NOVEL WEB Chapter 217: Lando's Visit
After tinkering for quite a while, the shadow demon finally walked down from the throne with satisfaction, "The array is currently operating well, continue to maintain it."
Having sent the shadow demon away, Archimonde summoned Ze Xiu and Lando, who were on leave in hell.
Before the Hell Demon King's throne, Ze Xiu and Lando, neither of whom had reached the realm of Demigod, felt the weight of a mountain pressing down on their hearts, gasping for air.
They would never have set foot in the three top-tier planes deep within hell if it weren't for Archimonde's summons.
"My lord, if I may ask, what business requires summoning us here?" Unable to bear the silence, Ze Xiu inquired.
But Archimonde still didn't speak, simply staring with piercing eyes at the two humans who had pledged allegiance to hell before him.
"May I inquire, my lord, what matters have called for us?!" Lando also couldn't bear the oppressive aura of the throne and asked.
It was only then that Archimonde withdrew his gaze and pointed to the throne behind him, "You know what's behind me, don't you?"
"The Lord of Hell, the throne of the Hell Demon King," Ze Xiu replied in a hurry. "I had heard of it before, but this is the first time I'm observing it so closely."
"Then can you recognize what is now surrounding the throne?" Archimonde continued.
"Spirits, a terrifying number of souls." Seeing the densely packed, wailing resentful spirits, Lando had already been weighing the situation in his mind—it seemed the Hell Demon King was truly going to be resurrected.
"So, can you tell why these souls are circling around the throne?"
Facing Archimonde's question, Ze Xiu thought for a moment, "It must be because of some sort of array, right?"
"Indeed, the Dark Mage has engrave an ultimate grand array upon the throne, using the Power of Soul to resurrect His Majesty the Demon King."
Archimonde's calm tone nevertheless sent shockwaves through the hearts of Ze Xiu and Lando. The resurrection of the Demon King? Such a crucial affair of hell, perhaps not even some of the hell lords were aware of it—why would Archimonde specifically call them both here and willingly disclose this matter?
"May I ask what orders you have for us, my lord?" Even a fool would know that a heavy burden was about to fall upon their shoulders.
Archimonde turned around, stood with hands behind his back, and said solemnly, "Our race is not adept at things like arrays. Therefore, even Akanon cannot discern the intricacies of the grand array that the Dark Mage has forged. However, the resurrection of the Demon King is of utmost importance, and I find it difficult to trust a stranger with no connection to our race. You two, although human, are the most loyal servants of our hell. Therefore, I want you to go and comprehend this array, to break it down, so that I can control it!"
"This..." The words of Archimonde made it difficult for the two to respond—damn it, even Akanon couldn't understand it, what could they do?
Of course, Archimonde then explained, "The name of this array is 'Ultimate Spirit Resurrection Array,' originated from the elf race, Lando!"
Lando hurriedly came forward, "At your command!"
"I've heard that you have quite a history with the various races of the Star Sea, help me retrieve the secrets of this array from the elves. If you accomplish this, I will grant you supreme dignity," Archimonde said, and then turned to Ze Xiu, "As for you, I grant you permission to ascend the throne and comprehend its secrets."
Listening to Archimonde's arrangement, Ze Xiu's face was filled with bitterness. Just standing below the throne, he already felt suffocated—what if he actually sat on the throne?
And Lando was pulling faces, "My dear Sect Hierarch, you're in for some hard work, hah!"
"Shut up!" Ze Xiu glared at her irritably, then bowed to Archimonde, "Your servant accepts the command!"
"Hmm!" Archimonde nodded, then sat down like a mountain, diligently guarding beneath the throne.
Having received their mission, Lando bid farewell to Ze Xiu and swiftly fled the Demon King's plane, retreating all the way to a lower plane of hell before she could catch her breath.
Once back in her abode, Lando settled down to think.
It seemed that the Lionheart God's conjecture was indeed true, the Hell Demon King was really going to be resurrected. Now, should she fulfill the mission assigned by Archimonde, or should she inform the Star Alliance and try to stop the resurrection of the Demon King?
Of course, Lando was never one to agonize over decisions. Shortly after, she made up her mind—she would do what needed to be done, as for the outcome, that was not her responsibility.
After resting for a few days, Lando set out for the once Luo Fa Ke Er Du Star Region.
Although it had turned to ruins after the war between the beast race and Star Alliance, the spatial coordinates had luckily been preserved.
Lando, who had passed through several times, almost vomited her bile.
This was also her first time performing multiple consecutive teleportations, and the experience was quite unpleasant.
While in discomfort, she couldn't help but marvel that Archimonde was quite covert; not only had he developed their Hell Sect as an organization but he had definitely established other forces in secret, hidden in the depths of the Star Sea—otherwise, she wouldn't have only grasped these teleport coordinates today.
And as for the news of the Star Union, she had long since obtained everything through the hands of Archimonde's subordinates.
After discerning her direction, Lando left the defunct plane and set out on the road to the main city of the Star Union.
Using the Teleportation Scrolls recklessly as if they cost her nothing, it took Lando a full three months to reach the region controlled by the Union and to see living creatures again.
From a distance, spotting Lando's human figure, the patrolling elf squad took no defensive measures; instead, they stepped forward to greet her, "Hello, how did you end up alone in the uninhabited border area?"
"I missed my homeland a bit, so I went to have a look, and... there was nothing left," Lando replied, on the verge of tears.
Seeing the sorrowful Lando, the elves quickly consoled, "The Union is now our home, we are all your family. Be strong and do not let the sadness of the past defeat you."
"Right." Lando nodded vigorously, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and tried to smile, "Thank you, everyone. I will be strong!"
"Do you want us to escort you back to the city?"
Lando shook her head slightly, "No need, I can get back on my own. I don't want to delay your mission."
"Alright." Seeing Lando's refusal, the elves did not insist further, "My name is Duo Mengsi, if you ever run into any trouble, feel free to come find me in the Sixth Army."
"Okay, thank you, brother Meng," she responded.
After parting ways with the elf patrol unit, Lando quickly headed towards the main city of the Union.
And all of this was witnessed by Lu Hong.
Unexpectedly, Lando was quite the actress. Well then, I have to see what exactly you're here for in the Union this time.
Withdrawing his Divine Soul's sight, Lu Hong stepped out the door, intending to meet his woman.
The Star Union's establishment after the beast race's sweeping campaign meant any living being was welcomed into the Union's fold, which naturally eliminated any need for identity verification. There were so few people left in the entire star domain; each and every one was considered one of their own.
Lando, having easily entered the main city, did not wander aimlessly but headed straight for the City Lord Mansion.
Once her identity was made known, she was swiftly taken to see the Lord in the antechamber.
Although Lando's strength did not merit the reception of such distinction, she had another identity, the late valiant Duke's woman of the Sacred Empire. Had Lu Hong taken Hua Cai directly in the past, they might have ended up as sisters.
Just for this identity, Hua Cai felt it necessary to meet her.
"Why have you come?" Hua Cai entered the antechamber, expressing her puzzlement, "Has something major happened in Hell recently?"
"Yes," Lando said directly, "Archimonde has stolen a great number of souls from the Netherworld, seeking to resurrect the Hell Demon King."
Hearing Lando's account, Hua Cai nodded slightly, confirming that the message brought back by the War God and the Great Light was indeed accurate.
Seeing that Hua Cai wasn't surprised, Lando felt puzzled, "Don't you care about this?"
"The War God has already briefed us on this matter before."
"The War God?" Lando was startled, "What War God?"
"The strongest Heavenly God of your Human Race, the War God himself."
"How is that possible?!" Lando was somewhat astonished.
Just then, Lu Hong made a timely appearance, "What? Should I, the War God, have to hide away, unseen by others?"
Watching Lu Hong approach, Lando quickly got up and performed a courteous bow, "Miss Lando pays respects to the War God, my lord."
Lu Hong acted as if he hadn't seen her and walked straight to the seat of honor, sitting down and saying, "I cannot accept such a grand gesture. Miss Lando has brought us such critical news, surely at great risk. Our Star Union ought to be the ones expressing gratitude for Miss Lando's sacrifices."