"What the hell are they doing?"
I had passed by the main army and was heading to where my familiars were. I thought that if it got too dangerous they would simply escape, yet for some reason they were even burning their souls. Like, are they suicidal or something?
'No, maybe they can't escape. But is that really any better?'
While casually running at a speed that would make me think I was in a sports car if I wasn't the one moving, I scratched my head. I couldn't get a precise reading on their statuses this far away, but I could tell that they were much stronger than before. So an enemy that could push them this far was either the undead lord or
Clavis...
It was a lich that I remembered acting like the undead lord's advisor and among the three liches that served the undead lord, it was definitely the craftiest. Since like all liches that willingly changed themselves, it had the Necromancy skill and so would be able to create a cage capable of trapping them if it used the Soul Tamper ability.
"Tch, I guess I'll push myself."
I stomped on the ground to give myself a major boost and launched off like a rocket in the direction of my familiars. For some time after launching, I went straight forward without needing to put my feet on the ground, as if flying at low altitude.
'This is a good feeling.'
I loved the sensation of effortlessly flying with the breeze brushing across my skin, but the structure of ice that entered my sight reminded me that this wasn't a pleasure trip.
"So that's why they haven't escaped?"
As soon as I saw the structure, I knew my familiars were inside it so I checked it out with the Magic Eyes of Perception. My sight narrowed and I began to see the core of the spell behind cage. I knew immediately that the ice wasn't the problem but what was added to ice spell.
'So he did a cage with Soul Tamper. Guess I can't really blame them for getting stuck. Still, that doesn't excuse them for their current conditions."
Anxious due to the feedback I was getting from my familiars, I tried to get to the cage as quickly as possible. Once the momentum that carried me forward started to wear off, I pounded my feet on the ground and leaped several metres into the air. The sight of the barren land lit by the moon was very intriguing for me who had never taken a plane or even a ferris wheel, but unfortunately I didn't have time to admire it.
As my jump took me closer to the icy dome, I tightly clenched my fist. With the power of this ice magic, I wouldn't be able to melt it fast enough with a curse or white blaze.
...Okay yes, that was an excuse.
Honestly, I was just a boy who wanted to test his full strength.
While I got closer to the dome, my excitement grew along with the grin that I didn't bother to hide.
"Now then, let's see how much one punch can do."
Once it was within reach, I slammed my fist down on the dome but there was hardly any resistance as a large hole was immediately created.
"Huh?"
It was so sudden that I barely had time to get my falling self into position for a good landing. After three flips I landed with my knees bent, before slowly standing up straight and putting both hands on my waist.
"Wow that felt good! This would be perfect for stress relief!"
Though my feet were firmly planted on the ground, there was still a floaty feeling present as I thought about the unexpected power of my punch.
'I really wasn't using the full power of my stats.'
Even now I was only in sync with little over 90% of my soul but it was now enough for me to use my true strength.
"Master..."
The one who dragged me down from my thoughts with her voice was Jeanne. I wanted to give her and the other two dumbfounded faces a confident smile in response, but that smile froze when I saw their states. I could only tell that they were burning their souls when I was far, but now that they were in sight I could see how bad it had gotten.
"What the hell are you three doing?"
With a cold tone that shocked even myself, I glared at them. They quickly came out of their self-endangering states but the damage was already done.
"Oi, I don't remember telling you three to go kill yourselves. Do you know how much I invested in you?!"
Even with their current powers I knew it would be hard for them to beat the lich behind me, but that didn't matter. At this moment all I cared about was the fact that my tickets to a lazy future were burning themselves.
As I looked at their guilty expressions, I happened to liken them to children who were caught red-handed. I needed them to be loyal to me but there was no point to that if they couldn't value themselves more.
"I leave for a couple days and come back to this?! Can't I at least expect you take care of yourselves? What point is there in trying to help me if-"
"Who do you think you're ignoring?!"
I was just in the middle of scolding them when I heard a coarse voice as well as an enormous ice spear flying at me. Annoyed by this interference, I clicked my tongue and turned my left palm towards the spear. In front of my palm appeared a thin green wall that looked as fragile as glass, but it was the spear that shattered.
"What? How?!"
"You mind being quiet, Clavis?"
"?! How do you know my-"
The lich continued to blabber but with my barrier out I no longer needed to care about it. Turning back to my familiars I instantly noticed the excitement and admiration in their eyes after seeing what I did. I still had more to say but I decided to end my criticism for now.
"We'll continue this another time."
As relief seeped in from hearing that I would stop scolding them, I raised my other hand and sent pure soul essence to them through our contracts. For some reason I didn't have much use for this so I didn't feel any pain giving it to them.
Watching as the damage to their souls was quickly repaired, the three were first stunned before kneeling.
"Thank you, master."
"Just get up. You still have work."
Once I saw the three get back on their feet, I turned to the lich while asking them a question.
"If I handled the other undead do you think you could take care of the lich?"
"Yes master!"
"Without sacrificing yourselves?"
"Of course master. We were forced to this time, but we don't like wasting our lives either."
Ein was the one to answer with a chuckle, but all of them seemed to agree with him by nodding their heads. I didn't completely trust them but I knew that they couldn't lie to me so I found solace in thinking they would only sacrifice themselves again if the situation turned hopeless.
"Hmm, I hope so."
I lowered my hand and so the barrier in front of it was also dispelled. The lich didn't attack as soon as I put down the barrier, but I could tell that it really wanted to from the intensity of its eyeball flames.
"Are you done?" it asked in a harsh tone.
"Yes, thanks for waiting. Now I'll just even the playing field and be on my way."
"Huh? What does that-"
Once more I ignored the lich and placed my hand on the ground and went straight into purifying the area.
"Imbue Holy."
The zone that I defined as an 'object' lit up with white light and all bones and flesh either vanished or was cleansed. Even the lich had to retreat while the other undead returned to just bones and meat.
"Wha-wha-wha-wha-"
The shock I saw in the lich was expected but I had to raise an eyebrow when I turned around and saw Jeanne's wide-eyed expression.
'Odd. She should be able to do something like this with her abilities. Or, is she just surprised that I could do it? Honestly that would hurt my feelings as her master.'
I had a few questions for Jeanne but my work was done here for now.
In a short dash I made it past the lich and then waved at them before rushing towards the undead lord.
"Later."