chief's side; he has already threatened the chief's position, but because of his Divine Chosen status he does not dare to strike. Moreover, as a tyrant who can command countless slaves and draw soul power from them, even though Kali Gula is only Legendary low-rank, he can already contend with the chief.

This conquest of Astat is actually Kali Gula's ascension battle.

If he succeeds spectacularly, he will receive even more blessings from the Black Emperor.

Of course, if he fails, at best he cannot challenge the tribal chief; at worst he loses the Black Emperor's divine favor.

Outside the city walls, the enemy immediately began to act.

Several ogre mages stepped out of the ranks, brandishing their staffs as a mass of fire elements gathered, preparing to bombard the city gate; the other barbarians were also eager to try, entering combat mode.

Malius turned and said, "They have begun the siege."

"Rest assured," Lei En said, his expression relaxed, "Kali Gula has no chance of becoming the Dorak tribal chief; even if he is a Divine Chosen, he cannot return alive today."

After speaking, he opened a portal and stepped through.

Today I made a quick trip back home, after a day's travel I just arrived, tomorrow at the third watch.

(End of chapter)