Chapter 177: Death’s Withering

Carl appeared as if he’d just survived a fierce battle, barely escaping with his life, his aura unstable.

He was running directly toward Helag’s location.

Though Helag wasn’t afraid of him, he didn’t want to reveal his current form to other wizards too soon.

Outside the Death Swamp Ruins, he was still just a weak gaseous wizard.

Even the slightest chance of exposure had to be avoided.

Helag didn’t plan to confront Carl in this form.

If Carl recognized him, Helag would have to silence him.

But as a crystallized wizard, Carl had many tricks, and Helag wasn’t confident he could kill him.

Carl’s innate space magic was particularly troublesome for Helag.

With such a spell, Carl should at least be able to protect himself.

Yet, here he was, fleeing in panic, facing some unknown threat.

Helag glanced at the wraith, saying, “A human is approaching. Take care of him.”

The wraith turned, not yet sensing Carl’s presence.

But Helag’s words were trustworthy.

The wraith bowed, “Yes, my lord.”

It floated toward Carl, its form an inky black shadow.

Carl ran, frequently glancing back.

Breathless, he slowed, leaning against a tree to rest.

The temperature plummeted, and Carl’s eyes widened as he saw the wraith hovering above.

“A wraith!” Carl felt a chill of despair.

Wraiths were powerful abyssal creatures, difficult to handle even at full strength, let alone now.

The wraith wasted no time, unleashing a cloud of black mist to engulf Carl.

Carl reacted swiftly, blinking several meters away, evading the mist.

But the wraith was faster, spreading the mist wide.

The mist enveloped Carl, with tendrils appearing from afar.

Carl’s magic couldn’t protect his entire body.

He could only warp space around one area, helpless against the all-encompassing attack.

With little magic left, his shield quickly shattered.

The wraith’s mist was corrosive, devouring even magic.

Carl blinked again, but the clinging mist continued to corrode his flesh.

His magic surged, resisting the mist’s invasion.

“Death’s Withering (Abyssal),” the wraith intoned ominously.

Vegetation withered instantly, frost forming on the ground.

Carl’s body frosted over, his face shriveling as if drained.

His hair withered, losing its luster.

Then it began to fall, blown away in clumps.

His scalp was left bare, grotesque.

Worse, his flesh desiccated, resembling dried wood.

His skin shriveled, like old bark.

Carl curled into a fetal position, soon silent.

Death’s Withering drained life force, reducing plants to dry husks.

At full strength, Carl might have escaped.

But injured, he couldn’t flee.

Fighting the mist consumed all his energy.

With Death’s Withering, he watched helplessly as his life drained away.

Old and weak, his life force quickly depleted.

After Carl died, the wraith enveloped his body in mist.

Minutes later, the mist cleared, leaving only bones.

The wraith returned to Helag, mission complete.

“Well done,” Helag praised lightly.

The wraith bowed, “Serving you is my honor.”

Helag surveyed the area, “Continue leading the way, let’s explore.”

With only three days in the Death Swamp, Helag avoided further risks.

The wraith’s domain was resource-rich and safe.

This area was under the wraith’s control, with no stronger creatures.

Venturing elsewhere risked encountering other wizards.

He’d be automatically transported out when time was up, so Helag planned to stay put.

While gathering resources, the wraith and Human-Faced Monkey followed like loyal servants.

Helag’s space ring filled with potion and spell materials, his profits abundant.

At night, Helag rested beneath the wraith’s giant tree.

The dense branches formed a roof.

Lying beneath, Helag meditated as usual.

The wraith and Human-Faced Monkey acted as guards, patrolling the area.

Moonlight illuminated the surroundings, not too dark.

“Do you wish to return?” Helag asked after meditating.

The Human-Faced Monkey scratched its head, unable to speak or communicate mentally.

The wraith replied, “My lord, I long to return, but the rift is sealed.”

It wondered how Helag arrived but dared not ask.

Matters of the higher beings were not its concern.

Near dawn, two hours before sunrise.

A red beam shot skyward from the Black Forest’s western depths, lighting the night.

The entire Death Swamp Ruins saw the beam, looking up.

Helag opened his eyes, sensing the powerful magic wave.

He looked at the beam, feeling it was familiar.

“This is…”

The red beam resembled the one Carl used to seize control of the Blackrock Valley array, nearly identical.

“The Death Swamp Ruins’ array… could it be…”

Helag realized the array in the ruins must be the one sealing the planar rift.