Episode 292
“Uh, are you talking about an undead?”
“Yes. I was thinking that if we turn him into an undead mage, he might be able to use ice magic.”
Richmond pondered over Zeke’s suggestion before nodding.
“It’s possible. However, as a regular undead mage, he won’t be able to use high-level elemental magic. It would be more akin to dark magic with similar effects.”
“But it would still have ice attributes, right?”
“Yes, though it won’t be as efficient as pure elemental magic. And he won’t be able to use that staff either.”
“Hmm, I see. If he can use magic, up to what circle would it be possible?”
“Probably around the 3rd or 4th circle.”
“Not ideal, but better than nothing. Ice mages are quite rare.”
Richmond nodded and reached out towards the mummified mage.
A low hum filled the air as a dark aura emanated from Richmond’s body. Just as he was about to raise the dead mage as an undead, Richmond suddenly recoiled in surprise.
“What is it, Richmond?”
With a bewildered expression, Richmond turned to Zeke.
“The spirit of this mage is asking to be made into a lich instead of a regular undead.”
“What? A lich?”
Zeke was equally taken aback by Richmond’s revelation.
“Wasn’t this mage dead?”
“He is, but it seems his spirit lingered, unwilling to pass on due to the way he died.”
“Perhaps he couldn’t let go after dying of illness just before mastering the 8th circle.”
“What should we do, Master?”
“Well, if that’s what he wants, we might as well make him a lich.”
“That would require some preparation.”
“That’s fine. Let me know what materials you need, and I’ll provide them.”
Richmond inspected the materials in the mage’s laboratory and listed the additional items needed. Zeke retrieved what he could from his inventory and purchased or crafted the rest. Spending around 500 karma points seemed a fair trade for acquiring a high-level lich summon.
As preparations neared completion, Richmond scratched his cheek and spoke to Zeke.
“Master, the spirit has another peculiar request.”
“What is it?”
“He wants us to drop a single elixir onto a fairy stone and use it as a life vessel when making him a lich.”
Zeke tilted his head in curiosity.
“Is that a common method for creating a lich?”
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Hmm, sounds similar to how you used a bloodstone for your life vessel.”
“The spirit claims that doing so would allow him to use elemental magic, not just dark magic, in his lich form.”
“Really? Then he could use that staff too.”
“Yes. If it works, he might be able to cast 6th or even 7th circle spells, but we’ll have to see.”
“Hmm, a fairy stone and a drop of elixir.”
Though elixirs were rare and valuable, using one drop to gain a 7th circle summon seemed worth it. Zeke handed the fairy stone and elixir to Richmond.
“Be careful not to spill it.”
Richmond took the items and carefully began crafting the life vessel as the spirit had instructed. After about an hour, the experiment table began to glow.
“Whoa!”
The fairy stone, now infused with the elixir, emitted a dazzling array of colors. Zeke watched in awe as the once-black stone transformed.
“To think a black fairy stone could change like this… must be the elixir’s effect.”
“The spirit said it’s an adaptation of the philosopher’s stone creation method.”
“The philosopher’s stone? Does he know how to make it?”
“Not entirely, but he stumbled upon part of the process and adapted it.”
“Quite knowledgeable, isn’t he?”
Richmond observed the experiment table, then placed the multicolored fairy stone on the heart of the mummified mage. He drew a magic circle around the body with other prepared reagents.
After two hours, the magic circle was complete. Richmond stepped back, taking a deep breath.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
He chanted the incantation, initiating the ritual.
The magic circle glowed, reacting with the fairy stone on the mummy’s heart. Zeke felt mana draining from his core, likely due to his connection with Richmond.
The light from the magic circle was absorbed into the mummy’s body, and a ghostly wail echoed as the spirit was drawn in. The mummy levitated, and the fairy stone embedded itself into its forehead, emitting a radiant glow. Blue gems appeared in its sunken eyes.
Dark energy enveloped the mummy, transforming it into a lich. Unlike typical liches, this one exuded a cold aura, with frost forming around it, thanks to the elixir and fairy stone.
[You have successfully created an Elemental Lich with ice attributes.]
“An Elemental Lich? So it can use elemental magic, unlike regular liches.”
The ritual concluded, and the lich settled onto the ground. Its gem-like eyes flickered with light. Richmond looked proudly at the newly created lich.
The Elemental Lich approached them, and Richmond, expecting a pledge of loyalty, pondered what grand words to say. But to his surprise, the lich knelt before Zeke instead.
“I greet my master.”
Richmond stared in disbelief at the lich kneeling before Zeke.
“You ungrateful lich… I performed the ritual!”
Ignoring Richmond’s complaint, the Elemental Lich continued to address Zeke with reverence.
“I pledge eternal loyalty to you, my great master, and vow to fulfill my duties as your guardian.”
Zeke sensed something amiss.
“Does it think I’m a dragon?”
The lich, created in response to the heart of Bahamut within Zeke, seemed to have mistaken him for a dragon summoning a guardian.
After a moment’s thought, Zeke nodded.
“Very well. I accept you as my guardian.”
Simultaneously, Zeke’s shadow rippled.
[You can transform the Elemental Lich into a shadow spirit using Shadow Dominion and Skill Absorption.]
Being more akin to a spirit, the Elemental Lich could be converted into a shadow spirit.
“Turning it into a shadow spirit would make it easier to manage.”
As Zeke consented, his shadow enveloped the lich. The lich, startled by the shadow’s embrace, exclaimed.
“What is happening, great one?”
Zeke addressed the Elemental Lich.
“Sorry, but I’m not a dragon.”
“That can’t be…”
The Elemental Lich was nearly consumed by Zeke’s shadow.
[You have absorbed the Elemental Lich.]
[The absorbed Elemental Lich is transforming into a shadow spirit under the influence of Shadow Dominion.]
The lich, bewildered by the situation, examined itself in confusion.
“What… what just happened?”
A message appeared before Zeke.
[You can register the shadow spirit as a summon.]
[Would you like to register it and assign a name?]
It was time to name his new summon. Zeke pondered for a moment before asking the Elemental Lich.
“What was your original name?”
The lich, now bound to Zeke, promptly replied.
“It was Liberto, Master.”
“Then I’ll call you Vayne.”
Though curious why Zeke asked if he intended to choose a different name, the Elemental Lich remained silent.
[You have acquired the summon Vayne.]
Vayne’s eyes glowed blue as he bowed to Zeke.
“I pledge my eternal loyalty to you, my master, for granting me new life.”
Zeke acknowledged Vayne’s vow with a nod.
“Change your appearance like Richmond did.”
Richmond, upon becoming Zeke’s summon, had taken on a form similar to a naga due to his draconic traits. Zeke assumed Vayne could do the same.
Vayne hesitated.
“Master, that’s beyond my abilities.”
Richmond interjected.
“Master, I think it’s because I became a lich using a bloodstone, making me half-human, half-lich.”
Zeke nodded in understanding.
“Hmm, that makes sense. The elixir doesn’t allow for such a transformation?”
Vayne replied, his voice tinged with embarrassment.
“The elixir only enables me to use elemental magic in my lich form…”
Zeke studied the pitiful figure of Vayne, deep in thought.
“I can’t exactly parade you around like I do with Richmond,” he mused.
Turning to Vayne, Zeke asked, “Vayne, why did you want to become a lich? From what I know, it’s not something most wizards aspire to, unlike necromancers.”
Vayne’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “It’s so unfair, Master.”
“What’s so unfair about dying from an illness?”
“If it had been just the illness, I wouldn’t feel this way.”
“So it wasn’t the illness that killed you?”
“The illness was real. That’s why I was trying to create an elixir. But when I realized it couldn’t cure me, I was ready to accept my fate. I planned to put my affairs in order and donate all my research to Nirvana. But then…”
Vayne trembled as he continued, “I never imagined I’d be poisoned instead.”
“Poisoned?” Zeke asked, puzzled.
Vayne nodded. “Yes, I was poisoned.”
Zeke tilted his head, curious. “Who would bother poisoning an 8th-circle wizard on his deathbed?”
Vayne’s voice was filled with venom. “There’s only one group on this continent who would do such a thing!”
A chilling mist escaped Vayne’s lips. “Those vile Draker scoundrels! It must have been them!”
The air seemed to freeze as the atmosphere grew tense. Richmond, standing behind them, nervously glanced around before slowly retreating.
Vayne continued to seethe, his breath still frosty. Zeke nodded thoughtfully. “I see, so you have a grudge against the Drakers.”
“I’ll freeze every last one of those bastards to the bone!” Vayne declared with fervor.
Richmond, pale with fear, shook his head behind them, but Vayne didn’t notice.
Zeke asked, “Do you have any proof that the Drakers poisoned you?”
Vayne gritted his teeth. “No proof, but who else would dare poison a wizard from Nirvana?”
“What about the Ishtar elves?” Zeke suggested.
“I’ve never crossed paths with the Ishtar elves,” Vayne replied, aware of their lineage.
Zeke pondered Vayne’s accusation against the Drakers. “Poisoning… If the Drakers wanted a wizard dead, poisoning seems unlikely. They wouldn’t leave such traces.”
He considered that the Drakers would have likely shut down Vayne’s lab and disposed of his body discreetly.
Zeke asked again, “Did you have any conflicts with the Drakers?”
“Not exactly, but there was an incident with a commission,” Vayne admitted, his earlier anger subsiding.
“A commission? What kind?” Zeke pressed, sensing something amiss.
“It was a request from Arthur Draker,” Vayne replied, his voice calmer now.