Chapter 71: New World XXXIII
The Elder Liche in the cave prepared itself to stall for time. Even though it had already contacted Azrik, and reinforcements were on the way, it still needed to stop the enemies before they reached the surface.
It was its master's orders, after all.
"You all, also start preparations and get into the formation," It ordered the Liches of the group.
The Elder Liche moved back to the group while the Liches came forward. A few seconds later, the faint tremors became noticeable, and the group could see the enemies in the darkness of the cave.
"Here they come! Ready your spells!"
The Elder Liches shouted and started casting its spell.
*Twin Magic: Burn Lance*
Elder Liches were able to cast 4th-tier spells with a few Metamagic Enhancements.
Two lances made of fire manifested before the group- before firing off into the distance toward the incoming enemies. The rest of the Liches also fired their spells.
*Acid Arrow*
*Thunder Lance*
*Fireball*
..
..
The incoming undead also used some spells to block the incoming attacks.
*Wall of Stone*x5
Several walls of stones manifested from the ground. The spells collided with them, shattering massive portions from it.
The walls stopped most of the attacks- except for one. A fire lance made it through the cracks of the walls and exploded in the face of a Lich- killing it immediately.
The enemy Liches and Elder Liches also started casting spells.
*Bone Lance*
*Acid Lance*
*Twin Magic: Fire Lance*x2
*Twin Magic: Crystal Lance*x3
..
..
"Twin Magic: Crystal Wall"
The Elder Lich- of the Army of Death- cast a 4th-tier spell to create a wall made of crystals. A purple wall manifested before the group- protecting them from the enemies' attacks.
The Liches also used the *Wall of Stone* to create more walls behind the crystal wall.
The reason why the enemies' Elder Liches didn't use *Crystal Wall*- even though it was more defensive- was because the defensive spells were cast by the Liches of the enemies- because they were in the front. The Elder Liches weren't able to react in time to use any defensive spells.
The spells struck the crystal wall and shattered large portions of it.
"Keep casting defensive magic! The reinforcements are on the way!"
*Twin Magic: Crystal Wall*
*Wall of Stone*x5
They kept casting defensive magic while the enemies kept attacking them with different spells.
"This isn't going anywhere."
One of the Elder Liches on the enemy side spoke while casting yet another Burn Lance.
"Stop! We need to save MP for the enemies on top. We can't waste it all here. You," As the leader of the enemy group, it had the authority to control it.
It spoke while pointing toward the Skeletal Behemoth- who had the body of a skeletal lion.
"Go and attack them." It commanded the Skeletal Behemoth- the latter nodded in response and pounced toward the outer crystal wall.
~Outside the cave~
"Shall we also go in?" Wise-Wolf asked Khajiit. It had been an hour since they sent in their remaining Elder Liches and the Skeletal Behemoth.
Since then, they haven't received any information from their troops. They knew they were alive due to their connection with their master.
"Do you think that after destroying our troops, she will come outside?" Khajiit counterquestioned.
"No way, she's been just sending summons after summons. I believe her strategy involves depleting our resources and launching an attack when we are most vulnerable. So we should strike first and end it in one fell swoop."
"I think we should do that as well. Who knows how many resources she has for summoning."
Xyris also chimed in from the sides. Khajiit looked over to Azrik. Sensing his gaze, Azrik spoke.
"I agree with Wise-Wolf. Although our troops are alive, I don't know where they are or what they are doing. She might have used a 9th-tier spell to stop them from communicating with me. I can use a spell to ascertain their position, but that's a waste of precious MP."
As the 9th-tier spells were a thing of legend, no one knew what a 9th-tier spell could do.
"Then let's go. Clementine and the fighters will take the lead. While we follow behind." Khajiit spoke- looking toward Clementine.
"Leave it to me!" Clementine shouted in an excited tone while moving toward the cave's entrance.
"Take one Skeletal Dragon with us; leave the others here in case for some reinforcements."
Khajiit spoke while also moving toward the cave's entrance.
While attacking one of the Corpus of the Abyss' bases, they encountered some Diabolists- mages specialized in conjuring demons and controlling them. Since then, they have taken precautions so that they don't end up in a pincer attack.
After this information was relayed to Malachar, he ordered them to continue attacking the bases of the Corpus of the Abyss. And when they were done with that, they would need to find the Diabolists' organization and also subdue that.
"Understood," Azrik spoke and pointed toward one of the Skeletal Dragons.
"You, come with us. The rest of you, stay here and keep the entrance safe."
Azrik ordered the Skeletal Dragons before also moving toward the cave's entrance. According to his command, one of the Skeletal Dragons started following him.
The rest of the core members started following Clementine and her small squad of melee fighters as they entered the cave.
As they descended deeper into the cave, the light continued to become dimmer and dimmer. And unlike the Undead, Clementine, her squad, and the rest of the human mages didn't possess the innate ability to see in the dark.
She turned her head toward one of the mages and shouted.
"Hey! Mind providing some light! I can't see in the dark!"
The mages nodded and cast Continual Light.
'Much better, at least now I can see things somewhat clearly.'
Clementine thought while looking at the narrow rocky pathways.
After a few minutes, Azrik's eyes open wide. He felt his connection with the undead- break.
This meant that they were destroyed by the enemy troops.
"They are dead."
He spoke in a tiny tone.
"What?"
Khajiit- who was walking beside him- turned his head toward him and questioned.
"Our troops- that we sent before- are dead. It's only us now."
"Did you get any information before their death?"
Wise-Wolf asked from the side, to which Azrik shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no. I only felt my connection with them breaking."
"Do you at least know where they died?" This time, it was Xyris who asked the question.
"Yeah, I know the general location."
"Good."
They kept going deeper into the cave until they came to the same two-way point.
"Go right!" Azrik shouted from the back, and Clementine nodded- before moving toward the right.
'What is this tremor?' Clementine stopped and looked deeper into the pathway.
"Something big is coming! Take up positions!"
Khajiit shouted from behind the group- he was also able to feel the tremors. Everyone took up defensive positions after hearing him.
Everyone moved to the side to give the Skeletal Dragon a way to move forward. All the mages moved to the back, and the melee fighters took their positions behind the Dragon.
Due to the dim light, only some of the members- who were undead- were able to see the enemy.
"It looks like we have a lot on our plates. There is one Skeletal Behemoth, who is injured- and a few Liches and Skeletons." Xyris spoke. He was loud enough that everyone heard him.
"Go! Skeletal Dragon! Attack them!" Azrik shouted, and the Skeletal Dragon started running toward the enemies.
The enemy Elder Liches were powerless because they were only able to cast spells up to the 4th tier, and the Skeletal Dragon was immune to any spells up to the 6th tier.
So their only hope was the injured Skeletal Behemoth. Which, despite its best effort and buffs from the Elder Liches, was defeated by the Dragon with a little effort.
"Well, that was surprisingly easy," Xyris exclaimed while looking at the Dragon, which was destroying the Elder Liches and the rest of the skeletons.
After it was done, Azrik commanded it to take the lead, and the rest started their journey toward the deepest part of the cave.
They kept traveling without any hurdles for some time before the path opened to a massive, dimly lit cavern.
"Welcome, everybody! To my humble abode!" Everybody heard a guttural sound.
"We are honored," Xyris spoke with sarcasm- as he saw the massive giant sitting on the throne with dragon wings on its back and purple fire in its hollowed eye sockets.
"So, this is the Saintess of White, Granz Locker," Khajiit spoke while observing her.
"Do I know you?" She turned her bony head toward him, speaking in the same deep voice.
"No, and there's no need for you to know. Because you'll be dead in a few minutes."
"It's funny seeing such confidence coming from a punny Night Lich. I could crush you all with ease."
She spoke, sounding self-assured.
"Skeletal Dragon, attack her!" Azrik shouted, and the Skeletal Dragon began moving toward her at a great speed.
He sent the Skeletal Dragon to attack her because they wanted to witness the 9th-tier spell. According to Wise-Wolf, Xyris, and Kunivela, she enjoyed showing off her magical abilities.
So, there was a chance that she would attack the Dragon with a 9th-tier spell.
"What a hassle," She spoke in a bored tone and pointed her palm toward the incoming Dragon.
*Napalm*
A magic circle manifested before her bony palm, and at the same time, a column of fire materialized under the Dragon and engulfed it.
'So she didn't use a 9th-tier spell. Oh well, it was worth a try,' Azrik thought while looking at the column of fire. They all knew that no matter what, the Skeletal Dragon wouldn't be able to kill her, much less harm her.
So, its loss was inconsequential.
"Do you really think," She started speaking while getting up from the throne.
"That sending such low-level undead would be able to harm me."
To Be Continued...
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