In the early morning's glow, the group embarked on their journey across the rugged terrain. Bradrof the Bold, touted as a resilient Dwarf among them, seemed anything but deserving of his title. The unsettling tales from the northern continent had visibly affected him, casting an air of unease around him. Stories circulated about men torn apart or transformed into grotesque undead beings, their past abilities twisted by haunting necromantic forces. The few harrowing encounters they'd endured with these monsters had left them barely escaping with their lives and at considerable cost.
Meanwhile, Houris the Wise, an Elf in their company, lagged behind with evident reluctance. Both he and Bradrof hesitated to confront the wilderness, yet their resolve to face it remained steadfast. The other adventurers, however, insisted on Valicar handling the monstrous threat before they would dare venture out further. Though on the brink of abandoning the mission, they held firm with Valicar on the hunt. It didn't take long before their path collided with a haunting reality.
"EALI, RASTADO,YANIAL!" Houris thundered with rage at the sight of their former guild members, now twisted into ghastly undead forms.
"God damn, combining three S-class adventures? Now, that's an idea," Mike admired the monster, albeit with a tinge of disgust in his voice.
"That's just wrong," Sophia retorted in horror, looking upon the monster whose soul was twisted, mirroring Sophia and Mike's own. "But I think we're on the right path to finding a way to separate our souls. Whoever did this might have some answers." She readied her blades, drawing Red Dawn with minimal power, hoping Ignial wouldn't sense its exact location— last time it was the call that forced it to emerge, a world away and gain the dragon's notice.
"Satrax!" With a resounding command, a sword of ebony ice manifested in their other hand, now dual-wielding the swords of red and black. They lunged into the fray, their attacks meeting in explosive clashes that sent shockwaves through the air, enveloping the battleground in swirling steam and arcane magic. The encounter took a harrowing turn, confronting a revenant—an undead creature wielding the abilities of its former mage host, a twisted fusion of fire and ice reminiscent of the magical prowess shared by Sophia and Mike.
As the clash unfolded, the elements engaged in a chaotic symphony, unleashing searing heat and freezing gusts that painted the battlefield with the tumult of their battle. The very air crackled with the intensity of their magical collision, a dance of destruction that echoed the gravity of the situation.
Yet, amidst the already nightmarish confrontation, a darker twist awaited. The third adversary possessed an inexplicable power—the ability to manipulate minds. Amid the chaos, Sophia found herself abruptly displaced mentally, trapped within the chilling grasp of the undead's grotesque powers. Trapped within the confines of her own mind, she engaged in a harrowing mental duel.
Simultaneously, an apparition of Mike materialized in the ethereal battleground, fighting to wrench control of Valicar's body from the clutches of the undead horror. In a haunting flashback, Mike reclaimed his previous form, fueled by a resolute determination to obliterate the undead menace with the sheer power of his fist. Empowered by his ominous pact, he delved into the darkest threads of necromancy, "Carus" The words filled his mind as he seized the monstrous foe and consumed the essence of the man's soul ripping it from its tangle. The act was a macabre liberation, breaking the suffocating grip that the abomination held over Sophia.
The release from this nightmarish ordeal left Sophia visibly shaken as she emerged from the dreadful mental duel. "That was terrifying. I found myself running for my life, pursued by those disgusting undead creatures," she gasped, her voice trembling with the lingering horror of the experience.
"I'm glad to have you back! I was getting worried, but after giving him these hands I ate his soul to break you free," Mike reassured her with pride evident in his voice.
"It's bullshit how effortlessly you channel spells whenever Anna Sha talks with you. I actually have to study," Sophia remarked, a touch of frustration underscoring her words as she grappled with the eerie and unbidden intrusion into her mind.
After breaking free from the creature's hold with a mighty swing of Red Noon, the corporeal form of the abomination disintegrated into dust, its very soul consumed by the necromantic flame summoned forth by both Sophia and Mike. The act deepened their understanding of the Forbidden Magic, a complex art they each comprehended in entirely different ways. For Mike, comprehension came as an innate knowledge, a simple understanding bestowed upon him by Anna Sha. He grasped it with the ease of instinct, an inherent connection that allowed him to wield its power almost effortlessly. Conversely, Sophia delved into the intricacies of the arcane, relying on her innate abilities while drawing from her knowledge of mana manipulation and spellcraft to achieve her desired results. Their diverse approaches to the arcane are reflected in their use of necromantic magic, each possessing a distinct method of harnessing its formidable power. Yet, despite their differing paths to comprehension, their collaborative efforts in wielding this mystical force only strengthened their chances of separating their souls.
The undead monstrosity lay defeated, its twisted form now reduced to ash, leaving scant remains for investigation. However, despite the limited clues, it seemed their efforts had led them closer to the truth. As they turned their attention back to their two companions, only Houris the Wise, the elf, remained—the dwarf, Bradrof the Bold, had vanished in the chaotic battle.
"Damn it! They took him! I plead to you Valicar slay this beast" Houris's voice cracked with frustration and anguish as he scanned the area, realizing the sudden disappearance of their missing companion.
"What the...hell?" Sophia's disbelief was palpable. Despite her careful wards and alarm spells, this attack had slipped through while they were battling the mind intrusion.
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"Who or what do you think it is?" Mike questioned, their defenses heightened as they remained vigilant. "Know what.... fuck it."
Then, with a surge of determination and frustration, Mike channeled his and Sophia's imbued mana, infusing Red Noon with immense power. The blade transformed into a colossal crimson inferno, glowing with an intense aura. With a mighty swing, Mike unleashed the empowered sword, a cataclysmic wave of flame surging forth in a relentless onslaught.
The landscape quaked and trembled under the unleashed fury, hills crumbling and forests consumed in roaring flames. The searing blaze tore through the terrain, incinerating the grotesque undead horrors with a relentless onslaught. The sheer power of the fiery assault was breathtaking, echoing destruction for miles around.
As the blaze gradually subsided, the aftermath revealed a charred, desolate expanse where the twisted abominations once lurked. Mike stood amidst the devastation, a mixture of grim resolve and fierce determination etched on his face as Red Noon returned to its dormant state.
Sophia remained in stunned awe, her voice trembling as she tried to comprehend the scale of their unleashed power. "That... that was more than I ever imagined we could do on our own. It was like witnessing the force of our nuclear bomb," she murmured, the echoes of destruction still resounding around them, a testament to the immense force they had unleashed.
"Can't hide from an attack like that, and I've been itching to cut loose since the sword turned red," Mike declared, taking deep breaths in the aftermath of exerting such raw power. Red Noon had proven itself to be a significant upgrade from Blue Dawn.
The land around them had transformed into a desolate wasteland akin to the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. Lava flowed sluggishly in molten rivers, leaving behind charred earth and fiery fissures that crackled and seethed with an unrelenting heat. The unearthly figure of the lich emerged from the molten terrain, having dived underground to escape the scorching blast, but the searing heat had now rendered the ground red-hot, preventing any further concealment.
The undead abomination bore a form that defied the laws of nature, a nightmarish composition crafted from several adventurers' bodies. It was a horrific fusion of five heads and ten limbs, a grotesque medley of torsos and limbs entwined in a twisted and morbid assembly. Each limb was a macabre monstrosity, an unsettling collage of mismatched body parts and appendages that seemed to writhe with a life of their own.
With its hands, an eerie collection of fingers and palms from the disparate bodies, the lich began weaving intricate spells. Its mouths, originating from the heads of various adventurers, chanted in a discordant chorus, resonating with a dark and ominous energy.
At the heart of this repulsive assembly lay the focal point, the vessel or phylactery containing the lich's malevolent soul. A grotesque convergence of limbs and torsos formed the core, a revolting nexus that sustained the undead abomination's existence. This vessel was the linchpin of its immortality, the very essence that held together the unnatural threads of the lich's eternal life.
"Found you!" Mike called out as they faced the Lich.
As they approached, Sophia's voice echoed in their mind, urging caution. "Don't destroy its core! Just dismantle its body, and we can study how it manipulates souls carefully."
The lich retaliated, unleashing a barrage of magic—lightning crackling and torrents of nearby lava surging toward them. In response, Mike threw his ebony sword ahead, invoking a protective incantation. "Feweau!" The sword expanded into a massive wall, intercepting the oncoming lava and lightning. A colossal steam cloud billowed, obstructing their view of the undead horror.
"Cutting it up shouldn't be a problem!" Mike declared confidently. However, the creature defied expectations, blitzing forward with unnatural speed. A hand adorned with 20 fingers lashed out, seizing them by their tail and yanking hard, sending them hurtling through the air.
"FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! How does a tail grab hurt more than getting stabbed?" Sophia exclaimed, taken aback by the surprising pain from the unexpected attack. "Ignis!" she called out, reinforcing their bodies and multiplying their strength.
"I feel bad for every beastkin I've ever done that to," Mike admitted as they regained their footing in the sky, propelled by the power of their enchanted sandals.
The lich, taking advantage of its close-range prowess, extended several fleshy limbs, attempting to push its advantage. It conjured a blade of earth and crystal, as well as one formed of bone and muscle. "Well, that's disgusting," Mike muttered as they brought Red Noon to bear. The creature's swords yielded like a hot knife through butter; Red Noon cleaved through half of the abomination's body. However, it swiftly retreated, casting spells in its escape.
A noxious gas permeated the air, revealing its explosive nature. When the gas met the still-raging fire, a massive explosion ensued, creating a chaotic display of destruction. The lich withdrew, attempting to escape, but Valicar was determined not to let it get away so easily.
"You're not going anywhere!" shouted the elf, "Jub Vor! launching his own spell to control torrents of magical chains he summoned. The enchanted manacles wrapped around the creature's many limbs, restraining its movement as the chains constricted around its main body. The creature hissed in frustration, and a booming voice echoed, "Release me, mortal! Or I will torment your souls for all eternity!" The eerie whisper sent shivers down their spines. "Hurry, Valicar! I can't hold it for long!"
With a surgeon's precision and the finesse of a skilled swordsman, Mike leaped forward, slicing and dismantling the monster. He reached for its core, ripping it free from the gruesome mess. "Got you!" Mike triumphantly called out, and Sophia swiftly threw the monster into their bag of holding. As soon as it entered the other dimension, the animated undead returned to its lifeless state. The threat was contained, and the eerie whispers ceased.
"Thanks, twiggy! We fulfilled our end; it's time for you to tell us the location of Death Tooth," Mike called out to Houris.
The elf looked annoyed at the slur but was grateful and too exhausted to argue. "We will give you that and more. Thank you for avenging my men, Valicar."