Thank You, Lich
“Th-this...! You filthy bitch on the brink of death! How dare you!”
The lich spasmed in reaction as Petra stepped forward and began tearing through the undead.
But the lich's glare at Petra cut off abruptly.
Even without eyeballs in its skull, the direction of its gaze was obvious.
“Th-that's...! Magrid's... How do you have that?!”
It recognized the Last Magic Armor.
I wondered how it knew about that.
But there was no time to ponder.
“Lena! Cover Petra!”
The lich whipped its gaze toward me as I shouted.
It sneered leisurely, mocking us.
“Kekeke. What do you think you three can accomplish? Perfect timing, actually. Now I can claim Magrid's Legacy too. Kehahahaha.”
The lich brimmed with overconfidence.
But before it could finish, I raised my hand.
The Shadow Materialization ability, shared from Camilla, surged from my fingertips.
Darkness swirled from the shadows.
Searching crafting item list.
Suitable blueprint found: Sturdy Greatsword
Beginning crafting.
Using Shadow Materialization.
Crafting process optimized.
I immediately circulated mana through my body.
I needed to craft a sword for Petra to use.
Preservation Rune
Purification Touch
Flame Wrath
Shadow attribute added.
New blueprint added: Shadow Wrath Greatsword
Magi-tech Engineer proficiency increased: 7% → 8%
Enchanter proficiency increased: 72% → 76%
Crafting success.
◈ Physical Attack +300%
◈ Magic Cleave +100%
◈ Purification/Flame attributes
◈ Shadow Mimicry: Shape-shifting possible
◈ Purifying Flames: +200% damage to undead
If only I had more time...
I'd rushed it, but it turned out usable.
Thanks to my new title, another option appeared.
‘Chooser of Destruction’ activated.
Apply destruction to this item?
Destruction: +100% all attack power; attribute explosion on break
Non-Destruction: +100% durability
The message popped up, but my choice was instant.
No need to hesitate.
This wasn't my lifetime masterpiece.
Maximize efficiency now.
Destruction!
Destruction option applied to Shadow Wrath Greatsword.
As the message ended, I tossed the greatsword to Petra.
“Petra! Use this.”
She caught it perfectly.
She was still listening to me, at least.
Her condition worried me, though.
Thwoooong—
Lena began firing her long-range sniping Sunogi.
The firing rate was slow, but the power was beyond what mere undead could block.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
One shot from the sniper Sunogi skewered every undead in its trajectory, pinning them to the wall like kebabs.
Sakak—
Petra sliced off the heads of the wall-pinned undead in a single sweep.
A grayish aura now coated her greatsword.
The black greatsword pulsed with darkness, shifting forms.
Sometimes a shield.
Sometimes a spear tip.
Sometimes a blade.
The Shadow Wrath Greatsword transformed in an instant.
“Theo-nim! The sword keeps changing shape!”
Petra danced.
Every sword arc sent undead heads bouncing like balls.
Undead defenses meant nothing.
The moment they guarded, it shifted form, exploiting gaps to destroy them.
One issue, though.
The aura color... it's murky.
I knew from the footage of her previous fights.
Her aura had clouded.
Not the bright, shining hue from when I first saw her.
From the undeath? Or the shadow sword?
I couldn't pinpoint the cause.
For now, we just felled the swarming undead.
Piles of broken undead accumulated where Petra's sword passed.
Not just the sword—she grabbed undead heads barehanded and crushed them.
Her combat power, fused with the Last Magic Armor, was staggering.
Kuooo!
Dalgruk, dalgrgrak—
Dalgrak—
The undead wailed strangely as strangely as they collapsed.
When Petra advanced, they seemed to retreat—an eerie sight.
Just touching her sword shattered their bodies.
“I-impossible! H-how?!”
Even the lich was fixated on Petra's prowess.
It looked flustered by the overwhelming gap.
Thut-thut-thoong!
Thut-thut-thut-thoong!
I couldn't slack either.
I fired my Sunogi repeatedly.
Despite the dire situation, it wasn't as tough as expected.
With Petra shredding the front line, it was almost too easy.
“You worthless trash! What are you doing against just three?!”
The lich shrieked hysterically.
Frustrated by the unfolding situation, it lashed out at its undead.
I lobbed potions at them.
Wrath Flame Potions.
Ching-grang—
Ching-grang—
Ching-grang—
Hwaruruk—
I hurled the Wrath Flame Potions without restraint.
Flames spread.
Inextinguishable fires climbed the advancing undead like fiery serpents devouring them.
Pasa-sak—
Kuooo—pasak—
Dulgruk—dulgruk—
Kwadududuk!
Peoruk!
Undead turned to ash, or were sliced before they could.
Peoruk-peoruk-peoruk—
Kwaang!
Seogeok—
Arrow-skewered undead losing heads was no longer surprising.
The passage packed with undead thinned rapidly.
Petra could handle the rest alone?
Then I sensed mana stirring.
Black mana gathered at the lich's fingertips.
Nearby undead dissolved into it, becoming spell components.
My system activated simultaneously.
Analyzing manifesting spell...
Death's Rift
Caster: Ashran
Class: Magic / 4th Circle
Attribute: Darkness
• Decomposes nearby undead into mana
• Tears space: Physical/magic hybrid damage
• Creates death-infused rift
• Lethal damage to lifeforms in area
Analysis complete.
Cannot learn this spell currently.
New blueprint registered: Death's Rift
Blueprint conversion success.
Attempting 2nd Circle reconfiguration.
Success rate: 67%
Magic reconfiguration?
This seemed core to the expanded functions from claiming Magrid's Legacy.
Reconfiguring unlearnable spells into optimized versions for me.
Probabilistic, but I loved it.
Enchanter proficiency increased: 76% → 80%
Can now use Wind Scar.
The message appeared, but no time to read.
A full 4th Circle spell was charging.
“Lena! Target only the lich! It's preparing magic!”
Thwoooong—
No need for a reply.
Lena switched targets instantly.
Whiiiish—
Kwaduduk!
The attack failed.
A black barrier enveloped the lich protectively protecting the lich just as the arrow neared.
Shadow Barrier analysis complete.
New blueprint registered: Shadow Barrier
Blueprint conversion success.
Can now use Shadow Barrier.
Enchanter proficiency increased: 80% → 84%
One arrow bought a split-second.
But that split-second played out differently for Petra.
Kududuk!
Pagak!
Petra appeared behind the lich in a flash.
She swung the greatsword, shredding the barrier.
“G-get away! You damned bitch!”
The lich spewed curses, trying to retreat.
Its massive spell failed.
It scrambled to block Petra's closing attacks.
It yielded distance.
Didn't matter if it was a lich or whatever.
At root, it was a mage.
A mage yielding distance to a knight had no hope unless vastly superior.
Petra already held the edge.
No contest.
“S-stay back! Don't come closer!”
The lich yelled desperately, resisting.
Quick-cast simple spells from its black-mana fingertips for defense.
A smile tugged at my lips.
The spell structures etched clearly in my mind.
Fighting mages benefited me.
Can now use Black Mana Hand.
Can now use Eternal Slumber.
Can now use Leap in Shadows.
Can now use Echo of Pain.
Can now use Binding Thorns.
Can now use Boiling Blood.
Enchanter proficiency increased: 100% → 1% (Level Up)
Can use 3rd Circle magic.
Can use Crimson Burst.
The lich's desperate spell barrage.
Strengthening hands with mana, debuffs, petty status ailments.
Thanks to it, I hit 3rd Circle fast.
Thanks, lich?
Its spells grew simpler.
Lacking cast time, it stuck to basics.
Then my shadow rippled.
“M-Master! You okay?!”
Camilla.
She burst from my shadow.
In her hands, a head-sized black crystal orb.
Her bloodied fingertips suggested some struggle to find it.
“This is the lich's Life Vessel!”
Camilla stayed composed.
The Life Vessel was in my hands.
Destroy this, and the lich ends.
But.
“Y-you... I'll kill! You, at least... with my own hands...!”
Petra's vengeful voice rang out.
“Master! Smash it quick!”
Camilla urged frantically, but I shook my head.
Petra finishes it.
Kwaduk—
“Y-you... damned bitch! Think this ends it?!”
The Shadow Wrath Greatsword pierced the lich's skull, slamming it into the wall.
Head-first into the wall, yet it mocked Petra.
“Stupid bitch! Don't think this is the end! I...”
White cracks riddled the Shadow Wrath Greatsword.
On the verge of bursting.
But I cut in, interrupting.
“You'll die.”
The lich's gaze swept us.
Smug confidence.
Death wasn't on its mind.
“I'll remember your faces too...”
“See this?”
“Wh-what?! H-how did you find it?!”
Its gaze hit the Life Vessel.
No need to answer.
“Farewell.”
The Shadow Wrath Greatsword glowed and exploded.
Just like when Petra unleashed her final light.
Dazzling brilliance filled the underground.