Bro, I'm not an Undead!-Chapter 1664: The Anti-Lich Squad (3)

Aggrante was an attack that combined the best of mana and Null Life Essence, condensing them into a projectile that could penetrate most mortal defenses, especially when applied with Doublefold and Triplefold amplifications (by propping up two and three fingers, respectively). Following his growth during the regiment within the Timemould Mirror Box, however, Skullius had improved upon the concept of Aggrante, creating different variations of it.

Las Aggrante was the fastest form of Aggrante, and it targeted the soul, corroding it at an alarming rate.

Nos Aggrante was a single shot explosive projectile that expended a ridiculous amount of energy in order to wipe out large numbers of clustered enemies.

...And then there was Ko Aggrante.

Savast went all out, propping three fingers as he called, "Ko Aggrante."

Indeed, it was a Triplefold Ko Aggrante that he fired. The shuttle of brilliant light that blasted from his fingers erupted skyward as a column twenty times his size, howling like a tornado crossing a large tunnel. Savast groaned and supported his right hand with his left.

The ground sank under him so fluidly that you would have thought it were made of molten plastic, but the Unlimited Star held on. The recoil from a Ko Aggrante of any intensity was so monstrous that only the Granted Star Armament had the mechanism for it installed. Indeed, Skullius had deemed that only the Unlimited Stars would be able to bear the staggering force of it.

Everyone watching, save for Kenno, was startled by the magnitudinous throng. None of them would survive it at point-blank range. But Savast’s target was not a measly mortal.

’Eat this!’ he thought, aiming for a maimed Doom Knight – one of the few that remained – floating close to Soizar. The bright flash highlighted the creature vividly, and it readied to defend. However...

"What’s this now?"

An outrageous blanket of Undeath energy raged from Soizar, and it pooled between the Doom Knight and the incoming Aggrante. Then, as though the Ko Aggrante was no more than a supple meal, the Undeath energy swallowed the beam whole, wrapped itself into a throbbing red ball, and shattered to bits that eventually vanished.

The powerful Aggrante had been thwarted just like that. However...

Savast laughed raucously. ’I see. The memories from Kenno make much more sense now. These bastards’ output and quality of Undeath energy is far greater than that of the Null Life Essence master stored in our armour.’ He shook his right arm and flexed it a few times. His eyes met Soizar’s glasses. ’Still, though. If my Aggrante wouldn’t have been effective on those creatures – the Doom Knights and Death Knights – that Lich wouldn’t have had to intervene , would he?’

Right then, Aingor lurched into action. "Everyone, split up and divide the targets! If we stay clumped up, we’ll be obliterated at once!"

He was right, of course, but he wasn’t the one to have come up with the instruction. That credit belonged to Suzamete.

The Deitess, inhabiting a Fruit Bearer, had also been left behind when the others had been whisked to the Bosom by Fulgardt. That was for the best, she thought, and for many reasons. The immediate reason had to do with the battle that was about to erupt right now. She could guide the Unlimited Stars, the Faction Leaders, and Mages through Aingor.

...And she could also keep her eye on the other battle fuming somewhere beyond where the Central Boundary of Aigas had been. She was deeply invested in it, so much so that she had sent additional resources to aid in changing the outcome of the fight.

Aingor dashed back, and the Faction Leaders followed him. Eaniss had been the one to make the call to follow the Herald. Em-Sul and the Mad Bishop trusted her judgment.

"You guys, with me!" Kenno said to Ryte and managed to string up enough energy to draw away from Baddan and Savast. Faction Leaders.

Ryte didn’t question him. He simply signaled the other Mages and followed after Kenno. As soon as they had created some distance with the other Unlimited Stars, Kenno asked:

"If memory serves – Kintar would kill me if she knew I was asking about this – you guys specialize in using different types of essences other than mana to power your Magecraft, right? Advanced Magecraft."

"That’s right," Ryte answered promptly. "What of it?"

Kenno breathed out a heavy sigh. "I’m going to need a huge favour."

Meanwhile, Baddan was taking a shot at Savast.

"Well, that was a waste of Null Life Essence," he said, looking up at the stirring Soizar.

"Shut up and follow my lead," snapped Savast, who sent him a throng of information through a rapidly woven mental circuit. Baddan’s dark eyes narrowed.

"I see," he said, and he quickly pushed both hands in front of him while readying his Granted Star Armament for action.

...But before he could do anything else, Soizar warped between him and Savast.

The two would have been surprised by his atrocious speed and overwhelming presence... if they hadn’t been killed instantly. One backhand to the head for Savast and one slap to Baddan’s chest sent them flying off as broken chunks.

"Honestly..." Soizar said, disappointed that enemies of this calibre dared to stand before him.

But then his interest was reined in.

The Unlimited Stars weren’t done yet. Granted Restoration could save them from most forms of damage, even if the Granted Star Armament itself took damage as well. Even Pherdanta had been able to keep using Granted Restoration amid the storm of Festos’ Unlimited Slashes before,

(A/N: Refer to Ch.1491.)

The Unlimited Stars were revived less than a blink later, or at least Baddan was.

"The bloodlust is thick with this one," were Savast’s first words. "We might not get a next time, Baddan."

"Kintar won’t forgive you if you let either of us die permanently," said the Sky Watcher, and he immediately activated his technique, using it as Savast had advised just seconds ago through the connection in his mind.

"Ah, I should have known," said Soizar, clacking his teeth. "You must be subordinates of that one anomaly. Living subordinates."

"That’s right," said Savast, "and that counts for a lot more than you think."

...!!!

Soizar sensed it quicker than both Baddan and Savast had hoped. Null Life Essence surged in tremendous volumes from the giant Cluster General and all the other extremely powerful beasts orbiting it. The great river of energy was expelled outward to cover the whole swath of distance Savast, Baddan, and Soizar were inhabiting.

This... displeased the Arch-Lich.