Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Lockheed Soul Staff had been a Necromancer who failed to evolve into a Lich and ended up having his soul sealed within the skull at the top of the Lockheed Soul Staff. The staff was then sealed by other Necromancers, turning it into its current form. Although Lockheed had lost his physical body, his soul and knowledge he’d amassed over the millennia remained. It was impossible for him not to know about the effects of Hilaire’s Demon Ring and Redra’s Staff. However, he chose to keep quiet.
The eyes of the skull on the Lockheed Soul Staff pulsed as it said, “My old friend, if only you’d lift my first seal, I could tell you about the effects of Hilaire’s Demon Ring and Redra’s Staff. I can help you defeat them.”
The Necromancer snorted. He would never believe Lockheed’s ramblings. Undoing the seal and releasing Lockheed? He would be looking for trouble.
The Necromancer took a step back and positioned himself behind two skeleton soldiers. The skeleton soldiers could shield him from most magic attacks. However, his backside was wide open. He was standing near the edge of the Spying Eye’s range of detection.
Lin Fei fumbled with her daggers. What was the Necromancer playing at? Was he trying to lure her in? She had to admit that his current position was tempting for her. Logically speaking, his current position was the most dangerous of all positions. If a Rogue were to sneak up on him, he would not have a chance of surviving.
Did the Necromancer have an ace up his sleeve? Did he have the confidence to kill her once she was close enough?
“Don’t be rash. He might be luring you over.” Tian Kuang could not help but remind Lin Fei. Their thoughts were surprisingly similar.
There was the faintest of smiles on the Necromancer’s face. This was like the way of a gamble, to weaken the image of your strengths and bolster the image of your weaknesses. Lin Fei’s ability to find out about the detection range of the Shadow Wizard’s Spying Eye proved that she was a smart person. A smart person would worry about many things before acting. The Necromancer seemed to have placed himself in a dangerous spot when it was actually the safest.
Without complete confidence, Lin Fei did not dare risk a sneak attack on the Necromancer. If she was out of the picture, they would not be able to intimidate their spellcasters, which would cost them the initiative of the battle. To be safe, she would not ambush the Necromancer.
The Necromancer flexed his fingers. More than 10 skeleton soldiers were summoned again. They scattered and covered a wide area in a semicircle.
They surrounded Xiao Ling and the others. They were rubbing their palms together, ready to strike.
“Begin,” the Necromancer spoke drily in their team chat.
When he heard the Necromancer’s words, the orc Warrior let out a furious roar and activated his Berserker Stance. Charge! He flew toward Tian Fei, Tian Xin, and Xiao Ling like a huge stabbing sword.
“Careful, everyone,” reminded Tian Kuang.
Xiao Ling faced the charging orc Warrior, while Tian Fei and Tian Xin dashed to the sides.
The orc Warrior had a fleeting moment of puzzlement. Usually, the three spellcasters would have attacked him as one to take him down. However, two of the spellcasters had actually run to the sides, much to his surprise. This was not at all like the scenario he’d imagined. However, at this point, the orc Warrior did not have the time to think about it in detail. He had already activated his skill. He would be disrupting his team’s rhythm by pulling back.
At this moment, time was life. Xiao Ling saw Tian Fei and Tian Xin drink a potion each. Xiao Ling drank the spell damage-enhancing potion which Tian Kuang gave him as well.
Five yards! Xiao Ling leapt backward. Force Blast! A violent force swept before him.
The orc Warrior felt something charge against himself. He slowed down slightly.
Xiao Ling ran backward and cast instantaneous spells at the orc Warrior. The orc Warrior’s defense was too high. Xiao Ling’s hits did no more damage than 50.
It was slightly taxing for him. Some of the skeleton soldiers were coming toward him as well. They were prepared to support the orc Warrior.
When they saw Xiao Ling engaging the orc Warrior, Tian Fei and Tian Xin took aim at the others.
Tian Xin swept his gaze across the spacious area and the numerous skeleton soldiers. He smiled as he spoke to Tian Fei, “Would you like an AoE spell?”
Tian Fei looked around as well. The timing was also suitable. He brandished his staff and started the incantation. The fire element in the air grew restless. Red clouds gathered above them. Tian Xin was right beside Tian Fei, Ring of Frost at the ready.
The restless flaming clouds were filled with terrifying power.
“Tsk, tsk. Irascible fire element. A Demonic Warlock’s Meteor Fire. This kid’s quite powerful.” The Lockheed Soul Staff acted as if it was its lifelong wish to see the Necromancer defeated.
Two skeleton soldiers were already charging toward Tian Fei and Tian Xin. Even though they were only two skeleton soldiers, they were completely capable of killing Tian Fei and Tian Xin if they got near enough. This was clearly the Necromancer’s way of testing them. He had follow-up attacks planned. The Ring of Frost’s range was five yards, which was equivalent to five steps. If he froze these two, he would not be able to freeze the others. If he wasted his Ring of Frost on these two skeleton soldiers, this meant that they would be in danger when the remaining skeleton soldiers swarmed them.
Tian Kuang checked his bag. There was another vial of Journeyman rank mana potion. It seemed to him that he would have to use it when it came to it. Tian Kuang cast two shots of Holy Light and reduced the two skeleton soldiers to smoke.
As expected, the other skeleton soldiers swarmed them right after the two disappeared. Tian Xin’s staff shone with an azure radiance. His Ring of Frost was ready.
The Shadow Wizard and the Elemental Mage were also shooting spells at Tian Fei and Tian Xin. However, they dared not pick spells with lengthy incantations. This was because a Rogue was on the loose, and could ambush them at any minute.
While everyone was occupied with the battle, the Necromancer had shifted his position. He was now 50 yards away from Tian Kuang. His Lockheed Soul Staff shone with a dark crimson glow.
Tian Kuang was supporting Tian Fei and Tian Xin. He did not sense the encroaching danger. A Holy Priest was the weakest class in terms of sensing danger around themselves. This was because they were usually absorbed in whatever they were doing. If they were not, their teammates might be in trouble. Hence, their attention would be completely on their teammates.
Tian Kuang cast a healing spell when a cold burst of a blade’s gleam shot toward him.
“Look out,” Lin Fei whispered in an undertone.
Tian Kuang’s quick reflexes saved his neck in the nick of time. Tian Kuang took a few quick steps backward and dodged the attack. He shot a Shadow Priest instantaneous spell in retaliation.
Tian Kuang finally saw who his ambusher was. He did not notice the skeleton soldier that had crept up to him. A low-level skeleton soldier had almost cost him his life.
‘That was close!’ he thought. A burst of Holy Light and the skeleton soldier was gone.
‘What a shame.’ The Necromancer did not seem depressed at the failed attempt. He was already working on the next step.