Karl, as the leader of the party, made the decision to select the [Fourth Floor] on [Nightmare] difficulty.

This choice wasn't made lightly, as the higher the difficulty, the stronger the monsters they would face.

But for Karl, this was a necessary risk.

His profession as a Spirit Summoner thrived on challenging battles.

The stronger the monsters he defeated, the more powerful the spirits he could potentially summon.

He was weak at first without summons, but he knew that as time passed, it would only grow stronger.

It was a unique profession, one that required both strategy and courage, and Karl was determined to make the most of it.

Celeste, standing beside him, didn't argue with his decision.

She understood how his profession worked and respected his choice.

Secretly, though, she was excited.

She had already grown fond of Karl's spirits, particularly the [Frenzied Rabbit] and the [Sovereign Wolf].

There was something fascinating about how each spirit had its own personality and abilities.

She admired the uniqueness of Karl's profession, even though she herself possessed an SSS-Rank profession that allowed her to wield all types of magic.

Still, her abilities felt... ordinary in comparison.

Sure, she could cast powerful spells, but it didn't feel as special as summoning spirits from fallen foes.

Maybe, in time, as her skills evolved, she would unlock magics never seen before.

But for now, she was content to support Karl and watch his spirits in action.

Once the difficulty was selected, Karl stepped through the portal without hesitation, and Celeste followed closely behind.

The transition was disorienting, as always, with a few seconds of dizziness before they found themselves standing on the fourth floor.

The first thing that hit them wasn't a monster or a trap, it was the cold.

A biting, relentless cold that seemed to seep into their very bones.

"Brrr~" Celeste shivered instantly, crossing her arms and rubbing them vigorously in an attempt to generate some warmth.

She was dressed in modest clothing, nothing special or enchanted to protect her from the elements.

Unlike some awakeners who relied on their family's wealth to equip themselves with the best gear, Celeste preferred to earn her own way.

Normal monsters rarely dropped anything of value, so most equipment came from market purchases, chests, or boss monsters.

The higher the difficulty of the floor, the better the chances of finding rare and powerful gear.

But for now, she was stuck with her basic attire, and the cold was unforgiving.

Karl, too, felt the chill.

He was wearing a robe, but it offered little protection against the icy environment.

The snow beneath their feet was deep, almost swallowing their boots whole.

The landscape was harsh, with limited visibility due to the swirling snow and icy winds.

It was clear that this floor was designed to test their endurance as much as their combat skills.

[Fourth Floor: Frostbite Cavern]

Karl scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out their surroundings.

In the distance, he spotted a small cave entrance, partially hidden by the snow and ice.

"There," he said, pointing toward it.

"It's called Frostbite Cavern, so the boss is probably in there."

Celeste nodded, gripping her staff tightly.

She was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, but Karl knew that traveling through such a harsh environment would be difficult for them.

His thoughts briefly drifted to Sylas, the man who had entered the floor before them.

Sylas had likely chosen Nightmare difficulty as well, given his strength, but he didn't seem prepared for a floor like this.

Karl shook the thought away, focusing on the task at hand.

"Come forth!" Karl called, summoning his spirits.

One by one, they materialized around him, their forms glowing faintly in the dim light.

He had decided to summon nine out of his twelve available spirits for this battle.

Each one was unique, with its own strengths and abilities.

[Frenzied Rabbit, Sovereign Wolf, Alpha Dire Wolf, Nature Fox, Dire Fox, Golem Warrior, Elite Lizard Soldier, Shadow Assassin Lizard, Infested Skeleton.]

The spirits stood ready, seemingly unaffected by the cold.

Of course, they were already dead, so the temperature didn't bother them.

Karl couldn't help but smile slightly at the thought.

"Alright," he said, turning to the [Sovereign Wolf], "We'll climb on your back. You'll help us travel to the boss. The rest of you, defend us and take down any monsters that get in our way!"

The spirits nodded in unison, ready to follow his commands.

Celeste, however, looked a bit unsure.

"Wait a minute," she said, eyeing the massive [Sovereign Wolf], "How are we supposed to climb on its back? It's huge—"

Before she could finish, the [Sovereign Wolf], affectionately nicknamed Sovaryn by Celeste, dropped the [Voidblade] it carried in its mouth and, with a playful step, grabbed the girl by her collar.

In one swift motion, it tossed her into the air.

The mage girl let out a surprised yelp as she spun a few times before landing perfectly on Sovaryn's back.

Karl, not wanting to be treated the same way, used the [Golem Warrior] as a springboard to leap onto the wolf's back as well.

"Alright, let's go," Karl commanded, and the group began their ascent toward the cavern.

The journey was slow and arduous, with the deep snow and icy winds making progress difficult.

But with Sovaryn carrying them, they were able to move much faster than they would have on foot.

As they climbed, the monsters of the fourth floor began to appear.

These weren't the weak, tutorial-level creatures they had faced on the lower floors.

These were formidable foes, each one designed to test their strength and resolve.

[Level 22 Glacierfang Worg]

A large, wolf-like beast with icy fangs that could freeze wounds upon biting.

These creatures hunted in small packs, using the cavern's terrain to ambush their prey.

[Level 23 Frostspine Serpent]

A serpentine monster covered in jagged ice spikes.

It coiled through narrow tunnels and could unleash a chilling breath to slow or weaken its enemies.

[Level 22 Shatterfang Yeti]

A brutish, ape-like creature with hardened ice plating on its limbs.

It could smash the ground to create avalanches and block escape routes.

Each of these monsters was a significant threat, especially for awakeners still considered to be in the tower's tutorial phase.

This floor was a true test, separating those who were worthy of continuing their climb from those who should turn back.

But Karl wasn't deterred.

In fact, he was excited.

With a wide grin, he pointed forward.

"Let's do this, spirits!" he shouted, summoning his [Spirit Flames] and sending them hurtling toward the nearest monsters.

At the same time, he summoned his [Spirit Gun], aiming it at one of the [Frostspine Serpents].

He fired two shots in quick succession.

The first bullet struck the serpent's body, damaging its icy scales, while the second hit its head, killing it instantly.

Karl raised an eyebrow, impressed by the gun's power.

However, he quickly dismissed it as a primary weapon.

The cost of using it, around two spirits per skill, was too high.

It was a last-resort tool, not something he could rely on regularly.

Instead, he summoned his [Spectral Blade], which still had a few strikes left, and joined the fray.

The battlefield was chaos, with spirits and monsters clashing in a whirlwind of ice, fire, and steel.

The [Shadow Assassin Lizard] moved like a blur, one-shotting monsters with precise strikes to their weak points.

The [Alpha Dire Wolf] used its [Roar] ability to intimidate the enemies, its aura weakening them and making them easier to defeat.

Meanwhile, Sovaryn charged its [Voidblade], preparing to unleash a devastating crescent attack while keeping Celeste safe.

Celeste, standing on Sovaryn's back, was also a force to be reckoned with.

Her staff glowed as she fired spell after spell, each one exploding with precision and power.

Her aim was impeccable, ensuring that none of Karl's spirits were harmed in the process.

She had a deep respect for the spirits and didn't want to see them injured, no matter what.

Karl couldn't help but grin as he watched his team fight.

They were working together seamlessly, each member playing their part.

He himself was locked in combat with a [Shatterfang Yeti], his [Spectral Blade] cutting through its icy armor with ease.

For a moment, he felt a surge of confidence.

Maybe they could get through this without any casualties.

Or at least, that's what he hoped.

...

A/N:

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