160. Lilian, My Lilian
[Ribloom].
The ground beneath the Lich turned white. An explosion of frost shot out, freezing everything within a do around him. My eyes grew wide as the blast ca. It chilled my skin, a layer of sleet that almost impeded my movent.
Still, I moved. If I didnt, I would have died. I leapt out of the way, propelled by a burst of flas. Behind , the wall of ice ca. It froze everything it touched, even the fla barrier around . It caught by my legs, freezing it in an instant. I tumbled to the ground, struggling to move. I still had my six arms, but the damage done to my lower body was undeniable.
I whimpered as the Lich shook his head, approaching .
You shall suffer, Demon. You will not die a painless death.
There was a flash. I spun around, creating a pair of flaming blades. They shot out at him, but he simply pointed. A cold breeze knocked up into the air. They exploded a bright blast up above. But it didnt touch him.
Did you really think I was lying when I said I have slain countless of your kind?
Crawling away, I shot more flaming projectiles his way. They barely impeded him. He flicked a finger, and more cold wind sent them up and away from him. But I tugged at them, lancing them around his back. They pierced his spine they tore through his tattered robes.
The Lich still walked. He didnt care. Not for any harm I could inflict upon him. With a grunt, I created a Nebular Sickle Grenade. I hurled it as hard as I could, grasping onto the chains so that it would stay on target.
His eyes dimd. He knew he wouldnt be able to deflect it. Instead, the Lich raised a wall of ice to block the attack. The explosion shattered the crystalline barrier. It didnt completely tear it down, instead leaving a large hole in the center, concentrated where the attack struck.
I saw the Lich through the hole in his barrier. His ice barrier sheeted over the ground, the garden, and himself. He bore a hateful gaze, one of scorn and fury. His own weapons made of ice ford over him. They ca to existence, shards which glead in the night.
I will have my Lilian back, even if your king tries to take her from . I shall
He was cut off as fire and ice rained down on him. I glanced over at Edithe, staring at her wide-eyed.
What are you doing? Why did you co back here?
I cant let him kill you, Salvos.
She dashed over to my side, grabbing for as the Lich was caught in her magic. I groaned as she pulled to my feet.
Your legs
She blinked. I focused my fire over the ice, trying to burn myself free.
Its no use. His magic is too powerful.
Edithe opened her mouth and was blasted back by a plu of cold wind. I fell back to the ground and glanced back at the Lich.
My Lilian, youve returned!
She gritted her teeth, shaking off the frost that ford over her skin. The red-haired woman got to her feet, standing next to an ice sculpture, glaring at the undead [Hero] before her.
I am not your Lilian, you insane bastard! [Fiery Riposte]!
Flaming winds, just like the Lichs icy zephyr, shot out towards him. It blasted him back, sweeping him off his feet, launching him deep into the thicket of dead trees.
Edithe panted as she stumbled over to . She hauled over her shoulders, gasping.
Co on, well destroy his phylactery together.
My wings were gone. I tried to grow them back use [Wings of the Netherworld] to force another set of wings out of . But it didnt want to. Was there a cooldown to the Skills use? That never happened before.
I was slowing Edithe down. She was exhausted. The Lich was behind us, sowhere in the garden, just waiting to strike. I couldnt just lay and let her do all the work. I saw a flicker coming our way.
He was screeching, a shrill shriek that sounded completely inhuman. The Lich launched out, his clawing hands reaching for the red-haired woman.
REEEEEEEEEETURN HER TO !
His insanity was beyond my understanding. Did he see Edithe as Lilian, or did he realize she wasnt Lilian? I wouldve thought it was the forr, if not for the fact that he was trying to kill us both.
The Lich held a spear made of ice in his hand. It wasnt like any other spear I had seen before. It was the size of a tree trunk, the kind that would tear down a citys walls in an instant, magic resistance or not.
He hurled it our way. Edithe spun around, staring at our impending demise. Any barrier she conjured would be crushed in an instant. Sa with . There was only one thing I could do.
[Demons Mark]. I marked my own arm, before ripping it right off. I winced I still had five more arms, but it hurt. Black blood dripped down as I tossed it at the incoming spear. The pillar of flas shot up, incinerating even the ice spear, my arm along with it.
I wonder if I can grow that back.
I didnt want to find out. Right now, I had to get up. I had to force myself up or Edithe and I would die here. My flas burned over my legs, but the Lichs ice refused to budge. So, I did sothing else. I took a deep breath, layering the flas over my leg. Then I tugged at its strings of mana, manipulating it just as I did the floating swords and floating spears.
I felt my lower body move. I pushed myself off Edithes shoulder, steadying myself on the ground. I stood taller than before, an extension added to my legs so that it would bend at the tip of my frozen feet into a crooked shape, like the hind legs of a goat or so other animal.
The flas from [Demons Mark] dissipated. The Lich ca, a storm of ice creeping up behind him. Edithe placed a hand on my shoulder, nodding. I felt a surge of energy wash over . I bared my teeth.
[Lend Skill: Restore Skill]. [Beacon of Guardians].
Thanks! Ill be right behind you.
She dashed away as a glow overca my body; I was too tall to stand straight on two legs. So, I bent over, clawing my hands on the ground as the Lich raised a hand. Ice spikes jutted out of the ground as I bounded around it.
Stand still!
Just as before, the Lichs eyes flickered for a very brief mont. It was enough for to close the distance and radiate a powerful black fla from all of my claws. I barreled straight through the Lich, using [Radiant Slash] to rip him apart. Then I spun around.
And now
[Restore Skil: Demons Mark]!
I placed the tip of my finger on the Lichs skull, barely grazing it as I ran for Edithe. The Lichs body began to reform, but a blast of flas blew him apart once more.
Edithe was hurrying up a stairwhen when I found her. She threw the double doors into the keep open, charging in as I reached her side.
Where is it?
I asked as we turned corner after corner. She pointed.
There!
I spotted the grand archway leading into the throne room just up ahead. I ran past Edithe, conjuring a Nebular Bow and Arrow as I reached its entrance. A black box sat on a chair, atop an elevated platform. I aid and fired a shot
And a hand jutted out of the ground, grabbing the arrow from mid-air. It was a blue hand, cold, almost like that of a [Wight]. But far, far larger.
Out of the black brick floor, a creature crawled out. It tore its way from the ground, a hulking undead that stood double my height as it currently was. Its head nearly reached the ceiling, a deford face staring down at . Its hand caught on fire briefly, the effects of the Nebular arrow afflicting it, but it was snuffed out soon enough.
[Draugr - Lvl. 121]
It roared. Edithe cursed as she stopped behind .
Fuck thats going to be a problem.
As if that wasnt bad enough, a blizzard entered the hallway behind us. The walls froze over as the Lich made his approach, arms spread wide.
My Lilian, oh my Lilian, why have you betrayed ?
His voice ca as a song. A lullaby, sung to children, to terrify them into an eternal slumber.
First, my family. Then, my friends. Even in this new world, I was sent to my death. Lilian, my Lilian. The Kobolds did this to you, didnt they? They turned you against , just as they turned against . I hAd NotHiNG You wERE aLL I HAD! WHY WONT YOU CO BACK?
I turned my Nebular Bow towards him, an arrow already strung and ready to loose. But the Lich halted. Footsteps echoed behind him. A voice spoke up, followed up by the sound of a sword being drawn.
Shes gone, Zach.
Daniel stood behind the Lich, his sword drawn, his body coated with a golden energy. He spoke casually, almost as if he was friends with the Lich. Taking a deep breath, he continued in English.
Let it go, bro.
The fake [Hero] wishes to challenge again?
The Lich cackled, conjuring dozens of icicles around him. He aid them at Daniel, each the size of a large spear, as his jaw dislocated in a grin.
You will lose more than your arm, this ti, boy.
Daniel shook his head, stepping forth.
I am not a boy. Why not see for yourself?
I narrowed my eyes, and even the Lich paused.
[Hero - Lvl. 100]
He was Level 100 now? But wait
Go, Salvos, Edithe!
He shouted, rushing the Lich. The spears of ice shot out at him as he parried them, closing the gap quickly. I spun around, focusing the Draugr, pelting it with even more Nebular Arrows. It brought a massive hand down, trying to crush .
I rolled out of the way as Edithe dashed under its legs. She raised a hand, pointing at the phylactery. The Draugr raised a foot. Daniel reached the Lich. And I opened my mouth.
A cone of flas blasted out, burning the Draugrs face. Daniel swung his sword, eting the Lichs own frozen blade. His sword shattered, and the Lich grabbed him by the neck.
You you have not advanced your Class, have you?
Of course not.
He grinned as a layer of frost creeped over him.
I didnt have the ti.
The Draugr stumbled back, falling to the ground as Edithe leapt to the side. Lightning crackled on her fingers, a smirk spreading across her face.
[Lightning Orb]
A ball of lightning shot out, streaking at the unprotected box. There was no barrier around it. Nothing left to keep it safe. Edithes magic obliterated the box entirely, sending a plu of black smoke into the air. Ashes and dust.
For every woman youve ever kidnapped its over.
Edithe spoke, her voice low.
It was destroyed in an instant. The life force of the Lich was gone. He could no longer regenerate, recover from any attack struck upon his feeble bones.
I nearly breathed out a sigh of relief too. We did it, I thought, relaxing slightly.And the Lich dropped Daniel, his flaming eyes dimming into re sparks.
No, no, no, NO, NO, NO!
He rushed past , swatting aside with a blast of cold wind. I groaned and rubbed my head.
Why isnt he
Edithe sent another [Lightning Orb] at the Lich. It blasted apart his left shoulder, but he ignored it. She paused as he hurried up the steps, scrambling for the broken black box. His bones zipped back at him, reattaching themselves as threads of mana quickly weaved them back together.
I stared, blinking. Edithe was at a loss for words. She lowered her staff as the Lich sweeped up whatever remained of the box into his arms. He spoke slowly and we understood what happened.
You destroyed my Lilian. All that was left of her gone forever
We were wrong.
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