Chapter 78: Vs Lich

Chapter 78: Vs Lich

As the light faded away, it left behind it nothing but a single undead creature. The sheer amount of magical energy that emanated from its body made me feel as if I was getting goosebumps. What stood before us was the most powerful undead known to man. A lich.

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Basic Information

Name: Lich

Undead

Magic Beast

Dungeon Master

Lv 23

Stats

HP: 863

MP: 2467

STR: 134

VIT: 337

AGI: 366

INT: 1009

MGC: 1098

DEX: 366

Skills

Encantation Shortening: Lv 7

Dread: Lv 4

Fear: Lv 4

Regeneration: Lv 6

Spirit Control: Lv Max

Ghost Magic: Lv Max

Hell Magic: Lv 4

Vengeful Spirit

Magic Manipulation

Equipment

Tattered Robe

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The Lich species was one whose name was spread far and wide, and for good reason. They were far more powerful than any other species of undead.

Looking at its stats confused me a bit though. Is that really all it’s got? It’d seemed so intimidating and had so much pressure that I’d almost wanted to classify it as an A ranked threat. I mean, I know that every lich is going to be a bit different, but this guy here, his status seems to show that he’s only a B ranked threat at best.

「Overload: Summon Undead」

The lich started summoning undead before we were able to fully recover from the shock of being unable to port out.

「Why don’t you face off against these first? Kukakaka! Don’t die too easily now.」

「OoooooOoooOooOOOOoo...」

「Ahhhhhhh...」

「Graaoooooo...」

The lich simultaneously summoned 10 powerful undead creatures. Even the weakest amongst them was ranked C; half were strong enough to be classified as B level threats. They were just as powerful as the legendary skeleton we had just struggled to defeat just a bit earlier in the day.

『Fran』

「Nn. Ready to go all out.」

We focused our magical energies as we readied ourselves for a battle to the death. We would have to thin out their numbers with magic whilst hoping for an opening with which we could attack the lich.

Or at least that’s what I’d planned before I noticed Jean stepping up in front of us.

「Leave this to me.」

『You sure...?』

「Absolutely. I shall not fall to the likes of mere pawns so long as I have my staff.」

Jean’s face was plastered with his usual, brazen smile, but I couldn’t help but feel as if he seemed a bit more grim and resolute than usual.

「Hahahaha! Behold, my trump card!」

Jean rises to face the incoming undead head on.

「Nn. Strong.」

There has to be something in his status page that I’m missing. Or actually, his status page could be wrong altogether. Everything would totally check out if he had some type of appraisal jamming skill.

『What a pain in the ass.』

(What now?)

『He’s definitely using some sort of trick to phase through our attacks, so we might be able to steal it from him if we use Skill Taker, but...』

I can’t really affirm the specifics because Appraisal isn’t working properly.

『Jean, have you tried that skill of yours?』

(It does not work. Soul Seeing eyes has no effect on the undead.)

『Have you thought of any sort of strategy then?』

(I haven’t anything on the level of a strategy, but I would like the two of you to buy me a slight bit of time if possible.)

『Will buying you time let us beat this guy?』

(I cannot say for sure, but I would like you to trust me on this.)

Well, it seems like he’s got something up his sleeve. He isn’t all that confident about it, but we’re already grasping at straws here, so might as well go along with it.

(Got it.)

『We’ll end up stalling for you if we just fight it anyways, so why not.』

(You have my thanks.)

An hour passed.

We were still fighting against wave after wave of undead.

「What’s the matter? Are you tired already? You’re starting to get stiff.」

「Not... yet!」

「Woof!」

「Splendid! How splendid! I cannot wait until I see the look on your face when all that hope takes a sudden turn and transforms into despair. You will make for fine undead! Kukakakaka!」

Our attacks have yet to show any effect on the lich. We’ve tried all sorts of things during our battle with the undead he summoned; we threw as many spells and attacks his way as we could, but each and every single one would just end up slipping right through him.

The only reason we were able to last this long in the first place was because he was just toying with us. He himself wouldn’t do anything at all, and he even let Fran heal up when necessary.

It seems that he’s more interested in crushing our spirits and turning us into undead than defeating us - which makes sense. I’m pretty sure a necromancer as powerful as Jean could probably even end up turning into a Lich.

But thanks to that, we were able to buy Jean enough time to complete his preparations.

「Come on, why’d you stop moving? I’m going to summon even more undead at this rate.」

「Woof woof!」

Urushi fired a Dark Lance at the lich, but as expected, it was to no avail.

「Yes, yes, exactly. You must keep attacking at all times. Now, why don’t you show me what it is you’ve been plotting this whole time?」

「Will definitely hit you.」

「Kukakakaka! Go ahead. If you can, that is.」

I was already down to about half my mana. The same applied to Fran, Urushi and Jean as well.

『Still not done yet, Jean?』

(Just a second longer! And for certain this time!)

After repeating a phrase he’s said time and time again, Jean finally reveals why he had us stall for time.

A loud explosion rings throughout the hall as it begins to shake with the intensity of a magnitude 5 earthquake. What the hell!? Did someone drop a bomb in the dungeon or something?!

「What in the world are you doing?!」

The lich’s usual, haughty attitude vanishes in an instant.

「It seems to have worked.」

「You did that?」

「T’was a subordinate of mine.」

It looked like what Jean was waiting for this whole time was for one of his subordinates to destroy something.

「The Phantom Flame is losing its magical power!? My forlorn desires, they’re disappearing!!? Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!」

『What’s happening to him?』

「He should be growing weaker as we speak. His strength stemmed from his ability to draw from the dungeon’s mana supply, and let us just say that I’ve arranged for it to be removed from right under his feet.」

『You should’ve just told us you were doing something like that.』

「My apologies. I would not have been able to destroy it lest you distracted the lich.」

「And?」

「Deceiving one’s allies is how one truly begins to deceive the enemy. I’ve no idea as to whether or not he possessed any sort of skill that would allow him to read minds, so I felt it better to hide it from you.」

「You bastard! You shall not be forgiven! I no longer have any need to turn the lot of you into subordinates! I’ll crush your limbs and have you tormented by the undead until you wish to have never been born! I refuse to let you know peace, even in death!!」