Extra's Magic

Chapter 196 Shadow Lich

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As the lich lay sprawled on the obsidian floor, its skeletal form quivering and flickering like a dying flame, I approached cautiously, my blade held at the ready.

The room still crackled with the echoes of our battle, and an eerie silence hung heavy in the air.

"..."

My gaze fixed upon the lich's eye sockets, now empty voids that seemed to peer into the depths of oblivion. The crimson flames that once burned within them had been extinguished, leaving only an unsettling emptiness in their wake.

An eerie feeling passed through me as I stared into those hollow sockets as if they held secrets of a bygone era.

Swish...

I raised my blade, prepared to end this ancient menace once and for all.

But just as I was about to deliver the final blow, a sudden, massive surge of Mana radiated from the lich's being. It was as if the very essence of the spire itself responded to the lich's distress, sending shockwaves of energy through the chamber.

'What the hell!'

Instinctively, I retreated my senses on high alert. The lich, against all odds, began to rise from the floor, its form stabilizing with each passing moment. Shadows clung to its skeletal frame, swirling and coalescing, creating an exterior exoskeleton that covered it entirely. The result was a menacing and powerful shadow armor that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.

The lich's bony fingers curled into fists, and it let out a bone-chilling, otherworldly wail that reverberated through the chamber. The shadows that surrounded it responded in kind, their eerie symphony of whispers and murmurs filling the air.

It was clear that the lich had tapped into some unfathomable wellspring of power, drawing upon the very essence of the spire itself to resurrect and transform itself into a nightmarish entity.

Even my heart raced as I observed the lich's transformation, realizing that this battle was far from over.

The shadows that clung to its form had become a part of it, a living, breathing extension of its being. It was no longer a mere foe; it had become a force of darkness incarnate.

Whoosh...

With each passing moment, the lich's presence grew more imposing, and a wave of dread washed over me. I knew that facing it now would be a grave mistake, for it had become something beyond my comprehension.

I retreated further, putting distance between myself and the monstrous being before me. My mind raced, searching for a strategy, an avenue of approach that could potentially counter this newfound power.

The lich, now fully risen, began to advance, its shadow armor shifting and morphing with each step. It moved with an unholy grace, its skeletal visage fixed upon me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I needed time to think, to regroup, to understand the extent of the lich's transformation. The chamber's walls seemed to close in around me as the lich drew nearer, its very presence an oppressive force.

As I retreated, I noticed something peculiar. The shadows that clung to the lich's limbs and body were not just a form of protection; they seemed to respond to its will. The exoskeleton of darkness shifted and morphed, forming jagged spikes and serrated edges, making the lich seem even more menacing.

It was then that I realized the true nature of this shadow armor. It was not just for defense; it was a weapon, an extension of the lich's power. The shadows could be manipulated and molded into deadly forms, each more nightmarish than the last.

With a wave of its bony hand, the lich summoned tendrils of shadow from its armor, elongating them into wicked, spear-like protrusions. The shadows danced and swayed, as if eager to strike.

I had to be cautious, for the lich's control over the shadows was uncanny. Any misstep could prove fatal. My grip tightened on my Authority, and I focused my thoughts, ready to defend against whatever dark sorcery the lich would unleash next.

The chamber had become a battleground once more, and the dance with the lich had taken on a new, deadly rhythm.

This form of the lich was something I hadn't witnessed while playing the game.

I hadn't seen it even once.

This was yet another unknown variable.

As the lich continued its relentless advance, the air grew thick with tension. The spire's obsidian floor seemed to resonate with the looming confrontation as if the very foundations of this ancient place were aware of the epic battle unfolding within its chambers.

Swish...

With a swift motion, I brandished my blade, its gleaming edge catching what little light remained in the room. My grip was firm, and my resolve unyielding as I prepared to face this nightmarish incarnation.

Creak...

The lich, shrouded in its pulsating shadow armor, extended its bony hand toward me.

From the tips of its skeletal fingers, the inky tendrils of darkness surged forth, elongating into wicked, spear-like protrusions. The shadows moved with a sinister grace, eager to pierce my defenses.

Whoosh...

I reacted with lightning speed, my body a blur of motion as I danced around the lich's dark assault. Each step was precise, each movement calculated to evade the oncoming barrage of shadowy spears. The obsidian floor beneath my feet resonated with the rhythm of our deadly dance.

As I dodged and weaved, I could feel the lich's malevolent gaze never leaving me. Its empty eye sockets seemed to follow my every motion as if it were anticipating my every move with uncanny precision.

Swish...

With a sudden burst of speed, I closed the gap between us, my blade whistling through the air as I launched a ferocious strike at the lich's shadowy form.

Clank...

The blade met the lich's shadow armor with a resounding clang, sending dark sparks scattering in all directions.

But the lich was not so easily defeated.

It countered my strike with a swift and unexpected parry, its shadowy limbs moving with an unnatural fluidity. The clash of our weapons sent shockwaves through the chamber, shaking loose shards of obsidian from the spire's walls.

We circled each other, our movements a deadly ballet of steel and shadow. The lich's attacks came fast and relentless, each strike a deadly precision, while I countered with equal ferocity, my blade a shimmering beacon of hope in the oppressive darkness.

Swish...

With a sudden feint, the lich attempted to catch me off guard, but I anticipated its move and sidestepped its strike.

I retaliated with a powerful overhead swing, aiming for the lich's skeletal frame. The blade bit into the shadow armor, causing the lich to emit an unearthly, echoing scream that reverberated through the chamber.

As I pressed my advantage, the lich's shadowy tendrils lashed out in a desperate attempt to defend itself. I deftly parried each attack, my blade a barrier against the encroaching darkness.

But the lich had one final trick up its spectral sleeve. With a sudden surge of power, it summoned a whirlwind of shadows around us, obscuring our battle from view. The chamber became a maelstrom of darkness and steel, a chaotic symphony of clashing forces.

In the midst of the swirling shadows, I could hear the lich's chilling laughter, echoing from all directions. It was as if the very darkness itself mocked my efforts.

But I refused to yield. With unwavering determination, I continued to strike at the heart of the storm, my blade a beacon of light in the suffocating darkness. The lich's laughter turned to screams of frustration as my attacks found their mark.

"Die fucker!"

And then, with one final, thunderous blow, I shattered the lich's shadow armor, sending shards of darkness scattering in all directions. The lich let out a bone-chilling wail of agony, its form collapsing into a pile of skeletal remains.

The room fell silent once more, the echoes of our battle fading into the obsidian walls. I stood victorious, my chest heaving with exhaustion, but my spirit unbroken.

Yet, as I caught my breath, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was not the end.

The lich, in its malevolent cunning, had surely left some lingering threat, some hidden contingency.

I remained on high alert, my blade at the ready.

The room remained shrouded in an eerie stillness, broken only by the ragged sound of my breaths as I stood over the fallen lich. My grip on my blade tightened, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not with the lingering sense of malevolence that still clung to the air.

With a determined step, I closed the distance between myself and the skeletal remains of the lich. The shadows that had once swirled around it like a protective cloak now lay scattered on the obsidian floor, powerless and defeated.

I had to finish this, once and for all.

Swish...

As I raised my blade high, the room seemed to hold its breath, the very spire itself watching with bated anticipation. Time seemed to slow, the tension in the air palpable.

With a swift, fluid motion, I brought my blade down with all the force and precision I could muster. The gleaming edge of my weapon met the lich's skull, and there was a sickening crunch as bone and shadow gave way to the onslaught of my strike.

Creak...

In that final, cathartic moment, I beheaded the lich with a single, decisive blow. The skull separated from the rest of the skeletal remains, and the body crumbled into a heap of lifeless bones.

The Lich was finally dead.