44 Crypt

Jim: "What can you tell us about the crypt?"

Talia: "Valask was a Human nobleman 2,000 years ago, he was renowned for freeing Elves from slavery back in those days. After he passed, we built a large crypt in honor of his heroism. The strange thing is, the crypt was only symbolic, we never stored any bodies within. Valask's body rests halfway across the continent to the west."

'Undead coming from a crypt that never had corpses? The hell is that?'

Jim: "Well, would you lead the way? I'd like to examine the site."

While following Talia's lead, Jim scanned the city. 'Found it', the Elven Library had an extensive section on magic, most of it overlapped with what he was seen in the human cities. 'Wind Magic, Barrier Magic, Healing Magic, even a new Space Magic spell, this is great!'

Jim controlled himself from humming due to his great mood. He began studying the circles of the new spells while heading to the north. The atmosphere here was far different from the rest of the city, there were less people around, those he spotted were skittish and fearful.

When the crypt was in sight, Jim spotted three human skeletons walking out of the entrance. Tired Elven soldiers moved themselves to intercept, the stress of constant awareness and fighting was taking a toll on them.

Talia: "It's been two weeks since skeletons started emerging. We sent in investigation teams with copies of the crypt blueprints, nobody returned. We can continue holding them back using shifts of soldiers if the number stays at this rate, but it's hard to tell if the problem will increase as we don't know the source."

Jim: "Yeah, this is a big problem." Jim's detection searched the crypt, nothing living inside. There were thousands of undead bunched together inside. If the few coming out at a time were tiny leaks, a few dozen tired soldiers won't be able to hold out when the dam breaks.

A single skeleton wandered out.

Jim: "Let us handle this one. Alright, Celes, it's time for combat practice."

Celes: "Huh? You want me to fight that?"

Talia: "You can't be serious!"

Jim: "Don't worry, you're strong enough. Now, Focus. Approach your opponent. Monitor its movements, wait for it to strike. There, dodge. Think of how it can move afterwards, find the opening. Now, Strike!"

Celes' Fist slammed into the skeleton's ribcage, it shattered and the rest fell to the ground uselessly.

Celes: "I did it!"

Jim: "Mm, good job."

Talia: "Celes, you learned how to fight?"

Celes: "Mhm! Teacher is amazing!"

Jim: "Alright, I'm heading inside. You stay out here and help take care of the ones that wander out, fall back if it gets dangerous."

Celes: "Yes, teacher!"

Talia: "W-wait! You're going in alone?"

Jim didn't say anything, he cast one of the new spells learned from the Elven Library, Tangle Barrier. Large vines sprouted from the ground and slowly swayed, like snakes waiting in ambush to grab any hostiles that got too close. 'Mm, this could be rather useful.'

Talia: "What!? Isn't that Tangle Barrier? It's an Elf-exclusive spell, how did he learn it?"

Celes: "Like I said, teacher is amazing!"

Jim had already entered the crypt, using Detection to map it out. He started moving towards the most suspicious point. Zombie Rats, Monsters, Other Wildlife. Loads of Skeletons. Most of them were uselessly weak, but they had numbers on their side. During the time Jim was moving through the crypt, another dozen or so skeletons showed up in Detection.

Ambushes and traps were set up along the way, at an intersection Jim found over a hundred skeletons close in from all directions. 'Guess that's how the investigation team met their end. These mindless drones are too organized.' Firing a barrage of Light Arrows made quick work of the crowd.

A pitfall suddenly opened under his feet, Jim had found it ahead of time and jumped away with Wind Warrior Footwork. 'Doesn't look like part of the original architecture. It was remote activated, that confirms I'm being watched.'

He headed to the spacious room they were appearing at. It seems to be the main chamber where Valask would be entombed should this have not been symbolic. Entering, Jim saw a skeleton rise out of the floor. It didn't dig its way out, the bones literally formed and attached together before standing up and beginning to walk around.

Nearby were about 30 disfigured Elven corpses, a man was hunched over them trying to switch parts together. Turning around, the man was revealed to have no flesh on his face, tiny red flames were glowing in his otherwise empty eyesockets.

[Incomplete Lich]

[Level: 21]

[HP: ???]

[MP: ???]

[Strength: 100]

[Dexterity: 120]

[Vitality: 92]

[Agility: 100]

[Magic: 2,512]

[Status: Missing Phylactery, Crippled Mind, Dim Soul Flame]

'What the heck appraisal? It isn't that strong, can't you show me all his stats?'

Jim: "So? Anything to say for yourself?"

Lich: "All must die!"

Jim: "A real poet, huh?"

A pale green mist emanated from the Lich's hands. Jim hesitated for a moment before purposefully letting it touch his left hand. The decaying effect wasn't nearly as bad as the heart demons, channeling Reiki with the occasional Minor Heal allowed him to easily withstand it. 'Are you really not going to try anything else?'

[Death Resistance Level Max]

Jim just stood there taking the attack for over an hour, finally complete, Jim felt more confident in entering the Illusion Barrier again. "As thanks for the help, I'll make your end swift."

Jumping above the Lich, he slammed his light-covered fist down, crushing the Lich instantly.

[Lower Light Fist Level Max]

[Lower Light Fist Derivation Skill - Great Light Fist Obtained]

'Really anti-climactic, huh...' Jim headed over to the Lich's belongings, there were several books on Necromancy there. 'Hm...Create Skeleton, Raise Zombie, Energy Drain, Death Cloud, Nothing from other magic schools?' Jim wasn't sure if he wanted to actually practice Necromancy. He had frequently heard of people going insane or suffering from bad health after practicing it in fantasy literature. It seemed like something that shouldn't be used in public in the first place.

It didn't stop him from studying the circles though, he needed more knowledge if he wanted his research to actually go anywhere. Storing the books in his inventory, he began the boring work of hunting down the remaining Undead and marking all the set traps. While doing so, he browsed the shop.

Jim's thoughts were proven correct, maxing a Magic Attribute's skill level drastically reduced the price of the corresponding Aptitude in the shop. He purchased Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind Aptitudes for 200 each, with Ice, Lightning, Light, and Dark for 500 each. It had helped with casting speed and ease of use for Lifestyle Magic, he felt they were points well spent.

Heading outside, Jim informed everyone of what he encountered in the crypt, he left the soldiers to retrieve the bodies later. 'Sigh...Fantasy worlds have such weird problems crop up.'