Chapter 147
The lich's eyes narrowed. Erich, rushing toward him, was adopting a different posture than before.
He was holding his sword as if letting it hang down, with his other hand empty.
If he wasn't aiming to use that free hand for something, there was no reason to do that. The lich, first, fired a barrage of black shards toward the charging Erich.
—Kwaaaang! Kwagagagang!
The black shards, scattering the energy of erosion, blocked Erich's path.
Yet Erich continued to dart back and forth, dodging as he drew ever closer to the lich.
But as the lich, gripping his black spear tightly to stop Erich's advance, sensed something was amiss.
Erich's hand had begun to shine brightly.
"... I don't know what you're plotting, but—!"
—Kwauuung!
As black radiance blossomed at the tip of the lich's spear, that tremendous force ripped through the air.
Dark energy, like a coiled serpent, began to swirl around the lich's spear, sending out a terrifying power that seemed as though it could crush all around it with a mere touch.
The lich's shriveled lips curled upward. No matter what Erich had prepared, this was a force incomparable to before.
He knew Erich could handle power on par with the black chains, but in the end, it was simply a matter of whose output was greater.
And now, the force enveloping the lich was two or three times stronger than earlier.
If Erich underestimated the power of these chains, victory would obviously go to the lich.
However, the lich's brow furrowed.
He had planned to parry Erich's charge head-on, but now realized the energy flaring from Erich's hand was overwhelmingly strong.
—Shiiik.
Quickly, the lich turned his head and saw the ice and snow around him melting.
That rising steam... it meant that an immense heat was radiating from Erich.
"What on earth...?"
But the lich clenched his lips and gripped the black spear tighter.
In the next moment, a terrifying, overwhelming killing intent was felt from Erich.
This wasn't the time to simply stand in shock.
The lich poured even more power into his spear.
The black chains squirmed and split into several strands, no longer able to bear such immense energy.
This was nearly the lich's maximum output.
His sharp fangs clenched hard. To force him to use his full power against a mere human—truly unexpected.
—Whooosh!
The lich's eyes widened. The ragged robe he wore had caught fire.
Erich's attack hadn't even landed yet, but the heat from that distance alone had set his hem ablaze.
It was a more threatening force than expected.
However, a flame that could merely set cloth alight couldn't harm the lich in any way.
Ten paces.
Five paces.
Three paces.
Black shards spread out around the lich, doing their utmost to slow Erich's advance.
Yet Erich was struck by none of them.
His movements, flashing with a crimson glow, were so precise it was as if he knew where the shards would be in advance.
—Piiing!
The sound of arrows slicing through the wind rang out.
The lich realized another one was causing trouble from a distance, quickly checking the arrow's trajectory.
But the arrow's strength was insignificant. Not even worth his concern. The lich refocused his attention on Erich.
But in the next instant—
—Kwaaaang!
Once again, there was an explosion at the back of the lich's neck.
As he tried to swing his black spear, the lich grimaced.
Despite being vigilant, the one firing arrows from afar had finally succeeded in striking from his blind spot.
The lich's eyes filled with confusion. He was certain the arrow should have been blocked.
Yet he saw, near him, an arrow split in half by the black energy.
'It wasn't just one arrow, but two.'
In that moment of realization—
Erich's sword shot at the lich like a bolt of lightning.
—Shreeeek!
The lich quickly braced himself and blocked the sword with his spear.
But as soon as he deflected Erich's sword, the lich's white eyes flashed.
He realized his mistake. What should have been guarded against was not the sword...
—Whoooosh!
...but that glowing sphere extending from Erich's hand toward him.
A brilliant light, as if staring directly into the rising sun, surged at the lich.
*
Steam rose in all directions. The instant Erich and the lich crossed paths, flames burst forth here and there.
The golden blaze was so intense it melted even the nearby stones.
However, the lich's figure—hit directly by that force—remained unseen. Steam and heat shimmer made his figure indistinct.
"Huff, huff."
Erich panted heavily.
'Output 30%... the stamina drain is incredible.'
The amount of aura wasn't a simple number.
Running at ten percent strength allows for a long run; sprinting at full power barely lets you go far.
Likewise, even if it was 'only' thirty percent, using that much aura at once put an enormous burden on his body.
And given Erich's now vastly increased aura, his thirty percent was already an astounding amount.
Yet, even as he struggled, Erich wore a faint smile. He was quite satisfied with the result of his technique.
The boiling, melting landscape was a spectacular sight.
'There must be a more efficient way to use this.'
Erich glanced in the direction of the lich.
Using his power by envisioning the sun was a very unnatural way—it seemed that, with practice, a better method would emerge.
Gradually, the steam cleared, and the lich came into view.
"... How can a human body wield such power...?"
The lich's appearance was utterly horrific.
Through cracked skin, not evacuated in time, heat seeped out in the shape of fire, oozing like blood.
The flesh of the dead, about to collapse at any moment, rattled feebly.
Where he took the direct hit, a large hole was blown into his side.
Erich thought, had the lich not maximized his black chain's output and wrapped those chains around himself in the last instant, he could have been killed instantly.
"You survived that? Tenacious bastard."
"... Th-this cannot be!"
The lich was in denial of the power before his eyes.
His pride, as a hand directly wielded by the Lord of the Dead, would not let him fall.
Indeed, even in Erich's estimate, the lich was one of the top three subordinates of the Lord of the Dead.
However—
'It's different from before. The lich has not yet absorbed all his power.'
Erich's interference had disrupted the Lord of the Dead's plans, leaving the lich far weaker than when he served him in his previous life.
Otherwise, Erich would have been facing a much stronger lich now.
The lich forced himself up, clutching his black spear. Relying on the spear, his body trembled faintly.
Erich checked the arrow that had fallen beside the lich, then nodded to Barnes at the rear.
'Good sense, Barnes. There were two arrows, not one.'
The arrows had been fired nearly simultaneously, one catching the lich's attention and creating a blind spot, the other targeting the back of the lich's neck.
Thanks to that, Erich was able to focus his power directly into the lich's body, rather than clashing with the black spear head-on.
Soon after, Erich felt a burning sensation on his palm.
Was it the result of using such tremendous power?
The skin on his palm had been entirely stripped away.
Light, compared to the price paid, but had he used any more power, who knew what might have happened.
'... If my arm flew off, that'd be a problem.'
One way or another, he needed to find a more refined way to harness his power.
Anyway, Erich approached the lich, ready to deliver the final blow.
But at that moment—
—Tadadadadak!
Footsteps approached from behind. From the entrance where Barnes stood, numerous squad members began pouring in.
And at their front were the captains of 4th Fortress and 8th Fortress—
Daren and Burton.
Their faces had turned pale, as if not understanding the scene before them.
"... Y-you are—?"
Burton, recognizing Erich's face, went even paler. He couldn't believe the soldier he'd sent out was a spy.
Erich placed a hand on his sword and addressed them.
"4th Fortress Commander Daren, 8th Fortress Commander Burton. First time meeting in person, isn't it?"
"Who are you... really?"
They couldn't hide their shock at the melted landscape.
To have sent someone to assassinate such a man, and to have not even known such a power existed, stunned them even more.
Erich replied calmly,
"I am acting lord commander of the Watch, Erich von Krupp."
"... E-Erich?"
Daren and Burton glanced at one another.
The enemy commander had entered enemy territory himself?
How should one even begin to explain such an absurd circumstance? It defied their common sense.
But Erich had no interest in their reactions. Instead, he pointed his sword at the weakening lich.
"This fiend right here is who seduced you and made you raise your blades against your brothers at the Great Wall. Now, the power of the mental wave has faded, and you should see his true form."
"... He wasn't human?"
Burton stared fixedly at the lich's face, as if in a daze.
The lich did not bother responding.
Now that the effect of the mental wave had weakened, whatever he said would sound like the words of a monster, not something to be enthralled by.
Erich raised his sword toward the sky, preparing to deliver the final blow to the lich. But just then—
Daren shouted,
"All squads, ready for combat!"
Erich's eyes narrowed. Despite knowing the lich was a monster who had beguiled them, Daren still intended to oppose Erich.
"We're traitors anyway! At this point, we ought to take out the bastard and seize the main force for ourselves, Burton."
"... Th-that..."
Burton seemed troubled. The others hesitated as well. But then Daren's sword flashed as he drew it in an instant.
—Chwaaak!
"Gah!"
A squad member fell.
Executions were an effective way to force compliance. With no other choice, the rest drew their swords as well.
At that moment, Erich brought down his own sword. The lich's head fell limply, and Erich muttered in a low voice.
"... There was no hope for your redemption."
Erich quietly nodded at Daren. In response, Daren barely curled his lips in a subtle smile.
"What can you do alone? No matter how much power you've got—!"
Daren's eyes widened. At that instant, something spilled from his mouth—
It was red blood.
"Gah?!"
Silently, a black-clad, masked man appeared behind him and drove a dagger into Daren's chest.
Without a moment's hesitation, the masked man twisted and withdrew the blade, and Daren fell dead without so much as a scream.
Watching this, Erich revealed a faint smile.
"Now then, who's next?"
Burton looked around at his men. As his eyes drifted to the lich's severed head, he sank to his knees.
"... We surrender."
Erich nodded slowly. Now, it was time to settle all this and face the main force of Ungrim.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Daren died so futilely...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】