The lich slowly emerged from the pool of blood.
Its skeletal body rose from the crimson liquid, drops of blood sliding down its ancient bones before falling back into the pool with soft splashes.
For the first time since entering the dungeon, Neil felt something he had almost forgotten how to experience.
Nervousness.
And excitement.
Both emotions surged through him at the same time.
Fighting this creature in a game had been one thing.
Fighting it in real life was something entirely different.
Even someone as headstrong as Neil couldn't ignore the difference.
He tightened his grip around his sword.
The moment he drew it from its sheath, the blade shone brightly, illuminating the dark chamber.
The lich's hollow eyes settled upon him.
"So, human pest... you managed to survive until now," it said with amusement.
Neil raised his sword toward the creature.
"Sad news for you, but I won't go down to the likes of you."
The lich's grin widened.
"Why does your energy feel so strange?"
Neil's expression changed slightly.
"What do you mean?"
The question caught him off guard.
lich seemed to have sensed something unusual about him.
"I advise you to surrender quietly," the lich said. "You cannot defeat me at your current level, human. Not even with that unusual energy of yours."
Neil smirked.
"Well, we won't know unless we try, will we?"
He raised his sword.
"So let's just fight."
"Very well, then."
The moment the words left the lich's mouth, it raised one hand.
A massive sphere of white fire formed above its palm.
The temperature inside the chamber suddenly rose.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The fireball shot toward Neil.
Neil immediately jumped sideways.
The blazing projectile passed beneath him and slammed into the dungeon wall.
BOOM!
The impact shook the entire chamber.
Neil landed and immediately threw several pocket daggers that he had prepared before leaving the forest.
The lich casually moved its hand.
Another fireball appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Neil continued moving.
He dodged left.
Right.
Forward.
Backward.
Fireballs exploded around him, filling the room with flames and smoke.
Then—
The lich disappeared.
Neil's eyes widened.
A presence suddenly appeared above him.
He looked up.
The lich was already there.
Its scythe came down toward his neck.
Neil ducked at the last possible moment.
SHING!
The scythe passed over his head.
Neil immediately rolled away.
But the lich's next attack came before he could recover.
The scythe swung horizontally toward his torso.
CLANG!
Neil raised his sword and blocked the attack.
The force behind it was monstrous.
His feet left the ground.
He was sent flying across the chamber and crashed into the wall before dropping onto a pile of scattered bones.
CRACK!
Neil groaned as pain spread throughout his body.
"That hurts, you skeletal bastard."
The lich chuckled.
"Kekeke... Are you enjoying yourself, foolish human?"
It slowly caressed the edge of its scythe.
"Because I am very much enjoying this."
"We'll see who enjoys it when one of us is lying on the ground begging for mercy."
Neil pushed himself up.
Then he charged.
He lunged forward with his sword aimed directly at the lich.
The lich easily stepped aside.
Neil's blade sliced through empty air.
But suddenly—
His hand began glowing with a faint blue light.
Neil's eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he struck.
BOOM!
His fist slammed into the lich's body.
The creature was blasted backward and crashed onto the ground.
For several seconds, the lich didn't move.
Then it slowly stood.
Its hollow eyes stared at Neil in disbelief.
Something was wrong.
It looked as though something had been ripped away from its body.
"What did you do, human?"
The lich looked at its own body.
"Why can't I heal myself?"
Neil grinned.
"Hehehe..."
He raised his glowing hand.
"Do you think you're the only one who can use ancient arts?"
His eyes became cold.
"I'll show you the true meaning of terror before I kill you."
The lich's expression changed.
For the first time, it became cautious.
It raised its scythe toward the ceiling and began muttering an ancient incantation.
The atmosphere inside the chamber changed.
The walls began trembling.
The air grew thick with mist.
Then a sphere of blood began gathering above the lich.
It grew larger and larger.
Blood started raining down upon the creature.
The crimson liquid covered its entire body.
Even its empty eye sockets turned red.
A terrifying pressure spread throughout the chamber.
The temperature rose.
Mist covered the floor.
Then—
Bones began moving.
One after another, undead soldiers rose from the scattered remains littering the room.
The lich's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Rotten human... Do not think you will win so easily."
Its voice was filled with rage.
"I have slaughtered your kind for thousands of years!"
Neil looked around.
The atmosphere had completely changed.
The battle had entered its final stage.
He could feel the pressure weighing down on him.
Yet instead of fear, excitement filled his eyes.
"I've been waiting to see what you can do."
Neil stretched his arms and legs.
The lich raised one hand in front of its chest.
Dark red light gathered around its fingers.
Then—
Dozens of deep-red blades began forming in the air.
Neil's expression became serious.
The blades shot toward him.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Neil barely avoided them by jumping sideways.
One blade grazed his arm before embedding itself into the wall behind him.
Blood trickled down his arm.
"Damn it... that hurts."
But he had no time to complain.
The lich was already attacking.
Its scythe came straight toward his head.
Neil dropped flat onto the ground.
The blade passed over him.
He immediately used the opening.
His fist, covered in blue energy, slammed into the lich's body.
BOOM!
The left side of the lich's rib cage shattered.
The creature staggered backward.
It looked down at its broken bones.
Then it began shaking.
Mana erupted from its body.
The entire chamber trembled.
Massive blades began forming throughout the room.
The lich raised its scythe.
"Human bastard..."
Its voice dripped with killing intent.
"you will die."
Neil felt an enormous pressure settle over his chest.
He swallowed.
"This skeleton has really gone crazy."
He quickly reached into his storage and pulled out an artifact.
The moment he activated it, a protective barrier formed around his body.
Neil stared at the barrier.
He knew it wouldn't protect him from everything.
At best, it would save him from a death-threatening injury.
That would have to be enough.
The blades began descending.
One after another.
Neil ran.
BOOM!
A blade smashed into the ground behind him.
Another crashed beside him.
Another struck the wall.
The entire chamber became a storm of falling weapons.
"Kekeke!"
The lich laughed.
"How did you like that, human?"
Its laughter echoed through the room.
"Just accept your death!"
The storm finally stopped.
Dust filled the chamber.
The lich looked around.
But Neil was nowhere to be seen.
Its hollow eyes scanned the room.
Nothing.
No movement.
No sound.
Then—
A terrifying pressure appeared behind it.
The lich's body froze.
It turned around.
Neil was already there.
His sword was swinging toward its body.
The lich reacted instantly.
Teleportation.
Its body vanished.
But it wasn't fast enough.
SHING!
Neil's sword cut through its arm.
The severed limb fell to the ground.
The arm that had been used to cast its spells.
Neil landed several meters away.
"Uff... uff..."
He breathed heavily.
The lich stared at its missing arm.
Just then.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Its voice shook the chamber.
"Evil human!"
The lich clutched the stump of its severed arm.
Then its expression twisted with madness.
"I will kill you!"
It began chanting.
A massive magic circle appeared beneath its feet.
Red light covered the chamber.
Blood-like mana surrounded the lich's body.
Its skeletal form began changing.
The bones expanded.
Its body grew larger.
And larger.
Until a gigantic skeleton stood before Neil.
A massive greatsword appeared in its right hand.
Neil's eyes widened.
"Shit..."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"It transformed earlier than expected."
He looked up at the gigantic creature.
"Yo, skeleton... Can't you cut me some slack?"
The lich's enormous skull tilted toward him.
"Human."
Its voice had become deeper and more terrifying.
"I will end you horribly."
The giant skeleton raised its greatsword.
Then smashed it into the ground.
BOOM!
A wave of red smoke exploded throughout the chamber.
The smoke carried enough deadly energy to kill an ordinary warrior instantly.
Neil's expression became serious.
"I have to end this quickly."
The next second he disappeared.
The lich's eyes followed his movement.
Neil appeared behind it.
He immediately threw several mana-infused daggers.
The lich swung its greatsword.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The daggers were knocked away.
But the lich didn't stop.
It disappeared.
Neil's eyes widened.
The giant skeleton appeared directly in front of him.
Its greatsword descended from above.
Neil raised his sword.
CLANG!
The impact forced his legs downward.
His knees bent under the enormous force.
Sparks flew from the clash of their weapons.
The two continued exchanging blows.
Neil attacked.
The lich countered.
The greatsword tore through the air.
Neil dodged.
Blocked.
Counterattacked.
Again and again.
But the difference in physical strength was becoming obvious.
Neil continued taking injuries.
Blood ran down his body.
His breathing became heavier.
His movements became slower.
This can't continue.
Neil gritted his teeth.
If this keeps going, I'm dying here today.
The lich once again raised its greatsword.
It aimed directly for Neil's head.
This time, Neil didn't block.
Just as it's greatsword was about to pass, he stepped to the left.
The greatsword passed beside him.
Neil twisted his body and drove his fist forward covered in blue Qi.
BOOM!
The punch struck the lich directly in the face.
The giant skeleton staggered backward.
Part of its face had been completely destroyed.
The lich touched the damaged side of its skull.
Then screamed.
"That again!"
"You rat of a human!"
It began swinging its sword wildly.
The greatsword tore through the chamber.
Neil continued dodging.
He waited.
One opening.
Just one.
Then he saw it.
This is the moment.
Neil reached into his storage and threw several daggers.
The lich instinctively swung its sword to block them.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Its attention shifted toward the incoming blades.
That was all Neil needed.
His sword began glowing.
Blue energy wrapped around the blade.
Neil disappeared.
The next instant—
SHING!
His sword sliced through the lich.
From shoulder to waist.
The giant skeleton froze.
A crack appeared across its body.
Then—
BOOM!
Its body split apart.
The lich collapsed.
Neil's sword slipped from his hand as he dropped to the ground.
He clutched the weapon and breathed heavily.
Silence filled the chamber.
For a long time, neither side moved.
Then the lich spoke.
"Human..."
Neil slowly raised his head.
"How do you know that ancient art?"
The lich's voice had lost its previous arrogance.
"It has been thousands of years since I last saw someone using that power."
Its hollow eyes stared at Neil.
"Do you even know what that power is?"
Neil breathed heavily.
"Huf... huf..."
He remained silent for several seconds.
Then finally answered.
"no I don't know it's origin."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"But I know I can finish you with it."
The lich began laughing.
"Kekekeke..."
Its laughter echoed through the chamber.
"Human..."
"You are truly amusing."
"You don't even know what you have been using."
Neil's face twisted with irritation.
"Bastard."
He nudged the lich's head with the hilt of his sword.
"I had to suffer this much because of you."
"Hey!"
The lich's head rolled slightly.
"Don't poke me there!"
Neil stared at it.
Even now, the damn thing was complaining.
The lich's laughter slowly faded.
"So, human..."
Its voice became quieter.
"What is your name?"
Neil looked at the creature.
"I would like to know your name before I vanish from this world."
Neil stood up slowly.
"It is Neil Arcanum."
The lich's eyes dimmed slightly.
"Neil..."
It repeated the name.
"Neil Arcanum..."
The lich paused.
"Neil..."
Its voice became weaker.
"Neil Arcanum..."
It repeated the name several more times.
"Arcanu..."
"Arca..."
Its eyes finally lost their light.
The room fell silent.
The Lich King was dead.
Its body slowly began fading away.
As the final remnants of its body disappeared, something appeared in the air.
A small vial.
Neil caught it.
Inside was a white liquid.
It looked unnaturally pure.
"Hmm?"
Neil examined the vial before checking his system.
Then his eyes widened.