Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 190 - 177: Curse Killing

Emerging, or more accurately sliding, out of the darkness was the Duke of Hamlet. He was three meters in length, gliding across the ground on four tendrils encased in a bony shell. Devoid of skin, a red chitinous exoskeleton covered his entire body, his facial features gone. Where his head should have been was just an outline of a face, as if someone’s features were trapped in amber—it was hard to be sure if it was truly a head or another disguise. His body, diminutive in comparison to his tendrils, resembled a piece of armor, with curved barbs growing upwards from his back, ending in two blood-red, semi-gelatinous arms. At the end of the arms, five sharp spikes mimicked fingers, and now these ten spikes were clashing together, producing a metallic clang.

With his bizarre clapping echoing, the Duke of Hamlet elegantly circled around Lyle with measured steps.

"You have done exceptionally well, gentlemen. Please, allow me to express my respect for your struggle. You are much more resilient than the nobles who have previously come here. Granting inheritance to those greedy nobles was a stroke of genius—my brood is growing. Of course, you too, Mr. Lyle, welcome to become a part of Hamlet. As a reward for your escape from the delusion, I will deal with you last. It’s quite a good habit, I always like to save the tasty main dish for last," he said.

In response, Lyle beset the Duke of Hamlet with several curses, and the Spine Wheel crashed into him fiercely. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The spine-chilling sound of bone scraping against stone reverberated as the Spine Wheel, like a train bound for hell, charged at the Duke.

The Spine Wheel was effortlessly dodged, and the curses seemed to have minimal impact on him.

"Interrupting a noble’s conversation is not the behavior of a gentleman, Mr. Lyle. Your little toy is quite amusing," he remarked.

The Duke of Hamlet suspended himself from the ceiling, evading the Spine Wheel’s secondary assault.

Lyle released the bandit’s skeleton he had been saving and summoned several skeletal warriors to protect him. Their function was simple: to hold off Hamlet while attacking Lyle, until the Spine Wheel crushed him to bits.

Hamlet’s tendrils swayed in the air as if playing on a swing, effortlessly dodging the ferocious assaults of the Spine Wheel, his eloquent speech not missing a beat.

"Is this all you have to offer, Mr. Lyle? Have your little tricks run out? Let me guess, have you hidden that black tentacled creature in the corner, preparing for a sneak attack? It’s incredible to believe that I smell a kin scent on that little monster. She would certainly benefit my evolution superbly," he mused.

The Duke of Hamlet merely swung nearby, showing no intent to attack Lyle—it seemed he truly intended to honor his promise to execute Lyle last.

Dammit, he’s stalling, the illusions besetting his companions might not be as simple as he had thought.

Lyle turned his head to look at his struggling comrades. They had stopped attacking each other and were taking on a blood hue similar to Hamlet’s.

His languid voice came from behind Lyle.

"My illusions, as they corrupt the minds of those who indulge in them, allow me to borrow their bodies for a time. Even if their wills have not yet fallen, if they reach a certain stage, I can use them temporarily. Your companions’ harm to you does not count as my attack, Mr. Lyle. A noble always keeps his promises, for promises are a tool that can be used to lull people. Now, Mr. Lyle, please turn your weapon against your comrades. Watch as they die for you. Oh, but it seems you are a Necromancer, what a blunder. I suppose their lives or deaths are of little consequence to you, right?"

Hamlet’s sinister chuckle tightened around Lyle’s heart like a hand. Karen and the others now slowly approaching weren’t dangerous yet—they were just being controlled, unable to use their power, attacking his skeletal warriors with reckless abandon like zombies. But what next? When they became fully corrupted and could wield their own power, could he still hold them off? Without finding a way to break the illusion, he had to restrain their movements and avoid harming them, even when they broke free and turned against him.

Karen had been completely dyed red, lunging at the skeletons like a wild dog; William and Fannila were mostly red, approaching Lyle with slow steps; Aryan was in a standoff between deep red and shadow, but black was steadily encroaching; Heinz was like in a nightmare, his eyes shut tight, his pallor turning deep red.

Even Kevin had risen from the ground.

"My holy light! Am I still in an illusion?" Kevin had not been stained with blood; he had actually broken free from the illusion and was now looking at his companions, who resembled the walking dead, with a shocked expression.

"Kevin! Over here!" Lyle, with his skeleton soldiers, shifted his position and joined Kevin.

Breathing heavily, Kevin looked at Lyle, "So it’s just the two of us, brothers in distress?"

"Yes, Kevin, how did you break free from the illusion?"

"Ah, because my illusion was too unrealistic. I actually took a fall, and on flat ground at that! I’ve never taken a real tumble to the ground all my life, and there wasn’t even a flesh carpet to cushion me, not realistic at all!"

"..." The fortune of the "Son of Heaven" always leaves one speechless. So, to break free from the illusion, he had luckily taken a fall?

Kevin looked at the Duke of Hamlet, who was swaying not far away, "Lyle, can you beat that thing?"

"Difficult. His movements are too agile. Aside from the Spine Wheel’s reckless charges, I’m afraid I don’t have any spells that can break through his armor."

"Then aren’t we in more danger than hope? Where can we find a weapon that can harm him, and we still have these controlled companions..."

Before he could finish speaking, a pallid and sharp tree branch, like a spear, shot between the two of them. It was a meter long, slightly bent, with a white flame flickering at its tip and carried a surge of withering magic power.

The Cage of Decay.

Below their companions’ feet, white diseased vines grew out, tightly entangling them, hardening into a solid outer shell on the outside.

It was Heinz. He had broken free from the illusion. He knelt on the ground, and like the other companions, branches grew from his body, tightly wrapping around him. The light from the lantern was emitting Heinz’s voice.

"My consciousness has been contaminated; I had to hide in a deep layer of dreams. The branch I consolidated with all my strength carries withering magic power that exhausts twisted life, enough to destroy the Duke of Hamlet’s flesh. Seize the opportunity and deliver a fatal blow. Don’t worry about the companions; I’ve restricted their movement. Just defeat the Duke, and their illusions will naturally dissipate."

Lyle pulled the branch from the ground, looking at Kevin, who had a dumbfounded face.

"Can you make the Duke of Hamlet charge at us so he impales himself on the tip of this branch?"

"That’s too unrealistic. He’s not an idiot..."

"With those words from you, I’m reassured."

"..."