Ander Phyris didn't even look up from what it was doing as he entered. Instead its 5 minions wordlessly broke away from the ritual to face him.

"You don't have to die here Earthling."

A dark and brooding voice spoke with no clear origin. Despite that, he knew it was the Lich from the feeling of power that backed the voice.

"All I want is my freedom from this place. I have been trapped here far too long and only wish to live out eternity as a researcher."

Liam considered its words. Even with the being's attempts to kill him he found himself wanting to believe it. The System seemed to encourage conflict having rewarded him greatly for killing his way to this point so it made sense that having some measure of strength was needed to protect oneself. Ander did it through its undead army, just as he was doing with his Spirits. The difference was he had been thrust into this situation whereas the Lich had actively conspired to end him. Maybe its actions were just a result of it being so close to breaking free from its imprisonment and not wanting anything to come in its way?

"Don't believe it."

His [Spirit of Death]'s raspy whisper broke him from his thoughts.

"Its words carry with it some effect to mess with your mind."

It continued, and his thoughts began to make sense. This thing had tried to kill him since he had stepped foot down here, even going as far as to raise undead specifically to hunt him down, he shouldn't be feeling any pity for it. What's more was it was trying to get out into the wider world. It obviously had no qualms with raising its own family as its servants so he couldn't even begin to image what the thing was willing to do to those it wasn't related to.

Rage filled him but he just as quickly pushed it down, he needed to keep a Level head here to seize every advantage he could. He was out manned and, if their Levels had anything to say about it, outgunned so he would need everything at his disposal to have any chance of victory. He stepped forwards.

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"And what guarantee do I have that you work try to kill me after your done with this?"

He said as he took another step closer. The shorter the distance between them when negotiations inevitably failed the better.

"You of course have my word."

It replied, leaning whatever persuasive affects it had more heavily upon his mind.

"Of course."

He played along, acting affected. It had almost won him over that time as well but a hiss from his bound Spirit had saved him once again.

"And what will you offer me to back off? I'm sure I could cause some disruption and take at least a few of your undead down with me. What are they worth to you?"

He asked. He was going down the false greed route now, getting about half way towards his enemy as he spoke.

"Your life isn't enough?"

It answered, a hint of amusement in its tone.

"Though I suppose I could gift some of my knowledge if it meant you leaving me alone."

[Ander Phyris would like to bestow [Elemental Lore I] upon you. Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

The full force of the Lich's compulsion slammed into his mind. Everything in him screamed to just accept and walk away. He'd be a Skill richer and wouldn't have to put his life on the line in a battle he wasn't entirely sure he could win. Heck, the only thing that stopped the Lich from attacking him right now was that it was probably at a critical part of its ritual and would suffer significant setbacks if it stopped. That and the risk of loosing a couple of its chief minions.

"Liam!"

A sharp whisper pierced his skull.

"They need to be ended. They're unnatural and will destroy your home. It is in their nature."

His Spirit continued. It took a couple moments for him to regain clarity, but when he did he was firm in his resolve to fight again. With a thought, he accepted the message.

[You have acquired [Elemental Lore I]]

He felt an even strong assault on his psyche incoming, somehow strengthener by him taking the Skill, but he prevented it before it could take hold by launching himself into combat. There was no way for the Lich to convince him not to fight if he was already engaged in a life or death struggle where retreating would open him up to much higher chances of death.

He leapt forwards and swung towards the closest undead, the [Greater Ghoul] that had positioned itself infront of the others as a vanguard. His second to last free use of his Death Power coalesced along the axe edge, forming a wider, black blade that descended towards the reanimated creature. It reacted quickly, even with Liam crossing the distance between them in a single bound. Its claws came up to block the blow, diverting it to the side with a skillful parry. A sickly green energy attached to the bone axe at the moment of impact, attempting to eat away at it but its evolutions made it too tough to be worn down in a short period of time and its Passives consumed the energy even as the energy attempted to consume it, converting it into a temporary boost for the armament.

Liam brought his weapon back up from ware it had been redirected to, hacking into the undead's side. The ghoul didn't block this time, instead allowing the attack to land so that it could get in two of its own. Its claws scraped against his shield, tearing chunks of it away from his body and infecting it with the same green energy that had attempted to devour his axe.

It was at this time that the other undead managed to react. The Lich remained focused on its work, but the others began to gather their own Powers to strike towards him. This was going to be rough.