Chapter 146
-Shooong!
An arrow cutting through the air flew toward the lich. The arrow had been shot by Barnes, who was observing the situation from behind.
However, the lich showed no intention of dodging the arrow.
― Kkaang!
The arrow, soaring with momentum, snapped against the lich's sturdy body and fell to the ground.
No matter how sharp the arrow, the lich's flesh could not be pierced by something so trivial.
The lich then snapped his fingers. In that moment, the white energy in his hand was dyed black.
― Ttak!
Erich slid to the side. In his vision, he saw the sinister energy radiating from the lich begin to condense.
― Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion erupted soon after.
Unlike the ice magic used by necromancers, the lich's magic manifested as a jet-black force.
The black explosion scattered sparks of dark magic, and the stone wall hit by them melted and oxidized as if dissolving away.
'... Is it corrosion? Troublesome.'
Before his regression, Erich had witnessed the minions directly controlled by the Lord of the Dead wielding a different power.
Even the slightest touch of that magic would cause it to rapidly eat away at you, inevitably bringing death.
Therefore, unlike when dodging the ice magic of necromancers, Erich increased the distance of his evasive maneuvers.
The only way to survive after being struck by that corrosion would be to cut off the affected area.
― Fwoosh!
Erich's eyes blazed crimson. Soon after, golden, scale-like fragments of aura clung to his blade.
― Sweeeek!
Erich's sword drew an arc through the air. Accompanied by a sonic crack, slashes appeared on the lich's body at a speed almost impossible to see.
However—
― Kwajangchang!
What Erich cut was not the lich's body, but the aura of black corrosion encircling him.
The lich was using it as a shield.
When the golden flames touched the black corrosive energy, both were consumed in a furious blaze and vanished together.
Erich's eyes narrowed.
'The reaction is different...?'
It was a completely different scene than before.
All Swordmasters' aura was blue, but Erich's aura—empowered by Incensus—held the might of golden flame.
The blue aura he had once used against the lich appeared to be devoured by that black energy.
Now, though, they appeared to cancel each other out. This must be the "equal power"
Ceres had mentioned...
'Is this a godly technique?' Erich wore a faint smile.
Meanwhile, the lich twisted his lips.
"... Displeasing."
"It's about to get even worse for you."
― Pat!
Erich's body moved swiftly. As he rushed the lich, an explosion of black corrosive energy erupted under each footstep.
― Kwaaaang!
But before the black corruption could touch him, Erich dodged every attack with quick movement.
The lich raised both hands, drawing sinister energy into each palm.
A disturbing sensation, as if worms were squirming inside, radiated. Shards of corrosive energy shot toward Erich.
Erich dodged the corruption below his feet as he deflected the incoming shards head-on.
His hands seemed to disappear, and sparks flew where the shards of corrosion collided with his golden flames.
― Kwaaang! Kwaaaang!
The lich and Erich soon clashed in earnest. The black energy in the lich's hand stretched long, forming a spear.
Erich and the lich exchanged fierce blows. The lich's attacks carved black lines of energy, while Erich's sword traced arcs of gold.
Black and gold lights intertwined and clashed brutally. It could be said they were nearly evenly matched.
But then—
Barnes' eyes narrowed as he watched from behind. He drew an arrow and nocked it. His arm bulged as he pulled back quickly.
― Ping!
As Barnes released, the arrow shot out, tearing through the air. The lich's white eyes darted, catching the arrow midair, but he refocused on his duel with Erich.
He believed an arrow could not harm him.
― Kwaaaang!
A sudden explosion erupted behind the lich's neck.
A small but blazing fire sprang up, startling the lich, causing his attack meant for Erich to miss.
Erich seized the opening, and his blade grazed the lich's shoulder.
Had it been a little deeper, he could have severed the arm—a truly sharp attack.
― Sheeeek!
The lich frantically swung his black spear to drive Erich away. Backing off, he glared alternately at Erich and Barnes.
His chilling voice rang out.
"... So, the first arrow was for this?"
"If used well, it's a fun toy."
Erich grinned. Barnes' sudden use of arrows had a clear reason. Erich had anticipated the lich would be at least even with him in power.
Thus, Erich's wild card was Barnes' support fire. While arrows were useless against the dead, attaching something to them made them useful.
Specifically, the item he'd used during his resurrection ruse: an object that created fire and explosion.
Not enough to exterminate the dead, but enough to surprise them.
And in battles against evenly matched opponents, such fleeting moments could be fatal.
Erich spun his sword, shaking off blue blood. The lich studied the gash on his shoulder.
Normally, it should have regenerated instantly, but it remained open and unhealed.
Instead, the faint embers lingering on the wound seemed to inhibit his recovery.
Erich gripped his sword lower than before, holding it longer. The lich quickly sealed his wound with ice.
This time, the lich maintained menacing eyes on both Erich and Barnes. As he raised his hand toward Barnes—
― Pat!
Erich darted in at high speed once more.
― Kkaang! Kkang!
Unlike before, with a longer grip, Erich battled the lich single-handedly.
His earlier attacks were fierce, but now, like spearmen probing for weaknesses, they engaged in strategic back-and-forth.
The distance between the tips of their weapons grew longer, but the black and gold trails painted shapes in the air with incredible speed.
― Fwoosh!
The lich's blue brow furrowed. Although Erich's sword had not touched him, the heat radiating from it began to sear his skin.
A steady drizzle can soak clothes. Little by little, blackened burns appeared on the lich's body.
It was as if Erich intended to wear the lich down in this fight.
But at the next moment, the lich bared sharp teeth in a sinister smile.
― Kkaaaang!
Erich's eyes widened as he was forced back. He lowered his blade and carefully watched the lich.
A long, black something twisted behind the lich's back. Two elongated sources of dark energy coiled, radiating lethal power.
The intertwined black serpents resembled shackles.
The lich chuckled scoffingly. The twisting black chains behind him made him look like a scorpion.
"So, you've known about me all along. Was my master's suspicion correct, then?"
"... Do you mean regression?"
"I don't particularly need your answer. Proving it directly is enough."
The lich wore a wicked grin.
'Had I not been on guard, I'd have been skewered there—like so many Watchmen before my regression.'
Erich knew well this black chain's power—an unstoppable, menacing force. He felt a vibration from his dragon fang sword.
If he did not have such a powerful sword and Incensus' aura to match the lich's corrosion, he would never have dared withstand it.
Those who tried to block it with ordinary blue aura simply had their aura shattered, meeting their end.
During the great war with the dead, creatures wielding black chains were virtually death itself.
The saying was: 'If seen, you die.'
Yet Erich dared to face these black chains now because he had recently realized the power of Incensus equaled the lich's corrosion.
Erich knew the hidden power the lich possessed. The lich, too, knew that Erich was aware of his strength.
The knowledge that each knew the other's hand influenced their actions greatly.
Now, as their abilities hardly differed, Erich only had a slight edge...
'He's someone who could adapt even now.'
Erich sensed the lich would adapt even to this situation.
Thus, the trump card he needed would be something the lich could not predict.
He would have to display a power surpassing their expectations. Erich checked his remaining aura. About 80% was left.
He gripped his sword with a long hold. Unlike earlier, he relaxed his free hand.
'... Shall I use 30% output?'
A move the opponent could never expect—that very ability Erich had used against the death knight.
Even if the lich realized the attack, power three times greater would be unforeseen.
Bright light flowed from Erich's hand. The lich sensed danger and caused his black chains to writhe.
And then—
― Pat!
Erich charged the lich again, while Barnes—watching from behind—drew another arrow from his back, his eyes sharp and focused.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】