Diablo traveled through time and became a necromancer

The Far Star, dragging its tired but resilient body, slowly sailed into the embrace of Kurast Harbor. When the mist covering the ship dissipated, the scene before them made Wu Ye, Liya, and Vera hold their breath.

Boom! This is the first impression that comes into view.

The port of Kurast far surpasses Lugholm in scale! A vast natural bay, like an outstretched arm, embraces this bustling, vibrant land. As far as the eye can see, a vast fleet of ships, their masts densely packed like a forest! Tall galleons from Westmarch in the west, nimble galleys from Thorgren in the east, flat-bottomed cargo ships from the southern deserts, and even strangely shaped vessels from even more distant and mysterious lands, like colorful shells, fill the vast docks. The docks are bustling with activity: the cries of horns, the creaking of slings, the shouts of vendors, the shouts of sailors, and a myriad of incomprehensible foreign languages ​​blend together into a vibrant wave of sound that washes over you.

Port buildings stretch in layers along the coastline and along the banks of the river that extends inland. Unlike the heavy stone architecture of Lu'Ghoul, Kurast's architecture is primarily constructed from massive logs, bamboo, and a hard, deep red clay brick. Roofs are covered with thick palm leaves or fired terracotta tiles, creating a uniquely rugged, tropical aesthetic. Many buildings are built along the water, some even extending directly into the river, forming unique floating markets. The air is filled with the rich aroma of the sea, the pungent fragrance of spices (especially pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric), the sweet scent of tropical fruits, and the fresh scent of wood and palm leaves.

A towering watchtower stands at a strategic point in the harbor, flying the Kurast flag—an eagle with wings spread, clutching lightning in its talons, ready to take flight. Even more striking are the patrols in uniform uniforms that can be seen everywhere along the docks, main streets, and city walls.

Iron Wolf Mercenary Group!

These warriors' equipment is strikingly distinctive. They wear light yet sturdy dark green leather armor inlaid with metal plates, and short, deep blue capes embroidered with a snarling wolf's head. Most striking are the weapons they carry on their backs—not traditional swords, bows, or crossbows, but staffs gleaming with the light of different elements! Crimson staffs swirled with flames, ice-blue staffs radiating chill, and bright yellow staffs arcing with lightning! They operate in teams of three or five, swift and disciplined. Warriors wielding fire staffs, with their sharp, eagle-like eyes, are responsible for vigilance and ranged suppression; warriors wielding frost staffs, as steady as a mountain, are responsible for control and defense; and warriors wielding lightning staffs, like unsheathed swords, are responsible for assault and support. They exude the sharp aura of rigorous training and combat experience, as well as the powerful elemental energy fluctuations that intimidate and instill a strong sense of security.

"This is Kurast..." Leah leaned against the side of the ship, gazing at the vast, exotic and vibrant port before her, her eyes filled with shock and sincere admiration. "It's many times more spectacular than my father described!"

Vera was also attracted by the scene before her. The Amazon warrior's sharp eyes swept over the well-equipped and powerful Iron Wolf mercenaries, and nodded slightly: "The guarding force is very strong. Those mage warriors...it will be troublesome to cooperate with them." Her evaluation was full of the warrior's recognition of the strong.

Wu Ye's heart was equally filled with excitement. The Kurast before him perfectly matched his imagination of a great Eastern port—prosperous, open, vibrant, and possessing formidable defenses. The rich breath of life and sense of order that permeated the air also relaxed his frayed nerves considerably.

Guided by the pilot boat, the Far Star slowly approached a relatively spacious berth. At the dock, a middle-aged man, dressed in an elegant silk robe, with tanned skin, a carefully trimmed beard, and a shrewd, capable gaze, was already waiting. He was followed by several staff members wearing Kurast Port Authority uniforms.

"Mashif! You old sea dog! You finally made it back alive!" The middle-aged man saw Mashif at the bow and immediately laughed and waved. His voice was loud and full of familiarity and ridicule.

"Heratri! You profiteer! I'm a tough nut! Even the storms of the Twin Seas can't take me away!" Captain Meshif laughed back, his gold teeth gleaming beneath his beard. While directing the sailors to lower the gangplank, he introduced Wu Ye and the others, "This is Heratri, the best blacksmith in Kurast and my old friend! If you need anything forged, he's the right guy! It's just the price..." He chuckled, "That depends on your bargaining skills!"

Hera Tili walked forward, his eyes sweeping over Wu Ye and the other two sharply, lingering for a moment in particular on the spear behind Vera and the skeleton brother beside Wu Ye. A gleam of light flashed in his eyes, but the smile on his face remained: "Welcome to Kurast, guests from afar. I am Hera Tili. Although old man Mashif likes to brag, his craftsmanship is indeed impeccable. If you need any equipment, feel free to come to my shop. I guarantee that the goods are genuine and the prices are fair!" He spoke with the smoothness and confidence of a businessman.

Wu Ye nodded politely and said, "Thank you, Mr. Heratieri. I've long heard of you." He had heard of this legendary blacksmith from Kurast, who was said to be able to create magical equipment with powerful elemental properties.

"Okay, there's plenty of time to catch up!" Captain Mashif patted Hera Tieli on the shoulder. "Let's get down to business first! Hera, these three are Elder Wu Ye, Miss Leah, and Miss Vera. They are all warriors who are going to adventure deep into the rainforest. Please help with their clearance documents."

"No problem, leave it to me," Hera Tieli readily agreed, motioning the staff behind him to come forward. They expertly checked the documents Wu Ye handed over and affixed the Kurast Port Authority's entry stamp. "The formalities are complete. Everyone, welcome to Kurast. However..." He changed the subject, his tone taking on a hint of seriousness. "The deep rainforest has been unstable lately, with demonic activity much more frequent than in previous years. Be extremely cautious when you venture forth. If you need a guide or supplies, feel free to come see me or visit the 'Gilleb Inn' in the city, where adventurers gather."

"Thank you for the reminder." Wu Ye thanked him solemnly.

At this moment, a slightly hurried voice with a strange rhythm came from the back of the crowd:

"The threads of fate intertwine here... Shadows of chaos wriggle deep within the rainforest... A distant traveler brings the seeds of the storm... yet also holds the key to a solution..."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a figure wearing an extremely loose purple robe embroidered with intricate and mysterious golden runes, slowly making his way through the crowd. He was tall and thin, his features hidden by a large hood, revealing only a thin chin and thin lips. His steps were erratic, as if following an invisible rhythm. Most striking was the strange staff he held, topped with a massive crystal ball, within which a nebula seemed to slowly swirl.

"Lord Ormas!" Hera Tieli and the surrounding staff immediately saluted respectfully. Even Captain Meshif restrained his smile and bowed slightly.

The actual administrator of Kurast, the mysterious archmage - Ormas!

Omas ignored the others. His gaze, which seemed to be able to penetrate the soul (although his eyes could not be seen, everyone could feel the tangible gaze), fell directly on Wu Ye, then slowly swept over Leah and Vera, and finally stopped for a moment on Skeleton Brother.

"Wu Ye... Liya... Vera..." Ormus' voice was like a dream, with a strange echo. "And... the guardian from the realm of the dead... welcome, but also... be vigilant. The balance of Kurast is being shaken, and Mephisto's whispers echo in the rainforest... Your arrival is inevitable, but also a variable." He raised his staff slightly, and light flowed in the crystal ball. "Go to the Gileb Inn and find Ashela... the leader of the Iron Wolves... she will tell you everything you need to know... Remember... the root of hatred is buried deep in the dark heart of Travink..."

After saying these words that were as obscure as a prophecy, Omas' figure slowly disappeared into the crowd as if blending into the air, leaving behind only a faint, strange scent like sandalwood.

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Hera Tieli gave a wry smile. "Lord Ormas is always like this... speaking in mysterious ways. But his words often have a deeper meaning. Aisila is the leader of the Iron Wolf Mercenaries, and their headquarters are near the Gileb Inn. You really should go find her."

Wu Ye felt a chill in his heart. Though Ormus' words were cryptic, their direction was clear—Mephisto and Travinck! This completely matched the intelligence they had previously gathered from Branwell! This mysterious archmage clearly knew a great deal.

After bidding farewell to Captain Meshif and Hera Tieli, Wu Ye and the other two, along with Skeleton Brother, stepped into the bustling streets of Kurast.

The streets are bustling with people, filled with an exotic atmosphere. There are dark-skinned Kurast natives clad in brightly colored saris; desert merchants in turbans leading camels; adventurers of all stripes clad in leather armor and carrying weapons (barbarians, paladins, mages, assassins... even druids!); and the hurried, uniformed Iron Wolf mercenaries. Shops line both sides of the street, selling rare treasures from around the world: precious woods and herbs from the rainforest, spices and gems from the desert, exquisite crafts from Westmarch, and even mysterious spells and scrolls from the East! The air mingles with a cacophony of languages, and the sound of bargaining is endless.

"Wow! What a bustling place!" Leah's eyes were almost full as she looked around excitedly. Vera was also attracted by this vibrant scene, and her tense expression relaxed a lot. Wu Ye admired this bustling scene while following Hera Tieli's instructions and walked towards the Gileb Hotel.

Soon, they arrived at a relatively open square. In its center stood a massive fountain, and beside it stood a sturdy, three-story building constructed of logs and stone. Hanging above the doorway was a large wooden sign depicting a grinning chef and a large, golden-roasted bird. Below, in Common, was the message: "Gileb's Inn—Home of Kurast Adventurers!"

The inn's entrance was bustling with people, all dusty, weapon-toting adventurers. Next to the inn stood an even grander, more heavily guarded building. Two piercing Iron Wolf mercenaries, armed with elemental staffs, stood at the entrance. A snarling wolf head emblem hung above the door lintel—the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group's headquarters!

Wu Ye and the other two were about to enter the inn when they heard a commotion and cheers coming from the back. They followed the sound around to the back of the inn and discovered that it was actually an open-air training ground!

In the center of the training ground, a fierce battle is going on!

On one side are three Iron Wolf mercenaries, working in perfect harmony! One warrior wielding a flame staff (a fire mage) continuously unleashes scorching fireballs and fan-shaped flames to suppress their opponents; a warrior wielding a frost staff (an ice mage) continuously summons ice walls and cones to restrict their movement and create a freezing zone to slow them down; and a warrior wielding a lightning staff (an electric mage) moves at ghostly speed, unleashing chain lightning and charged rounds for precise and swift strikes!

Their opponent was a barbarian warrior of exceptional stature, shirtless, revealing rock-hard muscles! Wielding two massive, double-edged axes gleaming with cold light, he faced the barrage of the three elements with unwavering fear! He roared with a deafening roar, a raging crimson fighting spirit (Battle Howl + Combat Constitution) erupting from his body! With lightning speed, his axes swung with impenetrable force, even cleaving incoming fireballs with his axe winds, withstanding the piercing blows of ice spikes with his sturdy muscles (high ice resistance), and even precisely blocking several deadly chain lightning bolts with his axe (lightning resistance)! Like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex, he charged left and right across the battlefield of ice, fire, and lightning, each ferocious charge (leap attack) forcing the Iron Wolf mercenaries to retreat!

"Good! Harrogath's boy! That's powerful!" The crowd cheered. Clearly, the barbarian warrior's formidable strength had won everyone's admiration.

"The Iron Wolf's coordination is also very powerful! With the three elements of ice, fire and electricity suppressing, an ordinary person would have been defeated long ago!" Some people also admired the tactical qualities of the Iron Wolf mercenaries.

Wu Ye and the other two were also captivated by this spectacular battle. Vera's eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly intrigued by this intense confrontation. Leah nervously watched the fierce elemental clash. Skeleton Brother stood quietly behind Wu Ye, his soul fire calm, as if assessing the strength of both sides.

At that moment, the barbarian warrior seemed to unleash his true rage! He leaped high, dodging the spreading frost and the sweeping flames. With the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, he slashed down fiercely at the ice mage in charge of the battle! This blow was so powerful and devastating that if it had landed, the consequences would have been disastrous!

The Ice Warrior's expression changed slightly, clearly not expecting the opponent to break through the blockade so precisely! He hastily gathered his ice armor for defense, but it seemed too late!

At this critical moment!

"freeze!"

A cold and majestic female voice sounded!

Suddenly, an icy blue figure appeared before the ice warrior as if teleporting! She wore the same dark green leather armor and deep blue cloak of the Iron Wolf Mercenaries, but the staff she held was different—a crystal-clear, ice-like structure, its tip inlaid with a massive, deep-blue gemstone emitting an aura of extreme cold! She simply pointed her staff forward!

"Crack——!"

A massive ice wall, several feet thick, crystal clear, and emitting an absolute zero-degree chill, instantly formed out of thin air! Like the strongest barrier, it blocked the double-edged battle axe!

"boom--!!!"

The barbarian warrior's frantic twin axes slammed down on the ice wall! A deafening roar erupted, sending shards of ice flying! The ice wall shook violently, its surface covered in spiderweb-like cracks, but it ultimately remained intact! The terrifying chill even spread upward along the axe blades, instantly coating the barbarian warrior's arms with a layer of frost, and his movements froze!

"That's enough, Cole!" the woman holding the ice crystal staff said coldly. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty. "The training ends here!"

The barbarian warrior, Cole, shook off his numb arms, shaking off the frost. He looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared before him, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but more of a sense of dissatisfaction. He said in a muffled voice, "Captain Aishila! I haven't lost yet!"

Aishila! Leader of the Iron Wolf Mercenaries!

Ignoring Cole, Aishila's gaze swept across the three Iron Wolf mercenaries on the field, finally landing on Wu Ye and the other two. Her gaze lingered on Wu Ye and Skeleton Brother for a moment, its piercing gaze as if it could penetrate the surface and see the essence.

"Are you the guests from Rogge that Lord Omas mentioned?" Aisila's voice was still cold, but with a hint of scrutiny.