Chapter 15.1. Hordes of undead.

With mercenaries teetering on brink of annihilation, Lilith’s desperation reached boiling point – realization struck, that there was no other choice left, but reveal ultimate secret weapon.

– Holy Light! – she roared in defiant challenge. Power surged from depths of her body – sacred radiance blinding with intensity, engulfed area – expelling spectral scourge with divine ferocity! Spectral Whispers wailed in anguish, dissipating in nothingness before the fury of Holy Light!

As final echoes of haunting cries faded into silence, group collapsed, gasping breaths, with  eyes glazed from shock and narrowly escaped oblivion. The only evidence of ghosts’ presence were scattered magic stones, now littering bloodstained ground.

– T-Thank you, – Cian rasped brokenly: – I thought we were done for. But…

The party stared at Lilith in stunned disbelief, realization dawning on them. She had used Light Magic – an ability granted only by the gods of Human Continent. And yet here they were – on Dark Continent – realm of demon lords and fallen deities, who reveled in Dark and Chaos magic.

– How…? – Kragor whispered hoarsely: – The skill… it shouldn’t even exist here! What does this mean for us?

Lilith sighed heavily, but them grimaced and snapped at them:

– Keep quiet! Do not reveal anyone, what you saw just now. Now gather magic stones. Since you are useless here, I will use you as bait! – Lilith’s tone snapped with authority, silencing any further questioning. Her eyes flashed, warning glare daring disobedience.

The mercenaries quickly scrambled to obey order, stooping to gather scattered magical stones, strewn across battlefield. Even in their exhausted state, fear and obedience outweighed curiosity, regarding inexplicable display of power, witnessed mere moments ago.

Rising stiffly Lilith surveyed party members critically. A smirk played corners of her lips, holding barely suppressed frustration.

Pivoting suddenly, she gestured imperiously ahead, eyebrow arching expectantly.

– Well? No use loitering – onward into depths of this town! You may find yourself acting as ‘bait’ soon enough.

Mercenaries traded uncertain glances, before falling into line behind leader and reluctantly marching deeper into ruins – all too aware that fate now rested in her hands alone.

They continued searching the floor. Lilith did not lie – she did used her companions to draw out Spectral Whispers, but she did it, because she had no other plan at her disposal. Her spell was the only way to banish the monsters, without unnecessary risks. They continued searching the town, until Lilith mana started to run low and she decided to leave.

Over next six months, Lilith relentlessly scoured every nook and cranny of crumbling town on eighth dungeon floor. Her mercenaries followed dutifully behind, serving dual purpose of bait for Spectral Whispers and extra muscle, when physical force was required.

Lilith moved methodically, leaving no stone unturned in her thorough search. Each abandoned structure was inspected meticulously – from decrepit hovels to majestic ruins of once grand architecture. As Lilith’s mana reserves began dwindling at alarming rate from constant use of Light Magic, banishing spectral scourge, she retreated and then returned again. Time after time, she called retreat back to surface world, just to return few days later.

They search was rewarded. They found several artifacts, among them three swords, dagger, large chest filled with gold coins and even large and heavy shield. Without knowing weapons abilities, Lilith decided not to use them. Instead she used Exorcism spell, to remove any curses from them, and placed artifacts inside her Female Purse.

Half a year later after searching every piece of the floor, Lilith decided to delve deeper. Yet another floor that resembled ruined town was waiting for them. But this time it was filled with skeletons. This was not the first time, that Lilith saw such floor, and she decided to leave these monsters to her slaves. She stayed behind allowing her men to face countless hordes of undead, while casting Slow spell, only when it looked like, that they will be overrun.

While the battle raged around her, Lilith observed intently – noting patterns and movements, all weaknesses in enemy formation. Her mind raced with ideas how to exploit undead limitations: perhaps a well-placed explosion would send skeletons flying apart, unable to reassemble? The hours stretched as long day turned into night and back again, as endless battle drug mercenaries closer to physical and emotional limits. Yet somehow they persisted – fueled by desperate hope of their master’s interventions, which would pull victory from jaws of defeat yet again.

As dusk settled once more, it became clear that this latest test of endurance nearly broke them utterly. Only Lilith’s timely magical assistance kept crushing tide of bone soldiers, keeping them at bay – proving once again importance of strategic leadership and magic in battlefield triumphs.

They had to retreat dozen times, resting on the surface and coming back again At last,
after grueling month of nonstop slaughter and plunder, ruins finally fell silent, skeletal armies vanquished for a while. Thousands gleaming magic stones glittered, marking hard-fought victory.

But relief lasted fleeting heartbeat. Lilith ordered them to collect all magic stones and after that, there was a tiresome month of searching ruins, and some encounter with undead monsters begun again.

They approached one of the houses, which looked like the others, when Lilith ordered them to stop. She gestured for them to wait, and after casting Conceal spell on herself, which helped her to move unnoticed, went to scout ahead.

Soon she returned, and whispered to her men.

– There is a draugr. Let us see, how strong you have become. Deal with him yourself.

They nodded, and followed her orders. Every one of them leveled up even further, after facing undead, and now they felt confident in their powers.

– Faugh! More bones to break, eh? – burly minotaur snorted, hefting his axe with relish: – I’m stronger than I was thanks to those bony buggers. Time to show them what happens, when ya mess with Kragor!

– Most intriguing… – murmured Sharr, the yellow-eyed scholar, tail flicking pensively behind him: – To face a Draugr so soon after our previous ordeals – it shall be most enlightening, to witness your strategies against such a venerable adversary, Mistress Lilith.

Azael just nodded silently, while Cian unsheathed his sword:

– Be wary, brothers, Draugr are foul beasts, steeped in vengeful hatred. Their resilience to damage is legendary. But we’ve grown stronger together – endured trials no ordinary warriors could bear! Whatever fiend waits yonder, we’ll cut it down with our steel.

They moved ahead, while Lilith stayed behind, observing them with her narrowed eyes.

They moved cautiously through crumbling ruins, Lilith’s narrowed gaze fixed upon their backs. She observed with critical eye – assessing readiness to face whatever foes awaited ahead.

Suddenly, draugr erupted from shadows! The monstrous revenant towered before them – a grotesque parody of human form. Patches of skin clung to desiccated flesh over jutting bones;
long talons tipped fingers with gnarled claws, ready rend flesh and meat. Lips curled back on rotting skull, revealing jagged fangs – emitting hiss of challenge that promised exquisite torment awaiting challengers, brave enough to face its wrath!

Steel rang sharp in discordant harmony against twisted talon-claws – each parried blow sending shockwave and tremor through fatigued limbs.

Azael called forth his divine power and covered his blade with fire, striking with angelic precision. Sharr darted, evading sweeps, while Kragor wielded axe two-handed. He slashed at draugr, but they all missed.

Cian spun twin-edged dance of deadly grace – silver flashes scoring shallow grooves across undying abomination flesh.

Even united though, their efforts seemed futile against revenant’s inhuman vigor. Draugr moved faster than they could anticipate. His claws left deep wound in Sharss’ face, and with a cry of pain, snakeman fell on earth holding his disfigured face.

Kragor roared in anger and lowered his axe on draugr’s head. But monster moved aside and his claws left deep wound in minotaur’s stomach. Then he grabbed Kragor’s axe, and sent it towards Azael. Fallen angel tried to block, but was not strong enough, and axe went deep inside his shoulder.

Cian staggered, breath coming in ragged gasps through teeth, gritted with determination. Draugr did not missed his chance and grabbed his neck. Claw-tipped hands wrapped around Cian’s neck, and draugr effortlessly lifted him into air.

– Holy Word, – calmly said Lilith, light exploded between them. Draugr flew backwards, screeching in pain. Cian fell on the ground, grasping his bleeding neck. The party looked to their leader – wondering what her next move would be in this critical moment.