Link.

Karl swiftly linked his spirits twice.

He summoned an [Infested Undead Skeleton] and a [Ghoul Zombie].

The skeleton still clutched its rusted sword, but it had inherited the unsettling "infested" trait from the [Infested Beings].

Writhing worm-like parasites now spilled from its hollow eye sockets, giving it a grotesque and menacing appearance.

The zombie, on the other hand, had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Its skin had turned a metallic silver.

Its eyes glowed a deep crimson.

Instead of being unarmed, sharp, claw-like protrusions extended from its hands.

It was a perfect fusion of the [Infested Beings] and [Ghouls], a creature born of decay and ferocity.

Hm.

Karl stored the rest of his spirits in his [Spirit Storage], saving them for later in case he needed to use specific skills.

With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and returned to the real world.

Celeste, who had been sitting on the ground waiting for her friends to return, noticed the subtle shift in Karl's demeanor.

The cold, lifeless aura that had surrounded him dissipated, and his hollow eyes regained their color.

He stirred, his movements fluid and natural once more.

"I'm back," Karl said with a smile, extending his arm.

In a flash, all the spirits he had summoned earlier reappeared, including the newly created [Infested Undead Skeleton] and [Ghoul Zombie].

This brought his total number of spirits to ten, each one radiating its own unique energy.

[Frenzied Rabbit (Frappy), Alpha Dire Wolf, Thorned Vine Beast, Shadow Golem, Stonefang Ape, Rock Hound, Sovereign Wolf (Sovaryn), Elite Lizard Soldier, Infested Undead Skeleton, Ghoul Zombie]

With such a formidable team at his side, Karl felt confident.

Surely, victory was within reach.

"Wait!" Celeste called out as Karl began to walk away.

"Hm?" Karl turned, noticing Frappy perched on Celeste's hair, as usual.

The [Frenzied Rabbit] had a peculiar fondness for that spot and would instantly teleport there whenever summoned, often before Karl even realized it.

"Why were you... like that?" Celeste asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"What do you mean—" Karl started to ask but quickly understood what she was referring to.

"Oh, you mean when I go to the [Spirit Cemetery].

Yeah, my real body technically dies in the process."

"So does that mean..." Celeste hesitated, her eyes widening.

"...That I've technically died dozens of times already?

Who knows," Karl shrugged, his tone nonchalant.

To him, it felt no different than closing his eyes and being transported to another place.

The only time he had truly experienced death was when Alexander had sliced his body in half.

Beyond that, he had no concrete information.

With the air cleared, Karl and Celeste knew it was time to move forward.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, the weight of their mission pressing down on them.

"So, what do you think happens afterward?" Celeste asked, breaking the silence.

"I mean..." Karl mumbled.

"First, we get our [Specialized Class], then we'll have to clear the [Tower's Tutorial], and after that... I don't know."

Reaching the [Fifth Floor] and completing it would unlock a host of new opportunities.

It made sense for [Starlight Academy] to ensure its students were well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

Eventually, they reached the cathedral.

The structure loomed before them, its towering spires and intricate architecture a testament to its grandeur.

The interior was vast, with a massive open space in the center, its high ceilings and stained-glass windows casting eerie shadows across the stone floor.

"Here goes," Karl said, nodding at Celeste as he pushed open the heavy wooden doors.

The spirits followed closely behind, their presence a comforting reassurance.

But as soon as they stepped inside, the doors slammed shut behind them, trapping them within.

Neither Karl nor Celeste seemed particularly bothered by this.

Celeste immediately summoned her [Mana Missiles], her staff glowing with a soft, ethereal light.

Karl, meanwhile, kept his spirits close, ready for whatever lay ahead.

As they ventured deeper into the cathedral, the atmosphere grew heavier.

The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and the faint sound of whispers seemed to echo from the walls.

When they reached the center of the cathedral, a sudden, sharp cracking noise broke the silence.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

All the windows shattered simultaneously, and a dark figure materialized above them, hovering ominously in the air.

"Watch out," Karl warned, stepping back as he assessed the situation.

The figure was a decayed bishop, its tattered ceremonial robes hanging loosely from its skeletal frame.

In its hands, it clutched a staff that pulsed with dark energy.

Its hollow eyes glowed with a malevolent light as it surveyed the intruders.

[Corrupted Archbishop - Level 20]

[Strength - 50] [Stamina - 100] [Agility - 150] [Mana - 300]

The boss monster's stats were impressive, especially its mana pool, which far exceeded Celeste's.

Even for an undead mage-type enemy, its other attributes were well-balanced, making it a formidable opponent.

The [Corrupted Archbishop] raised its staff, and two spells erupted from it in quick succession.

"Revival Chant!"

An eerie, dissonant melody filled the air as the ground beneath Karl and Celeste began to tremble.

Dark energy surged through the cathedral, and from the shadows, undead creatures began to rise.

"Watch out!" Celeste shouted.

"He can summon the undead!"

"I can see that," Karl replied, his voice calm but focused.

If the boss's only ability was summoning undead minions, the fight would have been relatively straightforward.

Sovaryn, the [Sovereign Wolf], alone could have handled them with ease.

The wolf's piercing gaze darted around the room, already calculating the fastest way to reach the boss and deliver a fatal blow.

But the [Corrupted Archbishop] was not to be underestimated.

Even though this was only the second floor, the boss was in its [Nightmare]-Difficulty form, and the floors were designed to be balanced.

Just as Karl was about to command his spirits to attack, the boss raised its staff again.

Fwish! Fwish!

Dark energy crackled around the staff as the boss unleashed its next spell.

"Unholy Smite!"

[Fires beams of corrupted light, dealing magic damage.]

BOOM!

The beams of corrupted light shot across the cathedral, targeting not only Karl but also his spirits.

The attack was swift and devastating.

"Oh shit!" Karl exclaimed, his first instinct to protect his spirits.

"You can't!" Celeste shouted, raising her staff to cast [Elemental Shield].

A translucent barrier formed around Karl, Celeste, and the spirits closest to them, shielding them from the attack.

But the others weren't so lucky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The beams struck the cathedral walls, obliterating the undead minions the archbishop had summoned.

When the dust settled, the damage was clear.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Thorned Vine Beast has been killed.]

[Stonefang Ape has been killed.]

[Rock Hound has been killed.]

"FUCK!" Karl roared, his voice filled with rage.

The three spirits had already been injured from their previous battle in the cemetery, and this final attack had been enough to finish them off.

While he was relieved that more of his spirits hadn't been lost, the death of even three was a heavy blow.

Karl's gaze burned with fury as he glared up at the boss, who seemed to revel in the destruction it had caused.

Strangely, Karl's anger seemed to resonate with his remaining spirits.

Their expressions turned fierce, their eyes glowing with an intensity that mirrored their master's rage.

Were they genuinely upset about the loss of their companions, with whom they had spent time in the [Spirit Cemetery], or were they simply reflecting Karl's emotions?

Karl didn't know, and at that moment, he didn't care.

Without hesitation, Karl summoned his [Spectral Blade], the weapon materializing in his hand with a faint, ghostly glow.

He stepped out of the cracked [Elemental Shield], his eyes locked on the boss.

"YOU AND ME, BOSS!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cathedral.

Karl was determined to destroy the [Corrupted Archbishop] and claim its orb, no matter the cost.

With his spirits by his side and his resolve unshakable, he charged forward, ready to face the nightmare head-on.

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