Ahanu activated the Force spell on his shield that knocked the Zombies and the Ghouls onto their backs, but not the Wight. The armed and armored undead slid for a few feet before it lunged forward. The Wight's mace thudded loudly against Ahanu's raised kite shield. The heavy blow numbed the Protector's arm. Ahanu countered with a jab from his sword, which the Wight deflected with its own shield. The two circled and exchanged blows as the Ghouls and Zombies struggled to their feet. I will try this again, Ahanu reflected with gritted teeth.

The Wight was smarter, stronger, and faster than the Zombies and the Ghouls, but compared to Ahanu it was still a poor fighter. The Spirit Walker Protector had improved with the Mind aspect and he had his Will extended in a small bubble around him. When Ahanu first utilized the Mind aspect, it was confusing. His normal senses, such as sight and sound, were conflicted with the additional information he received from the Mind aspect. Now, all his senses were more in sync.

Before using the Mind aspect, Ahanu would focus on his opponent's shoulders and waist to predict their next move. Because all attacks were generated from the hips and waist. Using the Mind aspect, Ahanu's Will provided an additional cue that he could use to predict and counter his opponent's moves. This was especially easy against the Wight, which relied on its supernatural speed and strength and lacked proper skill in combat. The problem was that the Wight was very hard to kill! The blasted creature healed fast! Ahanu thought to himself with a growl. I will kill it this time, he promised himself.

The Spirit Walker Protector prodded with a quick sword thrust to the Wight's face. The undead wore a visored helmet, and the attack, if it landed, wouldn't have done significant damage. However, it covered the Wight's vision and tricked it into raising its guard. This allowed Ahanu to skillfully redirect and slash the undead's knee. The blade clanged harmlessly off the armored mail. The attack was a distraction that allowed Ahanu to better position himself. In fighting, footwork and position often decided who won and who lost.

The Wight, predictably, responded with a shield bash followed by a powerful chop of its mace. It was like the creature knew no other combo, Ahanu briefly reflected to himself. This was the second time he had this exchange with the Wight, and with the aid of the Mind aspect, Ahanu perfectly caught the weapon attack with the edge of his shield and deflected it inwards so that the Wight's mace was trapped against its body. Ahanu was now in the perfect position to thrust his blade high over his own shield and directly into a gap in the Wight's neck armor. A gap that Ahanu had created during their first exchange where he pierced the mail.

Ahanu forced his sword all the way to the hilt, and he was able to see the creature's beady yellow eyes glare through its visored helm back at him. Ahana tapped the intricate Runes on the handle of his sword and released it so that he could complete the final glyphs with his hand. Nothing happened. Ahanu cursed as the Wight's wound began to close with dark ichor. The undead clawed at the sword, and the Ghouls and Zombies were now rushing him. With frustration, Ahanu swept the legs out from under the Wight and forced it to the floor, where it frantically clawed to free the sword from its neck. Ahanu readied the battle axe he was gifted from the Frostsworn that hung at his hip. There were too many Ghouls and Zombies, but Ahanu didn't care. He was frustrated and angry that he failed the Rune spell and he needed to vent. Ahanu howled into the air and prepared to charge into the mass of undead bodies.

"Don't be a fool," Miss Heng scolded him. Her voice is sharp like a whip.

This caused Ahanu to pause, and the rushing undead closed the distance toward them. The Amber Guard stood with her muscular arms crossed and without a weapon. Ahanu worried that they would be overwhelmed until a bright golden light blazed into existence from above. The Sun aspect! Paca and Rainia had finally completed their ritual. This was the reason why Ahanu was holding the front line in the first place. He was so focused on maintaining his Mind aspect, the fighting, and trying to activate the Holy aspect Runes on his sword that he had forgotten about Rainia and Paca. The powerful Sun aspect spell destroyed the Zombies and forced the Ghouls to flee as their undead flesh burned. The Wight continued to writhe on the ground as he tried to dislodge the sword stuck in its neck.

"I couldn't activate the Runes," Ahanu muttered.

"Of course not! The Holy aspect is complex. It is composed of the Spirit, Fire, and Light aspects. I told you that it will take time. You are still a novice Rune practitioner," Miss Heng snapped.

The Wight continued to struggle. Ahanu kicked off the creature's helmet and planted his battle axe into its head. The black ichor oozed and healed both of the wounds in the head and neck. Ahanu growled and struck it again with his axe. Again and again, until finally, the Wight's undead magic faded away, and the black ichor fizzled into the air in a whisp of black smoke.

Miss Heng arched an eyebrow and observed, "Brute Force will always work in the end. Perhaps that suits you more than the beauty of Rune magic."

Ahanu flinched at her words. Miss Heng smiled softly, and she gently touched his face.

"Have patience. The more complex Rune patterns will come to you," she promised.

Zena, the archer, loudly cleared her throat. "Excuse me, love birds, but we have more pressing concerns to deal with," she said.

Ahanu blushed and looked at the ground. Miss Heng glanced up and scowled at the Spirit Walker archer.

Zena was unfazed, and she said, "Perhaps you might help us in the next fight?"

Miss Heng responded, "I'm conserving my energy."

"Oh really? For what exactly?" Zena asked.

High above them, a boulder the size of a small mountain exploded. The team looked up in horror as large chunks of Summoned stone fell toward them. Miss Heng unfolded her arms and quickly performed a series of glyphs in the air. Ahanu recognized that she used the Earth aspect. The Amber Guard gritted her teeth as she Shaped the falling rocks into sand that fell harmlessly around them like rain.

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Zena rolled her eyes and answered her own question. "For that, I suppose," the archer muttered.

"You are welcome," Miss Heng stated.

Above the team, Master Couzart and the Lich, Lev Shabuyaton, fought each other to a standstill. Every now and then, the two powerhouses would engage each other. The Lich would launch powerful Rune magic, such as the mountain-sized boulder, and Couzart attempted to close the distance with terrifying speed. The battle was difficult for Ahnau to follow, but he knew enough about fighting to understand that all Couzart needed was to get close to his powerful Shadow Death Strike in order to win. But Lev had more magical power and energy. The Lich needed Couzart to use up all of his reserves. The epic fight turned into a waiting game of tactics and patience. Ahanu had a thought.

"What if I learned the Sun aspect instead?" He asked.

"That is another name for the Holy aspect," Miss Heng responded.

Paca, the diminutive Spirit Walker, placed her hands on her hips and stomped the ground. "It is not the Holy aspect! It is a gift from the Goddess that she teaches only to her most loyal worshipers!"

Miss Heng nodded and said to Ahanu, "See? That proves my point. Another word for the Holy aspect."

Paca growled with frustration. In front of them, further ahead where the fleeing Ghouls ran, the ground shook as a giant monstrosity burst from the floor. It stood on huge legs made out of dirt, stone, and leathery gray skin. Its arms launched out as quick as a darting rat, and they rapidly snatched up the fleeing Ghouls and shoved the screaming undead into its massive maw, where it chomped and gnawed. Despite the unnaturally fast speed of the Ghouls, the behemoth's arms were much faster. Its clawed hands grabbed the writhing undead bodies, and it gobbled them up quickly, one by one, like a child in front of a pile of candy.

"What is that thing?" Zena asked.

Paca placed a small hand over her mouth in shock. Rainia studied the monster with serious eyes alongside Miss Heng. Ahanu hung his battle axe onto his belt and sheathed the sword he retrieved from the dead Wight. He removed his pack to unstrap his spear but doubted that he could be a Protector against such a large and fast monster.

"Careful," Miss Heng cautioned as her narrow eyes studied the beast. "This is at least a Tier 6 or 7 monster."

Paca whistled softly. "We are Adventurer ranked, except for Miss Heng here."

Raina added, "The Guild recommends that we avoid, if possible, Tier 6 and higher."

"This is something we can definitely avoid. It does not seem to be interested in us," Zena observed. She searched her quiver and added, "Besides, I don't think I have any arrows that could even hurt it."

Miss Heng closed her eyes and tapped a channeling tool that hung around her neck. Ahanu recognized that she was using the Mind aspect and sensed her Will extending outwards. He gently shook his head. Miss Heng's control over her Will continued to impress him. Ahanu struggled with forming a small bubble around him, and here she was, extending her Will across the distance in front of them and all the way to the giant undead monster. But what was she doing? Ahanu wondered.

Miss Heng, without opening her eyes, answered his unspoken question. "I'm feeling for the magic that created this monster."

Her hand was raised before, and her face strained with effort. The others waited and watched. Miss Heng inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes and turned to the others.

"This creature is a Construct," Miss Heng stated.

"Like a Golem?" Rainia asked.

The Amber Guard Captain nodded and continued, "I believe it was created by the Lich."

"For what purpose?" Ahanu asked and added, "It did not attack us. It attacked its fellow undead. It ate them!"

"Maybe the Lich lost control of his creations," Zena suggested.

Rainia studied the creature slowly, and she utilized her own detection magic. Ahanu's older sister didn't know the Mind aspect but was quite an expert with the Spirit aspect. Summoning and Shaping spirits was a tricky business, but once the ability was mastered, it could be used in a variety of ways. Spirits can provide light or warmth. They can also attack or defend. In this case, Rainia Summoned them to gather information. Ahanu could not see the spirits that communicated with his sister, but he knew that they were talking to her. Rainia grimaced, and her head tilted as if someone was screaming at her.

"Sister, are you alright?" Ahanu asked.

Rainia opened her eyes and sat down. She looked pale and tired. Ahanu immediately came to her and rubbed her shoulders.

"What happened?" He asked.

Miss Heng studied them and observed, "It was not a good idea to Summon the Spirits in this place."

Zena and Paca scowled at the Amber Guard and joined Ahanu with providing comfort to their friend. Miss Heng rolled her eyes and shook her head. Young adventures, she reflected, they will learn in time. With a sigh she patted Rainia's shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Miss Heng asked.

Rainia nodded and accepted her brother's hand to help her to stand up. "The Spirits do not like this place. They feel their energy sucked and drained. That thing," the Spirit Walker pointed to the giant monster and added, "consumes them!"

"What did you discover, Miss Heng?" Ahanu asked.

The Amber Guard Captain answered, "I sensed the Spirit, Affliction, Life, and Earth aspects all intertwined within that beast. It serves the Lich to empower him by consuming the undead trapped here."

"Is the Lich a Demon?" Paca wondered.

Rainia shook her head. "No, the Spirits told me that he has become a prisoner in his own realm. This makes him even more spiteful. He hurts them!"

Miss Heng nodded in understanding. "Just like the Frost Hag on the Fourth Floor. The Demons forced the Lich to be a guardian." She glanced with narrow, dark eyes at the enormous glowing monolith located in the distance in the center of the necropolis.

"There is a Hold Core here," she added.

Rainia sighed. "I don't need the Spirits to tell me this. There will be a lot of trouble happening here."

Zena readied her bow and said, "Well, I guess this giant Golem is not going to kill itself, am I right?"

Ahanu grinned. This was something he could manage! Miss Heng nodded in agreement and looked at Rainia.

The Spirit Walker Leader stood tall and studied the situation. "Ahanu is up front, and Paca supports him with enhancements. Miss Heng and I will be on standby to Heal or to attack. Zena, go ahead and make that monster angry."

The archer grinned widely. "With pleasure," she said.