The Real Monster

In fact, Clay would be setting up the next challenge for these men.

Just as he was doing right now. Even though he did not move from his spot, he had been concentrating on finding the "bigger nest" that he mentioned to them. And when he does find it, he cleans the nest up a bit until he achieves the "right" number of opponents for these people to progress and get stronger. Experience, after all, was the greatest teacher.

Snap!

With a snap of Clay"s finger, countless Alghouls in the army of the Leader that he began calling Rotfiend, disintegrated and returned to their origin, which was miasma.

The sudden disintegration surprised the Alghouls that were lucky enough to not have been selected by the spell as targets. Clay had learned to integrate the elemental affinities to his Overpower skill and even project it, miles away from himself. This was the mechanic he was using in killing these undead remotely.

The Rotfiend was not surprised, instead it was furious. Furious that its troops were being ma.s.sacred without him knowing. Not that it had a mind of its own, to really think of the better for his troops.

After Clay set them up, as they are unable to produce any other Alghouls without corpses to create them, they shall remain in these numbers until the men had enough training to battle them. The Rotfiend had already been a.n.a.lyzed and Clay only needs to convey and train the men in the methods of facing them. The Alghouls though, would be a problem. The Phalanx cannot hold them off unlike the ordinary Ghouls. Clay needed a damage dealer out of all the men that he trained, a magic user.

These magic users would be able to execute the Alghouls from inside a tight square formation while being protected by the rest of the men. That"s the direction Clay should direct these people to from now on, he thought.

Open!

Clay opened his eyes and immediately, his consciousness snapped back to his immediate surroundings. However, before he even took a step towards the underground shelter, he sensed a powerful magic user that got close to the Rotfiend he had marked.

Sensing this, Clay adjusted himself and stood like a pole before sending his consciousness towards the Rotfiend"s nest again. This time, there was a skull-faced, robed individual who was emitting miasma on a grander scale than the Rotfiend. In fact, the disparity between them could be described as heaven and earth. The Rotfiend could emit a silent fart, while the skull-face naturally sets off explosions of miasma at each breath.

Naturally, this skull-face was a Lich. Accodring to UltiCo, it was a Lich, and not a Grand Lich, however, seeing a Lich here, means that Clay and Ryan"s victories have already been heard by the higher-ups in this world, the Grand Liches. It was only a matter of time before they specifically send troops to oppose us, maybe I should hasten the progress of our liberation? Clay thought.

"No, that would only make me do more than just help them a little, it would make it easy for them to liberate this world. Just as Ryan said, they must own it, suffer, struggle and maybe even die for it. He is right."

Just as Clay finished his musing, the Lich suddenly looked towards the direction that Clay had positioned his consciousness as he watched over them. However, the Lich looked away immediately after seemingly looking like he just felt something and ignored it altogether after. Then it proceeded to scolding the Rotfiend with an unknown language to Clay. This time, it spoke and immediately, Clay"s head sounded a notification after such a long time.

*Ping*

[Abyssal Language – Master (Evernight) Acquired]

Immediately, UltiCo swallowed the skill and integrated it into itself. The Lich"s scolding could now be understood. And Clay knew that the Lich was just acting like it was scolding the Rotfiend.

"We have received your report." As it flailed its hand, up and down as if it were going to hit the Rotfiend.

"You have to be careful; we sense that some outside help has been given to the ants called humans. We are being watched right now. Look as if you are depressed from my scolding. I shall return here later to give you an enhancement to finish off our opposition. Now, jump back and hit the walls as hard as you can as I push you with my staff. Make it look believable!"

Clay could not believe his ears. This Lich was so powerful and intelligent that it schemed right in front of him. "What the h.e.l.l! This Lich looks like a push-over, but it is in fact a schemer. If I had not acquired the language, then I"d have believed it was scolding the Rotfiend right now!" Clay immediately Withdrew his consciousness from that nest as the Rotfiend propelled itself towards the walls with such a force.

Clay had learned quite a few things in this. He learned that if this little Lich had noticed his consciousness, then that probably means that when he spread his consciousness to encompa.s.s the whole of Evernight, then the Grand Liches would also be able to notice this. Second, the Language of the Liches was possibly what the whole undead forces use to relay orders and rule. While the language of the humans was the same as the ones used by Ryan when speaking to me via telepathy. Of course, I"d have already learned that language when we started exchanging words. UltiCo sometimes mutes notifications for something trivial it seems.

He also learned of the fact that the Lich that just visited the Rotfiend nest had in its person something Clay had been wanting to have, a Necromancy Grimoire.

"With this, my progress towards the goal for this trip will move a step closer to the end. I need it!"

Woosh!

With the sound of air being disturbed from his movement, Clay disappeared from the underground entrance and immediately was above the skies of Evernight. Tracking the lone Lich that had visited the nest.

Without even masking his own power, he released his magic energy and made it function as sonar to detect the Lich. After a minute of fine tuning, he had found the Lich and instantly moved towards its location.

The Lich, sensing its opponent"s energy closing in on it, stopped moving in the shadows and awaited his fate. It was not that it was resigning but as an intelligent being, it knew how to talk to fellow intelligent beings.

As Clay arrived descending from the skies still holding onto Ryan who was sleeping, he looked at the Lich unemotionally. Saying, "Wisdom has given you the right guidance. Why run, when you cannot, am I right?" Clay made his eyes glow golden like the radiance of the Sun as he faced the Lich.

"Oh, great One, what honor it is for my lowly self to be graced by your presence." With flattery, the Lich spoke in response. Clay smirked at the Lich"s response and said, "Your flattery will achieve you nothing. I have come for but one purpose. Hand over that Grimoire." Clay pointed at the Grimoire that the Lich had in its person at his bosom. However, the Lich was surprised that Clay knew that he had with him a Grimoire and even knew where he hid it.

"H-How! T-This Grimoire cannot be used by beings that have not been touched by the darkness! It will only bring you destruction!" The Lich expressed. However, his acting was easily seen through by UltiCo"s a.n.a.lysis ability. Clay could clearly see its current status: Scheming.

"Yes, yes. You need not worry about me. You should just continue your evil ways and hand me the Grimoire. I"ll simply look at it. Don"t act all good and warn me about the dangers, it only makes me think more of how you are scheming." Clay extended his right hand that was free from holding Ryan and urged the Lich to give it.

After a few seconds of what seemed like hesitation, the Lich handed the Grimoire to Clay with trembling hands as if parting with this Grimoire was such a heartache for it.

Receiving the Grimoire, Clay proceeded on opening it nonchalantly while the Lich was watching with bated breath, even though it didn"t have a nose or a throat.

An eerie feeling permeated the atmosphere as Clay had in his hand the Grimoire, and as soon as the first page was opened, the howling of countless soul-remnants cried out and a.s.saulted Clay. That same instant, the Lich cackled in laughter as it joyously celebrated the death of this powerful but ignorant being.

"That"s what you get for being arrogant you p.r.i.c.k! You think a Lich"s Grimoire can easily be coveted by others? We always protect our spells and our methods! Your life is mine and I will use your body for countless experiments to come! How wonderful. As for your baby, well, I"ll just turn it into a pet until I can use its body as experiment material. How generous of me! Kakaka!"

After it shouted and gleefully exposed his real intentions, the Lich leisurely strode towards Clay who was still standing there as if his soul was sucked out of his body. The Lich extended its bony arms and hand towards Clay"s head to drag him with him, his arms stretched ever closer to his head… 2 feet, 1 foot, half a foot, 5 inches, 3, 2– Grab!

The Lich"s hand was grabbed by the same hand that held the now banished Grimoire. The Lich reacted immediately and cut its own hand, arm and all to get away from Clay. It then heard Clay say, "I"ve read your Grimoire, it seems your methods are somewhat introductory; however, it will have to do for now. I must thank you for your cooperation. Choose a reward: A swift death, enslavement, or return to the origin?" As Clay gave the Lich its choices, he also swiped his hands as if a windshield wiper to swat the noisy soul-remnants that were crying salvation and a.s.saulting his mind. As if they were merely a bother to him.

The moment that Clay opened the Grimoire and the soul-remnants a.s.saulted him, he instantly erected a barrier that enclosed Ryan from any attacks no matter magic, physical and even spiritual. Clay himself was a walking fortress, so his defenses were superb not to mention that this was merely smokes and mirrors to the current him.

"H-H-H-How did you s-s-survive that! Impossible!" The Lich protested in grief.

"Nothing is Impossible, Lich. Not with magic. Now, choose, or I will choose for you." Clay made his eyes glow even more hot and golden as if the Sun was rising in this place. That sight frightened the soul out of the Lich, and it began to run backwards towards the darkness, to escape and to find help.

"And here I thought you were at least an intelligent undead, it seems I was mistaken. Why run, when you cannot, am I right?"

*Ping*

[A Telepathic thought-wave has been intercepted]

[Playing recording: "H-H-Help! Grand Lich Marduke! There"s a human powerful enough to threaten us! Help me! Send help!" Recording end]

UltiCo"s a.s.sistance capabilities have improved to a scary level! Even sending notifications for Clay.

"I guess, you leave me with no choice, but to choose for you. And I choose, return to origin." With that, Clay shot a palm-wave at light speed which hit the running Lich in an instant, there were no escapes from this one. That palm-wave was powered by Clay"s magic and his Light affinity plus UV. A combination of magic and physics!

Instantly, the Lich started to immolate on the spot and faded in the dark a second after. Nothing was left, not even ashes. Death would have left him some ashes and a chance at revival, however, return to origin was just that, return to the flow of miasma, where it came from.

"I should probably get back, there"s still training to give for my p.a.w.ns." Clay made a jumping motion just like Superman and lifted himself away from the ground through it. Instantly, he was in above Evernight"s atmosphere and was absorbing some of the Sun"s energy, albeit miniscule, then slowly descended towards the underground sanctuary"s entrance.