Chapter 236 86. Love and Hatred
"Did Julian mention his brother to me?" Malus said in a complicated heart. He felt the love for his son in the words of Silses. This was his He had never experienced it with his father Lehan, but in a way. . .
"That is my eldest son Dorian, my pride and the hope of the family. He is now serving as a retinue under the Witch King's Hand. You know the Witch King's Hand. My eldest son's future prospects and achievements may be high. For me. You should have seen it when you were in Hagrid Grave. After all, you attacked the Witch King's hand." Silses took out a water bag filled with wine and handed it to Malus, while teasing said.
"I'll say it again! I didn't! I didn't attack the Witch King's hand! This is completely a false accusation! And Darkus killed my mother!" Malus's expression twisted, and he said angrily. Sirsis had asked about this when he was captured and returned to Naggarond, and now he mentioned it again, which made him a little angry.
"Is this important? Who cares about your mother? Your father? Or your uncle? On the contrary, all the Druchi in Nagaros know about you." Sirsis looked at the somewhat angry Malus gloomily. As he said that, he paused and continued, "I want to go up to see what the enemy is doing, and check the situation along the city wall. You can go too." "
I've already come down, why should I go up with you?" Malus He said rather resistingly, but he still followed Sirsis's steps and walked up the city wall.
The Chaos Wave was encamped in a wide area, covering the entire northeastern part of Grond. Hundreds of cooking fires sent thin tendrils of smoke into the sky, and herds of horses mingled in large corrals around the circular perimeter of the camp. The dusty ground was agitated, dark figures moving around like a swarm of ravenous ants.
"Is there no end to the damn beast?" Malus looked at the camp opposite the city wall where he was standing through the light that had not yet completely darkened, and shook his head in awe as he thought.
If Malus stood on the far left side of the wall and leaned out far enough, he could glimpse a group of indigo tents through the diamond on the right. There was a strange distortion in the air above and around the tent, similar to the hot air above the furnace, where Nagalia was.
"Are you worried that they will surround Grond tonight?"
After hearing Malus's words, Sirsis instinctively glanced at the Druch soldiers in the distance to make sure that the Druch soldiers were out of hearing range.
"It would be great if that were the case. We are very powerful and we will inflict heavy damage on the enemy through the city defense system. I am worried that the enemy will mobilize at night to besiege the southwest city. The city's defense is not as solid as Gorond's. ."
Malus didn't say anything, but nodded in agreement.
"Usually each Dread Lord only thinks about their own honor and reputation. They are constantly scheming with each other, and no one will cooperate to defend the city. They will mark which walls belong to whose task, and they will not think about anyone else. ."
"This is not absurd at all, it is a fact. But things are constantly changing, aren't they?" Malus admitted.
"Are you talking about Roxia from the Corrupted Heart Family of Karonde Carl?" Silsis sneered, paused after speaking, and then said, "His Majesty the Witch King has been observing these powerful people, especially those with the Witch King. The Hand has powerful interests. You may not know that the Witch King's Hand gave the position of the third trainee admiral of the Nagor to the Fallen Heart family." "
You mean His Majesty the Witch King versus the Witch King's Hand?" Malus was a little surprised, it was the first time he knew this information, and he asked doubtfully.
"No!" I have served His Majesty the Witch King for a hundred years. The truth is exactly the opposite as you think. The defense of the northeastern corner of Grond is the top priority. In the past, His Majesty the Witch King would not accept such an important task from me. "It was completely dark at this time. Hirsis no longer looked at the Chaos Wave camp in the distance. Instead, he turned to look at Malus and said inexplicably.
Hirsis still didn't understand Maleki very well. The thoughts of Si and Dacus, but he knew that he was also listed as a key observation target of Malekith. Although he was also Malekith's adjutant before, he had never been treated like this. He had a vague feeling that Darkus only got it after promising him benefits, and he had a vague feeling that Malekith regarded Darkus as his successor.
"Change the topic, you don't understand even after talking about these things. . "
I have been thinking about a question since yesterday. Since the troops of Nagaros are here now, why not organize a battle?"
"This problem is not only confusing for you, but also for me and the fear lords and admirals in the city. " "Hilsis took a deep breath and said, "But today's battle situation made me guess a little bit. The Witch King's Hand doesn't want the troops to suffer too much losses. Admiral Loxia and Tulari The Executioner Captain has been injured, Leuser died in the battle, do you know how many other enemies are like the Chaos Champion warriors killed by Tularis today? How much power does the enemy have that he has not yet unleashed?
"I'm sorry, I lost ten thousand people. " "Malus shook his head, then took a big sip of wine from the water bag, then licked his lips with his tongue and said bitterly.
"This is a good plan. If I were you, I might do the same thing, but you want to Want too much! This is why you fail.
"How do you think the battle will develop next? " "After thinking for a while, Malus nodded and said.
"This is only the first day. If the enemy continues to attack the city tomorrow, just let them attack. After their soldiers, siege beasts and siege equipment have almost been lost, When the time came, we put the outer wall to them and we pulled the army back to the inner wall.
"But then we would be trapped! "
"We are trapped now, but the enemy will also be trapped. " We have plenty of supplies, the inner walls are higher, and we have less to defend. We can rotate our soldiers more frequently and make the enemy pay dearly every time they attack. When the time is right, Nucker will mobilize the troops in the walled city to surround the enemy between the inner and outer walls. And time is not on your sister's side. Our warriors at sea are now returning. In another month, she will face the second wave of powerful troops marching from the south at the hands of the Witch King. "Hilsis also imitated Darkus' shrug and said.
"This is just your wishful thinking. I know my sister relatively well. She may shift the focus of the attack to attack the walled city. "Marus retorted.
"I know, this is exactly what I am worried about. His Majesty the Witch King will definitely order all the troops in Grond City to dispatch to support, and the battle will break out at that time. You know Ge Grave's troops, and there are also a large number of sorceresses. By then we will severely damage the enemy who cannot take care of both the head and the tail. "Hirsis then continued, "But I don't think your sister will do this, because until now, your sister has made great efforts to keep this city locked in darkness. According to the High Witch, the cost of such an effort would be considerable, especially with the counterattack she and the sorceresses had.
"Morathi has been fighting Nagalia? " I did not notice.
"Didn't you notice the change in the weather today? "
"Why are you telling me this and not Julian? " Malus was a little irritable. He did not continue the conversation with Sirsis, but chose to change the subject.
"Julian is a warrior, and His Majesty the Witch King seems to have another use for him." You are different. You are a warrior and an excellent commander at the same time. His Majesty the Witch King and the Witch King’s Hand never wanted to kill you, or you would have died long ago. Malus! "Hirsis shook his head and said. He could vaguely feel that Nagalia seemed to be brewing something, and it was not as simple as it seemed now.
——
In the indigo tent, the air was still boiling around, and the mysterious energy emitted was constantly stirring. The tent was not as elaborate as Nagalia's previous residence, instead, it was made up of nine smaller sub-tents decorated with arcane sigils and the bones of Druchi, arranged around a larger tent. A rough spiral, like a maze.
A few flowing oil lamps dimly lit the dark areas of the tent, and the air was thick with musky scent. Piles of metal gleamed dimly in the dim light, and many fine weapons and worn-out armors still had dried blood and scraps of flesh on them, as well as silver plates, goblets, and other items looted from the razed strongholds. Come valuable loot.
Of course, this is nothing. What is darker than this is the huddled human figures kneeling in each corner in groups of eight, facing the passage through the space. These mummified beastmen are covered in musk and their stink is covered. , they seemed to be praying for something, each passage led to another tent.
Instead of mummified beastmen in one of the tents, there were druchi, clad in battered armor and blood-stained kaitan. Some druchi's limbs and heads had been roughly sewn back into place, their helmets had been removed, exposing gaping wounds, and expressions of fear and pain frozen on their pale faces.
The heavy curtain covering the entrance was suddenly opened, crackling like a whip in the invisible wind, and faint screams and horrifying shouts rose and fell inside.
If a stranger suddenly broke in here, he might not know whether he was walking in the mortal world or stepping into the threshold of another, more terrifying country. The darkness around him stirred like ink, sliding over the stranger's skin like smoke, and strange whispers of panic and madness echoed in his ears. As it continues to deepen, the dense darkness and magical energy will breed fear in the hearts of strangers, and their limbs will no longer be controlled. But if he persisted a little longer, moving forward through the suffocating darkness and rounding the last turn, he would find himself at Nagalia's location.
But what was even scarier than before was that there were no walls or roofs, and the air itself seemed to have become an invisible living thing. Only moving shadows and dazzling gray gloom could be seen.
Nine beastmen scream shamans torture the air around them with horrific, atonal chants from their twisted throats. They knelt in a wide circle, their horned heads thrown back, the muscles of their necks tense in the strange gleam. Within the circle formed by their twisted figures, nearly a dozen shriveled corpses lay.
Dark smoke and shadows swirled around the silhouette of a corpse, which after a moment stood with arms outstretched as if helplessly waving to the weeping victim floating before it.
Another corpse rose as well, his naked body unblemished save for the dozens of ritual tattoos that snaked down his muscular arms and shoulders. His body was stretched as if on an invisible shelf, every muscle straining and twisting beneath the skin.
Wisps of steam began to rise from the tattoo, shimmering like melting frost and swirling around the dark shadow in thin tendrils. A trace of magical wind, like a hungry breath, surged towards the black shadow.
The body surface of the corpse changed, and many hideous and terrifying faces gradually took shape along the limbs and torso of the corpse. The face gradually broke away from the restraints, and the mist turned into light pink, and then turned into bright crimson.
The corpse's body begins to shrink, its muscles soften like wax, and its skin turns gray. Corpses screamed, eyes exploded, tongues slit. It was over a moment later, as another smoking, shriveled husk collapsed beside the corpse.
The black shadow is shrouded in crimson mist, rotating and mixing in the ever-changing darkness until it smoothes into a layer of dark skin. The black shadow's body moves slightly, showing charming curves and black hair. The black shadow becomes The shape of Nagalia was revealed, red and perfect. A cruel smile appeared on Nagalia's thin lips. She opened her mouth and spoke slowly. Her voice was as crazy as the chorus of a thousand people who were not in tune at the same time.
At first, Malus could hear only sounds, muffled and strangely echoing, as if coming from beneath the surface of a deep, dark lake.
"Time is running out, and I have an obligation to complete it." Nagalia said. At this time, her voice changed again, becoming powerful and discordant like broken glass.
"Don't tell me the time. He knows the way now, and he knows what must be done, but my time is running out." Zarkhan hissed.
"But will he still have time?"
"Someone has interrupted my plans! But everything you mortals do means nothing to me!" Zarkhan roared.
The darkness began to recede, shapes forming on either side of Malus, and he lay on his back, sheets tangled together, the cold air caressing his scarred chest. Nagalia and Zarkhan talked over his body like adults talking to a sleeping child.
"I don't understand why all this is necessary. It seems to me that your plan is too complicated, which is why you are in this predicament." "As
complicated as your revenge on Hagrid Grave? And from what I can tell I know, your revenge was not successful, Darkus stole your fruit." Zhakan retorted.
"I understand, but can't you give Malus to me yourself? I still have to deal with Darkus. My lord has been longing for his soul for a long time." Nagalia sighed and said.
This time Malus saw the blurred figure of his sister raising the goblet to her lips and drinking.
Malus suddenly became alert and the shape further disintegrated. He could see Nagalia clearly now. She sat in a chair next to a banquet table, turning a silver goblet in her veiny hands. Her touch left dark smears on the gleaming curves of the metal. A knife and fork rested on the edge of the plate in front of her, which was piled high with steaming flesh and blood.
Nagalia didn't notice Malus at all, her eyes fixed on the person sitting opposite her.
"Let me tell you news, my lord is also interested in him. He plays a very important role in my lord's plan. Things are not as simple as you think. Your ideas are too direct, my child." Zakhan replied.
Malus turned to look at Zhakan, but Zhakan's figure was hidden in the deep shadows, and a plate of bloody meat was placed intact in front of Zhakan.
"Then Malus must take action," Nagalia said, carefully placing the goblet on the table in front of her.
"Of course, do what you think is best."
Malus tried to move, but the sheets were pulled tight, trapping him.
"How much of my brother will be left when everything is about to end?" Nagalia looked down at Malus and reached out to touch Malus's cheek with her long claw-like nails.
A shadow reached forward and dug a claw into Malus's chest. He glanced down, past his chin, and saw the shadow lift his still-beating heart from his chest. rise.
"You see? It's still going strong. So does his mind, and he should be able to satisfy your appetite for a while. Do you want more on your plate, kid?" Zakhan leaned back in his chair and pointed at the horse dramatically. Ruth's ravaged body said.
"I like his eyes, I always have, you know," Nagalia said, leaning forward and staring thoughtfully into Malus' face.
A strong hand pressed on Malus's forehead, and another figure entered his field of vision, looming next to him.
Lunala leaned over Malus, a lover's smile on her weathered face. Wriggling maggots fell from the gaping wound on her head onto Malus's cheek. She pressed her split thumbnail to the corner of Malus's eye, and Malus began to scream uncontrollably.
Malus kicked and punched, screaming in anger and fear. He heard muffled curses above him, and for a moment he felt dizzy, unsure if he was awake or still trapped in a dream. He struggled to free his arms and shoulders, pushed away the dark figure looming over his bed, rolled to the edge, and spat out a large amount of putrid liquid and food residue on the floor.
"You are as fierce and merciless as the winter winds, but you made a terrible mistake when you betrayed her! Who knows how long she lay in the shadow of Zarkhan's temple after suffering a horrific blow to the head? And yet she Refusing to die, she lay there with her last shred of willpower praying to the darkness, which finally responded as she took her last breath. The darkness was willing to give her anything she wanted, but she only wanted one thing , and only want one thing!" Nagalia said with a sneer.
"Not wealth, not power, not even intact skin. No, no, no! She just wants pure, bloody revenge. By the time I found her, she had raised a huge army. I thought this The fool must have loved you, brother, otherwise what else could produce such terrible hatred?" Nagalia said with a smile to Malus.
"Sometimes, when she feels she's alone, she'll whisper to herself all the horrible things she's dreamed of doing to you. Being so vicious and single-minded, it makes her easy to control, just like you once did That way. If she can still serve me in the next battle, I can even give you to her as a reward. If we win here, I can be generous." Nagalia sighed said.
"He put those holy objects in the saddle bag of his cold lizard. The important thing is the soul dagger! The soul dagger is with Morathi!" At this time, Zakhan interrupted Nagalia's tirade.
"When I destroy Grond, look for this thing among the ruins and corpses. The real battle is about to begin." Nagalia said contemptuously.
"Where's Malekith?"
"As the attack progresses, Malekith's trajectory becomes easier to predict. He will never abandon Grond without a fight, let alone let me attack Darkwu The stronghold where Si is located, once I do this, a battle will be inevitable. But so far, Morathi's arrogance has led her to believe that she has exhausted my magic, so it is time to attack. As long as I save more Some magic."
"I guess you have no choice, you have your own master to serve, and if you don't fulfill your promise, the power will not come." Zarkhan chuckled.
"Actually, the agreement includes not only Darkus, but also Malekith and his mother, as well as all the Druzi who are currently in Grond." Nagalia's expression froze slightly, and she admitted After a pause, she began to say arrogantly, "Malekis and his mother will make beautiful gifts. They have never been more fragile than now. I will deal with Darkus then." "
This is you. Plan?" Zhakan sneered.
"I live to serve Him." Nagalia smiled faintly, bowed and said in a cold voice.
"I know you are teasing me, kid, but time is really running out." Zakhan was amused.
"Great Zarkhan, once I sacrifice their souls to my master, I will fly to your temple on a dragon." Nakaria tilted her head as she spoke, as if listening to some faint voice.
"I must say goodbye to you. The wind of magic is stirring. Morathi and her poor sorceresses are preparing for the attack." After finishing speaking, Nagalia was about to leave, but suddenly stopped, thoughtfully. She looked intently at Malus, staring intently into his eyes.
"Are you so attached to this body?" Nagalia asked, stroking Malus' chest with her nails.
"This is part of the plan, and the prophecy has been attached to his name." Zakhan admitted, and it continued, "Go for revenge, I will wait for you to come back here, savoring your brother's despair! ”
Nagalia bowed again and disappeared into the darkness.
The early morning sunlight shone in through the open window of the bedroom. Malus writhed out of the soaked sheets and stood up unsteadily. His mind wandered from the aftereffects of alcohol and shock. The dream still hung vividly in his mind, but he couldn't remember what Nagalia and Zarkhan had said.
It's almost over, let's fast forward
(end of this chapter)