Chapter 111: The Arch Lich Rises

Adrian reappeared in the Paradox Planes and headed straight towards Ascalor's abode as he would berate the old man as he sent him towards a dangerous place. He did not even bother walking there and just flew since he was faster if he flew rather than running. He really wanted to give Ascalor a piece of his mind but when he arrived at the entrance he could feel that there was tension in the air.

He greeted the guards and they greeted him back but there was uneasiness in their expression. Luckily, he was still allowed inside of the compound and was told that the elders were having a meeting. Adrian reached the backyard where the three elders were sitting but with there was an obvious tension in the air.

Adrian was still observing them as it would be rude to interrupt when the three were having a serious conversation. The three finally noticed Adrian's presence and it was Ascalor who stood up first and said, "We would talk about it more after we have more details on what happened as they are not the type to consider. Alright, dismissed."

The Bronx and Koronn then walked out of Ascalor's place with a serious face. Adrian just bowed to them as they left but it was clear that what they discussed was about a heavy topic. Ascalor then said, "So you are back?! Did your trip go well?"

Adrian was prepared to forgive Ascalor of what he did but because of the way he phrased it was unforgivable. Adrian finally told Ascalor in a sarcastic tone, "Oh! It was great. I almost became an experimental subject by a Mad Warlock but other than that everything is just peachy.

Ascalor got the feeling that the young lad in front of him was seething with anger so he decided to change the subject.

"Is that so? Come with me then because I have something to discuss with you." Ascalor said hurriedly as he looked back.

Adrian coughed and then said, "Are you not forgetting something?" He also held his hand out to Ascalor who looked back.

Ascalor was perplexed why Adrian held his hand out but then Adrian spoke, "The reward for my mission. The Epic skillbook for spatial magic."

When Adrian mentioned this Ascalor's face turned red as he did not expect that he was already forgetful. It seems the years have finally taken its toll. Not really, he was just excited to explore more of Adrian's unique physiology. It has been years since a new species was discovered.

Ascalor coughed but he was still red from embarrassment, "I see. The skillbook." Adrian stared blankly at Ascalor and thought, "He really did forget. I guess this is one of the downsides of lifelike NPCs."

Ascalor then regained his elderly aura when he stared at Adrian with his dignity overflowing, "I will teach you something better then so follow me."

Adrian thought that he might have upgraded his reward because of what he did. Luckily for Ascalor, Adrian did not see the "I dodge a bullet face" look that the former had because all Adrian could see was the elder's back.

Ascalor led Adrian to the training ground and surprised the latter because Ascarlor transformed into his real self. Adrian was surprised because a vortex in one of Ascalor's wings expanded and the two of them went inside it.

They both appeared on a realm that looked like an asteroid belt or the better way to put it would be they were in outer space. Adrian looked a little bit and saw that he could breathe easily. He looked at Ascalor as he was flabbergasted.

"Our constitutions enable us to survive in any type of dimension." Ascalor said as he could read Adrian's face.

"Does that include underwater?" Adrian asked as he was curious.

"To a certain extent we could for about an hour but not in very deep waters as we are not equipped with lungs that could filter water. That said I will show you on what I will teach you." Ascalor said.

Ascalor then held out his hands in an open position and then he made a slight pulling motion together with closing his hands. The asteroids that were far apart was then pulled towards them as if he used gravity but he did not. Adrian could see that the space that was around them was shrunk. It felt like Ascalor folded space to make the asteroids closer to them.

Ascalor then opened his palm once again and it pushed the space around them. Instead of the asteroids getting put back in place to where they originally were, the asteroids were flung with an invisible force. The asteroids then collided with other asteroids and the result was devastating. The asteroids crashed against each other and burst out into pieces.

"These will be the two skills that I will teach you. Do remember that these two are epic rated skills so do not be ashamed if you do not master them in a short amount time." Ascalor said as he looked at Adrian and showed the dignity of an elder of a race that uses origin magic.

"Okay so what I do I do first?" Adrian said while Ascalor had a smile on his face due to Adrian's determination.

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Inside a temple made from bones and skulls of different creatures, a hooded group of individuals were performing some sort of ritual. There were about fifty of them and about ten of them were players. An NPC that wore a black robe that looked expensive and was decorated with golden trinkets then raised his thin arms.

His hands and arms were so thin that one could already see his bone shape from them. His nails were about two inches long but his fingers wore rings that were made of gold and different expensive stones. When he raised his hands, another group of hooded figures carried giant wriggling bags to a magic circle that was carved on the ground.

"It seems that Grand Master Osmalum will finally attempt the ritual thanks to our great contribution." One of the players whispered to another near him.

The player beside him then spoke, "Still, I did not think that we would be ordered to kidnap women and children. It still irks me a little."

"It is just a game plus we got an epic skill just for completing an easy mission." A player behind them said.

The one who raised his hand was Osmalum. He was the strongest Necromancer in the group while the players were all dark mages who were apprentices to some of the necromancers there.

"Let us begin" Osmalum said in a voice that sounded like a weak old man.

The players were only in the side as they saw the necromancers chanting some sort of spell. The magic circle then glowed white and then the muffled cries of about twenty people could be heard from the giant bags. The movement in the bags became even more erratic until cracking sounds can be heard.

The movement in the giant bags only stopped when there was a red liquid coming out of them. Some of the players who saw this could only look away while some told themselves that it was just a game or like a scene from a horror movie. The white glow on the magic circle became red when the blood came in contact with it.

The temple then shook as if an earthquake hit it but the necromancers continued chanting without a care in the world. A few minutes later, bony spike emerged from the magic circle and swallowed the bloody bags as if was a hungry beast. After the bloody bags disappeared, a foul smell assaulted the noses of the players.

The smell was rotten and it was not pleasant for the nose. The magic circle then glowed black and a bony hand could be seen emerging from the magic circle. The ground where the magic circle lie began starting to crack as a whole skeleton finally emerged. The black empty eye sockets of the skeleton then glowed in a pale blue light as he surveyed its surroundings.

"It is good to see you again, Arch Lich Malus." Osmalum said as he bowed and presented a black robe with gold embroideries to the skeleton in the middle of the magic circle. The other necromancers then brought boxes that were filled with jeweled ornaments like necklaces, rings and bracelets.

"You have done well my followers. It has been too long since I have been sealed. The Asmodians will pay for their sins. Now that I have risen, it is time that we bring back our king." The Arch Lich said as he released his overbearing aura that the players felt suffocated.

"The Asmodians are no more Arch Lich Malus. After the war, they either sacrificed themselves or died. The races that were their descendants are now persecuted thanks to some of the dark gods followers infiltrating into society as influential figures." Osmalum said while he still bowed.

"Is that so? Then this world will be in my grasp, once I again controlled the Undead King after I free him from his seal." The Arch Lich said as it laughed maniacally and casted a wide spell that animated all the skeletons in the temple.