Chapter 1766: Performing a Sacrifice
“Crack!” The crystal shattered. I realized it wasn’t crystal at all, but pure light energy condensed into a solid form, more like an amber Sealed Object. I had no idea where Older Brother Jayad learned this.
“!!!” As soon as the crystal broke, the Gravedigger inside opened his eyes, which burned with a cerulean fire. He revealed a ferocious expression and, upon being freed, immediately tried to utter a blasphemous incantation.
However, a cute ghostly girl appeared before him and rushed straight at him. The Lich cried out in terror, “Possession!?”
As a master of the undead, the Lich was well aware of the ghost’s signature skill. If he were at his full strength, such a little ghost would pose no threat to him. But now, he was powerless and could only watch helplessly as the ghost possessed him.
Lorna entered the Gravedigger’s body, which immediately began to convulse like an epileptic. Her expression contorted violently, and soul light of pale white and cerulean flashed rapidly throughout the Gravedigger’s body.
They were fiercely battling for ownership of the Gravedigger’s body, and Lorna clearly had the upper hand. She had entered directly with her main body, a pure soul, while the Lich’s soul, having been split numerous times and having died and been reborn several times, could at best be called a remnant soul.
Furthermore, the Lich’s desire to fight back was low. Being expelled would merely mean switching bodies. To stubbornly fight a ghost he knew he couldn’t defeat, risking damage to his own soul, was simply not worth the effort.
So, Lorna easily drove the Lich out of the Gravedigger’s body, rescuing the Gravedigger from the Lich’s control.
As soon as the Lich emerged, he furiously unleashed a Soul Shattering spell at Jayad, attempting to disperse his spirit, then charged forward, intending to possess his body.
This was the same Mental Shock spell I had encountered earlier, identical in form. It seemed this was the spell that attacked us. The Gravedigger’s soul was the weakest and couldn’t withstand it, thus being possessed by the Lich.
But Older Brother Jayad was no Gravedigger; a more powerful mental force surged from his mind, engulfing everything around him and confronting the Lich head-on.
The Lich scoffed at his overestimation of his abilities, daring to compete in mental strength with an Old Wizard who had researched magic for a century. He never expected that in the blink of an eye, his spirit would be shattered by Jayad.
“This is bad, I need to find a new body…” was the Lich’s last thought as he was overwhelmed by Jayad’s mental energy.
He then instantly jolted awake, realizing something was wrong. However, when the Lich opened his eyes wide, he was dumbfounded. He had a new body, but it was extremely difficult to control, feeling as though he had three heads and six arms.
Moreover, the surroundings had changed. It was no longer the familiar simulated spirit realm, but a gorgeous and noble opera house. He stood on stage, with the audience below consisting entirely of meticulously dressed mannequins in suits or elegant gowns.
Some of these mannequins were whispering to those beside them, some seemed to be applauding, and some were simply watching him, but the entire scene felt bizarre and terrifying.
Soon, the Lich despaired as he discovered that not only the audience but he himself was a mannequin. He raised his hand and found it was just a string of old-fashioned spherical doll joints. He couldn’t comprehend how he had been transported to the theater and ended up inside a mannequin.
Even stranger, he discovered that this mannequin also carried his aura, which was why he could possess it so effortlessly. But he had no memory of ever creating a mannequin, much less his ability to do so; he simply couldn’t make them.
At this moment, a person in a tattered yellow robe, with an exaggerated appearance and a mask, approached. Things wriggled beneath the yellow robe. Although he vaguely resembled a human form, the Lich recognized him instantly: it was the Unspeakable Angel from earlier.
“Esteemed audience, are you ready? The play is about to begin. This is the story of an evil Witch sacrificing a pitiable soul,” Jayad declared in an exaggerated voice. A girl in a witch’s robe and a circular witch’s hat walked onto the stage.
“You scoundrel! What are you doing? Let me go immediately!” the Lich roared. However, the puppet was inscribed with sealing runes, and its limbs were controlled by wires, rendering him unable to cast spells or resist.
“Now, a victim is about to be sacrificed by the Witch,” Jayad said, ignoring his pleas. With a wave of his hand, a Cross rose from below the stage.
“Ah, this is my altar. Where is my offering?” the Witch sang in a sharp, theatrical voice.
The Lich was directly bound to the Cross by wires. A pile of firewood was stacked beneath it, and the Lich could even smell a tar-like scent. Furthermore, an evil-looking Magic Circle lit up on the stage.
“Heh heh, you think you can sacrifice me? Go ahead. Even if you sacrifice me, I will revive again. Feel free to perform your ridiculous ritual!” the Lich began to sneer.
He could tell that this theater was part of a ritual aimed at sacrificing him. But they actually thought a sacrifice could kill him? How impossible that was! As long as one Phylactery remained in existence, he would not truly die.
Hearing that he was about to be sacrificed, the Lich felt relieved. He was afraid of being sealed in this bizarre puppet indefinitely, without understanding what was happening. Him being killed would allow him to escape this unfavorable situation and regroup.
Just then, he heard the Witch exclaim, “To perform the sacrifice ritual, one must first gather the necessary materials. Where are mine?”
Materials? The Lich was stunned, then saw five items descend from above the stage, suspended by wires. Among them were a jewelry box inlaid with gems, a book, a Golden Goblet, a King’s crown, and a Ring.
Aside from the jar he had destroyed at the start and the Magic Sword thrown into the Celestial Realm, all his other Phylacteries were here, and all of them were crawling with Maggots.
“Impossible!” the Lich cried in horror. “This is absolutely impossible! How did you find my Phylacteries? At least three of them were hidden outside the tomb by me! And when did you get them?”
I looked at him coldly. It was because when he tried to possess me, I counter-attacked. My Divine Power attacked his Phylacteries in reverse, marking them all.
Of course, I wouldn’t be able to retrieve them immediately. The Lich was cautious, and his Phylacteries were hidden far away, with one even buried in North Africa. Even if he were defeated within this tomb, he could revive outside, take his Phylacteries, and flee.
But after I learned the locations of the Phylacteries and told Older Brother Jayad, he extended his Tentacles and directly opened the Gate of Heaven, snatching the Phylacteries from various locations.
