108 The Secret of the Lich (1/2)
The over reliance of the Undead Calamity on its mastermind dealt it a solid wound. Following the fall of the Lich, Carlohin's Undead army falls apart.
In our eyes as ex-Undead Lords, this shows that the army's structure is extremely chaotic. The more mature an Undead army is, the more Middle-tier and High-tier Undead they would have. With more middle-level commanders within the army, the low-tier cannon fodders would be able to exert a greater impact on the battlefield through their leadership. They would also be even less fearful of getting killed.
However, the reason why Emperor Yongye's Yongye army fell apart after his death back then was because he also walked the opposite extremity. His army had too much High-tier and Middle-tier Undead in their midst. After losing their common leader, Emperor Yongye, along with the formation of the Country of Undead and the temptation of the Eternal Night Scepter, an opportunity opens for the powerful to climb to the pinnacle, causing them to fall into internal strife.
”That being said, that junior Lich of mine is really quite dumb. To actually chant right in front of a melee fighter, not to mention a spell with a long incantation. Is he that sick of living? Is this what you taught him? His battle experience is incredulously horrid. Looks like your standard as an educator is getting worse and worse.”
The darned cat on my shoulders became so mad from my words that her hairs stood on ends. If it wasn't for the fact that she is still feeling awful from trying to bite through my skin, she would definitely come assaulting me once again.
I understand her quite well. Usually, she is about just as thick-skinned as me, indifferent to any words directed towards her. However, the moment when doubt is cast over the standard of her magic and her standard as an educator, she would be provoked in an instant.
”That... That isn't taught by me! Also, I don't teach such a basic thing. The fool is obviously the one who lacks battle experience. I am not some kindergarten teacher; do I still have to teach these basics over and over again?”
Yes, basics. As a fragile Mage job, the first law that they have to observe is to maintain a safe distance from close combatants.
During a battle between a powerful Mage and a close combatant, the close combatants would often be trying their best to close in distance on the Mage while the Mage would be using their defensive spells to avoid them and further the gap between them through Teleportation. This cycle will go on continuously until a gap appears in one's defense, and that would be the decisive moment.
In the final conclusion, either the Mage would gain sufficient distance and time to focus their firepower to blast away the close combatants or that the close combatants would successfully grind away the defensive spells, escape spells and control spells of the other party and slice them apart.
To say the truth, this isn't very fair. The Spellcasters could err over and over again whereas it could be fatal the moment the close combatants commit a mistake. Under most circumstances, close combatants would find themselves unable to catch up with the Mages and end up being played to death.
However, there is no such as absolute equality in this world. Mage jobs have a high requirement for innate talent and they number less than a tenth of the other jobs. Furthermore, they require a large amount of time and fortune to groom. Thus, it is often easier for Mages to earn a position of respect in the human society compared to close combatants.
Without doubt, as the Head of Court Mages and a king of the royal family, Carlohin possesses true authority. However, being in an esteemed position, he would be lacking in opportunities to accumulate battle experience. Venturing out, he would always bring along a large group of bodyguards. So, how could it be possible for him to stand on the frontlines and be forced into a life and death situation?
Should I say that he inexperienced to the point of naivety? This junior of mine actually dares to chant right in front of a close combatant. Even though my power rank is much lower than his, he shouldn't underestimate me that much. Assuming that I didn't dismantle him forcefully, if I were to send in a few more attacks from the Pale Justice, he would also be done for.
”I... I think that I should expel Carlohin from my apprenticeship. I have never taught such a shameful apprentice. Actually, you should be secretly joyful over it. If it wasn't for this fellow lacking in battle experience to such a ludicrous point, given his strength as a Saint-rank Lich along with his SemiGod Equipment, it is definitely impossible for you to defeat him.”
What Harloys said is true. Actually, this couldn't be blamed on the teacher for not guiding him well. Apparently, he would usually make full use of his strength as a Saint-rank and his SemiGod Equipment to blast everything with high-circle spells. Meeting someone who is immune to his spells, he immediately panics. If Carlohin wasn't that foolish, given his strength as a Legend-rank Fire Mage and a Saint-rank Necromancer, not to mention the possession of a SemiGod Equipment, he could have dealt with us patiently. There would at least be a dozen methods for him to claim victory and he wouldn't have ended up decapitated.
This sufficiently verifies an old adage. No matter how powerful a person's martial arts is, if their brain is unable to function well, they would end being put in place by a concrete brick.
I nod my head solemnly, even though a smile had creeped onto my face.
”Heh, this junior of mine is almost like a captain of a treasure delivery convoy. The equipment on his body is not bad at all. Then, I will be taking this SemiGod Equipment with joy.”
[The Dark God's Breath of Death]
[Attack Power: 1-2 Tier: SemiGod]
[Single-handed staff. Prerequisite: Intelligence 15+, High-ranked Necromancer]
[Breath of Death: Allows one to store 3 Death Spells that is of maximum 8-circles (Legend-rank), allowing the user to instant cast it the moment it is activated. For a 9-circle spell (Myth-rank), the user is able to cast it without incantation and only one 9-circle spell can be stored.]
[Domain of Death: With this staff as the center, an intangible Domain of Death exists. In this domain, the effects of Death Magic is increased by 50% and the probability of Affliction of Death being inflicted is increased by 30%.]
[The Countenance of the Dead: The wielder's Intelligence will be increased by 2, Stamina by 2 and he will be immune to all fear-related and death-related effects. However, his charm will be reduced by 10 (This stat can be reduced to the point of negativity)]
[The Protection of the Dark God: Summon a formless protective barrier which can withstand 200 magic damage/magic equipment damage. Before the protective barrier breaks, the wielder will be immune to all stunning, hexing and any other control-type magic. Duration: 10 seconds]
[The Rage of the Dark God: An active ability. After it is activated, the next magic spell will be enchanted with the Affliction of Death effect, even if it is just a normal Magic Bullet. The Affliction of Death effect would be equivalent to the power rank of the spell.]
[Soul Conversion: Siphon the soul of a dead and convert it into pure Power of Death]
[The Ancient Undead Emperor Dark God has once reached the pinnacle in the field of Death. It is said that just by breathing, he is able to plunge the living into the world of the dead. Even if he has already fallen, the SemiGod Equipment still contains a fragment of his soul. Perhaps, an Undead Lord would be able to comprehend the profoundness of death through this equipment and ascend to the highest throne of as a SemiGod Undead Emperor.]
This is a classical SemiGod Equipment catered for battles. The Undead Emperor's soul fragment as well as the profound wisdom hidden within it that could send Undead Lords into a state of frenzy could actually be neglected. After all, it is much more dependent on luck than anything else, it is not something that could be attained forcefully. Rather, the three instant-cast Death Spells of the Breath of Death ability already makes it an astonishingly powerful killing tool.
Just with this 'Breath of Death' itself, it doesn't need any other abilities. Throwing out three Death Spells in an instant, who would be able to withstand it? Also, with the 'Soul Conversion' ability, the wielder's mana would never run dry,
No wonder Carlohin's battle experience would be that lacking. With this SemiGod Equipment, he is probably used to instant killing everything. Even if he is obstructed temporarily, he just has to siphon a few souls and continue blasting spells over.
”Although they say that I am a cannon Mage, this junior of mine is obviously the true outstanding cannon Mage.”
Looking at the Protection of the Dark God, it seems that I have underestimated the other party. When he chanted the spell to commit a double suicide with us, he seems to have been putting his faith on this protective barrier. To get through that 200 damage barrier, I would have at least taken me 7 to 8 strikes. I wouldn't have the time to do anything else even if I managed to break the barrier. However, he didn't expect that I would be unlike his previous opponents, that I wouldn't utilize my powerful weapons while challenging the powerful Lich and instead choose to pull out his bones barehanded. After pulling out his lower jaw with one strike, he was unable to even chant any spells normally and naturally, the odds fell in our favors.
If this toy were to be exposed outside, the Church of Holy Light would probably launch a crusade against me instantly. I intended for Harloys to consume it but the current her should still be unable to ingest a SemiGod Equipment. Preparations still have to be made and thus, I kept the SemiGod Equipment joyfully.
Just when my evaluation of Carlohin went up after catching sight of that defensive ability which didn’t activate as anticipated, five minutes later, my overly high evaluation of him crumbles once again.
”This... I really didn't teach this. I... I don't know him!”
”I believe you. Such a brainless student indeed cannot be justified by the improper guidance of a mentor. He is probably born with a defect in his brain that cannot be cured with any medicine. His intelligence is probably on par with that silly lass. How did he ascend to Saint-rank?”
The moment we walked into Carlohin's room in the Mage Tower, we began to 'collect spoils of war'. However, the moment we started searching around his room, we found a square box under his bed.
Opening it, we saw a blue bottle wrapped in velvet. Inside the bottle, a soulfire burns quietly.
If there isn't a second Lich here, this toy is surely the Carlohin's phylactery.
This is an ideal textbook example. A model soul bottle, placed in a box in fear that he might lose it. To interpret the word 'phylactery' literally to such a level, he could be considered as eccentric as well.
TL: Phylactery literally means Soul Box in Chinese. And his soul is literally placed in a bottle in a box.
While other Liches are trying their hardest to disguise their phylacteries over and over again, fearful of someone finding this weakness of theirs, this phylactery which sits upright there without a hint of disguise left us stupefied.
”Hey, Harloys, if you were to be converted into a Lich here, how would you create your phylactery?”
”I would find some debris and throw it into the water after successfully converting it. I can guarantee that no one would be able to find it. You?”
”I would put it into an ordinary-looking concrete block and use it in the main passageway. Passers-by would cross it every day but they would never imagine that there would be a phylactery under their feet.”
The two of them stare at each other, a hint of a smile appearing in both their eyes.
”Alas, our heritage was unfortunate! Back then, I should have included an intelligence test in the entrance exams.”
”Don't tell others that I am his senior. I can't afford to gain such a title.”
The sighs of the two harmonizes as one. Finally, someone can no longer withstand all the sarcastic remarks directed in his face.
”Darsos's dogs, do you think that you could insult me casually just because I have lost? No matter what, I am a king of Auland. My senior? Do you know who my master is? You think that you... Don't shake the bottle, I am feeling really giddy now. Stop shaking it!”
One of the reason why the textbook example of soul bottles has died out is because that souls contained in a bottle is really too fragile. Just by slightly shaking it, Carlohin immediately surrenders without second thoughts.
”This sensation feels so familiar.”
”Un, it is made from your skin, darned cat.”