<Chapter 53. The Final Stage – 5>
Lee Shin Woo created a hand mirror using the Metal Element and checked his appearance. It was perfect. He looked exactly like the Archmage, Feotane Von Seldin.
[But will it really be alright, Father? If the Emperor is aware of the Archmage's death, then…]
Chi Paul asked worryingly. By reaching level 8, Chi Paul had not only grown substantially in terms of power but had also gained Disguise abilities second only to Lee Shin Woo himself. Thus, he was the best choice to accompany him to the capital. Ironically, Chi Paul was currently disguised as a normal undead.
Of course, he wasn't any normal undead. It was more precise to call him an undead hero. Lee Shin Woo knew, from the Archmage's memories, that the Archmage enjoyed using the undead heroes as guards. Thus, Chi Paul was disguised as an undead hero.
All the other 12 Generals were dead and the Emperor likely knew this as well, so even if he wanted to impersonate one of the others, he couldn't.
[Although the Archmage pledged his loyalty to the Emperor, he doesn't trust him. The Emperor knew this and respected him anyway. Because of this, their relationship was able to last.]
[You're saying that…]
[The Emperor doesn't know about the Lich's death. He has no way of knowing. Of course, he'd be suspicious of the Archmage's absence, but how long has it been since I killed the Lich? It's only been four hours. Moreover, before then, the Lich left, stating he'd take care of the heroes. He wouldn't suspect anything in that short period of time.]
Of course, Lee Shin Woo, who had got going right away, had killed the Lich and had brought the majority of the undead heroes to his side… However, if he were to go to the capital right now it would be him 'returning' to the capital, not infiltrating it.
[Ugh, I can finally act like a human, yet I have to take this form.]
[I'll turn you into a perfect human someday, so just wait a little longer.]
Because the Archmage didn't ride a horse, Jin was currently disguised as an undead hero as well.
She looked very much like her human form, but because she was 'undeadified', she didn't seem to like it very much. Only a very, very small portion of her body had bone or muscle exposed, yet she hated it anyway. Whether it be one cheek or one shoulder exposed.
At the very least, he had left her legs intact so that she could move properly. Moreover, she had covered her body from head-to-toe with silver steel, so she didn't look like an undead at all.
[I'm not pretty.]
[It's fine. You're plenty pretty to me. I'm not kidding. You really are.]
[Then can we kiss?]
[Nope, no thanks.]
[You want to die?]
Jin gritted her teeth at Lee Shin Woo's firm refusal and practiced walking. She'd been a horse for so long that when she took on her current form, she began placing her hands on the floor.
However, she was quickly able to adapt, perhaps due to her authority, and was soon able to move quickly on her two feet as well. Lee Shin Woo confirmed that she was able to move on her own, nodded his head, and said.
[You guys just need to stand a short distance behind me. You don't need to say anything. Since we're now entering the heart of enemy territory…]
Hoo… Lee Shin Woo exhaled (even though nothing came out), and relaxed himself. Of course, he was no longer afraid of the Emperor. This was nothing more than the nervousness of an actor before he got on the big stage.
While he was at it, he might as do it perfectly. There were so many unknowns on this stage, so if he were unable to do his job properly, then it would be a pain in the ass later. If he died, he would revive due to Invisible Heart, but he couldn't revive others.
He knew he would revive if he died, but he'd rather live than die. He obviously had so many ways he could survive. If he didn't want to live, then he could always die later. But he couldn't do that right now.
[…Alright, let's trick them to the very end and come out alive.]
[Pfft, that's so like you. Sounds good.]
[You sure have weird taste.]
[T-Then… Father, excuse me.]
Jin grinned and came closer to Lee Shin Woo. Chi Paul, looking apologetic, came closer to him as well. Lee Shin Woo nodded his head and softly swung his hand.
Then, just like with the Archmage, the flow of mana connecting the two spaces formed and sucked them in. They were immediately transported to the capital, inside the palace (the most dangerous area within the capital) at that!
Once they were transported, time began to flow once more. This was proof that Lee Shin Woo both understood and could use the time element better than the Archmage. Hurray for Bone Reinforcement and innate elements!
[…Archmage?]
Once they arrived, they faced their very first obstacle. It was the last of the underground's Four Heavenly Commanders, the general who'd killed the Sun Spear General (who had been one of the surface's Heavenly Commanders), the Heaven Sundering General, Leofield Von Tariman!
By absorbing the Sun Spear General's bone, Lee Shin Woo had already seen Leofield's spearmanship, as well as his other skills. But it was different seeing him in person.
[Isn't it obvious, Duke Tariman? Everything you say reeks of sweat.]
The huge undead came over, and although Lee Shin Woo was nervous from his appearance (a Death Knight), he replied exactly as the Archmage's memories indicated.
He was huge; now it made sense that people wondered whether he inherited a Giant's blood or not. His body was covered in muscles, and these muscles, despite him becoming undead, pulsed and wriggled with cold blood and magic, as well as the air element. The pressure he emitted was so great that it felt like it could stab him to death.
He's on the same level as Seagald? No way! Though Seagald's swordsmanship may surpass Leofield's, if he compared the degree of perfection of their bodies, as well as their training, then Leofield was superior! He could completely understand why all the spearman he'd come across had yelled Leofield's name!
[Hmm, did your job go well…? Huh?]
[I'd appreciate it if you stopped looking at me like that. Are your ears starting to fail now too?]
Although the Archmage and the Heaven Sundering General, as two of the Four Heavenly Commanders that pledged their allegiance to the Emperor, respected each other, they possessed a slightly troublesome relationship where that respect wouldn't show outright.
As they had reached the pinnacle of their respective arts (magic vs. martial arts), they were prideful in their arts and frequently clashed with each other. However… the Heaven Sundering General's reaction was a bit strange, considering how he was following the Archmage's memories to the letter.
[Are you really… the Archmage? Hmm, something's strange.]
[What's strange is your brain, Duke Tariman. It was always strange; has it finally completely rotted away?]
[No, I'm not the one who's strange. The smell… The smell is strange. Hmm… strange. It's strange.]
Lee Shin Woo shuddered. Once his Acting skill had passed the level 20 mark, no one had ever seen through his Acting or Disguise skills. However, the rumored musclehead was suspicious of him!
What the hell happened? No, he had no time to be thinking! If Leofield was suspicious of him, then he'd bring it up to the Emperor as well. He had to stop him!
[You're already stupid enough, but if you keep saying the same thing over and over again, you'll become even stupider. Tell me, what's so strange? The actions of the heroes? The Anti-Skull led by the damn Seagald? If not, then the Heavenly Commanders that came from the surface?]
[I'm talking about you, Archmage. You're strange. My intuition… is telling me that.]
[Your intuition? You really like that, huh. I was always fed up with that intuition of yours. I hate how you do things without any logic or evidence.]
[You're right. I've always trusted my intuition.]
Even if he were to bring up their shared memories, it wouldn't work. The Heaven Sundering General took out his spear and gripped it. And once he gripped his long, gray spear, the atmosphere inside changed completely.
When one reaches level 8, they gain an authority: the ability to treat the ambient mana as their own and absorb it. However, the way they go about doing so differed depending on the individual. The Heaven Sundering General seemed to be able to absorb the surrounding mana with his spirit alone.
[If I'm wrong, I'm truly sorry. But I feel like something will go wrong if I don't do this. I have to do this no matter what. If His Majesty questions me, then I'll accept it without question, but I don't have any choice right now!]
Heaven Flash. It was sometimes used to describe lightning cascading through the air. If so, then why was it used as the name for Leofield's attack when he used the air element? The answer was exceedingly simple.
[Hate me if you must!]
The moment he'd thrust his spear, it had already reached its target. All you would see was a lightning bolt shooting towards you.
The shock was akin to getting struck by a lightning bolt. The Heaven Flash would kill anyone equally. And that's where his title of Heaven Sundering had come from.
[Critical Hit!]
Even the Archmage couldn't dodge this. It was impossible for Lee Shin Woo too.
Even if he tried to teleport away the moment Leofield went to grip his spear, preemptively attacked him, used the Annihilation Flame to erase his presence and confuse Leofield, or used all of his innate elements combined, the best he could do was turn the spear's trajectory.
He wasn't 100% confident that he could dodge Leofield's strike even with all that. That was the Heaven Flash. And that was the Heaven Sundering General, a level 8 that had surpassed the limits of a level 8.
Thus…
[…You really are the Archmage.]
[Are you satisfied now, you blockhead?]
Lee Shin Woo didn't move at all and let himself get hit by the Heaven Sundering General's attack. Leofield's strike had pierced through his armor and bone. Even Lee Shin Woo found it a bit laughable that there was a spear dangling in his forehead.
[I'm really sorry. This is the first time my intuition's been wrong.]
The Heaven Sundering General calmly removed the spear and apologized. To be honest, Leofield hadn't attacked with the intention to kill. He had just wanted to see if the Archmage was the real deal or not.
Why? Because the Archmage didn't need to dodge his attack, as his soul was stored someplace else.
Even so, it would take a considerable amount of time and mana to restore his (the Lich's) body, so Leofield had held back so that he didn't destroy the Lich's entire body. This was only possible because he was the Heaven Sundering General.
[The first time? Duke Tariman, this is your second time.]
[The second time… Ah, that's right. That was the first time.]
Lee Shin Woo had wisely brought up one of their shared memories. This was an elaborate ploy to ensure his opponent's trust! Despite the situation, the Heaven Sundering General smiled lightly and said.
[The first time I saw you, I was sure that you could cause harm to the Emperor… So I attacked you back then.]
[Back then, I wasn't a Lich. I really would've died.]
[I can say this now, but you're the only person in this world that could counter my attack that way. It's hilarious that I'm saying this now, but I've always been amazed by that magic of yours.]
[Hmph. I'll find a way for you to repay me later, so just get back to what you were doing. The battle where we wipe out those dirty invaders is nigh. We have to mobilize all of the capital's troops.]
[Of course… For the Emperor!]
[For the Emperor.]
The two exchanged hot glances and passed by each other. Leofield hurried, as he needed to gather the troops in time, but Lee Shin Woo needed some time to treat his wound. He naturally slowed his pace.
[The High Rank Regeneration skill has become Lv7, and Health and Magic have increased by 20.]
[That asshole. He's so strong that my Regeneration skill went up by two in one go. A skill that refused to level up at that.]
[You're cursing him out even though your skill leveled up.]
[Your acting was perfect, Father.]
[…Anyway, that guy's really scary. The Heaven Sundering General.]
Lee Shin Woo recollected the Heaven Sunder General's attack, as well as his 'intuition' that was close to busting him, and trembled. But he couldn't help but laugh. It was only natural.
[The Emperor would come to harm due to the Lich, huh… Ha, that guy's prediction is right on the mark.]
[I can't tell whether you're making an evil expression or not since you're a skeleton. Remember that.]
[Ah, I can change my expressions as a skeleton now, you know? Want to see? This looks really evil.]
[Hey, stop. I said stop.]
The party joked around and then refocused themselves. They went towards the final battle.
The Undead Emperor, Jissehanu, was waiting for them.
