Lich Old Man

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lich Old Man
Alias(es)	A Fu / Afu
Species/Race	Lich
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Richard's Eden Garden; Shangbala Mine
Occupation/Role	Magic Puppet creator, researcher, and Eden Garden defender
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 777

Background

The Lich Old Man's soul was preserved inside a Lich Phylactery, also called a Life Box. Richard awakened him for research, and the old man initially mistook Richard for a student of Patton Academy who had inherited his knowledge. He was distressed to learn that the institutions and nations of his era had vanished. 778

He refused to provide Richard with knowledge unless Richard first arranged his resurrection, fearing that Richard would extract everything he knew and abandon him. 839 His soul later forcibly merged with the corpse of the deceased Ford, leaving him in an injured, decayed old body and nearly exhausting his Soul Energy. 842

After attempting to escape Eden Garden, he negotiated terms with Richard: materials to restore himself, a place within Richard's protection, and eventual freedom once he had supplied sufficient knowledge. 847 He thereafter became known as A Fu and remained associated with Richard's mine and laboratories.

A Fu remembers little of his former life, though the Northern Wilderness evokes vague impressions of prolonged residence, important secrets, and past battles. He believes powerful Wizard and Demonized Creature remains may be buried there. 1077

Appearance

Following his resurrection, A Fu inhabits Ford's damaged corpse: an ordinary, frail old man's body rather than a Wizard's extraordinary body. 842

• Wrinkled face and sparse gray-white hair. 842 1077
• Few remaining yellow, rotten teeth. 842
• Emaciated torso and weak, noodle-like arms. 842 844
• Previously suffered cracked ribs, a swelling on the back of his head, and severe Soul Energy depletion. 842
• Often rests in an armchair, which also serves as his bed. 901 1077

Personality

A Fu is proud of his long life, magical knowledge, and practical experience. He is suspicious of being exploited, insists on equivalent exchange, and can be evasive when Richard questions him. 839 856 He is also bluntly self-aware: despite calling himself a wise lich, he readily avoids subjects beyond his expertise, such as Richard's laser isotope-separation project. 900

Though frequently lazy, irritable, and theatrical, he becomes serious when Richard or Eden Garden may be threatened. He worked through the night modifying puppets because he sensed Richard was facing a difficult problem and wanted to prepare support. 1002 He prefers assisting from behind the scenes to direct battle, especially after nearly being killed by Qiekafu. 1002

His longevity has left him isolated. He recalls the loss of everyone familiar to him, regrets the unfamiliarity of the current era, and says he might return to his own era even at the cost of his extraordinary power. 886

Abilities & Skills

Lich Physiology and Soul Energy

A Fu's power comes primarily from Soul Energy rather than the frail body he currently inhabits. 859

• Used Soul Energy to forcibly match his soul to Ford's corpse during resurrection. 842
• Can regenerate injuries; after Qiekafu stabbed his lower abdomen, flesh buds rapidly sealed the wound. 861
• His Soul Energy can be depleted by resurrection, healing, or theft; Qiekafu weakened him by stealing it in combat. 842 861
• His current body limits his former strength and spellcasting capacity. 842

Soul Walk

An ancient movement spell that allows A Fu to traverse space and evade attacks. Richard states that no one in the current era is known to use it. 856

• Detected Qiekafu's use of Soul Walk at Shangbala Mine. 855
• Used it to restrain Qiekafu during their battle. 863
• Used it repeatedly to evade Tin Wood by crossing more than twenty meters at a time. 1043
• Can be anticipated by opponents capable of sensing energy shifts. 1043

Close Combat

Despite being a lich, A Fu is highly skilled at close-range fighting. 860

• Repeatedly wounded Qiekafu with a dagger, leaving him with more than a dozen injuries. 861
• Fought calmly while initially remaining uninjured. 861
• Was ultimately disadvantaged when Qiekafu secretly drained his Soul Energy and used a Bone Blade to wound him. 861

Black Qi Constructs

A Fu can expel dense Black Qi and shape it into weapons.

• Formed a slender black whip whose strike blasted a one-meter-deep pit into the ground. 861
• Used a massive black scythe against Tin Wood. 1042
• His black scythe was unable to overcome Tin Wood's defenses. 1043

Undead and Magic Puppet Crafting

A Fu designs, repairs, modifies, and combines Magic Puppets, especially skeletal constructs.

• Created modified Giant Skeletons and offered his expertise to Richard. 934
• Developed flexible Skeletons whose bones can adjust their limb length and torso width. 1019
• Helped Pandora assemble primitive Collective Magic Puppets by combining multiple Skeletons and linking their soul fires. 1019
• Produced defensive Skeleton formations capable of delaying Tin Wood's rebellion. 993
• Continues modifying puppets to prepare for threats to Eden Garden. 1002

Equipment / Creations

• Lich Phylactery / Life Box — vessel that held A Fu's soul before his resurrection. 839
• Dagger — used during his close-quarters fight with Qiekafu. 861
• Black whip and black scythe — Soul Energy-formed Black Qi weapons. 861 1042
• Magic Puppets — skeletal constructs built and modified by A Fu. 993
• Eight-Armed Skeleton A Nan — an anomalous skeletal puppet associated with A Fu's workshop, though it repeatedly steals bones and dismantles his creations. 1084 1134
• Golden Retriever — A Fu's dog and frequent companion. 854 901

Relationships

• Richard — Formerly his reluctant “trading partner”; Richard awakened, resurrected, and supplies A Fu, while A Fu contributes ancient spells, puppet work, and research assistance. Their relationship develops into candid, often sarcastic cooperation. 839 847 937 1501
• Pandora — Initially irritated by her, A Fu nevertheless protects her during his battle with Qiekafu and later works with her on Collective Magic Puppets. 861 1019
• Qiekafu — Enemy Inspector who infiltrated Shangbala Mine, stole A Fu's Soul Energy, and nearly killed him in close combat. 859 861
• Tin Wood — Hostile Longevity Ancient Tree Species; A Fu attempted to contain its rebellion but was outmatched in direct combat. 1040 1043
• Eight-Armed Skeleton A Nan — A Fu's most troublesome and mysterious construct; it self-modifies, drains his strength, and habitually steals bones and Magic Puppets. 943 1047 1084
• Golden Retriever — His dog; A Fu shows it leniency and keeps it near him. 854

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Resurrection

• Richard awakens A Fu's soul from the phylactery for research. 777 778
• A Fu demands resurrection in exchange for knowledge. 839
• He seizes Ford's corpse, resurrects in its damaged body, and attempts to escape Eden Garden. 842
• Richard and A Fu establish terms for his continued cooperation and eventual freedom. 847

Shangbala Mine Conflict

• A Fu detects Qiekafu's Soul Walk infiltration and recognizes the spell's danger. 855
• He confronts Qiekafu, relying on Soul Energy, a dagger, Black Qi weapons, and Soul Walk. 859 861
• Though grievously weakened, he holds Qiekafu back until Richard's remote support arrives. 863

Magic Puppet Development

• A Fu turns his attention toward improving Magic Puppets after recognizing his current combat limitations. 900 939
• His Giant Skeleton develops into the Eight-Armed Skeleton after drawing its own design and installing additional arms. 940 943
• He collaborates with Pandora on Collective Magic Puppets and continues building defensive forces for Eden Garden. 1019 1002

Tin Wood Rebellion

• A Fu attempts to stop Tin Wood from leaving Eden Garden, first seeking a peaceful resolution. 1040
• He fights Tin Wood with Black Qi weapons and Soul Walk but is severely injured when Tin Wood anticipates his movement spell. 1042 1043
• The Eight-Armed Skeleton intervenes, drains A Fu's recovered strength, and subsequently overwhelms Tin Wood. 1047

Later Research Work

• A Fu secures a private room to protect his puppets from A Nan's thefts. 1077
• He agrees to lead research into extracting protected memories from Burning Wind. 1511

Trivia

• A Fu observes the Revival Festival on March 3, a celebration from his era that no one else in the current era remembers. 886
• He considers the Eight-Armed Skeleton the strangest Skeleton he has ever encountered. 943
• He has psychological reservations about Richard's difficult scientific questions after being unable to advise him on uranium isotope separation. 900 901
• He estimates that A Nan's accumulated bone thefts amount to hundreds of bones. 1367