Mage Legend

"They are coming," Lynch said softly.

Kuboert didn't know how his mage friend saw through the pervasive mist, but the feeling of nausea became more and more apparent. He tightly gripped Pate's Sun Sacred Emblem, letting the sharp edges prick his palm, focusing his will even more. Priest Kuboert widened his eyes, imagining the scene Lynch must be seeing.

It wasn't long before he no longer needed to imagine; the undead army had appeared in his line of sight. The skeleton army and ghouls seemed to emerge suddenly from the mist, silently and orderly parting the white smoke in front of them as they advanced into the Residual Star Swamp.

Kuboert squinted to see more clearly. The scale of the skeleton army was massive, quickly spanning one side of the Residual Star Swamp. Amidst the water splashing sounds, it was impossible to distinguish individual footsteps. The undead army was like magma flowing down a volcano, silent, slow, yet unstoppable. The intense atmosphere began to bake Kuboert's face, the battle was imminent.

"Priest, what do you think?" Lynch's Eye of Insight allowed him to see farther than his companions, clearly observing the enemy's numbers. "This is the grand feast I've prepared for you. Can you handle it?"

Kuboert tapped his head with his left hand, then donned the elf-made helmet—often not worn because it seemed a bit tight. He looked at Lynch, their gazes met, both showing excitement. Kuboert said, "Pate has been watching over me, and he would surely say that following you here was absolutely the right choice."

Lynch patted Kuboert's shoulder, motioning for him to hide in the woods and not to come out for now. Then he advanced alone toward the undead army. His steps were slightly faster than the skeletons, though treacherous on this uneven ground, which was hardly easy to walk on.

As he neared the center of the Residual Star Swamp, the mage stopped; his trap was already in action. Holy Water accumulated from Erutalon began flowing towards the Residual Star Swamp and would soon flood the area.

This was why Lynch was confident and brave enough to stand at the forefront of the undead's advance. He even took a moment to tidy his mage robe. The skeletons moved mechanically and wouldn't act against the mage in front of them until ordered. However, the ghouls smelled living flesh, the scent of fresh blood and meat making them restless. Teeth and claws clattered, ready to attack.

"Such noise is too loud, it might wake many things," Lynch shouted to the undead: "Of course, it won't wake the dead again. I've seen enough corpses here."

"Another human mage!" came a hoarse voice from behind the skeleton army: "Has the kingdom of the elves been taken over by human mages?"

The skeletal figures stopped and made way. Fyyian, wearing a black mage robe similar to the one Lynch used to wear, stood at the front of the ranks.

"Who are you, human!" Fyyian demanded, "Reveal your Mage Emblem clearly and step aside! I don't wish to confront someone from the Mage Association."

Lynch looked at the disfigured elf (only identifiable by his pointed ears) in front of him, searching his memory for any recollection of this necromancer. Wearing such a black robe meant he was tutored by one of the Seven Great Mages. Lynch's mentor was the prophecy-specialized Great Mage Caso, and none of the Seven specialized in necromancy.

"Lynch, still just an apprentice." The young mage traced a shining emblem in the air with his right fingertip: "Now show your identity."

"Lynch? You're Lynch?" Fyyian chuckled twice: "I was just thinking there are quite many mages arriving here. You wear a black robe, just like me. Now, step aside, I don't want to kill an apprentice of a Great Mage."

"Do you think I will leave from here?" Lynch held his magic wand horizontally across his chest, the stance they prepared for battle: "Coming here wasn't easy for me."

Fyyian glanced around, the vast swamp had only Lynch standing in his way, while he had thousands of undead monsters on his side. He laughed heartily, wagging his finger at Lynch: "If your mind is no longer smart enough, then you've lost your qualification as a mage! Haha, how long can you stand in front of my army, Lynch? A minute or two?"