Chapter 53 Part5 (1/2)

<chapter 53.=”” the=”” final=”” stage=”” -=”” 5=””>

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo created a hand mirror using the Metal Element and checked his appearance. It was perfect. He looked exactly like the Archmage, Feotane Von Seldin.

[But will it really be alright, Father? If the Emperor is aware of the Archmage's death, then...]

Chi Paul asked worryingly. By reaching level 8, Chi Paul had not only grown substantially in terms of power but had also gained Disguise abilities second only to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo himself. Thus, he was the best choice to accompany him to the capital. Ironically, Chi Paul was currently disguised as a normal undead.

Of course, he wasn't any normal undead. It was more precise to call him an undead hero. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo knew, from the Archmage's memories, that the Archmage enjoyed using the undead heroes as guards. Thus, Chi Paul was disguised as an undead hero.

All the other 12 Generals were dead and the Emperor likely knew this as well, so even if he wanted to impersonate one of the others, he couldn't.

[Although the Archmage pledged his loyalty to the Emperor, he doesn't trust him. The Emperor knew this and respected him anyway. Because of this, their relations.h.i.+p was able to last.]

[You're saying that...]

[The Emperor doesn't know about the Lich's death. He has no way of knowing. Of course, he'd be suspicious of the Archmage's absence, but how long has it been since I killed the Lich? It's only been four hours. Moreover, before then, the Lich left, stating he'd take care of the heroes. He wouldn't suspect anything in that short period of time.]

Of course, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who had got going right away, had killed the Lich and had brought the majority of the undead heroes to his side... However, if he were to go to the capital right now it would be him 'returning' to the capital, not infiltrating it.

[Ugh, I can finally act like a human, yet I have to take this form.]

[I'll turn you into a perfect human someday, so just wait a little longer.]

Because the Archmage didn't ride a horse, Jin was currently disguised as an undead hero as well.

She looked very much like her human form, but because she was 'undeadified', she didn't seem to like it very much. Only a very, very small portion of her body had bone or muscle exposed, yet she hated it anyway. Whether it be one cheek or one shoulder exposed.

At the very least, he had left her legs intact so that she could move properly. Moreover, she had covered her body from head-to-toe with silver steel, so she didn't look like an undead at all.

[I'm not pretty.]

[It's fine. You're plenty pretty to me. I'm not kidding. You really are.]

[Then can we kiss?]

[Nope, no thanks.]

[You want to die?]

Jin gritted her teeth at Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's firm refusal and practiced walking. She'd been a horse for so long that when she took on her current form, she began placing her hands on the floor.

However, she was quickly able to adapt, perhaps due to her authority, and was soon able to move quickly on her two feet as well. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo confirmed that she was able to move on her own, nodded his head, and said.

[You guys just need to stand a short distance behind me. You don't need to say anything. Since we're now entering the heart of enemy territory...]

Hoo... Lee s.h.i.+n Woo exhaled (even though nothing came out), and relaxed himself. Of course, he was no longer afraid of the Emperor. This was nothing more than the nervousness of an actor before he got on the big stage.

While he was at it, he might as do it perfectly. There were so many unknowns on this stage, so if he were unable to do his job properly, then it would be a pain in the a.s.s later. If he died, he would revive due to Invisible Heart, but he couldn't revive others.

He knew he would revive if he died, but he'd rather live than die. He obviously had so many ways he could survive. If he didn't want to live, then he could always die later. But he couldn't do that right now.

[...Alright, let's trick them to the very end and come out alive.]

[Pfft, that's so like you. Sounds good.]

[You sure have weird taste.]

[T-Then... Father, excuse me.]

Jin grinned and came closer to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. Chi Paul, looking apologetic, came closer to him as well. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and softly swung his hand.

Then, just like with the Archmage, the flow of mana connecting the two s.p.a.ces formed and sucked them in. They were immediately transported to the capital, inside the palace (the most dangerous area within the capital) at that!

Once they were transported, time began to flow once more. This was proof that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo both understood and could use the time element better than the Archmage. Hurray for Bone Reinforcement and innate elements!

[...Archmage?]

Once they arrived, they faced their very first obstacle. It was the last of the underground's Four Heavenly Commanders, the general who'd killed the Sun Spear General (who had been one of the surface's Heavenly Commanders), the Heaven Sundering General, Leofield Von Tariman!

By absorbing the Sun Spear General's bone, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had already seen Leofield's spearmans.h.i.+p, as well as his other skills. But it was different seeing him in person.

[Isn't it obvious, Duke Tariman? Everything you say reeks of sweat.]

The huge undead came over, and although Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was nervous from his appearance (a Death Knight), he replied exactly as the Archmage's memories indicated.

He was huge; now it made sense that people wondered whether he inherited a Giant's blood or not. His body was covered in muscles, and these muscles, despite him becoming undead, pulsed and wriggled with cold blood and magic, as well as the air element. The pressure he emitted was so great that it felt like it could stab him to death.

He's on the same level as Seagald? No way! Though Seagald's swordsmans.h.i.+p may surpa.s.s Leofield's, if he compared the degree of perfection of their bodies, as well as their training, then Leofield was superior! He could completely understand why all the spearman he'd come across had yelled Leofield's name!

[Hmm, did your job go well...? Huh?]

[I'd appreciate it if you stopped looking at me like that. Are your ears starting to fail now too?]

Although the Archmage and the Heaven Sundering General, as two of the Four Heavenly Commanders that pledged their allegiance to the Emperor, respected each other, they possessed a slightly troublesome relations.h.i.+p where that respect wouldn't show outright.

As they had reached the pinnacle of their respective arts (magic vs. martial arts), they were prideful in their arts and frequently clashed with each other. However... the Heaven Sundering General's reaction was a bit strange, considering how he was following the Archmage's memories to the letter.

[Are you really... the Archmage? Hmm, something's strange.]

[What's strange is your brain, Duke Tariman. It was always strange; has it finally completely rotted away?]

[No, I'm not the one who's strange. The smell... The smell is strange. Hmm... strange. It's strange.]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo shuddered. Once his Acting skill had pa.s.sed the level 20 mark, no one had ever seen through his Acting or Disguise skills. However, the rumored musclehead was suspicious of him!