Chapter 70: The Comeback
In a certain territory of the Serene Forest, a bizarre war was unfolding.
An uncanny troop of Serpents relentlessly attacked creatures far more powerful than themselves. Though many Serpents were slain by the terrifying monster, the Overlord showed no sign of distress.
He knew that his minions had been granted immortality, now, they too possessed this gift.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the fallen Serpents began to heal and rise once more.
"Hiss... hiss..." they roared, charging at the monster again. The creature, having previously killed the Serpents, let its guard down.
Rip!
A clear sound of tearing flesh echoed from its back. Within seconds, the monster was reduced to a bloody mess.
In no time, the creature, far stronger than the Serpents, lay lifeless on the ground, the light gone from its eyes.
[Ding! Congratulations Overlord, you have obtained a Silver Chest. Would you like to open it?]
The Serpent Overlord grinned coldly, his face alight with excitement as he began his plundering spree.
He hadn't participated in the previous node struggle because, at that time, he was merely at a middle-tier first rank—not worth being cannon fodder.
Another significant reason was that he had secrets of his own and didn't want to expose himself.
As he pondered, he chuckled to himself, "Alright, boys, let's go. Your master will carve more meat for you so you'll have the strength to kill enemies for me."
Hearing this, the Serpents seemed to be stimulated, roaring continuously with excitement and bloodlust.
Satisfied with his little darlings' responses, the Serpent Overlord nodded in approval and quickly returned to his territory.
He led the Serpents leisurely to a mysterious underground wooden hut, which reeked of blood—a clear indication of its sinister nature.
"Hel, Hel! Why are you doing this to me? Is it just because I'm a returned dead?"
"But they have been locked back in the Land of the Dead and will never threaten you again, my man~" said a plump woman with a deathly pale face, staring at the Serpent Overlord as if he were a stranger.
If he didn't recognize her or if she hadn't explicitly told him, it would have been understandable.
But she had already explained to her husband that she was his wife from Blue Planet, a wife who had supported him for half a lifetime. Why did he still insist on seeing her as a monster?
The Serpent Overlord merely sneered at her words, his tone turning icy cold. "Wife? What wife? My wife died the moment I got my accident compensation, you monster!"
Stepping forward, he grabbed her neck fiercely, his voice filled with menace. "And another thing, I hate it when people mention that bitch. Say one more word, and I'll let these Serpents gang-rape you!"
"To tell you the truth, I orchestrated that bitch's death. You're just an impostor, making my sadistic pleasure even greater."
"Boys, you can feast now!"
With that, the Serpents could no longer contain their bloodlust. They bypassed their Overlord and savagely tore into the plump woman's body.
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Yellow fluids mixed with red blood, and her wails and curses overlapped. It wouldn't be long before the Serpents devoured her entirely!
As she felt her body being consumed bit by bit, and realizing that her own husband had orchestrated all this, the wife was utterly enraged.
She bit at the Serpents, but her strength as a returned dead was too weak. She could only helplessly endure the agony of being devoured once more.
The Serpent Overlord laughed maniacally. He noticed that the Serpents, having consumed the monster's flesh, had risen by another minor rank, reaching the upper tier of the second rank.
This level of power was among the top in the entire Serene Forest.
"Number One, oh Number One, I know these returned dead are dangerous, but the greater the risk, the greater the reward! If that foolish woman-monster hadn't believed my words, how else would I have achieved this?" The Serpent Overlord laughed wildly, already envisioning the arrival of the second king of the forest.
As the Serpents feasted, the returned dead was gradually consumed completely, not even a drop of blood left behind.
"And this time, it was their third devouring of this woman."
"Boys, let's go. Hehehe... A week from now, she'll reappear right here." the Serpent Overlord chuckled darkly, already eager to engage in some intimate time with his new lover.
Little did he know, the returned dead would not be reborn after this.
In the underground cell, a gray fissure was slowly widening.
The matter of the Land of the Dead was far from concluded.
On the contrary, it might just be beginning...
...
Forest of Elves
"Hey Charles, did you know today is the annual Sacred Tree Festival of our Elven race? You're in for a treat~" Eve, dressed in a moon-white gown, said with a mischievous smile as she walked down the street, holding Amy's hand.
She was the epitome of someone who never gave up on her flirtatious pursuits.
Charles's lips twitched at her words, and then he sighed with mild resignation. "I'm not part of the Elven race. What exactly is this Sacred Tree Festival?"
Upon hearing this, Eve turned to look at Amy, who then calmly explained, "You know about the Mother Tree of Life, right? The Sacred Tree Festival is essentially the day when the Mother Tree bears fruit."
"Legend has it that if Elves sincerely pray under the Mother Tree of Life, there's a chance that fresh life fruits will appear. These fruits can significantly enhance one's vitality."
Amy's response was measured and even included several examples to illustrate her point.
Charles nodded thoughtfully, sensing that this Sacred Tree Festival had some intriguing aspects.
However, he had a question...
Curious, Charles asked Amy, "Why not call it the Sacred Fruit Festival?"
Amy was momentarily at a loss for words, internally acknowledging that it was indeed a good question. She didn't know either.
After all, this festival was created by the Elf Goddess herself. Which Elf king would dare to defy her?
"Oh, are you a nitpicker? You've rendered Amy speechless. Let's hurry to the market, the flowers there are the most beautiful!" Before Amy could respond, Eve dragged both of them off to the marketplace.
Under Eve's governance, the Forest of Elves had developed a rudimentary marketplace. This was why Amy couldn't comprehend those Elven rebels who, despite having such a magnificent queen, opted for futile and thankless uprisings.
Wasn't that sheer madness?
In her memory, not even the territory under the rule of the Elf Empress in the heart of the Continent of Overlord—who was but a step away from divine status—possessed the vibrancy of Eve's domain.
Here, Elves could freely trade and choose their professions according to their preferences.
Eve encouraged everyone to broaden their horizons, attracting numerous Elves from other forests who found a unique atmosphere here.
As the three of them strolled through the market, their conversation never ceased.
"Oh! Honorable Queen Eve and Captain Moon, and this gentleman is...?" an elderly Elf, stroking his beard, asked in surprise.
Charles glanced at the two women, and then Eve, with a smile, nodded and said, "Good morning, Mr. Lyon. Are you on your way to the temple to participate in the Sacred Tree Festival ceremony?"
Mr. Lyon nodded gracefully and then said, "Indeed, Your Majesty. The school just let out, and those mischievous youngsters won't prevent this old man from attending such a grand festival."
"By the way, Your Majesty, this gentleman here doesn't seem to be from the Elven race. You haven't introduced him yet?"
Eve was momentarily taken aback before replying, "Oh, you mean Charles. He is my consort, governing alongside me."
Understanding the situation, Charles wrapped his arm around Eve's shoulder, indicating their romantic relationship.
The elderly Elven scholar was visibly shocked. He was about to offer some traditional advice suggesting that the queen should marry within the tribe when Eve, smiling sweetly, said, "Mr. Lyon, don't even think about driving away my fiancé. You should know that more than half of the textbooks in the Elf Academy were provided by my beloved."
"And let's not forget, those biological weapons, the Zerg, those are his creations too."
Mr. Lyon's face turned pale, and he forced a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, I'm not one of those dirty rebels. It's just that, according to Elven traditions, it seems somewhat inappropriate."
"However, considering his contributions, at least I can give my approval. So, Your Majesty, when will you and your consort be wed?"
After a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and added, "Also, it appears that a group of rebels is holding a betrothal event for Your Majesty ahead. You might want to check it out first!"
What?
A betrothal event?
Charles's eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent as he strode forward without a word.
He was determined to see who had the audacity to covet his woman.
Seeing this, Amy tightened her grip on her hidden dagger, feeling that she had been too lenient with those people. Otherwise, why would they dare to act so recklessly?
Thus, she silently followed Charles, planning to clean up after him once he dealt with the offenders.
Yes, this time they were out for blood!
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