WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom-Chapter 225: Taleth

Chapter 225: Taleth

With the promise of a future lingering in the air, the crowd moved like a flood toward the tables, hunger overtaking doubt. Children cried out in delight at warm bread.

Shavralk miners stuffed their cheeks with roasted roots and fire-glazed meat. Even the Draknir tore into their portions with satisfaction.

Zarnak, Tharn, Kaela, and the rest of the Nephirid guard were already weaving through the masses, barking orders, forming rough lanes, and keeping watch over every movement. It was chaos at first, people pushing forward, shoving, afraid it might disappear before they had their share, but each time a platter emptied, it refilled itself like magic.

Tharn stood by one of the tables, arms crossed as he watched a child drop her food, only for the plate to replenish on its own. “Hells… seem like our new city lord is proficient with magic,” he muttered.

Kaela stepped beside him, . “You hear what he said up there?”

Tharn grunted. “Hard not to.”

Kaela tilted her head. “He changed the city’s name. Just like that.”

Tharn chuckle. “To change a city name without reporting it… Our new city lord is interesting.”

Kaela gave a nod. “But won’t this become a problem? What about the capital”

Tharn gave a short, dry laugh. “And that’s what makes it more interesting.” He looked toward the platform where Ben had stood. “He’s not asking permission. That’s the difference.”

Not far off, Zarnak overheard them while directing guards to break up a small scuffle near the Dwarrow carts. His gaze lingered on where Ben has stood before.

‘Vlontera.’ He didn’t smile, Just narrowed his eyes slightly as the crowd swirled around him in celebration. ‘Just what are you planning, City Lord…?’

It was unheard of for a city to change its name so casually. The Nephirid had never seen names as important.

Zarnak’s brow furrowed.

It might seem small to others, something symbolic to boost morale. But after staying beside Ben for a while, Zarnak could tell, this wasn’t a whim.

Vlontera. A name that wasn’t just a new chapter, It was a declaration.

Zarnak’s gaze drifted toward the horizon. He could feel it in his bones. Their new city lord had a plan. A far-reaching one. And Krahal-Zir, no, Vlontera, was just the beginning.

While Zarnak wrestled with that thought, and the crowd filled their stomachs with laughter and fresh bread, no one noticed a figure slip away from the square.

It was Tharn, Unlike the others who embraced the change with hope in their eyes and fire in their bellies, He didn’t like it.

Walking trough the alley, he clicked his tongue in annyoance, ‘And here I tought my change finally arrived.’

Only at chaotic situation can he prosper and grow his strength. No one will feel happy with one bowl of meal, if their stomach is fuel. ‘Should I move to other city? Or try to take the new city lord down? NO that’s to risky…’

To most, Taleth was just another thug in the slum of Vlontera. But in truth, he had a goal. One he had pursued, patiently and painfully, for over a dozen years.

His steps were confident as he slipped away from the city square. Until they stopped.

A figure stood in his path.

Taleth blinked, then laughed softly. “Well now. The new city lord himself, paying me a visit? What an honor.” He gave a half-bow, mocking but polite. “I’m Taleth. How can I be of service?”

Ben didn’t answe. His gaze had locked onto the silver piercing in Taleth’s left ear, a curved fang, etched with rune.

To anyone else in this layer, it was just jewelery. But not to Ben. He recognized it immediately.

Ben didn’t say a word. He grinned than moved.

BAM!

A shockwave cracked the stone beneath his feet as he closed the distance. Taleth barely had time to react, his daggers flashed out. He twisted low, slashing at Ben’s knees.

Ben leaned back slightly, letting the blade whistle past his thigh, then brought his heel down.

Taleth rolled, a spike bursting from his sleeve mid-spin, and hurled it point-blank. Ben swatted it aside with two fingers, the poisoned dart embedding harmlessly into the wall.

“Not bad,” Ben muttered.

Taleth move forward. His daggers blurred into arcs, slicing at Ben’s ribs, neck, and heart in rapid succession. But Ben didn’t block, he weaved. Barely moving his feet, he let the blades skim past his clothes, inches from his skin.

A sudden swipe went for his throat. Ben caught Taleth’s wrist.

“That all?”

Taleth grinned, and the dagger in his other hand split into two, one hidden in the hilt. A flick of the wrist, and the second blade spun for Ben’s side.

Clang!

Ben caught that too, his fingers clamped around the flat of the blade.

“I see,” Ben said calmly. “You coat every weapon in poison. You hide your real kill shot. You go for tendons, not heart. You’re not trying to win.”

He threw Taleth backward with one arm, sending him skidding across the stone path.

“What do you want?”

Taleth rolled to his feet, panting slightly. His smirk never faded.

“That depend,” he said, wiping blood from his mouth. “How capable you are.”

From his boots, two needles shot out, fast as lightning, one aimed at Ben’s eyes, the other at his chest.

Ben didn’t dodge. He snatched them out of the air.

“You’re interesting,” he admitted, crushing the needles between his fingers. ”

Taleth tensed. His stance shifted.

Ben raised his hand again. “But you cannot win against me.”

Dark aether swirled behind him, an aura like the rising pressure of a mountain. He stepped forward once, and the stone cracked.

“Let me show you.”

BOOM!

Ben surged, a wall of force bursting around him. Taleth’s daggers rose too late, Ben’s open palm struck his chest, sending him flying through two stone pillars and into the alley beyond.

Smoke drifted in the air.

Ben walked forward slowly, arms still loose at his sides. “What’s your goal ? You try to gather people support, but some petty trick, that’s now how a gang leader work.”

Taleth groaned from the rubble, coughing. Blood leaked from his mouth. Still, he laughed. “So?”

Ben stopped just above him. His eyes narrowed.

“Then tell me. Who taught you to move like that?”

Taleth coughed once, wiping the blood from his lips with the back of his glove. Then he met Ben’s eyes.

“I taught myself,” he said. “Just doing what’s needed to survive.”

Ben said nothing, Then, he moved. So did Taleth. Their bodies collided in a sharp crack of force, stones breaking beneath their feet as they exchanged blows.

Taleth ducked a swing, flipped low, and slashed at Ben’s ribs with a feint that shifted into a rising stab, Ben leaned aside, his hand flicking down to grab Taleth’s wrist again, only for the man to twist like smoke and vanish backward.

But Ben was faster. He blurred in, catching Taleth.

Taleth didn’t hesitate. The moment Ben’s grip locked onto his collarbone, a thin needle shot from his sleeve, spring-loaded, aimed directly at Ben’s liver.

Ben twisted, the needle grazing his coat, slicing fabric, but missing flesh.

Taleth spun with the motion, breaking Ben’s grip with an upward elbow strike. He ducked low again, swept at Ben’s ankle, and followed it with a palm strike to the chest, pushing mana into his knuckles.

Ben’s heel dragged half a step, but that was all.

He caught Taleth’s wrist mid-strike, yanked it sideways. Taleth hissed as his fingers spasmed open, the poisoned dagger clattering to the ground.

Ben didn’t let up. He stepped in close, and drove a short elbow into Taleth’s gut, followed by a rising knee. Taleth doubled over with a grunt, but twisted on the way down, dragging a boot-blade from his shin and slashing upward.

Ben leaned back just enough, the blade scraping across his armored vest. He slammed his forearm down on Taleth’s wrist again, hard, and forced the weapon free.

Taleth broke away, flipped backward, and landed in a low crouch. Sweat beaded across his brow now. His hand darted toward the pouch under his belt.

Ben’s eyes narrowed. The moment Taleth’s fingers closed around a small black orb, Ben flicked his wrist.

BM!

A shard of gravity-condensed aether launched from his fingertip. It struck the orb mid-draw, detonating it in Taleth’s hand with a sharp crack.

Taleth yelped, recoiling.

Ben was already moving. He moved in, caught Taleth’s shoulder with one hand and punched him across the face with the other.

Taleth staggered. Then Ben’s hand flicked toward the man’s ear.

SNAP!

The silver earring shattered, scattering into the air like shards of mirrored starlight.

Taleth staggered back, eyes wide. “You…!”

The moment the earring broke, something else cracked, around him. Like an illusion fracturing. His body shimmered, then twisted, like glass peeling off a hidden form.

“What a spell,” Ben muttered, watching the transformation unfold. “Powerful magic… I’d like to know where you got it.”

Taleth now stood bare-faced in a form neither fully Nephirid nor Velmora. He have obisidian skin, but only as tall as average human. He doesn’t have molten eyes with very attractive face.

Ben let out a slow chuckle. “Ah. So that’s why you wore a mask.” He squinted. “Half Velmora… half Nephirid. Now that’s something I didn’t think was possible.”