[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-402":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161919,1504,"Chapter 402: The Lich’s Diary (Part 3)","ember-dragon-chapter-402",402,"\u003Cp>Chapter 402: The Lich’s Diary (Part 3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one were to open Orest’s diary, they would understand the source of his confidence—the next chamber was a true death trap for living beings, one that even legends could not easily survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"New Calendar Year 1407, December, clear skies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s been two years since I transformed into the great immortal being. I’ve broken free from the shackles of death, and everything feels so marvelous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... there are still hidden dangers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need better ways to protect my phylactery. So, I purchased thirty-five female elves from the black market, cursed them, and transformed them into banshees—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I watched them struggle, wail, their flesh rot, and their minds collapse. Eventually, they died and were reborn as undead creatures. Out of the thirty-five, twenty-seven successfully transformed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah... they are truly fascinating undead beings. They cannot feel joy, only the torment of existence, yet they still cling to the beauty they once had as living creatures.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, my experiment succeeded. I sealed the remaining twenty-seven banshees inside a bottle, where they will be eternally imprisoned, forever wailing in grief—thus creating the [Bottle of Banshee Wailing].\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh heh, from now on, no one will ever leave here alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Banshee’s Wail]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Known as one of the \"most terrifying 9th-circle spells,\" this spell emits a wailing cry that generates an overwhelming amount of negative energy, capable of tearing a person’s soul apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest solidified this 9th-circle spell and placed it in the deepest chamber to guard his precious phylactery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest stared at the image displayed on the crystal skull, his hollow voice murmuring as he locked his gaze on the man about to enter the next chamber: \"Feel death, you arrogant mortal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh heh heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, this is the End Chamber, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve only heard its name in my past life, but I didn’t expect to see it in person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius wiped the dust off the stone door, revealing a skeletal holy emblem beneath. He couldn’t help but marvel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, players had struggled through the torment of the Corridor of Death, believing they had earned victory at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when they opened the stone door, what awaited them was the 9th-circle spell [Banshee’s Wail]—and they were wiped out once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until someone thought of using soulless constructs to destroy the [Bottle of Banshee Wailing] that players were able to enter the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What an interesting artifact.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius narrowed his eyes. Through the power of [Cataclysmic Dragon’s Eye], his vision penetrated the stone door, revealing the crystal bottle and the twenty-seven imprisoned banshees inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a legendary-level item. As long as a living creature approached, the banshees inside would emit a [Banshee’s Wail] that could shred the souls of enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius pressed his hand lightly against the stone door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes, just like that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ignorant fool of a mortal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Push open the door to your doom and embrace your end!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich stared at the magical image, anxiously urging the man forward. He wished he could teleport over and open the door himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something unexpected happened—the man bent his fingers slightly, and a glowing claw-shaped force field appeared in the chamber. It reached out and grabbed the crystal bottle containing the banshees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is he doing?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible! How did he find it?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest raged internally, his mind spiraling into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, something even more shocking happened— the glowing claw slashed through the air, creating a spatial rift, and the bottle vanished into thin air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was stolen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trap he had spent decades meticulously designing was stolen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest’s withered hand trembled slightly, the ghostly flames in his eye sockets flickering erratically. He knew the situation had taken a severe turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed a bone-crafted staff from the shelf and prepared to cast a teleportation spell to go directly to the End Chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to his horror, he discovered that the space around the chamber had been sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why can’t I cast my spell?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich spiraled into madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick necrotic mist billowed from his skull, and the ghostly flames in his eyes burned fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how hard he tried, Orest couldn’t enter the chamber. He could only watch helplessly as the man approached his hidden phylactery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, he won’t find my phylactery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My plan is flawless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, I’ve prepared one final trap. There’s no way this human could anticipate it! He will die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest gritted his teeth and growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t bluffing—he had indeed considered this worst-case scenario and made meticulous preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the End Chamber was a near-legendary staff meant to serve as bait, tricking adventurers into thinking they had found the \"final reward\" and prompting them to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phylactery, meanwhile, was hidden in a concealed chamber. The hidden door could only be opened by removing the paintings from the walls in the correct order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the chamber was guarded by three beholders. Orest had spent a hefty price in souls to summon them, and their 200-year contract was about to expire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest had thought he wouldn’t need to use this final safeguard during the two centuries of its duration, but fate had taken an unexpected turn today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monstrous aberrations were greedy and filled with hatred, the bane of all spellcasters. Their massive central eyes could project anti-magic fields, and their smaller eye stalks could unleash effects like petrification, sleep, and charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest was confident that anyone trapped in a confined space with three beholders would meet a gruesome end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the End Chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the heavy stone sarcophagus lay the skeletal remains of the Doom Elder, the embodiment of Myrkul’s curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls were adorned with paintings depicting various stages of death and decay among men, women, and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius picked up the staff lying on the altar and gave it a casual wave, releasing dark green energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Interesting...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A staff capable of casting 8th-circle spells—this must be that ’artifact’ from my past life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the near-legendary [Staff of Withering], capable of casting 8th-circle withering magic, draining the life force from enemies and causing their bodies to wither.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And these paintings...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius chuckled, snapping his fingers. The paintings fell off the walls in the correct order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a rumbling sound, a hidden door appeared in the corner, leading to the most secret chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, it’s been found, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That human must know something—could it be the remnants of those players?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter. Witnessing the phylactery of an immortal is the last honor he’ll have before he dies screaming at the hands of the beholders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich’s body trembled violently, and a tense expression appeared on his withered face. His words were laced with madness, reflecting how much he valued the phylactery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was the source of his immortality!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius descended the staircase step by step, entering the hidden chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, under the flickering torchlight, he saw the phylactery—a small jewelry box inscribed with dense, intricate protective runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... what’s that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spherical creature floated ominously, its enormous central eye glaring from above its gaping mouth while its smaller eye stalks writhed and scanned the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three beholders emerged from the shadows, cackling wildly as they projected anti-magic fields from their central eyes in different directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Intruder!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll devour you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s body seemed to shimmer under the effects of the anti-magic fields, his form flickering with scattered magical sparks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich watched nervously and whispered, \"Yes, yes! Beholders, destroy this sorcerer’s protective spells and tear him apart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he didn’t know was that those weren’t protective spells—they were part of a 4th-circle Complete Polymorph spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening explosion resounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stones shattered, walls collapsed, and thick clouds of dust filled the air. Something massive was expanding rapidly within the debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crack, crack...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the dust settled, the chamber lay in ruins. The hidden room had completely collapsed, and the smug grins on the beholders’ faces had vanished, replaced by sheer terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cramped End Chamber, a massive red dragon loomed, making the space feel impossibly small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its towering back cracked the ceiling, creating deep fissures, and even with its wings partially folded, they touched the walls on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon’s body occupied most of the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a metaphor—it was reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon lowered its head, baring its fangs in a menacing grin. Its shadow engulfed the trembling beholders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard... you wanted to eat me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1404,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","a7d1bfda9d2e30af5f7c8fd064041631539e0db9c06a45bdc77a9e2865554761","ember-dragon-chapter-403","ember-dragon-chapter-301",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]