After defeating the [Frozen Tuskreaper], Karl and Celeste had successfully completed the fourth floor on Nightmare-Difficulty.

This meant one thing: rewards.

In the Tower, rewards could come in many forms and from various sources.

They could be obtained by completing quests, conquering floors, or clearing entire dungeons.

The rewards themselves could manifest in different ways—sometimes they appeared in chests, other times they were dropped by defeated enemies, given by fellow Awakeners, or even directly granted by the system itself.

This time, the system had announced that the rewards would be distributed accordingly, meaning Karl and Celeste would each receive their own individual rewards.

No need to share, as they had done with the chest from the second floor.

Karl wasted no time and immediately opened his reward panel to see what he had earned.

The list appeared before him:

[2x Frozen Tusks]

[1x Tuskreaper Fur]

[1x Nightmare-Level Frozen Tuskreaper Core]

The rewards were decent, mostly consisting of materials that could be used for crafting or trading.

Karl glanced over at Celeste, curious about what she had received.

"What did you get?" he asked, sharing his own rewards with her.

Celeste's face lit up with a wide grin, and Karl knew instantly that she must have gotten something good.

She opened her panel to reveal her rewards:

[Celeste's Rewards:]

[You have learned the C-Rank "Ice Lance" skill!][1x Frost Robe]

Karl's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, wow."

Celeste had not only acquired a new skill but also a rare piece of armor.

The fact that she had landed the final blow on the [Frozen Tuskreaper] had likely triggered the skill reward, a rare and valuable outcome.

[Ice Lance (C-Rank)]

[Description: Conjures a lance of pure ice that can be launched at an enemy. The lance deals moderate frost damage and has a chance to freeze the target on impact. Costs 70 Mana.]

Celeste wasted no time equipping the [Frost Robe], slipping it over her casual clothes.

The robe shimmered faintly, its icy blue fabric radiating a subtle chill.

Karl inspected its stats:

[Frost Robe: Rare-level armor. +20 Mana, +10 Magic Defense.]

[Effect:All damage from frost-related attacks is reduced by 70%. The wearer cannot be affected by the "Frost" status effect.]

Celeste looked thrilled with her new gear, but when she saw Karl's rewards, her excitement only grew.

"What you got is amazing!" she exclaimed, pointing to the [Frozen Tusks] in his inventory.

"Those are a rare drop! You can use them to craft one of the best early-ascension weapons available."

Karl raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

He didn't necessarily need a new weapon for himself, as his [Spectral Blade] was more than sufficient.

But the idea of crafting something for his spirits crossed his mind.

Could I give them weapons? he wondered.

Equipping his spirits with better gear could significantly increase their effectiveness in battle, but it also came with risks.

If a spirit died while wielding a powerful weapon, Karl would have to face that enhanced version of the spirit in the [World of Spirits].

It was a gamble, but one he was willing to consider.

For now, though, he decided to hold onto the tusks and think about his options later.

With the rewards distributed, Karl turned his attention back to the [Frozen Tuskreaper]'s massive corpse.

He climbed onto its icy body, searching for the spirit orb he knew would be there.

Sure enough, nestled within the beast's remains was a glowing blue orb, surrounded by swirling frozen particles.

It was the same size as the one he had obtained from the [Frostfang Wolf], and Karl could feel its power radiating from within.

He reached out and touched it, and the orb dissolved into his body, merging with his spirit energy.

With that done, Karl returned to Celeste's side.

"You ready?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes filled with determination.

Celeste didn't hesitate.

She smiled and nodded.

"More than ever!"

A notification appeared before them:

[Do you want to proceed to the fifth floor?]

"Yes," they both said in unison.

A golden light enveloped them, and in an instant, they were transported to the next floor.

When the light faded, Karl and Celeste found themselves standing on solid ground once more.

The air felt different here—less oppressive, more alive.

A notification popped up:

[Fifth Floor: The Awakened City.]

They had made it.

After conquering the first four floors, they had finally reached the Awakened City, a place that served as a checkpoint for all Awakeners who had proven themselves strong enough to get this far.

[+250 Credits for completing the fourth floor.]

The reward from [Starlight Academy] for clearing the fourth floor was a nice bonus, but Karl's attention was immediately drawn to his surroundings.

His spirits—the [Shadow Assassin Lizard], [Frosted Mantis], and [Frenzied Rabbit]—had also been transported with him, and they were already scanning the area, their instincts on high alert.

Karl and Celeste took a moment to take in their new environment.

They were standing on a wide bronze path that led to a massive gate.

Beyond the gate lay the Awakened City, a sprawling metropolis filled with towering buildings and bustling activity.

What struck Karl the most, though, was the sheer number of people around them.

Awakeners from all over the world were gathered here, chatting, trading, and preparing for their next challenges.

"So I was trying to beat the Mantis Lord on Nightmare-Difficulty, and they almost killed me…" one Awakener was saying to a small group.

"Did you not see the [Frozen Tuskreaper]? Never again!" another replied, shaking his head.

Karl realized that this floor was different from the previous ones.

Unlike the earlier floors, where each Awakener faced their own isolated challenges, the fifth floor connected everyone.

It was a shared space, a hub where Awakeners could meet, interact, and prepare for the trials ahead.

As they walked along the bronze path toward the city, more notifications appeared:

[Welcome to the Awakened City!]

[It is the very first "checkpoint" of the Tower, and the starting area of any Awakener who has proven themselves strong enough to conquer the previous challenges.]

[The Tower's Tutorial will end the moment you clear this floor.]

[Do note that while in the city, damage between Awakeners will not be registered.]

Karl raised an eyebrow at the last line.

"Does that mean…" he began, trailing off as he summoned his [Spirit Gun] and pointed it at Celeste, half-jokingly.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small laugh.

"Yes, it means Awakeners can't hurt each other here. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't test that on me."

"Alright," Karl said with a shrug, dismissing the gun.

The rule made sense—it ensured that the city remained a safe zone where Awakeners could focus on preparation and collaboration rather than conflict.

Since there was no need for his spirits here, Karl unsummoned them all except for Frappy, his trusty [Frenzied Rabbit], who perched on his shoulder as usual.

As they approached the city gate, Karl noticed that no one paid them much attention.

In the Tower, only the strongest stood out, and for now, Karl and Celeste were just two more faces in the crowd.

Most of the Awakeners here were focused on their own goals—some were checking their panels, others were deep in conversation, and a few were simply taking in the sights.

Finally, they reached the gate.

A final notification appeared:

[You are about to enter the Awakened City.]

Karl and Celeste exchanged a nod before stepping through.

The inside of the city was even more crowded than the path leading to it.

Towering buildings lined the streets, and Awakeners of all kinds filled the area.

It was a vibrant, chaotic place, full of energy and potential.

But as they took their first steps into the city, a new notification rang in their ears:

Ding!

[You have completed your Specialized Class quest.][It is time to choose among the options that will appear in front of you.]

Karl's heart raced.

This was it—the moment they had been working toward.

After all the challenges they had faced, they were finally ready to choose their specialized classes.

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