This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Paladin’s Version of a Vegetarian Diet Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Paladin’s Version of a Vegetarian Diet Never fight a mage in his Mage’s Tower unless it’s a surprise attack.

This might as well be considered common sense, but things in life don’t always go as desired.

Just like now, once the battle has commenced, there is no turning back.

The castle’s magical defense system had been fully activated, countless jets of Dark Corrosive Energy shot out from within the castle, falling upon the enemy troops like cannon fire.

Mortals couldn’t withstand such magical power, and anyone touched by it would corrode into skeletal remains.

But the Paladin and that Light Priest were unaffected; the tyranny of the Anti-Magic Field caused all magic to dissipate completely upon entering the range of their light shield. While the field was active, the two were essentially immune to magic.

Unless a spell of divine magnitude could be cast, it would be impossible to breach the constraints of the Anti-Magic Field.

At this moment, the distinction between true Legends and pretenders was evident.

Every Legendary being was a Demigod who had transcended the mortal realm and harnessed weak divine power.

Under normal circumstances, Amberser, the Legendary Lich, could have taught these youngsters from the Laine Empire a lesson with a spell containing divine energy.

But after abandoning the path of the School of Prophecy, Amberser didn’t possess any magic that could reach the level of a demigod. Faced with this kind of Anti-Magic Field, his only option was to evade. Fortunately, it was applied using a Magic Scroll, so he just needed to wait out its duration.

Typically, such a scroll’s spell could only last for a minute or two.

Amberser’s calm starkly contrasted with the enemy’s panic.

Harvey dodged through the sky filled with Dark Corrosive Energy, relying on his incredibly accurate intuition, managing to last until the first round of magical bombardment ended.

Although unscathed, Harvey was sweating profusely; a slight error a moment earlier could have turned him into a pile of chillingly white bones. The negligible magical power of a Mage Apprentice, even if it raised a shield, wouldn’t have withstood such intense magical assault.

Looking behind him, the Porcupine Knight had also been lucky enough to survive, but three of the Lords who had come to subdue the Lich had perished, corroded down to their bones along with their horses.

The other soldiers had suffered even heavier casualties, with over two hundred dead on the spot. There were very few wounded because the recent magical attacks were so terrifying that almost any contact meant certain death.

In the face of such slaughter, Harvey truly wanted to ask, “Why did you all provoke him?”

In the end, they had underestimated the Lich’s power. Several Lords had deliberately kept their distance from the battlefield, reasoning that they were beyond the maximum range of magic.

Who could have guessed that this castle had specifically enhanced its magic range?

Harvey couldn’t help but think, “Did the Lich, after sheltering the freemen, begin to adjust specifically against us?”

But that was a bit of an overthought. Amberser strengthened the entire castle’s magical defense system solely because the Withered Rose had sent him the details of the Laine Empire’s city defense system. Many elements were worth incorporating, such as this effect of increasing the magic range, which was an absolute bargain not to install.

And today, it turned out to be remarkably effective.

Truly deserving of the Laine Empire, Amberser thought, giving a mental thumbs-up to the Laine Empire’s magical technology as he observed his own battlefield achievements.

Harvey felt terrible, for as an advisor he had suggested retreat more than once, but the Lords wouldn’t listen. He was beginning to feel disgruntled, and if he survived this day, he was certain to resign immediately.

But now, he had to fulfill the duty of an advisor.

Harvey rode his horse towards the paladin and shouted loudly, “We’re about to collapse, do you have any way to deal with this lich or not? If not, we must withdraw our troops now!”

The paladin asked in astonishment, “With less than twenty percent casualties, you’re already at your limit?”

The paladin admitted he had underestimated Amberser, but were these little lords from Alchemy City too weak?

Merely twenty percent, and their morale has collapsed?

Even the weakest legion of the Laine Empire wouldn’t feel anything if their casualties didn’t reach thirty percent, right?

Harvey really wanted to slap this paladin, but all he could do was restrain himself and communicate in the most efficient manner, “How can an army composed of ordinary tenant farmers compare to the Laine Empire’s army, armed with faith? That’s the reality, do you have a way or not?”

The paladin truly felt this trial had been an eye-opener. However, now was not the time for sentimentality. He said to Harvey, “Of course, as long as we enter the castle and find his Life Casket, that will do. Since you can no longer hold on, you may as well retreat to avoid impeding us.”

After speaking, the paladin continued his charge with the Light Priest, heading straight for the ancient castle’s main gate.

The effect of the Anti-Magic Field was still present; they could ignore all magical attacks and charge directly to the castle gates.

Watching the sky filled with magical light, Harvey hesitated for a moment before following behind the paladin.

Instinct told him that if he ran now, his outcome wouldn’t be great; perhaps charging with the paladin was the right choice. He only hoped his instincts weren’t wrong.

Seeing Harvey charge with him, the paladin even praised him, “Your courage is commendable. May the Holy Light protect you.”

Harvey thought to himself that if he were to ask for divine protection, he, a Mage Apprentice, should seek the Magic Goddess Mistrall. These religious fanatics really wanted to preach all the time.

Under the influence of the Anti-Magic Field, all the magic traps in front of the castle gate became ineffective, and the simple pits and crossbow traps were useless against the fully armored paladins; a few swipes of their long swords were enough to deflect all the bolts.

The three charged to the front of the castle gate; the only losses were two horses. But at that moment, the Anti-Magic Field began to flicker and soon vanished completely.

Harvey, closely following the two, also arrived at the front of the ancient castle.

When Amberser saw the three charging, he promptly hid inside the castle. Seeing the paladin at the castle gate, he smiled and pressed a mechanism.

As the paladin prepared to break through the castle gate, the sound of clicking echoed.

The three didn’t know what was happening, but the paladin decided to advance bravely. The Holy Light on his sword surged, and Holy Slash was not only good for slaying liches but also for demolishing buildings.

The sword light fell, turning the thick wooden gates to dust, the impact even cracking the ground extensively.

Harvey was marveling at the paladin’s might when he suddenly said with doubt, “Wait, aren’t there too many cracks?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the ground in front of the castle gate completely crumbled away, revealing a bottomless pit.

Caught completely unprepared, the three plummeted straight down into the pit.

Amberser, viewing through magical surveillance, watched the three fall into the pit, then reached out to touch the Living Mercury beside him and said to the newly born creature, “Little guy, it’s your turn to perform. If you can triumph over the Laine Empire’s paladin, then this deal of mine will yield a great profit.”