At first, Jake thought the dragon liche was merely bluffing, attempting to intimidate him into releasing his grip. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that it was no empty threat—the creature was genuinely intent on diving into the bubbling lava below.
Jake thought fast. What could he do? One possibility was to execute a Gravity Leap, propelling himself upward. At the peak of his jump, he could briefly hover in midair, momentarily defying gravity itself.
But then what? Ultimately, he would only end up plunging into the lava below for all his trouble, which was exactly what the dragon liche wanted for him to happen.
His Enhanced Intelligence allowed him to discern the intentions of nearby humans, but it failed against ex-humans, who were devoid of thought. The dragon liche, however, was an entirely different matter. Far more intelligent than the mindless ex-humans, it possessed its own will. So Jake could sense that although the dragon liche was actually going to plunge into the bubbling lava, it was not acting out of suicidal intent.
No, the dragon liche’s primary intention was to scare him into letting go. Only he wasn’t going to give his opponent that satisfaction. The bone beast had to be powerful enough to survive in lava for a brief moment, and it had to be aware of that. However, it wasn’t invulnerable, and Jake was confident it would try to surface from the sea of lava as soon as it submerged.
Jake knew that as long as he clung to his opponent, he had a chance to get out of this predicament. But if he let go, it would all be over for him. So Jake held on tightly. The dragon liche continued to move down toward the bubbling lava below, which was rushing up at them with breathtaking speed. It drew closer and closer, and before Jake knew it, he was surrounded by lava.
Although he felt no pain, he could feel that the damage his body was taking was significant. His armor was disintegrating at an alarming speed. Thankfully, the dragon liche already shifted its direction and began to rise upward. Moments later, they broke through the surface of the lava, sending droplets flying in all directions.
The beast climbed higher and higher. Jake noticed that the damage it had sustained was far worse than his own, its bones appearing half-melted. He checked his HP and realized he had lost around fifteen percent of his health. Fortunately, Enhanced Regeneration was already working to heal his body.
The dragon liche was furious at Jake for refusing to let go of its bony frame. It unleashed a thunderous roar, tinged with rage and frustration.
You can’t shake me off so easily, Jake thought.
For several moments, the beast thrashed and twisted violently to try to throw him off. Jake clung on for dear life. When it realized it couldn’t shake him free, the creature veered sharply and sped up.
Jake wondered what was on its mind this time. It was obvious that it wouldn’t plunge back into the lava again, given the severe damage it had already taken. Then he realized the dragon liche was making its way back to the island they had departed from just moments ago.
The beast touched down in the center of the island with a thunderous thud, folding its wings tightly against its body. Jake immediately sprang back into action, unleashing a flurry of blows with his smashfist aimed at its head. He landed several hits before the creature let out an unusual growl he had never heard before. Jake wondered what it meant, and a moment later, he realized the dragon liche had just used one of its special abilities.
Strange whispers filled the air, growing louder and more frantic. Just as Jake looked up, ghostly figures began to materialize around the dragon liche, their transparent forms twisting and writhing. Some were clad in tattered remnants of armor and wielding spectral swords, while others were draped in robes, clutching shimmering staffs.
Multiple ghostly figures raised their staffs toward the dragon liche, releasing brilliant blue beams that struck the creature. To Jake’s displeasure, the beast began to heal at an incredible pace. Its bones, once half-melted by lava, reformed, and the fissures in its skull, which he had caused, knitted together seamlessly.
Jake slammed his fist into the dragon liche’s skull once again, leaving a network of cracks where he had struck. Yet several of the ghostly figures fired healing beams at the creature once more, and the injuries he had just caused vanished in an instant.
Two of the mages sent bolts of lightning flying toward him. He dodged one but was struck in the chest by the other, suffering Ethereal damage. Fortunately, having recently increased his resistance to such attacks by 25%, he didn’t take as much damage as he had before.
Still, he realized he needed to deal with the ghosts before turning his attention back to the dragon liche. Jumping off the creature to the ground, he retrieved the ointment he had recently found from his Inventory. He pulled the cork free, and after extending a blade from his right wrist, smeared the ointment over the blade. Now he could inflict damage on ghosts.
The dragon liche attempted to grab him with its jaws, but he darted away just in time. He quickly glanced around and realized the ghosts had already surrounded him. The first ghost lunged at him, swinging its wraithlike sword. Jake deftly sidestepped, swinging his own blade in a wide arc. When their weapons met, a surge of energy rippled through the air.
With a swift counter, he thrust his blade forward, piercing the specter in the chest. In a blinding flash of light, the ghost evaporated into shimmering particles, leaving only air behind. But there was no time to savor his victory. More of them surged forward, undeterred by the loss of their ally.
Jake spun to face two warrior ghosts simultaneously. One of them attacked, forcing him to raise his blade. The ghost’s ethereal sword clashed violently against his. He ducked low to avoid a sweeping arc from the other phantom, then retaliated with a precise downward slash. His blade struck the ghostly figure’s midsection, and once again, a brilliant flash erupted, disintegrating the specter.
But the fight against the ghosts was far from over. A trio of sorcerers joined the fray, their staves glowing ominously as they conjured swirling energy in the air. Jake sensed a crackle in the air as dark magic surged toward him like a bolt of lightning. He dodged to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding a blast that left a scorch mark on a nearby rock outcropping.
Jake charged toward the first sorcerer, skillfully dodging the incoming energy blasts. Closing the distance quickly, he swung his blade and severed the spectral hand that clutched the staff. The ghost let out a pained howl, its form flickering like a dying ember. He struck again, his blade finding its mark, and the sorcerer vanished in an eruption of light.
The remaining spectral sorcerers joined forces, their magic intertwining to create a powerful surge aimed directly at him. Jake zeroed in on their movements, anticipating the impending strike. When the moment came, he leaped aside, successfully dodging the explosive wave of energy that followed.
He immediately repositioned himself, thrusting his sword toward one of the remaining sorcerers. The blade sliced through the spectral form, and once more, a blinding light consumed the area as the ghost vanished from sight.
Only one sorcerer remained, visibly shaken. Desperation etched across its face, it raised its staff, attempting to summon more power. But Jake was already charging at it with astonishing speed. Closing the gap, he feigned an attack before delivering a swift swing of his sword. The blade found its mark, and with a brilliant flash of light, the last sorcerer vanished from existence.
After that, Jake turned his attention to the remaining warrior ghosts. It didn’t take him much time or effort to deal with them. Just as he focused on the dragon liche, the creature unfurled its colossal wings and took to the air.
As it hovered a dozen meters above the ground, it began to flap its massive wings with tremendous vigor, creating a thunderous gust that sent ash and dust spiraling around like a whirlwind. The first rush of wind slammed into him with great force, nearly knocking him off his feet. He managed to keep his balance, but it was clear this was just the beginning. The beast continued to flap its wings, causing the wind to gain speed and intensity.
The dragon liche was clearly using another of its special abilities. Jake instinctively steadied himself, his gaze fixed on the beast hovering above. As the wind grew stronger, its force threatened to knock him off balance. The beast’s intention was clear: it wanted to create a powerful, raging wind to blow him off the island. Jake dug his feet into the earth, trying to anchor himself against the tempest unleashed by the dragon’s unfurling wings.
The wind swirled around him, growing stronger by the moment. Jake knew that he couldn’t hold his ground for much longer. Suddenly, the dragon liche let out a primal roar that echoed through the air, as if it were already celebrating its impending victory.