Karl and his group stood face-to-face with the massive [Frozen Tuskreaper].

A towering beast loomed over them like a living mountain of ice and fur.

The creature lifted one of its massive, tree-trunk-like legs and began stomping the ground repeatedly.

Each impact sent tremors through the cavern.

The rhythmic thuds echoed ominously, as if the beast was preparing to unleash a devastating attack.

Its icy tusks gleamed under the dim light of the cavern.

Its cold, piercing eyes locked onto Karl and his companions, radiating an aura of primal fury.

Despite the overwhelming presence of the boss, none of Karl's spirits showed even a hint of fear.

Instead, they stepped forward, their movements deliberate and confident, ready to confront the monstrous foe.

Even the [Frenzied Rabbit], which had remained mostly passive throughout the battle—only moving earlier to protect Celeste from falling debris—hopped off the girl's head and onto the shoulder of the [Shadow Assassin Lizard].

The rabbit's tiny body trembled with energy, its eyes glowing with a fierce determination.

The lizard glanced at its small companion for a moment, then gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment.

The three spirits—lizard, rabbit, and the [Frosted Mantis]—exchanged brief looks, and in that silent exchange, they communicated their strategy perfectly.

What was even more remarkable was that Karl, too, understood their intentions without a single word being spoken.

It was as if their thoughts and instincts flowed directly into his mind.

Was this a result of his deepening bond with his spirits?

Or perhaps their instincts were now intertwined with his own?

Whatever the reason, Karl felt a strange sense of unity with them, as if they were extensions of his own will.

The spirits lunged forward, their movements swift and coordinated, but the [Frozen Tuskreaper] was no ordinary foe.

The beast noticed their advance immediately and reacted with surprising speed for its size.

It swung its massive head, its icy tusks slicing through the air like deadly scythes, aiming to impale the spirits before they could get close.

The spirits, however, were far from helpless.

Seeing the attack coming, they quickly retreated to their original positions, avoiding the deadly strike with ease.

Karl's mind raced as he analyzed the situation.

They can't get close like this.

It's too big, and its tusks are too dangerous.

We need to find another way.

He knew he had to act fast.

Gripping his [Spirit Gun], he fired three quick shots at the [Frozen Tuskreaper].

The bullets whizzed through the air and struck the beast's thick fur and icy armor.

To his frustration, the bullets barely made a dent.

They bounced off harmlessly, leaving no visible damage.

Celeste, standing beside him, raised her staff and began casting her spells in rapid succession.

"Fireball! Thunder Strike! Magic Arrow!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the cavern.

A fiery orb erupted from her staff, followed by a crackling bolt of lightning and a glowing blue arrow of pure magic.

The spells collided with the [Frozen Tuskreaper] in a dazzling display of light and sound.

Boom! Zwip! Bam!

The explosions and impacts were impressive, but as the smoke cleared, Karl and Celeste were dismayed to see that the spells had only left faint marks on the beast's icy hide.

"That thing's durability is insane!" Karl shouted, his voice tinged with both frustration and awe.

"We need to let the spirits get closer! They're our best shot!"

But before he could finish his sentence, the [Frozen Tuskreaper] unleashed its next attack.

The beast's body began to glow with a faint blue aura, and its tusks shimmered with an otherworldly light.

With a deafening roar, it charged forward, its massive frame moving with surprising speed despite its size.

The ground shook violently as it barreled toward them, leaving a trail of frost in its wake.

"HOLY SHIT!" Karl yelled, his eyes widening in alarm.

He and Celeste exchanged a quick glance, realizing they had only a split second to react.

Karl's agility stat was at 52, while Celeste's was at 50—not a huge difference, but enough to make Karl worry.

The boss was closing in fast, and the sheer force of its charge would be catastrophic if it connected.

To make matters worse, Celeste suddenly froze in place, her body locked in place by an unseen force.

A notification flashed in front of her:

[You have been frozen by the Tuskreaper's gaze.]

The [Frozen Tuskreaper] had a passive ability: if its opponent felt even a hint of fear and made eye contact, it could freeze them in place.

Celeste had fallen victim to this ability, leaving her completely vulnerable.

"Shit!" Karl cursed, his heart pounding.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Celeste by the waist and leaped to the side, using every ounce of his agility to get them out of harm's way.

His spirits, with their far superior agility, had already dodged the charge effortlessly.

But for humans like Karl and Celeste, it was a much closer call.

As they landed, Celeste snapped out of her frozen state and quickly raised her staff.

"Elemental Shield!" she shouted, her voice firm despite the chaos.

A shimmering green barrier materialized around them just as the [Frozen Tuskreaper] slammed into the cavern wall with a thunderous BOOM!

The initial impact was avoided, but the shockwave that followed sent Karl and Celeste flying through the air.

They crashed into a nearby wall, the force of the impact causing rocks to rain down on them.

Thankfully, the shield Celeste had summoned absorbed the brunt of the damage, saving them from what could have been a fatal blow.

The shield flickered and faded, having served its purpose, but the cost was steep—50 mana, a significant drain on Celeste's reserves.

Karl groaned as he pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the impact.

"Alright, spirits!" he commanded, his voice filled with determination.

"Let's all go at once!"

He summoned his [Spectral Blade], the ethereal weapon glowing faintly in his hand, and dashed forward alongside his spirits.

The [Frozen Tuskreaper], having crashed into the wall, was momentarily stuck, its tusks embedded in the stone.

It thrashed and roared, trying to free itself, but its massive size worked against it.

Karl saw an opportunity and seized it.

"Let me help you with those," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips as he closed the distance.

The [Shadow Assassin Lizard], [Frosted Mantis], and [Frenzied Rabbit] moved in perfect sync with him, each spirit ready to play its part.

"Come forth, Golem Warrior!" Karl called, summoning his fourth spirit.

The golem appeared in front of him, its massive hands clasped together to form a platform.

Karl leaped onto the golem's hands, and with a powerful thrust, the golem launched him into the air.

Karl soared high above the [Frozen Tuskreaper], landing squarely on its back.

He sprinted along the beast's spine, his [Spectral Blade] at the ready.

The spirits followed suit, each finding their own way to reach the boss's head.

The [Shadow Assassin Lizard] used its agility to scale the beast's side, while the [Frenzied Rabbit] leaped from the lizard's shoulder, its tiny claws extended.

The [Frozen Tuskreaper] finally freed itself from the wall and turned its gaze toward Celeste, its eyes locking onto her once more.

It prepared to charge again, but Karl wasn't about to let that happen.

"No, you don't!" he shouted, leaping from the beast's back and driving his [Spectral Blade] into its left eye with all his strength.

At the same time, the [Shadow Assassin Lizard] swung its shadow daggers, severing the boss's right tusk in a clean strike.

The [Frenzied Rabbit] followed up by clawing at the beast's right eye, blinding it completely.

The [Frosted Mantis] finished the job by slicing off the remaining tusk with its scythe-like arms.

The [Frozen Tuskreaper] roared in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake off its attackers.

But the damage was done.

Karl and his spirits leaped clear of the beast, giving Celeste the opening she needed.

"Now!" Karl shouted.

Celeste nodded, her staff glowing brightly as she summoned ten [Mana Missiles].

With a wave of her staff, she sent the missiles hurtling toward the [Frozen Tuskreaper]'s face.

The missiles struck in rapid succession, each explosion rocking the beast's massive frame.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The final missile struck with a deafening blast, and the [Frozen Tuskreaper] let out one last, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its body lifeless.

Karl and his spirits landed safely, their chests heaving from the exertion.

Karl let out a heavy breath, a grin spreading across his face.

"That was insane," he said, his voice filled with relief and triumph.

"Yeah," Celeste agreed, her own smile mirroring his.

Ding!

[You have slain the "Frozen Tuskreaper."]

Ding!

[You have reached level 23. You have gained 2 points for each attribute.]

A final notification appeared before them, glowing brightly in the dim cavern:

[You have beaten the Fourth Floor on Nightmare-Difficulty. That is no easy feat!]

[Rewards will be given accordingly...]

Karl and Celeste exchanged a look, their exhaustion overshadowed by the thrill of victory.

They had faced one of the toughest challenges yet and emerged victorious.

But as they stood there, catching their breath, they knew this was only the beginning.

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