The lich turned and sent two shadowy tendrils outward. The coils wrapped around a pair of Aspects and violently yanked them back toward the center of the temple, interrupting their suppression on two of the anchors. The boss whirled and recited another incantation, this time successfully causing the portal to flare with magic. A giant stepped through the gateway before the magic surrounding it fizzled out. The tendrils had already released the Aspects, who were now rushing back to resume the containment of the ritual anchors.
The paralysis wouldn't expire for a few more seconds, so I appraised the new enemy that had been summoned.
[Xharruk, Vheem'zil's Warden - Level 22 Undead Elite Minion]
Health: 100%
Mana: 400/400
In life, Xharruk was a powerful troll chief who had led and defended her tribe for decades. In death, she reluctantly serves the lich Vheem'zil, acting as his personal bodyguard and executioner. The Warden is vulnerable to solar and holy magic.
Xharruk was encased within a hulking suit of ashen metal armor. The equipment completely devoid of accents or ornaments. An array of gouges, dents, and scars adorned the archaic plate mail, testimony to numerous prior battles. The warden carried an oversized halberd in one hand, complemented by a massive tower shield in the other. Her halberd had a long metal shaft that ended in a savage double-bladed axe. A long blade tipped the axe head, increasing the weapon's reach and enabling thrusting attacks. Xharruk had to be over nine feet tall, and she was easily twice as wide as the average human. An open helmet displayed her rotting face and the two yellow tusks jutting out of her mouth. The undead troll's eyes were not lifeless like most of the other minions, giving me the impression that she was somewhat intelligent—or at the very least aware of her surroundings.
The paralysis spell finally faded, and I quickly relayed the warden's weaknesses to my team. Jen did have a few attacks that caused solar damage, and Cass's new class ability dealt holy damage.
"Xharruk, my loyal guardian, execute these peasants who dare stand against me!" the lich commanded.
"As you wish, master," Xharruk answered with a monotone voice.
Every word she uttered was entirely devoid of emotion or tone, every word besides the last one. I swore a hint of hatred crept into her voice when she uttered the term 'master.' Additionally, I noticed a strange initial reaction from Xharruk. For the briefest moment after her master's command, the warden's face twisted into an expression of resentment, her gaze flashing toward Vheem'zil before turning to settle on me. The warden's expression was impassive as she advanced. The description explicitly stated that she served the lich reluctantly, leading me to believe it may be possible to turn Xharruk against her master.
Jen and Leo did not hesitate, launching arrows and spells at the approaching juggernaut. The creature ignored the salvo and continued advancing as arrows, wind blades, and small boulders simply bounced off her heavy armor. Finally, however, Jen's powerful golden arrow garnered a reaction from the undead beast. Xharruk howled in pain and wavered as the solar-infused arrow punched through her hefty breastplate and continued through the flesh beneath. The solar-infused projectile had produced a glowing orange hole in the breastplate. The intense heat of the attack had melted through the armor with ease. Clumps of sickly blood poured from the wound, sizzling and spewing rancid smoke while it drained out of the molten steel opening in her armor. The lich snarled and raised his tome. Dark energy flowed from the vile book and into his minion, quickly healing and closing her wound. If he could constantly heal the warden, it would be pointless to try and kill her before we finished off Vheem'zil.
Jen quickly offered a suggestion, "Alex, can you keep the warden focused on you? The rest of us will finish the lich! Cass and Teos can alternate enemies to offer support where needed."
I nodded to the elf as the others voiced their acceptance. One of our team's greatest strengths was adapting as fights changed around us. Most of us could alternate between different roles to answer shifting conditions on the battlefield. The ranger's suggestion was the plan I had already envisioned when Xharruk entered the fight. I once again fell into a battle-ready mindset as the warden neared, priming myself to react to the troll's actions. My teammates had already begun their battle with the lich, and I needed to trust them. Worrying about them would only cause me to lose sight of my goal, endangering all of us. They knew how to handle themselves and when to call for my help. Additionally, the dungeon interface kept me informed of everyone's health and status at all times.
Without warning, the warden exploded into motion, swinging her halberd in an immense downward slash. My shield rose to meet the giant weapon, successfully deflecting it away. The power behind the strike caused me to grunt as waves of pain rippled through my shield arm. I backstepped a follow-up lunge, then stabbed my spear at her face in retaliation while her weapon cut through empty air. The warden brought her massive shield up to intercept my strike. She could move much faster than her lumbering frame implied, surprising me with agility and quickness I wouldn't think possible in such heavy armor. I fought defensively as the undead creature launched attack after attack at me, slowly accumulating stacks of Titan's Favor while learning her patterns and habits. The halberd was too long and unwieldy for her to be able to strike swiftly without winding up and committing to a strike. She could perform quick thrusts but couldn't fully overcome the halberd's significant inertia. These quick jabs, while still powerful, lacked any meaningful force, allowing me to block them with minimal effort. The halberd's reach was my main obstacle—it was easily twelve feet long. I mainly chose to exploit the brief openings presented while she recovered from her powerful swings. Unfortunately, she was swift and skilled enough with her shield to thwart many of my counters. I made repeated attempts to reason with Xharruk during our fight. I could tell the undead troll could understand me, yet she refused to offer a response. If there was a way to sway the warden to our side, I failed to discover it.
[Augment Rune: Warlord has reached Level 12 - Master Rank. Warlord's Cache has been upgraded.]
I was finally settling into a rhythm when a call from Leo arrested me, forcing me to abandon my battle with the warden. I cast Intercede on Jen without question, not even glancing at her circumstances. Leo had asked, and I answered. I flew to the ranger's position, my ability granting her three seconds of invulnerability as I rushed in front of the elf, shield raised to cover her. I took a moment to see what had prompted our healer to call for my intervention. Jen wasn't under attack but seemed to be under the control of a spell that prevented her from moving. She stared into the distance with empty eyes and a pale, blank face. Sinister energy encircled her, increasing in speed exponentially with every revolution. I didn't understand why Leo had asked for my aid until the lich's spell ended in an explosion of energy. Four giant spears of bone had erupted from underneath Jen's position. They would have caused a terrible amount of damage, possibly even resulting in her death. I didn't ask for an explanation before rushing the lich. Jen was attentive and once again able to move—that was all that mattered at that moment.
Cass and Teos had engaged the warden during my absence. The pair fought exceptionally well together, almost as if Cass shared her own mental connection with my familiar. Numerous battles next to one another led to the development of a symbiotic strategy. Teos bombarded the warden with fireballs and jets of flame between quick lunges. At the same time, Cass expertly dodged the troll's heavy attacks, always in a perfect position to counterattack with her giant sword. The duo's teamwork resulted in an endless barrage of attacks from every direction, never allowing their opponent to settle into a rhythm or focus on either one of them. Seeing them fight was like watching a precise dance, every movement flowing flawlessly into the next. We would swap targets when they decided they had an opportunity or if the fight began to creep in the enemy's favor.
I had to alter my strategy when battling the lich. The warden's methods were straightforward and powerful. The lich, however, employed deception and cunning. Most spells in his arsenal were quick to cast and difficult to avoid or block. The boss's magical arsenal contained a variety of offensive, defensive, and control spells. One particular spell had earned the nickname 'sneaky lance' in response to its uncanny ability to bypass our defenses. As the unimaginative name implied, sneaky lance was a spear-like projectile conjured by the lich. The radiant green lance would vanish an instant after the lich unleashed it, only to reappear in a new, random location, speeding at its target. We all took up defensive positions when we noticed him casting it, hoping we'd be lucky enough to see it coming. The spell dealt severe damage to my teammates, and as their guardian, it frustrated me greatly that I could rarely protect them from it. Furthermore, if the spell didn't have a cooldown of about ten seconds, Vheem'zil could easily overwhelm us with the troublesome projectiles.
I switched to my warhammer upon closing in on the boss—my spear dealt substantially less damage to the creature's skeletal body. I smashed my hammer into his shoulder before the boss could react, taking advantage of the lich's lethargic reactions. Vheem'zil occasionally lashed out with his heavy staff but primarily relied on his magical arsenal to combat me. The devious caster periodically wrapped my legs in shadowy coils between attack spells, forcing me to remain vigilant before dodging or repositioning. In addition to ranged attacks, the undead mage utilized a variety of close-range spells, including one named Chilling Touch that required him to physically touch me. After blocking a blast of death energy the boss released, I swung my warhammer in a mighty overhead bash. The weapon brutally collided with the boss's skull, sending him stumbling back a few feet. When I moved to close the distance, coils of shadow wrapped tightly around my feet, tripping me before I could react. I slammed into the cold ground and immediately rolled to maneuver my shield between myself and Vheem'zil. My instinctual reaction had saved me from the frost spell that would have immobilized me.
The magical bindings dissipated along with the ice, freeing my legs. I hastily regained my footing and darted back into melee range. Fighting the mage in close quarters demanded me to meet most magical attacks with my shield, even though physically blocking spells didn't completely nullify them. Still, it substantially reduced the damage they inflicted and remained the dominant method of defending against the lich's assault. I continued clashing with the boss while Leo healed me between launching his attacks. Jen unleashed countless arrows and spells at both the lich and his minion. Her solar-based attacks inflicted substantial damage to Xharruk in particular.
Our enemies steadily lost health as we fought, while Leo and Jen kept our entire party healthy. The advantage was ours; at this rate, the lich would enter execute range within thirty seconds. Cass's execution ability, combined with Aspect of the Leviathan, would let us deliver massive damage in an astonishingly short timeframe. Then, just as my confidence swelled, the lich abruptly vanished into the shadows, reappearing at the altar. After chanting a quick incantation, all of us were paralyzed once again, unable to do anything but watch as the boss initiated another phase.
I panicked briefly as I realized that Cass and Teos were still fighting the warden, worried that the minion would be able to attack them while they were paralyzed. Luckily, Xharruk remained stationary near my teammate and familiar, seemingly ignoring them. Without warning, shadowy tendrils erupted from the lich. They did not interrupt the Aspects this time, instead moving toward the warden—a dozen or more coils wrapped around the minion, flaring with dark energy wherever they contacted her. I noticed a debuff appear on her status.
[Sacrificial Offering - You will serve the master for eternity.]
The spell somehow restored some of the troll's will as she struggled against her bonds, roaring in defiance. Her eyes were full of hatred as she stared at the lich. I was unsure if the spell was causing it or if the realization of her end caused her hatred to overcome her forced obedience. I activated Mana Sense, having to squint due to the spectacle's brightness. Vast amounts of mana were being drained from Xharruk, flowing through the tendrils and into the lich. The ambient mana surrounding the warden slowly faded as Vheem'zil siphoned it away. I could see the sacrifice spell was infusing the boss with incredible power. It bolstered his magical proficiency in addition to his physical form. A storm of wild mana raged around the boss before abruptly flowing into him. Fortunately, the sacrifice had not restored his health, which remained at 40%.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I blinked and disengaged mana sense, my eyes fixed on the lich. His body had grown, his gaunt, skeletal frame replaced with large muscles draped in dead flesh. His new body more closely resembled the troll that had been sacrificed rather than a human skeleton. A pair of small tusks jutted from his lower jaw, and sharp fangs took the place of the previously human teeth.
Vheem'zil casually walked over to the corpse of his minion. He stowed his tome on his belt, placed the staff on his back, then retrieved the halberd. The Lich-troll hybrid gripped the huge polearm in two massive hands, his new size letting him wield the weapon with ease. He deftly twirled the stolen weapon, granting me the impression that he had gained at least some of the warden's capacity to wield the halberd. And although he was not as large as Xharruk had been, he was still a giant compared to a typical human or elf.
The boss laughed maniacally, waving the stolen polearm menacingly in our direction, "I will enjoy cutting you into pieces."
The paralysis effect faded from us just as I finished inspecting the boss's new buff.
[Loathsome Power - Benefitting from an abundance of stolen attributes, talents, and skills from a sacrificed minion.]
The description of the boon led to the formulation of an impish plan. There was no guarantee it would succeed, but attempting it would cost me nothing. Magefang appeared in my left hand, the dagger's inlaid runes radiating a soft light inside the gloomy temple. I focused on the lich, who was in the middle of yet another unnecessary tirade. I slowly raised my hand, then unleashed Magefang's unique ability with a mental command.
Vheem'zil began screaming angrily as the energy he had just gained was violently excised. Using Mana Sense, I watched the abundant magical energy start to become forcibly expelled. Magefang had an ability that purged all beneficial magic effects from a target, and the buff he had gained clearly fit those criteria. A grin crept across my face at the sight, serving to enrage the boss further. Not only had he removed the warden from the battle for us, but the benefits the lich had gained by doing so were dispelled. This fight was as good as finished.
The boss unleashed a barrage of spells at me in a rage. Reflection sent the bulk of his attacks soaring back to him, only doing minor damage but further fueling his anger. I charged, using the time left on Reflection to close the distance unheeded by the magical attacks being launched my way. The undead mage dropped the halberd to the floor, then switched once again back to his staff and tome.
Crackling lightning bolts and arrows zoomed right past me, most impacting their undead target. Cass and Teos flanked the lich on either side while I rushed into close quarters. My warhammer once more materialized as I initiated a flurry of powerful strikes at the undead mage. Vheem'zil appeared so blinded by fury that he didn't even attempt to block or dodge my attacks, instead opting to continue unleashing spell after spell my way. Teos and Cass did not hesitate to exploit the lich's tunnel vision. The Firemane's fearsome teeth and razor claws savagely mauled the undead mage as Cass repeatedly hacked at the boss using her pair of axes. We just needed to lower his health to 30%. Once that threshold was reached, I would invoke Aspect of the Leviathan, Cass would trigger her execute skill, and Jen would cast her miniature sun spell. A simultaneous onslaught of our most devastating abilities should decimate the boss.
Vheem'zil's health slowly dwindled under the might of the team's combined offense. As soon as the lich's health fell to 35%, he fell into the shadows on the floor. Rather than teleport two dozen yards away as he had previously, he instead reappeared only five yards from Cass, Teos, and myself. The lich immediately bellowed a diabolical, piercing shriek. The deafening scream was more than a simple shout. It was a strange cerebral attack I had never encountered before. It assaulted not just my ears but also my very mind. I feared my brain would be reduced to mush based solely on the intense pain. I instinctively staggered backward while attempting to cover my ears, hoping for even a momentary respite from the profound agony. I instinctively used Intercede on Leo, hoping to buy our healer a few precious seconds to heal everyone. The earsplitting cry mercifully ended a short while later. The lich's howl dropped my health by an impressive 22%. Cass and Teos suffered even more, both having been reduced to under half health. Jen and Leo, however, had each lost less than 15%. I assumed their distance from the lich or possibly even higher intelligence stats had decreased the damage from the psychic attack. I recalled a previous lecture from Leo that taught me higher intelligence helped strengthen resistance to mental and psychic assaults.
Leo and Jen started healing without delay, prioritizing the most injured in our party. I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain, gripping my warhammer and shield with white knuckles. Then, despite my splitting headache and ringing ears, I stormed the boss. In response, the lich cast Frigid Embrace on me as I was still charging. I quickly activated Reflection, smiling underneath my helmet as thick ice encumbered the boss's legs. He struggled to free himself from his own control spell, but I was already upon him. My hammer crashed into his sternum with a loud crack. The undead mage dispelled the ice's grip on him, then pointed his staff at me. The orb adorning the bone weapon glowed an eerie purple as a dozen shadowy tendrils snaked out of it. I slammed my hammer into the boss's skull before darting away from the incoming restraints. I dodged a few, but their speed and numbers eventually overwhelmed me. The tendrils snaked around my left arm, legs, waist, and neck. I struggled to free myself from their unyielding grip. I vigorously used my shield to hack away at the coil, gripping my left arm, triumphant in freeing my weapon hand. Unfortunately, before I could sever any more, the other tendrils bound me.
Cass and Teos darted in to aid me. My familiar tore into the tangled mess with fearsome teeth and razor-sharp claws while Cass hacked away at others, her dual axes well-suited for the endeavor. Just as they liberated me from nearly half of the appendages, the lich released a violent shockwave. The torrential energy forcibly flung my would-be rescuers several yards away. Leo and Jen bombarded Vheem'zil with spells and arrows, but the lich ignored the barrage, his gaze remaining fixated on me as he pulled me closer. The tendrils did a minuscule amount of damage to me, each draining health every few seconds, but the real danger was my vulnerability. The lich could assail me with any spell while I was restrained and helpless, unable to block or dodge. My team's frantic assault had finally lowered the lich's health to 29%—execute range. Cass and Teos had returned to the battle. All they had to do was free me, and we could obliterate this arrogant asshole.
Teos was seething, his rage overflowing and pouring into me. Our innate bond already revealed what was fueling his fury. The lion hated seeing me powerless. The mere idea of it was an insult to both of us. In his eyes, I was the apex predator, and our dominance was undisputed. The fact that some 'prey' had rendered me vulnerable enraged him. I had to mentally try to calm Teos before he committed a mistake. I sent soothing waves to the Saberfang, telling him I was okay and this was all part of the plan. It wasn't, of course, but maybe that would help. Unfortunately, my familiar could sense when I wasn't telling him the truth. Fortunately, he did reign in his primal fury long enough for the team to develop a plan. Our mental connection was a perfect arrangement, balancing and bolstering our instincts, tendencies, and mindsets. I helped control Teos's more animalistic tendencies while he offered me the ruthlessness of an apex predator. My disposition amplified the lion's use of logic and critical thinking, while his psyche gifted me with tremendous instincts and fearlessness during battle. Teos helped forge me into an unyielding warrior, even in the face of odds many would call hopeless. It wasn't purely beneficial, of course. One simple misstep or momentary lapse of judgment may result in any number of repercussions. Our connection was something far beyond simple telepathy. Sure, the bond facilitated simple mental communication, but there was so much more we were able to convey to each other. It wasn't limited to simple thoughts or emotions. We conveyed our current frame of mind to each other, gaining an instant comprehension of the other's emotions, desires, viewpoints, inclinations, and more. Teos and I had the capacity to share nearly any emotion or idea, no matter how complex.
Teos's mane was a raging inferno, radiating intense heat while he circled our opponent. Cass gripped her pair of axes, her lithe, muscular form poised to pounce at any moment. Jen and Leo had fully healed us, and I knew the time was coming. My friends exploded into motion, all four launching a simultaneous assault. The lich attempted to teleport away once again, but having me bound to him must have prevented the spell from working. He quickly froze Teos, then launched a sneaky lance at Leo. My familiar had an excellent solution to free himself from the ice. The lion's fur spontaneously combusted in orange flames. Additionally, the yellow-orange flames that typically encompassed his mane, the ridge along his back, and the tip of his tail intensified, enlarging the fire and the heat they radiated.
Vheem'zil frantically cast spell after spell, seeming to grow more and more manic while I watched from my constraints. Cass and Teos had severed four of the twelve tendrils, yet I still didn't have the strength to break free. Repeated attempts to use Force of Will did not break me free. Although the tendrils were magical, they weren't considered a control spell. Another forceful explosion from the boss knocked my familiar and Cass away, and the lich used the space created to pull me toward him until we were face to face.
I paled as the lich retrieved an ornate curved dagger from somewhere inside his tattered robes. The sinister blade was constructed of metal so black it seemed as if light itself dared not touch it. The pommel was adorned with a gleaming black gemstone the size of a golf ball, it had been carved to resemble a skull, and I could see glowing runes along the black leather handle. The boss placed me on the altar, the unyielding tendrils holding me down. He leveled his dagger at my heart, laughing maniacally. I stared into the creature's glowing eye orbs, with defiance written on my face. I would not die here. I still had a job to do. Leo and Jen increased the tempo of their projectile assault, but the lich ignored the damage he suffered. Instead, he pushed the long, black dagger into my chest. My colossal armor breastplate turned the dagger aside as easily as if it was made of wood. Vheem'zil seemed confused that my armor had stopped the blade. He scrutinized his dagger, then turned his gaze to my breastplate.
"Did it come with an instruction manual? Maybe you should take a stab at a different line of work?" I mocked, chuckling to myself at the bad pun. Vheem'zil elected to ignore my taunts, although I could see the fury rising inside him. The lich lifted the blade again, this time targeting my upper arm. I was about to crack another joke when the blade phased through the rerebrace attached to my pauldron as if it wasn't there. I stifled a scream as the knife penetrated deep into my bicep. I growled as my muscles stiffened in response to the unexpected pain. Even with my Vigor attribute, the dagger inflicted serious pain, much more than any previous blades that had cut me. Vheem'zil withdrew the knife with a smug chuckle, daring me to antagonize him again. I noticed that the section of armor it had passed through remained completely undamaged. There was no hole where the blade had entered, no sign that the weapon had somehow melted through my thick armor or otherwise weakened it. It had pierced through my pauldron as if it wasn't even there. The only explanation that came to mind was that the dagger had some method of bypassing armor. The lich's confusion when my breastplate stopped the mysterious weapon further substantiated my hypothesis. I wondered if colossal armor was impervious to the dagger's ability, or perhaps Brunhilda had gifted it to me, knowing I would face the lich. Either way, I was grateful for the impressive breastplate. If I had still been wearing the one I entered the dungeon with, that blade would have pierced my heart.
Cass and Teos returned, furiously hacking, slashing, and biting at my restraints while dodging the boss's spells and frequent counterattacks. Jen never stopped bombarding the lich with arrows and special attacks. The assault inflicted wound after wound despite the lich's intermittent magical barrier and the shadow tendrils deflecting an impressive amount of the ranger's projectiles. Leo healed everyone, ensuring each of us remained at or near full health before going on the offensive. An impressive feat considering my health was falling at a rate of nearly 5% per second due to the tendrils' constant drain and the death energy emitted by the altar I was stuck on. My teammates successfully severed another pair of tendrils, leaving eight still holding me. The boss was down to 22% health, and if I could just get free, we could end this. I needed to rely on Aspect of the Leviathan, hoping the additional strength would allow me to break my bonds. If I failed to free myself, however, I had serious doubts I would survive this.
Just as I intended to respond, a tendril wrapped around my throat. I grew dizzy as the moments passed, my breaths becoming short and ragged. My oxygen-starved brain soon became unable to form clear thoughts, leaving me confused and vulnerable. I tried to maintain my concentration on Aspect of the Leviathan's cooldown. It would be another twenty seconds before I could use it. My heart raced inside my chest, trying its best to compensate for the scarcity of oxygen. I couldn't focus on anything but my screaming lungs, begging for a full breath of air. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the tyrannical coil around my throat slackened. Free of the oppressive force, I inhaled greedily. The air was so thick it felt as if I was inhaling soup. I took more deep breaths, content just to enjoy the sensation. With each breath, the stupor cleared bit by bit from my head, and after a few moments of blissful ignorance, I remembered where I was.
Panic began to swell in me as I recalled my situation. I could only move my left leg, the rest of my body bound tightly. Cass and Teos had saved me, but they had suffered for it. Leo was healing their wounds with Jen's aid. Vheem'zil loomed over me, his uncanny eyes locked onto my own.
"Look at you, so helpless. You will serve me for eternity as my slave. I will sacrifice you, reanimate you, and finally, make you slaughter your friends," the lich snarled as he raised the blade to my throat.
Rage. Unexpected and overwhelming rage took control of me. Teos's anger had already been difficult to balance, and the lich's words pushed me over the edge. Our minds resonated with each other's fury. I was the apex predator. I would show the lich how helpless I was and what would happen to those who threatened to enslave me. Aspect of the Leviathan and Frenzied Strikes activated simultaneously. I ripped free from my bonds. The insane burst of strength and speed allowed me to tear away from them as if they were made of paper.
The boss backed away from me, surprised by the abrupt change in my disposition and aggression. The first hammer blow created hairline fractures along his skull. The second broke small pieces free. The third cracked it in half. My onslaught did not stop until the leviathan's power left me. I was unsure of the number of strikes I unleashed, the specifics of the ordeal remaining veiled behind a thick haze of blinding fury and seething hatred. When the bloodlust faded, Vheem'zil lacked not only his skull but also his upper ribcage and most of his spine. I stared down at the wrecked remains, "Look at you, so helpless," I spat, malice dripping from my voice.
[You have reached Level 26.]
[You have reached Level 27.]
The anger faded, quickly being replaced by guilt and remorse. I told the others this wouldn't happen again. Regardless of my reasons or excuses, the others had every right to hold me accountable. Sure, I killed the boss, but what if I hadn't? What if he exploited my blind fury? I was painfully aware luck had played no small part in my victory. Blood leaked from various holes in my abdomen and arms. The lich had managed to deliver a handful of stab wounds with his dagger before I reduced him to a pile of bones. I could have accomplished the exact same thing without going berserk while likely avoiding much more damage.
We had no time to discuss my actions at the moment. We needed to find the lich's phylactery. An examination of the room revealed only one viable place to hide it. The others must have concluded the same as we all approached the altar. I raised my warhammer, then brought it down. The altar shattered, revealing a single concealed item inside. A simple oval gemstone, pulsing green and black, hung from a simple leather cord. Leo gently removed the vessel containing the lich's soul. I handed my warhammer to Cass and she demolished the phylactery with one heavy strike. Finally, we had finished The Hanging Gardens.