My SSS-Rank Grim Reaper System-Chapter 43: The King Who Never Died (1)

[THRONE ROOM - THE LICH KING]

The Lich King rose fully from his throne, his obsidian armor creaking like ancient bones awakening after a long slumber.

Four meters tall. A crown pulsing with sickly green light. A scepter in one hand, an ancient book in the other.

And behind him—floating in the air as if suspended in invisible water—was a gem. The size of a human fist, glowing with dark crimson light.

[Lich King’s Phylactery - Detected]

[Location: 5 meters behind throne]

[Phylactery HP: 10,000/10,000]

[Note: The Lich King is invulnerable while the phylactery exists]

"I see... the phylactery," Alex whispered. "Five meters behind the throne."

"I see it too," Seraph confirmed. "But it’s protected by a barrier. We’ll need to break that first."

The Lich King walked forward—each step resonating like thunder through the marble chamber.

"You... have... come... far... Further... than... most..."

He stopped twenty meters away, tilting his skull as if studying them.

"But... before... we... begin... I must... assess... properly..."

He raised his scepter, pointing it at the group.

Not to attack—to scan.

[Lich King - Party Analysis]

Green light swept over each of them, and the Lich King made a sound that might have been... laughter?

"Interesting... Very... interesting..."

His empty eyes settled on Seraph first.

"Fallen... paladin... Fragment... bearer... Strong... woman... Impressive... armor... Curves... beneath... metal... also... impressive..."

Awkward pause.

Did he just...?

Seraph blinked behind her visor. "What did you just—?"

The Lich King had already moved on to Maya.

"Fox... summoner... Nine... tails... Hidden... power... And... ah... Exotic... beauty... Hair... like... silk... Eyes... that... could... captivate... kings..."

Maya looked completely bewildered. "Is he... is he flirting?"

"And... your... companion..." The Lich King looked at Akari. "Magnificent... form... Soft... fur... I wonder... if... you... like... being... scratched... behind... the... ears..."

"He’s DEFINITELY flirting," said Raven, trying not to laugh.

The Lich King turned to Raven.

"Blood... specialist... Dangerous... Lethal... And... that... lip... gloss... Exquisite... Perfect... color... for... a... necromancer... with... refined... taste..."

Raven couldn’t help it—she laughed outright. "Did you just compliment my makeup?"

"Been... dead... a... thousand... years... Appreciate... beauty... where... you... can... find... it..."

The Lich King finally looked at Alex—and Grim.

"Ah... The... Fragment... One... bearer... Young... Determined... And... accompanied... by..."

He leaned closer, studying Grim.

"The... Core... itself... Beautiful... In... its... own... way... Scythe... well... maintained... Armor... polished... Good... equipment... care..."

Grim shrunk slightly, red lights flickering with what could only be described as confusion.

"Is... he... complimenting... my... maintenance?"

"I think so," said Alex, completely lost.

The Lich King straightened up, raising his scepter.

"Forgive... the... observations... It has... been... so long... since... I had... proper... company... One... forgets... social... graces... in... eternal... solitude..."

He cleared his throat—despite having no vocal cords.

"Now... then... You... will try... to... kill me... I must... defend... myself... Phylactery... must... be... destroyed... first... You... know it... I... know it... Let us... do this... civilly..."

He raised his ancient book.

"And... perhaps... if... you... survive... we can... converse... properly... afterward... It has been... centuries... since... I spoke... with... beautiful... women..."

"DID YOU JUST CALL US BEAUTIFUL WHILE PREPARING TO KILL US?!" Maya shouted incredulously.

"Appreciating... beauty... and... fighting... to... death... are... not... mutually... exclusive..."

The Lich King opened his book.

"Now... begin... ladies... first..."

Seraph muttered through her private communicator with the team. "This is... officially the weirdest boss fight I’ve ever had."

"Agreed," Maya whispered back. "But don’t let your guard down. He’s still level 80."

"And apparently a pervert," added Raven, still smiling.

Alex shook his head, focusing. "Alright. Plan: Maya and Seraph head for the phylactery. Grim and I keep the Lich King busy. Raven—support from range."

"Understood," everyone confirmed.

Seraph charged first, spectral scythe blazing.

The Lich King didn’t move to block—he simply raised his left hand.

[Bone Wall]

A wall of bones exploded from the ground between Seraph and the phylactery.

[Bone Wall HP: 5,000/5,000]

"First barrier!" Seraph shouted, beginning to cut through it.

The Lich King turned to Maya, who had flanked to the right.

"Ah... attempting... to... circle around... Intelligent... And... graceful... in... movement... Like... a... dancer..."

[Ice Lance]

An ice lance materialized, shooting toward Maya—

Akari intercepted, [Flame Dance] melting the ice.

"Loyal... companion... Admirable..." the Lich King commented.

Then Grim charged from the center, scythe raised.

The Lich King finally moved properly—raising his scepter to block.

CLANG.

The impact shook the room.

"Ah... impressive... strength... For... one... so... small..."

He pushed Grim back with surprising force.

[Grim HP: 1,200 → 1,100/1,200] (damage from the force of the push)

Alex launched [Blood Weapon] , creating a rain of crimson daggers.

The Lich King raised his book—the daggers struck an invisible shield around him.

[Magic Barrier - Active]

[Absorbs 3,000 damage before breaking]

"He has a shield!" Alex shouted. "Focus fire to break it!"

Raven from behind launched [Blood Needles] , fifty precise projectiles.

[Barrier: 3,000 → 2,500/3,000]

Maya, having circled around, launched [Fox Fire] , twelve orbs.

[Barrier: 2,500 → 1,800/3,000]

Seraph, having broken through the [Bone Wall] , charged toward the phylactery—

The Lich King snapped his fingers.

[Summon: Skeleton Champions]

Ten elite skeletons materialized—each level 50, equipped with full armor and weapons.

[Skeleton Champion - Level 50]

[HP: 3,000 each]

"Adds!" Seraph cursed, now forced to fight through them.

"Grim, help her!" Alex ordered.

Grim disengaged from the Lich King, charging toward the skeleton champions.

His scythe swung in a wide arc, cutting through two.

[2 Champions: Destroyed]

[8 Remaining]

The Lich King, now under less pressure, turned toward Maya—who was closest.

He raised his scepter.

"Forgive... me... for... this... my dear... But... I must... defend... myself..."

[Death Bolt]

A bolt of pure necrotic energy shot from the scepter.

Maya barely dodged—the bolt passed inches from her head.

"THAT ALMOST HIT ME!"

"I know... I regret... having... to... aim... at... such a... beautiful... face..."

"CAN YOU PLEASE STOP FLIRTING AND FIGHT SERIOUSLY?!" Maya shouted, frustration bubbling.

"Multitasking... my dear... I can... do... both..."

[Death Bolt] × 3

Three bolts this time, all directed at Maya.

Akari had to intervene, [Ring of Fire] creating a barrier.

The bolts hit the fire, canceling each other out.

Meanwhile, Seraph and Grim had cleared six of the eight skeleton champions.

[6 Champions Destroyed]

[Souls Collected (Grim): +12.0] (Grim killed 6 of them)

[Current Souls: 452.6/1,000]

"Almost cleared!" Seraph panted.

But the Lich King summoned more.

[Summon: Skeleton Champions] × 10 more

"Of course!" Seraph growled. "He’s a summoner!"

Alex thought quickly. The Lich King kept summoning. They’d stay stuck fighting skeletons as long as he was standing.

They needed a new tactic.

"Plan change!" he shouted. "Ignore the phylactery for now! Everyone focus on breaking his barrier and draining his MP! No MP, no summons!"

"Understood!" Seraph responded.

Everyone converged on the Lich King.

Seraph from the front—[Phantom Strike] combo.

[Barrier: 1,800 → 1,200/3,000]

Grim from the left—[Reaper’s Strike].

[Barrier: 1,200 → 600/3,000]

Maya from the right—[Flame Dance].

[Barrier: 600 → 200/3,000]

Raven from behind—[Blood Whip] , wrapping around the Lich King’s scepter, trying to pull it away.

She didn’t succeed (he was too strong), but enough distraction.

Alex—[Blood Weapon - Overload] , channeling 150 MP into a single massive sword.

[MP: 440 → 290/440]

He struck the barrier with everything.

SHATTER.

[Magic Barrier: BROKEN]

The Lich King staggered back.

"Ah... impressive... coordination... Clearly... an... experienced... team..."

He opened his book wider.

"Then... I must... escalate... appropriately..."

[Spell: Mana Drain Field]

A field of blue energy pulsed outward in a twenty-meter radius.

Everyone inside felt their MP being drained.

[Alex MP: 290 → 240/440]

[Seraph MP: 700 → 600/700]

[Maya MP: 850 → 750/850]

[Raven MP: 650 → 550/650]

[Grim MP: 360 → 310/360]

[Lich King MP: ??? → ??? + 250] (absorbed the drained MP)

"He’s draining us!" Maya shouted.

"Get out of the radius!" Seraph ordered.

Everyone retreated beyond twenty meters.

The drain field stopped.

But now they were far away—too far to attack effectively.

The Lich King took advantage, raising both hands.

[Spell: Army of Bones - Maximum]

The ground trembled.

And hundreds of skeletons began to emerge.

Not just ten. Not twenty.

Two hundred.

[Skeleton Warrior - Level 40]

[200 units]

[HP: 1,500 each]

"TWO HUNDRED!" Maya looked horrified. "HE CAN SUMMON TWO HUNDRED?!"

"Benefits... of... being... Archlichlord... rather than... mere... lich..."

The skeleton army charged.

"We can’t fight two hundred!" Raven shouted. "We’ll be overwhelmed!"

Alex thought frantically. Two hundred skeletons. We can’t kill them all. But wait...

"We don’t need to kill them!" he shouted. "Grim, use [Death’s Dominion] ! Take control!"

[Death’s Dominion - Maximum Range]

[Grim MP: 310 → 110/360]

[Massive cost for attempting to control so many]

Crimson energy pulsed from Grim.

The closest skeletons—approximately fifty of them—froze.

[Partial Control Successful: 50/200 Skeletons now obey Grim]

"TURN THEM!" Alex ordered. "Make them fight the others!"

The fifty controlled skeletons immediately turned, attacking their former allies.

Skeleton vs skeleton.

The Lich King watched this with what might have been surprise.

"Interesting... Very... interesting... Control... over... my... summons... Fragment... One... truly... is... special..."

He turned to Alex specifically.

"You... young one... are... more... capable... than... you... appear..."

He raised his scepter, pointing it directly at Alex.

"Show me... more..."

[Death Bolt - Overloaded]

Not one bolt. Three. Five. Ten bolts of necrotic energy firing simultaneously.

"ALEX, MOVE!" everyone shouted.

Alex used [Shadow Step] —

[MP: 240 → 220/440]

He appeared ten meters to the left.

But the Lich King had anticipated that.

[Predicted Shadow Step - Counter]

He had already cast [Ice Spear] where Alex would appear.

The ice spear struck.

[Alex HP: 880 → 650/880]

Alex screamed, the spear piercing his shoulder.

"ALEX!" Maya ran toward him—

The Lich King blocked her path with [Bone Wall].

"No... He... must... learn... to... defend... himself..."

Alex ripped the ice spear from his shoulder, gasping in pain.

Blood dripping. Vision flickering.

But he forced himself to stand.

"Is that all?" he spat, trying to sound braver than he felt.

The Lich King tilted his head.

"Courage... Admirable... Continue..."

[Spell: Chains of Binding]

Necrotic chains materialized, wrapping around Alex’s legs, immobilizing him.

Then around Seraph.

Then Maya.

Then Raven.

Only Grim remained free (immune to binding magic as undead).

"Now... you... watch... while... I... teach... a... proper... lesson..."

The Lich King walked slowly toward Alex—who struggled against the chains but couldn’t break them.

"You... do not... have... enough... power... yet... Fragment... One... is... strong... but... without... proper... mastery... it is... wasted..."

He stopped directly in front of Alex.

He raised his scepter—pointing it at Alex’s chest.

"But... I see... potential... So... I will... not... kill... you... Yet..."

[Death Touch]

He touched Alex’s chest with the tip of the scepter.

EXPLOSIVE pain tore through Alex—not physical, but spiritual. As if his soul were being ripped from his body.

[Alex HP: 650 → 400/880]

[DEBUFF APPLIED: Soul Weakness - All stats reduced 30% for 5 minutes]

Alex collapsed, falling to his knees, the chains still holding him in place.

"ALEX!" everyone shouted.

The Lich King turned to the others.

"See... You are... not... ready... yet... But..."

He looked at Seraph.

"You... Fragment... Two... bearer... You have... experience... Fifteen... years... with... your... Fragment... Show me... true... power..."

He released Seraph from the chains.

"Fight... me... properly..."

Seraph didn’t hesitate.

[Soul Reaper Mode - Maximum]

[MP: 600 → 300/700]

Her spectral scythe blazed blinding blue-white.

She charged.

The Lich King met her, scepter against scythe.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Ten exchanges in three seconds—speed that eyes could barely follow.

"Impressive!" The Lich King sounded genuinely pleased. "Finally! A worthy! Opponent!"

He pressed harder.

Seraph matched him, pure skill against raw power.

But after thirty seconds—

The Lich King overpowered.

[Shield Bash with scepter]

He struck Seraph, sending her flying.

[Seraph HP: 1,400 → 1,000/1,400]

She crashed, rolled, stood up.

"Strong," she panted. "Too strong."

"Level... eighty... is... not... just... a... number... It is... centuries... of... experience..."

The Lich King turned, releasing the others from the chains.

"But... I have... seen... enough... Now... I know... that... you... can... eventually... win... With... proper... effort..."

He walked back toward his throne, sitting down.

"So... I propose... a... deal..."

Everyone looked at him warily.

"What kind of deal?" Seraph asked.

"You can... continue... fighting... Eventually... you will... break... the... phylactery... Defeat... me... Take... Fragment... Three..."

Pause.

"Or... we can... talk... civilly... I tell... you... truths... about... Fragments... About... Original... Reaper... About... what... they... truly... are..."

He looked specifically at Alex.

"And... then... I give... you... Fragment... Three... willingly..."

Absolute silence in the room.

"Why would you do that?" Alex asked cautiously.

The Lich King sighed—a long, tired sound.

"Because... I have... been... imprisoned... here... a... thousand... years... Fragment... Three... is... fused... with... my... core... As long... as... I... have it... I cannot... die... I cannot... rest... I cannot... be... free..."

He leaned forward.

"If... you take... the... Fragment... I can... finally... die... I can... finally... rest... And... honestly..."

He looked at Maya, then Seraph, then Raven.

"I have... enjoyed... the... conversation... brief... though... it was... It has... been... so long... since... I spoke... with... anyone... who... didn’t... try... to... kill me... immediately..."

Awkward pause.

"We’re still trying to kill you," Raven pointed out.

"Yes... but... you are... polite... about it... I... appreciate... that..."

Alex exchanged glances with his team.

It was a trap. It had to be a trap.

But also...

He seemed genuine. Tired. Lonely.

A thousand years of imprisonment would break anyone.

"What kind of truths?" Alex asked finally.

The Lich King smiled—or at least, his skull moved in a way that suggested a smile.

"Truths... that... will... change... everything... you... think... you know... about... Gods... Reaper... and... fate... itself..."

He leaned back in his throne.

"So... what... do you... say... Fight... or... talk?"