NOVPUBWo of!
The hyena's cry wasn't as sharp as a wolf's howl, nor as noisy as a domestic dog's bark.
Intermittent and somewhat sparse, it sounded more like a group of shady lurkers hiding in the darkness.
However, it was this very group of "shady lurkers" that led Earthshaker, Gronthar, and Drakthul to take down one dark creature lair after another.
Hyena King Gravehowl split off a duplicate to engage an Alpha-level Dark Armored Beetle from the front, while Earthshaker, riding Gravehowl's main body, leaped onto the Dark Armored Beetle's back.
The massive totem pole slammed down fiercely. Even the heavily armored Dark Armored Beetle couldn't withstand the continuous bombardment from such a blunt weapon.
Facing the dark creature, Earthshaker didn't hold back, smashing with all his might.
After a piercing shriek, the Dark Armored Beetle let out a final whimper and perished.
"The corpses of these big guys will surely satisfy those necromancers."
Gronthar and Drakthul rode their hyenas over, stopping beside Earthshaker.
"This Dark Armored Beetle colony isn't small, with two Alpha-level beings. Adding those killed by our people, it should be enough to meet the urgent need for now."
Drakthul heaved a sigh of relief. As the leader of this team, he treated every mission seriously.
For the valley occupied by the Hyena King to be converted into a graveyard, it first needed to be transformed into deadlands, and only then could it be upgraded to a graveyard.
This process required a large number of corpses and death energy.
"We still have time. With the help of those two necromancers, we will complete this mission."
Gronthar comforted Drakthul from the side; the latter was overly conscientious about the mission Orion had assigned.
"Speaking of which, when we go back this time, with Earthshaker's fighting style, do you think we can try challenging the Prophet?"
This was Gronthar's true thought; he had always considered Onyx a competitor.
"It's different!"
Earthshaker shook his head, refuting Gronthar's idea.
Indeed, Earthshaker had just used the Hyena King's splitting ability to easily kill a Dark Armored Beetle.
However, this Dark Armored Beetle and Onyx, who possessed a Dark Armored Beetle mount, were two entirely different matters.
Others might not know, but Earthshaker knew very well that Onyx's inherited skill, Blood Spirit Summoning, could switch targets.
Onyx hadn't abandoned the Dark Armored Beetle because, apart from it, he hadn't encountered a more suitable mount.
Furthermore, how could a Dark Armored Beetle commanded by Onyx be compared to the one that had just fallen?
Earthshaker was self-aware on this point.
"Prophet Onyx is already attempting to break through to Legendary level. Do you two really think we can defeat him?"
"You should have seen the power of Prophet Onyx and his Dark Armored Beetle when they charge. Can you withstand it head-on?"
"If Prophet Onyx activates Petrifying Skin, the Dark Armored Beetle will also be strengthened."
"At such a time, summoning a duplicate would only accelerate death."
Earthshaker's few questions directly made Gronthar and Drakthul depressed. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
They had newly acquired mounts, and their confidence had risen considerably. After Earthshaker's words, they finally realized the gap.
"Let's focus on raising our strength to Alpha peak first. Before reaching that level, it's impossible to know how strong Onyx is."
Since Orion unified the Black Forest, Earthshaker had come all this way, personally witnessing Onyx submit to Orion.
He also personally saw Onyx at that time, a formidable being on the verge of breaking through to Alpha-level on his own.
It could be said that Onyx at that time was already an existence Earthshaker looked up to.
Earthshaker had fought his way here; hadn't Onyx done the same?
Onyx's strength had always been the greatest among the four major races of the Stoneheart Horde.
(The four major races: Giants, Succubi, Buffalofolk, Obsidian Golems)
These four major races had produced talented individuals in succession over the years.
Although the foundation of the older generation was exhausted, the potential of the new generation seemed almost limitless.
The four major races usually didn't seem to have much interaction, but they were very united.
So many new races later joined the Stoneheart Horde, but which race could squeeze into the ranks of the four major races?
The rapidly rising gnoll race?
That was impossible!
Dirtclaw was Delilah's slave; the gnoll race and the succubi had a very close relationship.
Even the rise of the gnoll race was orchestrated by the succubus tribe from behind the scenes.
Behind the gnoll race stood, in reality, the succubus race, or rather, the four major races.
The gnoll race was a protective wall set up by the four major races against outsiders.
Other races within the Stoneheart Horde wishing to challenge the core power and interests of the four major races had to pass the gnoll hurdle first.
Unconsciously, the internal structure of the Stoneheart Horde, under the management of Delilah, Rendall, Onyx, Earthshaker, and others, had been woven into a large net, firmly solidifying the loosely organized horde leadership.
This was tacitly approved by Orion; he had never thought of stopping it, nor was he willing to.
As for being made a figurehead, that was baseless nonsense.
In the face of great strength, power and wealth were always mere appendages.
As the supreme controller of the Stoneheart Horde, having the faction he established become more stable was something Orion was very happy to see.
Because only a stable faction could continuously provide him with support and assist him in gathering faith.
Then again, if even the gnoll race couldn't make it, then the likes of Bearmen, Beastfolk, Lizardmen, Trolls, Orcs... had even less of a chance.
As for the factions represented by the two Wardens, Lumi and Soraya, they couldn't even be counted.
Because behind these two Wardens stood Orion; they represented Orion's interests.
Moreover, these two Wardens were either guarding a region or stationed at the war front; the responsibility on each of them was immense.
From a certain perspective, the entire Stoneheart Horde was serving them.
If Orion was the horde's number one authority, then the two Wardens were the horde's second and third authorities.
If they had any needs, the entire Stoneheart Horde had to serve them.
Because Orion and they were the true pillars of the horde.
And this was also the fundamental reason why all the elders on the council wanted to advance to Alpha peak and obtain the opportunity to strive for lord status.
Only by advancing to Legendary level could they obtain power and status surpassing everything in the horde.
It was so for Onyx, so for Delilah, and also so for Dirtclaw.
Including Earthshaker, Gronthar, and Drakthul; it was the same for them.
"Suddenly, I feel like the Hyena King I'm riding isn't that impressive anymore!"
Gronthar sighed. Onyx was his goal, and being unable to catch up to his target made him very dejected.
"Hahaha..."
"Hahaha..."
Earthshaker and Drakthul exchanged a glance, then looked at Gronthar and burst out laughing.
Gronthar looked up, met the gazes of Earthshaker and Drakthul, and after a moment, also joined in the laughter.
