Chapter 165: Battle to the Death

Liches weren’t something that existed naturally.

This meant that no one was born a lich, and that it could only be formed if a mortal signed a contract with a demon.

The people who were prone to being tempted to become a lich were often those who were desperate to live— after all, liches could live as long as the demon they’re contracted to was alive.

Moreover, some were not willing to give up in their pursuit of power.

They would then sign a demonic contract, giving up their lives in exchange for eternal life and power.

This included mages and warriors that were close to death, which were also the favorite target of demons since they would be able to gain a loyal subordinate just by sharing some of their demonic power.

Divine power is an energy of higher beings.

It blesses the stars of the mortals anointed by it, granting the holy attribute to those with aura stars while granting the ability to cast holy miracles in exchange for magic spells to those with mana stars.

It was sublime and inflexible, an energy that overpowers both aura and mana.

However, demonic power was a bit different from it.

Unlike the divine power’s overbearing and inflexible aspect, it was the complete opposite.

As demonic power corrupts a mortal’s aura or mana star, it would not only increase their power, but significantly increase their quantity as well.

Demonic power’s corruptive and flexible aspect made it possible to utilize both aura arts and magic spells with it as the source.

Therefore, many people— even talented ones— fall for the temptation of power and eternal life even while fully knowing the consequences of such an action.

***

The lich’s eyes in the form of blue flames flickered.

’My master’s anger towards this kid shouldn’t be without reason. I’m afraid he might foil my plans if I were to go easy on him.

Looking at the group of humans before him that were readying themselves to fight, he slowly raised the withered wooden staff with his skeletal hands.

’I should just get this over and done with.’

While the lich was immersed in his thoughts, Regis and the others hurriedly fixed their battle formation.

"Leave Alaric to me! I have top quality healing potions."

Aurelia said out loud, willing to help with whatever she had on her.

Killian and Pandora hurriedly carried Alaric with them and fell back some distance away.

Or at least they did so...

"Where do you think you’re going?" the grating voice of the lich sounded once again.

All they could do was stare dumbfoundedly at the undead as it raised its withered wooden staff above its head.

CREAK— CRACK— SPLASH—!!!

Loud sounds echoed around the swamp as countless numbers of bones suddenly emerged from under the water.

It then formed a giant wall that blocked the way the group came from.

The lich "smiled", "Please don’t leave me alone, I’ll be lonely~"

His teasing tone, coupled with his grating voice, made them sick to their stomach.

"What do we do now...?" Killian asked with a tensed expression.

Regis looked around while drinking a healing potion.

The mangrove surrounded them, which served as a natural obstruction for any kind of escape.

The waist-length water restricted his companions’ movements, and the black miasma also obscured his companions’ vision.

Coupled with the giant bone wall behind them...

’We can’t escape.’ A grave expression appeared on Regis’s face.

If he were alone, he could have easily escaped, as he had long adapted to moving in shallow water and seeing through the black miasma.

’I could even resort to demonic power...’ He thought to himself.

In fact, he felt like he could already trust Pandora and Killian enough to show his demonic power.

The problem was Aurelia and especially Alaric.

One was an acquaintance he couldn’t quite trust yet, while the other was literally a priest of light.

"U-Um, Regis..."

Hearing Aurelia’s distressed voice, Regis looked over and saw that Alaric’s situation was worsening.

"I’m sorry to interrupt your little conversation there. I just found people who could accompany us in this little party of ours."

The lich, which had been silent since earlier, raised his staff again.

CREAK— CREAK— CREAK—

SPLASH— SPLASH— SPLASH—

Countless creaking of bones and splashes of water echoed as numerous skeletons rose from the water.

This time, they even had armor and helmets protecting their bodies.

Seeing this, Regis spoke without hesitation, "Let’s go near the bone wall. Aurelia, take Alaric with you. I will take on the front, Killian and Pandora, I’ll leave the sides to the two of you."

The group moved slowly without hesitation.

’I really don’t like being cornered like this, but they wouldn’t be able to keep up if I moved...’

Thoughts after thoughts surged within Regis’s mind.

’...so it will be better for us to lessen the direction we would be attacked from while holding our ground.’

Wung—

Two stars lit up in Pandora and Killian’s chest.

Meanwhile, Regis had two aura and mana stars respectively that were intensely shining in his heart.

At the center of their formation, Aurelia was frantically pulling out potions after potions, all of which were top quality, in an attempt to heal Alaric.

At this moment, the battle to the death had already begun.

WOOSH— CLANK— CRACK— SPLASHES—

The sounds of weapons cutting through the air and intercepting each other, bones cracking, and the shallow water splashing with their every movement filled the swamp.

Meanwhile, the lich remained stationary with his withered wooden staff planted on the ground, a black magic circle spread out from where he was standing.

He was currently summoning more and more skeletons continuously, planning to overwhelm Regis’s group with sheer numbers.

’This is the safest way. The black miasma, magic array below the swamp, and the rift behind me will continuously provide me with mana, meaning that I could raise my undead army without limit!’

The blue flames in his eyes flickered.

***

Meanwhile, on Regis’s side...

He had just smashed three skeletons’ skulls into pieces, but he observed that no matter what they did, those skeletons would rise again after ten minutes or so.

Regos had even tried using mana strings to mince their skulls, but to no avail.

The skeleton army seemed like they could rise up thousands of times, added to the fact that, unlike humans, they don’t get tired at all.

Currently, they had already been fighting for an hour.

"Boos, I don’t think I can last another hour." Killian gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Regis’s voice was calm, "How about you, Pandora?’

"I’m fine, Brother." Pandora replied, trying to maintain her calm.

However, it was obvious that her situation wasn’t any better than Killian’s.

In fact, Regis had already been aware of this. He had already felt earlier that the black miasma seemed to be interfering with their recovery and even increasing their energy consumption.

Even their magic fields were being suppressed.

’I need to use Lux Aeterna at the perfect time...’ Regis gritted his teeth, "Please hold on, just a little longer."

He was already planning to end the fight earlier with it.

However, he was having a bad premonition whenever he was about to move.

This only meant that the lich had defensive mechanisms all around it that might render his efforts useless.

Regis did not doubt it as his instinct was already enhanced by the ’world’ in his consciousness.

Unfortunately, time does not seem to be on his side as Aurelia’s strained voice sounded, "R-Regis... hic. H-hic..."

Her voice alarmed Regis as he glanced behind him.

His eyes widened as he saw that Alaric seemed to already be out of blood. The black miasma that was festering on his chest seemed to be stronger than ever.

Unlike Regis, who had Perfect Adaptation and was able to expel the black miasma from his arm, Alaric obviously didn’t have such means.

"I-I don’t know what to do anymore...hic... I’m a-all out of p-potions..." Tears streamed down from Aurelia’s eyes.

Regis bit his lip, "Alaric, can you still cast a holy miracle?"

The priest opened his eyes with difficulty, "Yes..."

He seemed to be only speaking through pure will as he suppressed the pain he was feeling.

"I... tried... casting h-holy healing on my self... but it o-only... made m-my situation w-worse..."

"I’m sorry." Regis knew that he had to go for it right now, "But can you cast holy anointment on the dagger on my back?"

He lifted his shirt a bit to show the Shard of Tinateria that was sheathed on his back.

"Hmm?"

The lich tilted his head as he seemed to sense that Regiis and his group were up to something.

All he could see was the boy with blood red eyes glaring at him with pure anger.

"I-It’s... done... but I-I can... only m-maintain it.... For... a f-few s-seconds..."

Regis glanced at Alaric behind him and smiled, "Don’t speak anymore and save your strength. This would be over soon enough."

He then glanced at Killian and Pandora, who moved instantly.

Killian poured aura into his bracelet as a sword made of blue lightning manifested on his right hand, while Pandora planted her staff on the ground as layers upon layers of mana barrier encased their group.

Aurelia noticed their preparations and asked, "R-Regis! Do you need us to cover you?"

"Hmm?" Regis turned his head towards her curiously.

Their client seemed to have resolved herself as she took out a ball-like object from the pocket of her dress.

The tears on her face had already dried, replaced by determination.

He then nodded and replied, "Yes, I will need every help I can get."

"Alright." Aurelia nodded as she glanced at Alaric, who seemed to be at death’s door.

Seeing that his companions were safe, Regis took a deep breath as he chanted.

[Lux Aeterna]