Chapter 290: The Flame Demon Lord (Part 2)

Wu Qingsong glanced at Nina.

The terms offered seemed lenient, but there were no guarantees.

What kind of news would satisfy the Flame Demon Lord?

From what he understood about the insectoids so far, ever since they were driven underground by the united forces of the surface races, they had never abandoned their desire to return to the surface.

He hadn’t understood why before, but now it was clear. Many things of little value on the surface were treasures in the underground world. Clean air, sunlight, and abundant vegetation—things that surface dwellers like beastpeople and elves took for granted and hardly valued—were almost unattainable luxuries here. Compared to the underground, most surface places could be called a paradise.

At least, Wu Qingsong had never encountered a surface area where one could walk for ten or twenty days without encountering a single plant. Even in the largest desert on the continent, the Batiz Desert, while water might be scarce, there were at least scattered drought-resistant plants to be seen. The underground, however, could offer stretches of lifeless wasteland extending for weeks on end.

If Wu Qingsong were the leader of the insectoids, his goal would undoubtedly be to lead his people back to the surface.

The Seven Gates of Calamity that Marquis Osagar had mentioned—scattered across the continent—were likely the insectoids’ attempts to launch counterattacks on the surface.

The Crimson Demon Lord’s actions also strongly suggested a desire to carve out a path to the surface. 

Would the Flame Demon Lord be any different from the other insectoids?

What did it want to know? And what could he tell it?

What made Wu Qingsong even more uneasy was the Flame Demon Lord’s condescending attitude toward them. It toyed with them like a cat playing with prey—deciding between life and death, keeping promises or breaking them, all at a whim.

Could they defeat this mountain-like creature? Or even stand on equal footing with it?

“Tagraedi, my patience has limits,” the Flame Demon Lord’s voice echoed.

Wu Qingsong noticed its enormous limbs rhythmically lifting and dropping, as if expressing its impatience. He couldn’t discern its emotions or comprehend the mindset of such a being. 

So, he responded cautiously, “Flame Demon Lord, what do you wish to know?”

“Who rules the surface now? The Feathered? The Scaled? The Beasts? Or the Dragons?”

Dragons?

The question caught Wu Qingsong off guard. In all his time in this world, he had never heard anyone mention dragons—those immensely powerful creatures that appeared in every magical world.

Could dragons truly exist here?

The other terms it used were also puzzling.

Feathered likely referred to birdfolk, and Scaled perhaps to merfolk?

How long had this creature been confined in this underground realm? And why were elves absent from its list?

“Elves,” Wu Qingsong replied cautiously, suppressing his surprise. Using his thoughts, he explained, “The entire continent is currently under the rule of the elves.”

“Elves? Those long-eared, hairless creatures?” The Flame Demon Lord’s voice scoffed. “Then they’re just another beast race. How many of them are there?”

The bluntness of the question left no doubt about its disdain.

“What do you mean? The elves specifically, or all species?”

“Both.”

“As far as I know, the elves number around two to three million,” Wu Qingsong said. “As for all the beast races combined, there’s no precise count, but the population should exceed two hundred million.”

The total number of elves remained a mystery to their subjects. The exact figure was likely only known to the elves themselves. Based on the number of vassal states across the empire and the floating islands of Padamia, Wu Qingsong estimated that their population probably didn’t exceed 150,000, or perhaps even 100,000. If it were otherwise, half-elves wouldn’t have been elevated as their assistants into the empire’s upper echelons or widely represented in various fields.

The number Wu Qingsong gave the Flame Demon Lord was a combination of both elves and half-elves, though it was only a rough estimate.

“What a waste!” the Flame Demon Lord said. “Such a waste! And the dragons?”

“I don’t know,” Wu Qingsong replied.

As he waited for another question, a surge of immense spiritual force suddenly invaded his mind. It was much like the attack he had once endured from the Crimson Demon Lord—directly targeting his spirit and soul. 

Caught off guard while expecting a question, it felt as though his head had been struck by a heavy mace. 

While struggling to resist, he angrily demanded, “What are you trying to do?!”

“You are a powerful sorcerer.” The Flame Demon Lord’s spiritual force now attacked openly. 

Simultaneously, its massive body charged toward them at an incredible speed. “But a foolish one. Now, I will claim an easy victory!”

The ground trembled violently as the Flame Demon Lord moved, and the insectoids suddenly launched an assault against the undead army. Wu Qingsong, overwhelmed by the Flame Demon Lord’s ambush, could barely maintain control over his body. With great effort, he awakened Nina’s abilities.

Nina immediately picked Wu Qingsong up and leaped high into the air, evading the Flame Demon Lord’s attack. However, the undead creatures standing near them were obliterated under the combined onslaught of Nina’s Silver Moonlight and the Flame Demon Lord’s overwhelming force.

The Flame Demon Lord’s limbs seemed to burn with white fire. Wherever they passed, the surrounding insectoid moss ignited into flames.

The insectoids themselves kept a careful distance from its massive body. 

Nina quickly decided to head toward the densest cluster of insectoids, carrying Wu Qingsong with her.

Another tremendous quake resounded. The Flame Demon Lord’s strike missed them but reduced the insectoids that had been in its path to ash.

“You cannot escape,” its voice boomed. “Tagraedi, even as we speak, your soul is marked by my brand. No matter where you flee, I will find you! Your soul will be my prize, part of my power.”

Nina darted through the mass of insectoids, leaping quickly and carrying Wu Qingsong as they navigated the chaos. But the Flame Demon Lord’s enormous body remained close behind, its actions destroying on a scale far greater than theirs. Finally, it unfurled its wings and took to the air.

“Head for a cave!” Wu Qingsong said, still battling the Flame Demon Lord’s spiritual assault while shouting. “Its size…”

Nina understood immediately, stopped leaping, and gripped Wu Qingsong tightly with one arm. With the other, she swung the scorpion-tail sword, cutting through any insectoids in their way as she raced toward a narrow cave entrance.

However, the Flame Demon Lord’s flying speed was far superior to Nina’s on-foot pace while carrying Wu Qingsong. The sound of rushing wind bore down upon them, leaving no room to evade. Nina was forced to activate the full power of her Silver Moonlight and turn to block.

With a deafening explosion, the scorpion-tail sword shattered into dust, and the two were hurled through the air by the shockwave.

Airborne, Nina adjusted her posture and trajectory, crushing a beetle-like insectoid warrior beneath her feet as she landed. Without pausing, she carried Wu Qingsong and charged straight for the cave.