Chapter 806
Ancient Undead.
Commonly called the Snake Princess, Lamia.
One of the core Ancient Undead of the 5th Legion, she commands the Dead Naga, the backbone of the Legion’s naval power.
She served Magnus with utmost devotion, acting as his strategist within the Legion.
If Magnus often displayed abnormal and radical movements, Lamia’s role was to refine and process them into realistic means. It was also well-known that Magnus cherished her greatly.
But now—
“Lamia in this cave? Alone, without Magnus or any other Ancient Undead?”
The stench of a trap was overwhelming, but it was not something they could ignore.
Simon took the lead, walking through the undersea cave, while the other Ancient Undead of the 7th Legion followed behind him.
The cave stretched endlessly. The floor was damp with seawater, and from time to time, a deep humming sound echoed. Just imagining that the walls might collapse and let the ocean flood in was enough to make one’s spine shiver.
[Still nothing suspicious outside.]
Erzebet plucked a strand of spiderweb with her fingertip. This thread extended all the way to the cave entrance, alerting her immediately should anything happen.
“Keep checking the outside from time to time. If anything happens, report right away.”
[Yes, Milord!]
The deeper they went, the wider the cave became rather than narrowing.
Tension mounted with every step.
What kind of battle awaited them ahead? Both hands clutching the Greatsword of Destruction and Herseba were slick with sweat.
[Milord, we have arrived.]
Akemius, who read the flow of the air, spoke.
Sure enough, after walking a little farther, the path opened into a vast chamber.
The floor was covered in pools of water, the rocks draped with moss, and strange seaweeds swayed gently.
It felt like entering an undersea kingdom.
This was clearly the final chamber of the undersea cave. Simon slid down a slope with both feet to enter.
[Simon! Look there!]
Prince, who was coming down with him, pointed straight ahead.
At a distance, atop a rock that resembled a naturally formed throne of seaweed, sat a small figure.
A Dead Naga. But its body was strangely small.
“An undead infant Naga?”
[Be careful, boy! That’s no ordinary Dead Naga!]
Feer shouted.
[That one is an Ancient Undead!]
“What?”
Woooong!
Sensing intruders, the small Dead Naga floated into the air. It wasn’t exactly flying, more like drifting weightlessly in water.
Its eyes rolled back, whites exposed.
The moment its tiny fern-like hands pointed downward, Simon felt chills crawl across his back.
Krrrrrrr-rumble!
A furious roar erupted as a sapphire-blue lightning-like torrent crashed down. Simon and the 7th Legion generals leapt aside in unison.
“What the hell—?”
Turning back, Simon saw a gaping hole carved into the ground where it landed, now filling with water. Instead of sparks, droplets exploded violently, tearing down sections of wall and floor.
“Lightning made of water?”
Simon braced himself, spreading his legs.
[Keh-heh! Even my eyes struggle to believe it, but…]
Feer’s voice trembled.
[From that Ancient Undead, I sense the aura of the Snake Princess Lamia I once saw long ago!]
“What?!”
Simon’s brow furrowed.
“Wait, Feer! You’re telling me that Dead Naga is Lamia of the 5th Legion? I heard she was far bigger than that!”
[That’s not the only strange thing. From her attacks just now, I couldn’t sense Magnus’ Darkness, nor even the Legion’s Darkness.]
Confusion flooded Simon’s mind.
Only Lamia, the Snake Princess of the 5th Legion, could command such a special undead as the Dead Naga. That was why he came all the way here.
But now she appeared in a regressed, childlike form—without even being of the 5th Legion?
If Feer was right, why had Lamia’s contract with Magnus been severed?
Why had she reverted to such a form and hidden herself in this undersea cave?
[We can’t answer that yet. We’ll have to capture her and find out, boy!]
“Agreed.”
Simon steadied himself and heightened his focus.
Woooooong!
The Ancient Undead waved its tiny hands again. Torrents of water thundered down, dozens upon dozens, blasting the entire chamber. Simon reinforced Feer’s Bone Armor, leapt at high speed, and barely dodged the bombardment.
Ssssss—! Ssssss—!
From the fissures in the rock walls, countless more Dead Naga swarmed out, bolstering the defense against the intruders.
[Simon! What now?!]
Prince dashed along the wall, narrowly evading the rain of torrents.
“What else?”
Simon floated Herseba into the air, gripping the Greatsword of Destruction with both hands.
“We fight! But that one must be captured alive.”
* * *
The battle had begun.
The Ancient Undead—presumably Lamia—fully exploited the home-field advantage.
She endlessly summoned Dead Naga soldiers from cracks and tunnels, while herself unleashing relentless area attacks.
Krrrrrrr!
Krrrrrrrrr!
“Ugh!”
Two torrents shot at Simon as he attempted a stealthy approach. He barely blocked with the Greatsword of Destruction but was blasted backward.
[Careful, boy! A direct hit would tear you apart!]
“Yes, sir!”
But capture was the mission. He couldn’t recklessly slash with Ruinous Strikes or tear open space.
Then came the real problem.
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Lamia went berserk.
A sphere of Darkness formed before the small Ancient Undead’s forehead, from which torrents spewed like mad.
Uncontrolled bombardment ravaged the chamber, striking allies and enemies alike, even smashing walls and ceiling.
Krrrrrrrrrr!
The already fragile undersea cave shook violently, boulders crashing from the ceiling.
[Brat! Now I see!]
Herseba raised a golden barrier overhead and shouted.
[They lured us into this cave to collapse it entirely, crushing us in one blow—surely that’s Magnus’ plan?]
Simon shook his head, panting.
“No, I don’t think so.”
Magnus’ motive toward Simon wasn’t hatred but greed. His goal was to steal the 7th Legion’s Ancient Undead from Simon. If he collapsed the cave entirely, he’d lose his precious subordinates and forfeit his prize.
“Either way, we don’t have time.”
At this rate, the undersea cave wouldn’t hold out. Simon turned back.
“We’ll have to force our way through and capture her. Akemius!”
[As Milord commands.]
Flutter!
Akemius unfurled two additional pairs of wings, wrapping them around his body. His torso writhed as transformation began.
Kiiiiiiiiiiieeeek—!
The screech of a monstrous bird rang out. Ominous Darkness poured from his body, threatening to engulf the cave itself.
Still wrapped in his wings, Akemius shot forward like a bolt of light, aimed at Lamia.
Krrrrr-rumble!
Lamia countered with torrents of water. Countless streams hammered down on Akemius, but he forced through with sheer strength and endurance.
Kwarrrrrrr!
Only when Lamia doubled the number of water strikes in a frenzy did she finally halt Akemius’ charge.
The clash became a deadlock, torrents and wings pushing and shoving without yielding.
[Well done, Akemius!]
Prince, who had been riding on Akemius’ back, slipped out to the side and swung his fist.
[Hidden Card Punch!]
Shockwaves burst from his fist, and for the first time Lamia cast a defensive spell—raising a wall of water before her.
[That’s the opening.]
It was all they needed.
Spiderwebs coiled around Lamia’s short arms, yanking her forcibly backward. Erzebet, who had circled behind, flicked her hands.
[One brat causing us so much trouble…]
Thud!
Lamia’s body struck the wall—yet instead of stone, it melted into a golden surface. Chains of gold clamped onto her arms and torso, binding her in shining shackles.
Herseba shouted:
[Now, boy!]
At last, Simon charged. Cutting through the last desperate torrents with the Greatsword of Destruction, he reached her and pressed his hand against the Core embedded in Lamia’s chest.
“I don’t know what’s going on—!”
Wooooooong!
Simon shut his eyes and poured all his focus in.
“But if I want to stop you, this is the only way!”
His Darkness pierced into Lamia’s Core.
Feer had said earlier there was no trace of the 5th Legion’s Darkness, and it was true. If she were still an Ancient Undead bound to Magnus, a rejection should have surged against him. But nothing came.
“Kh…!”
[Kiiiieeeeek!]
Lamia’s frenzy only grew worse.
The Ancient Undead rallied around Simon. Feer and Akemius shielded him with their bodies, taking the torrents in his stead, while Herseba raised golden walls to block falling debris.
Dead Naga swarmed to protect their general, but Erzebet’s webs held them back, and Prince’s fists sent them flying.
Time stretched like eternity as minutes crawled past.
“Haaah—! Hhhk!”
Sweat poured from Simon like a flood as he sank to one knee. He had wrung out too much Darkness; his body had no strength left, and his vision went yellow.
Fortunately, Lamia’s state gradually stabilized. The furious torrents ceased. She floated quietly now.
“D… Did it work?”
Simon raised his head.
The eyes that had turned pitch-black in her frenzy now shifted to a bluish hue. She blinked innocently.
Shrrrk—
Then the golden seal faded, her shackles dissipating. Erzebet gasped and tried to rebind her with webs, but Simon raised a hand to stop her.
Float—float—
Lamia drifted like a child in seawater, wobbling toward Simon—then slapped herself against his face.
And then—
Slurp, slurp.
She began licking his cheeks with her tongue. Soon she rubbed her face against his, showing affection. The watching Ancient Undead all wore dumbfounded expressions.
Then—
Thump!
Thud!
The Dead Naga soldiers dropped their weapons all at once, bowing their bodies low in submission before Simon.
Simon gently took Lamia in both hands and looked straight at her.
—Kkiyung?
She tilted her head.
From her flowed a deep, dark-blue magic. An unfamiliar Undead… but within it pulsed a very familiar Darkness.
It was unmistakably Simon’s own Darkness.
“C-could it really be this…”
Simon muttered in a voice drained of strength.
“…easy to obtain?”
When he came back to his senses—
A new Ancient Undead rested in his hands.
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