Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 479 First Encounter with the Lord of Twilight in a Place Where Filth and Depravity Reside
Heading west from Ironback Valley, crossing a densely forested mountain ridge, one enters the territory of the Frostwind Kingdom.

This is the most unique human nation-state on the continent, bar none.

The Duchy of Froststorm is a typical highland nation, with most of its territory located on the plateau extending from the Dragon's Spine Mountains. According to the assessment of the Vast Ocean, the average altitude of the entire country is over three thousand meters, and may even be higher!
The reason for using the term "assessment" is, of course, because it is impossible to measure in practice.

The Duchy of Frostwind is extremely closed off; outsiders simply cannot enter.

Han Hai once sent a diplomatic envoy to Shuang Lan in an attempt to establish a cooperative relationship between the two sides. At that time, Han Hai was also interested in purchasing steam-powered equipment, a specialty of the dwarf tribe of the Shuang Lan Duchy. However, from the time he applied for entry to the time he was escorted out of the country, he was under strict guard by Shuang Lan's guards, and not even a single photo was taken.

Hidden cameras? No way!
The inspection was extremely rigorous and ruthless. After entering the country, everyone had to undergo the most thorough search, and they were forced to change into crude clothing, socks, shoes, and hats provided by them. All personal belongings were confiscated.

Yes, it's "confiscation," not "temporary storage." Once it's confiscated, you can forget about getting it back.

If you have any particularly important items, I'm sorry, you'll have to ask someone outside to bring money to redeem them.

As for why we need to take money from outside and can't use our own money, well, that money has already been confiscated!

If you don't accept this rule, then get out!
There's a legend that in Shuanglan, no matter how you get in, you always come out completely naked.

Basically, it's hard for any good person to accept this rule. So, who exactly is willing to accept it?
Of course they're bad people!
That's right. Although it is very difficult to enter Shuanglan through conventional means, it is possible to cross the border illegally, and it has even formed a mature industry.

The Frostwind Duchy harbors a vast and powerful underground criminal organization. Whether you are a ruthless bandit, a destructive terrorist, a fanatical follower of an evil god, or a traitor who betrays the country, as long as you can afford the price, they dare to provide you with an identity that allows you to legally live in Frostwind.

Because of Shuanglan's unique policies, it is impossible for other countries' forces to hunt down Shuanglan, and there is no such thing as extradition.

It is obvious that this place will become the biggest den of iniquity in the world.

Therefore, Shuanglan also had a nickname circulating outside: the "Dung Gate of the Mainland".

Logically speaking, such a force should have been strangled and completely eradicated by all the self-proclaimed righteous nations long ago. But the Froststorm Duchy is thriving, displaying a vibrant and flourishing scene.

Clearly, this disgusting place must possess unique advantages that other countries lack, making them hesitant to act against it.

There are many reasons, but the two main ones are:

First and foremost, Shuanglan possesses formidable personal combat skills.

Bad people are bad, but they're not weak!

When the most vicious, cunning, and troublesome villains and bad guys on the entire continent gathered in this "feng shui treasure land" for various reasons, it is no exaggeration to say that the density of high-end military forces in Shuanglan is no less than that of any major country on the continent.

The highest governing body of Froststorm is called the Bloodthorn Hall, also known as the Bloodthorn Brotherhood.

Because of frequent fighting, killing and death are commonplace, the number of members in the Bloodthorn Brotherhood varies, usually fluctuating between seven and thirteen. But one thing is certain: members who can sit in the Bloodthorn Hall are at least at the second tier of strength.

Li Zelin, the director of the restoration factory, the highest military force in Hanhai, could only sit at the very end of the table here, and could not even get a seat.

While such a large number of high-level military forces may not be enough to shake the foundations of those established superpowers, if these guys don't fight you head-on but instead disperse and target a country like ghosts with assassinations and sabotage, even a superpower would not be able to withstand such relentless attacks. Suffering severe damage would be the least of its problems.

The good news is that these guys are a bunch of selfish individuals who basically don't understand what unity is, and are unlikely to risk their lives for others, an organization, or any grand goal.

The bad news is, never provoke them unless absolutely necessary. They're a bunch of lunatics and psychopaths with no moral compass!

Secondly, Shuanglan's geographical location is very special.

The Dragon's Spine Mountains rise high into the clouds, their peaks perpetually covered in snow, forming a natural barrier for the Eastern Continent against the behemoth to the west—the Sky Empire.

The Sky Empire is about to launch a massive attack, with three routes: north, south, and central. The southern route involves boarding ships at the Sky Empire's Zhenhai Port, braving the pressure from the sea creatures and coastal defenses, and conducting large-scale sea transport from the southern tip of the continent. The ships will land in either the Bitao Duchy or the Baiyin Duchy and launch an attack to the north. The northern route involves traversing the vast ice plains and frigid lands, while also passing through the controlled areas of the dragons and giants who have been decimated by the humans and are barely surviving in the icy wilderness.

This is all too difficult.

The most suitable route for advancing troops is Dragon Waist Valley in the middle.

Located in the middle of the Dragon's Spine Mountains, this area has a large depression between two mountains, resembling a waist that is bent down with a protruding buttocks and a straight back. It is relatively smooth and gentle, making it an ideal passage for advancing troops.

The crucial checkpoint blocking this passage, the infamous Dragon Waist Pass, is held by the Froststorm Kingdom.

If the guys in the Frostthorn Bloodthorn Hall get unhappy and open this place up, the insatiable Sky Empire will never let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At that time, the Eastern and Western Continents will be engulfed in blood.

In fact, the Sky Empire has been tirelessly trying to bribe the administrators of the Froststorm Duchy.

But Shuanglan never gave in.

For the same reason, bad people are bad, but they're not stupid.

They knew better than anyone that once this passage was truly opened, neither the nations of the Eastern Continent nor the heavens of the Western Continent would tolerate the continued existence of such a "malignant tumor" as Froststorm.

The greatest value of a watchdog is to guard the door; if the door is gone, what's the point of having a watchdog?

And so, through back and forth, everyone eventually accepted the unique status of Shuanglan as a concentration camp of villains.

We turn a blind eye to the fact that wanted criminals from various countries can escape to Frostwind and tacitly agree not to pursue them. However, you Frostwind should also know the rules and not openly release these bastards to cause us trouble.

Furthermore, the upper echelons of many countries have their own ulterior motives. Rather than pushing some of their own people to the brink of disaster or causing them to make baseless accusations and drag more people down with them after being arrested, it's better to leave them with this "escape route."

This way, everyone can save face, which may not be a bad thing.

Between black and white, there is an unspoken understanding.

Of course, the white is not truly white, and the black is truly black; it's a different kind of convergence, a symbiotic relationship.

At this moment, the force that was meeting the remnants of the Green Pine Clan in Ironback Valley was none other than the infamous Twilight Tower.

This organization had been deeply rooted in the Duchy of Frost for many years and easily brought King Kruger XI into the Duchy of Frost via a smuggling route.

As the terrain rose higher, the displaced Kruger XI suffered from severe altitude sickness. Fortunately, the guys at the Twilight Tower were experienced and carried a wind magic circle. They put the old man inside and blew him a good blast, which helped him get through this most difficult part of the journey.

After a long day of trekking, the guide finally called out with delight, "Welcome to the Temple of Twilight!"

This is a huge hall built into a mountain cave, with half of the building inside the cave and half outside. The magnificent door on the surface is actually an ingeniously designed trap, filled with mechanisms and defensive facilities.

The real entrance is an inconspicuous cave in the mountain wall.

The people of Green Pine had no choice but to follow the guide into the cave.

As we walked through the long corridor, the light grew increasingly dim.

The magic lamps embedded in the wall were still flickering faintly, but the light was not simply dimming; rather, it had an eerie, swallowing sensation, as if something unseen was lurking at the edge of the halo, greedily sucking up the light.

At each bend in the passageway, strangely shaped torches are stuck into iron frames on the cave walls, their flames pulsating with an eerie indigo blue, casting long, slanted shadows that overlap and twist on the uneven cave walls, turning into menacing black shadows.

After walking for more than half an hour, the group arrived at their destination: the main hall of the Twilight Temple.

Kruger XI staggered into the enormous hall, his first reaction being the cold.

It's not the temperature that's cold, it's the feeling of coldness.

Outside the window lay the Dragon's Spine mountain range, winding and twisting, its peaks covered in snow that never melted. Inside the hall, however, was a hazy, dark place, with only a few faint, will-o'-the-wisps of light illuminating the towering dome. From the dome, one could vaguely see many iron chains hanging down, each ending in a lamp made of human bone skulls.

It was a genuine skull, with some kind of blue fuel stuffed into the empty eye sockets. When lit, it flickered with an eerie light, swaying slightly with the wind blowing from who-knows-where, its brightness alternating with the darkness.

It was as if these skeletons were still alive, blinking their eyes and looking down at everyone who entered the hall.

The floor of the main hall was paved with irregular stone slabs, the gaps filled with a dark red, flowing liquid, and people stood on both sides of the stone slabs.

More accurately, they were "embedded" in the shadows.

They were dressed in uniform tan robes, each with their hands hanging down and their heads bowed respectfully, but their eyes shone from their upturned sockets, slowly turning as the group moved forward.

Even though Kruger was used to killing and bloodshed, he couldn't help but shudder.

Suddenly, the guide from the Tower of Twilight, who had been leading the way, stopped. He bent deeply, his forehead hitting his knees, and cried out in an aria-like voice:

"Honorable Lord of Twilight, our guest has arrived!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the magic lamp shone brightly.

Gone is the previous dim, swallowed cold light; now it blooms with a warm, full light with a faint golden glow, making one feel as if they have suddenly stepped out of a cold cellar and into a bright garden on a sunny spring afternoon.

Kruger squinted instinctively, and then he saw the man.

At the far end of the hall, a young man sat in front of a simple wooden table.

Well, at least he looks like a young man.

He looked to be in his early twenties, wearing a spotless white robe with the collar loosely open, revealing a small section of his fair skin.

Her short, golden hair was soft and fluffy, with a gentle sheen, as if it had just been sun-dried.

If Chen Mo were here, he would probably blurt out, "Another blondie!"
What's most striking is the smile on his face.

It was a pure, bright, and even somewhat alluring smile.

Her eyebrows and eyes were curved, and the curve of her lips was just right. She was warm but also reserved. When she smiled, there were two shallow dimples on her cheeks. She exuded a vibrant and lively aura.

Kruger even had the illusion that the entire cold hall had warmed up with his arrival.

He hadn't seen such a vibrant atmosphere in a long time.

The Green Pine's court was full of old men. Occasionally there would be one or two younger men, but their demeanor was full of maturity, prudence, and caution. Even their own children were obsequious to them, showing no signs of youth.

He had gotten used to all of this and took it for granted.

At that moment, it was as if Kruger XI suddenly saw time reversed, and he saw himself in his youth, studying at Greenpine Academy.

Outside the window, little boys were jumping and playing around, their hats askew, and their eyes would unconsciously dart towards the girls next to them.

Meanwhile, the girls with healthy, tanned skin, basking in the sunlight, whispered to each other, laughed together, and held up shiny candy skewers, waving enthusiastically to their companions not far away.

What a beautiful, yet distant atmosphere.

How could it... appear in the dimly lit hall where this human skull is illuminated?

"Distinguished guests, you have come from afar; your journey must have been arduous."

The other person spoke, their voice clear and gentle, with a slight rhythm: "I am feeling a little unwell and unable to come out to greet you. Please understand, Your Majesty!"

Then, he slowly raised his hand.

The people behind him pushed him out, and Kruger then realized that he was sitting in a wheelchair.

What first caught everyone's attention were the two attendants pushing the wheelchair.

These are two girls, with identical pretty faces, the same length of silver-white hair, and the same serene expressions, as if they were mirror images copied by magic.

They wore simple blue cloth dresses, their bare white feet stepping on the cold stone slabs, pushing their wheelchairs forward slowly.

A pair of very good-looking twins, who also seem to be professionals, which is quite rare!

Looking down, the wheelchairs they were pushing were ordinary rattan models, with wooden wheels that seemed a little crooked, making a slight creaking sound as they turned. The wheelchairs looked like they had been used for a long time; their exteriors were somewhat worn, and the armrests were smooth and shiny from being worn, already having developed a patina.

A dusty gray velvet blanket was draped over it, covering the "Lord of Twilight" completely from the waist down.

The young man seemed to notice Kruger's gaze. He raised his hand without hesitation and pointed to the blanket covering his lower body, his smile carrying a perfectly appropriate hint of apology and self-deprecation.

"It is extremely rude of you to be a cripple. Fortunately, there is plenty of time in the future, and we will have many more opportunities to make up for it."

Kruger was slightly dazed.

Is this supposed to be a villain? This art style is totally off!

In short, from the moment the "Lord of Twilight" appeared, the entire hall underwent a completely different transformation, from dark, cold, and sinister to picturesque and warm as spring.

People couldn't help but focus their attention on that pure, healthy, and vibrant figure, and even felt a sense of closeness.

The palace steward, who was supporting him, suddenly pinched his arm hard.

Kruger XI was startled, a chill suddenly running down his spine.

He was a ruler who had sat on the throne for decades, accustomed to intrigue and treachery. Even now, as a stray dog, even if the other person were handsome, he couldn't possibly feel any affection for someone he had just met.

This guy is definitely up to something!
The old man forcibly turned his head, casting his gaze upon the figures embedded in the shadows, motionless like stone sculptures, and regained his vigilance.

"I am already deeply grateful to the Twilight Tower for taking in a useless person like myself who has lost my country and home. To say that I am being impolite is truly shameful!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Tower Master!"

The other person's smile widened, and he waved his hand, "I don't deserve it, just call me Belial!"

"I heard that the King has come from afar and is not feeling well!"

"Coming from the lowlands, the most difficult part is getting to the plateau. The wind magic array can only alleviate the discomfort; it will take some time to truly adapt."

"I have already arranged suitable accommodations for your rest. Your Majesty and gentlemen, please rest for a while. Once you are rested, we can continue our conversation."

When he spoke, Beria's eyes were clear and bright, like a spring of water quenched by the sun, which involuntarily drew Kruger's gaze to them.

Once again, I felt that heavy, warning-like pressure on my arm.

The accompanying court steward was a seventh-level reincarnation healer, and in this environment, he kept subtly reminding Kruger.

Kruger took a deep breath, casually tore a tattered strip of cloth from his shoulder, held it in his hand, and gave a self-deprecating smirk.

"Lord Belial, I'm already in this state, what do I care about resting or not?"

"I've heard that the Tower of Twilight has a big plan, and I can't wait to hear it and see what we old guys, who are almost useless, can still do?"

Beria laughed again.

It seems that a smile never left his face from the moment he appeared; he's such a cheerful person!
"I completely understand how you feel!"

He raised his hand to signal the twins behind him to stop their wheelchairs, then turned to the side and made a "please" gesture:

"Very well then, Your Majesty, please follow me to the rear hall."

"Let me introduce you to some new friends!"

"I think we'll get along very well!"

The wheelchair creaked and turned again, moving deeper into the shadows of the main hall.

Kruger followed behind, looking at the "radiant" figure in the wheelchair, and then at the half-dead believers around him. For the first time, he felt a deep, unspeakable fear of the word "future".

But it doesn't matter anymore; he has nothing left to lose.

And so, following the bright light ahead, the group walked step by step into the deeper darkness.

(End of this chapter)