Chapter 289: The Flame Demon Lord

The war did not escalate into a relentless, all-out battle as before. When the insectoids’ attack faltered and the undead army surged toward their nest like a tide, numerous dark shadows suddenly flew over from a hill in the distance. Amid strange sounds, the insectoids abandoned their nest and fled, while the dark shadows descended near the nest, engaging in combat with the undead who had ventured too close.

From their appearance, these creatures seemed to be a type of beetle-like insectoids, different from the spider-like inhabitants of this nest. Their attacks displayed a certain level of technique, their movements swift and decisive—no longer the instinct-driven, reflexive actions of the lesser insectoids.

This convinced Wu Qingsong that these must be elite insectoids or warriors.

He ordered the undead to halt their advance and withdrew those who had entered the range of the beetle-like insectoids’ attacks.

These warriors were far more intelligent than the previous insectoids they had encountered. 

Their response to the withdrawal of the undead displayed a caution typical of sentient beings. They did not pursue but instead stood their ground, their large compound eyes fixed on the undead with an air of scrutiny.

A faint rustling sound arose, followed by noises resembling the vibration and friction of wings. Wu Qingsong speculated that they might be trying to communicate. Stepping out from the ranks of the undead, he called out loudly, “Can you speak the surface language?”

His presence startled the beetle-like warriors. They repeatedly vibrated their wing covers, producing a series of complex sounds that seemed like rapid communication. Wu Qingsong continued to raise his voice, declaring his identity and purpose, but neither side could understand the other. Their vastly different body structures rendered even basic gestures meaningless.

The warriors began to show signs of agitation. Standing beside Wu Qingsong, Nina fixed her gaze on the nearest beetle warriors, gripping her scorpion-tail sword tightly. Moments later, several beetle warriors suddenly took to the air, flying toward the rear, while the others remained, keeping watch on Wu Qingsong and his forces.

“Let’s step back a bit,” Wu Qingsong said.

He cautiously commanded the undead to retreat several dozen meters away from the nest. This action seemed to put the beetle warriors somewhat at ease. Their movements appeared less tense.

However, as the two sides stood off, more insectoids began to gather from all directions, forming a dark mass as they converged on the area.

Wu Qingsong had no choice but to order the undead to prepare for battle. Fortunately, before hostilities could break out, the beetle warriors flew into the air, darting low while emitting peculiar sounds. This caused the advancing insectoids to halt about twenty to thirty meters away from the undead. Even so, their numbers continued to grow, eventually surrounding Wu Qingsong’s forces.

“Don’t worry,” Wu Qingsong said softly to Nina, trying to reassure her. 

He retrieved the last, and largest, soul stone from his belongings.

He didn’t want unnecessary slaughter. He had already killed enough of the fierce, unreasoning insectoids to feel a weariness creeping in.

Slaughter was never his goal. From the beginning, his sole objective had been to find someone who could communicate with him and provide a way back to the surface. However, if these creatures proved to be as unyielding as the other colonies, with peace only achievable through their complete annihilation, he would not hesitate to act.

A bright object suddenly appeared in the dim sky, flying rapidly in their direction.

Using the distant volcano as a reference point, Wu Qingsong and Nina quickly realized that its speed and size were astonishing. Both tensed immediately. Wu Qingsong placed his hand on Nina’s chest, ready to awaken her abilities at a moment’s notice.

The insectoids also erupted into commotion. In the area before them, large numbers of insectoids began retreating like a receding tide, forming a semicircular open space. The beetle-like warriors also moved aside.

The object reached them in no time. After circling rapidly overhead, it descended heavily onto the cleared space.

Even with the thick layer of insect moss cushioning the ground, the impact was so forceful that the earth visibly shook.

Wu Qingsong estimated its height to be at least ten meters, with a width of four or five meters. Its massive body resembled a small mountain, and its carapace emitted a dark red glow, as if it were burning with internal flames. The creature looked like a gigantic beetle, supported by over a dozen colossal limbs, each thicker and taller than Wu Qingsong’s entire body. At what appeared to be its head, there were two pairs of spider-like mandibles, constantly opening and closing, while three pairs of slender, dexterous appendages extended from its sides.

Even in his worst nightmares, Wu Qingsong had never imagined such a creature.

The beetle-like warriors seemed to be reporting the situation to it, but they did not produce any audible sounds as they had before. Instead, they raised their bodies and stood motionless.

Wu Qingsong suspected they were using some form of telepathic communication. Just as this thought crossed his mind, the enormous creature slightly lowered its body, and all four pairs of its enormous eyes focused simultaneously on Wu Qingsong and Nina. 

At that moment, a voice forcibly entered his mind.

“Surface dwellers, I am the Flame Demon Lord. State your identity and purpose.”

Flame Demon Lord?

Wu Qingsong glanced at Nina, who heard the voice as well.

Although the creature did not appear to rely on magic or mental abilities, Wu Qingsong activated the energy within the soul stone in his hand, enveloping Nina within its protective aura to guard against any potential mental assault similar to what the Crimson Demon Lord had previously used on him.

“I am the Lord of Orgrimmar. My name is Tagraedi,” he projected his thoughts toward the Flame Demon Lord with full concentration. “I have no intention of encroaching upon your territory, great Flame Demon Lord. By chance, I was transported to this region due to a failed magical experiment, and I am seeking a path back to the surface. If you can offer me assistance and guidance, I will be deeply grateful and will do my utmost to repay your kindness.”

A powerful wave emanated from the Flame Demon Lord’s direction, and after a moment, Wu Qingsong realized it was laughing. While the method of expression might differ, the meaning was unmistakable.

“Tagraedi of Orgrimmar,” the Flame Demon Lord’s voice echoed in his mind. “It has been a long time since I encountered a creature from the surface. Your arrival is a pleasant surprise. Now, I am curious, what can you offer me in return?”

Wu Qingsong hesitated briefly. 

“What do you need?”

Another powerful wave rippled forth, though this time, the laughter did not last as long.

“Tagraedi, as a ruler of the Abyss, I possess all things and lack nothing. Your offers are meaningless to me. The only thing you can do is amuse me. Very well, I shall give you a chance. It has been ages since I last heard news of the surface. If you can satisfy my curiosity, I will reveal a path to the surface.”