Chapter 56 The Fallen Lich

[Congratulations, you have successfully completed the third stage of the Fier Mountain quest.]

[Number four's clearing condition has been unlocked.]

[Completion Conditions:

1. Find or retrieve the Sword of Fear (done).

2. Find or complete Fog Dungeon (done).

3. Explore the Cave in the Fog Dungeon (done).

4. Defeat the creature who claims to be the owner of Fier Mountain.]

So I have to defeat the boss monster or something like that, right?

But the problem is…

'Where is he?'

Even when I looked around the room carefully, I couldn't find the creature that the World System was referring to.

This place should be the innermost room right, why didn't I see the appearance of the boss monster that the system message referred to?

Finally, I stopped looking around for the boss monster's whereabouts.

I focused my attention on something right in the middle of the room.

There stood a storage tube made of transparent glass. Inside it contains water. And in the water, there is an eyeball floating.

The eyeball is only one, not a pair. A normal person would turn their head away in fright when they saw those eyeballs. But I can't hide my face.

The instant I saw that eyeball, I immediately widened my eyes and almost dropped my jaw.

That's because when I looked at the eyeball, the Fear effect that I felt earlier seemed to be even more pronounced, whereas I didn't feel the Fear effect anymore.

Indeed, that eyeball gaze has something in common with an eyeball gaze that I felt before.

'Is that the source of Fear's attacks that drive people crazy?'

[The Soul of a Regressor from Another World is strongly blocking Fear's effect.]

Now, I was certain that the issue that led to people becoming insane and being stuck on Fier Mountain was caused by that eyeball.

Unlike when I felt it from a distance when my eyes looked directly into that eyeball, I reflexively took a step back.

'Even though it's only an eyeball, how can it give off such a terrifying aura?'

Is it just my imagination, somehow, I can see something around the tube that holds the eyeball. There was darkness, anger, and all sorts of other terrible emotions mixed.

One thing for sure is, that eyeball must be a very important or valuable object.

I slowly got closer to get a better look. But, before I could touch the tube that contained the eyeball, I felt a sense of danger.

My hand was about to reach for the tube, but I had to stop what I was about to do.

I stood like a hunk of rock.

"Hohoho, I'm surprised. This is the first time anyone has been able to come all the way here. How are you holding back your consciousness?"

A voice suddenly came from behind me.

I felt a touch on my shoulder.

The touch was slow and smooth, but it was enough to make anyone's heart jump out of its place.

I turned my head like a robot full of rust.

When I shifted my gaze slightly towards my shoulder which felt the touch, I could see the head of a person covered in a black cloak right.

He was right beside me

His face is really close to my face.

Because of the dim lighting, I couldn't see his face.

I didn't notice because I was too focused on staring at the eyeball in the storage tube.

So, I immediately pushed myself away just like that.

Tap, tap…

Both my feet managed to land on the floor.

We were now quite far apart.

I managed to keep my distance.

"Ahahaha, why are you jumping like a rodent? How funny."

"I really couldn't detect your presence. How could you suddenly appear behind me?"

"Are you curious, my dear guest? Then I will tell you as a reward for coming here."

He lowered the hood that covered his face.

At that instant moment, I actually saw something that was so shocking.

The face that was under the cloak was not a human face.

On his face, he had no skin, nor did he have eyes, a brain, or even flesh, something that a human should have.

Behind the cloak that covered his face was only a white skull. Not only the face but also the whole body. If he wasn't wearing a cloak, his skull would be exposed.

The organs that should be there are not there.

Even so, he could still speak and move.

Normal people will not know how a skeleton like him can live.

There was no mistake, he was….

"Undead, huh."

"Hey, hey, hey. Please don't compare me to low-level beings like the undead. That's rude. If you say that one more time, I'll be mad."

Behind the eye sockets that were originally only filled with emptiness, now a faint red light was visible as if reflecting his anger.

Okay, I had to go with the flow of the game.

"What should I call you then?"

"You can call me Nya Nu, The Lich. I am the ruler of this place. Ho ho ho."

I don't know how he's laughing or making any other sounds, but I understand that he's laughing arrogantly. His skull teeth kept shaking with joy. His hands rose as he introduced himself.

"That explains everything then."

Liches are high-level undead creatures.

They're not just monsters. They are creatures that have intelligence similar to humans. Some say that they were once great magicians who turned into undead monsters.

But what mattered was not only his awareness and intelligence, Liches were also famous for their strength.

It is common knowledge that Liches have great magic power. They were already almost on par with a magician at the Supreme realm. So, I have to be prepared for the worst scenario.

'It is clear that his level is higher than that of Vice Knight Captain, Trusty.'

Somehow, I'm starting to not believe I can beat him. Why did the World System create such an impossible mission?

"Phew~"

I can only sigh.

However, one strange thing about this Lich is… He talks too much.

"Strange, when did a Lich start enjoying long conversations like you do?"

"Hey~ Don't be stupid, dear guest! So, what if a great Lich like myself talks so much? After all, this is the first time someone has been able to come here. Consider it an honor to be able to talk to a great Lich like me, my dear guest."

At the end of the long sentence he spat out, he turned his face to the side and said quietly, "It's not that I'm lonely."

I managed to eavesdrop thanks to the Hear of Everything skill, but I wanted to vomit when I heard that from the skeleton's mouth.

"So, now that I've introduced myself, you can now answer my question. How did you get here and withstand the mental effects of Fear? I believe that any living creature would go mad upon receiving that attack."

"Isn't a Lich famous for their cleverness when it comes to magic? Why don't you know?"

Perhaps because he was feeling increasingly upset, he shut up for a moment and looked at me.

Finally, he shouted something.

"Kehihihi… I like your enthusiasm. Then, I will force the answer out of your mouth."

From his previously empty sleeve, a wand suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The lich then held the wand and began to chant.

He cast a spell.

I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't move.

'Since when?'

I looked down.

There was a magic circle under my feet that kept both of my feet stuck to the floor. It felt like there was glue on the surface of my feet.

In the blink of an eye, the magic circle glowed and started to engulf me.

"Dimensional Magic - Teleportation."

I can hear the Lich chanting his incantation.

So, the magic circle under my feet is a trap to restrain me, whereas he used teleportation magic, huh?

Blink …

***

When I opened my eyes, I was suddenly in another room.

It only happened in the blink of an eye, but everything around me was different.

The laboratory room where I was before was no longer around me.

My eyes, which I opened slowly, began to wander around the room where I was moved.

This room is very spacious, the ceiling is also very high.

The decoration that accompanies the walls of the room is also very beautiful.

Antique ornaments stuck here and there.

Even the lighting here was supported by Magic Lamps, which made the entire room very bright.

'I didn't expect a Lich to create a room like this.'

The place I was in now was almost similar to a banquet hall. However, there wasn't any furniture in this room. As far as my eyes could see, there was only a plain floor.

Of course, in front of me, there is still a Lich.

"Don't admire this room too much, my dear guest. You look like a village boy."

He mocked me blatantly.

Even I, who used to be patient, can frown.

"Phew~ So, what do you want from me?"

I don't know why, but he was standing there while wiping his skull.

"Haaa… Even though it was tiring when I used teleportation magic, I was forced to use it. You should be honored to have experienced the legendary teleportation magic, O my dear guest."

"I just found out that a Lich can be as expressive as you."

Despite the playful nature he displayed, the Teleportation Magic he spoke of was indeed a very powerful magic.

Teleport Magic.

It was a high-level magic spell

Even people have considered that Teleportation Magic has disappeared and is considered Legendary Magic. How could a Lich that had come from nowhere be able to use it?

Similar to the greatness of the Teleportation Magic, Mana's consumption when using it is also very high. Moreover, Lich used it not only on himself but also to teleport me.

Even if he was a Lich, he would still consume a lot of magic power.

Other than that, a Lich did not specialize in Dimensional Magic.

'He must have really appreciated the lab room before.'

If we had fought in the laboratory earlier, I'm sure the place would have been destroyed.

"I haven't fought in a long time. Hope you will cheer me up a bit, my dear guest! Xixixixi."

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The sound of Lich's teeth grinding was annoying.

So, I just need to do what I need to do.

[Skill Strengthening - Active.]

[Skill Amplification - Active.]

[Swordsmanship Skill - Active.]

I activated all of my skills.

And then, I rushed forward to attack without warning.

The Svangur Sword in my hand was also ready to cut that Lich.

But, unfortunately, he was one step faster than me.

"Summon Magic - Undead Resurrection."

I was surprised by how quickly he finished his chant. Unlike the teleportation magic that required him to cast spells for a long time, now he completed them very quickly.

I knew that was common for a Lich to specialize in Summoning Magic - Undead. Even Lich has the nickname The King of Undead. But, I was still surprised by how fast he cast the spell.