olume 24 Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Three Bone Dragons
Sponsored by Ser4, TLC by Enlightened End, checked by FroshiAnaki
Though the priests attack's were successful, Balkan’s life was far away from death. A Lich was an existence that could survive infinitely long as it could create an army if there were corpses and living creatures.
“Awaken, my servants…!”
As Balkan shouted, a 5-meter high Stone Golem stood up from the ground. It was so high that it could almost scrape the ceiling with its thick looking pairs of arms and legs! Higher-rank Necromancers usually had at least one Golem type guardian and in case of Balkan, it was a stone golem.
Dudududu!
As the Stone Golem swung its arm, paladins were thrown back. Every time the Golem ran, the ground shook and small rubble fell from the ceiling. It had vitality, defence and attack like a steel wall. And as it is a guardian created by magic, it didn’t take damages from holy spells.
“Be careful. It’s not certain but it must be mid to late level 400.”
“We have to breakthrough the golem first to get to Balkan.”
“Let’s take down the golem.”
They thought the battle to be simple because they were against Balkan but the battle became chaotic instantly.
Usually, when magicians are hit by one or two small attacks, their spells got cancelled and they experienced fluctuation in mana. But Balkan was fine even with continuous hits from Light Sphere and Turn Undead. With the Lich’s high magic resistance, the spell casting didn’t get cancelled.
“Chasing Arrow!”
Pale and Maylon concentrated their mana in arrows and shot it toward Balkan. As a magician, Balkan could not take drastic evasive movements while chanting a spell so the arrows hit without missing all the time. But it felt like he did not mind the minor attacks at all.
A Lich’s nature was to drain health and mana from living creatures so Balkan was not in a desperate situation.
“Silent Atmosphere.”
More than 200 paladins in Balkan’s curse range were surrounded by dark and blue energies.
A very strong curse that disturbs the targets breathing!
“Bone Destruction.”
CRACK!
This time, about 30 paladins’ bones in their bodies were crushed. Even though they were wearing armor, they couldn’t overcome the curse because of low resistance.
“Fire Hydra Summon.”
Balkan even summoned a Fire Hydra. Sprouting from the ground head first, it breathed fire from each of its head. Balkan casted three spells consecutively with ease.
After a very short break, Balkan began casting attack magic on the paladins.
“Frost Ring!”
Rings of freezing air were created and covered the paladins.
The priests’ healing spells were focused on Balkan and paladins. Because of that they were able to prevent mass slaughters from the continuous spells. Also it was due to the nature of paladins’ magic defence and resistance being comparably higher than the warrior class.
Weed observed the situation cooly.
‘Balkan’s curse magic, Necromancers’ magic are on top standards. Looking at his unbelievably strong Undead, I’m pretty sure he can create a bunch of Bone Dragons if he has the required corpses. He can use summon magic quite well but his attack magic is fairly weak.’
Up to a certain point, Balkan’s magic was relatively weak compared to other magicians. Balkan could cast attack spells faster than advanced magicians over level 400. If one considered not only the magic strength but the casting speed as important in battle, it could be said to be a considerable forte.
On top of that, paladins were extremely overwhelmed just by looking at Balkan. The summoned Doom Knights and Stone golem were in even more rampageous and Balkan interchanged between lightning and ice spells and some of the paladins fell victims to the attacks.
According to Romuna’s check, Balkan’s health dropped to 73% after the continuous attack by the priests using Turn Undead, but it was not hopeful news. There were already 19 newly dead corpses. Assuming Balkan would create higher-rank Undead with his Undead summoning spell, it’s only right to say that the current hunt will fail.
Currently, though it was not aggregated, about a million people were estimated to be paying attention to the live broadcast. The quest of Weed with his companions, not only was it watched by the players but the viewers as well who were watching with variety of different emotions.
‘Just fail.’
‘Perish.’
‘Get killed violently.’
‘Weed is finished now.’
High-level rankers and players in top guilds wished for Weed’s failure as one.
But humans still had a moving force, the Geomchis.
Even though the battle had started, Geomchis had to endure the urge to fight because Weed told them to wait for Balkan’s response against the paladins.
“Wooah!”
“Yes!”
Geomchis pulled strength in their bodies and yelled out a war cry. Based on their resilience, willpower and courage, they fully overcame Balkan’s fear effect. Now Geomchis could fight like usual, without any restrictions. That was already enough of an advantage when fighting Balkan.
“Let’s go!”
“Kill these bastards.”
Geomchis jumped out and swung their swords at the Golem and Doom Knights. The standards of Balkan’s handmade Undead were different. Doom Knights with Death Aura effect were almost as strong as semi-boss monsters but using their skill, the Geomchis were able fight evenly. And because they were under the blessings from priests, they were able to fight even more rough and recklessly than usual.
“Destroy them completely!”
“Do not let your guard down until priests cleanse the monster you defeated with their holy power.”
Balkan was kept in check by the paladins. Using this moment as an opportunity, Geomchis destroyed Doom knights and purified them.
While everyone was fighting with all their might, suddenly a soothing melody was heard!
Bellot was playing her instrument on the battlefield. She sang a sacred song raising priests’ faith and paladins’ strength.
Romuna occasionally flung spells and Surka fought the Doom Knights with Geomchis. Zephyr and Hwaryeong took care of the Undead coming down the stairway with other players. Because of Zephyr’s wide range attacks and Hwaryeong’s monster sleep skill, they didn’t join the hunting of Balkan themselves.
“You uncivilized humans, what a foolish resistance. This land is ruled by my commandments of darkness. Experience the power of the eternal Undead Legion. Dark Rule!”
One of Balkan’s three great magics, a spell that turns every corpse in the vicinity into Undead was cast. Balkan Demoph was a high-rank Necromancer and as a magician, he could use three special magics.
Dark Rule, Death Aura, Absolute Magic defence!
Absolute Magic defence blocks the sources of any attack spells that endanger him. Unless it was the standard of a great magician, they could not even touch the tip of Balkan’s bones. Of course Romuna’s capabilities were far lower than Balkan but she was already useful just by casting spells on Undead.
By the Dark Rule, the basement and the whole Vargo fortress turned dark red. If Balkan creates Undead based on corpses of paladins and Geomchis, his war potential will become a lot bigger. With Death Aura, he could automatically drain health and mana these Undead gain by fighting.
But Necromancers waited for this moment and moved faster than Balkan. They came bare handed because it was obvious any Undead they brought here will be under Balkan’s command, but they did not come here to play around.
“Arise. Souls who have yet to close their eyes, who have yet to slumber. The living here and the ones that killed you, take revenge! Dead Rise.”
Paladins‘ corpses turned into low skeletons and arose.
“Kiririk?”
“Humans… They are attacking Balkan-nim.”
Skeletons looked around and then immediately started fighting for Balkan.
“What’s this, these gnats.”
As Geomchi487 pushed them by, their bodies broke futilely!
These low rank Undead created by Necromancers and not by Balkan’s Dark Rule were annihilated by the priests’ purification magic in no time at all. The Necromancers made a great achievement blocking Undead summoning, Balkan’s strongest point.
Mapan took off the white cover off his carriage he forcefully dragged here.
The 'Advent of the Seven Angels' sculpture. He brought Daycram’s magnum opus from the Art Center.
Abusing the authority as the owner of the Art Center and the Sculpture!
He actively used the delivered sculpture that magnified the effects of holy power and increased mana regeneration speed. Of course if they lost, the Seven Angels sculpture made out of mithril will be Balkan’s so it was a huge gamble for Weed.
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“We need to go this way.”
Weed, together with 150 top order Geomchis and 30 priests broke through the basement and headed toward the inner fortress of Vargo Fortress. At first the Undead chased after them, but soon after as if they realized they needed to protect Balkan in the basement they stopped following.
‘We need to destroy the Life Vessel that is sealing the Lich’s health.’
Balkan is a legendary monster that even using holy power was difficult to kill. His magical strength was severely restricted by the sacred sword in his chest but it’s impossible to estimate his level. To completely destroy Balkan that didn’t even die with a sacred sword embedded in him, Weed needed to take out the Life Vessel first.
If Balkan with low health got reverse summoned near the Life Vessel, he will be able to control the Undead Legion again and kill every players that came inside the fortress.
‘It might possibly be there.’
There was a place that Weed was suspicious of the Life Vessel being when he was taking a look around the inner fortress as a Doom Knight.
“As there is not much time let’s run.”
“Alright, let’s go faster!”
Weed and Geomchis ran down the hallwa