New Emperor Of Ghouls

The Ghouls and Lithos both packed in a calm manner despite the recent happenings and left in a calm manner towards the camp. Halfway, they met up with General Hong who was received enthusiastically by his family. 

General Cheng however, was nowhere in site for the entire journey. 

Zhong Yi was strangely calm about everything. There was no warning or sense of danger for the entire journey, so he decided to trust this feeling instead of fretting over something he had no control off. 

When they reached the edge of the region where the natural portal was, the sunlight had disappeared leaving the dark night illuminated by the moon and its minions.

With an approaching enemy, the portal to their inner territory had to be protected and defended at all costs. 

Being sandwiched between two large forces with way more people than Zhong Yi had wasn't an ideal situation but he was up for the challenge.

So he decided that the base they make be as fortified as possible, or even make it a fortress, a large wooden fortress. The trees were strong, absurdly. When they brought the wood back to the temporary camp they set up, He analysed it and saw that it was a godsend for them. Having strong physiques wasn't easy, especially for little children, control just wasn't in their vocabulary.

[ancient wood: As its name suggests, this wood is ancient. It's really long life allowed it to be saturated by enough spirit energy to slowly evolve into a stronger tree without the help of sentience. Can block the power of a stage 3 cultivator] 

The ghouls and Linthos had been split into small groups to accomplish different tasks. It was nightfall and none felt safe without walls surrounding them even if they were made of wood. It was strange, it brought a false sense of safety to Lintho warriors that their women and children would be safe behind. 

Zhong Yi felt such things was unnecessary, they could just go through the portal to the other side and be protected. But, he listened to the wishes of Hong Hanjing at the condition he be his sparring partner in the future.

"The general has arrived!" with one already here, it meant that the other has arrived 

Yan Zhong Yi left his tent to go to the entrance of the "fort" to meet the general.

"We no longer need to be here, your majesty," said General Cheng as he entered through the the wooden entrance. 

Zhong YI looked at him with a slightly bloodthirsty look signalling his anger at the earlier statement.

"You misunderstand your majesty, Qi Long and the men captured with him…" He paused in his explanation and struggled to say the next words.  "A human called Jian Nan Nan told us t-that they died"

Silence. No sound at all. No birds. No wind, Not even bugs or the occasional cricket. Just silence.

All the ghouls had been there to hear the announcement and their expressions went blank as if they were reliving a memory.

Qi Long was well-known in the village, he helped whenever he could around the village, he taught some of the soldiers to better their technique and was always willing to spar with them as long as they needed to get the technique down.

Not just him, Shi hao the gentle giant. Even though he spoke a few words, when he did, it was out of kindness or the d.e.s.i.r.e to help. 

Hearing that people like that are dead was not only an injustice but it was unfair.

Suddenly, killing intent so think emanated from the individual standing near to general Cheng. 

And like a chain reaction, killing intent was released from every individual there even the Linthos, who grew to appreciate the gentle giant for being understanding and stopping the ghouls from fighting to the death with them.

Zhong Yi felt his body changing rapidly, while he couldn't see it, he could feel the power growing inside him and from the faces of those around him, he was transforming before their eyes.

His beautiful dark eyes changed to a black with red veins spreading from the middle like cracks. While his hair started to darken in colour till the white in his hair was replaced with black. The kagune on his back hadn't joined together like Huang Lin before. Instead both kagune transformed to have a vertebrae-like shape with a metallic l.u.s.ter.

If Zhong Yi was handsome, he had just become more handsome because of the devilish touch added to it. 

However, everyone noticed a shift in his presence, while it was subtle, they had been around his majesty enough to notice the slight change.

Zhong Yi on the other hand, was at his best. He knew he would have beat the city lord before either his strength but now, the city lord would be seeking death by coming here.

It a shame though, Zhong Yi planned on finding him right now.

The transformation changed something in him. But he wouldn't know till later on.

"You already know what is going to happen, we have a city lord to kill, a city to plunder and treasures to acquire and a lot of lots of humans to kill whether they are involved or not. My only rule is no one in the hellfire guild is to meet any harm!" ordered Yan Zhong Yi.

The ghouls and Linthos shivered from the cold tone of their majesty before going off to get everything ready. 

Zhong Yi smirked devilishly, before turning his head to the forest that had retreated a bit from the deforestation and met glowing green eyes. 

They green eyes reflected their surprise before they scurried off in a hurry.

"I'm coming for you!" He laced his voice in spirit energy so it could travel to where the eyes where and went to enter his tent.

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"Your majesty, I've been meaning to ask you. Where have all the other magic beasts in the region disappeared to?" Asked General cheng with genuine curiosity. Now that Zhong Yi reverted back to his original state he was easier to talk to.

"They're not hiding, they're biding their time, waiting for a chance to attack." They were travelling through the forest heading towards the tunnel. It had reached morning when they departed from camp. All the non combatants or soldiers were brought through the portal to the other side  so the Linthos wouldn't have to constantly worry about their lover ones.

"Do you think it was wise to leave Wu Lin back at the base camp, your majesty? He will be upset in not being able to avenge his captain and his comrades. Even the human girl."

He looked at Cheng Jian Jun to see what his intentions were for asking so many questions. "Wu Lin would no doubtedly be distracted in battle because his thoughts will be put onto the human girl, we have already lost a lot. No more!"

General Cheng knew that questions were done and he also could refute his majesty's decision even if it was a bad one, plus this one made perfect sense and was sensible.

"Halt!" shouted Zhong Yi while raising his hand in the air. Like a well-oiled machine, the soldiers marching simultaneously stopped marching as well as Linthos at their sides.

It wasn't just him, who could heat the approaching suppressed footsteps. While they may be trying to suppress it, he could still hear it plus the faint breathing of the beings approaching.

With a wave of his hand. 1 hundred ghouls disappeared into the treeline and their partnered Linthos also clawed their way up the trees to wait alongside them.

After that, they carried on walking in the same direction. 

It wasn't long till they came to the same spot, they went before to see the entire entrance entrance camp. 

"I guess they really did fall for the trap." mirthfully remarked Cheng Jian Jun 

"Why wouldn't they no matter how you look at it, We are seriously outnumbered and no one would be brave enough to face 5,000 stage 1 soldiers." smiled Zhong Yi. 

"They have never met a Ghoul then," 

"Hahaha," Chuckled Zhong Yi with a smile that didn't reach his eyes." They did and a pretty strong one too. At least we can guess what it takes to trigger the kakuja transformation." 

It turns out, a strong emotional outburst is enough to cause the transformation and a super effective way of doing that is someone dying. But this is only after they meet the requirement which is the death of 10,000 enemies or so.

The upcoming battle would be upon them soon, and only a retard would attack during the day when most are prepared.

"Just like the goblin village, we attack during the night were we have the advantage of a surprise attack. Move fast, quick and efficient kills and try your best to not alert anyone" 

From the looks and expressions of both Ghouls and Linthos, they planned on enjoying themselves. Moving as silent as a ghost but reading as much death as one would do on the battlefield was exhilarating and slightly addictive.

"Rest up, it will be a long night. This may be the only time you get to fully rest so treasure it." Warned Zhong Yi.