Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2660: 1263: Past Events and Confessions (Part 2)

To avoid any harm from the Broken Valley Alliance, the Desert and Rainforest outwardly formed a pact of friendship with it, yet they remained secretly vigilant, never dropping their guard.

During the Broken Valley Alliance's clashes with the witch demons, the Desert and Rainforest had plenty of ideal moments to dispatch forces and aid in resolving crises, just as their agreement demanded.

However, right up to the point where the Broken Valley Alliance got utterly consumed by the witch demons, both sides opted to stay idle, allowing the forbidden technique to devastate the formerly lush territories, and they even experienced a touch of malicious glee until the conflict reached them.

To put it simply, the witch demons' immense power stems mostly from the fault of the Desert Alliance and the Rainforest Fortress Alliance.

Had they honored their commitments at that time and sided with the Broken Valley Alliance rather than observing from afar, the witch demons would have been wiped out ages ago—how could they have grown so formidable today?

In the end, those mighty second-tier powers stayed aloof since the witch demons avoided provoking them directly, and the others turned a blind eye out of fear toward the Broken Valley Alliance's might, resulting in treachery and the mess we're in now.

With these thoughts in mind, Sina and Loris's expressions grew more and more ashamed.

Though they weren't among the leaders during those days or even alive then, had both alliances upheld their vows, the witch demons wouldn't have grown so bold, nearly annihilating them and their whole alliance not long back.

Sensing their discomfort, old Gary merely shifted his jawbone, as if attempting a grin, before addressing Leo Ray with the same deferential term Sina and the rest used, bowing his head solemnly and stating: “Your Majesty of the Humans, this Underground City runs on its own, cut off from the world above.”

“Given a witch demon's nature, it's utterly unthinkable they'd link their capital to this place, so we should head back to the surface first.”

Old Gary indicated another tunnel and went on: “The closest entrance to the Underground City lies nearby, so let's make our way up top first.”

With that, old Gary gestured for Leo Ray and the others to hold on briefly, then stepped toward the other robust figures from the Broken Valley Alliance, proclaiming loudly: “Comrades, we've endured this wait far too long for our fight, and now Your Majesty of the Humans arrives with his mighty companions, plus the Desert Alliance and Rainforest Fortress Alliance's powerhouses—this marks our shot at vengeance!”

“Yet prior to that, we owe a debt of thanks to Your Majesty of the Humans for igniting the engravings within us! That's what granted us this eagerly awaited moment!”

Upon finishing, old Gary rested his hand bone against his ribs, offering a profound bow to Leo Ray.

The remaining elite members of the Broken Valley Alliance followed suit, showing their appreciation and reverence for Leo Ray.

“No need for thanks, all of you—it's your revival that lets us shift the battle's momentum.”

Leo Ray stayed composed, giving a light nod: “We're privileged to battle by your side.”

“On the contrary, it's our privilege to stand with Your Majesty of the Humans! Your bravery in venturing solo into the witch demons' core territory alone wins our deepest respect, for we understand all too well their fearsome might and dread.”

Old Gary bowed his head once more, straightening the tattered crown atop his skull, and declared: “Broken Valley Alliance warriors, revenge awaits us now—no one lags behind this time!”

At those words, old Gary swept his hand outward, igniting high spirits among the Broken Valley Alliance's fierce fighters, who swiftly arrayed into a combat line and marched toward the nearest route to the surface, with Leo Ray and the rest of our elites regrouping to match their stride.

The party climbed the pathway upward, and though the earlier gravity obstacle was absent this round, a tremendously tough pale barrier wall halted their progress.

Initially, the team planned a direct breach, but no matter if old Gary or Loris and the others unleashed focused strikes, the wall refused to yield even slightly.

“Curses, the foes must have caught on to the last batch of witch demons' defeat, so they've locked down the whole Underground City!”

After a full-powered assault that yielded nothing, Loris massaged his tingling, reddened palm from his tiger form and cursed sharply.

“This sealing barrier probably ties straight into the witch demon capital, boasting toughness on par with second-tier powers' chief city defenses, fueled by the ceaseless black fog miasma.”

Frank scanned it briefly, his forehead creasing as he explained: “Without taking out the witch demon capital above ground, breaking through by force is impossible.”

“Yet we're stuck down here—how do we strike their capital ahead of that?”

Sina creased Melody Lyon's forehead, her gaze drifting once more to Leo Ray without thinking, for after so many trials, this Desert leader had built profound faith in him.

“Old timer, got any alternative to crack it?”

Leo Ray stroked his chin softly and queried Frank: “Something like that unique trick you pulled on the witch demons earlier?”

“Your Majesty, this sealing barrier relies on Necromancy at its heart—I could give it a shot.”

Frank inclined his head after probing it further: “Deciphering it will take a bit, though.”

“Proceed.”

Faced with no better option, Leo Ray approved firmly: “Whatever you require, I'll provide complete backing.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty!”

Frank gave a salute, fist to chest, and set to work right away, as Leo Ray ordered Yonir and the team to set up a noise-blocking barrier against disruptions.

With preparations complete, old Gary drew near too, announcing: “Your Majesty of the Humans, I've directed my elites to scout the other tunnel exits—if any updates come, you'll hear at once. Be at ease; this time, we'll stand with you to the finish.”

“The old chief's assurances always steady the nerves.”

Leo Ray offered a faint smile, seizing the interval as Frank unraveled the array to rein in his expression and pose a query that had long troubled him: “Old chief, forgive my directness, but what precisely sparked the war between your alliance and the witch demons back in the day?”

“I'll conceal nothing from Your Majesty of the Humans—it all traces back to a hunger for dominance.”

Old Gary dipped his skull and started recounting: “That warped craving ultimately unleashed the ruinous spell, stirring those nightmarish and loathed entities to life.”

“So, you're confirming your group actually roused the witch demons?”

Loris bulged his lion-like eyes, exclaiming: “What on earth went down then?”

“The roots of it all trace to when we stumbled upon an underground relic from the Silver Moon Era by chance.”

Old Gary's weathered tone carried the weight of years, as he pressed on with his tale.

Through the account from across the tunnel, Leo Ray gathered that, upon unearthing that relic, old Gary—as Broken Valley's head—was scouting the area and, hearing the report, promptly guided the Imperial Guards to merge with the relic-probing squad.

“Early on, that subterranean relic resembled the many others we'd uncovered, steeped in an archaic and weathered aura, with magic vines and magic moss sprouting abundantly, glowing with an obscure, shadowy allure.”

“Yet the deeper we delved into the exploration, the more I sensed that relic turning strangely off-kilter, for the wall murals illustrated savagely brutal and gory sights: sacrifices, forbidden art practices, all sorts of harsh torments laid bare in sequence.”

“Even worse, numerous warped and chilling colossal statues emerged, crafted from bones, demon beasts, and even fabled demons…”

As old Gary recounted this, the listeners exchanged uneasy glances among themselves.