Chapter 162

Name:The First Lich Lord Author:
Chapter 162

As I rushed towards the paladin, Abimelech noticed and moved to support me. I waved her aside, the mental connection I had with her conveying my intent. I wanted to test myself against this man. I was fine being the commander of our army, but one thing I still knew and had learned about myself was I enjoyed a good fight. And not just magical. I was a powerful melee fighter and enjoyed what I could bring to a battle, both magical and physical skill sets together.

Unfortunately for the commander, he had taken too long to join the fray, probably to put on all of that plate armor. The horde of mindless zombies being created by my spell was now outpacing the rate at which they were being killed. The bone guard that had fallen were now restored. Flights of arrows arced over the wall behind coordinated by Elon.

The fort would be ours. The tide had turned, and I could see in the commanders eyes that he knew it. A circle formed around us as the bone guard were directed by their commanders to give us space. The mindless undead dared not approach anyways. I stopped in front of the commander of the fort. He looked at me through his visor, his eyes narrowed and full of hate.

There was a flare and a circle of purple eldritch fire formed around us as Othniel cast a spell.

Monster, the paladin snarled. Why bring your filth into this kingdom?

Self-righteous prick, I retorted. To be clear, you guys started this when you attacked my dungeon.

He scoffed. Think we dont know youre in league with that traitor, Friar Brown? He shouldve let Theonis kill you, no doubt he only saved your life so this very thing would happen. I say we make a bet. I win this fight, you pull your forces back.

Let me think about that for a moment. I tapped my chin, making as if in thought before looking around. No, this isnt some fabled tale of the honorable knight paladin who holds off the evil Lich through an honorable duel. I will give you an honorable fight, but that is it. The Dread Thirteen would only interfere if I was in imminent peril, which wasnt honorable, but I saw no point in sharing that fact.

Interestingly my words did affect the paladins demeanor. His next words were full of a little bit less scorn. Will you swear to me that you will not profane my body and soul by turning them into one of your minions?

There is no benefit in me promising that, I shall nonetheless, I said. If I prevail, your soul will pass on peacefully into whatever afterlife is waiting for you.

I saluted him with Mercy, and before he could respond I charged. Mercy was shaped into its original blade staff form. The defensive powers that came with the longer shaft would be needed. The commander unlimbered his great sword, pure white light glowing from runes etched down the length of the blade.

Activating the abilities of my armor to speed me up, we clashed. My precognition had me deflect his great sword as it came down in an overhanded blow. Even with the speed and power given to me by my armor he was stronger, I was barely faster.

The eldritch power I was building inside of Mercy would do me no good if I couldnt penetrate the paladins plate armor. Unlike other plate armor I had dueled against, even the weak points of this one had been sealed. It was truly like the knights of Earth. But unlike Earth, I had magic aiding me.

I reshaped Mercy, grabbing the eldritch power within to cast a spell. I extended the handle of Mercy as far as I could and the blade on one side became a warhammer and on the other a needle-sharp spike.

Your feeble weapon cannot penetrate my armor, no matter what shape you try, the paladin sneered at me. Olattees power infuses this, and its nature refuses to allow it to be tainted with defeat.

I couldnt quite believe hed just said that. It was super corny and cocky. But I was already charging forward. His great sword swung at me. The speed advantage I had with death energy allowed me to easily deflect it with Mercy, using it like a springboard to launch myself higher.

The force of my jump drove the great sword down and I brought Mercy slamming towards the joint between his shoulder and neck. His eyes tracked me, filled with contempt for the attack. The shoulder joint of his armor was far stronger than any I had seen before. Hence why I wasnt attacking it directly.

As Mercy fell, eldritch power blossomed out of it. The tip of the spike was covered in a purple flame right before impact. The flare of eldritch magic had the knights eyes opening wide an alarm.

Thunk. The eldritch fire tore at the enchantments of the armor. The divine magic focused on purity were corrupted and broken down by the eldritch might of my magic.

Mercy bit through and pain radiated in my enemys eyes. I activated the second part of my spell. The spike of Mercy had a channel inside it. Through that channel a jet of eldritch flame shot. It was hotter than the flame that coated the outside of the spike, focused on raw destructive force.

When I yanked Mercy free, no blood came with it. Purple eldritch magic continued to bleed from the wound. The paladin did not scream in pain, I doubted he could. The jet of eldritch fire had poured straight into his lungs.

I reformed Mercy as the knight gasped and coughed up a mouthful of blood. I had no doubt he was working his own magic inside of his body to try and stave off the damage I had done. However, this was not a fight where wed let each other recover. The knight was focused on trying to save his life, his own arrogance having put him in the position. If he had taken the attack seriously, he could have likely done something to mitigate some of the damage.

As I rushed towards him, the knight attacked. He was professional after all, and would not lose sight of the battle as a whole.

It was his most powerful attack yet. Instead of a silver wave from his blade, a ball of silver light erupted out of his hand and flew straight towards my chest. I saw it impact me a moment before it did.