Chapter 44

Lalitha silently cast an incantation to protect both herself and Astaroth. As Astaroth continued to keep a watchful eye on the men opposite them, Lalitha noticed that the merchant sat a little distance away from the adventurers, appearing visibly fatigued. Despite the sensation of being observed, there was no immediate attack or threat.

However, the unnerving feeling persisted, causing a shiver to run down Lalitha's spine. She couldn't shake off the eerie sense that they were walking into a trap. Astaroth's expression remained stoic, but Lalitha knew they had to proceed with caution.

"Something doesn't feel right," she whispered to Astaroth, her voice barely audible amidst the clamor of the bustling market. "We must stay vigilant."

Astaroth nodded in agreement, his gaze never leaving the suspicious group of men. "We can't let our guard down. There's more to this than meets the eye."

As they continued their observation, Lalitha's senses heightened. She detected a faint rustling sound from the shadows behind them. The presence she had sensed earlier was drawing closer, concealed within the darkness. She couldn't discern its intentions, but she knew they were being closely monitored. Suddenly, Astaroth grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. The next moment, a large fireball hit the ground where Lalitha was previously sitting.

The deafening sound and the visual impact shook everyone in the surroundings. The group of adventurers swiftly jumped to their feet, weapons tightly gripped in their hands. Astaroth summoned his pitch-black sword, its ominous aura emanating through the air. Lalitha, hiding her true sorceress abilities, positioned herself behind him, her bow ready to strike.

The fiery explosion had drawn attention to their location. The flickering light revealed glimpses of their assailant—a tall figure clad in dark robes, face shrouded in shadows. The mysterious figure stepped forward, revealing a sinister grin. It was apparent that their presence had been anticipated, and this encounter was far from a chance occurrence.

Astaroth tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes fixed on the approaching figure. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with an undercurrent of danger.

The figure chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Names are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things," it replied, its voice dripping with malice. "But you may refer to me as Zephyrus, the harbinger of chaos."

The adventurers behind Astaroth gasp and even Lalitha shook a little, the name Zephyrus is famous in the land of Arcania. Lalitha's heart raced. She had heard tales of Zephyrus—a rouge evil sorcerer who had delved deep into forbidden magics. His lust for power knew no bounds, and he reveled in chaos and destruction. He was active in the area in between Yosnad and Sanctavia targeting travellers to use for his unspeaking experiments.

Zephyrus raised his hand, and from the shadows emerged a horde of grotesque creatures, their forms twisted and contorted. They advanced towards the adventurers, emanating a menacing aura. Marcus shouted from behind Astaroth, "Protect our employer first! Form a circle to defend against the undead." Astaroth frowned at the grotesque sight before him: dead creatures that had decayed but were now animated as if they were alive. He sighed and swung his sword at the horde, causing the zombies struck by his blade to fly apart, rendering them immobile.

As the circle of adventurers tightened their defenses, the undead horde pressed against their line. Each swing of Astaroth's sword sent severed limbs and shattered bodies flying, but more creatures seemed to rise from the darkness to take their place. The battle raged on, the adventurers fighting tooth and nail to protect their employer from the relentless assault.

Amidst the chaos, Zephyrus stood at a safe distance, a wicked smile etched across his face. His dark eyes glinted with malevolence as he reveled in the terror he had unleashed. The grotesque creatures were a testament to his dark powers, a manifestation of his control over life and death. Zephyrus had long sought to gain dominion over the mortal realm, and he relished the opportunity to strike fear into the hearts of those who dared oppose him.

As the battle wore on, the adventurers began to feel the weight of fatigue settle upon them. Their muscles ached, their breaths came in ragged gasps, and the wounds they sustained were beginning to take their toll. Lalitha could no longer stand the pace of the battle, she threw away her bow and start her incantation, and vines sprout out from the ground and bind all the creatures surrounding them.

Astaroth took the opportunity to cut down the creatures and then jump up swing his sword towards Zephyrus. Zephyrus, sensing the imminent threat, summoned a gust of wind to deflect Astaroth's sword swing. The force of the magical wind sent Astaroth sprawling backward, momentarily stunned. Zephyrus seized the moment to counterattack, his eyes glowing with malevolence as he conjured a ball of searing flames in his hand. He launched the fiery projectile toward Astaroth, intent on obliterating his foe.

But Lalitha, regaining her composure, quickly assessed the situation. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a shield of shimmering ice, interposing it between Astaroth and the incoming inferno. The fireball collided with the icy barrier, causing a burst of steam and an explosion of shards that showered the area.

The adventurers, momentarily shielded from harm, used this respite to regain their footing. Lalitha's magic had bought them precious time, but they knew they needed to devise a strategy to overcome Zephyrus's formidable powers. They gathered in a huddle, their faces etched with determination and concern.

"We can't allow Zephyrus to continue dictating the flow of this battle," Astaroth declared, his voice resonating with unwavering resolve. "We need to find a weakness, a vulnerability we can exploit." Lalitha looked at her master, and she could see that he was enjoying himself in this battle. He could have vaporized Zephyrus with a flick of his finger, but Astaroth chose to suppress his powers and play a lesser role.

Zephyrus grew increasingly impatient. He had anticipated the swift demise of the group of adventurers, but to his dismay, his minions were being mercilessly slain one by one. The female archer, in particular, had discarded her bow and unleashed a flurry of spells with the finesse of a seasoned sorceress. A shiver crawled up Zephyrus' spine as he observed the chilling smile etched upon the face of the warrior who single-handedly eradicated his creatures with a black sword. It was as if the roles had reversed, and the warrior had become the hunter, stalking his prey with meticulous precision.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Astaroth, called out to Zephyrus with unyielding bravado. "Show me your best, lich! I shall crush you before you even have the chance to unleash it. HAHAHA!" Astaroth closed in on Zephyrus, his sword poised for a deadly strike.

Zephyrus, his anger boiling, retorted with disdain, "Impudent fool! You have no inkling of the extent of my powers. Do not delude yourself into thinking that by slaying my minions, you have achieved victory. Witness this!" With a thunderous roar, Zephyrus expelled a cloud of malevolent green mist from his gaping maw, directing it towards the advancing Astaroth.

The noxious mist billowed forward, enveloping the air around Astaroth like a suffocating embrace. A moment of hesitation flashed across Astaroth's face as he realized the danger he has put him and Lalitha in. Instinctively, he raised his sword, its black blade gleaming with a sinister aura, to shield himself from the encroaching toxic fog.

As the mist swirled and eddied, Marcus who was near Astaoth felt an intense burning sensation searing through his armor, seeping into his very being. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, refusing to succumb to the agony that threatened to consume him. With every fiber of his being, he mustered his strength and pushed forward, determined to break through the suffocating grip of Zephyrus' deadly mist.

As Astaroth's blade cleaved through the air, aiming for Zephyrus' spectral form, the lich unleashed an arcane shield, blocking the warrior's strike with a resounding clash. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the earth beneath them. Astaroth, undeterred, pressed on, his eyes blazing with an unwavering determination.

Zephyrus, realizing the magnitude of the threat before him, summoned forth a legion of ethereal beings to bolster his dwindling forces. Ghostly apparitions materialized, their hollow eyes fixed upon the adventurers, their spectral forms oozing with a chilling aura.

The sorceress, her magical prowess unyielding, directed her focus towards the spectral horde. She conjured a tempest of swirling winds, tearing through the ranks of Zephyrus' minions, dissipating them with gusts of otherworldly force. Her spells crackled and thundered, illuminating the battlefield with an eerie glow.

Amidst the chaos, Astaroth's blade found its mark. With a mighty swing, he struck at Zephyrus, his sword slicing through the lich's spectral form. A baleful wail echoed through the air as Zephyrus recoiled, his essence flickering with the faintest hint of vulnerability.

Sensing an opportunity, the adventurers rallied their strength. They unleashed a combined assault, their attacks converging upon Zephyrus with relentless precision. Spells collided with spectral beings, arrows pierced through ethereal bodies, and Astaroth's sword cleaved through the darkness itself. The lich let out a haunting scream that reverberated through the very fabric of the realm, dissolving into an ethereal mist that dissipated into nothingness.