Chapter 265: First Tier 4 Ascendant Zombie

Amidst the tumult and turmoil of the battlefield, Kralar’s laughter broke through the din, an unsettling sound that seemed oddly detached from the chaos surrounding them. His laughter, filled with a sinister glee, immediately drew Lina’s attention, her annoyance palpable as she turned to confront him.

"Why are you laughing?" Lina asked, her voice sharp with anger. Her posture was defensive, yet poised to attack, reflecting her readiness to engage.

Kralar, still smiling, met her gaze with a look of amusement that didn’t reach his eyes. "Because one of your Ascendants has fallen," he casually revealed, his tone light but carrying a weight that instantly sobered the air between them.

Lina’s initial irritation quickly morphed into confusion and concern. "What do you mean? Who died?" she pressed, her aggressive stance softening slightly as the seriousness of Kralar’s claim began to sink in.

Kralar, enjoying the moment, leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a conspiratorial whisper. "The fire wielder, he has succumbed," he said, watching closely for Lina’s reaction.

Lina’s expression transformed from confusion to shock. "Gerald? But... how?" she stammered, her mind racing to comprehend Kralar’s words. The possibility of losing one of their own, especially someone as formidable as Gerald, was unthinkable.

Kralar, satisfied with the turmoil his words had caused, straightened up, his smile broadening. "Yes, Gerald. It seems even the mighty can fall," he taunted, his gaze locked on Lina’s, watching as she processed the gravity of the situation.

Lina’s emotions were a whirlwind of anger and disbelief as she processed Kralar’s claim. "You’re lying," she asserted forcefully, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Gerald retreated to the base. Eldric was supposed to heal him with his holy power!" Her voice was thick with both accusation and a sliver of hope, clinging to the belief that Eldric’s abilities could save Gerald.

Upon hearing the mention of ’holy power,’ Kralar’s reaction was immediate; his laughter cut through the tension, chilling and mocking. "Ah, that’s precisely the outcome I anticipated," he responded, a wide, unsettling smile spreading across his face.

Lina’s confusion mounted, her brows knitting together in frustration. "What are you talking about? Eldric’s holy power is supposed to neutralize any poison you’ve inflicted," she argued, her stance unwavering, her faith in Eldric’s healing powers absolute.

Kralar’s amusement seemed to grow at Lina’s response, his head tilting slightly as his smile morphed into something more sinister. "Indeed, that would be the case with any ordinary poison," he conceded, his voice laced with a dark delight. "But the poison I used on Gerald is far from ordinary."

This revelation only served to deepen Lina’s confusion and concern. "What are you saying?" she demanded, her voice rising in both volume and pitch. The idea of a poison beyond their understanding or ability to counter was unsettling.

Kralar leaned in closer, a sense of pride swelling in his voice as he began to divulge the details of his sinister plan. "You see," he started, his tone dripping with a vile satisfaction, "the substance I administered to him was not just any toxin. It’s my own concoction, a unique blend I’ve perfected over time." His smile widened, a gleam of malevolence in his eyes. "I call it ’Zombie Poison.’"

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in, his gaze fixed on Lina, watching her reaction closely. "This poison," he continued, "has a very special effect. It gradually transforms its victim into a zombie." Kralar’s hands gestured subtly, mimicking the slow, inevitable change he described. "So, as he grows weaker, he will, bit by bit, turn into one of the undead."

Lina’s face contorted with horror and disbelief at Kralar’s explanation, her mind racing to grasp the implications of what he was saying.

Kralar, reveling in the shock and fear his revelation had caused, delivered the final blow. "And should this transformation be met with holy power," he said, his voice low and ominous, "which, as we all know, is lethal to zombies, well..." He trailed off, leaving the dire consequences unspoken yet unmistakably clear.

He straightened up, his posture relaxed yet commanding, a smirk playing on his lips. "Indeed, ’Zombie Poison.’ Quite self-explanatory, don’t you think?" His casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the gravity of his revelation, highlighting the cruelty and confidence with which he wielded his knowledge and power.

Lina’s initial shock at Kralar’s revelation quickly gave way to a surging wave of anger. The audacity of his plan, the casual cruelty with which he spoke, ignited a fierce resolve within her. "You’ve gone too far," she said, her voice cutting through the din of the battlefield with icy resolve. "For this, I will end you."

Gathering her strength and focusing her rage, Lina prepared to unleash one of her most powerful attacks. "You’ll regret crossing me, Kralar!" she vowed, her stance widening as she called upon the elemental force at her command.

"Poseidon Trident!" Lina cried out, her voice echoing with the power of the oceans. She raised her hands high, and the air around her began to swirl with moisture. Water from the very atmosphere coalesced into a formidable, towering trident, shimmering with potent energy and ready to strike.

Kralar, observing her preparations, wore a smirk, seemingly unbothered by the impending attack. His nonchalance only fueled Lina’s determination further.

With a powerful thrust of her arms, Lina hurled the massive water trident towards Kralar. The weapon sliced through the air, its form perfect and imposing, a testament to Lina’s mastery over her element. Her expression was one of intense focus, every muscle in her body tensed in anticipation of the impact.

Kralar watched Lina’s display of power with an amused smirk, clearly unimpressed by the magnitude of her attack. "Ah, Lina, you think you’re the only one who can wield such power?" he taunted, his voice dripping with derision. His stance was relaxed, almost dismissive, as he prepared his counter.

With a confident flair, he announced, "Venom Trident." The air around him churned as he conjured his own version of the trident, his movements smooth and assured. Unlike Lina’s trident, Kralar’s was a menacing shade of purple-green, its very essence seeping with a malevolent poison.

He held the Venom Trident aloft, the sinister energy crackling around it, a stark contrast to the pure water energy of Lina’s weapon. "Let’s see how you handle this," Kralar sneered, his eyes locking onto Lina’s with a challenge.

With a powerful thrust forward, Kralar unleashed his Venom Trident. The weapon, imbued with his dark intentions, sliced through the air towards Lina, leaving a trail of poisonous energy in its wake. His body followed the motion, leaning into the throw with a predator’s grace, fully intent on demonstrating his superiority.

As the two tridents collided mid-air, the battlefield was illuminated by the fierce clash of their energies. Lina watched in disbelief as her Poseidon Trident struggled against the sinister force of Kralar’s Venom Trident. "Impossible," she whispered, her voice a mix of shock and defiance. Her stance, once confident and aggressive, faltered slightly as she witnessed the impending outcome.

Kralar’s smirk widened as he saw his weapon gaining the upper hand. "You should have realized, Lina," he taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice. "My Venom Trident carries a fragment of the zombie poison. Did you think you could so easily deflect it?"

The impact was inevitable. Kralar’s Venom Trident, imbued with the deadly poison, shattered Lina’s Poseidon Trident before continuing its relentless path towards her. Lina, her expression turning from disbelief to horror, could only brace herself for the hit.

As the Venom Trident struck her, it dissolved into a cloud of poisonous energy that enveloped her, seeping into her body with a vicious efficiency. Lina’s movements became sluggish, her face contorting in pain as the poison invaded her system. "Damn you, Kralar," she cursed through gritted teeth, her voice laced with anger and desperation. Her curse was a last act of defiance, a vocalization of her anguish and determination, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

As Lina succumbed to the venom, Kralar’s laughter echoed across the battlefield, a chilling accompaniment to her downfall. Standing tall, his posture exuded confidence and a dark satisfaction. "Ah, Lina, your defiance now turns to despair," he remarked coldly, his voice devoid of any compassion. "Your curses, your resistance... they are but whispers against the storm I wield."

His gaze, sharp and unyielding, never wavered from Lina as she struggled against the potent venom. A cruel smile played across his lips as he watched her fight and fail, her strength ebbing away with each passing moment.

As Lina finally collapsed, Kralar stepped forward, his movements smooth and assured, the very picture of victorious malice. "And so falls the mighty Lina," he mused aloud, his tone rich with a dark triumph. "Not just defeated, but transformed. My very first Tier 4 Ascendant turned zombie."

His expression was one of twisted pride as he contemplated his handiwork, his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of the chaos his new weapon could unleash. "A remarkable achievement, wouldn’t you agree?" he said, almost rhetorically, fully aware that Lina was beyond answering. His stance, relaxed yet dominant, and his unflinching gaze on Lina’s fallen form, underscored the gravity of his victory and the sinister implications it held for the defenders of Ascendara.