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Sargathos the Man-Dracolich |
Sargathos tries to evade it, but the gap between the strings
becomes narrower and narrower. A fly can hardly fly through it, and for this
huge monstrosity, it’s absolutely impossible.
CRASSHH!
CRASSH! CRASH!
Even the
mandracolich’s skeletal, tough crust is cracked under the sharpness of those
lines of light, as though a thousand needles piercing through him. In addition,
the holy energy from the piercings stays inside his body, inhibiting the flow
of dark energy, thus paralyzing him. Sargathos falls all the way down to the
burning city below him.
BBAAMMM!!
Chris and
Acavela reappear in front of Sargathos the mandracolich. Their auras have reached maximum, and their
bodies are glowing as if gods. Even so, they just have enough to deal one,
finishing blow.
‘Come on,
what are you waiting for? Just do away with me! I don’t want to go on living as
a heap of broken bones like this!’
‘Than might
be as well as your just reward, Sargathos,’ says Chris calmly. ‘You killed
dragons indiscriminantly just to drink their blood and eat their hearts,
whereas a good dragon slayer only kills those of a menace.
The one
that killed you was Algaban, the Ancient Red Dragon. Judging from the version
of your story, I think you’ve lied. A dragon slayer always does a thorough
research before doing his job. So, I think you were hired to kill Algaban by no
other than the one who transformed you, Zal’fira the Necromancess.’
‘H-how did
you know that?’ said the mandracolich, still lying helpless, paralyzed and
vulnerable.
‘Because I
and my friends have fought her in her second attempt to rob Algaban of
the Adair’s Arsenal she was guarding. Looks like you didn’t do a thorough
research on me first when you decided to hunt me down. Well, I hid my true
identity back then, but my father acknowledged my feat in Hvalgarr when he
dubbed me as a Paladin. Well, at least someone has done his homework.’
‘So, what
are you waiting for?’ Sargathos sounds weak, desperate and impatient. ‘I wans’t
smart enough to survive in this dragon hunting trade. I was swayed by the
Necromancess’ lies and promises of absolute power. Apparently, she used me as a
bait!
I thought I
got the power that I wanted, but I was wrong. I am the strongest mandracolich,
but I’m lost to the true Power of Light, a power far greater than mine. Guess I
can’t convince you to become a mandracolich after all, eh. Now please. End my
life now, free me from my misery.’
To the
mandracolich’s surprise, Chris shakes his head, saying, ‘No, I won’t do that.
Let Vadis be the judge of life and death, not me. I did all this just to make
you realize your errors, your weak points. I don’t want to be a murderer.’
OUEEK! The
mandracolich vomits blood and says, ‘Huh! Now it’s you who haven’t researched on
undeads thoroughly! Can’t you see, it’s too late for me now. I have a cursed
life, cursed body, and frankly speaking, like all undead, I’m already dead. I’d
rather die and pay for my sins in hell than spending eternity as a paralyzed
cripple! Now I’m not welcome in this world and the underworld. Unless Vadis is
willing to forgive my sins, hell is my only option.
So, I’m
begging you, please! You’ll torture me if you let me live. Kill me! It’ll do me
far more good. Please!’
‘Hm, I
understand now. This cursed life is Vadis’ way to give you the chance to see
the light. Know this, Vadis is willing to forgive all sins, even from an
undead, if he truly repents.’
‘Really?
Vadis, if you’re willing, please forgive my sins and embrace me in your loving
hands. Go ahead. I’m ready.’ The mandracolich tries to smile but his skull-like
face is impossible for all expressions.
‘Very well,
I’ll help you.’
Chris uses
his excess mana and does a single thrust with concentrated full power: Singular Voice of Truth. CRASSH! The
blade of Excalibur breaks the crust,
goes all the way through the mandracolich’s chest and heart. Green, slimy blood
gushes out from that wound.
Sargathos
screams in pain. With his dying breath, he mutters, ‘Vadis, you’re calling me!
I... come.’
Thus ends a
cursed life and begins a blessed afterlife.
Rest in peace, Sargathos.