"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.

"You've already asked one," Nag said.

G.o.d I hated when people do that. Do they think they're smart for figuring that out? I kept my mouth shut and followed the prophet through the narrow tunnels. I wouldn't let him vent his anger at me, with his witty remarks.

We walked in silence for a short while. The tunnels we walked through looked like they could collapse any second. Nag shot me a sideway glance, let out a heavy sigh then spoke. "Ask away."

"How did you defeat those undead with your sword?" That question kept nagging at me. I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer. I was glad the prophet had finally come to his senses.

"We imbue our swords with magic," the prophet said. "Not everybody can do it, but we had a smith who produced such weapons, a long time ago. We fight with the weapons that remained from that era. They're considered national treasures. Only the best warriors get to wield them."

"Where did the smith go?" I asked.

"You met the crazy old fool," Nag said. "It's a pity he died to the creatures he vowed to eradicate."

"You mean Boon?"

"The very same," Nag said. "Tao Zhar captured him long ago. We thought he died."

"How long do the Children live?" I asked. I was puzzled.

"The healthy and wise live for more than a millennium," Nag said. "Our women can only give birth once. So there aren't many of us despite our long lifespan."

I understood the people's anger at the deaths I've cause with my sickness then.

"My weapon isn't one of those national treasures though," Nag went on. "I learned to extend my own Essence into objects. It's like what you were doing with your bare hands before."

"How do you do that?" I asked. I've tried to do it before, but it was harder than you'd imagine.

"I may be able to teach you the basics," Nag answered, "if we survive this."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The temple of Durva, the evil G.o.ddess," the prophet said. "That's where Tao Zhar first summoned her. That's where he earned his terrifying powers. And that's where our ancestors, with the benevolent fox's help, used a powerful spell to banish him. It took their lives in the process, but they got rid of the madman."

"Lemien will be prepared to fight back," I said. "That's if he hadn't broken the lock already."

"Only the ancestors know how to break it," Nag said. "The necromancer will try various methods, I'm sure. But it will take time to finally do it."

"Let's hope we don't get there late," I said.

"We won't," Nag said with a sudden jolt of confidence. "It's been foretold."

"Foretold by whom?" I asked. "The fox?"

"Your human friend told you what my people think of him, right?"

"Some kind of herald," I said.

"Pretty much," the prophet went on. "We're nearly there. Make sure you stay on your guard."

"I can already feel Lemien's energy," I said. "Why did you consider Eli a herald?"

"Our ancestors spoke to us before the necromancer attacked," Nag said. "I'll tell you all about it when this is all over."

The narrow tunnel gave way to a large, square room. It was as big as the main temple above. One could easily fit a hundred men there, and the place wouldn't get crowded. The floor and walls were covered in beige tiles. In the middle of the room, four large pillars stood.

 As we approached them, I saw that each pillar stood at the corner of a rectangular pool. Stairs led downwards, toward the bottom. There was a dark liquid there, and a white pedestal that shone quite brightly.

"He told me you'll come!" Lemien's voice echoed around us. "Monsieur Stalwart!"

There goes my spy acting career.

"Your friend couldn't withstand my ingenious torture!" Lemien went on gleefully. "And now you walked right into my trap! I must admit, I was surprised to learn of your background, but it doesn't matter now. You'll die here and join my mighty army."

We were instantly surrounded by armored undead bodyguards. Some of them were Sebyan as well. They had just appeared, out of thin air.

"Illusion spell!" Nag hissed. "I should've figured that out."

"These aren't your typical undead, Monsieur Stalwart," Lemien went on, his voice almost a squeak of joy. "GET THEM!"

There was nowhere for Nag and I to retreat. We were surrounded. We stood, back to back, and faced the upcoming horde. The armored Sebyan were the first to attack us. I'd also noticed that others had stayed back, circling around us and watching.

I parried the first Sebyan to reach me and punched him. The latter staggered backwards. His steel armor didn't break though. I didn't have time to think about it since another Sebyan had immediately followed the first, then thrust his spear at my chest. I parried that as well with my sword, then pulled the spear from its shaft.

The undead lost balance and staggered toward me. His head met my knee and his fangs shattered. The blow wasn't enough to cut ties with Lemien's link though. I gritted my teeth and sent another knee kick to the Sebyan's face. I heard his bones crack but the latter was resisting.

He planted his knees firmly on the ground then pulled me to him into a bone crus.h.i.+ng hug. I felt someone's leg on my back and I was sent forward, along with the Sebyan holding me. We both fell to the ground, in a loud clang of armor on the tiled floor. A whistle and sharp wind followed. Something sc.r.a.ped by my scalp.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"They have arrows!" Nag screamed at me. "Get rid of that one and take care of the archers. I'll deal with these ones myself."

More Sebyan were coming my way as I struggled to get rid of that hulk's tight grip. Blood rushed to my head. I could barely breathe. I was back in the kitchen with that undead giant cook. Only this time, I couldn't use my arms to break free, as they were stuck to my side. I had but one choice, lest I get my bones shattered.

I concentrated my Essence in one point, in my forehead. I brought it to the Sebyan's one more time and his skull shattered. His grip loosened a bit and I managed to wriggle out of it. Nag was holding the a.s.sailants off, sword in hand, decapitating any who approached me or him.

There were too many of them though. They kept moving despite losing their heads. Their arrows kept whistling past us. The archers were well scattered around the temple. They could easily pick us off if it weren't for their brethren blocking their way.

I was lucky I was shorter than the monstrous undead warriors. Most arrows either hit them in the back of their heads, or ricocheted out of their armor.

"Get moving!" Nag ordered.

I obeyed. I retrieved my sword and danced around the multiple walking dead that kept swarming us. By the time I left the crowded circle, I saw three archers, scattered around the room.

Another undead, unarmed, was standing by the stairs to the pool. He looked at me. His eyes had a blue, glowing hue. He opened his mouth and growled. His arm stretched toward me. I had but three quarters of a second to react.

I immediately jumped to the side. The undead had just sent a powerful shockwave toward me. The tiled wall it hit was reduced to dusty rubble. The necromancer had definitely grown stronger. I had to end this, quickly.

The undead shot his hand toward me one more time. I hurriedly got to my feet and jumped forward. The shockwave hit the spot where I had just been and a large crater resulted from it. My left arm stung badly. I looked at it to see an arrow, deeply lodged within. All archers were aiming at me then, and the mage undead as well, or whatever it was.

"How will you get out of this one, Monsieur Stalwart?" Lemien asked. His laughter irritated me. I could hear his voice coming from somewhere near. But I couldn't pinpoint it.

The undead aimed at me once more and the archers followed my movements carefully. If I dodged, they'd fire and probably skewer me. If I didn't, that shockwave would get the job done. I shot a sideway glance at Nag. He was struggling to stand, his right leg was shot, and his face was covered in his own blood.

"You've made it this far," Lemien said. "It's a pity you won't see my master come back. He'll be the true Holus holder, only He can rebuild this ailing world."

The undead mage fired. I braced for impact. Arrows wouldn't reach me if I took the hit head on. The impact would blast them away. It was my only choice then. I reinforced my entire body with Essence. I felt Dif's Fragment vibrate within me. I had also coated it with my own Essence, I couldn't leave any weak spots.

The shockwave landed and I was sent flying. I didn't know in which direction. I only knew I had departed the ground .I urged myself to remain focused. I fought not to lose consciousness. It's really hard to achieve that, while your entire body begs to shut down and surrender to its fate. I hit a surface so hard that it knocked the wind out of me.

That was enough to shake me up, keep me awake. My arm hurt, my legs shook, but I was still alive. I could still move. Nag was holding the others off. He had just brandished his staff and shot some spell out of it. The undead retreated, giving him some s.p.a.ce. I looked at the mage who was preparing to shoot another shockwave.

'You can't take another one,' Eva warned. 'Our Essence has also depleted greatly.'

'I know,' I said.

I risked taking the first hit for one reason though. That undead had a tell. Before he shot the shockwave, his legs would s.h.i.+ft slightly to the left. I waited for that moment to jump out of the way. I had devised a counterattack based solely on that miniscule window.

The undead s.h.i.+fted his leg and I jumped out of the way. The shockwave went past me and arrows were deflected by it. I ran for the first undead archer and hit him exactly at the spot where Lemien's link was the strongest. I didn't have much energy to spare.

I glanced at the mage and saw his leg s.h.i.+ft once more. That was how I managed to get rid of the archers. I also managed, quite miraculously, to plant an arrow in the mage's eyeball. Every second counted at that moment.

Getting the undead to lose balance, although the arrow wouldn't kill him, was crucial. Nag was on the verge of losing. The other undead noticed I'd gotten rid of the archers and diverted their attention to me.

"You'll be my archer next," Lemien said. "And the monster that came with you… I'll make him my mage."

I was really lucky. Lemien was a fool. Tao Zhar was really desperate to have recruited someone as simple minded as Lemien. My heart pounced against my chest. I'd finally managed to pinpoint the necromancer's location.

I jumped out of the way one more time as another shockwave almost placated me against a pillar. I ran toward the undead mage just before he fired another shockwave. I directed his hand at the bottom of the pool.

"What are you doing?!" I heard Lemien scream before the spell was released.

The intricately designed stairs exploded. The illusion spell that kept the necromancer hidden deactivated. I heard bodies fall to the ground in a loud clatter. The undead mage beside me fell flaccidly to the side. I saw Lemien, near the white pedestal, a giant block of stone on his chest. I extended my senses toward him. He was unconscious, barely alive.

I was exhausted. My legs barely supported my weight. I looked at Nag, who was on all fours, panting.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

He gave me a weak nod.

"I leave the rest to you then…" I said before everything turned black before me.