Chapter 402
The length of the Light Sword had shortened to just a little longer than the blade of the original sword. However, the Platinum Claw was not completely extinguished.
Ian turned without hesitation and began sprinting down the stairs leading to the lowest level.
As the number of writhing wraiths diminished, Carmiel, clutching his staff, slowly came into view in the distance.
Crunch—
His transformation was nearly complete. The mass of fused skulls that formed his torso had now also replaced his lower half, rising like a column. As a result, Carmiel's upper body still loomed slightly higher than Ian’s.
Rattle—creak!
His lower body writhed like a serpent. The way it coiled around the carriage below only enhanced the likeness.
"To think you'd reach me so quickly…." Carmiel sighed as he gazed down at Ian.
He had been watching Ian's every move. However, considering Carmiel was a mage, this was hardly surprising. Even now, he had his entire attention on Ian.
Rattle—creak!Instead of responding, Ian charged toward the lowest level, where dozens of undead rushed to meet him head-on. Among them were the two horned phantom horses that had once pulled the carriage.
Up close, their skeletal frames appeared far larger than any ordinary horse.
They don't look rideable.
Ian's golden eyes shifted back to Carmiel, who was beyond the horde.
Hooom—!
The skulls comprising Carmiel's lower body glowed with dark green energy all at once, rapidly condensing chaotic, swirling energy.
Carmiel then raised his staff. His low laughter echoed as the staff shimmered with power.
"This is as far as you go. From here on, you—"
"You should focus on sending out more wraiths," Ian interrupted.
Looking up into Carmiel's glowing sockets, Ian's eyes curved into a faint smirk. "You're not the only one with a trump card."
"What? What do you mea—"
Rumble!
Before Carmiel could finish, a bright yellow lightning bolt struck the center of the charging undead.
Sizzle!
A barrage of lightning followed, pouring down like a torrential storm. The undead exploded into fragments, and the ghostly steeds convulsed and crumpled to the ground.
"N-no!"
The booming thunder disrupted Carmiel's chant, scattering his spell. His horrified cry echoed even over the cacophony. Soon, every wraith near the carriage vanished.
Crash-crash-crash!
Glowing a searing yellow, the overcharged spell circuits poured out lightning denser than an entire city district. Though some parts sputtered with sparks, seemingly overwhelmed, Ian paid no attention to them.
As I expected, he didn't realize it at all.
After all, he had achieved his objective. Typical of a crazed mage—Carmiel became utterly fixated on him, completely neglecting what loomed overhead.
Screech!
The wraiths that had hovered protectively around the undead shrieked as they retreated in panic. However, they couldn't match Ian's speed—he was already closing in on Carmiel.
A faint golden glow enveloped Ian, accompanied by gusts of swirling wind.
Crackle—
Ian glanced up at Carmiel, who was now absorbing the lightning like a massive lightning rod. He then smirked.
"Out of wraiths already?"
At that moment, he discovered that even skulls could show shock and fear. With all his strength, he launched himself off the ground.
Boom!
With his strength and agility amplified by dragon magic and the enhanced Wind Blade propelling him forward, he shot toward Carmiel's torso like a cannonball.
Since the Wrath of Platinum was still active, using other attack spells was meaningless. Against Carmiel, they would only cause status effects at best, offering no substantial damage.
Hence, Ian opted for the simplest, most reliable, and least mage-like approach: a direct physical charge.
Crunch!
As heat scorched the back of his left hand, six new radiant barriers bloomed around the Platinum Barrier in a blinding flash.
Crouching behind them, Ian crashed straight into Carmiel's thick torso.
The reinforced Platinum Barrier crushed Carmiel's lower body, driving deep into its structure.
Carmiel staggered heavily. Though the downpour of lightning ceased the moment Ian collided with him, it was clear he still hadn't recovered from the previous impact yet.
I was right. His physical defense is just as fragile as it looks.
Leaning into the tipping torso, Ian swung his right arm downward with all his might.
Clang!
The golden magic-infused blade tore into the torso, slicing through the tightly bound mass of skulls with ease. The surge of Wind Blade along the edge added to its cutting power.
Crack, crunch—
The blade cleaved through the entire structure, emerging cleanly out the other side.
Carmiel finally toppled completely. His skeletal torso lost its cohesion, collapsing into a scattered pile of skulls.
Almost simultaneously, Ian swung his left arm and rose to his feet, racing across the disintegrating mound of skulls.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
With each step he took, the precarious heap of skulls crumbled further, threatening to collapse entirely. However, with a balance and intuition closer to that of a fairy or beastfolk, he moved forward without slipping or faltering once.
Eventually, he spotted the lich sprawled amidst the debris.
Seemingly startled, Carmiel’s glowing eyes wavered upon seeing Ian. "You…"
He extended his left arm, which was still gripping the staff, more out of reflex than a calculated move.
However, before he could complete any spell, Ian quickly and effortlessly severed his skeletal forearm, making it fall limp to the ground. At the same time, Ian drove the Platinum Barrier downward.
Crunch! Crack!
The edge of the barrier shattered the center of Carmiel's spine beneath his blue-hooded cloak. The impact also made Carmiel's upper body jolt upward slightly.
Seizing the moment, Ian released his sword and grabbed the lich's skull with his right hand.
Clutch—
Like a mist, magic spilled from the lich's skull and seeped through Ian's hand. It formed a faint, shifting face with a simple emotion: fear.
"You… truly are my death."
With a crack, a fracture ran across Carmiel's skull. Fear quickly gave way to resignation as his dimming gaze turned toward the ceiling of the cavern. The sparks from the overloaded Mantra circuits were dying out, and the storm of lightning that had engulfed the city was dissipating.
"So close… just barely… heh…."
Ian glanced down at the lich, who was letting out a hollow laugh.
In the game, this creature would undoubtedly have been a challenging boss. Ordinarily, one would have to face an army of thousands of wraiths and an unending horde of undead soldiers while also contending with troublesome lieutenants and Carmiel's relentless spells.
Even with the help of wolves and perfect teamwork, it would have taken multiple attempts to defeat him.
"Yes. I am your death."
Of course, that thought lasted only for a fleeting moment.
The Platinum Barrier evaporated in a burst of radiant light, revealing what Ian had been gripping all along—a dagger, clutched blade-side in his palm.
As if sensing the change in Ian's gaze, Carmiel murmured, "This marks the end of my roam—"
Ian didn't let him finish. With all his strength, he drove the dagger straight into the dark green gemstone at the center of the pendant around Carmiel's neck.
***
"Above you! Duck!" Lucia shouted as she hurled the brilliant yellow flame clutched in her left hand.
Boom, crash!
Flames engulfed the wraith hurtling toward the Owl on the rooftop, blasting it apart mid-air.
Almost simultaneously, a two-headed undead lunged toward Lucia, its skeletal hands reaching for her.
Slash, crack!
However, the orc beside her swung his halberd faster, shattering its skull with a single strike. A dwarf then obliterated the staggering corpse on the opposite side with a hammer, scattering its remains in every direction. A faint golden shimmer followed the hammer's trajectory.
"Die, you disgusting undead!"
"Glory to the Northern Superhuman!"
The defenders were holding the line with remarkable success—so much so that it could be called a miracle. Though there were casualties, it was fewer than ten. The injured numbered about the same.
Crack—
Of course, the miracle they had achieved wasn't solely the result of their strength.
It was thanks to the barrier of force fields surrounding the uppermost layer, shattering and reforming over and over; the golden lightning raining down from above; and the dragon's blessing that enveloped them.
The first to notice that something had changed was Lucia.
"Huh?"
The dragon's magic had stopped flowing into her.
Shatter—
Moments later, the force fields encircling the uppermost layer all collapsed and scattered.
"What the hell...?"
The fairies were also quick to notice the change. Some even cried in alarm.
Creak—clatter—clunk.
At the same time, the undead began surging forward all at once.
"Damn it…! Don't back down!"
"Come on, you filthy—!"
Despite their shock, the defenders raised their weapons and shouted warcries.
Screech!
However, before the undead could reach them, the turquoise wraiths burst forth from every skull. The undead crumbled mid-charge, their remains scattering to the ground. The eerie wails of the wraiths echoed as they dissolved into the sky.
The defenders were left untouched except by the falling bone fragments.
A stunned silence settled over them, like a cold splash of water. As they exchanged uneasy, confused glances, a voice broke the quiet.
"Sir Ia.!" Lucia, once again the first to grasp the situation, dashed forward. "Sir Ian has won!"
The defenders’ eyes widened. They surged forward, following her. Even the wounded, leaning against the walls for support, gritted their teeth and struggled to follow.
Lucia stopped at the base of the stairs leading into the plaza. "By Lu Entre…"
The underground city had become what could only be described as a catacomb. Her gaze swept over the dim, desolate expanse until it stopped at the center of a bone-laden pit on the lowest tier.
There, she spotted someone scavenging the hooded cloak worn by the lich.
Ian.
"My gods... He really defeated that demon… alone..."
"This is the power of the Northern Superhuman..."
As exclamations of awe and disbelief spread among those who followed, Lucia began descending the stairs. The defenders, still murmuring in astonishment, trailed after her.
"How on earth… What was I even thinking, standing up to that monster?"
Among them was Diana, though her muttered lamentation seemed to stem from a slightly different sentiment than the others.
Finally noticing the defenders, Ian glanced around the city. Returning the sword in his right hand to his waist, he swung the cloak over one shoulder and began walking toward them.
“Looks like he's safe,” Lucia muttered to herself as she watched him leap effortlessly up the ruined staircase. She hurried to meet him.
With only a floor separating Ian and the defenders, the ground suddenly quaked violently, its rumbles reverberating throughout the cavern.
"W-what's happening?"
"What was that?!"
Lucia stopped, barely maintaining her balance. She around as cries of alarm erupted. Soon, a faint, flickering light illuminated the hall, which had momentarily plunged into darkness.
"W-why is…?" Lucia stared blankly at the ceiling. The Mantra circuits embedded in the walls and ceiling were dimming precariously, their glow fading fast.
A second quake, much stronger than the first, shook the city. It was followed by a chilling crack that echoed ominously, its source unclear.
"Damn it…"
Several people's expressions changed drastically, especially the dwarves’. Lucia turned to face them.
"What is it? What's going on?"
"Too much magic has been drained from the circuits," one of the dwarves answered. His red beard marked him as Corvo.
Standing two steps behind her, Corvo locked eyes with Lucia. "There's not enough left to sustain the city."
Lucia's eyes widened. It was clear what that meant—the collapse of the cavern, and their inevitable burial beneath it.
"We need to get out of here!"
"I'm not dying here! I'm not!"
"To the fortress! My family is there—!"
Panic spread rapidly among the defenders, which wasn’t surprising. They were no longer on a battlefield where adrenaline kept them focused. They had just relaxed after the danger had passed.
"Everyone, calm down! Please!" Lucia turned to address them, but even her voice quivered.
Woosh—
Amid the chaos, light bloomed behind her. It wasn't particularly bright, but in the darkness, it stood out starkly.
Startled, Lucia turned back toward the lower staircase.
"Sir Ian…?"
Her eyes locked onto Ian, who had also stopped, his left hand raised high. The light was coming from it, illuminating the surrounding cavern.
"W-what is that?"
"Great Warrior…?"
As the others slowly turned to witness the scene, the realization dawned on them one by one.
Swoosh—
Golden waves of light radiated from Ian's hand, spreading outward in a circle and encompassing the entire cavern.