Still ecstatic and reeling from the victory, Colm's hands trembled as adrenaline coursed through his body. His chest rose and fell with quick, uneven breaths, and a dazed smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I did it. I killed a monster the same tier as me… and it was even a couple levels higher."

He looked at his phantom army, the Phantom Harbinger having just faded after the intense battle. "This is the power of my Spirit Warden class."

But the euphoria couldn't drown out the lingering tension. "Still… that was close."

"If the Phantom Harbinger hadn't tanked so much damage, I don't think I'd be standing as confidently right now." The moment played in his mind as the Shivermaw's devastating attacks being deflected by the massive spectral knight, buying him precious time to coordinate his counterattack.

He shivered, thinking of how close he'd come to being overwhelmed and the jaws snapping shut around his head.

"That's going to be nightmare fuel," he muttered, feeling his phantoms return to normal strength.

The tactical coordination had been flawless, but the margin for error was terrifyingly thin. "Either way, I'm grateful it worked."

His thoughts finally began to settle, the adrenaline fading as he turned to the flood of system notifications that awaited him.

"A new passive. And I'm almost done unlocking all my class abilities," he thought, grinning to himself.

As he scrolled through the list, something caught his eye—just enough to make him pause and do a double take. His focus shifted away from the notifications, drawn back to the Shivermaw's corpse.

There, nestled near the fallen beast, hovered a single item.

It floated a few inches above the ground, glowing with an ethereal blue light—soft, steady, and pulsing gently like a heartbeat.

Loot Acquired: Shivermaw's Prime Scale

A rare scale infused with primordial energy, its frozen variation radiating far greater power than usual. Cold to the touch, yet pulsing with an unnatural icy resonance, it is highly sought after for its unparalleled power. Some believe it carries the essence of ancient predators, granting strength beyond normal limits—but at a cost.

He read the notification and then read it again. The words sank in slowly, their weight settling over him as his thoughts began to race. His vision flickered instinctively to Luke, the memory of their conversation resurfacing with sudden clarity.

"Would this work?"

Luke had mentioned something about needing a Prime Scale from The Expanse, a drop from a Tier 4 echo boss. But this. This was different.

"Could this be a substitute? Or does the system require something exact? How strict is it really?"

He wasn't sure.

Luke had been clear that The Expanse was Tier 4, but this…

Colm stepped forward and reached down, grasping the item in his hand. He stared at it—the Frozen Prime Scale—its surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The moment his fingers closed around it, an intense cold radiated through his skin, far deeper and sharper than any natural chill.

"It's colder than it should be..."

The sensation wasn't just cold. It felt alive, like the scale was pulsing with something beneath the surface.

"It feels... weird."

A faint pulse of energy rippled through him, trailing up his arm and settling deep in his chest. The weight of unrealized power pressed against him, a promise of something more.

He tightened his grip and activated Analyze, hoping it would give him answers.

Shivermaw's Prime Scale (Tier 5)

It didn't answer any of the questions he had about the item's true purpose, but he couldn't help feeling a flicker of satisfaction at the result.

"This is an entire tier higher than what he needed."

A smile crept across his face as he finished reading the details, the final line confirming what he had suspected all along—the Shivermaw had indeed been Tier Five.

Stashing the Frozen Prime Scale into his inventory, Colm let out a slow breath, the chill of the item still lingering in his fingers. His smile returned as his thoughts shifted to the next substantial notification and the one he'd been looking forward to.

New passive abilities.

His eyes lit up as the familiar stream of notifications appeared in his vision, each one glowing with purpose. He leaned forward slightly, fully focused as he read through them.

New class abilities available.

Select a new Class Passive Ability.

Passive Ability: Phantom's Lifeline (Level 1)

Your soul is strengthened by the spirit realm, deepening your connection with your phantoms. Each time a phantom lands a successful critical hit, you regenerate 2% of your maximum health.

Passive Ability: Spiritual Shield (Level 1)

The spirit realm recognizes your worth and grants its protection. You gain a spectral shield equal to 10% of your maximum health, replenished slightly each time a phantom deals damage.

Passive Ability: Death's Echo (Level 1)

Upon defeating an enemy, there is a 50% chance to summon a temporary wraith that attacks nearby foes for 10 seconds before vanishing. The wraith is intangible and can attack with spectral magic and inflict status effects to hamper the enemy.

Passive Ability: Phantom Synergy (Level 1)

When two or more phantoms are active simultaneously, you gain a 5% increase to all stats and you gain a 3% increase in movement speed for each phantom currently summoned.

Passive Ability: Haunting Pressure (Level 1)

The presence of your phantoms unnerves enemies. While at least one phantom is active, nearby enemies deal 5% less damage and have reduced resistance to status effects.

Passive Ability: Binding Presence (Level 1)

The spirit realm clings to you. Enemies within a short radius of you have their movement speed reduced by 5% per active phantom (up to 15%). This effect persists as long as you are alive.

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Passive Ability: Spirit's Awareness (Level 1)

You maintain a passive mental map of your phantoms' positions and their surroundings. Increases your ability to anticipate flanks, ambushes, or threats by granting 360° battlefield awareness through phantom senses.

Colm read through each option, noting with familiarity that the pattern remained the same as three new passives added to the growing list he'd seen before. His eyes scanned the descriptions with practiced ease, but then they landed on something that made him pause.

Spirit's Awareness.

His eyes widened, and he instinctively re-read it, this time more carefully, fully understanding what it implied.

"That one."

Almost selecting it instantly, he paused. "Wait..." he muttered. "Let's be logical about this," he said with a sigh as he looked through the other options.

He sat down with his legs crossed and hummed to himself. "What am I lacking? I can survive a tremendous amount of trouble. I've got self-healing and basically multiple second chances. My phantoms are incredibly powerful and I have some offensive capabilities between my attunement and weapon. So what is it that I'm lacking..." he said, looking towards Carver who sat down next to him as he mused through his thoughts.

He sighed as the Phantom Warrior stared at him, providing no answer.

He laid back while scratching his head.

"I think more survivability is off the table, so that crosses off Phantom Lifeline and Spiritual Shield. I don't really like the idea of a passive that only gives a chance of activation—that leaves too much up to chance in my opinion, so I'm crossing off Death's Echo. Granted, it could increase the chance as it ranks up, so wait, nevermind."

"Gah," he exclaimed as he shifted his position. "Utility. I want utility right now, so that leaves Phantom Synergy, Haunting Pressure, Binding Presence, and Spirit's Awareness."

Looking through the four options, he laid there thinking about the possibilities. "I really, really like the idea of having more awareness around me. Being able to see what my phantoms see and have a more instinctual tug sounds incredible. I would essentially have eyes on the back of my head. I can't deny the perks of Binding Presence and Phantom Synergy. More movement speed or slowing enemies is great. Haunting Presence seems a bit rough—I don't really care about status effects with Lingering Vitality."

"Screw it," he exclaimed as he picked Spirit's Awareness and muttered, "I'll have another chance to get one more, but I want this one."

As soon as he made the selection, the world around him shifted.

In an instant, pain lanced through his skull as a wave of information surged into his mind. The sheer intensity dropped him to his knees, a ragged grunt escaping his lips as he clutched his head, struggling to stay conscious.

"Too much, too fast..."

Minutes passed before the pain began to fade. His breath slowed, his grip relaxed, and eventually, he forced himself upright. Something felt… different.

A new, unfamiliar presence lingered in his mind—not separate, but interwoven.

His connection to his phantoms had always been deep, but now… now it felt like part of his own consciousness. Before, issuing commands had been like speaking to someone else—relayed thoughts, shared intent. Now it felt like an extension of his own will, as if they were limbs rather than allies.

He turned to Carver, who stood silently beside him, and locked eyes with the Phantom Warrior. As he focused, he felt a subtle mental tug, a thread connecting their awareness.

Then it hit him.

A dizzying surge rushed through his mind, causing him to stumble back. He didn't just feel connected. He saw. Not with his eyes, but through Carver's vision.

The world through the phantom's eyes was strange, alien as if a swirling current of spectral energy soared, like ghostly currents flowing through everything. In the vision, he could see himself, laying there as Carver perceived him.

He groaned and held his head, still reeling.

"This is going to take some getting used to…" he muttered, bracing himself as he stood up.

"But this… this is going to be a game changer."

* * *

Jerry slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through the room. "I'm telling you, what I felt from this kid is nothing short of insane. His class has incredible potential. I haven't felt that from anyone in years. Not from you, Dorian, and not even from you, Ves."

He leaned forward, voice low but intense. "If this kid makes it to the higher levels, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with. Hell, he's not just a piece on the board in this game we're playing with the undead, trying to keep the balance. He is the board."

"Those are some mighty claims, Jerry," Ves replied coolly, her voice calm and measured. "But if what you said is true… that he's being targeted… is that enough for us to act? Everything you're bringing is based on instinct. There's no guarantee. And if she's really after him, she's not going to stop until she gets what she wants."

Jerry exhaled sharply, slumping back in his chair and dragging a hand down his face. "I know you're right," he muttered. "But do we really have to keep playing this damn game? We've been dancing across this brittle playing board for years and one wrong step could end everything."

Ves nodded slowly, the weight of the situation clearly not lost on her. "I know," she said softly, as if measuring the cost. "But what if this is the misstep that tips the balance in their favor?"

Silence settled over the room. No one spoke, each of them lost in thought.

Eventually, it was Ves who broke the stillness. "I agree, though. You're rarely wrong, Jerry, much as I hate to admit it," she added with a wry smile. "If this is what you feel… I'm inclined to trust that instinct."

She stood, her decision made. "First step is to meet this young man. Do you know where he is?"

Jerry shook his head.

Ves gave a nod. "Alright. I'll find him. Once I do, we'll reconvene and decide how to proceed." Without another word, she turned and slipped away, vanishing like smoke into the corridor.

Jerry let out a long, exhausted sigh, burying his face in his hands. "I'm tired of this damn game, Dorian." He looked over. "You've been awfully quiet, which is surprising. What do you think?"

The looming figure beside him, still tall even while seated, his presence filling the space as he tilted his head, considering.

"Jerry," Dorian said at last, his voice deep and deliberate, "we've known each other a long time. You're one of the smartest men I've ever met. But one thing I know about you—you don't speak lightly. You rarely push your own opinions unless you really believe in them."

He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "This man, Colm… he's clearly left an impression on you. That alone means something. And if your gut's telling you he's worth the risk… I think it'd be a mistake to ignore that."

A grin broke across his face. "And hey. If it all goes south, I'll just chuck him out of the city myself," he added with a laugh.

* * *

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Morvyn

Level: 95

HP: 1630/1630

MP: 498/840

Strength: 110 (132)

Dexterity: 130 (156)

Intelligence: 155 (186)

Constitution: 151 (181)

Bonded Weapon: Abyssal Ledger (Tier 3, Level 4)

Weapon Ability: Abyssal Lance (Tier 3, Level 4)

Attunement: Tide

Attunement Abilities:

- Rising Current (Level 9)

- Wavebound Surge (Level 5)

Class: Spirit Warden (Tier 5)

Specialization: Resonance

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 4) [Carver]

- Phantom Spearman (Tier 2, Level 2) [Lance]

- Phantom Archer (Tier 2, Level 4) [Robin]

- Phantom Harbinger (Level 5) [Herb]

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Tier 2, Level 10)

- Spectral Persistence (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Phantom Sacrifice (Level 10)

- Spirit's Awareness (Level 1)

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 9)

- Stealth (Level 7)

- Pain Resistance (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Hardened Skin (Level 10)

- Slash Resistance (Level 7)

- Spear Mastery (Level 10)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

- Poison Resistance (Level 6)

- Stun Resistance (Level 6)

- Dual Wielding (Level 4)

- Infection Resistance (Tier 3, Level 10)

- Heightened Instincts (Level 3)

- Meditation (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Unarmed Combat (Level 7)

- Impact Resistance (Level 10)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Champion of the Lucent Grove

- Bane of the Undead

- Echo Sprinter I

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