Volume 1 Chapter 48 The Wraith
"Why... why is Wraith coming to the upper layer? It's supposed to be rare even in the lower layer..."
Chester exclaimed, wide-eyed, as he muttered to himself.
Emerging from the depths of the cave, the undead creature known as the Wraith floated towards us in the empty air, slowly and eerily.
The Wraith was wrapped in tattered, black robes that seemed to be nothing more than scraps of cloth. The hood covering the part that would be a person's head was so dark that no light could pass through.
From its sleeves extended two skeletal arms, transparent enough to see through to the back.
Its feet, or rather the lack thereof, were nonexistent. Only the torn edges of its robes swayed in the air.
"Ugh, we have the worst luck... Why is an A-rank monster like this here..."
A female adventurer, likely a priestess, who had escaped, trembled as she stared at the Wraith.
Wraith is an A-Rank monster that is classified as undead, and they're known for not having a physical body.
Also, there are two types of undead.
One type, like zombies and skeletons, have physical bodies.
The other type, like ghosts, don't have physical bodies.
When you try to fight undead with physical bodies, you can use physical attacks to defeat them.
But when it comes to ghosts, physical attacks don't work. Normal weapons can go right through them or have very little effect.
What's even scarier is that these ghost-type undead have a terrifying ability called 'Drain Touch,' which lets them suck the life force out of living beings just by touching them.
That's why fighters who rely on close combat have to be very careful when dealing with them.
But there are three ways to deal with ghosts if you encounter them.
One way is for a magician to use powerful magic to defeat them.
Another way is for a priest to use Healing Magic (Holy Magic) to purify them using a spell called Dispel.
However, (Dispel) has a high chance of failing if the caster's level isn't high enough, and it also consumes the magic power of the priest, reducing the time available for dungeon exploration.
And the last way to do is to run away, just like these adventurers did.
'────'
The wraith floated closer to us and then stopped, hovering in the air without moving.
"Eek, eek…!"
Seeing its figure, Chester hid behind me and Fatina, using us as shields.
"Th-that's the monster from the lower layer..."
Trembling, Mel whispered softly.
'Oooooooooh...'
Suddenly, the wraith let out a deep voice── right then, the surroundings began to dim abruptly.
At the same time, I felt my body becoming slightly heavier.
"W-what's... happening!?"
"My body... feels... so heavy all of a sudden..."
"Ugh... ugh..."
The adventurers around us started to breathe heavily, looking suddenly uncomfortable.
Their knees shook, and they seemed to be struggling just to stand.
"Ark-sama! Are you okay!?"
Fatina spoke while pointing her sword towards the wraith. She doesn't seem to be very effective.
"Yeah, I feel a bit heavier, but I'm fine. How about you, Fatina?"
"I'm fine. Maybe it's thanks to my [Magic Resistance] skill that I can defend myself."
Indeed, she had the [Magic Resistance] skill. It seemed to have prevented her from getting any status ailments.
"Ugh... ugh..."
When I looked behind me, I saw Mel swaying and about to collapse while holding her right hand to her face.
I quickly caught her shoulders with both arms.
"Mel, are you okay? Pull yourself together."
"Yes... I think that monster is using status ailments against us."
Mel managed to stand on her own, despite breathing heavily.
It would be impossible for her to use magic in her current condition.
The wraith must have noticed that we were getting weaker because it started approaching us again.
──But no matter the situation, there is only one thing I can do.
"Fatina, please don't push yourself. I'll defeat it."
"B-but..."
"If you touch that thing, it will drain your life force. Leave it to me."
I explained to her, as if reminding her, and ran towards the wraith, casting a spell.
"(Quadruple Death)"
As I sprinted through the cave, I pointed the tip of my Mithril sword in my right hand towards the wraith.
The wave of "Death" released from the tip of the sword rushed towards wraith.
'Oooh...!'
But in the next moment, the wraith's robe transformed, and the part with a dark, black edge extended towards the "Death." And the wave was nullified.
(To think he would use his robe to guard against it...)
Until now, I've never encountered a monster that could interfere with Instant Death Magic using any kind of tool, so I'm genuinely surprised.
It seems like Wraith is controlling that black robe as if it's a part of his own body.
'Ooooh...'
And then, the Wraith rapidly approached me as if to counterattack, reaching out his arm.
I quickly dodge it.
After all, even the slightest touch could drain my life force completely.
For payback, I retaliate by slashing at the Wraith with my mithril sword.
But the Wraith, anticipating my move, immediately retreats and keeps his distance, just like before.
"Ark-sama! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Even if I use (Ruin), there's a possibility that it could be blocked in some way, just like before. It's powerful, but the risk of failure is too high.
In short, I just need to directly hit the Wraith's main body with Instant Death Magic, beyond that robe.
Thinking that way, I start running towards the Wraith again.
"──Let's go!"
The Wraith, who quickly noticed my approach, reaches out towards me to grab my body.
I purposely take the hit with my right shoulder.
And as soon as his vague hand touches my shoulder, my body quickly becomes cold, and I start to lose the ability to think gradually.
But I won't die suddenly.
Thanks to my increased stats from previous battles.
"Ark-samaa!!"
Fatina shouts.
I switch the Mithril sword to my left hand and deeply thrust it into the Wraith's dark face── activating the Instant Death Magic spell.
"(Quadruple Death)"
The "Death" released from the tip of the Mithril sword directly hits Rayce's main body.
And then──
'Ooooooooooooooh────!!'
Unable to avoid the devastating blow of the "Instant Death Magic" spell, the Wraith lets out a cry of agony as his body disintegrates in mid-air.
And then, only the robe I was wearing remained on the ground.
(It was a bit of a forced strategy, but it seems to have worked out well.)
'You've unlocked a new ability by defeating a special monster. Check your status to see the details.'
======================================
[Basic Status]
Name: Ark
Occupation: Magician
Level: 1★
HP: 7500/9858
MP: 11914/12114
Attack: 6282
Defense: 4840
Stamina: 4830
Speed: 5377
Intelligence: 6526
[Owned Skills]
- Instant Death Magic Lv50
[Owned Abilities]
- Half Magic Consumption Reduction Lv1
- Range Increase Lv4
- Success Rate Increase Lv2
- Ruin Enhancement Lv1
- Coffin of the Dead
- Soul Retrieval
- Quadruple
- Multiple Chant
- Insanity
======================================
Wraith's 'Drain Touch' seems to drain a significant amount of vitality at once. It was the right decision not to force Fatina to fight.
(However, the amount of stat increase from 'Soul Retrieval' varies a lot...)
Ghosts like Wraith probably don't have much life force to begin with. While magic power has increased greatly, things like physical strength haven't increased much.
And along with that, a new symbol has been added to the bottom right corner of the Abilities List.
The symbol depicts Wraith's's head covered in black cloth, emitting a dark glow different from the usual.
I touched it with my finger.
'Insanity: Ability of the Destruction attribute. Lowers the stats of all targets in the surroundings. The power varies depending on the difference in stats with the target.'
(Ability of the Destruction attribute? Seems like a new type...)
So, it means it's an ability with the same attribute as (Ruin).
"L-look! The Wraith disappeared!!
My body can move! I can finally go home!"
"Wow! I can't believe there was an amazing adventurer who could defeat The Wraith!"
"Th-thank goodness..."
The adventurers began to share their joy at having survived. It seems the Wraith's abilities have been lifted.
"Ark-sama! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
As I replied, Fatina seemed relieved and let out a sigh.
"But seriously, lower layer monsters coming to the upper layer?"
In the Emerald Green Dungeon, a middle layer Skeleton Ogre had come up to the upper layer.
But it's not normal for an A-rank monster to come this far.
"Y-yeah! This is unheard of! I'm definitely going to complain to the Adventurers Guild about this!"
Chester, with his arms crossed, said in an angry tone,
"Um, Mel, are you okay?"
"Y-yes... I'm fine."
When I suddenly turned around, I saw Mel sitting on the ground, looking unwell. From that expression, it didn't seem like she was okay at all.
Although she shouldn't have any injuries, it seemed impossible for her to go to the lower layer in this condition.
"I'm sorry, but can we turn back for today?"
"Oh, yes! Of course! Let's quickly return to the surface and go back to Trasverum using [Teleportation Magic]!"
Chester nodded vigorously.
And so, we decided to go back the way we came and return to Trasverum.
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