16 An Unexpected Addition (2/2)
Rainer couldn't help but grow confident as he saw what magic the [Lich] cast. Surrounding the Undead were several translucent blue barriers, no different than that of the Goblin Mage. Though their power was clearly stronger, based on the [Lich]'s huge mana pool.
”Kara, keep the [Death Knight] off me and this will be over in an instant,” Rainer confidently exclaimed. So long as that [Lich] trusted in his barriers he stood no chance.
”I had expected a true servant of Origin but to think a mere ant and his tamed dog were sent to do its bidding! Let us see you dodge once more!” He spoke in a ghastly voice that seemed to radiate from all around the room. A powerful magic began radiating off the [Lich]. The light entering the windowed room seemed to draw towards the [Lich] as he cast.
Kara—now with [Gift of Lightning], a full pool of Demonic Aura, and another level under her belt—charged towards the [Death Knight]. At a tremendous speed, Kara clashed with the [Death Knight], neither side seeming to have an advantage as she moved out of the line of fire between Rainer and the [Lich].
Rainer just stared at the [Lich] slowly casting his spell incredulously. He had thought the [Lich] would put some faith into his barriers...but this much?
Rainer put his palm forward and with the assistance of the [Gift of Lightning] quickly cast an [Arcane-Fire Bolt]. It flew far faster than the [Lich] could react to before slamming into his barriers. After several loud cracking noises, it sent him flying back. The dark magic had been stopped and instead of the numerous barriers only a single one remained.
”Ignore the Demon, kill the Mage at any cost!” It seemed even a [Lich] could panic as it was clear in his now wavering voice. Yet strangely his servant ignored him completely.
The [Lich] quickly expended his mana, forming stronger and more numerous shields, yet just as he was about to cast again Rainer was but feet from him. Using the cover of the explosion from his magic he had rushed forward. Reaching the limit of his mana he infused all he could into a powerful [Arcane Blade].
The [Lich] fired a small but quick spell yet it collided immediately with one of Rainer's armed [Arcane Bolts]. The [Lich] fired more and more dark spells but each was blocked with Rainer's armed bolts. Of course, he didn't simply watch as this occurred. Every slash of the blade would break through the [Lich]'s powerful mana shields fueled by his massive mana pool. The [Lich], in a panic, backed away.
To the side, Kara still clashed with the [Death Knight]. She was being injured with shallow cuts yet Luna, who was on her back, would quickly begin healing them.
As Rainer's last armed [Arcane Bolt] clashed with one of the [Lich]'s dark spells the [Lich] found a wall to his back. With a single powerful thrust the [Arcane Blade] pulverized the remaining mana shields and stabbed into the [Lich]'s head. Rainer feared this wouldn't be enough but the Arcane energy of the blade reacted strangely before causing a minor explosion in the [Lich]'s head, forever dimming its pale blue eyes.
[Experience Gained: 11%]
He saw the experience increase but noticed the quest had not yet completed. For a moment he thought they might not be in the right place. The [Lich] was level 17 after all. 2 levels higher than the maximum recommended level of the quest. He spun around and looked towards Kara and her battle. He still wielded his [Arcane Blade] with the little mana he had left.
Yet the situation changed. Suddenly the [Death Knight] jumped back.
”Wait! Hold yourself, traveler, I am free from my bonds!” Contrary to all expectations, following the death of the [Lich] the guarding [Death Knight] called out. His powerful voice echoed and spread throughout the hall.
Kara paused in her assault confused at the strange language and Rainer as well stopped himself.
Rainer hesitated for a moment, wondering if the designation of traveler referred to him coming here for the quest or if it was something else. In the end, he stopped his current plans of attack and decided to see what the [Death Knight] had to say.
”Kara step back, we might as well take the time to recover,” Rainer said quietly to Kara, not yet understanding that she, in fact, had no idea what was said by the [Death Knight].
Seeing them step back unexpectedly the [Death Knight] dropped his sword and shield before kneeling on the ground. Rainer noticed then when he no longer held the sword and shield they seemed to contain magic. He quickly realized that perhaps the enchanted items of Nalmar would not work on undead. He looked at the ring on his finger as he thought this. The symbol of a sun with two spears crossed behind it carved in gold on the ring. The ring itself was steel, likely the blessed steel that the other reward mentioned.
”I am a once-[Paladin] of the Nalmar Knighthood, Gunthar. I beseech you travelers, to allow me to assist you in your goal.”
Rainer looked at him, contemplating, before Kara said something that convinced him to at least give Gunthar a chance to explain.
”Rainer, what is he saying?” Kara asked aware of Rainer's and Luna's shared translation ability.
”He's asking to serve us, that he was once a [Paladin] of Nalmar,” he said now realizing she couldn't understand him.
”Perhaps we might give him a moment to explain. I had felt there was something wrong when we were fighting as if he was far too weak. What was my imagination may now be explained.”
Rainer took a long look at this Gunthar before deciding on his next course of action.
”I'll give you a chance to explain your circumstances, but keep your distance and move away from your weapons.”
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”I thank thee Sorcerer,” Gunthar replied before moving across the room and staring out towards a window, his back towards Rainer.
”I Imagine you are travelers otherwise I cannot see how you ended up so deep in this accursed land. It seems the Holy One has deemed our land beyond saving, and we have truly fallen.”
Holy One? Perhaps different societies all view the controller or creator of the system in different manners. Or maybe there is more than one in control…
Rainer could only stare at his mana pool and hope it would recover quicker. If Kara was right about him holding back Rainer had some hope for him being an ally but he wouldn't let down his guard. A tireless and strong one, it was certainly an advantage in such a place.
Rainer heard a noise similar to a sigh before Gunthar continued.
”It had started as but a single Necromancer found experimenting on civilians. He had been eliminated simply by the mages of our order...or so we believed.”
”The Necromancer's soul had possessed one of our mages and with it discovered our city's greatest secret: the Mana-Well, as we called it. It was a secret not even the Holy One's chosen could discern.”
Heroes? So this object can't be appraised?
”I can even guess what the final reward that was offered to you is…”
At this Rainer became curious. The Main Quest had listed it as [????] and now he might…
”It's unknown. Is it not?”
Rainer didn't answer but a quickly swiveling skeletal face turned towards him and saw his face.
”I was right then. The Mana-Well is to be your reward. I can imagine nothing else that the Holy One's grace is unable to determine,” Gunthar said reading the expression on Rainer's face.
”Our city grew in power and strength and while in truth we were apart of the Holy Empire, we were more akin to a city-state. Using the Mana-Well our mages made years and years of enchantment take only days or even moments. Even common [Soldiers] would wear a hidden version of the ring you currently wear. They did not know, of course. You are quite lucky we put in fail safes that prevented undead from using them.”
Lucky indeed... Rainer thought as he appraised the sword and shield Gunthar had dropped.
[Paladin's Shield: An enchanted shield of blessed steel. +4 Constitution, +4 Strength.]
[Paladin's Blade: An enchanted blade of blessed steel. +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Aura Control.]
The descriptions were lacking compared to the one's provided by the Dungeon reward system, but they showed enough. How much of a level difference could these two items alone surpass? Rainer thought as he appraised the entirety of Gunthar's armor. Now that he looked at it, he saw it was gold and steel full plate armor, though it lacked the luster of the now dropped sword and shield. The enchantments were seemingly suppressed by something. Its helmet had an open face and square top.
[Paladin's Full Plate Set: An enchanted full set of plate armor and helm of blessed steel. +9(0) Constitution, +9(0) Endurance, +9(0) Strength, +3(0) Aura Attunement.]
The 0 must mean that it isn't functioning.
Rainer looked at the armor with a cold sweat. Is this representative of the rich and powerful of these worlds? He sincerely hoped Nalmar was a rare case. It was when it came to frequency but Gunthar had mentioned nothing of the actual strength of enchantment being improved by this Mana-Well.
”I myself was able to maintain my consciousness due to research done by my father. Most had scorned his research as little different than the black magic we stood against. Perhaps they were right...it has been but a tortured existence these years. As even if I could hold myself present I was still mostly controlled by that evil creature.”
Rainer looked over to the [Lich]. He saw numerous rings on the [Lich]'s fingers and his robe in particular, is undamaged. He'd have Luna appraise before he tried any on lest they be cursed. She had a higher [Appraisal] level.
”We could do nothing to stop the capturing of the Mana-Well. The [Arch-Lich] used it to assist in summoning and controlling countless undead. Our greatest power unraveled by a single mistake. Yet even now I imagine he cannot use its power directly, just like our Mages could not. Casting a spell from it was a far cry from simply using its power to assist in enchanting or maintaining an undead horde under one's command.”
Gunthar paused a moment before turning around and asking.
”What is your time limit?”
Seeing no reason to hide this information Rainer responded with the truth.
”6 Months until other parties are invited.”
”We must make haste, it's likely the Holy One believes the [Arch-Lich] will succeed by then. You may be the only party he could send right away. Where is the rest of your party?”
”Right here” Rainer said a bit awkwardly remembering the 25 limit.
If a Skeleton could make a surprised face, he'd most assuredly be showing one.
”Those who hold out their hands in prayer cannot choose the miracle that comes to them…” Gunthar murmured.
Rainer felt a surge of power as the Gunthar's sword and shield flew towards him. Yet now the magic didn't seem to be dimmed; instead the enchantments seemed fully activated. Rainer became a bit worried and Kara stood on guard before their thoughts were eased.
”Do not underestimate my father's research.” Gunthar gave a small skeletal laugh before walking towards the exit of the room. Rainer still had no idea how he was talking in the first place.
”Come, we shall clear this fort, I will do all I can to teach that Demon to control her Aura better, and I will lead you to the tomes of magic held here. You were lucky to head to Sunlight's Keeper. Let us hope you are as fast a learner as you are one who can transcend common sense with your magic.”
”I still have a decent amount of strength left before I will need to attach myself to you, Sorcerer, as my summoner. You can make the choice to trust me or not then. In reality, I may be able to last for the entire 6-month time limit if I don't overexert myself. Most of an Undead's strength comes from the soul. The mana is just for initial costs and control. I, however, can only maintain my sanity with mana. Perhaps a flaw too large in my father's research...”
”We'll rest for a bit first,” Rainer spoke before sitting down. With his enchanted gear and Rainer's lack of mana the [Death Knight] was certainly beyond them. No point in being on guard he thought.
”That is fine, I'll monitor the situation and grant those of this tower their rest. Even with this overcast sky, daylight shall be the best time to strike. We do not know when the other [Lich]s shall move against us. At the very least the [Arch-Lich] will be focused solely on the Mana-Well.”
”To think I'll be training a Demon…” Gunthar spoke to himself before repeating his earlier mantra.
”Those who hold out their hands in prayer cannot choose the miracle that comes to them…”
With renewed vigor, the Skeleton walked down the stairs towards the doom of his fellow Undead.