From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 466 Katheric
"Kaiserrick! Come out and see me!"

The daughter of Serene roared, unleashing her fury with the silver holy flames emanating from her greatsword.

The blazing fireballs left insurmountable fire zones on the stone surface, dividing the cultists who came to provide support into several groups fighting their own battles.

In fact, the number of these cultists is not a problem for the Shadow Slayers.

They have no means to cause effective damage, and the magical power they release will be completely devoured by the anti-magic field that can be turned at will.

Even if you manage to hit the adamantite golem from the side or rear by sheer luck, a spell that isn't powerful enough won't be able to penetrate its shell, which is made entirely of adamantite.

Asmo, flying through the air, soon discovered that its comrades were too powerful, and the cultists on the ground could hardly inflict any effective damage on it.

Having a teammate like that means she can also do what she truly wants to do.

When they were flying around the Tower of the Moonrise earlier, Eileen had already observed it with her silver eyes from Serene.

She didn't see Katheric anywhere, not even in his room on the third floor.

As the daughter of Selenne and the lover of Isobel, Irene is very familiar with the structure of the Tower of the Moonrise.

After all, they often hugged each other and stood on the terrace at the top of the tower to admire the moon.

Thinking of Isobel, a warm feeling welled up in Asmo's heart despite his anger.

She never imagined she would be reunited with her lover, especially after being imprisoned and tortured for a hundred years.

Just as Ivy told her in the Fallen Realm, Katheric Som had indeed been working under multiple gods in search of a way to bring his daughter back to life.

“But that doesn’t mean Katheric deserves to be forgiven!” Eileen muttered to herself, chewing on Katheric’s name over and over again, her good mood upon seeing Isobel being reignited by her anger.

Forgetting about the Shadow Destroyer and Ivy's battle plan, Erin flapped her wings and flew straight towards the top of the tower.

Besides appreciating the moonlight, the Tower of the Moonrise also served as a place for lords to overlook their territory.

Therefore, Ketherrick built a throne on the top floor.

All those in power like to climb high, because it allows them to escape the mundane affairs and trivialities of the ground, and distance also creates beauty.

Once you're far enough away from your people, you'll find even those who toil in the mud begin to seem endearing. Not to mention, those as high above as the lord, besides the sun and moon, are the countless gods.

Ivy hovered in the air, admiring his masterpiece. The Shadowbreakers and the cultists of the Supreme God were not even on the same level. This was not a battle, but a massacre.

A very efficient massacre.

The Shadow Destroyer raised its arms out to the sides, and the tightly fastened adamantine rings loosened slightly, revealing the Dawn Cannon Crystal that served as the central axis of its body.

Immediately afterwards, the main body parts began to rotate at high speed around the cylindrical crystal. Except for the head at the top of the crystal and the four tentacles used to maintain balance, the giant golem used all its parts to unleash a storm of destruction.

The cultists who entered the attack range were instantly shredded into a pile of minced meat, and their equipment was reduced to a jumbled mess.

Ivy nodded in satisfaction, then looked toward the main camp on the west side of Resven City.

The campfires and noise remained, but there was no indication that they were going to come out in droves.

Ivy was relieved; although there had been some setbacks, the plan was still proceeding in the intended direction.

Asmo, who had been imprisoned for a hundred years, left his post.

After giving the order to the Shadow Slayer to eliminate the cultists, Ivy took to the air and headed towards the top of the tower.

That unlucky girl, Eileen, doesn't she think things through? If she could really beat Katheric, how did she lose a hundred years ago?

Aside from flying up to get killed and having his life force drained again by Melkor's ritual, Ivy really couldn't think of any other use that not-so-bright daughter of Selenne could have.

In addition to Katheric's throne, the rooftop of the Tower of the Moon also features a luxurious small altar.

Rightfully, that altar belongs to Melkor. During her flight up the tower, Ivy had already seen Melkor's emblem in various places throughout the Tower of the Moonrise.

It seems that Katheric is indeed willing to serve Melkor, otherwise he wouldn't have been so diligent in renovating the entire Tower of the Moon.

Several resurrected corpses, wrapped in tattered cloaks, stood in a circle around the altar, while below them, a priest belonging to Melkor prayed.

Ivy had no doubt that the god of the dead was watching this land, just as he had no doubt that Selenne, Shar, and Mystra were watching.

Accompanying Melkor's gaze was, of course, His chosen one, Katheric Som, an exceptionally robust old elf clad in full plate armor and sporting a long, gray beard.

Thick steel bones and sharp teeth gripped the chest and neck of the armor, resembling a strange exoskeleton that could both devour and protect the wearer.

What attracted Ivy's attention even more than the armor itself was the purple crystal that was tightly gripped by the golden skull on the armor's chest.

Netherel Magic Stone.

Karthus's creation after ascending to godhood, and also the key to controlling the Mind Flayer's mastermind, is something Ivy is determined to obtain.

"Die, you wretched dog!" Eileen swooped down from the side and trampled a resurrected corpse under her feet, the friction between the bones and the stone bricks producing a piercing noise.

Irene was completely unaware of what was happening, because her mind was entirely focused on how to kill Katheric.

The two-handed greatsword bestowed by Serene ignited its silver holy flames once more. Irene pointed the tip at Katheric's brow, roared, and declared, "This is divine punishment! Her sword is my sword!"

Katheric's aged and weary face was expressionless. He swung his hammer handle to meet the silver blade, easily deflecting Eileen's attack, and then grabbed the daughter of Selenne by the neck.

“Eileen,” Katheric’s voice was authoritative yet calm, “I’ve always hoped you could come.”

Eileen, whose neck was being gripped, grew even angrier and tried her best to break free.

But her sword was firmly pinned to the ground by the warhammer, and no matter how much force she used, she couldn't pull it out.

Rage had consumed the daughter of Serene's reason. She didn't need any of the conditions that ordinary creatures required to sustain life, and being choked would only make her feel uncomfortable, not pose a risk of suffocation.

Eileen abandoned her sword and wildly flailed her limbs and wings, trying to inflict some damage on Katheric.

The armor bestowed by Melkor was incredibly sturdy, and Eileen's punches and kicks were nothing more than a gentle breeze to Katheric.

But in this situation, he clearly couldn't speak properly.

With a wave of his hand, he slammed the struggling Asmo to the ground, then kicked her far away before continuing, "Let's end this, Eileen. I will pay the price for this power. It will cost me your life—as for my share, I've already given it." Asmo tumbled and slid across the ground until she crashed into a pillar on the rooftop, barely coming to a stop.

Eileen slammed her fist on the ground, then rolled over, trying to get up and fight again.

But the resurrected corpses standing around her were already rushing in from all directions.

The holy sword bestowed by Serene was left in place by Katheric's warhammer, and apart from her own fists and feet, Eileen can now only rely on the protection of the gods.

The dazzling golden lightning, like leaping serpents, turned the resurrected corpses surrounding Eileen from all directions into a pile of charred remains.

It's a Radiant version of Chain Lightning, and it's a spell-like ability inherent to [Wind Elemental Summoning].

Ivy landed lightly on the edge of the rooftop. Since the chosen ones of the Three Gods of Death were not gathered together, it gave him the opportunity to defeat them one by one.

Let's at least get our hands on the purple colorstone first.

"You!" Even though Ivy's Radiant Chain Lightning also struck him, Katheric remained expressionless. "You're the one who freed Irene from her cage? You're the one who killed Balthazar?"

“Melkor’s power cannot protect him.” Ivy’s gaze swept across the rooftop. The resurrected corpses had all turned to ashes. Apart from Katheric, who was standing in front of the altar, only one Death Acolyte was still alive.

"Similarly, Melkor's power cannot protect you."

“I don’t need protection!” Katheric’s aged face contrasted sharply with his powerful voice. This general, who had served many gods, was still a powerful chosen one. “Everyone who stands before me needs the protection of their god. Pray to your god, worm. May He give you the simplest comfort before your death.”

"We can do it!" Without anyone noticing, Eileen had already picked up the holy sword bestowed upon her by Serene, and the silvery-white holy flames enveloped her once more. "Serene is with us!"

“Serene is weak and powerless!” Katheric, who was always calm, roared angrily. “That bitch! Always indifferent to everything! Go back to your cage! Eileen! My daughter will be given a new life!”

"This is the promise of my lord, the god of the dead! And it is my destiny!"

Katheric roared, swung his heavy hammer high into the air, and landed right below Ivy, who was standing below the altar.

The floor groaned beneath the heavy armor, and the breastplate, encased in steel, echoed the surrounding braziers, radiating a dazzling light along with the Netherstone on Katheric's chest.

Ivy gave Katheric's lifeless eyes a deep look before disappearing like a wisp of smoke.

The missed attack didn't bother Katheric at all; he stepped back, turned, and raised his hammer handle high once more. But this time, it wasn't for attack, but for defense.

Few can gain the upper hand in a duel against a sword saint unless he is another sword saint.

Kaiserrick's leaping strike seemed to be the first move, but Ivy was faster than him.

It was still the same Steel Wind Slash he always used. Although there were only two targets locked on, it was still enough for Ivy to launch a surprise attack by using the Death Acolyte who was channeling necromancy as the landing point.

The elegant elven sword clashed with the heavy, unadorned warhammer, the sparks illuminating the obsidian on Katheric's warhammer that provided extra weight.

The Steel Wind Slash was ineffective.

As a paladin who has lived for centuries and served many gods, Ketherrick's strength should not be underestimated.

Ivy never imagined that she could win over Melkor's voters simply through hand-to-hand combat.

He flipped back onto the altar, raised one hand, and began preparing a spell.

After exchanging blows with Ivy's Beastbite Sword, Katheric once again swung his warhammer, fiercely sweeping away the daughter of Serenne who was attacking from above.

Eileen, who was flying backward, was forced to stop after flying only a short distance. A pale green ghostly hand emerged from the void and grabbed her firmly once again.

Katheric's eyes emitted a murky, grey-green light, as he channeled Melkor's divine power, attempting to reconnect the immortal essence of the daughter of Serenne with his own defiled life.

"when!"

Eileen is in the way again. If we allow Katheric to plunder the latter's immortal essence at will, the difficulty of this battle will increase significantly.

Ivy had to abandon the spell she was halfway through and instead flicked her finger across the blade of the Beastbite Sword to maximize the effect of [Finger of Spellbreaker].

Distracted, Katheric spewed out a cloud of foul smoke, and the ghostly hand that had been restraining Eileen vanished once more.

"My ally is incredibly powerful! Today is your death day!" Eileen, now free, immediately put on a smug face, flipped over, and drew her sword, ready to charge again.

"His necromancy is troublesome. Use your holy flame to support me!" Ivy quickly interrupted the reckless Asmo. If Ivy had to intervene every time Asmo launched an attack, wouldn't that be equivalent to being trapped in place?

After repeated failed attacks, Asmo, who seemed a bit dim-witted, stopped and flapped his wings to leave the rooftop.

Ivy breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least she could still understand human speech.

Katheric, who was on high alert, snorted and slammed his warhammer into the ground again. Pale green necromancy magic quickly enveloped the entire rooftop from the point where the hammer struck.

The skeletons that had been electrocuted to charcoal were now shedding their charred exteriors and transforming into bone cocoons radiating necromancy.

The reason mages are considered gods is because they can provide a large number of spells that can alter the narrative of the battlefield.

And that's exactly what Ivy was planning to do.

He flipped his outstretched palm, pointing his index and middle fingers upwards, instantly reversing the gravity of the entire rooftop area.

The bone cocoons summoned by Katheric were thrown upwards uncontrollably, with some even flying out of the rooftop archway at slightly off-center angles.

This is a 7th-ring alteration spell, Gravity Reversal, which reverses the direction of gravity in the cylindrical space within the entire casting range, causing objects inside to fall upwards.

If the fall distance is too long, damage will naturally follow. When the spell's effect ends, everything that gathered at the top due to the spell will fall again, suffering secondary damage from the earth.

The bone cocoons clattered and banged against each other on the vault, but the brazier on the ground also ignited the banners that were flying upwards with them. The undead summoned by Ketherrick didn't even have time to hatch before they were all wiped out by Ivy.

However, as the primary target of Ivy's spell, Katheric himself showed no intention of moving an inch.

Ivy was immune to the effects of gravity reversal because she was able to fly, which was why she was within the spell's range.

As for Katheric, Ivy saw his armor emit a light, which helped him stabilize his falling body.

“Forced displacement due to immunity?” Ivy narrowed her eyes. “Interesting.”

(End of this chapter)