Bro, I'm not an Undead!-Chapter 1443 : I Will See You Soon

It was a seal like no other.

Perhaps if he really wanted to free himself, Somanda could have done it, but trying to figure out the mechanics behind Skullius' entire arsenal of abilities wasn't something even he could do in an instant. He had only siphoned information from Skullius' mind about major threats nearest to him; Elita's Broodweiler, for instance.

Impressively, Kintar used the fact that Somanda – with Skullius' memories – would be wary of the gold and pink sword. She manifested it as an illusion, diverting Somanda's attention for an instant. That instant had led to this scenario.

'So, you've managed to create such competent mortals, Skullius?' Somanda thought, glee bubbling within him like wild torrents of water. 'Growing in such a short time is rather decent. How did I not see that much potential from you when I plucked your soul from that poor world? Did it only show after you began anew here? Or was it simply a product of that damned old quirk that followed you even after death?'

A trace of frustration swam through the Lich's head, but it dissolved in the deep swelling of his intrigue and interest.

Weaver was working an ancient magic. His hands were tracing arcs upon arcs upon arcs in the air, and the Null Life Essence in the Hybrid Warmoth was following his command.

He realized before Skullius himself that since coming from the Null Verse, the Hybrid Warmoth's Null Life Essence had gotten nearly fifteen times stronger than before!

Skullius had failed to catch this because of the vast reserves of it he had been carrying around before. Even after they was all gone, he had gotten used to the feel of his Null Life Essence as it was while he was 'superpowered' without realizing that there was a massive difference.

Weaver and Serenity shared the same thought right then.

In the end, it was lucky that Skullius hadn't figured this out yet, and it was also fortunate that he didn't know Weaver's abilities, especially the part where he could weave even his personal Null Life Essence reserves.

Somanda would have used that information against them all.

A green vapor spilled from Skullius' limbs. It forced the Unlimited Stars, the Void Users, the Apostles, and Sila to back away at once. A layer of ice sprang forth from Skullius' skin and began freezing his appendages and his torso. Traces of a milky white liquid could be seen deep within it, augmenting its effectiveness. The ice formed cylinders and rings that stabbed spikes into Skullius' flesh. It also created runic symbols, like snowflakes, that floated around the Hybrid Warmoth.

Indeed, it was a complex seal. As it spread, it doused the manifestation of Undeath energy still consuming everything in the surrounding area.

"Fascinating. Such a malleable energy. Undeath doesn't quite bend and transmute like this," Somanda commented. Only his head was yet to be ensnared in the trap of ice. He was donning a fierce grin as he glared at Weaver.

But then, without warning, the Arch-Lich opened his mouth wide. In less than an instant (one which Weaver couldn't comprehend with his current powers), Undeath energy coalesced in it and fired with brutish ferocity!

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Kintar, Elita, and Uyuniya had seen it coming (simply because of the hideously flaring waves the Undeath energy radiated) but they couldn't have reacted. Not to this. Indeed, if Somanda had opted to use his own powers instead of trying to decipher Skullius', he could have killed everyone here before they could resist; that fact was proven.

Weaver would be the one to demonstrate it.

…But someone, for the second time, proved more reliable than anyone could imagine.

Again, he had been watching from the distance, at first fearing that he would get himself killed if he tried to join in.

He moved when it mattered most, however.

A golden Bare Guise manifested on his face, Aurolio appeared in front of Weaver and applied his Mastered Void Gate aspect.

Aurolio defined strength in a countless number of ways, as long as it didn't apply to weaponry. He had applied his strength in the form of speed just now. Divine speed.

And in this instant, he applied strength as defence.

He took the full brunt of Somanda's splash of Undeath with his body.

Aurolio from a mere hour ago would have died instantly, but the one who had learned Fundamental Barter and applied it to the whole of his aspect since coming to Opungale managed to defend Weaver and survive at the same time!

This strength in defence – Divine defence – could only be used once a day, and against one incoming attack; that was his Fundamental Barter.

Somanda's beam split into two branches when it met the Void user and carved through Opungale all the way to the ocean where it threatened to split over to Feinheath as well. It dwindled and dimmed before that, thankfully. But a sixth of Opungale – behind Weaver and Aurolio – burned, charred, and rotted away, sinking into the ocean with a great splash.

"Ah…" said Somanda, intrigued. His mouth was billowing with thickets of smoke. "Another Void user, yes, yes. Aurolio. I had known this world was special. I would have taken it, but alas..."

His face was freezing. Weaver had not stopped working the seal even as he attacked.

The High Lich cackled. His attention swept over everyone in that instant and they felt it.

"I will see you soon."

And then the seal was complete.

It was a tower of cylinders, snowflake-like runes, and large rings that wound around Skullius' limbs. Towers of spikes and blocks then smothered him, burying him behind the white, transmuted Null Life Essence; it was supposed to lull each one of his thoughts for as long as he was trapped in this prison. A fierce cold brazenly washed forth from the giant structure.

Everyone was watching it warily, sweating.

Aurolio, who was once again reduced to a skeleton only mildly decorated with flesh, blood, and fire, was also watching with what remained of his eyes, gritting his teeth. If another attack came and no one came to his rescue…

But he needn't have worried.

The blaze of red that was around Skullius dimmed and died down. His sockets were relieved of the boiling red glow.

It was only then that relief started to cool everyone's nerves.

Even the Fruit Bearer, though they hadn't participated, was relieved to see and feel the horrid presence of the High Lich fade away from the one they had been sent to speak to.