9. Battle at the City Center

Catherine and Thomas entered the mayor's mansion, the air inside heavy and suffused with an aura of death. A blinding green light emanated from the main hall at the end of the corridor, and their footsteps echoed on moss-covered, cracked floors. Sasha, trembling with fear, stayed behind, hiding behind a half-broken door.

As they stepped into the main hall, a figure clad in dark robes stood in the center. Its staff, adorned with a large, dark green gem, radiated an ominous glow. The figure turned its head, its glowing green eyes flickering with hatred.

"What is that?" muttered Catherine, narrowing her eyes. Around the figure, undead stood in orderly rows, including the mayor they had encountered earlier outside.

Navigator's voice rang in their minds. "That's a level-9 lich. Be cautious. This isn't just about strength—it's about strategy."

The lich let out a low chuckle, its deep voice reverberating. "Sasha is still alive, I see," it sneered. "The little girl who became an anomaly in my magic. This time, I'll make sure she dies."

Thomas stared directly at the lich. "Then you'll have to get through us first," he said firmly.

Catherine sighed, casting a sideways glance at Thomas. "Heroic lines. Lovely," she mocked, though her hands were already preparing to summon her magic. "Let's hope you can back that up with action."

Without warning, the lich raised its staff, and a wave of undead and skeletons surged toward them. Catherine immediately unleashed her poison magic, glowing green serpents darting toward the enemies. The undead disintegrated into ash upon contact, but their numbers kept growing.

Thomas, relying on his strategic instincts, worked to reposition them. "Catherine, we need to stop it from summoning more!" he called out, cutting down a skeleton with his sword.

"I know that!" Catherine snapped, frustrated. She tried to attack the lich directly, but every spell she cast was intercepted by newly summoned undead shields. 

The lich laughed lowly. "You'll never reach me. I am the architect of this city's death."

Thomas gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tighter. "Breaking through these shields is wasting time," he thought, scanning the lich's defensive formation for a weakness.

Catherine racked her brain for another plan. Her poison was effective against the undead, but the endless regeneration of the lich's forces was overwhelming. "Navigator, any advice?!" she yelled in her mind.

Navigator responded coolly, "Destroy its staff. That's the source of its power. But it won't let you get close easily."

Hearing this through Catherine, Thomas refocused his attacks. With swift movements, he skewered a skeleton blocking his path and tried to close in on the lich. But before he could reach it, the lich summoned a massive undead warrior wielding a greatsword, blocking his advance.

"Catherine, handle the big one!" Thomas shouted, stepping back to avoid the heavy sword swing.

Though reluctant, Catherine shifted her focus to the hulking undead. Her poison serpents coiled around its body, but each strike took time to bring the creature down.

The lich smirked and chanted another spell, summoning more skeletons that flanked Catherine. "Sasha is the symbol of my magic's failure. She must be eradicated, just like her family."

Thomas fought hard to maintain focus. "The staff... If I can destroy it…" He pressed forward toward the lich, ignoring the fatigue creeping into his body. Time was running out.

Catherine noticed Thomas's relentless effort and sighed internally. "If he fails, we're dead here," she thought, lifting her hands for another spell. "I hope you have a better plan, Hobbes."

The room was suffused with dark energy radiating from the lich's staff. Catherine and Thomas stood side by side, panting after dispatching the last wave of undead. The lich gazed at them with a menacing smile, as if mocking their efforts.

In their minds, Navigator's voice was firm. "I have a plan. Listen carefully: you'll only get one chance. If you fail, this quest ends, and you'll be trapped here forever. So don't mess up."

Thomas closed his eyes briefly, letting the weight of the statement sink in. The stakes were too high, but retreat wasn't an option. "Tell us the plan," he said curtly, his voice steady.

Catherine smirked lightly, brushing her disheveled hair back. "If this fails, Navigator, I'll make sure you're buried with me," she said, though her eyes betrayed no doubt. She was used to taking risks, though this one was monumental.

Navigator outlined the steps quickly, leveraging their abilities for a coordinated assault. Catherine unleashed poison waves to scatter the undead while Thomas defended her from incoming skeletons. "Remember, you must force the lich to exhaust its magical energy," Navigator emphasized urgently.

The battle resumed. Catherine unleashed a toxic wave that enveloped the undead before them, reducing them to ash. Thomas used every opportunity to cut down skeletons with precision. Yet, it felt like fighting a never-ending tide. For every undead they defeated, another rose to take its place.

The lich laughed, its voice echoing across the chamber. "Your efforts are in vain!" Raising its staff high, it prepared a new spell. "I am the ruler of this city, and you cannot stop me!"

Navigator's voice cut in sharply. "Catherine, now! Use your ultimate skill before it finishes the spell!"

Catherine clenched her teeth, lifting both hands as she chanted her spell. "Dance of the Serpent!" Her voice was sharp and resolute. A massive, glowing green serpent materialized behind her, writhing gracefully through the air. Its eyes gleamed with deadly intent.

Poison spread through the room like a dense fog, consuming everything in its path. Undead and skeletons touched by the venom disintegrated into ash one by one. Even the lich recoiled, dark scorch marks appearing on its body.

Thomas, standing beside Catherine, watched in awe mixed with tension. "So much power…" he thought, reminding himself not to underestimate his companion.

As the last of the undead crumbled to dust, the lich remained standing. Though heavily injured, it refused to relent. With the last of its energy, it cast another spell, summoning a fresh wave of skeletons that filled the chamber.

Navigator's voice returned, less calm this time. "It's not over. The lich knows it's on the verge of defeat and is going all out. This is the critical moment. Wait for it to cast its final spell!"

Catherine and Thomas exchanged glances. "This is far harder than I imagined," muttered Catherine, her hands trembling after unleashing her ultimate skill. The poison from Dance of the Serpent lingered, but it wasn't fast enough to stop the new onslaught.

"We can't back down now," Thomas replied firmly, gripping his sword tighter. Stepping forward, he stared at the lich with blazing determination. "If it's still standing, we'll force it to fall." 

The lich raised its staff, dark energy swirling from its tip like a violent storm. "You think you can stop me?" it roared, its voice echoing with the resonance of death. New undead began emerging from the floor, their bones clattering as they formed complete, sinister shapes.

"Thomas, use your skill now!" the navigator's voice echoed in his mind. Without hesitation, Thomas stepped back, retreating from the frontline where Catherine still stood firm. Raising his hand, he summoned a rare power he seldom utilized. 

"Social Contract," Thomas muttered. A bluish-green aura emanated from him, spreading like rippling waves of water and enveloping Catherine. It felt like a surge of renewed energy coursing through her, though it left Thomas himself visibly weakened in exchange.

Catherine glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, smirking faintly. "If this fails, you realize we're finished, right?" she said, half-mocking, though her tone carried no trace of doubt. Raising her hand, she pointed directly at the lich, which was in the middle of casting its spell. "Court Intrigue."

Her aura shifted dramatically. Waves of illusion spilled from her body, engulfing the room. Dim light cloaked the undead before them. Their faces remained as lifeless as ever, but their movements grew erratic, as if guided by a different force.

The lich staggered, its staff wavering. "What is this?!" it shouted, its confident tone replaced by alarm. It tried to command the undead to attack, but none obeyed. Instead, they turned on it, lunging with ferocity.

"Impossible…!" The lich stumbled backward, its staff flashing in an attempt to regain control. Yet the undead pressed on, their claws tearing through its tattered robes.

Thomas steadied himself, catching his breath. "Your illusion is working," he remarked, stepping forward with his sword raised high. "It's losing control."

Catherine wiped the sweat from her brow, her face pale. "Not bad teamwork, I'll admit. But don't waste this chance. Finish it before I collapse."

Without a word, Thomas nodded. He understood this was their final opportunity. His steps were deliberate as he advanced toward the lich, which was still struggling amidst the horde of undead it could no longer control.

The lich turned to face him, its glowing red eyes flaring with hatred. "You don't understand… You're just puppets of greater forces! I will—"

Its tirade was cut short as Thomas's sword sliced cleanly through its neck. The red light in its eyes extinguished instantly, and its body crumbled into ash, dispersing into the air like dark, malevolent dust. A final, hate-filled scream escaped its decayed lips, brimming with curses and venom.

Catherine collapsed to her knees, her body trembling after expending every ounce of energy she had. She stared coldly at the pile of ash left behind. "Puppets, huh? How ironic coming from you."

The navigator's voice echoed in their minds. "Well done. The lich is defeated. Now, let's see what the quest's core has in store."

Thomas sheathed his sword, his breaths still heavy. Walking over to Catherine, he extended a hand to help her up. "One step closer to stability," he murmured, almost to himself.

Catherine gave him a mocking look but took his hand. "Stability? In a world like this? You're far too optimistic, Hobbes."

In the tense silence, a system screen suddenly appeared before them, its glowing text catching their attention: 

[Congratulations, Hidden Quest "Dungeon of Lilac City" Completed.]

Moments later, another screen followed, displaying a lavish list of rewards: 

[Rewards: Base Gold x5000, Moondrops x500, Storybook of Heroes x100, Cursed Bones x108, Staff of Awaken (SR) x1.]

Thomas raised an eyebrow at the screen. "Navigator, you sound pleased," he said, noting the faint hum of satisfaction in his mind.

"Of course," the navigator replied cheerfully. "Rewards like these are a rare find, even for elite players. The best part? It's all thanks to your strategy. Both entertaining and rewarding."

Catherine rolled her eyes and brushed her hair aside. "Your satisfaction doesn't make any of this easier, Navigator," she said sharply, though her gaze lingered on the glowing reward screen, fully aware of its value.

Behind them, Sasha stood still, her tearful eyes fixed on the ruins of Lilac City. Ash swirled in the air, painting a grim scene. Once-grand homes now lay in ruins, and the streets that had once been lively were eerily silent. 

"This… this was a market," Sasha whispered, her voice trembling. "There was laughter, chatter, and the smell of food… Now it's all gone." Tears began streaming silently down her face.

Thomas nodded. "Alright, let's get out of here," he said, signaling to Catherine.

As they stepped out of the mayor's house, they were greeted by the sight of a city stripped of life. Ash from the defeated undead blanketed the streets like gray snow. Sasha surveyed the surroundings, her body trembling.

"Once… this was home," she murmured, her voice laced with longing. "It's all… gone."

Catherine stood beside her, her sharp gaze softening slightly. "Grieving won't bring back what's lost, Sasha," she said flatly. "But if you want to move forward, this is your chance to start anew."

Thomas, a few steps behind, surveyed the streets with a serious expression. "What's our next move?" 

The navigator paused before speaking in a mysterious tone. "Have you ever explored the hidden potential of Astral Points? Most wealthy players overlook it."

Catherine narrowed her eyes. "Don't waste time. Explain."

A new system screen appeared before them, displaying a fresh message: 

[A unit may be recruited. Resolve their dilemma and gain their approval to recruit them.]

Catherine's eyes narrowed further. "Sasha," she muttered, immediately understanding the message's intent.

Thomas stepped forward, addressing Sasha directly. "Sasha, do you want to join us?" he asked bluntly.

Sasha hesitated, biting her lip. "I… I don't know. I just need to check something first," she replied softly, her gaze fixed on her house at the end of the street.

"Alright," Thomas said, nodding. "We'll go with you."

The three of them walked toward Sasha's modest home. The door was barely hanging on its hinges, but Sasha opened it carefully. Inside, silence enveloped them. Dusty, broken furniture lay scattered, a stark reminder of how long the house had been abandoned.

Sasha moved slowly through the room, her eyes scanning the remnants of a life she once knew. She stopped in a corner and picked up a photograph. The simple wooden frame held a picture of her family, all smiling happily. Tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto the glass.

"There's nothing left here," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

The navigator's voice cut through the silence in Thomas's mind. "Gather supplies from the city. Leave nothing useful behind."

Thomas gave a curt nod and walked away, leaving Catherine and Sasha inside the house.

Catherine, rarely one to show empathy, stepped closer to Sasha. "If you stay here, you won't survive. The world out there is harsh, but it's a chance to live. Come with us," she said.

Sasha looked at Catherine, doubt evident in her expression. But after a moment, she nodded slowly. "Alright… I'll come."

A new system screen appeared in front of Catherine and Sasha: 

[Unit "Sasha Nilmero (N)" successfully recruited.]

Catherine gave a faint smile, her icy demeanor unchanged. "Good. You won't regret it."

***

Skill Details:

Thomas Hobbes "Monster of Malmesbury"

Active Skill 2 – Social Contract

Description: Hobbes forms a "social contract" with his allies, sacrificing himself for mutual benefit.

Effect: Forms a pact with a chosen ally, boosting that ally's attack or skill effects by 20% for 10 seconds. However, Hobbes loses 10% of his HP for each attack the ally receives during this period.

---

Catherine de Medici "Serpent Queen"

Active Skill 1 – Court Intrigue

Description: Catherine releases an aura of illusion, causing enemies to perceive allies as threats.

Effect: Forces a chosen enemy to attack the nearest ally. If no allies are present, the enemy will harm itself. If multiple enemies near Catherine are of a lower level than her, those enemies will attack their own allies.

Ultimate Skill – Dance of the Serpent 

Description: Catherine summons a mystical serpent that spreads magical venom to all enemies.

Effect: All enemies are inflicted with the "Curse of Venom" debuff, reducing their attack, defense, and HP by 10% per second for 8 seconds. Affected enemies also lose a 50% chance to land normal attacks accurately.