At the same time, Karl could sense the intense battle unfolding between his two boss-type spirits and the [Mantis Lords].

Sovaryn, the [Sovereign Wolf], was locked in combat with one of them, the one that had dashed to the left.

The giant white wolf was powerful, but the mantis monster's agility was proving troublesome.

Every time Sovaryn swung its [Void Blade], the enemy twisted its body mid-air or dashed away just in time, leaving the attack slicing through empty space.

On top of that, the dense forest around them made it even harder.

The wolf had to constantly tear through thick tree trunks to create space, each swipe of its blade sending splinters and debris flying.

Slash! Slash!

Even so, Sovaryn was holding its ground.

The wolf dodged most of the incoming attacks, using its sheer size and reflexes to avoid the deadly thrusts of the mantis lord's lance.

When dodging wasn't possible, it resorted to parrying, catching the tip of the lance in its powerful jaws and deflecting the strikes with a forceful snap.

They were at a stalemate.

Sovaryn was strong, but alone, it couldn't charge up its [Void Blade] long enough to land a finishing blow without leaving itself vulnerable.

Still, after a long exchange of slashes and dodges…

Swish! Slash!

The mantis lunged forward, attempting to close the distance and impale the wolf, thinking it had finally found an opening.

But Sovaryn reacted instantly, twisting its body mid-motion.

The sudden spin caused its blade to carve through the mantis lord's arm, slicing off a small chunk of its exoskeleton-covered flesh.

"Krakrk-!!"

But it wasn't the pain that made the mantis cry out, it was what came next.

Swash!

The moment the [Void Blade] cut through its flesh, dark flames ignited from the wound.

The eerie fire rapidly consumed its arm, crawling up its body like a living curse.

Recognizing the danger, the mantis lord didn't hesitate.

With a sharp movement, it swung its own lance at itself, severing its burning arm before the corruption could spread further.

Sovaryn let out a frustrated growl.

Its attack had been effective, but it hadn't been enough.

Then, without warning, the mantis lord's head twitched and clicked.

Its mandibles moved rapidly, producing a strange, rhythmic sound, almost like a signal: it was communicating too.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Karl's second summon, the [Shadow Assassin Lizard], was fighting against another [Mantis Lord].

This fight was playing out very differently.

Unlike Sovaryn, the lizard was much closer in height to its opponent.

That meant it could maneuver through the trees just as easily as the mantis, darting between trunks and vanishing into the underbrush before reappearing in a flurry of dagger strikes.

The mantis lord did its best to fight back, countering each attack with sweeping slashes from its scythe-like arms.

But no matter how fast it moved, the lizard was just a bit faster.

Every time the mantis tried to strike, Karl's summon would dodge by a hair's breadth, then counterattack immediately.

Fwish! Swash!

The decisive moment came when the lizard feinted a strike to the mantis's side, then abruptly switched targets, slicing straight through the lance it was wielding.

In the same motion, it slashed off one of its arms.

"Kraakrkak~!"

The mantis lord screeched, stumbling backward as green blood dripped from its severed limb.

It quickly regained its footing and lashed out with a powerful kick, sending the lizard flying into a tree.

Still, it didn't back down.

Instead, its mandibles began clicking rapidly, just like the other two bosses.

Karl narrowed his eyes.

He could sense something: an energy connection between them.

And that's when he realized their trick.

"Shoot them!" Karl shouted.

Celeste, his partner, didn't hesitate.

She immediately fired off ten [Mana Missiles] toward the mantis lord.

At the same time, Karl activated his [Spirit Flames], sending them toward the enemy in an all-out assault.

But it was too late.

The [Mantis Lords] had activated their ultimate ability: Dash Synchro

[Effect: As long as all Mantis Lords are alive and each has been injured, they can transfer energy between one another, greatly increasing their speed.]

And just like that, the battle changed.

Fwish! Fwish! Fwish!

One moment, Karl's target was standing still, directly in the path of the incoming attacks.

The next moment, its figure blurred.

It vanished from sight, and all the spells missed, exploding against the trees behind it.

Karl's spirits moved in, trying to corner it.

The [Infested Undead Skeleton] was the first to attack, swinging its rusted sword downward in a brutal arc.

But the mantis lord sidestepped with inhuman speed, twisting around the attack like a shadow.

Before the skeleton could recover, the mantis lord spun and slammed its lance against its legs.

The force sent the undead crashing to the ground, its bones rattling as it lost its footing.

The [Ghoul Zombie] followed up, lunging forward with its claws aimed for the mantis's neck.

But once again, the mantis was too fast.

With a lightning-quick reaction, it used its scythe-arm to parry the strike, then lashed out with a brutal kick.

The impact sent the ghoul flying several meters before it slammed into a tree, leaving cracks in the bark.

The mantis lord clicked its mandibles again, shifting its gaze toward Karl.

It had identified him as the real threat, the one controlling all these creatures.

Without hesitation, it dashed forward, its scythe-arms raised, aiming for his head.

But before it could reach him—

Boom!

The [Orc King] intercepted, stepping between them and swinging its massive blade in a wide arc.

The mantis lord barely dodged, its exoskeleton cracking from the shockwave of the attack.

The orc then followed up with a powerful kick, sending the mantis skidding backward.

"Krakrks?"

The mantis hesitated for a moment.

Then, it twitched, and charged again.

This time, instead of going for Karl directly, it feinted toward him, only to suddenly twist and aim at the [Orc King]'s arm.

Karl realized its plan too late, "No—!"

Fwish! Slash!

The orc's second arm was severed.

Its greatsword clattered to the ground, useless now that it had no hands left to wield it.

But even armless, the [Orc King] refused to back down.

With a roar, it charged forward once more, determined to defend its master.

And that was its biggest mistake.

Fwish! Slash!

The mantis lord's blade arm cut sideways, cleaving through the orc's neck in a single, fluid motion.

The [Orc King]'s massive body staggered, then collapsed.

Its head rolled across the ground, eyes still filled with unwavering loyalty even in death.

Karl's eyes darkened, and fury burned in his chest.

He lunged forward, [Spectral Blade] in hand, swinging with all his might.

But the mantis lord simply blocked with its lance, holding it sideways with ease.

"Krikrikri~"

It sounded amused.

But before it could counterattack and end this fight for good...

Swish! Crack!

From behind, the [Ghoul Zombie] reappeared, its claws slashing clean through the mantis lord's neck.

The monster froze as green blood gushed from the deep wound.

It twitched, its mandibles clicking in confusion.

Then, finally, its body collapsed.

[Dash Synchro has been deactivated since one of the Mantis Lords was killed.]

Without the ability, the remaining mantis lords were vulnerable.

Sovaryn, sensing the shift, seized the opportunity.

The [Sovereign Wolf] lunged forward, its [Void Blade] charged.

In one swift motion, it cut its opponent clean in half.

Meanwhile, the [Shadow Assassin Lizard], still engaged in battle, struck with deadly precision, decapitating the last mantis lord before it could react.

And with that...

Ding!

[You have slain the "Mantis Lords."]

[You have defeated the third floor's bosses.]

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