The First Lich Lord

What! I snapped. Even with my attention directed towards the top of the dungeon, I didnt have the sense of it like I once did, so I looked at Kellnock.

There is a large group of bound souls pouring into the entrance of the dungeon, Kellnock spoke without passion. None of them are strong, nothing so far has the strength to push all the way to the bottom, are they all stupid?

Larry? Maxwell asked.

Unless someone else has come to town and wants to cause problems, I grumbled. Youre certain we are fine?

Yes, my lord, even if you were not here, this would only in the end serve to power the dungeon. The confidence in Kellnocks voice assured me.

You have numbers?

Kellnock got a distant look, then he refocused. There appears to be just over a thousand of them.

That worried me. A thousand players was a bigger threat than Kellnock was acknowledging. Even if they were all killed, they would just keep resurrecting and coming back. It would wear the dungeon down. Livia would have to act. But how did they have so many members of their guild?

We were discussing plans when my sister, Jessica, came in, escorted by Raven. I hadnt even noticed that Raven disappeared. Its good that youre back, Jess said. Livia was worried.

What can you tell me?

As you can guess, its Larry and his guild that is organizing this, but theres only about a hundred members of his guild here, she explained. The rest are mercenaries hired from the cities nearest the marsh.

That explains the levels that Kellnock reported, Maxwell said. Outside the marsh, this isnt typically a high danger region, the garrisons might be stronger but thats it. They will be strong, but not overly powerful.

That does change things. The pit in my stomach closed and an idea sprung to life. Kellnock, you mind if we take the equipment they brought with them, my troops could use it.

Of course. I can tally it against the resources normally set aside for you, it is a good use of them.

I grumbled a little at that, but didnt argue.

***

You know, this timing actually couldnt be better, I said, sitting with Maxwell, his band that Kellnock had completed, and Raven.

No one will actually buy the reason, no one who knows anything anyways. Maxwell was idly plucking at his guitar.

It doesnt really matter. I shrugged, leaning back in my overly done chair made of bones, it was technically more like a throne.

Im tired of waiting, how long is it going to take? Raven demanded.

Well, the last of their troops passed along the pathway only a few minutes ago, I guess well see the first players shortly, I told her. We were on the harbor floor sitting out near where we had defended ourselves in the last invasion. freew(e)bnove(l)

When the dungeon was invaded, the instances collapsed and Kellnock had pulled the troops off the upper floors ahead of the oncoming invaders. He also sealed off access to the micilium completely. Michael, the leader of the micilium, wasnt sealed away, having fully embraced being of the dungeon and wanted to fight.

Are you worried about them sensing the trap? Maxwell asked.

I dont know, I sighed. Any competent player would step onto this floor and immediately know this was a trap, but I really dont know if competence is how I would describe Larry.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Best not to underestimate our opponents just because you think theyre stupid, Raven said. Just because the prey might be stupid enough to walk off the cliff doesnt mean you dont shove them.

I was just about to respond when movement caught my eye. A group of players walked onto the harbor floor directly in front of us. I watched them carefully, recognizing none of them, which meant they were probably some of the guild brought in from outside the marsh.

It didnt take long before more and more players came out. This floor wasnt set up in a labyrinth like it had been last time, but they were still doing their job and checking all of the rooms.

Good of you to join us, Larry and his band of douche bags, I said when I saw his team. I see you brought sacrifices for my dungeon. I appreciate your contribution to the cause.

You wont be so tough once we beat the shit out of you, Larry sneered, his team already moving forward around him, and other players surged in, including the mercenaries they hired. We were definitely outnumbered. If I had my count correct, all hundred players were here and the remaining mercenaries werent far behind.

Stop, the authoritative voice clamped down on the players, and Larry stopped in his tracks. What have you gotten us into? A man wearing flowing robes embroidered with red, blue, green, and white runes spoke. He had a full and thick beard. We shouldve turned back when the floors started being empty.

We can handle this, Larry snarled.

Our quest to Olattee was to purge this place, the man was annoyed, bordering on anger. You told me we could do it with what we had, that there was only one threat.

There is, Larry protested. This is all show, the only real threat is Kellnock whos the boss.

You dont know if thats true. My voice was mocking. Since Kellnock took over, none of you have even gotten to the lower floors, and you thought you could come here and destroy my dungeon? I could tell the leader was powerful, likely higher level than anyone else I had encountered outside of the priests.

What! the man exclaimed.

Mr. unknown elemental wizard man, I snarled, maybe have more reliable subordinates who arent dumbasses. I stood. By the way, you are right, you shouldve turned back. Im guessing youre the leader of this little band that you got together. Why dont I show you mine? I released a flare of eldritch magic just for show as I gave a mental command. Raven, I want him alive, I whispered to her. He would be difficult to subdue, but it was doable.

The water rippled behind me and even as I heard the man starting to shout orders I spoke again. One of the best things about having undead troops is they dont need to breathe. Rising out of the water behind me, Abimelech strode. Kellnock had modified the harbors edge so there was a smooth ramp leading down most of the way out. My army had been waiting down there hidden by the dark waters. The only thing my army really lacks right now is a goal, and to be honest, equipment. But you and your sacrifices will serve wonderfully for that.

As I spoke, the Dread Thirteen led line after line of bone guard. The players charged. Their only hope was to get to me first. They were too late. Id taken some time beforehand to carve rituals into the ground.

Using rituals in combat could be difficult, but when you had prep time it was quite powerful. Chains of eldritch fire erupted from the ground, tangling and clasping onto the charging players and mercenaries. Counter spells ripped across the field from priests and wizards in the invaders army, but the ritual magic was powerful and the eldritch chains hard to break.

I activated another prepared ritual when the elemental wizard started building a spell. Barriers flared into existence, all burning with eldritch power. They projected forward fields that would disrupt incoming spells, breaking apart the cohesion.

A fireball hammered into the first of my barriers. It broke apart just before it hit the barrier itself, the fire mana evaporating into the environment. More spells began to fall, then powerful barriers made of death energy filled the area around me and my emerging army. My two necromancers charged up by the elemental zombies released their prepared spells.

Flights of arrows flew out towards the mercenaries as they rushed forward. The bone archers had emerged. Maxwell began a metal riff I did not recognize.

The ranged fighters of the invaders greatly outnumbered my own, but they shattered against the barrier spells and arrows alike. Turning aside, I realized just how under level of most of the fodder before me was.

Abimelech, keep as many of the bound souls alive as possible, we need to make an example, I ordered as she stepped up beside me. Have Othniel work with Raven to take care of the elemental wizard.

Right as the players reached my lines of bone guard, the life thieves floated onto the right flank as Kellnock rode Chompy from where the army of invaders had just come. Hed brought the dungeon boss up with him and gathered all of the dungeon minions he could inside the micilium floor before sealing it off. When he detected the final invaders had passed by, and the fight was beginning, theyd opened the hidden entrance and flooded out.

The battle wasnt a battle, it was a massacre. None of the players surrendered, but the mercenaries tried to. We didnt let them.

By the end of it, fifty of the players had been subdued, all of them wounded, and we specifically made sure Larry and his team survived. Already my bone guard were stripping the fallen mercenaries and players of gear. Kellnock got the bodies, but that was okay.

Take them to the arena, I ordered.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on fre(e)webnov(l).com