Kall's eyelids fluttered open. A sharp, electric chill ran down his spine as he took in the sight before him.
An entire army stood ready—silent, resolute, their eyes burning with ancient power. They were spirits of countless forms: ethereal humans, towering beasts whose fur shimmered like molten metal, massive trees with glowing runes carved deep into their bark. The air around them thrummed with latent magic.
One of the spirits, a towering figure with eyes like burning coals, stepped forward and spoke in a voice that echoed like distant thunder.
"You have come to make a contract with one of us," the spirit declared. "But to do so, you must first prove your worth by defeating us in battle."
Kall's mind raced. "But I am not allowed to use magic, while they can. This isn't fair," he thought.
The voice continued, as if reading his thoughts, "You may not use any magic you currently possess. But we will use all our power against you."
Suddenly, everything became clear.
They are all spirits, Kall realized. If I want to make a contract, I have to find the most powerful one among them.
"Grimgore, summon my phone," Kall muttered instinctively.
Nothing happened. The phone, the invaluable connection to his power, did not appear.
"No... that means... I have only one choice now," he whispered, steel hardening his voice.
"I must defeat them all—without magic, with only my bare hands."
---
Kall's eyes narrowed with determination. He was no longer the weak boy who had stumbled into this dungeon unprepared. He was a warrior tempered by trials, a master of his own evolving strength.
He thought back to his journey in the dungeon—how he consumed the powerful souls of the first stage and gave the lesser skeletons to the villagers to nurture. Now, he was ready to face this challenge.
Without hesitation, he sprang forward, moving with a speed so blinding that the spirits could barely register his presence. To them, it was as if the wind itself had taken human form and struck with ruthless precision.
In the blink of an eye, Kall dispatched half the army. His fists landed with the force of thunderclaps, shattering spirits into fragments of fading light. Each spirit he defeated lent strength to Kall, swelling his power and resolve.
The battle lasted mere minutes—five to be exact—yet it felt like an eternity for the watching spirits.
When the last spirit collapsed, silence fell over the battlefield.
A voice trembled in disbelief, breaking the silence.
"Is he human… or some kind of monster?" a spirit murmured.
"How can one man be so powerful? He killed all of us—spirits ranked from one to three stars—in a blink of an eye," another whispered. "And he did it bare-handed, without a sarvent."
The murmurs spread like wildfire.
"We should be honored if he chooses any of us," a third spirit added reverently. "To serve him with our lives would be a privilege."
---
Kall took a steadying breath and began to walk forward, unaware of the awe-struck whispers trailing behind him.
He approached a glowing portal etched with ancient runes. Above it, an inscription shimmered faintly:
"Fourth to Eighth Star Spirit Territory"
With a calm nod, Kall stepped through.
---
On the other side, a new army awaited him—larger, more imposing, their power radiating like an inferno. Spirits of four to eight stars filled the clearing, their faces hard and determined.
A wild joy bubbled up inside Kall's chest. He threw his head back and laughed—an eerie, almost maniacal sound that echoed through the forest.
"Oh God... How great of you... haaa... aah... aaa!" he cried, spinning in place, his laughter wild and free.
In the blink of an eye, Kall vanished like the wind, a streak of light weaving through the spirits.
The army reacted with shocked shouts.
"Damn! Did you see that?!"
"That kid just disappeared!"
"He's faster than anything I've ever witnessed!"
Suddenly, the battlefield erupted.
"Use everything! Our unique and ultimate skills!" shouted a leader at the front.
From every corner, the spirits unleashed their devastating powers:
"G... Gluttony!" one screamed, summoning spectral chains that whipped through the air.
"Psychic Frenzy!" howled another, sending waves of mind-warping energy.
"Hypnotherapy!" a voice hissed, attempting to ensnare Kall's mind.
"Storm Blast!" roared yet another, lightning tearing the sky apart.
"Poisoned Webs!" hissed a darker spirit, spawning sticky traps laced with venom.
"Armor of the Ancients!" barked a warrior, his body shining with unbreakable force.
"Sword of the Eternal Flame!" a fiery spirit cried, wielding a blade forged in hellfire.
"Meteoroid Swarm Incoming!" a voice shouted as flaming rocks crashed from above.
---
But despite the overwhelming onslaught, none of their attacks landed on Kall.
He weaved through the storm of magic and fury like a ghost, his speed now enhanced to near-immortality.
His body blurred with a radiant aura, muscles moving with perfect precision.
The reserve points he had stored from his first-floor dungeon trials now surged through him, fueling his impossible agility and reflexes.
The highest-ranking spirits—those of the eighth star—watched in disbelief, unable to pinpoint his location or land a single hit.
A spirit cried out, tears welling in their eyes. "Oh King... Please save us! Please!"
Suddenly, a massive meteoroid hurtled toward Kall.
With a powerful leap, he dodged and landed with a heavy thud on the cracked earth behind.
From the shadows emerged a figure dressed in a long, flowing black coat, his presence commanding and chilling.
"I see you've attracted quite the attention," the man said smoothly, his voice rich with dark authority.
Kall fixed his eyes on the newcomer. "Who... who are you?"
A slight smile curved the man's lips. "I am Yama. Yama of the Hell."
---
The atmosphere shifted palpably as Yama stepped closer, his gaze piercing through Kall like a blade.
The gathered spirits lowered their weapons slightly, bowing their heads in reverence.
Yama's voice echoed with chilling calm, "Few have reached this far... and even fewer have survived to face me."
Kall swallowed hard but stood tall.
"I've come to fight," Kall declared, fists clenched.
Yama's smile widened. "So be it. Show me what you've learned in the hell you call home."
---
The spirits parted, and a hush fell across the clearing.
Two forces—young and untested against ancient and fearsome—stood poised to collide.
Kall could feel the eyes of every spirit upon him, their hopes and fears tangled in the charged air.
The trial was about to begin.