I walk through the dark forest, my boots crunching over dried leaves and brittle twigs. By now, I’ve likely reached the eighth floor.

  With the power of my summon, confidence surges through me.

  But confidence is not arrogance.

  I remain cautious.

  Through the misty gloom, a fortress emerges.

  Its iron gates loom tall, flanked by two massive archer towers. A chill runs down my spine. I don’t need to step inside to know this place is dangerous.

  The gates groan as they begin to rise, an ominous invitation into the unknown.

  I step forward.

  Beyond the walls, an abandoned town sprawls before me—crumbling houses, skeletal remains of farms long since withered.

  And further beyond…

  Two structures stand taller than the rest.

  First: A massive church with towering spires piercing the sky.

  Second: The capital building.

  Both radiate ominous energy.

  But first, the church.

  I walk down the main road, heading straight toward it. The silence presses against my ears, making every step feel heavier.

  Then a sudden crash.

  The gates behind me slam shut.

  I freeze.

  From the towers above, three skeletal archers emerge, their hollow eyes burning like embers.

  From the shattered houses, assassins clad in tattered cloaks rush out, their daggers gleaming in the dim light.

  And blocking my path stands a Death Knight.

  Not on horseback this time. Just standing there, gripping a massive sword, the aura around him thick with malice.

  So the one I fought before was merely a basic enemy?

  I tighten my grip.

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  The moment stretches, silent.

  Then—

  Flames ignite.

  The archers dip their arrows into the fire and release them.

  I sprint forward, dodging with swift, precise movements. I can’t reach the archers. They have the high ground.

  So I need to eliminate the biggest threat first.

  The Death Knight.

  I dash toward him, his towering frame looming as his sword swings.

  I duck, my breath sharp as the massive blade slices through the air above me.

  With a quick motion, I grab the small serpent from my shoulder and hurl it toward his bones.

  The snake slithers inside, waiting for my command.

  I raise my voice.

  “LIGHT ITS SOUL!”

  A brilliant flash.

  The snake radiates golden light, its divine power purging the darkness from within the Death Knight.

  For a moment, he staggers. His corrupted soul burns away.

  Then, his body collapses.

  One down.

  But I have no time to celebrate.

  The assassins charge.

  I can’t use the same trick twice.

  I place the serpent back on my shoulder and grab a heavy longsword from the fallen knight.

  The first three assassins reach me.

  I swing.

  The blade cuts through them in one brutal motion.

  But—

  The weight is too much.

  I stumble, the sword slipping from my grasp.

  And then—

  Silence.

  The remaining assassins… are gone.

  I scan my surroundings, heart pounding.

  A sound behind me.

  Metal scraping.

  I spin just in time.

  A dagger rushes toward my throat.

  With my bare hands, I catch the blade.

  The cold metal bites into my palm, but I ignore the pain.

  With a swift kick, I send the assassin staggering backward.

  In one motion, I wrench the dagger from its grasp and slash at its legs.

  The bones snap.

  They can’t die.

  But if they can’t move, they’re useless.

  I exhale sharply, gripping the dagger tightly.

  The archers above still lurk, their flaming arrows deadly.

  I need to move.

  I slip into the shadows, keeping low as I press forward.

  The road ahead is eerily silent.

  And then—

  I reach it.

  The church.

  ---

  It is breathtaking.

  Even in this dark abyss, the architecture is stunning. Towering stained-glass windows gleam faintly in the gloom, intricate carvings decorating the massive stone walls.

  But its beauty only deepens my unease.

  I step inside.

  The interior is vast—rows of ancient wooden pews stretching into the distance.

  And sitting upon them…

  Skeletons.

  Dressed in the tattered remnants of civilian clothing, they sit motionless, staring at nothing.

  They don’t move.

  They don’t react to my presence.

  As long as I don’t disturb them, they won’t be a problem.

  Carefully, I crouch and begin to crawl through the shadows.

  I make my way to the staircase at the side, leading to the second floor.

  I ascend silently, my breath slow and controlled.

  The upper level is filled with the remnants of an ancient choir loft. Ornate designs line the walls, long-forgotten hymn books scattered across the floor.

  But there’s nothing useful here.

  So I climb higher.

  A wooden ladder leads up to the church’s rooftop.

  I push open the door and step into the cold night air.

  The roof is ancient, the bricks beneath my feet crumbling with every step.

  And above me—

  The church tower.

  Its statue looms high.

  A lion with wings.

  It is majestic, carved with divine precision, its presence almost holy.

  Perhaps, like the serpent on my shoulder, it represents another god.

  Then—

  A shift in the air.

  Something is coming.

  The sky darkens.

  Rocks tremble beneath my feet.

  Then a deep, guttural sound echoes.

  The statue begins to move.

  Dust and stone crumble as its massive form awakens.

  Its wings spread, a powerful gust of wind knocking loose tiles from the roof.

  I can barely breathe.

  If this is the boss of the church, then I don’t want to imagine what waits inside the capital building.