Chapter 157

Chapter 157
## Chapter 157: Birth of the Ark Lich

One of the primary abilities acquired after becoming the Star Successor.

Parallel to the Star Claw, this is a sacred gift capable of dissolving a target’s ‘Limit Curse.’

A Limit Curse, as implied, is a hex that mandates a specific ‘restriction.’

The ‘Warp Usage Prohibited’ spell the Desert Queen cast upon Isabella, or the ‘Demon King’s Curse’ that nearly condemned Serengeti to a permanent slumber—these serve as prime examples.

This instance followed that same pattern.

However, the power isn’t absolute; the Star Blessing has specific conditions for its activation. Fortunately, the current situation met those requirements.

Erasing all boundaries and dark providence to integrate Andasar would be no simple feat.

《‘Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire’ begins merging with Andasar.》

《Merging finalized!》

《‘Dullahan Andasar’ has ascended to ‘Ark Lich’!》

…What?

I tilted my head, puzzled by the notification that materialized.

‘Ark Lich?’

That was a title I had never encountered.

I was familiar with Demi Liches or Master Liches, but an Ark Lich?

And the spelling was Ark, as in a vessel, not Arch.

Like Noah’s Ark.

But that didn’t seem like the sort of term associated with a lich.

Once a being becomes a lich, depraved karma gathers by necessity, placing them as far as possible from an ‘Ark,’ which represents a holy container.

Was it the combination of the Star Blessing and Andrew’s limitless redemption that triggered this deviation?

“Ah…”

Andrew’s eyes stretched wide in disbelief.

Andasar’s physical state was transitioning.

Her detached head was mending itself to her neck, and the warmth of life was bleeding back into her ghostly skin.

“Andasar…!”

As she reverted to her previous living self, Andrew collapsed into sobs.

He lunged forward, pulling Andasar into a tight grip.

Not long after, cradled against Andrew’s chest, Andasar fluttered her eyes open.

“Ah… Father?”

“Do you know who I am? Oh, Great Goddess! I am so grateful!”

“Where… am I?”

“You are at your father’s house. Are you feeling better? Oh, heavens!”

It was the undeniable return of a soul from the beyond.

The two shared a lengthy, emotional reunion.

However, unlike Andrew, I found it impossible to celebrate without reservation.

【Lv. 12】

Andasar, who had surged to level 12 in a flash, was no longer a simple mortal.

And it wasn’t merely the level that concerned me.

【The ‘Ark Lich,’ ruler of the ancient ancestors and sovereign of the Silent Cradle, possesses the recollections of her mortal life. However, she holds only those memories and cannot be considered truly human. The ‘Ark Lich’ is essentially a lich possessing human data; she can simulate humanity but is devoid of genuine emotion.】

【The space surrounding the ‘Ark Lich’ is governed by the ‘Silent Cradle’ attribute.】

【Furthermore, if she does not periodically consume life energy, she will lose her physical stability and enter a state of frenzy.】

…Detailed briefings about her continued to scroll before me.

‘So this is the added utility Truth Inquiry gave to the Great Sage.’

The Talent: Truth Inquiry.

It was so costly that I had only managed to reach level 3.

Yet, it had enhanced the hidden ‘Great Sage’ trait.

This level of detail was the proof.

A primordial species and master of the Silent Cradle.

These were heavy titles.

Soon, further lines manifested.

【The ‘Ark Lich’s’ racial attributes include 3-6 randomized hidden traits, with a ceiling of level 15. Based on her former talents, she holds a corresponding ‘Archmage’ profession and 50% resistance to all magical elements. If the master of the ‘Ark Lich’ is lower in power than her, the hierarchy of the contract will flip.】

【The ‘Ark Lich’ currently serves ‘Randolph.’】

*Cough!*

As I processed the subsequent details, I let out a sharp, dry cough.

This creature was an absolute monster.

Devastating talents, environmental auras, various hidden perks, and an astronomical level cap.

Her class was perfect, her resistances were high—there was nothing weak about her.

‘…Unbelievable.’

Reviewing her stats, I was struck with genuine awe.

A flawless entity.

Perfect in every metric, with her potential set in stone—an entirely peerless being!

She was worth every bit of the resources I’d spent.

I couldn’t dream of a superior protector for the labyrinth city.

‘And she acknowledges me as her superior.’

Most importantly, Andasar correctly identified me as her lord.

Even so, I felt a bead of cold sweat.

Had I transformed her into an Ark Lich when I first unlocked the Golden Rule shop, I would have certainly been enslaved by her instead.

“…I am in your debt, Lord Randolph. Truly, thank you. I cannot fathom how to repay such kindness! Ahhh!”

Perhaps because I had read that first clinical description.

I couldn’t bring myself to inform them that this Ark Lich was merely a creature mimicking Andasar.

How could I ruin their joy when they were so ecstatic?

I simply remained a silent observer.

Roughly five minutes slipped by.

“Huff, Successor! You must come at once!”

A sharp, familiar voice echoed from the hallway.

I turned and pushed the door open to exit.

“…What is the trouble, Hudson?”

The moment the door swung wide, Hudson came charging toward me.

This was strange.

Hudson was supposed to be enjoying his time with Serengeti at the Marquis’s estate. Why had he returned?

Hudson, having sprinted like a man possessed, was soaked in perspiration as he gasped out the news.

“Disaster!”

“Disaster?”

Disaster.

We had only just finished with Isaac, and now another catastrophe?

Hudson’s constant alarms of “disaster” were becoming more intimidating to me than the sickness itself.

As my face grew stern and I watched him, Hudson yelled with even more desperation.

“The—the high elves have arrived! They are congregating at the teleportation gate this very moment, demanding to see you…!”

…………..Hold on.

For a second, I thought I had misheard.

High elf elders? Truly?

They were seeking me out?

Bay Laurel Elf Auril.

Elves.

They were regarded as the most enigmatic people in all of Pangeniar.

Living in even greater isolation than the imperial royalty, data regarding elves was nearly nonexistent.

Even as a player who believed I had explored every corner of the game’s lore, I had no significant ties to their kind.

‘Why would elven elders be looking for me?’

My confusion was justified.

For them to appear here meant they had abandoned their sanctuary, a move they notoriously avoided.

They were even waiting at the transport hub.

But regardless of how I racked my brain, I had no history with them.

‘An elder…’

Specifically, an elder of a tribe.

An Elder: The voice of a community.

But elves didn’t live in scattered hamlets; they were bound exclusively to the ‘Primordial Forest.’ An elder there meant one of the ten highest authorities in the forest.

For a figure of that magnitude to exit the woods they loved and enter a human settlement they detested.

Just to have an audience with me.

What could be the reason?

“Did they explain why they want me?”

I questioned him, feeling completely lost, and Hudson replied.

“They brought up Basrak Forest. They claimed they wished to speak with the genuine ruler of the Verdant Grove in Basrak.”

“Rommel is currently in Basrak Forest.”

“But Rommel isn’t the true sovereign of the Verdant Grove.”

“I see.”

I slowly rubbed my chin.

It meant they were aware of my true status as the master of the Grove.

It also suggested they had already visited Basrak Forest recently.

“Their aura was crushing. Even Serengeti was forced to give ground.”

“…Serengeti retreated?”

“She did.”

That was startling.

Serengeti’s current strength was immense.

At level 12 with a 1-star rank, she had no rivals in the lands of men.

Yet even she felt the need to step back.

Still, the city was peaceful.

At the very least, they weren’t using violence.

“Master. Are these people threats?”

It happened then.

Andasar, still being held by Andrew, addressed me.

…Hadn’t she just possessed mournful eyes and a soft face moments ago?

Now, her gaze was as biting as a winter gale.

Her demeanor had shifted in a heartbeat.

If she was performing, it was flawless.

An unfeeling mannequin. Master of the Silent Cradle, Ark Lich Andasar.

《Ark Lich ‘Andasar’ petitions to deploy ‘Silent Cradle.’》

《Deploy ‘Silent Cradle’ to the ‘Knight’s Garden’?》

《If confirmed, Andasar will establish the ‘Silent Cradle’ in this location.》

《‘Silent Cradle’ siphons life from those within its bounds, empowering Andasar. While within the cradle, Andasar may assume her ‘Ancient Kind’ state.》

Suddenly, she was radiating a desire for combat.

Silent Cradle.

That was her specific territory skill.

Inside that zone, she could revert to her ‘Ancient Kind’ form and reach even greater heights of power.

Serengeti, Isaac, Andasar, and myself.

We possessed enough collective might to topple a small city without breaking a sweat.

With this much firepower, we could handle any possible threat.

But I dismissed the idea.

“They don’t appear to be hostile.”

They hadn’t arrived with drawn blades.

If they had, the city would be in an uproar.

Serengeti had simply yielded a step.

If the elves meant harm, Serengeti wouldn’t have remained passive.

This was her home, the territory she was sworn to guard.

After regaining his breath, Hudson inquired.

“What is your plan?”

“I’ll go and see them.”

“Huff, Successor. May I accompany you?”

Then, Andrew spoke up.

The mention of elves.

Likely suspecting his long-lost wife might be among the group, Andrew’s eyes were shaking like leaves in the wind.

Of course, the wife from his past wouldn’t be part of this delegation.

“We shall go together.”

Even so, recognizing his deep longing, I gave my consent.

“…Elder. Is the ‘Master of the Verdant Grove’ truly in this place? And he scaled the spire with a dryad?”

Ten elves stood waiting for the ‘Master of the Verdant Grove’ before the teleportation gate.

Auril questioned the elven elder.

To Auril, the humans in this vicinity were completely pathetic.

No, it wasn’t just these humans.

Even Rommel from ‘Basrak Forest’ failed to meet Auril’s standards.

“The Queen gave her word. They must be someone of note.”

As the elder offered a soft smile, Auril pouted.

“That is exactly why I find it hard to grasp. What is so impressive about reaching the top of the ‘Tower of Rifts’? I could have accomplished that solo.”

“That spire is not a place one conquers through raw strength alone.”

“Why can’t we handle this ourselves? Why deal with these foul humans…”

“Quiet. I warned you about being disrespectful.”

“Tch. It still feels wrong. At least that human woman seems somewhat capable, but the rest are just miserable.”

The reason the elves had journeyed to the human realm.

It was by the direct decree of the elven queen.

To establish a link with the individuals who had conquered the Tower of Rifts.

Consequently, they had first tracked down Rommel in Basrak, which led them here.

‘We have no need for human assistance.’

But even if she conceded a thousand points, she couldn’t rationalize it.

To climb the tower relying on humans.

To travel with such dirty, odorous creatures—and to tolerate it for what purpose?

“Look… are they all females?”

“They are so stunning…”

“Far more beautiful than the stories said.”

“I—I can’t even find the words.”

See?

Humans were practically drooling as they stared.

The scent they gave off was sharp and revolting.

Did humans simply not wash?

How were they expected to mingle with beings like this?

They didn’t even bother to mask the lust in their eyes, standing there like mindless idiots.

‘Repulsive!’

Auril made a face.

If it weren’t for the queen’s orders, Auril, the ‘Bay Laurel Warrior,’ would never have set foot outside the Primordial Forest.

She had been slightly curious about the world beyond, but this…

Humans, in particular, were even more grotesque than the rumors suggested.

‘Not every single one is a lost cause.’

There was exactly one exception.

Among the hopeless, there was one who was slightly less offensive.

Serengeti, was that her name?

The woman who appeared to be the daughter of the local lord had some talent, even by Auril’s metrics.

Unlike her peers, she didn’t smell like a sewer and seemed to possess the discipline to hide her cravings.

However.

‘Discipline only. An elf sees the truth of desire.’

Ultimately, humans couldn’t outrun their foul urges.

And Auril could sense Serengeti’s desire as well.

It wasn’t obvious like the others, but it was far more intense.

Her hunger was ten times greater.

Pink.

Lust.

Acting sophisticated and controlled, while harboring a massive well of desire.

‘Vile.’

Auril clicked her tongue.

Could humans simply not help themselves?

“The Successor.”

“The Successor has arrived!”

In that moment.

Through the bustling crowd, a human appeared.

Two men and one woman.