(Author: Hello all. Finally, Elgar summons minions. Please note that summoning a lich consumes a lot of mana because it can summon minions of its own. Also remember that he has a massive amount of mana as a necromancer should anyway. To those wondering why he doesn't know a lot of spells, only ten chapters came out so far and I obviously plan to increase the spells he can use later on. In this chapter, Elgar meets with the trio of spies. Enjoy.)
Chapter 11: Three becomes Two
Elgar waited on a boulder with Lava Tyrant in his hand dripping blood, four corpses of rank 3 magical beasts crushed below the boulder. He could see through the lich's eyes as they fought the applicants. Being a necromancer was much more convenient for two reasons. The first was obvious: necromancer minions were permanent unless they were killed. The second reason was what he discovered in the catacomb and affirmed first hand: when a minion kills a target or another minion dies nearby, it absorbs of the soul energy to heal and strengthen itself while sending the other half to its master. Elgar now realized why both the ancient lich and the undead warriors became stronger with every undead he killed.
Elgar also realized that bigger minions were not necessarily better as a necromancer could spend more mana to increase the resistance of the bone minions much more easily if it was smaller. Elgar watched as the wolves became more powerful as the others died and smiled. Tristan once used bone wolves to kill the knights and mage guarding his cousins in the catacombs. If the catacombs were more durable, he might have seen bigger and more powerful minions.
Elgar stared to his right as he saw Magmar devour the bodies of the rank 2 magical beasts nearby and extended his right hand down to the four corpses below him. He closed his eyes and willed the spirit energy from the magical beasts to his right hand. It was a strange feeling having qi in only the right shoulder down. He smirked as the qi seemed to condense within the lava tattoos all around his right arm.
He could feel the power in his right arm as it was augmented by qi. It was similar to his dragon body. It was a feeling of absolute power. The power to beat them to a pulp. To grab metal and crush it into sand. He sighed as he knew how to cast dragon magic, but wasn't able to. He had to be taught how to use dragon magic from an elder dragon. Once he learned, he could use his former magic again. He couldn't be a dragon, but he would have its power.
"Master," one of the lich said through their mental link. "The trio have passed by as you ordered. The other two lich will now engage the higher ranking humans."
"Good. Your name is Lich Chief and the other two are Lich 2 and Lich 3. Lich 2 is the one who summons undead warriors while Lich 3 summons undead archers. These are temporary names for simplicity's sake." Elgar said. "Lich 2 and 3, separate a small detachment from your forces heading toward the stronger humans and have them attack the trio. Don't kill them all. I only want the black haired one injured and separated from the others."
"Yes master," the three lich said and did as ordered.
"Time for me to head off. Stay here Magmar and scout ahead for that guinea pig. The spies would have learned the lie that you were given to me by a rank 8 mage. Go ahead but don't engage the guinea pig," Elgar said as he collected the spirit cores from the rank 3 magical beasts' corpses and stored them in his storage bag.
Elgar took off his tattered red cloak and pulled out a black cloak and put on a gold mask that connected to his hood to keep it from falling back. He sighed with pleasure as two demonic wings spread out from his back. The bones of his wings were covered with black skin while the thin wing membrane with dark purple veins visible over the white wings. It was time to execute his plan.
Elgar lifted to the sky as he saw the trio. The black haired bow had numerous openings in his armor with arrows all over his arms. The other two had small scratches on their armor and panted heavily. The black haired warrior was behind the other two as he was under attack by a few undead. Elgar smiled and created a bone cage ten feet in diameter around the black haired warrior and ordered Lich 2, the lich in control of the undead warriors, to scare the other two people away.
"Hello human," Elgar greeted with his most sinister voice as the other two disappeared deeper into the chasm with the undead warriors behind them. "At last, we can talk."
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Who the hell are you?" the boy shouted.
Elgar sighed and snapped his fingers, causing the bone cage to explode. The boy screamed as he was buffeted in all directions by the blast, a few shards of bone piercing his skin as they entered the gaps in his armor. The boy fell to his knees and cursed as he pulled out all the bones as he was forced to take out his armor. Elgar chuckled in amusement as the boy used light element qi and slowly healed his wounds.
"Let's act a little more courteous now, shall we?" Elgar laughed and channeled magic into his left hand. He pointed it on the ground and a yard of bone spears appeared in a hundred foot perimeter. The boy immediately paled. He had thought the lich were a major threat in the chasm, but he didn't expect a demon necromancer to be behind all the attacks.
"Did you create the three lich that attacked us?" the boy asked, horrified.
"Now, now human. I said to be more courteous. I haven't even introduced myself. I am Elgar Maltos, the demi-human House Dune told you to spy on," Elgar began. "I care not who you are or what your lineage is. Three spies with one of them not blood related can be a problem. Blood trusts blood. Manipulating one will be followed by the trust of the other. You can only blame yourself for not being related to them. Don't worry. You won't be eaten. There won't be any piece of you for them to find."
"W, wait! Please! I was only told to follow you and record your habits and behaviors," the boy cried. "I haven't done anything wrong!"
"I'm afraid you have," Elgar sighed and the boy screamed as Elgar's poison magic covered him in a thick jade mist, the flesh bacteria eating his body until only his armor, weapons, and magic bag remained. "I don't like stalkers. They bring unnecessary trouble. Don't you agree?...... Ah, right. You're dead. Oh, well. Three spies has become two."
Elgar swooped down and grabbed the magic bag before flying up high once more. He snapped his fingers and the bone spears exploding forming several craters. Nothing remained of the black haired spy. Elgar would have asked for a name, but it would have been a waste of brain cells.
Elgar changed back into his crimson, tattered robe and put away his black cloak and mask in his storage bag. His body tingled as the wings retracted back into his body as he landed on the ground.
"Lich 2, Lich 3, and Lich Chief; the job is done. Destroy all your minions and hide in the bottom of the lake under the protection of the bone fish minions. I will meet with you once I complete my tasks here in the Chasm of Chaos. How many remain?" Elgar asked.
"Two hundred and forty eight still live. We were not able to slay the rank 4 human, but most of the rank 3 and all of the rank 1 warriors and mages are dead. However, a few rank 2 humans and demi-humans will die from blood loss soon. We will return to the bottom of the lake now master," Lich Chief said.
"Good. The guinea pig is a variant magical beast. It will lessen the numbers. You have done well. I will have gained many storage bags and less applicants will become killers. This is a small kindness for them. Now to deal with the two spies. Good work my three lich minions. Rest and recover your mana until I return," Elgar said.
"Yes master," the lich minions cried and Elgar turned toward the deeper part of the chasm. Elgar sighed as he cut himself with the claws of the rank 3 beasts under the boulder as he returned there. Along the way, he saw broken bones on the floor with ancient, worn swords, shields, and helmets.
"Since the minions are dead, they will return to find their friend. I should remain here and use my healing magic upon seeing them, but how to converse with them. Should I appear grateful or scared?" Elgar said silently as he leaned on the boulder.
Once he, the spies, and the large group meet together, they would hunt the guinea pig. He needed an alibi, but what to say? What to say?
Chapter 10: Letting Loose Main Page Chapter 12: Ancient Lion Turtle