Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"he is?"

Raine shifted his gaze from the snake-man to Tehenhoin, who was not far away, and pointed clearly at a particularly conspicuous spirit lizard next to the Prophet.

His reason for asking the question was quite simple: this lizard stood out from all its kin and even from the members of the Sotigo battle group. Its physical characteristics, as well as its attire and accessories, exuded a strong, almost abrupt, uniqueness.

Renn was absolutely certain that he had never seen this entity in his memory bank.

This spirit lizard possessed a stature far exceeding that of its kind, making it a truly imposing figure among spirit lizards. Its skin was covered with dark red Sotigo markings, resembling burns or birthmarks, while along its spine grew exceptionally vibrant reddish-brown scales, like a burning spine. Beneath its feet was not solid ground, but a slowly writhing swarm of snakes—blue-ringed vipers, chisel snakes, and several other venomous snakes endemic to the south—coiling and undisturbed like a living carpet, yet swimming docilely around its feet.

He wore a magnificent golden serpent helmet crafted from pure gold, its head held high and its body coiled into a crown. Hanging from his waist were not ordinary spoils of war, but three meticulously crafted Skaven skulls. These skulls were hollowed out and polished, their surfaces outlined in gold, with translucent jade inlaid in the eye sockets and between the teeth, exuding an aura of sinister luxury.

His left hand held a simple, ancient-looking golden staff with a serpentine carving at the top, while his right hand steadily held a familiar object—a Sotigo plaque.

It was this last point that brought Renn's doubts to a head. In his impression and understanding, the Sotigo plaque was the supreme sacred object of the entire Sotigo sect, which had always been carried by Tehenhoin himself and never left his side. It was the absolute symbol of his chosen status and authority.

But at this moment, this stone slab, which contained ancient prophecies and divine power, suddenly appeared in the hands of another unfamiliar spirit lizard.

Rein's question was brief but pointed, his gaze shifting between Tehenhoin and the mysterious spirit lizard, awaiting an explanation. Who exactly was this suddenly appearing spirit lizard, carrying sacred objects and possessing an extraordinary presence?

What is his relationship with Tehenhoin?

And why possess a sacred object that should be unique?
This seems to suggest that within the Sotigo faith, some new changes or levels have emerged that Renn is unaware of.

“Arnomok!” Tehenhoin responded crisply, as if the name itself contained the entire explanation.

"That's all?" After a moment, seeing that Tehenhoin said his name and then said nothing more, just calmly looking back at him, Renn couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Tehenhoin tilted his head to one side, his eyes filled with pure confusion. Clearly, he didn't understand Renn's question at all. Renn had already truthfully given his name when he asked "Who is he?", without any concealment.

So, what does "gone" mean?
This goes beyond his basic logical understanding of the act of "information exchange".

Seeing Tehenhoin's classic, reptilian bewilderment, Ryan immediately understood his meaning. He gave a helpless shrug and didn't press the matter further. Rather than trying to get Tehenhoin or the silent Anomok himself to give a complicated 'character introduction,' it was better to ask Quaxmu directly later.

Just then, the Lizard Priest who governed Zetland came over with his chief scribe.

The story of Anomok is a long one, filled with rumors and incredible details.

It is said that he is the successor of Tehenhoin; it is said that he traverses the darkest depths of the jungle, followed by a river of ever-growing snakes; it is said that he is secretly recruiting a vast army, vowing to find the source of all the ratmen's calamities and wipe them off the face of the earth.

These are not just rumors, but facts.

He was indeed Tehenhoin's chosen successor, and he truly was...

The hatching grounds of Arnomok, far from any known temple city, lie in the shadow of an ancient, long-collapsed sacred building covered in thousand-year-old vines. He was the only spirit lizard born, without any warning, and without any sacred tablets foretelling his birth.

Simply put, the magnificent incubation pool located in the main temple city is a vast and stable lake of life; while the pool where the Anomok was born is nothing more than a forgotten, nearly dried-up, stinking pool.

There are many more undocumented, foul-smelling pools like these scattered deep in the jungles of Lustia and the Southlands. They are either located in the ruins of satellite cities that have long ceased to function, or abandoned in the unfinished ruins of cities whose construction was interrupted by the Great Invasion.

Unfortunately, most of these hatching ponds are ineffective due to lack of maintenance, corrosion, or energy depletion, and are no different from real stinking puddles.

Anomok was born in such a place, and his fate was not an isolated case. In another timeline, Titchett-Whitch, who later became the famous leader of the Warhound mercenaries, and his fearsome horned lizard squad, also originated from a similar, forgotten corner.

Tichite-Huich was born in Enkirad.

It couldn't even be called a temple city or satellite city; it was merely an abandoned ruin swallowed by jungle, extremely far from Zetlan. All the sacred tablets that might have foretold this hatching had long been destroyed or lost. Perhaps it was just a pure cosmic coincidence, triggered by unusual celestial connections and signs; or perhaps it was a miracle created by the unfathomable, mysterious will of the serpent god Sotigo?
In any case, Titchett-Which was born.

For a long time, he was arguably the last Enkiridan, guarding the forgotten ruins in solitude. Every day at sunrise, he would bow towards the heart of the ruins, fulfilling a sacred duty that no one had bestowed upon him, yet which was etched into his very being.

Until one day, he noticed a change in the dilapidated hatching pond that had been silent for countless years. He watched as the few remaining tadpoles in the pond gradually grew, and he keenly realized that these newborn spirit lizards were a special species with large crests, which usually meant that these spirit lizards had the potential talent to tame and control the giant horned lizard.

This discovery captivated him, and he immediately went to explore the dark caves beneath the ruins that he had never ventured into before. Sure enough, as he expected, a synchronized breeding phenomenon was also occurring there. Ancient giant eggs in the caves had hatched some juvenile giant lizards, and the markings on their bodies were strikingly similar to those of the newborn spirit lizards on the ground.

This could not possibly be a coincidence.

This is absolutely the will of Sotigo! It was the Crimson Serpent God who, with an invisible hand, caused the eggs of two creatures destined to be together to be born simultaneously on the same forgotten land, echoing each other!

In another timeline, Enkiradin's unusual energy fluctuations and unique hatching events eventually caught the attention of Quaxmu.

On a sweltering monsoon night, Tichit-Huich was plagued by recurring nightmares. He saw a distant land inhabited by strange races and creatures. Among them, he discovered a vast collection of looted treasures, sacred tablets, and other relics that should have belonged to the temple city.

In Tichite-Huch's alert mind, a profound thought was awakened, and he fully understood his mission and the purpose of this nascent legion. His goal finally became crystal clear: he had been chosen, and he must lead this unique legion, born according to Sotigo's will, to a wider world to retrieve the lost relics and fulfill his mission.

So he followed his instincts and, guided by the idea of ​​a greater will in the darkness, led his well-trained horned lizard horde northward.

By this time, his lizard riders had already mastered the exquisite skills of fighting on the back of the giant horned lizard. Fighting seemed to come from instinct to them, requiring almost no additional instruction.

What kind of serpent god convenience store has a big sale... For lizardmen, some things are simply unreasonable and idealistic.

Inshi-Huz (from the fifth edition of the military manual) still had to struggle to find traces of wild giant horned lizards deep in the jungle, but to no avail; while Titchet-Huich and his battle group seemed to be specially packaged and delivered by fate.

After heading north, the first settlement of a young ethnic group he encountered was an Arab nomadic tribe. He intentionally kept his distance from these people, focusing on following God's guidance and searching for the clues in his dreams.

However, the tribal chief was filled with awe at the first "al-saurim" (the Arabic name for lizardmen) he saw with his own eyes and tried to hire Tichit-Huich and his men. The chief displayed many treasures in front of Tichit-Huich.

Tikkit-Huich merely blinked, unmoved, at the sight of the gold and silver jewels glittering in the sunlight. But soon, his gaze locked onto an item—the sacred amulet that had appeared in his dream—and he let out a piercing, excited hiss.

Seeing this, the chieftain smiled and gifted the amulet to the lizardmen, establishing an agreement. Afterward, Tichit-Huich and his warband, together with the Arabs, launched numerous raids on the lands of Nehekhara.

Ah, so Titchett-Which's mercenary career as a warhound has officially begun.

However, in Darkus's timeline, things took a subtle but decisive turn.

Teach-Huich and his warband did appear, but they did not embark on the solitary mercenary journey north. They were discovered by Lord Whiniartanqui, not through remote telepathy, but by appearing directly before Teach-Huich in person.

Therefore, Titchet-Huich and his battle group were incorporated into Sotigo's battle group.

And so, at this moment, Titchett-Which stood with the other red-crowned lizards around him, his figure blending into the group without attracting any particular attention from Rein.

Back to Arnomog.

After struggling to emerge from the forgotten hatching pool, he was all alone and instinctively burrowed into a hidden hollow deep within the ruins of an ancient building. The hollow was dark, but filled with shimmering silver stones and numerous broken glass containers whose contents had long since evaporated.

He knew nothing of hunting, nothing of survival. Just as hunger and weakness were about to claim this newborn life, a giant python, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, slithered into the chamber. Instead of attacking, it opened its jaws and vomited up the half-digested carcass of a monkey.

This became Anomok's first meal.

For the next few years, Arnomok grew up in this dark place, nurtured by snakes. Different snakes took turns bringing prey, from birds and rodents to small jungle beasts. He even began to ingest small doses of venom secreted by snakes—not suicide, but a strange initiation ritual. Fragmented and terrifying images flashed through his mind: a chaotic army that blotted out the sky, a colossal crimson serpent that stretched to the heavens, countless hissing, grotesque rats, and a vast but decaying city, utterly razed to the ground by thousands upon thousands of reptiles like himself, and other grotesque beings he could not comprehend.

These visions repeatedly hammered at his consciousness, gradually solidifying into an unquestionable belief: he bore a sacred mission. When he finally left the cave and began to roam the southern jungles, wherever he went, swarms of snakes would spontaneously gather and follow him, like a loyal and sacred living cloak, or a river clearing a path for him.

Eventually, he was discovered by Tehenhoin.

The prophet saw the manifestation of the serpent god's will in the distinct Sotigo mark on his body and the natural affinity with the serpents.

If we follow the timeline, the birth of Arnomok occurred after the Second Battle of Gorund. In that battle, a large number of Chaos's chosen ones, champions, followers, and servants were captured and annihilated, and Sotigo certainly had his fill of glory.

The power of the Serpent God thus surged, and in return, the Serpent God's Convenience Store held a grand sale...

Special individuals like Anomok are the limited-edition treasures created during this promotional event.

Among the key adjustments Daculus made to the interpretation and implementation of the grand plan, the development of the Sotigo sect was of paramount importance. He gave the Sotigo a dual definition: both ancient saints and deities.

As an ancient saint, Sotigo's domain is vengeance, an ancient punitive decree against all traitors and invaders.

As a deity, Sotigo is the protector of the lizard people, a blazing shield that guards his people and purifies his homeland.

Both seeking revenge and protecting.

This clear definition, like a final judgment, instantly ended the long-standing debate among the Sran priests about whether the Serpent God was indeed an Ancient Saint. The Sran's previous wariness and unease about the unexpected rise of the Sotigo sect and its growing influence over the Spirit Lizard community also turned into an open and even supportive attitude.

Who is Darkus? He is the Pope of the continent of Lustria, and his status as an Ancient Saint is recognized by the Slans with the highest level of respect.

If the entire lizardman society is likened to a vast corporation, then Darkus and Sotigo, as ancient saints, are like returning board members, holding supreme decision-making power and the final interpretation of grand plans.

The original CEO, Master Kroka, has retired, and Lord Mazdamudi has been promoted to the position of CEO.

Unfortunately, Master Ma wasn't a board member; he was just a second-generation Slan. He had never even met the Ancient Saints; only the first generation could communicate with them. He usually waited for notifications about major plans and did minor tasks like moving mountains and filling seas.

He had no idea what the big plan was all about.

Since taking office, Master Ma has lacked the direct technical inheritance, power enhancement, and clear guidance on the specific details of the grand plan from the ancient sages. He can only call for the grand plan every day and try his best to maintain the group's capital.

Other managers either slack off or give up. Meanwhile, the frontline employees are like programmed biological robots, dutifully completing their tasks and barely maintaining a semblance of stability and improvement.

The relationship between the Slan and the Ancients is inherently complex. Unlike elves or humans who worship gods, they do not revere the Ancients but rather regard them as supreme masters and creators. The Spirit Lizards, on the other hand, worship the Ancients as deities, devoutly honoring these sacred protectors and firmly believing that they will eventually return with a perfect plan to completely purify the world. As for the Lizardmen and Giant Lizards, they are not suited for abstract thought; they simply follow the Slan's will and participate in the rituals as instructed.

Now, things are different; the board members have returned.

Although only two returned, that was enough. The rigid gears were infused with new life, the rusted commands were reinterpreted, and the colossal war machine, having clarified for whom and why it was fighting, began to recalibrate its course and accelerate its operation.

Currently, the progress bar that is driving Sotigo's arrival has become more diverse and clearer in its growth path.

Today, in addition to the local indigenous people, the spirit lizards that gather here mainly come from Itaza, Taranxla and Slanwpek, these three regions are the main concentrations of Sotigo believers.

While the main military force of the Sotigo battle group was concentrated in the southern jungles, hunting down the rodents, it was not entirely focused there. A portion of the Red-Crowned Lizard priests and senior believers remained on the continent of Lustia, acting as messengers spreading the seeds of fire, moving across the vast land from Hesiota in the far north to Chapeyuto in the far south.

Their mission was to preach, but not to deliver impassioned sermons, which were forbidden. They systematically spread and solidified the teachings of the Sotigo among the vast Sotigo community by interpreting astrological anomalies, analyzing unusual gatherings of snakes, and even demonstrating signs of power bestowed by the Sotigo, thus deeply embedding the roots of faith into the social structure of every temple city.

The followers extend far beyond the lizardmen; they also include the snake-people. Whether active in lizardman or Duruci society, all snake-people are, without exception, natural and fanatical believers of Sotigo. Their innate affinity for the snake god forms the most steadfast, silent, and fatal cornerstone of their faith.

The most direct action to increase the progress bar is, of course, sacrifice.

In addition to the Sotigo Warband, which operates in the Southland jungles and sacrifices Skaven to the Sotigo, Duruchi also sacrifices Chaos to the Sotigo during his battle against Chaos in Nagaroth.

What Darkus sought was to ensure that the progress bar grew steadily and solidly before the anticipated final battle. He had to accumulate enough power to ensure that Sotigo's will could be fully awakened and brought to fruition, and he absolutely could not falter at the crucial moment, repeating the regret left behind in the war between the snakes and rats because the power of faith had not reached its peak.

This is a race against time, and also a project of accumulating diverse faiths and power across continents. Every purified ratman lair, every victory against the minions of Chaos, and every successful spread of doctrine adds a certain weight to the final thunderous arrival.

With the arrival of the Lizard Priest and Chief Scribe who governed Zetland, the concise and pragmatic meeting officially began.

Raine stood aside with his hands behind his back, showing no intention of intervening. His purpose in coming here was simply to listen in and gather specific information that could be clearly written into a report and presented to Darkus, not to interfere in the internal workings of the lizardmen.

The meeting was extremely dry and highly pragmatic. There were two core issues: first, the Lizardmen warriors within the Sotigo battle group needed to be rotated regularly, which was why the three Ancient Blood warriors, including Sinkra, responsible for the defense of Zetland, were present; second, after continuous combat, the battle group needed to replenish supplies, maintain equipment, and undergo necessary overall rest.

There wasn't a single unnecessary word or argument throughout the entire process.

The lizard priest and the prophet exchanged data and confirmed lists with rapid speech and precise gestures. The chief scribe's four fingers traced afterimages on the writing board, recording every decision. The meeting lasted only fifteen minutes; all matters were finalized afterward. Everyone nodded and quickly dispersed to return to their respective duties.

Seeing this, Raine quietly left with the three Asur naval commanders, whose faces still bore solemn expressions of contemplation. He needed to travel to the Eastern Celestial Pyramid, located higher up in the mountain city, to meet with the Slan Demon Priest, Quaxmu. He had a request that Quaxmu's assistance with, which was also one of the core purposes of the Asur fleet's stop here.

Meanwhile, Theresa, Cerion, Galian, and Villan wandered aimlessly within their limited area of ​​activity. They wandered around and unknowingly arrived at the edge of what looked like a viewing platform.

From here, the view opens up dramatically, offering a panoramic view of Zetland extending into the land. In the distance, the floating gardens of Ashoranca, like inverted mountains, float slowly through the thin clouds, shimmering with the light of vegetation and flowing water.

Closer up, layers upon layers of barracks, pyramids, temporary camps, astonishingly large warehouses, thick city walls winding along the mountain ridge, and those well-planned yet exotic lizard communities, are like intricate building blocks, inlaid into the steep mountain in a way that defies gravity.

"This place... feels even larger than Lorthorn?" Theresa said involuntarily, leaning against the cold stone railing.

The city before us is not a flat expanse, but a vertical, three-dimensional, colossal spectacle that grows simultaneously toward the sky and the mountainside.

"Is it just my imagination?" Cherion squinted, scanning the relatively small figures moving among the magnificent buildings. "The number of lizardmen seems disproportionate to the sheer size of this city?"

There are indeed lizards, monitor lizards, and giant beasts walking and working in the streets and squares, but compared to the vast urban framework, they still appear sparse and tranquil, as if most of the mountain city's volume is still asleep, or was originally designed for a much larger population than it is today.

Their adventure did not unfold as expected. Many areas were clearly forbidden territory for them, with silent lizardmen guarding the entrances or exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay. Other places, though accessible, were subject to cultural or religious taboos they could not understand, and the slightest mistake could lead to unnecessary trouble.

Most of what they could do was simply visit, but this superficial viewing did not bring much of the expected emotional value or novelty.

This feeling is like that of an ordinary tourist with no knowledge of history, standing blankly amidst a vast forest of steles or ruins. Everything before you is etched with unfamiliar yet solemn symbols, telling tales of lost epics, but there is no guide to transform these silent stones into a coherent story. The grandeur brings awe, but the incomprehensible grandeur ultimately settles into a sense of alienated weariness.

What's more, they had only slept for two or three hours. The lingering effects of the revelry still hung in their veins, and the severe lack of sleep caused a persistent headache and dry eyes. Every part of their body was screaming for a full rest, desperately wanting to return to their simple yet quiet dormitory bed and sink into the dreamless darkness.

"Let's go."

Galian rubbed his throbbing temples, turned around first, his voice betraying his weariness. Rather than exhausting himself in this awe-inspiring yet unapproachable spectacle, he'd rather go back and conserve his energy.

In any case, the fleet will be staying here for more than just one day; there's also tomorrow and the day after.

Exploring exotic lands requires a clear mind, and what they needed most right now was a complete slumber. The other three did not object, silently following in his footsteps, leaving behind the breathtaking yet utterly powerless view of the vertical city in the rising morning mist.

(This part is over; a brief flashback will follow once we reach the final destination.) (End of Chapter)