Chapter 38: The Lich Appears

The lich spoke in a booming voice that echoed in their minds. “Can you entertain me, O brave adventurers?” His mocking tone betrayed his boredom. Beneath that, Vito sensed loneliness.

“We’re here to defeat you and conquer your manor,” Vito aimed his rifle with one hand. “I hope we can entertain you.”

Laughter rumbled from the armor. “Perhaps you can. A brief moment of levity after centuries of solitude is as a glass of water to a man in a desert.” The lich observed Vito through the wide eye slits in his helm. “I see the truth laid bare in your soul. You seek a safe refuge for your guild and to set a beacon for those who share your name.”

Duke Ashcroft rose from his throne and drew his cursed blade. “Your friends should have joined you. Then maybe you could have survived long enough to make this black heart of mine beat.”

The lich was level 82, far above Vito’s party. Only Delwyn at level 68 had much of a chance. Parsifal and his team would have to find the phylactery, or Vito would be in for the shortest fight of his lives. Parsifal still had the sacred ward, but he would only use it in an emergency. It would stun the monsters, but Duke Ashcroft would only be weakened and likely much more hostile.

Duke Ashcroft gathered icy winds around his sword and raised it above his head. “Tundra Path.” He swung his sword down, unleashing a harsh corridor of wind that froze the ground in its path and formed stalagmites.

“Dodge!” Vito barked his order and moved out of the way. His friends narrowly escaped harm, though it didn’t seem like the lich intended to harm them so quickly. A blue aura cloaked him as he enhanced his physical attributes. His stats were raised even further thanks to his new titles, such as his Guild Leader title and his Undead Slayer title.

Vito dashed at Duke Ashcroft and swung his rifle. “Final Blade!” The bayonet blade glowed and extended in range. Duke Ashcroft easily blocked the strike with the flat of his sword.

A loud crack tore through the air, followed by the sound of metal clashing against metal. Vito had leaped into the air and fired a round at the lich’s head. He aimed for one of the helm’s eye slits and just barely missed when Duke Ashcroft turned his head.

“What was that…?” Duke Ashcroft was stunned by the surprise attack.

Delwyn, Iris, and Amelsia made their moves. “Aether Bind!” Iris and Amelsia conjured magic chains to bind Duke Ashcroft in place long enough for Delwyn to strike.

Delwyn cloaked herself in a red aura. Embers danced along her long, untamed red hair. “Berserker Thrust!” Her smoldering red blade pierced an opening in the side of Duke Ashcroft’s armor.

Vito loaded another round and fired a second shot. The lich bellowed in pain, confirming that Vito’s bullet struck true.

Duke Ashcroft lashed out. He broke free of the chains and swung his sword at Delwyn’s neck. She pulled her blade free and moved away from the lich, and narrowly kept her head attached to her shoulders. Cold, dark waves emanated from Ashcroft’s eye slit as he regenerated.

Ashcroft dashed toward Vito, moving faster and more agile than his large build would suggest. He lost all sense of composure and wanted nothing more than to kill Vito. Amelsia fired a magic bolt low to the ground and managed to strike the lich’s foot at the proper time to trip him.

Vito tossed his rifle to Amelsia and drew his sword as the lich fell forward. “Brave Blade!” His glowing sword flashed downward at Ashcroft’s head.

Duke Ashcroft stopped his fall with one hand and swung his blade to clash with Vito. His blade kept traveling and shattered Vito’s sword while the sheer force of his swing sent Vito flying backward.

Amelsia blocked the duke’s path with a spell Parsifal taught her. “Bolt Swarm!” Magic bolts formed around the target and converged from all sides. An explosion erupted and formed a crater around the lich.

Vito skidded to a halt and looked at what was left of his sword. He smirked and tossed the broken sword aside. Iris levitated a wrapped weapon out of her bag and gave it to Vito. He took it by the pommel and conjured flames to burn the cloth away. “I’ll be honest, I’ve been looking forward to taking the Litdaiu for a spin.”

The dust settled as Duke Ashcroft’s armor reformed from Amelsia’s attack. Vito gave her a thumbs-up and praised her for her efforts.

“Jealous. Let me borrow it sometime,” Delwyn commented. The two swordsmen ran at Duke Ashcroft, their weapons at the ready. “Brave Blade!” They unleashed a flurry of fiery slashes at the lich.

Ashcroft parried as much as he could, though a few attacks landed on his ancient armor. He grumbled and unleashed his magic once again. “Abyssal Aura.” A wave of darkness erupted from Ashcroft, sending his opponents reeling away from him.

Vito, Delwyn, Iris, and Amelsia impacted against the far wall. The swordsmen endure more damage than the others due to their proximity to the lich.

Vito drew some potions from his pocket and tossed them to his friends before he quickly downed one. He stood up and charged at his opponent. “Flame Blade!” A twister of fire surrounded his sword.

“Ice Pillars.” Duke Ashcroft raised his hand and conjured large cubes of dark ice and sent them hurtling toward Vito.

The flame swordsman cleaved and partially melted the ice pillars as he ran toward the lich. Duke Ashcroft held his sword in both hands. “Ice Blade.” A tornado of icy wind encircled his weapon.

Vito and Duke Ashcroft clashed. Flames danced and struggled against ice as a tornado whipped around them. Vito’s muscles burned as he pushed against the lich. He wasn’t making much progress, but he could hold his own against Ashcroft for a few minutes.

Another low grumble echoed from the armor. It was laughter. Duke Ashcroft was having fun. He pushed Vito back and swung his sword again. The two exchanged blows in the center of the room while the elements danced around them, a fitting scene for a ballroom that had been deathly silent for a millennium.