war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第164章

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pon　himself。
His　body　grew　as　large　as　an　ogre's；　and　his　hide　thickened　into　scaly　armor。　His　teeth　lengthened　into　tusks；　and　his　nails　into　talons；　while　long；　curved　horns　erupted　from　his　brow。　A　hairless　tail　sprouted　from　the　base　of　his　spine；　and　a　whip　appeared　in　his　hand。
The　transformation　only　took　a　moment；　and　the　disfort　was　gone。　With　a　beat　of　his　leathery　new　wings；　Pharaun　hurled　himself　at　his　foe。
The　wizard　raised　his　monstrous　arms　high　and　bellowed　an　incantanottion。　Pharaun　felt　a　surge　of　churning　vertigo。　The　scene　before　him　seemed　to　spin　and　twist；　and　despite　himself；　he　veered　off　course。　He　smashed　down　on　the　dais；　and　time　skipped。　When　he　came　to　his　senses；　he'd　reverted　to　his　natural　form　and　felt　as　weak　and　sick　as　Smylla　Nathos。
The　lich　was　staring　down　at　him。
〃What　an　idiot　you　were　to　return；〃　Syrzan　said。　〃You　knew　you　were　no　match　for　me。〃
Pharaun　realized　he　could　hear　again；　albeit　through　a　jangling　in　his　ears。　He　wouldn't　die　deaf；　for　whatever　that　was　worth。
〃Stop　preening；〃　said　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　〃You　look　ridiculous。　This　isn't　your　pathetic　dream　world。　This　is　reality；　where　I'm　a　prince　of　a　great　city　and　you're　just　a　sort　of　mollusk；　and　a　dead；　putrid　one　at　that。〃
As　he　taunted　the　creature；　he　groped　for　the　strength　to　cast　a　final　spell。　No　doubt　the　attack　would　fail　like　all　the　others。
So　why；　he　thought；　bother　to　attack？　Try　something　else　instead。　Shaknoting　with　effort；　he　cast　a　spell　off　the　side　of　the　platform。　Blue　scintilla　of　power　glittered　briefly　in　the　air。
〃You　call　me　pathetic？〃　Syrzan　sneered。　〃What　was　that　supposed　to　be？〃
If　you　were　wearing　the　ring　you　stole；　Pharaun　thought；　you'd　know；　but　I　doubt　it　would　fit　on　your　bloated　fingers。
The　alhoon　hoisted　him　off　the　ground；　then　wrapped　dry；　flaking　tennottacles　around　his　head。
You　re　still　going　to　serve　me；　Syrzan　said　directly　into　the　mage's　mind；　holding　up　one　gnarled　finger　to　reveal　the　silver　ring。　When　I　devour　your　brain；　I'll　learn　all　your　secrets。
〃Perhaps　the　infusion　would　even　cure　your　stupidity；〃　Pharaun　wheezed；　〃but　I　fear　we'll　never　know。　Look　around。〃
The　lich　turned；　and　he　felt　it　jerk　with　surprise。
The　lens　of　illusion　he'd　formed　in　front　of　the　dais　made　Syrzan　look　exactly　like　a　certain　witty　Master　of　Sorcere；　and　Pharaun　himself　renotsemble　yet　another　humble　ore。　Once　the　Mizzrym　created　it；　he'd　willed　the　hand　of　ice　to　release　the　illithid's　head；　and　there　came　the　construct；　swooping　straight　at　its　originator。
Syrzan　threw　Pharaun　down　and　faced　its　creation。　No　doubt　if　left　unmolested；　it　could　have　averted　the　construct　somehow；　but　Pharaun　found　the　strength　for　one　more　spell。　His　labored　incantation　shattered　the　floor　of　the　dais；　staggering　the　alhoon　and　breaking　its　concentration。
The　huge　tentacles　scooped　Syrzan　up　and　conveyed　it　to　the　maw　behind　them；　whereupon　the　strangely　shaped　mouth　began　to　suck　and　chew。　The　alhoon's　own　magic　mangled　him　as　Pharaun's　never　had。　The　lich　faded　for　a　moment；　then　became　opaque　and　solid　again。　It　was　trying　to　shift　to　another　plane　of　existence　but　couldn't　focus　past　the　agony。
After　a　time；　the　enormous　head　blinked　out　of　existence。　Its　passing　dumped　inert　chunks　of　mummified　mind　flayer　on　the　floor。
Pharaun's　strength　began　to　trickle　back。　He　rummaged　through　the　alhoon's　stinking　remains　until　he　found　his　silver　ring；　then　turned　his　magic　on　the　renegades；　though　it　wasn't　really　necessary。　Ryld；　Welverin；　and　their　cohorts　already　had　the　upper　hand。
When　the　last　rogue　lay　dead；　the　entranced　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　sat　down　cross…legged　on　the　floor。　His　chin　drooped　down　onto　his　chest；　and　he　started　to　snore。　Silver　leg　rattling　as　if　a　blow　had　loosened　the　ponents；　Welverin　limped　over　to　check　him　and；　Pharaun　supposed；　tend　him　as　needed。
The　Mizzrym　thought　he　ought　to　take　a　look　as　well　but　when　he　tried　to　stand；　his　head　spun；　and　he　had　to　flop　back　down。
Triel　stood　on　the　balcony　gazing　down　at　the　city　below。　It　was　virtunotally　the　same　view　she'd　surveyed　on　the　night