The lich

'Where is the lich? I can't see it anywhere.' Aster calmly thought as he observed the incoming tide of skeletons.

'Of course, I can't see it, it is a skeleton just like the rest. It has to come within the range of my skill to be detected.'

"You know, hiding between your troops is a cowardly thing to do." Aster said to no one in particular.

'Or was this how necromancers usually fought? Overwhelming their enemies with an absurd amount of tireless, undead minions?

Well, skeletons don't usually have muscles so they are physically weak. Now I'm sure it won't pick up a pair of daggers and charge straight at me.

I think I read too many novels back then. I should have spent my time sleeping instead of wasting it behind the screen.'

[[Gale cutter] has been activated]

Aster faced the monster tide with dozens of wind disks and slashes.

Their fragile bones gave little to no resistance to being slashed to pieces.

Like a lawn being mowed, the skeletons started dropping before they could reach him.

'There is a solid thousand undead troops. This lich must be pretty good.'

'All I have to do is to continue mowing down the canon fodder until it reveals itself.

Come to think of it, isn't this something called a heaven-sent opportunity?

If I can kill the lich… and it drops a skill tablet…

Wouldn't that mean I can get the necromancer class right now?'

'Now I'm motivated!'

With one [Magic aura net], he harvested a great deal of mana and replenished his supply.

Then with that mana, he created even more wind disks to hasten the process.

Hundreds of skeletons fell one after another.

'I don't want to use any flamboyant magic for sure. Might attract unwanted attention.

Although it might be too late for that.'

He started to plan out what he might do if he got the necromancer class but a venomous doubt of worry plagued his mind.

'I don't know how I get skill tablets.'

Well, he knew that he got the skill tablets by killing. The question was, how and why does a skill tablet drop?

Aster's recent massacre consisting of a thousand death row criminals did not grant him any skill tablets yet he got a few from Mars the bloodhound gang leader.

'Exactly how does that work?

I got a soul tablet from a succubus so I know can acquire soul tablets from monsters.

Taking certain stuff into account, it is safe to say an awakened ranking monsters can drop a soul tablet.

I can safely assume that I don't get soul tablets from standard monsters as most of the time, the skills they have are related to their natural affinity and body parts.

However, awakened monsters can obtain a class and I'm sure the Lich has the necromancer class.

In that case, I should be able to obtain it, right?'

As if right on cue, a massive bundle of mana was detected on his [Magic aura sense] radar.

A bundle of mana and miasma approached him fast and steadily 

At this point, about a thousand skeletons fell for the noble cause of their lord's quest for the perfect undead.

And the Lich's wrath was increased proportionally with that amount of casualty numbers.

If one could even call mindless skeletons casualty in the first place.

Aster felt a piercing gaze directed at him and he returned the favor.

On top of the very same hill the skeletons came from, which has grown due to the added bones, a lone tall figure stood amidst its servants.

The lich was 2 and a half meters tall and wearing nothing but dirty rags which was still an improvement from the naked skeletons it surrounded itself with.

In terms of looks, it was not much different except for a sinister green flame burning within its dark eyesockets and a mark of twin scythes crossing each other on its forehead.

Its hands were a bit pointed and sharp, like claws.

This epic stare-off lasted a full 3 seconds while both parties evaluated each other's strength.

'As expected, low strength, agility, and vitality in favor of shit ton of energy. Its natural defense is sort of low too but the intelligence and mana are obviously higher.

It also has an extra attribute called [Decay] and it acts like a bar like health points, mana points, etc. It is quite low, didn't expect that.

Natural defenses include immunity to toxins, bleeding, and piercing attacks but weak to blunt attacks.

Trait:[Rigid bones]

[Description: Immunity towards toxins, bleeding, piercing attacks, and 50% resistance against slashing attacks but take 200% more damage from blunt attacks]

'That means I can just beat you to death, good to know.'

'But that skill of it worries me the most besides its necromancy.'

Active skill: [Arrow of Thanatos]

[Description: Fabricates an arrow fashioned from the essence of death itself and launches it with moderate speed. Ignores defense and inflicts the status effect; decay of death upon impact. Damage= base damage: 5,000 + 5 damage for every intelligence point] 

[Mana cost: 1,000]

[Decay cost: 1]

'The lich has about 400 Intelligence so it will one-shot me if I'm not careful. I should investigate what decay is though'

Attribute: [Decay]

[Description: An undead is a mockery of the gods and the bane of life. For every second of its unnatural existence, an undead will harvest decay from death itself. Not all undead can utilize decay but those who can are an abomination that must be killed on sight]

'Damn, sounds strong not gonna lie.

If this is the same stuff that I have then it might be a problem. The lich has currently only one point of decay so that means it has only one shot.

The rest of it's skill set is not a problem on its own but again, this is a lich. Those guys are supposed to be cruel and cunning as hell. I need to be extra careful now that I know it's trump card now.

On second thought, necromancy isn't that important anymore. I want that skill, I NEED that skill.'

Burning with motivation, Aster prepared to face the aspiring lord of the dead.