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

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

With that in mind, Leo Ray made a nominal gesture by naming Loris and Sina as deputy leaders. The mighty force of almost ten thousand warriors then departed in impressive array, heading straight for the black fog-enshrouded Howling Land.

…

“Have they truly arrived?”

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

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

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

Furthermore, it was an immense entity, with the colossal form occupying the back half of the bone palace, resembling a towering mountain.

“You command 80 Tier 3 Legions and 20 Tier 4 Legions, amounting to a million-strong undead horde 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 tone rumbled flatly as it continued: “Remember, this is your territory. These vapors sap the intruders' power while bolstering yours and that of the undead forces. Under such a shift, the adversaries pose no real threat.”

“My lord, your words hold true, yet overlook not that the Human Race's Emperor travels with them. Weaker than the two alliances in raw strength, he remains the toughest nut to crack, without question.”

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

“Ultimately, they're mere insects. It changes little. Be it the Human Domain or those two alliances, soon they'll all descend into hellish flames.”

A hint of contempt laced the giant shadow's reply as it declared: “Our scheme stands perfect. Should those insects dare resist, I'll handle them myself.”

“Haha, with your assurance, all my worries vanish. Next to you, those fools amount to dust.”

The Witch Demon Leader let out a mocking laugh, adding: “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 into the first veil of utter darkness within the fog.

Notably, prior to stepping into the Howling Land, Leo Ray had effortlessly distributed 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 even their vast reserves fell short of such extravagance.

After the revelations at the Shadow Market, they now beheld yet another glimpse of Leo Ray's boundless reserves.

Beneath the admiring eyes of the assembly, the instant they crossed the threshold, Leo Ray sensed a momentary hitch in the circulation of his inner dual energy swirls. Though subtle, this pause clearly signaled the black fog's unnatural peril beyond initial guesses.

Through the thick shroud of darkness, no ray of sun could pierce, plunging the area into total gloom, like night crashing upon the day.

Beyond that, sight suffered severe limits, extending no farther than a hundred meters. Even with full energy shields in place, a sharp, decaying odor assaulted their senses, nearly overwhelming them with its intensity.

“This truly isn't a domain for the faint-hearted.”

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

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

Sina sighed helplessly, explaining: “In the past, our Desert Alliance assembled every specialist in purification to banish this eerie poisonous black fog, yet nothing worked. It appears fused inseparably with this forsaken ground, beyond any control.”

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

Loris, who had clearly tested comparable methods earlier, brimmed with resolve as he proclaimed: “Our Rainforest Fortress Alliance failed to make headway before and withdrew, but this time, united under Your Majesty of the Humans' guidance, we're set to crush them utterly!”

Loris's bold statement ignited fervor among the elites from both alliances nearby.

This Howling Land, squeezed between the Rainforest Fortress Alliance and the Desert Alliance, had long stirred trouble without consequence, even razing whole settlements and urban centers, piling up endless grudges. With the opportunity to annihilate them at hand, the soldiers' spirits skyrocketed.

“Forward we go.”

Sensing the rising enthusiasm, Leo Ray gave a pleased nod and advanced onward.

Shortly after resuming their march, the barren terrain shifted, unveiling clusters of crumbling walls riddled with fissures.

Blanketed by the pervasive black fog, the roadside remnants adopted a dull, somber hue, eroded by time and age. Farther off, rows of tombstones clustered, evoking deep unease.

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

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

Sina, hovering close to Leo Ray, elaborated: “These remnants date from that era, and the former dwellers formed the core of the undead legions.”

“This place carries such a grim backstory.”

Leo Ray's expression tightened as he glanced once more at the crowded graves in the distance.

Evidently, after the witch demons seized power, the survivors refused submission and battled until the last breath.

The outcome was plain: in this realm where the mighty prey on the frail, the vulnerable faced inevitable ruin.

As these thoughts crossed Leo Ray's mind, a dim, gigantic outline emerged in their path, resolving into a vast, ivory fortress radiating dense death aura.

“Your Majesty of the Humans, ahead lies the witch demons’ Skeleton Fortress.”

Loris's grave tone rang out as he described: “The Howling Land teems with such bone-built strongholds, each defended by vast undead hosts, making them incredibly tough opponents.”

Following Loris's words, his look turned even graver.

During their prior campaign, he had guided assaults that toppled multiple skeleton fortresses in sequence, yet energy exhaustion forced their withdrawal, with more bone-white bastions blocking the way.

And presently, those razed sites stood rebuilt, stirring inevitable caution within him.

“With our numbers constrained, toppling each one sequentially wastes too much time and proves unwise.”

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

At Leo Ray's directive, the assembled powerhouses voiced their accord and swiftly veered around the enormous bone-white fortress.

As they pressed on at speed, further ruins and burial grounds dotted their route, along with additional skeleton fortresses they evaded, while the enveloping black fog thickened further.

Yet, none perceived that mere moments after skirting the initial skeleton fortress, a colossal sealing barrier had silently risen, trapping the whole Howling Land inside.

Trailing at a distance, undead troops from the evaded skeleton fortresses slipped forth undetected, gradually closing in and shadowing their advance.