Chapter 611

Chapter 611: The Spread of Silithids

The two of them talked about the battle at the Dark Portal, recalling the difficulties they had faced back then. Looking at the present, the difference felt so vast that it seemed like it had happened to someone else.

The rain slowed down a bit, and after a moment of silence, Vereesa asked, “Let’s say the Farstriders really do promote me… Will you attend my promotion ceremony, Jesse? It might be the most important ceremony in a Farstrider’s life, especially since the Ranger Lord is only below the Ranger-General, and that position isn’t something you earn through strength or achievements.”

“Of course I’ll go,” Jesse said without hesitation.

At this, Vereesa’s eyes flickered. She lowered her head and said, “I almost forgot you’re ‘dead’ right now. Showing up publicly at such an event might cause big trouble. Forget it—your safety matters most. I wouldn’t risk angering the entire Kirin Tor just for a meal or a dance. After all, it’s just a show; I shouldn’t care so much.”

Not only Vereesa, but Jesse had nearly forgotten his awkward status on the other continent.

During his two or three months traveling in Kalimdor, he’d almost completely forgotten what Bethor Iceshard said in the royal city’s church.

If the Reliquary really offered over a hundred gold coins as a reward when he returned, Jesse could buy a house outright—in the trade district.

In the two days since leaving Eldre’Thalas, he’d even started considering where to buy.

But he couldn’t return to Lordaeron himself to bring his parents to Stormwind; he could only write or ask someone to have them come alone… Could he meet them at Southshore? But Southshore was crawling with Kirin Tor members too, which might be risky.

Though Old Vickers was a tough guard captain and his mother was no pushover, the dangers they might face—especially in the exposed Bay of Baradin—made Jesse’s heart stick in his throat, impossible to swallow down.

With Vereesa’s help, fishing went smoothly, and they returned for a hearty dinner.

After a night of thunder and rain, the group continued south the next day.

The atmosphere grew more awkward and quiet after they set out. Molofeel wore a strange smile, as if witnessing something monumental. Jesse quietly pressed her several times to swear she hadn’t meddled between the Tauren and dwarf before letting her be.

By afternoon, the Tauren and elf walked far ahead, and Greed finally seemed ready to burst. He trailed beside Jesse, starting to speak several times but stopping. After a long pause, he managed, “Hey, um…”

“I know,” Jesse said.

“Ah… uh.” Greed swallowed his words.

“How do you feel?” Jesse asked.

Greed nodded deeply. “She loves me, Jesse.”

“I could tell,” Jesse said. “So what’s your plan?”

“I won’t abandon her,” Greed blurted, as if unleashed. “Once I become a true Mountain King, I’ll return immediately to help her and the Tauren survive the Centaur—even crush them. Think I’m bragging? Those freaks can’t match my strength. When that day comes, I’ll forge an alliance between the Wildhammer clan and another Tauren tribe. The Sages will back me—no Wildhammer dwarf dislikes Tauren.”

“I agree,” Jesse said.

“Don’t say it so lightly,” Greed retorted. “You think I’m spouting nonsense? This isn’t some impulse, Jesse. I’ve found my purpose—it’ll help the Wildhammer and test me.”

“I don’t doubt your resolve, Greed,” Jesse said gravely. “Mosa’s a good girl; she deserves—”

“Look ahead,” Vereesa cut in, turning back.

Jesse lifted his gaze past Vereesa and spotted a trembling, raised limb among the trees—a crab-like insect claw, thin and tall as a sapling.

Jesse recognized it; such limbs infested game insect nests. He didn’t know their origin—maybe from a buried queen, or the whole nest being one living horror…

Beneath them, countless Silithids might already crawl through tunnels.

Shandris Feathermoon had claimed they’d travel far south to encounter Silithids, so Jesse hadn’t stayed alert for ambushes.

“Where are we?” Jesse whispered.

“Not far,” Vereesa said. “You mentioned seeing the nest meant hiking to the jungle’s southern hills…”

“But this isn’t hills—we’re deep in jungle,” Greed said.

“Exactly,” Vereesa replied. “The nest spreads more boldly than the Kaldorei sentries reported…”

Greed snorted. “Those thousand-year-old fogies—who knows when they last scouted?”

“Mark this spot, Vereesa,” Jesse said, watching the limb twitch again. “Don’t go deeper. Scout the edges, then report to the Kaldorei sentries.”

“The trees warn… intruders approach,” Mosa said.

No sooner had she spoken than a calf-sized insect lunged from the brush. It had four thick legs, an armored abdomen arched high, and a pincer-maw snapping toward them.

Jesse instinctively whirled and thrust his hand out—as Dethmoora once did at him. “Duque, Heddunylo in Moss!”

Shadow energy gripped the Silithid, halting its charge and wrenching its head sideways as it crashed down… But an arcane arrow pierced its shell’s weak seam in the same breath. The creature shrieked, body ablaze, and toppled into bushes.

Before Jesse confirmed his spell worked, clattering shells sounded from another thicket…

Mosa chanted instantly, tangling two newly emerged insects in vines before they landed. Then buzzing erupted overhead.

“Spotted, damn it,” Vereesa said, eyeing the leafy canopy. “I’m low on arrows, Jesse. Aerial attacks will be hard…”

“Retreat—just remember this location,” Jesse ordered.

Shandris Feathermoon was right about one thing: against Silithids, they held no initiative.

“Don’t forget this.”

Mosa grabbed the head of a Silithid warrior trapped in her vines, braced a hoof on its shoulder, and ripped it clean off. She hauled the still-snapping head—larger than a watermelon—to the group.

“Jesse Seso, will this do?”

Jesse nodded. “Plenty, Mosa. More than enough.”