The next morning, the entire canyon quivered violently. Countless rocks tumbled from the canyon's mouth, crashing down with deafening force.
In an instant, skeletons that had failed to evade were shattered into fragments.
The azure flames in Lixuman's eyes flared intensely. He lifted his gaze, fixating on the far end of the canyon.
As if responding to his anticipation, a volley of orange-red fireballs shot forth from the canyon's mouth.
The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"Darker than the abyss itself…""To brew forbidden magic from the fruit of darkness, offered unto the exalted Lord of the Abyss, the King of Shadows.""Seventh-tier magic: Dark Sacrifice."
Rings of obsidian magic circles rose from the ground, surging from the depths of the canyon toward its mouth, blotting out the sky.
At the center of these magic circles, in the canyon's deepest darkness, the skeletal dragon known as Pound extended its neck, chanting its seventh-tier incantation.
Jet-black beams spewed from its maw, instantly reducing the canyon walls to nothingness.The air was filled with a captivating, nauseating scent of spiced wine, mingled with decay.
"Behold the angels of salvation, sent by the Holy Lord!""May the sacred light illuminate every inch of the earth, praising the Lord's mercy!""Seventh-tier magic: Judgment of the Holy Angel."
Golden beams of light poured down from the heavens, like radiant curtains descending from paradise.Within the light, ethereal silhouettes of angels flickered faintly.
In front of these angelic forms, a missionary in resplendent robes raised a golden staff, chanting with fervor.
"Wretched humans who worship the Goddess of Light! Do you dare face the wrath of the skeletal dragon Pound?"
The dragon flapped its enormous bone wings, sending gusts that lifted countless skeletons into the air. It paid them no mind and surged toward the missionary.
Lixuman, observing, could not fathom how Pound's skeletal, wind-torn wings could possibly propel such a massive frame.But in a world governed by magic, the laws of logic need not apply.
Pound hurtled toward the missionary, only to be intercepted midair.A figure clad in thick purple armor, holding a massive sword, blocked the skeletal dragon's furious advance.Though small and seemingly fragile before the giant dragon, the warrior stood unwavering—a high-level combatant of the warrior class.
Lixuman, a low-tier skeleton at this point, decided it was prudent not to meddle in this divine clash.His concern was simple: seize the opportunity to escape Pound's reach.
If Pound were to be vanquished by this alliance of missionary and warrior, all the better.
With Pound halted, other adventurers and soldiers poured into the canyon.Ranged mages stationed along the rim began chanting, launching spells toward the canyon floor.
The skeletons, spurred by the chaos, surged forward against the humans, shedding their usual sluggish demeanor.Even Lixuman felt the primal urge to strike down these intruders, an impulse he recognized as the dragon's influence.
Previously, he would have been powerless to resist, driven by Pound's will.Now, however, he could suppress the compulsion.
Still, to avoid drawing attention, he mingled among the low-tier skeletons, cackling and advancing toward the humans.
He had a singular purpose: to finish off wounded enemies.When humans severely injured skeletons, Lixuman would stealthily swoop in to deliver the killing blow.Conversely, when skeletons nearly killed a human, he would step in decisively, ensuring the final strike.
In short: finish the job.Always finish the job.
He pressed toward the battlefield's edge, watching his experience points climb.A crooked grin tugged at his jaw.This world, he thought, was far too generous to outsiders.
Lixuman continued to mask his true strength.Patience and timing.Until an opportune moment presented itself, there was no reason to reveal his full power.
In any field, if one cannot be the strongest, one must hide as the most elusive.On this battlefield, both friend and foe boasted countless threats far surpassing him.
As humans pushed forward, skeleton casualties mounted.
Succubi had by now reached the canyon's mouth, attacking the mages stationed there.The mages, forced to defend, could not unleash spells on the skeleton horde.
The skeletons seized the advantage, retaliating with sheer numbers.High-tier skeleton mages joined the fray, invoking necromancy.Fallen humans reanimated, striking back at their comrades.
Hidden priests emerged, chanting in unison:"Holy Goddess of Light, let your merciful radiance purify every blemish upon your divine lands!""First-tier spell: Mass Purification."
The chants resonated in unison, golden light bathing the battlefield.Clearly, the human forces had prepared thoroughly.
Within the sacred illumination, reanimated corpses hissed and smoked, collapsing once more.Even the skeletons began to falter under the divine radiance.
Irritation and unease coursed through Lixuman, yet he shook it off.Feigning weakness, he mirrored the listless movements of nearby skeletons.
"Patience… patience," he muttered.
Humans surged forward with confidence, weapons raised.Skeleton numbers and human momentum were evenly matched, the battle in stalemate once more.
Lixuman paid no heed to the broader conflict. He continued to feign illness, delivering finishing strikes while edging toward the battlefield's perimeter.
"Bones slumbering beneath the earth murmur low, and the darkness brews the sweetest calamity…"
A familiar voice echoed—Lucia's.She led a chorus of succubi in chant, purple-red magic circles spreading beneath their feet, rippling across the battlefield, affecting the skeletons.
The flames within skeletons' chests and eye sockets flared violently, their aura intensifying.The skeletons screeched and surged forward, thrilled, regaining momentum.
The advantage shifted toward the skeletons, and humans began to retreat.
Lixuman felt the fire of his soul surge, an irrepressible urge to leap upon a human and soak his bones in blood.Cursing himself, he doused his soul-fire with water magic to regain composure.
"Patience… patience."
He crept toward the edge, striking only at humans, avoiding attention from his mindless brethren.With such rebellious inclinations coursing through him, he had little choice but to act with cunning.