Chapter 32: Lich
"It's been a week now. I wonder how both of them now? I miss them" *sob *sob the kid must bring Momo back or I'll be talking non-stop!"
"Ha-choo!"
"What the matter, Master?"
"I don't know. Suddenly felt a bit chilly"
The voice could only vent his anger when reminiscing what happened between Kim and Momo. He still felt regret for not noticing the shadow within Kim's heart early on. If only he knew he thought to himself. He then let out a sigh and continued to watch over the floating skeletal figure.
The skeletal figure is dressed in a long hooded robe. Although the robe seems ancients, it seems to be taken care of properly as there's no sign of being wrinkled or damaged. The skeletal figure is sitting cross-legged and both of its hands are placed above its knees. As if it is in a state of meditation.
"Even a lich managed to get here...then the awakening of the earth really did exude a tremendous amount of mana for it to attract a lich"
A lich is an intellectual monster that is born from a master mana user. In other words, they are human who turned into monsters. Most of them are master manipulators who had gain enlightenment on what they called the "dark mana". A mysterious power that could only be understood by those who ascended to lich-hood.
There is no recorded knowledge which specifies the true power of "dark mana" but in recorded history, lich is a terrifying enemy that at least at the level of a mythical monster.
Lich is a master manipulator who can strike down their foes mercilessly with their most well adept element when it was a human. It could also raise the dead to become their puppet for war.
Due to its intellect and thirst for knowledge, they could get stronger faster than many other monsters. What more terrifying is its skeletal figure that could make a person to faint on the spots and have nightmares for weeks.
Until now, no one knows why lich has a skeletal figure. Some said, its the side-effect of wielding "dark mana" which unable the liches to maintain their original body. Also... the more a person bathe with "dark mana" the more they would be driven to insanity. That's why they could kill a person without any hint of regret.
Madness, obsession and insanity are the early symptoms of a person going to become a lich.
Madness for power,
Obsession for knowledge,
and... Pure insanity.
"I must know his plan before Kim and Momo exit the lair. I don't know since he doesn't have any eyes, but I'm that lich is carefully strategizing to kill Kim. Lich is an intelligent monster since it transmogrified from a human"
The lich nods its head several times, then suddenly...its staff fell on the ground which caused several kilometres of the land to freeze instantly.
"Ahh... I fell asleep... what taking them too long?"
"What are you planning lich!"
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A young man and a girl is walking side by side within a simple passageway. They seem to be walking out of a cave.
"Maybe you should rest more after all that training..."
"Nah, it's okay... I'm dying to get out of this lair anyway. Let's go beat those undead monsters shall we?"
"T-t-they are really... u-un-undead M-mas-t-ter?!!"
"Yes. I told you many times already..."
"Or they are just like brother Rentap?"
"No. Rentap is very much alive now... these monsters, however... are like..."
Kim lights a small fire which lit only his face a bit within the dark lair.
"Those zombies that would eat your brain up!!!"
"Hmm..."
"...What with that disappointing face... and you too blackbird"
A black feathery bird with yellow beaks is perching at Momo's shoulder. At its beaks, is a protruded horn that is similar to that of a rhinoceros. There are a few white colours covering its chest. Before, it could cover the entire sky just by spanning its wings. Not, it's just as small as a baby sparrow.
"Stop calling me blackbird! I'm Enggang the glorious sacred who protected the whole land of Borneo. How dare you call me without honour!"
"Oh, baby Enggang is mad? Then how about, Blackie?"
"B-Blackie?! Y-you!!!"
"Blackie is a cute name"
When Momo mentioned that, Enggang didn't utter even a single word and just gulped. Somehow, the smile on the face of Momo right now is scarier than death itself. Enggang just nodded in agreement.
"We already at the end of this cave. Momo, time to put on a show"
Momo steps forward and exerted her mana. Although Kim and Enggang seem fine, her mana pressure would cause any superior monster and below to bow down in fear. It wasn't the first time Kim saw Momo's mana pressure, but he still felt astonished as of how much Momo has improved.
Enggang who just had its first experience with Momo's mana pressure couldn't help itself from trembling in shock. All its feather stood up from sensing Momo's mana. It beaks opened feeling awe. Then Kim called to Enggang...
And Blackie..."
While licking his lips, Kim lit up a fire at his hand. He glared at Enggang with a very unpleasant grin.
"Take care of Momo or we'll have fried chicken for dinner. That's Momo's favourite besides milk"
"Mama and Papa always bring Momo to Kuching Fried Chicken every weekend. I really want some now..."
Seeing how excited Momo is caused Enggang to break a cold sweat...
'I should have died... why I have to be a servant for these two anyway...that Kim... I underestimated him too much. For someone who could bring back those warriors in full state, would be easy for him to save my life...and even this girl... is more than meets the eyes'
It let out a sigh and thought to itself again 'I guess following them would be fun. I should enjoy my new life... besides... I can spend time with cute Momo~'
Seeing how Enggang suddenly squawked in a weird way, Kim smacked its head.
"You are thinking something bad aren't you?"
"Y-you!!!" Enggang started to fly around Kim. "Even I'm this small, I'm the magnificent Enggang! Feel my wrath!" It continuously pecked Kim like a mosquito.
"Grr, why it's so hard to hit you. Annoying bird! I'm gonna smack you back! Ta-ta-ta-ta!"
Kim tried to smack Enggang, but somehow it was able to avoid all of it.
"Too slow, boy!"
As both of them are engrossed with their fight, a brilliant silvery sword appeared in between which nearly cut them.
"Aren't you two having fun? I appreciate you both trying to warm your relationship but I'm trying to focus here. But, if you like... you can play some more.... and I will also join you"
Her voice sounded sweet and angelic, but the aura she emanated is intimidating. Kim and Enggang glared at each other before gave out a cold laugh. They both shut their mouth, afraid of interrupting Momo.
"That's better"
Momo then steps forward and stand near the exit of the lair entrance. She expanded both her arms to the side, and exuded her mana.
"A conjurer?"
"Yes. Although Momo a three-type user like me, her forte is her conjuring skill"
"So, what's her weapon?"
"Why ask when you can enjoy the show? Watch Blackie. If Momo wasn't injured in the first, she doesn't even nee my protection at all"
She looks at the sky and clasped her hands together. Then her mana exploded! Her whole body radiated with white lights. "Raining swords, Meteor shower!"
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Outside, the clear blue sky suddenly turned dark and covered with clouds. The wind blew wildly as if a storm is coming. The lich looked at the sky with an odd expression on its face. Even though, it doesn't have a face, to begin with. The undead monsters which seem to be sleeping before, suddenly rise up again. Their number had risen to hundreds of thousands more than before. The lich then had a sudden realization.
"This is... mana pressure!"
Above the clouds, countless swords of different shapes and colours falling toward earth. The sword accurate pierce through several thousands of undead monsters and bury them to ground. Some didn't even wake up from it's frozen state yet and already had been split to half. One sword almost hit the lich but it easily deflected the sword with a barrier. Just by this sudden attack a lot, the undead forces have been reduced to half.
"Momo!" The voice shouted with excitement. The moment he felt the familiar mana, he consciously barged into Kim's mind.
"Old geezer..."
Enggang suddenly had a sudden chill when it heard Kim muttered those two words. As if, a sudden tremendous power entered into Kim's mind. A power that could bring a disastrous calamity to a whole world, or even... the entire galaxy. Today, it learned that the word old geezer is referring to someone who has the absolute mightiest power. An existent above others.
"You are back! *sob *sob and Momo too! Why didn't you tell me you ugly bastard? Not that I miss you or anything. I know you miss me though..."
"It's only been a second and you already this annoying old geezer"
"Aw, don't be shy, shy, you can hug me if my real body is here. *wink"
"Trust me, if your real body is here, hug won't be the first thing you get" Kim rubbed his temple, as he felt a sudden migraine. Enggang felt a bit awkward because it seems like Kim was talking to himself.
"Anyway, how did you get out of the lair without me sensing anything?"
"You can thank this black bird for that"
"I see. So, you didn't want the lich to know?"
"So, that was actually a lich? You could have told me earlier before"
"It doesn't matter anyway. You could have run with no problem. Besides, you seem to a bit stronger"
"Well, I trained a bit before I go out" Kim only put on a smile while answering the voice. Although Enggang only heard the conversation from Kim's side, somehow just by looking at Kim's expression would make it shudder. It doesn't even want to know what's the whole conversation is about.
The lich eyes flickered with excitement. If only it had a tongue, it would lick its lips showing its greediness. "I thought I would only eat the main dish, but it seems that it comes with a wonderful dessert! Stand up and fight my servants!"
"I guess that's my cue. Let me show you, how much I improved old geezer"
Kim proudly steps forward toward the battlefield. It feels like he was showing off to his parents how much he had grown. The voice felt a warm sensation. It seems that it wasn't just his growth, but also his temperment has changed a bit.
Seeing its food served itself, the lich let out an evil laughed. It exuded more to mana and raised more undead. Even some of that has been put down by Momo's terrifying rains of swords.
"I thank you for not wasting my time human. I promise you, it won't be painful" The talked in a soft manner that would make a person felt surprised that it was the same being who could govern hundred thousands of undead to terrorize a whole kingdom.
"It seems you have some nice toys running around there. How about I let them play around with my brothers?"
Suddenly, a hand pops out from the ground, grabbing a monster and took it to the ground. Then more and more of them appeared in the same manners, dragging long the monster with them.
The voice felt astonished and muttered to himself "This is similar to Gaia's...I can't believe it only took him 5 years to become a Master of mana"
However, the lich felt even more shocked as if its eyes would pop out. "Necromancy?! But, this is not his mana. These things... no freaking way! These humans are alive!"