I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

……

……

The legion was stationed fifteen miles from the Cape Royal City.

Rhodes rode on Black Flame's back, gazing at the royal city.

From a distance, the entire city was shrouded in a thick, black fog.

Even from miles away, you can still feel that stench of decay.

In the very center of the black mist, there were wisps of eerie dark red.

"What's that old turtledove up to..."

Rhodes didn't linger; he patted the black flame dragon's head, signaling to return.

"His Majesty."

As soon as Rhodes landed, Luxem rushed over.

"The necromantic energy inside the royal city is dozens of times greater than that in other parts of the Corruption Lands."

"And it's still rising."

Lucien frowned. "This must be some kind of magic array. We can't wait any longer."

Rhodes nodded.

Since establishing a connection with the sapling of the Tree of Life, Rhodes has become exceptionally sensitive to life.

But in this city, he could not sense any sign of life.

Moreover, something even more bizarre is awakening.

"The entire army is taking a rest."

Rhodes ordered, "Attack the city first thing tomorrow morning."

"understand!"

Luxem immediately went to relay the order.

……

……

The next morning.

Two hundred thousand allied troops were arrayed, stretching from outside the city all the way to the horizon.

Countless imperial dragon flags fluttered in the wind.

Rhodes rode atop the black flames, overlooking the army.

"Set off."

Rhodes waved his hand.

The legion advanced towards the capital from three directions.

Ten li, five li, three li.

The outline of the royal city became increasingly clear.

The city walls soared into the clouds, and were covered with countless dead souls.

It looked like a layer of glowing grayish-white moss had grown out.

Every now and then, the "moss" would wriggle.

Anyone who glances at it will feel a chill run down their spine.

"Oh shit……"

The young soldier swallowed hard, his hand gripping the sword trembling slightly.

The veteran next to him patted him on the shoulder.

"Scared?"

"No...no."

The young soldier gritted his teeth, "It's just... a bit cold."

The veteran smiled, his face bearing slightly menacing scars.

"It's cold, that's for sure."

The veteran squinted at the undead, "Undead are just like dead people, they're all cold."

He pointed to the dead on the city wall.

"Charge up there and shove their heads through."

"Then it won't be cold anymore."

The young soldier took a deep breath.

Feeling a mysterious power flowing through his body, his fear was instantly suppressed.

My arms stopped trembling, and my steps became steady.

Instead, there was a feeling of intense heat.

The intense heat made the soldiers want to chop something down.

……

……

High on the hillside, Rhodes, atop the dragon's back, remained expressionless.

The black fog was thicker than yesterday, and the blood-red light was so bright it was chilling.

But the spirits on the city wall were all ordinary people.

Rhodes didn't sense anything noteworthy.

Even the Dark Knights numbered no more than ten.

That's not right.

"His Majesty."

Chris strode forward and respectfully reported, "All legions have been assembled!"

"it is good."

Rhodes nodded slightly and gently patted the black flame dragon's head.

Black Flame understood and flapped its wings to take off.

"Warriors of the Empire!"

Rhodes's voice was deafening, echoing through the sky.

"Look at this city before you!"

"There used to be 300,000 living people there!"

"The elderly, women, children... they should be living peaceful lives!"

"But now, they've all become undead!"

Rod paused.

"But this is not just a tragedy for this city."

"The Western Conference, countless towns and villages, have fallen."

"Countless people died, became ghosts, and became walking corpses."

"And the one who started all of this—"

"It's Carly!"

"She caused this disaster!"

"She turned the living into the dead!"

"She is the one who shattered countless families and displaced countless people!"

Rhodes drew his sword and pointed it at the royal city.

"Today, we will end all of this!"

"We'll make Carly pay!"

"We must let the souls of the dead rest in peace!"

"This battle is for all those she killed!"

"It's for justice!"

"It's for those souls who cannot speak!"

"For the Empire!"

"For glory!"

The soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth:
"For glory!!"

Rhodes swung Ashbringer fiercely, "Attack the royal city!!"

With a powerful thrust of his legs, Black Flame flapped its wings and shot towards the royal city like an arrow released from a bow!
Black Flame then opened its mouth wide, spewing out a torrent of black and red flames!

"boom!"

The dragon's breath struck the city wall, and the undead were instantly engulfed in flames!

They were all reduced to ashes before they even had a chance to scream!

Even the stones on the city wall were not spared, exploding directly in the flames!

Immediately afterwards, Thunder Frost swooped down!

Two giant dragons spewed air at the same time!

Lightning and ice clashed, engulfing the city walls!
Wherever they went, not a single spirit remained standing!

"Whoosh whoosh!"

Bone arrows rained down on the two giant dragons in the sky!

"Clang clang clang!"

The bone arrow struck the dragon scales with a crisp metallic clang!
Black flames and thunderous frost didn't require any dodging; the bone arrows couldn't pierce the dragon scales!

Flying Serpent Dragon followed closely behind, charging into the city wall and rampaging through the city!

Meanwhile, the Skyfire Legion's flock of giant eagles also broke through the clouds!
Countless Molotov cocktails rained down like a meteor shower!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The city wall was instantly engulfed in flames!
The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh, and the screams of the dead were deafening!
Those grayish-white skeletons covered in rotting flesh twisted and disintegrated in the flames, just like burning dry branches!
"Boom!"

The ground beneath the city walls began to tremble violently!
The next second, the ground surged, and the soil at the base of the city wall suddenly exploded!

"boom!"

The massive rock ridge, carrying mud and rubble, crashed violently against the city wall!
"Boom!!"

A deafening roar!

The thick stone wall is as fragile as tofu in front of the rocky ridge!
Stones flew everywhere, and cracks spread rapidly along the wall!

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

The rock ridge relentlessly struck again and again!
The city wall then let out a mournful cry and exploded!

Gravel tumbled down, and dust billowed into the sky!

A huge breach appeared in the city wall!
The waters of the moat surged into the city instantly, spreading towards the surrounding undead!
The rocky ridge twisted its body again, plunging its head into the mud on the riverbank!
The soil churned! Debris flew everywhere!
It ripped up the mud and rubble from the riverbanks and poured them down into the moat!
In just a few breaths, the moat was completely filled in!
A road made of gravel and dirt appeared before the army!
"rush!"

Gunle raised his battle axe high and charged into the breach first!

"kill!!"

The vanguard regiment followed closely behind, surging towards the breach like a tidal wave!

At the same time, hordes of undead, like a locust plague, rushed towards the vanguard!
A skeleton soldier, wielding a rusty spear, thrust it straight at Gunle's face!
"clang!"

With a swing of his battle axe, Gunle easily deflected the spear!

The skeleton soldier's arm was jolted backward, and his body immediately lost its balance!

Gunther gave it no chance and leaped up!

Axe sweeps!

The skeleton soldier's head flew off, and the eerie green flames in its eye sockets instantly went out.

"bring it on!"

As Gunle roared, his battle axe cleaved another skull's head off!
The vanguard soldiers followed closely behind, plunging into the undead horde like sharp blades!
In an instant, countless skulls exploded, and bone fragments flew everywhere!
The vanguard soldiers rampaged through the undead horde like harvesters.

With each swing of the axe, a dead spirit flew out!

The city was teeming with the dead, but under the vanguard's charge, they fell in droves like harvested wheat!

The eerie green flames drifted in the air, like countless fireflies dancing!

The soldiers of the legion were tireless and had no desire to stop!

Everyone stepped over the remains of the dead and advanced forward!
The imperial glory made them forget their fatigue and danger, remembering only the slaughter!

The bloody battle axe in Gunther's hand had turned dark red and was covered with bone ash and rotting flesh.

But he didn't care at all. He just felt hot all over and became more and more excited as he killed.

"rush!"

Gunle roared, "Charge to the city gate!"

The vanguard soldiers roared in unison and charged forward with Gunle.

The number of undead on the streets was increasing, but it was no match for the vanguard's charge.

Gunle hacked and slashed his way through the enemy lines until he finally reached the city gate.

He saw the iron chain at the door and grinned.

"Get down here!"

The blood-red battle axe rose, then fell with a blinding red light!
"Ding!"

With a crisp snap, the iron chain broke instantly!

"Splash!"

The chains went out of control and flew off!

"Oh!"

A deafening roar!

The drawbridge outside the city crashed heavily to the ground!

"Open the door for me!"

At Gunle's command, the vanguard soldiers swarmed forward!

"Squeak-"

The city gate was slowly pulled open!
The next instant, the sound of countless iron hooves exploded!
Sejuani took the lead, riding her giant winter boar into the city, heading straight for the undead army!

In the dead of winter, wild boars rampage through the land, relying on their massive size!

Wherever it went, skeletons and rotting corpses were sent flying everywhere!

The chain warhammer is a nightmare for the undead; every swing sends countless heads flying!
Behind Sejuani is the giant wolf cavalry!
From cavalrymen to giant wolves, everyone was clad in armor!

Even the top of their heads was completely covered!

Ordinary swords and blades could not penetrate their defenses, but the riding axes in their hands tore the undead to pieces!
Under this torrent of steel, the skeleton soldiers were sent flying like paper!

In an instant, the sounds of flesh tearing and bones shattering echoed everywhere!
The city streets have been turned into a slaughterhouse!
……

……

Rhodes rode on Blackflame's back, circling above the city.

While keeping an eye on the battlefield, they also searched the city for targets with powerful auras.

But after searching for a while, Rhodes' brows furrowed.

Something's not right...

Rod muttered to himself.

There are too few spirits in this city.

According to intelligence, the Cape Kingdom has a population of at least 300,000.

Adding to the undead that have gathered from other cities, the number is certainly over 500,000, if not a million.

How could 500,000 dead be wiped out so quickly?
"go back."

At Rhodes's command, Black Flame flapped its wings and landed back in the legion.

The members of the Church of the Dead are all dead.

To avoid friendly fire, they all stayed in the rear to prevent being ambushed.

"Nabila".

"His Majesty."

Nabila dismounted from her warhorse and bowed respectfully to Rhodes.

Rhodes nodded slightly and asked, "Can you sense what's happening inside the royal city?"

"what do you mean……"

Nabila hesitated for a moment.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling something's wrong."

For a moment, Rhodes didn't know what he wanted to ask.

"The number of undead here is incorrect."

Have you noticed anything unusual elsewhere?

Rhodes stated bluntly, "I'm worried about Carly, who might be waiting somewhere to ambush us."

Although dozens of scout teams had been dispatched to the surrounding area, Rhodes still felt somewhat uneasy.

Nabila didn't say much, closed her eyes, and sensed for a while.

He then opened his eyes.

"Nothing unusual."

Nabila said, "I didn't find any ambushes among the undead I gathered."

Rhodes's gaze sharpened.

Where did the rest of the undead go?

Rhodes looked toward the royal city, his gaze passing through the ruins.
"Nabila, do you think that if hundreds of thousands of undead were sacrificed, Kali would gain immense power?"

"The dead are very strange, and the gods possess many mysterious spells."

Nabila gazed at the black mist above the royal city, "That's very possible, but..."

"But since Carly possesses such great power,"

Rhodes's words were tinged with doubt.

Why hide in the shadows?

……

……

Inside the city, the battle is nearing its end.

The streets were littered with broken bones and rotting flesh.

The air was filled with a nauseating, fishy stench.

But compared to the last major battle, it was just an appetizer for Gunther.

Gunle looked around and gave a loud command.

"Cleanse the remaining spirits!"

"Don't let your guard down!"

"Yes, boss!"

The soldiers of the vanguard regiment responded in unison, immediately dispersed, and began a thorough search.

Any head that still shines will be stabbed.

"You've become more cautious."

Kyle walked slowly, sword in hand; his usually clean and gleaming armor was now stained with blood.

"You also went to the front lines in person?"

Gunle, carrying his battle axe, raised an eyebrow and asked, "How many Black Knights did you kill?"

“There’s only one,” Kyle replied.

"Pooh!"

Gunle spat, "You're really lucky, I didn't see a single one."

"They're all just rotten flesh and bones."

Gunle complained irritably, "This is fucking boring."

"Don't mention you guys, I didn't encounter a necromancer either."

A sharp voice came from behind, clearly tinged with anger.

Before the two could turn around, a blazing fireball flashed through the air and landed on the street littered with rotting corpses.

The filthy flesh sizzled under the high temperature, emitting an even more pungent stench.

"The magic I've saved can only be used to clear the passage now!"

Linda, dressed in a deep red robe, spoke with nothing but resentment.

"You two stop talking! Quickly have your men drag all the rotting corpses together and burn them all!"

Gunle and Kyle exchanged a glance, shrugged, and quickly told their men to get to work.

They didn't want to provoke this simmering witch.

Moreover, if rotting flesh, which has lost the support of necromantic power, accumulates for too long, it will quickly breed a plague.

Linda, this is a serious matter.

Just then, a strong gust of wind pressed down from above.

Everyone looked up.

Black Flame flapped its wings and descended from the sky, landing steadily in the middle of the street.

The enormous claws stomped on the bones, making a crunching sound.

"His Majesty!"

Gunther, Kyle, and Linda immediately knelt down on one knee.

The surrounding soldiers also stopped what they were doing and knelt on one knee.

"On the battlefield, there is no need for formalities."

Rhodes looked around, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage and bloodstains scattered on the ground.

"This victory is suspicious; we cannot be careless."

Rhodes ordered in a deep voice, "Send all the wounded out of the city and back to the camp to rest."

"The rest of you hurry up and clear out the remaining undead. Regardless of whether you finish or not, you must leave the royal city before nightfall."

"in addition,"

Rod turned to look at Linda.

"Stop wasting magic cleaning up the corpses, we have plenty of oil."

Linda paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Alright, everyone, carry out the order!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Gunle and Kyle responded in unison and then relayed the order to their adjutant.

Rhodes turned to the red-robed witch, "Linda."

"His Majesty."

Linda turned around to answer.

"Go and meet up with Lucien and Nabila, and explore all the suspicious places in the city."

Rhodes said in a deep voice, "Carly hasn't shown up yet, I feel something's wrong..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sky suddenly darkened.

Rod suddenly looked up.

The black mist suddenly churned violently, becoming even thicker!
Immediately afterwards, countless blood vessels emerged from the black mist and surged in all directions!

Black Flame let out a deep roar, its wings suddenly spread open, and its scales stood up.

It sensed a threat.

Rhodes' pupils constricted sharply, and he shouted the command:

"Everyone! Evacuate the royal city!"

Just then, crimson threads flew out from the black mist, transforming into a crimson barrier that enveloped the royal city and the surrounding area!
The soldier swung his longsword at the barrier, but only managed to create a ripple.

Linda raised her hand and fired a fireball at the red barrier, but it was to no avail.

The black mist in the sky churned faster and faster, and a huge, blood-red demon face gradually emerged from the mist!

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Emperor Rhodes."

A cold, shrill voice echoed over the royal city, instilling fear in everyone present.

"I am the ancient goddess, the ruler of the dead and vengeance, Carly Olivia."

"Given that you slaughtered all the undead and offered so many sacrifices to help me complete the magic circle."

"I have decided to show you mercy."

"Kneel down now and submit to me."

"I will forge you into the most powerful Death Knight." (End of Chapter)