Chapter 71: Delinquent and Fox meet an Irregular Lich!?

The darkness shattered with the mist dissipating.

To reveal a large broken castle in the distance wrapped around the seated existence and his army of skeletons. Once Ryuji and his party broke through the red mist. The walls and ramparts lifted, carrying the archers and mages to a safe height.

Ryuji's blue eyes focused on the skeletal archers. Their pale arms draw their bows atop the walls.

'I don't like this... He feels dangerous.'

The moment Ryuji removed his gaze from the seated existence. He felt as if that monster watched him, a glare that peeled back his flesh and searched him for all his secrets.

"Paul... we need to prepare," Ryuji muttered before feeling a kind of coercion. His gaze returned to the seated monster, its deep, empty eyes burning with a blue flame. "That thing won't be easy to defeat."

"Dear Challengers and our illustrious traitor, what brings thee to my humble kingdom of bones?" A voice echoed, yet felt more transmitted directly to their minds. The monster spread its arms, an elegant yet eerie voice oozing with treachery.

Everyone felt their spine tingle from its voice. Though elegant and well-spoken, the feeling of something speaking into your mind felt like sharp nails scooping out your ears.

"I will try, Simon, Sheila, get ready. This battle will be close." Paul's voice was low as he muttered, slipping his fingertips into his robe to grasp several runes. He tossed them in the air with a snap of his arms before several layers of arcane barriers formed in the air.

Sheila followed, pointing her hands to the sky and chanting to her goddess. She then formed a solid golden barrier around the party with ancient runes scribed in golden colours.

"Oh? A follower of that foolish goddess and the mistress of magic?" Once again, the sharp pain occurred. The monster's voice clawed at the sanity of the party members.

"Paul, Yumiko, Erika... Ready? This will not be an easy fight." Ryuji muttered, his hand resting on the shaft of his blood-drinking axe. Though he thought it might be useless against skeletons with no blood to drink.

[Tattoo's changed]

[Removed]

Kobold Tattoo of the Berserker (Rare): -4 Strength, -20 Rage, Dark Vision

[Currently Equipped]

Shadow Fox Tattoo (Uncommon): +2 Agility, Stops a fatal blow that would kill the owner once a day.

Lizardman Warrior (Epic): +3 Grit, -40% damage taken, Dark vision

Fire-Type Lizardman (Epic): +3 All Attributes, Fire damage on attacks, -50% Fire Damage Taken, Dark Vision

-

[Status]

Name: Ryuji Vincenzo

Title: Deathbringer (Kobold), Murderer (Human)

Class: Berserker: Lv.13 /?????????: Lv.2

Rage: 0/100 (0 Reserved) [40% damage resist] [50% Fire damage resist]

Rank: C

[Attributes]

Strength: 43 (+3)

[Status]

Name: Forgotten Lich

Title: The Old One, Deceiver

Level: 25

[40% magic resist] [40% damage resist]

Rank: B+

[Attributes]

Strength: 12

Agility: 15

Stamina: 35

Grit: 25

Intellect: 100

[Skill]

Undying - Unless you find the target's soul, he will keep reviving at full health endlessly.

**

"Did you just say a Lich?" Sheila's pale face looked worse, her lips trembling as she looked around with a fierce gaze. Her aura became more violent and became unapproachable.

His gaze watched her in surprise while her holy light finished its rampage, destroying most of the skeletal archers and a few mages. A strange smoke fluttered from their corpses and returned to the castle walls.

"Ryuji, liches are the vile and unsightly abominations created from the undead. Their bodies are immortal unless they find the target's soul and obliterate it." Despite her voice seeming to speak normally, Ryuji could feel it. A deep loathing and hatred was burning inside Sheila's eyes.

Maybe now wasn't the time to ask, but he could feel her hatred towards the enemy tripled the moment she knew what it was.

"Sheila, are Liches that bad?" Ryuji muttered, watching Simon rushing back. Alicia stumbled, and Paul was still recovering. He had no choice but to look at Yumiko and Erika with a feeling of powerlessness.

"Yes. Liches are cursed beings. Humans or other races that cannot let go of their lives will corrupt their souls, curse their flesh, and become Lich. This vile filth should never exist." Sheila stepped forward, holding her mace. Despite her clear sickness, a divine light flickered from her body like a broken bulb.

"Liches are the worst of existence. A Forgotten Lich is an undead created from a race's endless greed for power. Humans are greedy for endless life. Kobolds are obsessed with battle and power. Liches are the culmination of the filth and greed that fills races. That creature is a despicable Lich."

Ryuji listened to her explanation while Yumiko dashed forward with Erika, having Alicia support her with her arrows. "We will take out the soldiers!" Simon followed up, his dual blades shimmering with a silver light, an effective metal used against the undead and ghosts.

"Simon and I will support them. Ryuji holds Sheila; she's not in a normal state!" Paul followed up, his complex runes dancing through the air once more, reinforcing himself and Simon.

"Hey Sheila..."

"Do not stop me, Ryuji!" Sheila roared, a holy aura wrapping around her body. Her anger burned in Ryuji's senses, and a mysterious divine light formed like armour around her body.

"Ryuji! Support me in taking out that Lich!" Sheila declared. Ryuji could feel the divine pressure wrapping around her body, pushing him away, forcing him to step back from her overwhelming pressure. Not only that, but the tears at the corner of her eyes told him that there was a reason, something he wasn't close enough to her to know, which infuriated him.

"Sorry, I will stop you." Ryuji lifted his axe and stood in front of Sheila; something told him if she rushed into battle in this forced state, her face pale white, lips blue, and eyes filled with rage.

He was sure she would die.