Absolute Cheater - Chapter 547
Capítulo 547: Lich Emperor III
He placed his hand on the construct’s chest.
“Soul lock.”
The pull tightened.
The construct tried to disengage, but it was too late.
Asher forced the connection open.
Information flooded in—locations, signals, and a distant presence watching through the construct.
Not close.
But aware.
The construct’s body cracked as the anchor failed. The glowing lines dimmed and went dark.
It collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Asher stepped back and exhaled slowly.
“So,” he said quietly, looking in the direction of the connection.
“You’re using proxies.”
He turned and looked back toward the fog, where the lich emperor waited beyond the boundary.
“I’ve got your thief,” Asher said. “But this isn’t over.”
He sheathed his sword and started moving.
Asher walked back through the fog.
The pressure lifted as he crossed out of the thin zone. Death authority settled back into place, heavy and absolute.
The lich emperor was already waiting.
“You found the source,” the lich emperor said.
“Yes,” Asher replied. “But not the real one.”
He stopped a few steps away and explained what he saw—constructs, remote anchors, soul fragments being taken and sent elsewhere.
The blue flames in the lich emperor’s eyes burned brighter.
“A coward,” he said. “Hiding behind tools.”
“They’re careful,” Asher added. “They don’t want you to notice until they’ve gathered enough.”
The lich emperor was silent for a moment.
“Where does the trail lead?” he asked.
Asher shook his head. “Far. Outside your domain. Possibly outside this region.”
“That is enough,” the lich emperor said. “You have proven the crime and removed the immediate threat.”
He raised one skeletal hand. The ground trembled slightly.
“All remaining constructs in my domain will be erased.”
Asher nodded. “That will stop the losses here.”
The lich emperor looked at him directly.
“You have honored my laws,” he said. “And you prevented unnecessary death.”
He reached into the air and pulled something out—a small, dark crystal, cold and heavy.
“A death token,” he said. “It marks you as permitted within my lands. My undead will not interfere with you.”
Asher accepted it. “That helps.”
“There is more,” the lich emperor continued. “The one behind this will move again. Thieves like this always do.”
Asher nodded. “When they do, I’ll be ready.”
The lich emperor inclined his head slightly.
“Then our matter here is concluded.”
The fog thickened, and the domain began to withdraw its pressure.
Asher turned and walked away from the throne area, the death token secured.
The mission was complete.
Asher didn’t stay any longer.
He left the Grey Hermit Area the same way he had entered, passing through the transport gate without resistance. The cold pressure of the lich emperor’s domain faded completely once he crossed over.
Minutes later, he was back at the Association.
He went straight to the task desk and placed the mission token on the counter.
The receptionist looked up. “You’re back already?”
“It’s done,” Asher said.
She frowned slightly. “No casualties reported from the domain. Did you resolve it peacefully?”
“I identified the culprit,” Asher replied. “A proxy user. Constructs stealing soul fragments. The lich emperor erased the rest.”
Her expression turned serious. “And the ruler?”
“He’s satisfied,” Asher said. “For now.”
She typed quickly, reviewing the report as Asher summarized what happened. When she finished, she looked up at him again.
“That mission was marked extreme risk,” she said. “Most wouldn’t have survived even meeting him.”
Asher shrugged. “I didn’t fight him.”
She paused, then nodded. “Wise.”
She slid a small reward pouch and a badge across the counter.
“Standard reward, plus hazard compensation,” she said. “And this.”
Asher picked up the badge. It carried a dark symbol etched into it.
“Association clearance,” she explained. “If you mention the Grey Hermit case, most departments won’t question you.”
Asher pocketed both.
“So,” she asked after a moment, “are you taking a break?”
Asher shook his head. “No.”
She sighed. “Of course not.”
She tapped the desk once. “There are a few tasks left. Lower difficulty than the last one.”
Asher gave a faint smile. “After that, I’ll rest.”
She pulled out another file and slid it toward him.
“This one should be easier,” she said. “Compared to a lich emperor, at least.”
Asher picked it up and glanced at the title.
“Alright,” he said. “I’ll take it.”
Asher opened the file and scanned it.
“Hm,” he said. “Missing caravans.”
The receptionist nodded. “Trade route near the eastern ridge. No strange domains. No rulers. Just disappearances.”
“Beasts?” Asher asked.
“Most likely,” she said. “Possibly bandits. Nothing confirmed.”
Asher closed the file. “Easy enough.”
She looked at him. “Don’t say that.”
He gave a small smile and stepped away from the desk.
Asher left the Association and headed back into the city. He didn’t rush this time. His body felt fine, but his senses stayed sharp out of habit.
While walking, he checked the details again.
Location: Eastern Ridge Road
Threat level: Moderate
Objective: Identify cause and eliminate threat
“No soul anomalies,” Asher said quietly. “That already makes this simpler.”
An hour later, he reached the transport point and activated it.
The world shifted again.
This area was very different from the Grey Hermit Area. The sky was clear. The air was warm. Trees and grass covered the land, and a wide dirt road cut through the hills.
Broken carts lay scattered along the roadside.
Asher stopped near the first one and crouched down.
“No burn marks,” he said. “No curse residue.”
He touched the ground.
Tracks were still visible.
Heavy. Clawed.
“Beasts,” Asher confirmed.
He followed the trail off the road and into the forest. The sounds of birds faded as he moved deeper. The trees grew thicker. The light dimmed.
After a few minutes, he smelled blood.
Fresh.
Asher slowed and drew his sword.
Ahead, he saw movement.
Three large beasts stood over a torn pack animal. Their bodies were low and wide, covered in dark fur, with thick horns and heavy jaws.
Not monsters.
Mutated wildlife.
Asher stepped forward.
One of the beasts noticed him and growled. The others turned.
They charged.
Asher didn’t retreat.
He stepped to the side as the first beast lunged and cut cleanly across its neck. It collapsed without a sound.
The second beast swung its head, horns aimed at his chest.
Asher ducked and drove his sword into its shoulder, then twisted and pulled free. The beast staggered.
The third tried to circle behind him.
Asher kicked the wounded one into its path, then turned and slashed upward.
The blade split the last beast’s jaw.
Silence returned to the forest.
Asher wiped his sword and looked around.
“These aren’t normal,” he said. “Too aggressive.”
He followed the tracks further.
Soon, he found the real problem.
A shallow cave hidden behind brush.
Inside were bones. Many of them. Mixed with broken equipment and torn cloth.
Asher stepped in and felt it.
A faint pressure.
Not soul-based.
Territorial.
“This is a nest,” he said.
A low growl echoed from deeper inside.
Something bigger moved in the dark.
Asher tightened his grip on the sword.
“Alright,” he said calmly. “Let’s finish this.”
He walked deeper into the cave, ready to clear the task completely.