Chapter 89 – The Lich
As our steps halted in front of the large stone building hidden behind a misty hill, the atmosphere shifted. The ancient undead aura that had previously been faint was now so thick it clung to my chest like the suffocating fog of night. And yet, what surged within me wasn’t fear... it was curiosity.
The door creaked open slowly, as if welcoming me. From within emerged a tall figure cloaked in a tattered black robe, the hood shadowing most of his face. But I could see it the pale white bone peeking from rotting flesh, and a pair of glowing green eyes radiating both wisdom and madness.
"Hoo... so you’re that zombie," he said, his voice like the whisper of ancient dust blown by the wind. His gaze swept over my body with curiosity, as though evaluating something precious. "Interesting... very interesting. This is even better than I imagined. A whole body, pure death energy... yes, this is a far more perfect form than merely being brittle bones."
I frowned. "You... willingly turned yourself into a lich?"
He smiled or at least tried to form the expression. "Of course. The vampires once invited me to become one of them, promising immortality and power, but... in the end, I saw through it. Slavery in elegant wrapping. I refused. Instead, I chose this path to become a lich. Though naturally, that decision made me a hunted traitor of the Human Empire. Hahaha!"
His laughter was light and relaxed, almost unfitting for the topic. While I was still processing his words, his gaze shifted to the three zombies behind me the Guild Master, his wife, and the werewolf receptionist. His eyes narrowed briefly.
"Seems they misunderstood my message," he muttered, as if speaking to himself. "Well... that’s on them for not conveying it properly."
I tilted my head, confused. "So... we’re not going to fight?"
"Ah, of course not," he answered calmly, as if it were the silliest question he’d ever heard. "If we fought, I’d lose instantly. You possess the element of death itself."
I tensed. "How do you know that?"
"No words needed," he said, pointing a long, bony finger toward my chest. "Your aura radiates it. Invisible to most, but to undead like me... it is terror. For I am a being that defies death, and you are its embodiment. You can end both the living and the already-dead."