Equipped with a new skill and a slight speed boost, Liam decided to forego walking down the stairs. Instead, he jumped over the railing to the floor a few meters below. As soon as his feet touched the floor, he tucked into a roll to break the fall, taking care to protect his broken arm in the process. It felt good to move like that with increased dexterity.

When he hopped out of the roll into a preparatory stance, he noticed the undead soldier already dashing toward him. Wouldn't he normally have a moment to prepare himself? At least the creature moved slower than he anticipated. With a confident grin on his face, he waited for the right moment to dodge.

The undead soldier stomped its front foot down a meter in front of Liam, spreading cracks through the stone floor. At the same time, it lifted its sword above its head, then swung down with all its might, slicing through the air. As fast as it was, Liam moved faster. He effortlessly spun around to the back of the creature. This moment would probably determine how difficult the fight would be.

Aiming for a gap in the armor behind the creature's knee, he snapped with his right hand. A blue spark zapped from his fingers but arced toward the metal armor.

“Tch.”

Annoyed by the unexpected occurrence, he jumped backward, barely avoiding a slash from the undead soldier as it spun around.

“Well, then, if it's gonna b-”

A sudden shield charge from the creature cut him off. In order to avoid it, he dived to the right and rolled back onto his feet. At the same time, the undead soldier jumped, tucked in its body, and twirled in mid-air, landing perfectly to face Liam again. Immediately, it dashed toward him with shield in front.

“Man, you fancy little bastard, let me finish my sentence!” Liam exclaimed as he dived to the right again.

This time, the undead soldier spun on its toes but did not dash again. It grunted at him, exhaling black mist.

Grateful for the spare moment, Liam opened his inventory and retrieved the last remaining torch with his left hand. A few cracks could be heard as pain shot through his arm. In spite of the pain, he snapped with his right hand, sparking a small flame at the tip of the pine torch.

Perhaps it was just Liam's imagination, but he thought he saw the red orbs in the creature's eye sockets flatten for a moment, almost like it squinted. However, he quickly put that thought on hold since the undead soldier initiated a third shield charge.

Once more, Liam dived to the right while focusing on keeping the torch lit. However, his eyes widened when he saw the shield swinging toward him.

Damn, this is gonna hurt... he thought while tucking into as much of a defensive posture as he could muster in mid-dive.

WHAM!!!

Crunch

“URAAAAAAAAAARRGHHHH!!!”

The shield slammed into Liam's left side. Part of his left leg caught the impact, but the brunt of it smashed against his left shoulder. Still curled up in the air, his body flew several meters before landing. He plopped against the stone floor and rolled into the wall a second later.

Damn thing must have noticed my left arm was injured...

Shaking off dizziness, he stood and hastily looked around for the torch, only to see the creature kick it to other end of the room. The only thing he could do at this point was use his dagger while attempting to reach the torch. As such, he unsheathed it from the back of his belt.

In contrast to the previous exchanges, the undead soldier closed in slowly and carefully. Most likely, it would try to prevent him from reaching the still burning torch.

Well, nothin' to do but be reckless, I guess.

Thinking such, he darted forward. In response, the creature hunched forward to cover more of its body with the shield.

Within two seconds, they stood face to face. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as they made eye contact. It was at that moment Liam realized this being was not a simple creature. He was fighting a person. Somehow he recognized a soul resided in this rotting sack of flesh. While the Restless Walkers definitely came across as empty husks, the soldier before him learned and fought for something. He had underestimated it.

Time returned to normal. With that moment of realization burned into his mind, Liam crouched below a horizontal sword stroke. The movement opened up the soldier's defenses just enough for him to slide between its legs. Before it could react, he stabbed his dagger into the slit at the back of its right knee. Losing the ability to stand, the undead soldier collapsed like a sack of potatoes. However, the sudden movement trapped the blade within, forcing Liam to release his grip and reel back.

The undead soldier spun in its kneeling position and attempted to slice Liam in half, but to no avail. After missing again, it lifted its shield, forming a barrier between them.

A chance.

Liam darted to the other end of the room like his life depended on it, left arm swinging limply the whole way. He did not even look back until he held the torch in hand. Upon returning his attention to the soldier, he saw it limping toward him.

He's a stubborn bastard. I'll give him that.

The next exchange would likely end the battle. Settling his nerves, he sauntered toward the soldier. If he slipped up at all, that sword would probably end up in his gut, or worse.

Slowly, he closed the gap. Save for the crackling flames of torches, the room seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. The plodding of his boots and clacking of the soldier's greaves counted down the seconds to the final confrontation.

Only the length of two full grown men remained between them. The moment to strike approached.

Mustering his concentration, Liam darted forward. The soldier raised his shield in response. Ignoring the pain in his left arm, he grabbed the top of the shield and pulled down. Of course, the soldier jabbed toward his stomach in retaliation.

Hoping the extra points in agility would do the trick, he jabbed toward the soldier's saggy face. The spiked wood pierced its rotten skin. Using the force from the impact, he pushed himself away from the soldier, narrowly avoiding getting sliced in half. The sword cut through the fabric of his shirt and scraped against his skin. In its wake, it left a thin line across his stomach but he knew the wound would only amount to a small abrasion.

Backing away from the undead soldier, he waited, hoping the torch would do enough damage. After all, he carried no other weapons.

The soldier quickly pulled the burning pine torch away from its face. Tar-like pus leaked from the wounds it left. Burned patches of flesh dripped away in tandem.

Not enough damage... Liam thought. However, he could try on more thing. In a last-ditch effort, Liam stepped forward, preparing to snap another flame into the undead soldier's face.

Then, he stopped.

The soldier's sword withered away to dust. It proceeded to raise its hand like a traffic officer would when telling someone to stop.

“That is enough...” The soldier said, startling Liam. Its voice rumbled with a low tone, yet gave the same raspy sound one might have after chain smoking for years.

“You talk?” Liam asked, dumbfounded.

“Is it so surprising, young one?” the soldier asked as it sat upon the stone.

Young one? Liam thought while gazing warily at the soldier, unwilling to let his guard down.

“Fu~” the soldier breathed, releasing black mist and pus. “We've waited too long for someone like you.”

Squinting in suspicion, Liam stared at the glowing orbs which served as its eyes. While maintaining eye contact, it reached behind its right knee and pulled the dagger out. Liam cringed slightly at the squelch it generated.

“Here,” the soldier said, tossing the dagger. It landed right in front of Liam's feet. Black ooze coated the blade.

“So, am I supposed to take your head or something?” Liam asked.

“Hm? Hahahahaha! Good man!” The soldier exclaimed in a fit of riotous laughter which echoed within the chamber.

In response, Liam simply raised a brow.

“Well, my job is done,” the soldier said after calming down. “What's your name, young one?”

“Uh... Liam.”

“Oh? A good warrior's name,” the soldier said. “My name is Haroth. Remember it well, young one.” Haroth leaned his head back and gazed at the ceiling. “I can finally go to Ar-Lentair's side to join my brothers...”

Liam furrowed his brows at the unfamiliar name as well as the strange situation he now found himself in. What kind of crazy state of affairs had he unwittingly involved himself in? However, he did not have long to ponder, for Haroth's body began to disintegrate just like his sword. Even the armor turned to dust.

“Wait, what's going on? You gonna attack me then just disappear?” Liam asked, letting his frustration show.

“Hahahaha! It's too bad, Liam. If this was a time long past, I'm sure I would have taken you to a tavern or two.”

“How do I get out of these caves, then?”

“Caves? There were never any caves around this tomb.”

Liam blinked a few times.

“Well,” Haroth spoke, though he was practically a ghost at this point, “I suppose anything can happen. However, I believe you will find what you seek in that room.”

Looking where Haroth pointed, he saw a doorway twice the size of every other he had passed so far. Apparently, each wall aside from the one with the staircase had its own door, but only the one Haroth pointed to stood out as different.

“Thanks, I guess,” Liam said, facing the soldier again. However, only a pile of dust remained. Haroth was no more.

Sighing, Liam muttered, “For some reason, I find it hard to hate the guy... but damn, my arm hurts... Hmm?”

Congratulations! You passed Haroth's test!

Earned 150,000 exp.

Level up!

Level up!

Feat of strength accomplished!

Ten points added to Strength!

Title acquired!

Friend of Spirits