The ground rumbled as Mira's axe slammed into the Lich time and time again. The deeper he was buried the more furious he became, "You-!"
BOOM-!
Every time the Lich tried to make his fury known another slam from the axe shut him up. Without access to any form of magic and any souls his only way of defense was through physical means. Yet compared to Mira, he was thoroughly lacking in this category! Thus it rendered him entirely helpless!
Harreth tried desperately to assist Orothus, but failed to pass Kan'na and her spells. No matter how many magic circles he shattered with his lance another two would take their place! This sort of cast time was unheard of! Even Orothus who didn't need chants to attack with souls would struggle against this speed!
Kan'na gripped a few more magic circles, "This is the most you can handle? I expected more from the undead's finest!"
The Dulluhan roared furiously but his taunt ability was swiftly negated by the self-harming spells by Kan'na. He attempted to stab forward but found several magic circles forming around his lance. Pulling against the air Kan'na used the magic circles to wrench it free. It spun a few times before hovering above Kan'na. She smiled triumphantly, truly the Key To All will not fail against such a standard enemy!
A formation spread beneath the Dulluhan's mount and several circles surrounded him. A prism of mana manifested and spun rapidly. Try as he might Harreth found he couldn't break past this barrier. Caged he instead howled with fury, but found his cry didn't reach anything.
Kan'na had also made the barrier stop the taunt Skill! The rudimentary fix of causing a bit of harm to someone was too crude for her tastes. This was a far better solution to the constant taunt ability. Now having sealed away the Dulluhan she could continue her tests to bypass the Lich's mana rejection.
Walking over to the crater Mira was creating she formed a few magic circles from a safe distance and fired a few off. Yet as more of her tests failed she began to really ponder if she was taking the right direction. If his body rejected mana, then it could clearly only be harmed by things without mana. Yet it even rejected elements as well. Even those she didn't create but rather pushed in the right direction.
Her train of thought was interrupted by a change of mana over by the Dulluhan. Harreth continued to roar with fury, his screams enough to shake the barrier. Clutching the wisps that made its head Harreth ripped his head apart. Like some sort of wild animal he swung his fists. It was an unnerving sight. The Dulluhan was losing itself to fury.
Just as insurance Kan'na reinforced the barrier with an additional set of spells. Despite her increase in security she still felt unnerved. Something was not right.
"Rragh!!", Harreth's armor was beginning to fall apart.
This time the Lich spoke, "Give it to me Harreth! I'll take it all!"
Mira frowned and increased the intensity of his swings. For the first time the Lich did not be interrupted by his impacts. He hadn't reduced his ferocity so what had changed?
"You-!!", Harreth's rage filled voice broke past the barrier and immediately drew attention via taunt.
Immediately the self harm spell took place, but was ineffective. This taunt Skill was not so simple to where a bit of damage will release you! As Mira found his body turn involuntarily he felt a boney hand grip his neck. The tip of the fingers began to scratch various things into his skin, ancient runes with a meaning he did not understand.
Bursting through the barriers Harreth broke free? Kan'na immediately frowned, her barriers were intact, and there wasn't any signs of spacial tampering. Moreover the mount and armor remained within the barrier, so this was only-!
Her eyes widened and immediately outstretched a palm. Several strands shot out and wrapped around Harreth. More specifically Harreth's soul! The fury filled soul of Harreth had broken free from his body and thus was able to bypass her barrier! However this wasn't enough! The Key to All was not so short-sighted!
Harreth's soul became tangled in the lines. Like a fish hooked it squirmed violently trying to free itself. Kan'na felt her arm stiffen as she tried to pull back, but the fury of Harreth prevented him from being contained entirely!
Orothus finished his engravings and Mira felt his body began to twist. His skin ripped apart and began to bleed violently. A vicious laughter entered his ear, "Let your body reject the very blood you hold! Once you bleed out I'll have your remains be turned into a powerful asset for us!"
Walking forward past Mira he began to approach Harreth's soul. Kan'na used a free hand to cause several barriers of different kinds but Orothus walked through these. His cackling tone sounded haunting as he spoke, "You have my respect Magus. However you only freed the souls because they wished to return. Harreth is not so simple! This power, is not something you can free!"
"Where. . . are you going?!", Mira barely could speak through the pool of blood pouring from his skin.
Leaping forward he latched onto the Lich and knocked him onto his knees. Gripping the skeleton in a pinned position. The Lich's voice turned grave, "Your body should've already poured out every last drop of blood! How are you still standing?!"
Struggling to free himself the Lich could not understand what exactly had occurred. Even as they wrestled over who was in control he found the ground already flooded with Mira's blood. It was inhuman, no being should have this much!
Gripping his hands on Orothus' skull Mira began to crush it, "I. . . will turn you to dust! Just like. . . big sis Kan'na asked!!"
"You brat!!"
Cracks formed on his skull and Orothus roared, "Its useless! The undead cannot die under the effects of the Territory! No matter how much you struggle you won't make it!"
Several strands began to rip apart as Harreth's rage continued to boil. Kan'na created several more magic circles to add more as she wrestled control free. Just enough to subdue the raging soul! Once she got it under control she could modify the engravings on Mira!
Mira's grip only tightened, his strength severely limited by the constant regeneration of the blood his body was rejecting. Yet still he fought! With every ounce he could muster he would turn these bones into dust!
"Just what are you?! You've bled more than an army is capable of!", the Lich roared!
He'll do it! He'll crush the Lich to beyond just dust! Mira refused to let his grip slip from the blood and held on tighter! Harreth doubled his effort to rip free and assist Orothus, but Kan'na increased the restrictions! Several barriers formed, things she wasn't entirely sure would work because of a lack of testing, but that didn't matter!
In the growing pool of blood a few scales could be seen. Like something was swimming within it. Slowly an eye manifested and stared directly into the gaze of the Lich. Its very presence threatening to consume him!
Unable to etch more runes into Mira, Orothus could only count on Harreth freeing himself! He lacked the strength to fight against this monster, try as he might he couldn't win! Yet Harreth was also struggling! His rage threatened to entirely consume him, yet the restrictions only grew tighter!
Crrck-!
"Don't you get it?! You kill me here and I'll simply rise again! You cannot kill the undead! There is no winning!!", the Lich roared.
"You can't rise if there's nothing left!", Kan'na responded, "To atoms Mira!"
A groan escaped Mira's lips as he further increased the amount of force he was putting in. The endless regeneration and stamina of the Origin Hydra was the sole thing keeping him together, and yet he still pushed!
"You-!!! You BRAT!!!", the Lich could not contain his own fury as his skull began to crack further!
Small snake-like heads rose from the blood and began to latch onto the Lich. Threatening to consume him whole. Slowly they tugged, dragging him further into the now lake of blood. Kan'na found some of her spells working and was beginning to pull Harreth away!
Voices began to mingle as the four began to shout with effort. Harreth's fury fueled roars. The Lich's frustration no longer being held back. Mira's cry to summon just a bit more strength. Kan'na tugging with all she had caused her own voice to leak out involuntarily.
CRRCK-!!
The two undead's fury caused their intents to boil to a single point! Out of pure desperation their minds began to meld, and their entire beings began to synchronize! As the Lich's skull began to fill its last cracks, within the empty sockets a glowing purplish light manifested! The form of Harreth's soul morphed and formed an entire skull as its jaw opened wide.
Mira's struggle succeeded and he shattered the skull of the Lich! Yet just a moment after Kan'na found her once winning struggle to have suddenly flipped on its side! The skull shaped soul ripped free with incredible strength and connected with the Lich! Replacing the skull on the Lich the body began to rise into the air. A howl pierced across the battlefield, Orothus' and Harreth's voices melded into one!
This was no longer the Lich grabbing control of Harreth's soul! Kan'na couldn't believe what she was seeing! Their very beings morphed into a single point, and synced!
This existence, was Synced Nexus!