Chapter 17

The Whisper of the Demon is the name of the first prelude of "Axi Seven Hells."

In this impending future, which is also the prelude to a new eternal war, with the help of demons, the ancient elemental gods who once fought in the ancient divine war under the banner of the goddess of chaos have gradually broken free from their seals, bringing endless calamities to the continent.

With the awakening of the elemental gods, elemental creatures such as Fire Elemental Overlords, Wind Elemental Lords, and Water Elemental Monarchs gradually became the first BOSS-level opponents players encountered.

At the same time, sensing the arrival of a new order, ambitious and idealistic individuals began to stir, the most powerful and dangerous of whom were the followers of the evil gods who hoped to establish independent nations and welcome the descent of the evil gods, the dungeon lords who were eager to return to the surface, and the necromancers of the undead empire who thirsted for slaughter and destruction.

Of course, as the name of the prelude suggests, demons are more or less behind these troubles. As one after another elemental gods either partially descend or send avatars, the elemental tides arrive, making elemental magic more powerful and the advancement of the strong easier.

The Axi continent will eventually face a new era of the magic tide, where liches walk the earth and legends are as common as dogs. However, during the elemental tides, the connection between the Axi continent and other worlds becomes more intricate, making inter-world travel easier and the arrival of visitors from other worlds more frequent.

When the younger generation on the surface is thriving, and various nations are rejoicing and even harboring expansionist ambitions for their future, they do not realize that this is also the plot of demons and chaotic evil gods. The arrival of the magic tide has broken the gates between worlds and directly opened the door to the bottomless abyss, allowing a large number of demons to flood the mortal world. Their vanguard is a new wave of undead plagues.

The dungeon lords forming a coalition to invade the surface, which should be part of the next expansion "Vultures of War," is about ten years away. It is still a bit early now, but after some thought, it seems inevitable.

After all, the dungeon world is still in chaos. Even the dungeon overlords need time to integrate the proud and unruly dungeon lords. Now is the time to eliminate rivals and consolidate forces.

Our location, Sulfur Mountain City, is clearly in the way. Well, perhaps it's not appropriate to call these dungeon overlords "people."

"Kaya Rose, the High Priestess and the alleged daughter of the Spider Queen, has unified all the dark elves. Their goal is the surface elves..."

"Moriel, the Dragon Queen, the common leader of red and black dragons, and the acknowledged Dragon King of the Seven Dragon Cities underground. Their goal is to return to the surface, and if they can avenge the Dragon God Bahamut who exiled them, it would be even better."

"Esterne Arul, the Black Mage, whose race is barely human... His goals and strength are unknown, but he commands over fifty dungeons. In terms of regular troops, he is not inferior to any human empire. His military prowess is also outstanding, making him the nominal supreme leader of the future dungeon coalition."

"Tao Nuyah, the Scorpion-Tailed Lion Beastman, the chief of the Nuyah Tribe, and the overlord chosen by over a hundred beastman tribes underground. Although the internal affairs of the beastman tribes are extremely chaotic, their combat talents are astonishing, and the racial talents of underground beastmen are even stronger than those on the surface. In terms of the number of strong individuals, it could be said that gold is as common as dogs, and legends walk the earth. Their goal... is not to avenge the surface races but to return to the legendary Bianluya Great Plains, which is now the territory and granary of the human empire of Saint Antonio. So, a battle of national and racial annihilation is inevitable..."

These four dungeon lords, due to the obvious superiority of their forces over other lords, are called overlords.

But as the story goes, one monk can get water to drink, two monks can carry water, but three monks have no water to drink. If there were only one overlord, they would have unified the underground world and invaded the surface long ago. But now, with four underground overlords, the mutual checks and balances have made the dungeon world even more chaotic.

This time, as recorded in the guide, it seems they have sensed the opportunities of the new era. The Black Mage Esterne and the Beast King Tao have formed a coalition first, inviting Kaya and Moriel to join, offering substantial benefits to form the Dungeon Alliance, gathering nearly 40% of the dungeon lords in the underground world, creating the largest coalition in history.

But I know things are not that simple. The "history" from the guide reveals that there is a third party involved behind the beastmen and the Black Mage... The Black Mage is backed by the cunning and fickle devils, and the beastmen by the chaotic and bloodthirsty demons. Both parties are trying to use the same bag, but their eventual falling out is the only possible failure of this powerful coalition.

Of course, the Spider Queen Rose and the Black Dragon are not good-natured either; they have their own plans.

"Headache, this is no longer a contest of the same level."

The formation of the Dungeon Alliance and the coalition should be recent events. I want to change it, but I am clearly powerless. The underground coalition's counterattack on the surface is inevitable.

"The surface fools enjoy the warm sunlight and clean night breeze without doing anything, while if we do not act, we work day and night, only to live in the cold light of luminescent moss, drink sulfur-tainted groundwater, and live in constant fear of earthquakes and beast herds, in a life worse than pigs and dogs, with no distinction between day and night. Tell me, children of the underground, do you plan for your descendants to live in this hellish life? Why should we, the exiled, be inferior? Why should we bear the sins of our ancestors? Everyone has the right to live in the sunlight. We are just reclaiming what is rightfully ours."

Three years ago, when Esterne shouted this highly inciting slogan, it quickly spread throughout the entire underground world.

Now, the underground world's counterattack on the surface and the enjoyment of true sunlight have become the expectation of all life, destined to become a historical trend. (The underground world has no sun, but there are many luminescent mosses on the rock ceilings that provide some lighting.)

Even I do not intend to resist the tide. The coalition of countless dungeons is unstoppable, but the internal betrayal in Sulfur Mountain City is not exempt.

"Senator Wender, Senator Kahn..." These foolish senators actually plan to bypass the existing administrative department of Sulfur Mountain City and form a new alliance with other dungeons, joining the future surface expeditionary force.

Since the current lord of Sulfur Mountain City, Adam, is a surface human hero, although it is unknown why he chose to settle here for over a hundred years, from the beginning, the surface big shots "Hero" Adam and "Sage" Margaret were seen as enemies of the underground alliance.

As the alliance progressed, the dark elf city of Menzoberranyr, the gray dwarf and beastman city of Karan, the former unhesitatingly joined the Spider Queen's High Priestess Kaya, and the latter joined the Beast King Tao.

Sulfur Mountain City has always been anti-war, let alone a world war with the surface. From the beginning, Sulfur Mountain City has been a thorn in the side of the alliance.

But not everyone is without ambition... At least, many "big shots" in Sulfur Mountain City are very interested in surface territories. Sulfur Mountain City has no nobility, but the surface and other dungeons do...

Thus, when the two cities pressured the foolish senators and offered them surface fiefs, some interested parties formed a coalition, the so-called "Alliance Faction." And coincidentally, Adam was planning to hand over the lordship, giving them a great opportunity.

The diplomatic and trade mission of the embassy to Sulfur Mountain City was not taken seriously, but secretly, they were helping the senators rise to power. The assassinated merchants, except for a few unlucky ones used as cover, often had a senatorial identity. As the obstacles died one by one, the Alliance Faction gradually rose to power.

No one would be foolish enough to confront the demigod Adam directly. They are waiting, gathering strength, and as soon as there is a flaw or opportunity in Sulfur Mountain City, it will be their time to incite the people and rise to power.

The dark elf police may be effective in dealing with criminals, but they are already questioned by some citizens due to their background. If they get involved in such a conspiracy and are seen as obstacles by the Alliance Faction, they could easily become cannon fodder.

With a little thought, I can think of a dozen ways to ruin or kill them, such as inciting public opinion to accuse them of framing the embassy, saying the real serial killer is one of their own, forcing them to hand over the "real culprit," inciting opposition, accusing them of theft and desecration of holy light, and forcing them to a religious trial, driving them to death. If they fight back with force, well...

Cough, let's not get too devious. Although those senators are not as "smart" as me, they are certainly skilled in internal strife. If I can't think of a dozen, I can certainly think of a couple.

I chose to keep them out of it, not because of what Elisabeth said about pitying women, but out of instinct to protect my own.

Yes, just protecting my own. Who likes those silly women who always get in my way? I don't care if they die.

But they are now subordinates of my subordinates, part of the Sulfur Mountain City judicial system. If they die mysteriously and unjustly, it would be a disgrace to me.

Listening to the intelligence Elisabeth extracted from Oku, it seemed all the problems were solved, but I noticed something off.

"... Why are they so obsessed with Sulfur Mountain City? This city is not even a fraction of the entire underground world."

I am not one of those self-important senators who think the world can't function without them. Even without Sulfur Mountain City's alliance, the underground coalition still has the strength to sweep the surface.

"Oku heard that a very powerful demon is sealed here, and the Dragon Queen seems very interested in it, offering a high bounty. So, he plans to come and try his luck."

"Bullshit, I've lived here for over a hundred years. This place was just a wasteland at the beginning. What powerful demon could be sealed here..."

Suddenly, I remembered something and paused.

"Powerful demon? Sealed? Can't be that coincidental. Could it be referring to me, the Grand Duke of Eternity? No, I shouldn't have leaked any information here. Only Adam, Margaret, and Xiao Hong know my true identity, and they are not gossipy... No, there is one person who might be."

"Is Adam screwing me over again?"

Adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses, Elisabeth nodded solemnly, but I could see her smirking.

"Over a year ago, the senators invited the lord to a banquet. At the banquet, the strongest beastman bone-stripping wine... the lord, after drinking too much, spent three hours telling how he defeated a powerful demon lord and sealed him in the depths of hell. Although he didn't specify which demon lord, most of the senators at the banquet took it as a joke, but clearly, someone took it seriously."

"The Grand Duke of Eternity?" It seemed like a mutter, but also a question, depending on whether someone would pick up on it.

"Not the Grand Duke of Eternity. According to the Dragon Queen's analysis, a demigod-level necromancer is far beyond what Adam could handle, let alone seal. It's more likely that the demon lord simply left this plane out of war weariness."

The new test subject was very cooperative, providing me with unknown information.

"If the Grand Duke of Eternity were truly sealed here, it would not be an object that can be controlled. To any living being, he is an absolute danger that must never be released. The search for the Grand Duke of Eternity is just a false rumor used for misinformation. Our true target is the ancient Fire Elemental God, Aralavis."

The ring of lie detection proved this was the truth. Recalling the characteristics of fire elements, I suddenly understood.

This is Sulfur Mountain City, surrounded by the endless Sulfur Mountains. Sulfur is most easily found around volcanic craters, and such a large area of sulfur mines is clearly not natural.

"In that so-called game, all the ancient elemental gods descended and were defeated and driven away over a long period. The only exception was the Fire Elemental God. Now, thinking about it, it wasn't that he didn't descend, but that the Fire Elemental God was already in the underground world. What place is more suitable for a fire element to live than the Sulfur Mountains and volcanic craters?"

"Underground? In the sulfur veins?"

"Yes, through manipulation, the Alliance Faction's senators have already sold part of the mining rights to us. Our gray dwarf miners have found ruins in the mine, which may lead to the altar where the elemental god resides. Now, the obstacles are: to avoid leaks, we must obtain full mining rights in that area, and those who refuse to sell are on the assassination list. The second obstacle is the guardian... The Dragon Queen suspects that Adam established Sulfur Mountain City to guard Aralavis. If the seal is disturbed, the guardian will definitely sense it, but a demigod-level Adam is not someone even the Dragon Queen can defeat."

I held my forehead, feeling helpless.

"Adam, you are such a pain. You screwed me over 130 years ago, and now you're doing it again. If you hadn't boasted everywhere, you wouldn't have been seen as the guardian of the elemental god, and this city wouldn't have become a thorn in others' sides, dragging me into it. Can't you control your big mouth and stop causing me trouble?"

"If this really is the seal of the elemental god, the demons might personally intervene. Then, I really need to make some preparations."

Closing my eyes and deep in thought, as I vaguely found something, suddenly, a familiar voice and a door slam made me instinctively crouch and try to hide, but it was too late...

"Hi, Uncle Bones!! Long time no see, Annie is here to play with you."

Before flying out the window, my last thought was the spinning world, the flash of pink, and the uncontrollable fantasies...

"You've really grown. Before, you could only fly thirty meters high... now, you can see the rock ceiling and luminescent moss, which are over three hundred meters high. Hi, Mrs. Vulture, you're here to scavenge too, the weather is really nice today."

Despite the usual high-altitude flight, I was surprisingly not angry. Why? While flying, my mind kept replaying that scene and the source of the fantasies...

"Cough, pink... I need to remind her that girls shouldn't kick people casually, or they might expose themselves. Girls are truly amazing. They change so much by the time they grow up, from a tomboy to a tall and beautiful young lady."

Yes, although we haven't seen each other for seven or eight years, in that moment, I saw that the once scrawny tomboy had become a lovely young woman.

Full hips, beautiful breasts, a lively and innocent face, a good figure, and a good personality, she is exactly my type.

"Should I consider fulfilling the marriage contract after resurrection? But I've already rejected Adam so many times. Would it be too unprincipled to change my mind now?"

Do I have principles? I don't seem to. Soon, I made up my mind to see if Annie still remembers the "Uncle Bones" who always "played" with her and the marriage contract exchanged for a lollipop.

But while I was lost in thought, a group of uninvited guests arrived...

"Go away, stinky bird. I'm not prey. I'm a terrifying lich, very scary, be careful, I'll bite you..."

A group of scavenging vultures surrounded me, and it seems bones are also on their menu...

"Stinky birds, go away!! I really will bite you. The touch of a lich is very scary, even a lich with just a skull is very strong... Before considering fulfilling the marriage contract, I need to teach her to kick the right people and not the wrong ones!!"

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