[Lifespan Remaining: ???]
"The jewel..."
Noct barely managed to force the words through his aching throat, pressing one hand against the ice as he struggled to sit upright.
"What?"
"The lich is the black jewel. The skeleton is just whatever body it’s using."
Alice’s eyes moved toward the jagged crystal protruding from the armored skeleton’s forehead. "What do we do? Are we supposed to break it?"
"No. That’s how we ended up with this many."
Noct pulled one of the fragments from his bag and handed it to her. "I’ve been taking these out of their skulls. Once they’re separated, the bodies stop moving."
"You’re sure it would work on the big guy?"
"Well, that was what I was trying to figure out before he grabbed me by the throat and threw me under the lake..."
"Got it," Alice nodded, looking back at the lich to make sure it wasn’t approaching. "Pull the crystal out and we’ll win."
Noct managed to stand, though it took him a while to steady his trembling legs and straighten them out.
"Did you find anything?" he asked through heavy breaths.
"There was a crate inside the staff tent. It was filled with these weird black flowers that smelled god-awful."
"I don’t know what they were. But when I tried moving the crate, the undead outside started following me."
Noct frowned, thinking about the implication.
’Something that attracts the undead. Isn’t that—’
His eyes widened, and upon making eye contact with Alice, he realized they were both probably thinking about the same thing.
"Before you ask," she confirmed. "Yes, it was in the same box that I carried in. Even then I felt like it had a strange smell."
’So it was that bastard all along...?’
He already had a hunch of who the culprit was. The fact that he was in charge of provisions, causing everyone to sleep soundly and his proximity to the trap when it was set off. It was probably him who also influenced Group 11 to go north.
’Damn it.’
"Are you finished?"
Alice suddenly shoved him aside before throwing herself in the opposite direction.
"MOVE!"
CRAAAAAAAAASH—!
A greatsword struck the ice between them, splitting the ground where they had stood. Freezing water burst through the gap, splashing across Noct’s face as he caught himself on one knee.
’Right...survive this first.’
The lich raised its hand, and the sword went flying back to its owner, like a magnet had been attached to it.
Alice instantly recovered and dashed forward, managing to strike at the exposed side of its neck. Yet the creature raised one arm, catching her blade against its bracer before swinging a greatsword toward her waist.
The movement was so fast Noct could barely make it out, but Alice simply jumped back, dodging the attack haphazardly while sliding across the ice back to him.
"Any details beyond pulling it out?"
"Can you dislodge it with your sword?"
"If you can get it to stop trying to kill me!"
Noct looked at the options he had and realized that there was only one path forward. It was up to Alice to beat this thing, and he would have to make sure she has the path of least resistance.
And a certain description on his status panel was giving him a bit of confidence, whether that be false or otherwise.
〔Chain-Casting [★★★★★]〕
〔Description: Allows the user to concentrate on multiple sustained-effect spells at once. This number is tied to the user’s class advancement.〕
He had unconsciously used it before, even remembering the sensation of a vivid headache. But reading this description sure as hell wasn’t intuitive enough to teach him how to actively use it.
Usually, keeping a sustained-effect spell like [Blitz Tempo] active required full concentration. Losing control of the mana circulating through someone’s body could be way more disastrous than simply canceling the spell.
But even now, that was the best shot he had, and the only advantage that would be able to beat such a high-leveled opponent:
The element of surprise.
’If I can keep his sword arm pinned, this just might work...’
"Alice."
"Please tell me you thought of something."
"I did. But you’ll only get one shot."
"One shot at what?"
"The crystal," Noct nudged his chin toward the lich. "I’ll give you an opening, but you need to be ready."
"How?"
"If I tell you now, you’ll subconsciously be waiting for it. A monster like the lich is intelligent enough to read your intentions."
"...Fine."
Alice retreated a step as the lich advanced. The mark on her hand gradually changed into something else. It had once been the symbol of a woman on top of a horse-drawn chariot. Now, it was the symbol of something widely known...a skull.
"Oh, come on..."
Instantly, the color began draining from her face, so much so that Noct thought she might really fall over on the spot and die.
A sickly aura emanated from her, spreading down her arms until the fingers holding her sword had turned pale. Her skin became so dry that it might as well have been a dessert.
’Fate Magic...it seems quite the fickle thing. But from her condition, it doesn’t look so different from myself when the curse was going strong?’
The resemblance was close enough to make his stomach turn. But Noct had developed a hypothesis.
"How long can you hold that?"
"Preferably? Not at all."
A thin strip of skin peeled from the back of her hand. Alice grimaced, but then her eyes shifted toward the undead moving along the shore.
"Since you’re emanating a similar aura," Noct muttered. "It’s probably enough to disguise you from their eyes for a second. You’re not invisible, but its an advantage we can use against the lich."
When Alice moved, something strange happened. He could still sense the spell affecting her, but picking her out from the creatures beyond required effort now.
Alice seemed to arrive at the same conclusion. "This might not be bad at all? I think I can work with this."
"Then move when I tell you."
Noct released [Blitz Tempo] on himself. Once he did, the exhaustion returned so abruptly that his knees nearly gave way. He managed to catch himself, forcing a hand upward before Alice could reach for him.
?Magia Volt — Blitz Tempo.?
This time, the lightning gathered around her.
Alice jolted as pale sparks raced down her legs. She flexed her sword hand, adjusting to the sudden change before getting into her stance. And once Noct managed to stabilize himself once more...the plan was in motion.
"Go!"