Me and Odale moved out from the throne room, into the massive hall before it. The heavy feeling caused by miasma before in the room was now gone – which at first caught me off guard, however I chucked it up to most likely being whatever Odale did to me when I first entered the throne room. Moving a bit into the hall, a sudden ding went off in my mind, causing me to stop.
"Something… wrong?" Odale asked, looking at me.
I looked up at the ceiling of the hall, shedding a slightly cold sweat. For some reason, 'Overworld Detection' just went off… But why? Did it pick up something above us or..?
Then, as if to answer my question, a round opening opened in the ceiling, before a staircase appeared from it, spiraling down to the floor. Another ding went off in my mind – someone was coming. If they see Odale with me, this could get complicated…
I have to hide the lich somehow, but – how do I…?
Then, an idea went off in my mind. "Odale, can you get into my shadow?" I was slightly praying to myself that this would work.
"Why…?"
"Someone is coming. It's better if they don't see you." Odale eyed me for a bit, before nodding and then moving over to the shadow behind me, sinking into it.
I let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed as though those who were my 'subordinates' were also able to access the shadow world. It was rather convenient – though, I should probably test things like this prior to situations like this in the future… Lucked out that it worked.
I turned my attention to the staircase, from which I saw two figures descend. Both of them, I recognised. Upon spotting me, Lyrra let out a sigh of relief. "Guildmaster! He's here!" Then, she rushed down the rest of the stairs, reaching the bottom in no time at all, before checking me all over.
"Are you alright Mister Riyo? We were told what happened." I laughed lightly, rubbing the back of my neck while trying to shrug off her worry. "I'm fine… Just a little beaten up."
"Thank the Dragons… I was worried that you'd be dead or near dead." I remained silent, keeping a small smile across my face, shedding a slight sweat. "Well, I almost died, so I suppose her worry wasn't unwarranted."
The Guildmaster joined us a moment later.
"Glad to see that you're alright sir Riyo. This could have been a bad look for the guild if an adventurer had gotten killed in a raid." He let out a sigh of relief. I remained silent for a moment, before focusing on the staircase they had descended down to reach me. "Where did those come from? I had to fall to reach this place…"
"These stairs lead to a room high above, just past the room in which you fell for the trap we didn't know about." Lyrra looked at me, before smiling. "Don't worry, your friend and the other adventurers are all okay. In fact, your friend managed to take down the dungeon's boss on her own."
I was relieved.
Avy was alright – and so were the other adventurers we had encountered. That was good news. Though… Her defeating the dungeon 'boss' on her own might bring some unwanted attention to the two of us – especially her…
Gidou eyed me with a serious and a rather cold gaze, before his eyes drifted slightly behind me for a moment. I looked at the guildmaster with a confused gaze. "...Something the matter sir?" After a moment of silence, he shook his head, before clearing his throat. "No… Nothing." Then, he turned around. "It's good that you're alright. I have a couple of questions to ask for you and your friend, however they can wait. Right now, let's get out of the dungeon. It has been compromised – I'll have to contact the main Adventuring guild committee in Tvarta to let them know about the discovery of this section to the dungeon."
Then, Gidou moved away and back up the spiral staircase. After climbing a few stairs, he looked down at me once more, however did not say anything – he simply eyed me and then once again something behind me, before continuing his move back up. Lyrra exhaled.
"The same as always…" Then she looked at me, with a gentle smile. "Come on, let's follow him." I shook my head lightly, exiting my thoughts before nodding in response to what Lyrra said.
"Sure…"
The beast woman then turned around and followed after Gidou, moving back up the stairs. After a moment, I moved after the two of them as well.
Something about the way Gidou was eyeing me and especially the spot behind me didn't sit right with me. Was he… able to sense Odale in my shadow? No way right? As far as I have been aware, no one is able to sense those in the shadows – well, at least apart from sensing me whenever I was in the shadows, like Iyka had done when she tried to hunt me down and kill me.
But if he was able to sense Odale…
This might get a bit complicated.
At the top of the stairs, we exited into a large room that was filled with statues of creatures with wings, each one holding a sword in front of them. I was able to almost immediately recognise what they were modeled after — their appearances were a one to one of the 'Angels' that Odale had shown me that destroyed his kingdom a long time ago. It would seem they placed these statues here as a sort of symbolism.
[ Information ]
Divine Statue
Upholds the barrier over the Dungeon.
[ Information ]
….Or also that.
It can also be that. I suppose not even magic used by beings literally called 'Angels' is as timeless as one would assume. Even they need something to uphold the spells they create. But I guess you could say that these statues are now useless – as Odale was no longer able to be blocked by the barrier that they uphold.
Moving after Gidou and Lyrra – we entered back into the room in which the trap that I fell for had activated. It was a lot different than when I first entered it. The entire place was trashed, with debris and ice covering the entire floor. Near the gates that we just came from, there was an enormous dragon corpse – of what looked like a mostly skeletal dragon, with bits and pieces of rotten flesh hanging off of its body.
"What on earth…"
"That's the boss of the Fire Princes domain." Lyrra explained. For a second, my breath got caught in my throat — that thing is what Avy killed on her own?! I mean, I knew she was strong as hell, but even then, against Erwin she eventually started to struggle, so to see this enormous thing laying here dead, having been supposedly taken down by her alone…
It was a bit… Surprising.
Intimidating even.
I narrowed my eyes on the corpse — after a moment a window popped up.
[ Monster ]
Name; -
Species; Undead Drake
Level; [Unknown]
A powerful undead monster. Though not full dragons, drakes possess immense power just like full dragons. The Undead Drake is capable of regenerating itself infinitely.
[ Monster ]
"What a terrifying information window… Kind of glad I didn't fight this thing." I shed a cold sweat, laughing to myself lightly. Seeing this information made what Avy did seem even more impressive than it already was. Lyrra and Gidou kept moving forward, reuniting with a few guild employees. As I moved after them, the window I had opened closed, however then a ding went off in my mind, before a new window appeared.
[ Notice ]
Use of [Shadowlord] has been permitted.
Would you like to create the Shadow Beast 'Undead Drake'?
[ Notice ]
…What?
I was taken back for a second, before I heard Lyrra's voice call out to me. "Mister Riyo, come on, let's leave this place!" I looked at her and then back at the window. I really wanted to see what would happen if I created the shadow beast from this thing's corpse, however there were too many eyes around at this time…
"I-In a second, I'm gonna take a closer look at the boss if you don't mind!" Lyrra raised an eyebrow, about to protest, before suddenly Gidou stepped in front of her, shutting her up. "We'll keep moving. Will you be able to catch up?"
"Why did he…? Whatever, this is exactly what I need."
I nodded, resting my arms on my hips. "No worries, I'll catch up." After a moment of silence, Gidou nodded before turning around. "Then we're gonna go. Don't take too long, sir Riyo."
"Of course!..."
Lyrra and the guild employees looked surprised. "H-Hold on, Guildmaster?!" Lyrra rushed after Gidou, with the employees following after him a moment later as well. Once I could no longer sense them close by with 'Overworld Detection', I took in a breath of relief.
While I don't understand why Gidou was so willing to leave me all alone here, especially with what occurred here, I was not complaining. It was exactly what I needed. Looking back at the window, I took in a deep breath, before approving the action.
The window closed.
Just like when I created Arvalor, I felt a sudden pulsing of energy inside me, before an enormous amount of Magical Energy left my body, though this time it felt like much, much more magical energy left my body than when I created Arvalor. "Guess it is only natural for stronger monsters to require more magical energy to do this…"
My shadow extended and enclosed the dragon's corpse, a second later, several appendages shot up from the shadow, quickly wrapping around the corpse, completely engulfing it, before spinning around it. For a few seconds, I stood there, arms crossed and simply observing. Eventually the shadows spinning in front of me took on a new shape - just like last time, it looked a bit fiery.
A pair of white eyes shined through the fiery shape, before it rose up high, towering over me. After a moment, it revealed itself.
A dark, shadowy version of the dragon - with its eyes shining white as well as immense aura and presence surrounding it. The dragon looked down at me, before expanding its wings and letting out a small growl. I smiled, as the dragon bowed its head towards me, allowing me to gently pet it.
[ Notice ]
Creation Successful.
Shadow Beast Undead Drake has been created.
Please - Give the TAMED Shadow Beast a name.
[ Notice ]
"This things aura is immense… Definitely a lot more powerful than Arvalor was when I created him." I commented, before the dragon suddenly licked me, causing me to gently laugh. Arvalor slowly rose from my shadow, growling while Odale rose up and stepped up beside me.
"My, my… you are…. More impressive… then I… thought." The lich looked at the newly made shadow beast while I simply shrugged. "Just a benefit from my skill 'Shadowlord'."
"What a… powerful…. skill it…. must be… then. You… don't often….. see abilities… that…. allow one… to create… new… Shadow Beasts."
I raised an eyebrow, looking at Odale. "You know what he and Arvalor are?" Odale nodded. "Indeed…" The lich then stepped back, placing his arms behind his back, before sinking back into my shadow. His voice echoed in my head. "But that conversation is better kept for a different time. You must hurry, my Lord. Catch up to the others."
Right, I should name the drake and have it go into my shadow.
Looking at the dragon, I brainstormed for a bit – going through a couple of potential names for it. After a bit, I looked at it. "How about Regaria? Does that sound good?" The dragon's eyes shined brightly for a second, before it licked me again letting out what sounded like a joyous growl.
[ Servant ]
[ Regaria ]
Shadow Beast - Undead Drake
Level - 1
Rank - B
Resides within the Shadow World. As it is your creation and it has sworn loyalty to you, you may call upon it at any time and it will appear. Additionally, it will not drain any of your Magical Energy to call upon it - however, should it fall in battle, it will return to the Shadow World to regenerate its own Magical Energy.
[ Servant ]
I shed a slight sweat upon seeing the window of the thing.
"B-Rank?! This thing is so much stronger than what Arvalor was when I created him…" It definitely was worth creating this thing. However, part of me felt like he may only rarely get to see use in battle, as with his towering size… Well, fitting him anywhere that wasn't a massive open field or room like this, would be impossible.
But that is a problem for future Faofa.
I quickly clapped my hands together, before gesturing to the dragon to enter my shadow. The beast let out a slight roar, before its body shifted and then quickly dove into my shadow, merging with it. Once it was fully gone from sight, I exhaled before turning away and running in the direction that Gidou and the others had headed in. "Time to catch up. With 'Overworld Detection' it should be easy peasy to do so."
I disappeared into the hallway that led out of the room, leaving behind the ice and debris-covered room, where the dragon's corpse lay.
After catching up to the others, it didn't take long for us to make it out of the dungeon. Upon exiting a few guild employees quickly shut the doors of the dungeon, sealing them. Looking around, I saw all the other adventurers outside – many of them pretty beaten up. From their appearances, you'd assume they had been the ones who took on the Undead Drake in the dungeon. Upon spotting me, the rogue who had been part of that trio me and Avy encountered rushed over to me. "Y-You're okay!"
"Hm..? Ah, yeah I'm fine." I examined him a bit before smiling. "Glad to see you're still alive."
"Only thanks to your girlfriend… She really saved our asses back there. The way she fought the dungeon boss felt so unreal. It was like I was watching a member of an A-Rank party take on the boss." I laughed lightly. With how strong Avy was, I knew that there was almost no doubt she probably would look like that from the side while fighting.
"Are all of your comrades alright?"
"Well… They're pretty beaten up with Gustav being near death, however I was told that they'll live as long as we get them to the proper care." Upon mentioning care, I looked around. "Now that you mention it, I don't see them anywhere.…"
"They were taken to the Ordial Medical center already — even your girlfriend." I let out a slight sigh of relief. Guess I don't have to worry if they were all already taken to the proper care center… At least, worry too much. Like this rogue had said, so long as they get the proper care, they all would survive. Besides, Avy was a resilient one — I know she'll be fine.
Gidou clapped, pulling the attention of everyone.
"Alright. As you all now know, because of a certain mishap within the dungeon, the raid was cancelled early. Do not worry however, your progress and what you have managed to achieve will still be evaluated. In fact, as a way to make sure you are not disappointed, we will double the points for anything you have found, to give a slight boost in the evaluation." The adventurers cheered in unison, before Gidou looked at the guild employees around, nodding to them.
"Now then, please gather all together! We'll now transport everyone back to the guild." The adventurers began to group together into a massive crowd, chatting among themselves. The rogue looked at me.
"Come on, let's go as well."
"Sure.." I replied, before going with him.
Then the rogue suddenly extended his hand towards me. "I realise I did not introduce myself. Name is Rodrigo. Rodrigo Karke." I took his hand into a light handshake. "You can call me Riyo Komeno. Or just Riyo is fine."
"Pleasure to be acquainted now, Riyo."
"Likewise, Rodrigo." After the slightly out of nowhere and awkward introduction, the two of us joined the crowd. Just like before, the guild employees surrounded all of us, only this time they also included themselves in the spell, before beginning to cast it.
While the spell was in progress of being cast, I caught Gidou glaring at me again, a rather scary look in his eyes. It sent slight shivers down my spine — something told me he was wary of me. Or rather, he was suspicious of me, which, I suppose is normal. I mean, I didn't think much about it, but coming out of a trap that the guild had not found basically unscathed for sure looked suspicious. "I hope this doesn't turn into anything troublesome…" I exhaled lightly, looking away and pretending that I hadn't noticed his glare, right as the transportation spell finished and the cave scenery disappeared.
When we made it back to the exact spot where we had been transported to the dungeon from, the crowd quickly scattered with some going into the guild, others heading off into Ordial. Gidou and the guild employees discussed something with themselves, before whispering something to Lyrra. Then, all of them also headed inside the guild.
"Phew… That was quite an experience…" I commented with Rodrigo laughing lightly. "You can say that again… Going to need to take a break for a while." I turned to face Rodrigo. "Where will you head?"
"To the medical point most likely. I want to stay by my friends while they recover. You?" I remained silent before eyeing my own shadow, Odale's eyes shining in it for a split second. After thinking about it for a moment, I exhaled. "I'll go with you. I want to check on Avy — want to make sure… she's okay."
He smiled before laughing, patting me on the shoulder.
"Then let's move." Rodrigo then began moving away from the guild. However, right as I was about to follow him, Lyrra stopped me. "One moment mister Riyo."
"Huh? How can I help?"
"The Guildmaster told me that you should come with your friend to his office after she recovers." I shed a sweat. This was exactly what I feared and was hoping to avoid. Though, I suppose it was inevitable — with how me and Avy have stood out, especially during this dungeon raid… It was bound to happen eventually. "Okay.. I'll make sure to head over when Avy recovers."
"Great. You rest yourself as well. See you at a different time!"
Lyrra waved me a goodbye, before turning around and walking off, with Charybdis eyeing me for a moment. Staring at her for a moment, I shook my head before turning around and quickly moving after Rodrigo, catching up to him in a moment's notice. Afterwards, the two of us resumed our move to the Ordial Medical point — with Rodrigo making some small talk along the way.
Two days later…
Abyssal woods.
I carefully moved through the forest, keeping my senses keen. "If I remember correctly, it should be around….Here." I commented, before pushing a few branches out of the way. And just like I had thought, it was here. Smiling, I moved towards it — the A-Rank dungeon that I had encountered a while back, while doing a few quests in the Abyssal woods. It looked basically unchanged from my last visit here.
Walking up to its entrance, I looked down the staircase that led down into it. Then, I threw a gaze around, making sure no one was around before descending down into it. After a bit of time, I reached the main room itself, where the destroyed stone statues laid, with the defeated dungeon boss' remains still here as well. "Not much has changed… Then again, I suppose this isn't a normal dungeon."
According to Odale, this was a 'tomb' where his once physical body was placed, with special monsters being left here to guard it. Walking over to the sarcophagus, I pushed the lid of it off once more, revealing the mummified remains that rested in it once more. "...So this was you?"
I asked as Odale rose up from my shadow, approaching the sarcophagus. Then he nodded. "That… indeed is… me." The lich looked rather taken back, seeing his own body once again. I stared at him for a moment, before exhaling and backing up. "So, think you will be able to do what you wanted to do with it?"
Odale remained silent before looking at me.
"I believe…. I will. Please…. Help me…. Move it out…" I nodded, before using the shadows around to gently pick up the mummified remains, lifting them carefully out of the sarcophagus. "Place them… on the… ground."
"Sure."
Doing as Odale said, I rested his body onto the ground gently, making sure the remains didn't fall apart. Afterwards, I made the shadow appendages disappear. Odale circled his remains for a moment, before kneeling over them, placing his hand onto the chest of his corpse. After a bit of silence, he looked at me.
"I will… start… Please…. Prepare some… protection." I shed a slight sweat, however did as he had asked, creating a see through shadow shield around me, protecting myself from anything that may occur. Afterwards, Odale looked at his remains, before lowering his head. Then, he sunk his hand into the chest of the corpse, poking around a bit, before finding and gripping the heart inside it.
The heart, which had stopped beating a long time ago.
Then, the process began. Faint red chains formed from his body, before quickly wrapping around the remains of his once body. Then, a magical circle appeared below him and his remains, shining brightly. I braced gently, watching carefully.
The reason we had come here was simple — Odale wished to merge back with his body. Apparently, liches and other lower undead are considered to be a sort of 'spiritual' beings, which meant that they didn't exactly have physical bodies. Or at least, physical bodies in a sense that they were quite limited in how much they could interact with the physical world.
The way Odale described it, was that liches and lower undead were a sort of 'limbo' where they were in between the material and the spiritual. They were neither fully one or the other.
Watching the process continue, the chains that wrapped around Odale and his corpse began to tighten, pulling him down into it. After a bit of what appeared to be hesitation, Odale allowed himself to be pulled into his remains – disappearing into them. The magical circle below them disappeared and everything went calm. For a moment, I thought that something had gone wrong.
However flames suddenly burst from the remains. Then, they wrapped around the corpse, lifting it into the air. The remains floated in the air for a few moments, before landing onto the ground, the flames absorbing into the body. The mummified remains were replaced by Odale's figure. Black robes covered him, with his skeletal hands and head visible. His back was turned towards me, with his head low.
For a moment, I was worried.
But then, a window appeared in front of me, which made me exhale in relief, removing the shield around me.
[ Notice ]
Servant 'Odale Ordial' has successfully fulfilled all requirements for evolution.
Servant 'Odale Ordial' has successfully merged with his physical body.
Evolution from 'Elder Lich' to 'Supreme Lich' successful.
[ Notice ]
Walking towards the Fire Prince, I gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Feeling alright?" Odale remained silent and unmoving for a moment, before lifting his head up and then looking at me, nodding – a pair of red pupils shining in his eye sockets. "I feel… Strange, however, at the same time, like I have regained what I once lost." He placed his hands onto his chest, a gentle, calm and soft heartbeat in it.
"...It's been a long time since I felt a heart beat in my chest."
I smiled, patting him on the back.
"Happy for you. I guess you're more powerful now as well?"
Odale remained silent before looking at a wall. Then, raising his arm, he snapped his fingers. In an instant, a fireball formed before blasting towards the wall, destroying it in an instant. I shed a slight sweat. Odale laughed lightly, before looking at me. "I believe I have." I laughed nervously, before shaking my head.
"Note to self… Do not get on his bad side."
Then, I remembered something, before reaching into my bag and pulling out Odale's journal. "I believe this would belong to you then." Odale took the journal, staring at it for a moment, before laughing and placing it inside his robes. "Thank you."
I nodded, turning around. "Let's head back then shall we? When we make it to Ordial's border, you can return to my shadow." Odale bowed towards me, one arm behind his back, one in front of him. "Of course, my Lord."
…
After Faofa and Odale exited the dungeon, the two quickly threw a gaze around before quickly moving away, disappearing into the forest. Nearby, from a tree, Lyrra watched them, her body slightly transparent. Exhaling, she rose up. "Man, guess Gidou's gut feeling is still as reliable as ever… That man is definitely not what he appears to be."
Rubbing the back of her neck, she clicked her tongue before leaning against the tree trunk behind her, looking at the sky – crossing her arms. "Well, he doesn't seem like a bad guy. So I suppose I'll stay out of this. Though…"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Do go easy on him… Infernal Sword."