I Became A Zompirewolf

“Sorcery? It’s the art of necromancy. You should know it, right?” Ashton smiled.

As soon as he said that, the Lich realised his mistake. By teleporting Ashton to the arena, he had essentially lifted the constraints according to which Ashton couldn’t use [Valhalla], as the restriction was only valid within the cave and not the arena.

“How long had you planned this!?” The Lich screamed, utterly baffled at the turn of events.

“Pretty much since we got here.” Ashton replied before flying over to the Lich, “Could you remind me what you said a few moments ago? Something about an arm for an arm.”

The Lich threw Raven’s dagger away and retreated towards the stony arena where Atlas and Gokung had killed his remaining generals.

[Progress]: 4/11 Lich’s soldiers killed.

A notification soon verified the result of their efforts. However, the Lich wasn’t fazed anymore.

“Keep him busy,” Ashton instructed his summons before turning to help Anna out of her icy coffin.

“As you wish,” Sven spoke on their behalf, and within moments, the undead had surrounded the Lich.

“Don’t waste your efforts, mortal.” The Lich laughed maniacally, “The ice won’t melt, nor would your beloved awaken till you complete the trial.”

The situation unfolded, as the Lich said. No amount of hellfire could melt the smallest piece of ice on Anna’s body. Ashton had been calm and collected since the trial began, but now he had started showing signs of frustration and anger.

“Hold on a little while longer,” He mumbled with a smile before heading back down to the arena.

“You confuse me, mortal.” The Lich spoke as soon as Ashton appeared before him, “You have no grasp on the power asleep within you. Your fate was written before you even existed, yet you desperately cling to your weakness.”

The Lich pointed at Anna before continuing, “Involving yourself with those creatures will do you no good. You must let go of any feelings you may have towards other mortals before you gain immortality-”

“Great, another incel.” Ashton cracked his neck, “Why don’t you bring out the rest of your pipsqueak army so I can burn some steam instead?”

The Lich didn’t bother replying, but it was clear Ashton’s words had some effect on him. Suddenly, a black staff materialised in Lich’s hands. At the same time, the skeleton’s around the arena transformed into a variety of soldiers.

From spearmen to mages, every unit ever used in a battle was present there. But that wasn’t all; seven portals simultaneously opened behind him. What happened next surprised Ashton even more.

“Why am I not surprised?”

Out of the first five portals, doppelgangers of his summons appeared, while the last portal remained sealed.

“What will you do now?” Lich snarled.

In Lich’s experience, people always struggled to win against doppelgangers of themselves or their allies. Not only was the task excruciating physically, but it could also deal massive mental trauma.

Lich expected Ashton to be baffled and admit defeat. However, he had not expected what would happen next.

“That’s the best move you got to test me?” Ashton laughed, as did his summons, “You’re kidding, right?”

Unbeknownst to Lich, Ashton’s summons had spent countless hours fighting in [Valhalla]. That said, they were well aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and could exploit them at any moment.

Making them face each other was the stupidest decision the Lich could have made, and Ashton waited no time before getting his point through to the Lich.

“No wonder your so-called Grim Reaper is nowhere to be found. With idiots like you as his subordinates, the man must have suffered serious brain damage and died!”

The Lich had had enough of Ashton’s nonsense. The mortal was one of the succession candidates. That’s why he wasn’t planning on killing him, as his master had mandated him only to test the candidate, not to kill them.

However, by insulting the Grim Reaper, the boy had crossed a line he shouldn’t have. Even death wasn’t suitable punishment for him.

The Reaper’s eyes began to glow wildly, and the remaining portal was opened. Out of which walked an undead dragon, Lich’s most prized possession.

“Your death won’t be a pleasant one, you arrogant bastard!”

The Lich roared at the top of his lungs. A moment later, the army of undead charged at Ashton and his summons.

Ashton and his summons quickly managed to dispatch their doppelgangers and the skeletons. However, the dragon was a different deal altogether.

No matter how much Ashton or his summons tried, they couldn’t put a single dent in the dragon’s bodies. Not only that, Lich was continuously casting curses at them. The longer they fought, the slimmer Ashton’s chances of winning got until they became non-existent.

First Gokung, then Sven and Raven, followed by Celeste and Dolos and finally Atlas. All of his summons were granted eternal sleep. Ashton wasn’t in great shape, either.

Ashton summoned whatever strength was left in his body and lunged to deal with the dragon. But with a flick of its bony tail, the dragon snapped Balmond in half.

“Defeat… what does it taste like, m-o-r-t-a-l?” The Lich laughed while standing on the dragon’s back, “Where has all your confidence disappeared? Do you have no more cocky comebacks?”

Ashton pursed his lips as he punched the ground. He had been defeated. With his sword and summons gone, he could do nothing to defeat the dragon or even a random undead soldier, for that matter. This was it. Death had arrived for him… at last.

The Lich kept barking at him, but in his last moments, he averted his gaze to take a last look at his beloved. Unlike him, Anna’s face was calm in her slumber.

Anna’s calmness had a strange effect on him. Suddenly, all the urge to fight back was gone. He didn’t want to struggle in his last moments, as peace was the only thing on his mind.

“Die!” Lich roared as the dragon ripped Ashton’s head off his body, “I won! No one is more capable of being master’s successor than me!”

It was rare for a Lich to feel anything positive. But he was oddly happy. Moments later, the realisation dawned upon him.

“Finally caught up to it, eh?”

Lich looked up to see Ashton’s smiling face. They were still in the arena, but the dragon or the undead were nowhere to be found. It almost felt like the Lich had woken up from a slumber.

“How-”

“You think you’re the only one who can use magic?” Anna interrupted him.

Unlike before, Anna was sporting her succubi armour. One look at her armour was enough for the Lich to know what had happened.

“A Succubi’s illusion. How did you know it was an undead’s weakness?” The Lich asked to which Anna shrugged.

“It was a weakness? Good to know.” She replied. 𝐞𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥．𝗰𝐨𝗺

However, the Lich was still confused. After trapping Anna, she shouldn’t have been able to move, let alone cast magic. Then it hit him.

“You used your spell as soon as I released your arm from the coffin…” Lich mumbled while shaking his head, “Years of inaction clouded my judgement. Very well, you have bested me, succubus. I admit defeat.”

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You have cleared the Dungeon.

The system will now be randomising suitable rewards due to the involvement of a second party.

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“Second party?”