The tension in the battlefield reached a peak as Alex and Alice stood ready to face the [Guardian Ape], flanked by a swarm of spear-wielding monkeys.
Aurelia, still catching her breath from the last skirmish, had retreated to the edges of the chaotic scene, her hands trembling as she gripped her daggers.
“Come to me, undead!” Alex growled, raising his hand.
Shadows lit up around him as he activated his summoning ability.
In moments, 80 skeletons, 13 grand skeletons, 4 bony knights, and 3 spectral wraiths stood at attention, emerging from the ground.
“Twenty of you, defend Aurelia!” Alex commanded sharply.
And the moment he gave those orders, fifteen skeletons, three grand skeletons, a bony knight, and a spectral wraith broke off, forming a protective circle around the assassin girl.
Aurelia, still catching her breath from witnessing the [Guardian Ape]’s aura, glanced at Alex. “I don’t need—”
Her protest was cut off as a spear monkey lunged at her.
One of the skeletons intercepted, its blade deflecting the spear before slicing through the creature’s throat.
Aurelia swallowed hard, gripping her daggers tighter as she ducked behind her newfound protectors.
“Stay alive,” Alex growled, stepping forward to confront the chaos.
The [Guardian Ape] let out a thunderous roar, lifting its massive spear.
With a single swing, it unleashed [Spear Sweep], a wide arc of devastation that shattered the front line of skeletons and sent shards of bone flying.
“Aura of Death!” Alex shouted, his undead glowing with an eerie crimson light as their attack and defense doubled.
The reinforced undead surged forward, clashing with the lesser spear monkeys. The wraiths glided between enemies, tearing through the ranks with spectral claws.
Alice moved to Alex’s side, her bow glowing faintly as she began firing [Star Arrows].
The golden projectiles streaked across the clearing, piercing multiple spear monkeys with precision.
“They’re bleeding,” she noted, her eyes flashing crimson.
She activated [Blood Arrows Creation], and from the pools of blood left by her kills, twelve shimmering blood-red arrows materialized.
“Let’s give them something to cry about,” she muttered, nocking a blood arrow and firing it straight into the chest of a spear monkey.
The arrow exploded on impact, taking out ten others in the blast radius.
The [Guardian Ape], enraged by the loss of its allies, slammed its spear into the ground with a deafening [Earthquake Slam].
The shockwave rippled outward, stunning Alex, Alice, and most of the undead for five seconds.
Several skeletons crumbled from the force, leaving gaps in their defenses.
“Keep them busy, I’ll take care of the ape,” Alex shouted to Alice, and she nodded.
As soon as Alex recovered, he leapt forward, summoning a glowing crimson weapon with [Demonic Spear].
The dark weapon thrummed with power as he hurled it with pinpoint accuracy, striking the [Guardian Ape] in its massive torso.
The spear left a jagged wound, ichor oozing from the beast as it staggered back.
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The explosion that followed managed to kill several dozens of [Monkey Protectors] and more that tried to protect the ape, and inflicted [Burn] on all those that survived.
“Here we go!” Alex shouted as he switched to his dagger and darted around the battlefield.
Alex dashed in close, his dagger flashing as he struck the ape’s legs repeatedly.
The massive creature swung its spear in a [Piercing Thrust], narrowly missing Alex but obliterating a nearby bony knight.
Alice took his command to heart, her hands moving with blinding speed as she unleashed dozens of [Ice Arrows], each one freezing the spear monkeys it hit.
The frost spread rapidly, slowing their movements and weakening their attacks.
Then she activated her strongest skill: [Ice Torrent].
A storm of icy arrows rained down over the battlefield, piercing through every enemy in its radius.
The spear monkeys screeched as they were frozen solid, their lifeless forms shattering when struck by the undead.
“Nice work,” Alex muttered, taking advantage of the chaos to regroup.
He summoned more skeletons to replace the fallen and sent a spectral wraith to reinforce Aurelia’s defenders.
The assassin girl, now surrounded by her undead guards, watched in a mix of awe and unease.
One of the grand skeletons sliced through a spear monkey that had come too close, its blade flashing like a guillotine.
“Maybe this isn’t so bad,” she admitted quietly.
With its allies decimated, the [Guardian Ape] turned its full attention to Alex and Alice.
It roared, activating [Roar of Fury], a devastating ability that reduced their attack and defense by 30%.
“Damn it, I felt that,” Alex growled, his movements slowing slightly under the debuff, “But it won’t be enough.”
He lifted his staff and used the [Arc of Divinity], summoning a radiant blade of light in his hand.
Charging forward, it slashed the [Guardian Ape] across its torso, leaving a glowing scar that burned with holy energy, then went past the boss and killed dozens upon dozens of other enemies.
The beast roared in agony, its health bar plummeting.
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Alice, meanwhile, had switched to casually launching [Blood Arrows], firing them in rapid succession.
Each arrow hit its mark, embedding deep into the ape’s flesh and causing massive bleeding, which in return allowed her to create more.
It was a beautiful cycle, and by Alice’s expression, she seemed to really like it.
As its health dropped below 25%, the [Guardian Ape] activated [Unyielding Rage].
Its movements became faster and more erratic, its damage increasing with each attack.
“Stay back!” Alex warned as the ape leapt into the air.
It landed with a devastating [Earthquake Slam], stunning Alex and Alice again. freewebnovel.cσ๓
Then it unleashed [Spear Barrage], raining down spears across the battlefield.
Several skeletons were obliterated, and Alex barely dodged a spear that nearly impaled him.
One, however, flew toward Aurelia.
“Move!” Alex barked, summoning most of his army to block its path. Find more chapters on empire
And though many of the undead died as a result, they were still successful in stopping the spear.
“Thanks,” Aurelia blushed, her voice barely audible over the chaos, “I’m not used to being… saved… I guess it’s okay…”
The fight continued, and after a few moments, the [Guardian Ape] roared one last time, its health bar nearly empty.
Alex summoned another [Demonic Spear], hurling it with all his strength.
The weapon struck the beast’s chest, piercing its heart.
“Now, Alice!” Alex shouted.
Alice nodded, activating [Sparkling Star Shot].
A massive star-shaped arrow formed on her bow, glowing with celestial energy.
She loosed it, and the arrow streaked through the air, striking the ape’s head with explosive force.
The [Guardian Ape] staggered, its massive form swaying before it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
[You have slain “Guardian Ape” and gained 70,000,000 experience points!]
Ding!
[You have leveled up to level 348!]
Alice lowered her bow, breathing heavily.
A notification chimed in her interface: [You have leveled up to level 302!]
Behind them, Aurelia stood in stunned silence.
[You have leveled up to level 193!]
“Seventeen levels?!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Floor bosses are no joke,” Alex replied, smirking as he wiped blood from his dagger.
[+5,000 Points for defeating the “Fourth Floor Boss”]
A new notification appeared in Alex’s interface as he extracted from the boss though:
[1/10 Floor Bosses killed!]
“Huh, do you see that?” he muttered, staring at the message.
He had gotten no items or attributes from the extraction even though he did all the steps, it was only this panel.
“See what?” Alice asked.
[Kill all 10 floor bosses to open the “Token Door”]
“Never mind…” Alex murmured, realizing it might be tied to the [Token of the Tower].
Whatever it meant, the journey was far from over.