Chapter 111 - Trouble In The South

"Lady Hinotori?"

I turned to Kara. She seemed alright, so I offered my hand to her, then helped her up.

"Ah! Y-you have a-"

"Yes, I have a johnny. Now get up and let's go."

"S-sorry."

"Before we go though, I'm really hungry right now."

I grabbed the litch and the two-skulled knight's bones and began eating.

[You have acquired 200XP]

[You have acquired the skill [Ice Magic: Ice Soldiers]]

[You have acquired the skill [Ice Magic: Ice Shards]]

[You have acquired the skill [Ice Magic: Ice Berg]

[You have acquired the skill [Dark Magic: Black Mass]]

[You have acquired the skill [Ice Magic: Ice Field]]

[You have acquired the skill [Soul Orb]]

[You have acquired the skill [Intimidating Aura]]

[You have acquired the skill [Aura Absorption]]

[You have acquired the skill [Unfazed]]

'OI! Where is the gender bender skill!?'

[You have completed the [Forbidden Dungeon]]

[You have received the title: [Dungeon Conqueror]]

[You have received one loot box]

'A loot box? Let's see.'

I opened it and took out a tiny orb that glowed a dim golden.

[You have received 1x Mysterious Egg]

'A mysterious egg? Like I need more of these. Le- Oi! Stop that!'

___________________________________________

Somewhere in the South of Larm

A being with grey cracking skin, wyvern wings for arms and wyvern legs and a tail soared above the ground the ruins beneath her. Her chest glowed yellow, pulsing from time to time – her heart. Her horns were curled backwards and her dark eyes overlooked the chaos beneath. It was by pure chance she stumbled upon the ancient city of dragon-born, or so she would like to believe. The god who had given her the sacred she possessed simply led her to it to aid her in her quest of revenge.

The ground tremored as the forces charged on. They cut down whatever lifeform they saw, be it sentient or not. Once they cut it down, a milky mist would swallow up the corpse then spit it out as nothing but an undead.

The person looked up at the moon. It looked beautiful and surreal. It glowed just like the orb she held. She looked into it and a being seemed to scream at it. The [Undead Invoking Soul Orb]. An artefact said to have been lost to the passing sands of time. It was just right in front of her when she woke up. How it was there, she had no idea and how she knew what it was, was an even stranger reason. She had been hearing a voice say something ever since 'that day'.

"With this, I shall have my revenge black knight. I will make you regret."

The figure then looked at the undead army behind her. Easily numbering in the thousands, a force of untiring monsters stood behind her in wait. Zombies and skeletons from hundreds of fallen monsters. All wearing pierced armor. An army that had bloomed from a small tribe of demi-humans barely numbering in the sixties, to one filled with several undead of different races.

She hissed as her pale broken skin was slowly falling apart. She didn't have much time. She needed to acquire a powerful enough army quickly. She estimated that she could last for one more year before her body would crumble into dust.

"… If I took in a tyrant I am certain that would be enough to kill him. Which Tyrant? Hmm, Zana of the swamp. I could use her."

A bird flew next to her. It was white puffy. It wasn't an actual bird. The wyvern beast-man… woman recognized it immediately and smirked.

"You hear me Zana? I am coming for you so I do implore you to send your pathetic army after me!"

The bird puffed up, leaving the woman to the carnage beneath her.

***

ZANA POV

Zana cocked her head in surprise and blurted out.

"Eh? She wants to add me to her army? That stupid undead wishes to come face me?"

What she just witnessed had actually given her chills even if she wouldn’t like to show that.

"Tyrant! What is wrong?"

The copperhead at her side asked.

"It would seem that our local necromancer has declared war against me."

"Against you?"

"Yes. I shall send a few of our strongest copperheads to finish her off."

"That would not be a wise move child."

The lizard man who stood with his arms folded at the far end of the room told her.

"Shut it! You do not get the right to speak to me like that!"

"Listen here, child!”

His voice was powerful and boomed. He approached her as his body was slowly being engulfed in a red aura. The [King’s Aura]. He eyes glowed a dim yellow in the darkness.

“You want to fight someone who can create undead by sending in living creatures? That makes you even more stupid than that ogre in the east!"

"Do not compare me to him, you stupid lizard!"

"I will do as I wish! And don't order me around! Tyrants were created to protect the denizens of the forest, not to become their masters! Don't let this title go to your head! I am not like the old one who allowed you to do as you please because of your title. I know you. I know your weakness."

He looked up just to meet her eyes and she was looking down to meet his. Her silver eyes reflected the light his eyes produced and she grinned, confident in her next words.

"You speak as if you have not been enjoying the benefits of being under me. I wonder how your people would fare without me constantly providing them with water."

"Benefits of being under you? What could the mighty lizard men gain from serving you? Water? Were we not surviving just fine before you and your water came along? Answer me!"

"Ah-"

He was right. The lizard men had benefited in no way ever since she had been crowned a tyrant. Life was the same for them, considering they were one of the feared monsters in the forest. And if they were talking the matter of water, the lizard men already had plans for such situations. They knew how to survive without the water. In fact, that would only serve to make them stronger, allowing for them to adapt to harsh environments better.

"Exactly! Absolutely nothing! So I am warning you right now, oh mighty Tyrant of the South, Terrifying Witch, Zana of the Swamp, the lizard men are not your slaves and we do not follow you! If you wish, I will duel you right here and now! Though I doubt you would be a match for me considering how weak you are!"

"Tch…"

"Exactly, now I shall be on my way."

The king shoved her out of his path and left the room. Zana punched the stone cold war in a rage, but retracted her hand immediately after the cave shook lightly.

'What do I do? Lizardmen won't listen to me, and the copperheads barely follow my orders. Everyone in the south takes me for a joke because of my skin and that incident. And now that thing is coming for my neck because it considers me the weakest of the tyrants. What can I do now?'

"My tyrant."

The copperhead next to her called out.

"What is it?"

"I believe we could seek aid from the West."

"The West? The Mad Witch, huh? But is she on friendly terms with anyone?"

"Not the Mad Witch."

"Then who?"

"From what I hear, there was a monster that challenged Krull and won with the aid of a dragon."

‘With the aid of a dragon? Hmm, it can’t be Lord Goliath. I haven’t even felt a ripple of his power. He should still be sleeping.’

She quickly thought to herself.

“Well, it is not surprising that there is a monster as strong as a tyrant though… the giants and cyclops for instance. The battle gods and others in the Demise Mountains should be as strong as kings if not stronger-"

"I don't know what that creature is, but apparently it killed Krull and revived him."

"But that would mean the creature can use resurrection magic."

This was a shocking revelation. A being capable of resurrection magic? That would come in handy in their current situation.

'Krull… lost? And died? To the west? In that case why don't I get help from them? If they try to refuse I'll just use my authority as a tyrant to make them come.. Wait… they fought Krull though. Maybe they don’t like tyrants? Should I pose as someone in danger and ask for help? Zana you're so smart!'