The Goddess Granted Me the [Hatching] Skill and Somehow I Became the Strongest Tamer, Commanding Mythical and Divine Beasts - 39

“Blaze, take Melissa and Lucia and fall back with the others.”

While keeping the Elder Lich in check, I gave instructions to Blaze, Melissa, and Lucia.

Hearing a mysterious explosion, I rushed over and saw the Elder Lich floating in midair, chanting magic, seemingly about to deliver the final blow.

“Ho, you’re still smiling?”

The Elder Lich’s crimson eyes glowed ominously. Its eerie presence was overwhelming, and I felt as though my heart was being gripped by an unseen force.

“Ahh!”

“Ugh!”

“Yah!”

Behind me, I could hear the screams of Melissa, Blaze, and Lucia.

It was clear that the Elder Lich had done something, as I too felt short of breath. But glaring at the creature, I somehow endured it.

“So, you too can use Intimidation?”

The pressure I’d been feeling seemed to be from the skill Intimidation. Thanks to my contract with Feni, I had some resistance, which seemed to make it less effective on me than on the others.

“But that’s all. You’re alone, what can you do in this situation?”

The Elder Lich had already completed its spell and seemed fully confident, knowing that if it unleashed the magic, it could wipe out everyone present instantly.

I found myself smiling as the Elder Lich continued to converse without immediately casting the spell.

“Human… What’s so funny?”

The Elder Lich’s voice turned unpleasant, and its glowing red eyes glared at me.

“My comrades… are here!”

“What!?”

In the next moment, Purple appeared above the Elder Lich.

With each flap of Purple’s wings, glittering rainbow scales fluttered down.

“What is this!? My magic… it’s disappearing!!”

Wherever the scales touched, black smoke began to rise.

I’d heard earlier that the Rainbow Butterfly’s scales had the ability to absorb magic. When mixed into weapons or armor, they could increase power against spirits and ghost-type enemies and greatly enhance magic resistance.

“Klaus, please take care of everyone!”

On the other side of the Elder Lich, Lorraine’s figure appeared.

Until a moment ago, she had been sneaking around with Purple to get behind the Elder Lich.

We had drawn its attention while Lorraine had Purple take position above the Lich. Lorraine had also taught me the detailed effects of the Rainbow Butterfly’s scales thanks to her knowledge of alchemy.

“To think my enemy would be in a place like this! This can’t be a coincidence, did you plan this?”

“There’s no need to answer that!”

Of course, it was just a coincidence. If we had known the Elder Lich was here, a large extermination squad would have been assembled.

Bringing Purple along, Lorraine understanding the scales’ effect, and identifying the monster as the Elder Lich—all of it was just good fortune.

As the scales touched it, the Elder Lich’s body started to fade.

“……!! ……!! ……!!”

Purple, too, was desperately scattering scales, but from the feeling I was getting, it seemed the limit was near.

“Purple, come back!”

Holding my Sun Sword, I kept the Elder Lich in check and called Purple back.

“Thank you, you saved us.”

“……♪”

When I patted Purple, who had landed on my shoulder, its antennae twitched happily.

“From here, I’ll fight.”

The Rainbow Butterfly’s scales seemed to have been incredibly effective against the Elder Lich, as it looked significantly weakened.

Its robe was torn, and it was floating unsteadily in the air.

The pressure I’d felt earlier had halved, and now the Elder Lich’s strength seemed to be at best B+ rank.

“Curse you, no matter how weakened I am, there’s no way I could lose to a human! I’ll crush your arrogance!”

The Elder Lich’s eyes gleamed as it began to concentrate magic in its hands.

“Klaus, be careful! That magic is still incredibly powerful,” Lorraine warned.

Even though it was weakened, the Elder Lich’s magic still seemed to be highly dangerous.

“Take this!”

It fired its magic. With people behind me who hadn’t yet evacuated, dodging was not an option. I quickly thought of a way to halve its power using Purifying Flame.

“Purifying…… Flame☆!”

In the middle of casting, Purple intervened, and a rainbow-colored flame rose before me.

The Elder Lich’s magic was absorbed into the rainbow flames, which only intensified their strength.

It seemed that in this critical moment, Purple’s and my skills had merged, creating a new ability.

“Wha-Wha-WHAAAT!? You absorbed my magic!?”

For the first time, the Elder Lich lost its composure and screamed in shock.

This new skill, which absorbs magic and enhances the flames—Magic-Absorbing Flame—would be a nightmare for any magic user.

With a wall of flames capable of absorbing magic, the Elder Lich had no chance of winning. It seemed to realize this as well…

“Curses, I’ll retreat for now. You foolish humans, you won’t get away with this!”

The Elder Lich flew into the air, attempting to escape. It must have thought that since I couldn’t fly, it could get away. But…

“Purple, can you carry me?”

“……!”

Purple wrapped its silk around my arms and flapped its wings.

Usually, it would capture goblins, kobolds, or orcs like this and drop them to the ground, but with this, I could fly as well.

“Wha…!?”

Seeing me chase after it, the Elder Lich’s face finally showed fear.

“Sorry, but my comrades are the best.”

As I closed in, I swung my Sun Sword.

“I’ve never heard of something like you… Damn… it…”

This sword that had felled so many monsters was no exception—it cut through the Elder Lich’s body as well.

The Elder Lich’s body dissolved into black mist, dispersing into the sky.

“……♪”

The fluttering sound of Purple’s wings echoed, sounding pleased.