Ninth Circle Enchantment Spell: Decree of Death!
Among all ninth circle single-target lethal spells, Decree of Death ranks at the forefront. If struck by this spell without a countermeasure, even a ninth circle caster would face certain death—unless they are not human and possess extraordinary vitality to partially resist the spell's effects.
As a ninth circle spell, its casting normally involves significant magical fluctuations that alert others in advance. However, in Harris's hands, this ninth circle spell was cast almost silently, without any warning.
After a brief utterance of "Decree of Death," the spell was complete.
The word "death" reached Aiseya's ears, and her mind went blank. The world spun around her as if veiled by thick, dark curtains, with the screams of demons and ghosts echoing in her ears.
Her normally bright and colorful eyes dimmed instantly, turning dull and lifeless.
"Aiseya!"
Matthew's face twisted in horror not far from her.
Other high-tier casters of the Golden Alliance did not hesitate to cast various healing and protective spells on Aiseya, but to no avail.
Aiseya's pupils dilated as her vibrant magical energy ceased.
In an instant, the ninth circle illusionist mage from the Alva Duchy, a central pillar of the alliance, ceased breathing. Under the gaze of over twenty high-tier Golden Alliance casters, she fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings.
Her life force utterly extinguished, her body shrouded in the decay of death. Both spiritually and physically, she was corroded by the Decree of Death's magic.
Her youthful appearance aged rapidly due to the loss of her magical energy. Wrinkles and white hair began to appear.
Matthew, also from the Alva Duchy and very close to Aiseya, was devastated.
"Aiseya!"
He roared in anguish.
Still in his golden dragon form, he dived down, his claws reaching out to catch the falling mage.
Matthew gently shook Aiseya's body, but there was no response.
He pulled out a cherished high-tier divine spell scroll and tore it open without hesitation. Holy white energy entered Aiseya's body like rain, quickly expelling the rotting aura of death, but the Decree of Death affected more than just the body. The precious divine scroll could heal her body but not bring her back to life.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You think you can revive someone who died by my hand?"
Harris sneered sinisterly.
Legend is a significant threshold. Legendary casters, who have penetrated the true workings of magic through extraordinary intelligence and understanding, can manipulate spatial and personal energies instantly, casting spells below the legendary level at will.
To a legendary caster, reality is fragile and malleable.
Harris did not chant or gesture; he simply looked at the mage held in the golden dragon's claws, and a sickly green glow suddenly emanated from his body.
The next second, a ghastly green beam of light pierced through space, striking Aiseya's already deceased body.
This beam of green light moved too quickly for anyone present to react.
Ninth Circle Necromancy Spell: Soul Bind!
Harris extended a skeletal finger and flicked lightly.
The ghastly green light that had entered Aiseya's body flashed and then exited, but as it left, it seemed to carry the image of a woman's face filled with terror and panic.
That was Aiseya's soul.
"No!"
Matthew roared, his dragon wings flapping violently as he chased after the ghastly green beam that bound Aiseya's soul.
But as he moved, the beam of light had already returned to Harris's hand, turning into a small orb.
"The soul of a ninth circle mage, such a fine thing."
Harris's evil eyes swept over the furious approaching golden dragon, then he sharply inhaled the orb.
In streams of light, the great mage's soul disintegrated and entered Harris's body.
"Ah, that's the feeling."
"The feeling of youth—muscles, blood, skin—my body is returning!"
Harris emitted a horrifyingly content moan, and the blue ghostly fire in his eye sockets flared.
His withered muscles and dry skin, which previously resembled a mummy exhumed from a grave, began to twitch and fill out. His pale, bloodless skin also gained a bit of luster, and even his skeletal head sprouted some flesh.
"Ha-ha, I will absorb all your flesh and souls, turn them into my essence, and this immortal body will be reborn!"
Harris's grating voice deepened a bit.
Yet, the malevolence in his voice remained strong, sending chills down the spines of the high-tier casters present, causing them to sweat coldly.
Then, the raging golden dragon did not notice that the already
dead mage slowly opened her eyes. There was no trace of the wisdom once present, only a dull, puppet-like gaze.
Eighth Circle Illusion Spell: Mind Tomb!
The magic within the mage revived, and her first target was Matthew, the golden dragon holding her.
At that moment, Matthew had approached Harris within fifty meters, his dragon mouth brewing fiery breath.
Noticing something off about Aiseya, he paused and looked down with joy.
"Thank goodness, Aiseya, you're alive!"
However, what met his gaze were lifeless eyes.
Then, a sharp pain exploded in the golden dragon's brain, as if a red-hot iron rod were stirring inside.
Ah!
The golden dragon cried out in agony, his body uncontrollably tracing a golden arc in the sky before crashing against the ironstone high wall, shaking the ground and the wall violently.
The fallen golden dragon rolled on the ground, slowly transforming back into his human form, and after a few seconds, lay motionless.
"An eighth circle mage dares to challenge me!"
"Offer your weak soul to me, as you should!"
Harris's malevolent gaze swept over Matthew's body.
Soul Bind tugged at the soul, then Harris devoured it in one gulp, causing his emaciated body to swell slightly.
Matthew's body also shakily rose, like Aiseya, filled with death, devoid of any consciousness.
High above, Garon watched the scene unfolding below with a chill in his heart.
The situation had changed too quickly, almost too fast to follow.
Two high-tier casters, one a ninth circle mage and the other an eighth circle mage, had died in succession within less than thirty seconds, virtually without resistance.
This terrifying creature, who had emerged from the shadow of a Dimos caster, was enveloped in an aura of death, fear, and cold.
A lich.
A legendary lich, transformed from a legendary caster, mastering both necromancy and enchantment.
He handled ninth circle spells with ease, as if they were nothing.
Garon hadn't expected that shortly after pondering what an ancient silver dragon turned into a draconic lich would be like, he would encounter a genuine legendary lich.
And this was no newcomer to legendary status.
"This is no place to linger!"
Garon decisively thought, speaking sternly to Roel and Grelsha, "This lich is a legendary creature and very dangerous. We must leave immediately."
As he spoke, his body transformed into a streak of silver light, ready to flee.
Roel and Grelsha, not fools either, realized the direness of the situation and followed closely behind Garon, like two flames streaking across the sky. The black and green dragons, a beat slower, also took flight at full speed upon realizing the danger.
Meanwhile, Harris looked up, his teeth clacking in a sinister smile.
"True dragon bodies are excellent supplements. Do you think you can escape?"
"Today, all living beings present, other than merging with me and becoming part of my strength, have no other choice!"
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