Odran, the Forgotten Axeman, raised his massive weapon and slung it over one shoulder.
It was a traditional double-bladed battle axe, and although smaller than Laufus's, it still measured two meters in length.
The axe appeared modest in Odran's nearly giant hands.
Selrik, the Dark Assassin, was his opposite.
He stood around my height—approximately six feet—but was leaner, more agile, and slightly hunched, and his armor was clearly more flexible than the others'.
In his hands gleamed a pair of golden daggers.
I could hardly believe I had unlocked beings this powerful as my Summons.
Finding this room had truly been a stroke of luck, even if I had nearly died moments earlier.
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[ALERT!]
Your MP is below 10%!
You have entered the "Mana Exhaustion" state.
If you continue spending Mana, your body will begin to deteriorate.]
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I completely ignored the warning but made a mental note not to use any more skills.
'I can't even imagine what he's thinking,' I thought, noticing Laufus's intense stare. 'Is he angry because I disrespected the corpses of his friends?'
Suddenly, Laufus roared, swung both swords with his fists, and stabbed them into the ground simultaneously.
The impact made the ground beneath my feet tremble, answering my unspoken question.
'He's really angry,' I concluded, then pointed at Laufus.
"Selrik, attack from the rear. Odran, hold him from the front."
No nod of confirmation was needed—my new Summons obeyed instantly.
Odran charged forward, making the entire chamber quake with each thunderous step.
When his axe met Laufus's blades, the clash of steel echoed through the hall like thunder.
One of Odran's axe blades was parried by Laufus.
"GRRRAAAHH!" Odran roared—likely unable to speak—straining to overpower Laufus.
Laufus braced himself, muscles taut, trying to force the axe to the ground.
During the struggle between the two giants, Selrik vanished into the shadows of a nearby pillar.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Laufus and slashed the same knee I had previously wounded.
Laufus finally redirected Odran's axe into the ground, resisted the pain from Selrik's attack, and attempted a counter using the other sword embedded in the floor—but Selrik was no longer there.
While Odran tried to pull his axe free, Laufus launched multiple attacks at Selrik.
Selrik used the moment to divert Laufus's attention, preventing him from striking the unarmed Odran.
However, Laufus failed to hit Selrik even once. This did not surprise me, as Selrik was apparently a type of assassin who did not dwell in the shadows, but rather became a shadow himself, appearing and disappearing at unexpected angles.
I smiled. These were the kinds of Summons every Summoner dreamed of.
Then Laufus stomped the ground, generating a shockwave that sent debris flying across the hall.
Selrik, mid-dodge, was struck by the wave and lost his footing, sliding across the floor.
He wasn't injured — just caught off guard — but Laufus seized the opportunity and turned to face Odran.
Spinning a sword in each hand like twin vortexes, Laufus prepared his next assault.
Fortunately, Odran finally freed his axe—just in time to block the first blow. The second, however, broke through his guard and struck his torso.
Odran staggered back two steps, axe still raised, but the advantage was clearly Laufus's.
But Laufus was a fool if he thought I'd just stand there and watch.
It didn't matter that this was a battle between titans—I gripped my sword with one hand and charged into the fray.
Laufus must have seen me in his peripheral vision, because he swung one sword at me while keeping the other aimed at Odran.
I leaned to the side, letting the blow pass just millimeters from my face. The wind from the attack grazed my right cheek, but I slid under his arm and plunged my blade into his side.
"RHAGH!!" Laufus grunted in pain, but I didn't stop.
I dragged the blade sideways, opening a deep cut in his armor. At that moment, Odran and Selrik attacked at the same time.
Selrik emerged from the shadows and slashed at Laufus' heels. Odran, on the other hand, used his monstrous strength to strike down from above just as Laufus grunted, hitting his shoulder.
The combination of our attacks finally brought Laufus to his knees.
"It's over for you," I shouted, pointing my sword at Laufus, who was now kneeling at my eye level.
Surprisingly, Laufus lowered his head before my blade could sever the connection between his body and his head. The light behind that helmet flickered for a moment before Laufus' armor fell to the ground, lifeless and inert.
*Ding!*
[Congratulations!
[You have defeated 'Golden Captain Laufus (Rank-C)'!][
[You have received +1200 Soul Fragments.]
[You have received 'Laufus's Sword'.]
Everything happened so fast at the end that I blinked in surprise when I saw the death message. "Wait... is it really over?" I asked myself, panting, my heart racing.
"I thought there would be another twist. If I had known there wouldn't be, I would have let one of you kill him to get a skill."
I looked at Odran and Selrik and was about to shrug and congratulate them, but suddenly I felt my knee give way. I was left with only one knee on the ground, facing Laufus, who had both knees bent toward me. I put a hand on my head, feeling my vision blur.
When I felt something touch my arm, I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw Selrik passing my left arm behind his shoulders to help me stand up.
"Thanks, buddy... It seems that overuse of mana and exhaustion from battle are finally taking their toll," I said to Selrik, who nodded silently.
I looked at Laufus' armor and smiled. "You were a tough enemy, Laufus... I bet your brother, Skerrion, would be proud."
The moment I said that, Odran and Selrik turned their gazes toward me. Although they couldn't express human emotions, I noticed them bowing their heads slightly.
"Perhaps, on some level, they still have some memory of their past lives..."
Yes, Laufus, Selrik, and Odran were all brothers of Skerrion, the 15th Floor Boss. I had three of the four brothers, which made me want the fourth as well, but that was still a distant dream.
"By the way, I received an item when I killed Laufus. Let's see... 'Laufus's Sword', huh?"
I slid my hand into my inventory and felt the cold, dense hilt before pulling the item out.
As soon as the sword appeared in my hand, an absurd weight made my arm tremble.
"Damn...!"
The blade was heavier than any weapon I had ever wielded. It had adapted to the size of my body, becoming a standard-sized two-handed sword, but it still had the weight of two swords in one. The edges were razor-sharp, and the surface was coated with an opaque golden hue.
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[Item Details!]
Item Name: Laufus' Sword
Description: A golden blade wielded by Captain Laufus. It has been stained with the blood of his enemies and carries fragments of ancient glory.
Attack: +20
Defense: +5
Weight: 20 kilograms.
Type: Magic Sword.
Quantity: 1.
Rank: C
Passive Ability: Bloodlust - Small HP regeneration when dealing fatal damage.
Active Ability: Glorious Execution - While wielding this sword, each heavy strike absorbs part of the enemy's vitality. Cost: 50 MP.
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A sword with regenerative effects? That was perfect.
My mana was completely drained, so it would be difficult to use while all my mana was being channeled for Summons, but in the future, this sword's abilities could save me in the middle of battle.
I sighed and stored the sword in my inventory for now. I needed to get out of this room and find the others quickly, as I no longer had the map to get back.
But before turning my back to never enter that room again, I thought it would be a good idea to try to get one more weapon—the strongest one in the entire Sun Temple Ruins.
I looked at Laufus, the third most powerful brother, a formidable warrior, a captain who fell before the combined strength of Odran, Selrik, and me. He had been my strongest opponent so far, and I wanted to make sure his strength wasn't wasted.
My hand reached toward his fallen armor, and I asked, "Do you want to join your brothers in trying to reunite with the last of your kind, Laufus?"
[Activating Necroarcane Stigma...]
[Target: Golden Captain Laufus (Rank-C).]
[Processing... 10%...]
[Failure!]
Laufus' spirit resists the summoning!
My brow furrowed. "...Failed?"
This had never happened before. It was as easy and quick to revive Odran and Selrik as it was to revive the Ghost Wizard, so I thought it was a guaranteed skill.
On second thought, I quickly realized that it made sense that I couldn't just easily revive any dead creature and have it join my army, otherwise I could just walk into a store that sold monster remains and revive a dozen.
[You have 2 more attempts before the soul completely disperses.]
"So, I have three chances and there's a time limit."
This wasn't entirely new to me. The same applied to almost every necromancer that existed in all novels and MMORPGs.
"In that case, I'll try one more time," I muttered and activated the Stigma once again.
[Activating Necroarcane Stigma...]
[Target: Golden Captain Laufus (Rank-C).]
[Processing... 20%... 35%... 75%... 90%...]
[Failure!]
The ground around the armor cracked from the impact of the stigma's energy being repelled.
I let out a curse, feeling slightly dizzy. My mana was already low, and the second failed attempt drained me even more. The real problem was that now there was only one chance left.
I looked at Laufus's body, clenching my fists.
"You've already lost this battle, so why do you keep resisting?"
My hand rose one last time, and this time, I didn't just activate the Stigma. I commanded it.
"Obey the call, Laufus!"
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[Activating Necroarcane Stigma...]
[Target: Golden Captain Laufus (Rank-C)]
[Processing 10%... 40%... 60%...]
[Extra force being applied...]
[95%... 100%!]
An explosion of black mist spread throughout the area, kicking up dust and causing cracks to run across the ground. At the center of the explosion, Laufus began to rise, accompanied by a black mist. The light in his eyes returned, but now they were the same crimson hue as Odran and Selrik's. He was reborn as my summon.
[Congratulations! Golden Captain Laufus has been revived as your summon!]
The energy around me diminished, and I fell to my knees again, exhausted. At that moment, as my mana ran out, all my Summons were dispelled, and I was left alone in the middle of the boss chamber.
"It worked..." I muttered in relief and saw a screen appear in front of me.
[You have gathered the Three Brothers of Skerrion!]
[Special Condition Activated: Unbreakable Brotherhood.]
[Joint Ability Acquired!]
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[Skill Details!]
Skill Name: Golden Blood Formation.
Description: When Odran, Selrik, and Laufus are the only summons the user has on the battlefield, they trigger a synergy effect that increases their strength, defense, and speed by 15%. Additionally, they can perform a unique joint technique.
Type: Boost.
Active Skill: Triple Golden Execution – A simultaneous attack with high accuracy and massive damage. Requires: 200 MP.
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My body was still exhausted, and my mana was drained, but I couldn't help smiling. I could feel and see how much stronger I was becoming.