⦗System⦘
⦗Level Up!⦘: 4 > 5
⦗Skills Unlocked⦘: Physical Skills, Aether Skills
At the sight of this notification, Arthur got excited. He closely examined what skills he had unlocked:
⦗Physical Skill Unlocked⦘: Phantom Step – Temporary burst of speed and agility [Level 1]
⦗Aether Skill Unlocked⦘: Summon Abyssal Warrior – Summons an undead ally to fight alongside you [Level 1] [Capacity: 0/1]
He then distributed all of his points in Aether, making sure he had enough to use his new summon.
⦗System⦘
⦗Level Up!⦘: 4 > 5
⦗Name⦘: Arthur Grimwood
⦗Level⦘: 5 (500/8500 exp)
⦗Guild Rank⦘: Only Available With Academy Certificate
⦗Military Rank⦘: Only Available After Reaching Platinum Guild Rank
⦗Physical Skills⦘: Phantom Step [Level 1]
⦗Aether Skills⦘: Summon Abyssal Warrior [Level 1] [Capacity: 0/1]
⦗Class⦘: Necromancer
⦗Stats⦘:
Strength: 13
Speed: 14
Aether: 20
Intelligence: 17
--------
I'm finally getting stronger. But this is nowhere near enough to save father and take down the Occult. I need to continue.
He recalled some books on how summoners used Aether as an extension, allowing them to create a summon, however he never read anything about them having a capacity or multiple summons.
Before Arthur moved onto the next floor, he emitted his dark Aether and pulled it out of himself, creating a skeletal warrior twice his size, fast as a cheetah, and more powerful than any of the monsters he had fought before.
...
Arthur continued on and decimated the monsters on floors 3 and 4, netting him 2 levels. He had gotten used to the phantom step, as it was similar to the Glacial Dash from floor 2, but a lot more useful as he could easily stop and change directions. Additionally, his phantom step skill had leveled up, making it quicker and requiring less stamina.
The Abyssal Warrior that he could summon was insanely strong, making these floors a breeze compared to floor 2. However, he had now reached the fifth floor, where Grace warned that there was a powerful boss.
⦗System⦘
⦗Congratulations on clearing the fourth floor of the Trial Tower⦘
⦗Next Objective⦘: Clear the fifth floor [BOSS]
Seeing this notification, Arthur quickly summoned his Abyssal Warrior before climbing up the stairs to the ominous boss floor.
The moment Arthur stepped onto the fifth floor, a surprising amount of pressure made his knees buckle. The room was cavernous, its walls rocky with Aether crystals that pulsed in sync. In the center stood a massive armored figure, making even Arthur's Abyssal Warrior look small. It wielded a large greatsword that seemed to have a dark flame covering it.
⦗System⦘
⦗Boss Detected⦘: Infernal Warden – Level 8
⦗Skills⦘: Hellfire Slash, Blazing Aura, Infernal Roar
Arthur's grip on is sword tightened. "Level 8... Great. Just what I needed."
The Infernal Warden turned its glowing gaze toward Arthur, letting out a deafening roar that pushed back Arthur, causing him to fall. The temperature in the room spiked, and the Aether crystals were burning red.
Arthur glanced at his Abyssal Warrior. "It's your time to shine."
The Abyssal Warrior charged with unrelenting speed, its skeletal body forming a blur as it swung its jagged, sharp blade at the Warden. The clash of weapons echoed around the chamber as sparks flew from their swords.
Arthur didn't waste any time watching. He activated Phantom Step, his body surging forward in a burst. The Warden, however, wasn't like the previous monsters—it had some sort of intelligence. It parried the Abyssal Warrior's strike with one hand and swung its massive sword at Arthur with the other. He barely dodged, the flames grazing his clothes and searing his skin.
"Focus Arthur," he muttered to himself, circling the boss to look for an opening.
⦗System⦘
⦗Status Effect⦘: Burn [Minor]
He gritted his teeth in pain.
Looks like that Infernal Roar wasn't just for show.
Arthur directed his Abyssal Warrior to distract the Warden while he looked for a gap in the seemingly indestructible armor of the boss.
There!
He found a small opening under the Warden's neck piece, allowing him to jab his sword in its shoulder.
The Infernal Warden grunted in pain, quickly whirling around and smacking Arthur with its other hand. Arthur's head was bleeding profusely as he tried to recover, but the Warden's relentless attack kept coming.
Arthur couldn't do anything so he put his hands up and closed his eyes, his last moments being a huge monster about to crush his entire body.
Suddenly, Arthur spotted a blur through the gaps of his fingers, striking the boss from the side with an extremely powerful attack.
"I forgot I had you!" Arthur said, laughing in pain.
However, the Abyssal Warrior was different than before. It was not only stronger, but had a gaze that emitted an immense killing intent, as it continuously dashed and struck the Warden with its sword.
Does my summon... have emotion?
The Infernal Warden didn't last a second under the warrior's attack.
⦗System⦘
⦗Congratulations on defeating the Infernal Warden⦘
⦗Experience Gained⦘: +5000
⦗Progress to Level 7⦘: 12,000/18,000
Arthur tried to get up, but dropped to one knee, panting. His Abyssal Warrior stood silently beside him, its intense aura calming down.
⦗System⦘
⦗Rewards⦘: Infernal Core [UNCOMMON], Infernal Skill Scroll [RARE], 1 Strength Aether Crystal [COMMON], 2 Speed Aether Crystal [COMMON].
⦗First Trial Tower⦘: You have been deemed incapable of continuing. You will be sent back and any fatal injuries will be healed.
Arthur's looked down as his body faded, leaving behind a blue glow, similar to Aether.
The tower was right. Since I didn't level up from that fight, I definitely would've been destroyed in the next one.
As Arthur was being teleported, he took a closer look at the items he had obtained. They were stored in the system's convenient inventory:
⦗Inventory⦘
Infernal Core [UNCOMMON] - Can be used to craft/enhance Infernal items/skills
Infernal Skill Scroll [RARE] - Can be used once to obtain an Infernal Skill from the Infernal Warden
1 Strength Aether Crystal [COMMON] - Can be used to increase Strength Attribute
2 Speed Aether Crystal [COMMON] - Can be used to increase Speed Attribute
These items will be imperitave to my growth.
Suddenly, Arthur reappeared outside the trial tower. His arms and legs felt like jelly, causing him to almost collapse.
"Please tell me you at least passed the first floor," a bored voice said.
"P-Professor Verlan. Yes, I passed the first floor," Arthur said, breathing heavily.
"Oh?" Verlan said, eyes slightly widening, "Then did you pass the second floor, boy?"
"Yes, Professor."
"The third?"
"Yes, Professor."
"The fourth?"
"Yes, Professor."
"The... f-fifth floor, Arthur...?"
"Yes, Professor. I beat the boss of the fifth floor and returned due to my injuries."
However, Professor Verlan just stood there. And, for the first time since he had come to the Academy 20 years ago, he had an insane smile on his face...