Azarinth Healer Chapter 674: Rebirth

Chapter 674 Rebirth

Ah you made a mistake there, young woman, the high pitched lich fragnt said and giggled. And here I managed to hide all three of them.

The other Fragnt looked over, its eyes glowering. You you were the one to why,

I believe I did, the first fragnt said, giggling to herself as she raised an ethereal arm to her face. Sorry Pain, but I didnt want to die. Nor do I want to die now, but I suppose its over.

He will combine the phylacteries and undo us, Pain said. You should flee human, if you do not plan to fight the creature you have just unleashed upon the world.

You two dont want to stop him? Ilea asked. Youre at a higher level even, she said to the second one.

The Lich waved her off. I was never one for fighting. Ive long forgotten who I was before but not a fighter. Not then, not now. The transition will be painless, mostly. Or so Pain here claims.

Could you do it too then? Ilea asked the first one. Do the transition? I assu you need to combine the three phylactery fragnts which then kills two of you?

Indeed. It is the only end for us, Pain said, his voice sounding almost relieved.

Really? Even if I defeat that guy he wont die? Ilea asked.

The fragnt looked at her. You would have to destroy the phylacteries and defeat his current form.

The sa is true for the two of you, I assu? she asked.

Yes, though I would gladly find an end to this suffering, Pain said.

I dont. So please dont insist on fighting . I would rather vanish than be killed, Owl said.

I see. And what happens when the three are combined? Ilea asked.

The first fragnt looked at her. You have them, do you not? he asked and paused, glancing towards the hole in the ground. You risk much, human. Why?

Because he threatened to kill my allies, she answered. So tell what happens.

The one bestowed with the fragnts will ascend to the full status of Lich, and will no longer be bound to the limits we have been imprisoned in for millennia, the first one said.

How long would that take? And can you hide us from his presence while that is happening? Ilea asked.

Im afraid that is impossible, the fragnt said. It will take days to finish the ritual, and neither I nor Owl can escape this place. Death will find us.

What happens if I defeat his current form? Ilea asked.

He will co back to life, but it takes ti, for the mana to collect, to reform what has been lost, he answered.

Enough to finish the ritual? she asked with a smile.

Perhaps yes. But for you to defeat. No, you have slain the monster below, you are more than capable. And I shall help, he said, his voice deeper, not wavering as it had before.

Ilea looked between them. No way to save you both?

There is not. Nor is there a need. I have been yearning for this day, where my rest is granted. Those I loved millennia past I have forgotten. They are long gone. The only wish I have is rest, but if there is a way to give to Owl what Death has claid for himself yes, he said as power exploded from his body. Then I shall assist you, with all I can do. And so should you, Owl. To survive, is to struggle, to fight. If you wish to claim this, you must now show your resolve.

The other Lich looked at Pain, her head moving down before she glanced at Ilea. I never wanted any of this, she said. That much I rember.

Just do whatever you can do to support and protect us, Ilea said. Youre the highest leveled one here after all, she added, seeing Feyrair progress through the dungeon. And we have another ally coming our way.

Pain looked up and vanished, returning with Feyrair in tow, the elf clad in white flas as he hissed at the two fragnts. He turned to Ilea with a questioning look.

Those two are fine. We need to kill the third one, she said.

Finally, Feyrair said. A fight.

They heard a wail echo out from deep below, anger and frustration near palpable.

Hes coming. Ilea mused and started sacrificing health into her fire and auras. Well show him whos the one really trapped inside this dungeon. Lets curb stomp that motherfucker.

Death appeared before them, soul and of course death magic emanating from his form as he looked at the gathered people, fields of magic stopping his aura as he spread his arms. You would betray . re fools, standing in the way of greatness. You have no right to claim what is m-

Ilea appeared before him, her burning ash rushing forward as she punched his chest with a charged set of spells. She ignored the pained wail and continued her assault, preventing his teleports as she tried to grapple his form with her ashen limbs. Six more punches landed before she jumped off, displacing herself to avoid the incoming flare of soul magic. She landed, Feyrair in his dragon form joining her as Pain ford additional sets of barriers hovering close to his two new allies.

Y you BEAST!! the Lich screeched, floating backwards as a dozen creatures ford from thin air, summoned at his will. You have no aut-

Ilea held up her arm, having sacrificed ten thousand health as a fully charged cone of heat and energy ford in front of her. The blast incinerated everything the Lich had summoned, his screeching form in the middle of it all as he tried to form shattering barriers in front of himself.

The two warriors didnt hesitate, Feyrair rushing forward with the spell still ongoing, his resilient body taking the heat in stride, white burning claws slashing at the floating form two long strides later.

The ashen healer flew behind the Lich, once more preventing teleportation as their assault continued, shields shattered by arcane explosions and the fla of creation. The two avoided each others spells with practiced ease, simply ignoring the flas when they thought it reasonable.

Why must y- the Lich cried, arcane energy flowing through him as his words ceased. He tried summoning more creatures, both him and his creations burned by Feyrairs continues fire breath.

Ilea avoided the soul magic spells while Feyrair seed to just ignore them. She assud his extended ti with Seithir had sothing to do with that. Shouldve leveled more as well, she thought, giving a slight nod to the watching two Liches whose shields had allowed her to keep her aggression up for most of the fight so far.

She aid her beam cannon at the Lichs chest and sent her charged beam forward, snapping the barrel upwards to cut through his head as well.

The being couldnt utter another word with the bombardnt of continuous spells, her teleport prevention coupled with Feyrairs claws keeping him there.

When the dragonling finally managed to grapple and push down the ethereal form with his fla covered claws, the fight was over. His breath ca down in a continuous stream with Ilea increasing her weight to send beam after beam of concentrated heat and energy into the downed form, the frozen ground below shattered and lting.

They didnt let up until a noise resounded in their minds.

ding Your group has defeated [Lich Fragnt lvl 1038]

ding The Faen Valkyrie has reached lvl 487 One stat point awarded

ding Deviant of Humanity reaches 3rd lvl 21

ding Monstrous reaches lvl 4

ding Veteran reaches 3rd lvl 28

That was a curb stomp alright, she mused.

Feyrair turned back into his elven form, the ground around him cracked and still on fire. He went into a crouch and hissed before he fell on his ass. That was beyond anything Seithir could conjure up, he said in a tired voice.

We couldve taken our ti, Ilea said, joining him as she checked his vitals. Everything seed fine, but she couldnt exactly heal soul damage.

The shields protected . There was no need, he said, giving a nod to the two waiting Liches.

Both of them twitched, floating a little farther back as he looked at them.

Hardly even a fight, she said. Maybe I shouldve taken him on alone.

Satisfying in its own way thought, she thought with a broad grin.

You massacred him, Pain said in a shaking voice, raising a hand to his face before he burst out laughing. SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU PIECE OF SHIT NECROMANCER SON OF A WHORE, LIAR, MURDERER!! he scread and appeared near where Death had ironically died, stomping the ground with his ethereal boots.

And here I thought hed be afraid of us, Ilea murmured, sitting down next to Feyrair.

Owl still held her distance, her eyes moving between the combatants and the other lich.

A lot of suppressed anger, Feyrair mused, happily taking the al Ilea offered.

Wouldnt happen to an elf, Ill give you that, she mused, eating a portion herself. It wasnt necessarily a good fight but a cathartic one after the days events.

The Lich cursed a little more before he broke down crying.

Owl joined and awkwardly touched his shoulder, giving a wary glance to the two fighters.

Youre literally twice our level, Ilea thought with a grin.

He didnt teleport away, why? I know he has hundreds of creatures prepared for this very event, Owl said.

Its a secret, Ilea answered, summoning the phylacteries. So you want to live, I take it?

The Lich looked at her, eyes shining just a little brighter. I do yes.

Arent they undead? Fey asked.

Moves, talks, seems pretty alive to , Ilea said.

I suppose youre right, the elf replied.

Ill leave you to it then, Ilea said and handed over the items.

J just like that? the Lich asked.

Ilea shrugged. I got what I ca here to get. And I dont want that guy to co back to life. Seems like the best outco of the situation is you becoming a full Lich.

I s suppose, Owl said and turned to the other fragnt. Are you sure, Pain? Youre the one who can do the ritual.

Pain had cald down a little by now, wiping away at non existent tears before he started summoning ice, with runes already scratched into it all. There is nothing I am more certain of, now co. We have to use the ti, he wont be beaten so easily the next ti.

I doubt that, Ilea said, sipping from a bottle of ale.

You shouldnt be overconfident, human, despite the incredible power you displayed in your battle. Death has fought many powerful beings, for a long ti, he said, gesturing his fellow Lich to sit down on a specific spot on the growing ice formation.

He didnt seem like a fighter to be honest, Ilea replied, not about to start an argunt about it all. The Lich may have fought powerful creatures but he had high level soul magic and necromancy at his disposal. She doubted he had battled many creatures that could withstand his spells for extended periods, let alone ones that could break his shields so easily.

The Lich focused on preparing the ritual, a circle of floating pieces of ice expanding as he added piece after piece. Death tirelessly studied the tombs and notes left behind by the order of necromancers we have long forgotten. The nding of our broken fragnts is only possible if none but one remain.

Were you the sa person before? Ilea asked. You look and sound a bit like humans.

I do not rember the species we had once been. But I do know we are three. It was how this ca to be, a failed ritual, taking the essence of not one but three. And so we were trapped, our bodies strengthened but limited. The process is delicate as it is and while failure had surely been an option we considered, the results were likely worse than what we had imagined. I do not rember much of that ti. Notes, and feelings, reminding of what I was, who I once have been, the being explained. And yet it matters not. My life ended with that ritual, and finally I will find rest, he said with a calm voice, continuing to work without pause as he set up the rest of the spell.

A few hours later, the being floated over to the three waiting humans and elf.

Ilea had gotten the Elders after her al.

It is done, the Lich said. Owl, all you must do is claim what is yours.

The other lich looked over from its central position within the maze of ice structures and floating cubes. What do you an?

Connect yourself to the phylacteries, and fuel the runes you touch. It was nice, knowing you, Pain said and turned to the group. Thank you.

I wont forget you, Owl said, her eyes flickering before magic surged upwards from the lose circle, runes and ice alight with both soul magic and necromancy.

The waiting Lich moved his gaze upwards with his arms lightly spread, a serene atmosphere to his form despite his near featureless body. Victoria, he whispered as his body dissolved back into pure mana.

The Elders wiped away tears, Feyrair giving them a confused look.

Dont get resurrected again, old man, Ilea thought with a slight smile, turning her attention to the focusing magic that swirled around the remaining fragnt, her body glowing with power, all congregating around her until it flowed into her form.

Bright purple eyes shined at the center of the formation, chunks of ice sent flying to all sides as the walls of the cavern started to crumble.

Ilea slapped away a few hundred kilograms of ice, forming a protective zone around the others, Feyrair expanding into his dragon form a mont later, the chunks simply collecting on top of his wings.

A burst of death magic flashed out, sending cracks through the ground and walls as a humanoid being was revealed at the center of it all, its form of ethereal shadow like quality with glowing purple eyes and a purple line indicating a mouth.

[Greater Lich lvl ????] - [Undead]

Ilea waved at the creature from under Feyrairs draconic head, the Elders standing behind her.

She watched as the Lich raised its arm, the ice around them stabilizing, the walls no longer breaking apart. It glanced to the floor and made a small pedestal form from the ground up, a runed sphere at its center. We should leave this place, the sa high pitched voice said, looking up. I cannot stop the collapse.

It raised a hand, grabbing the sphere before it used a simple space magic spell to move them up in the dungeon.

Ilea didnt try to resist, appearing with the group in the entrance hall where they had first co across the Liches.

Youre still in there, right? Ilea asked, approaching the creature now at near level one thousand three hundred.

I believe so yes Owl was my na, was it not? The one given to by passing ti, she said before giggling.

That sounds kind of ominous, Ilea said.

The Lich coughed. Apologies, I need to get used to this far different form.

Purple yes, instead of blue, Ilea said, aware of so of the magical differences thanks to her various forms of perception.

Exactly, the lich said and pointed at her, the sealed entrance shifting aside as it lead the group through.

Ilea teleported them up and out the sa way they had entered, quickly reaching the valley up top. We should probably not stay here, she mused, checking the locator that now pointed south.

I this is the sun, the Lich said, looking up to the glowing orb of flas.

Indeed, Ilea said and lightly touched her shoulder. And were in the far north, which ans there are creatures here even you cant just escape from.

I see, the being said, glancing at the mbers of the group.

Coming? Ilea asked. Or do you want to find your own way?

I you did so much already I dont Im a Lich a cursed undead being, she whispered.

I can introduce you to a friend. Theres a collection of special individuals there already. Youll fit right in, trust , Ilea suggested, smiling at the creature before her mantle closed up.

The Lich appeared next to her. If its really not a bother.

Not at all, Ilea said and activated her third tier transfer.

The group appeared within the domain of the adow, Ilea stretching as she cleansed herself inside a cloud of ash, switching into casual clothes before she joined the slow moving machine currently floating a few ters above ground.

[Pursuer of Akelion lvl ???] - [Self conscious]

Hey there murder machine, Ilea said, waving at the creature.

A visitor or an ally? the adow asked.

Shes a little lost. Maybe you can reintroduce her to the world and help her figure out her abilities, body, and well maybe help her show restraint with her power, Ilea answered.

The being made a rumbling sound that echoed through its entire domain. Im not so daycare, where you can drop off your new friends and children!

Co on, adow. We both know you love it. And its not like Im dropping any beings that arent at least sowhat interesting, she said, squinting her eyes at the tree. How do you even know what a daycare is?

You ntioned it a few days ago. You talk a lot, it answered.

Oh do I now, Ilea said, waving to the Lich, everyone else already occupied with their own activities, half of them likely communicating with the adow. Youre already talking to the tree I assu? It runs things around here, Ilea said. But of course you can leave whenever you like. Id appreciate it if you dont beco so murderhappy monster running around killing everything however.

You already fill that role, the adow sent.

One is enough. Do you really want four mark lich Ileas running around in your carefully cultivated wilderness? she asked.

That sounds like youre insulting my hobbies, the adow replied.