The Acolyte of Spirits and Curses

Then he pulled the wing with raw power.

The phoenix thrashed, and its entire body convulsed as it tried to shake him off, beating its wings violently to destabilize him, but Klein held on.

*shrreekkk*

A wet gurgling sound echoed through the chamber as his fingers ripped its flesh and bone in a burst of golden blood and scattering embers.

"SCREEEEEECCHHHH!"

The phoenix screamed in agony, feeling its wing being torn apart.

The moment the wing came free, he threw it aside without looking as the phoenix’s balance broke midair, its massive form tilting violently.

He stepped forward along its back and grabbed its head.

"This is for soup."

His hand clamped down just below the crown, his fingers digging into burning feathers that parted under pressure, forcing his grip onto something more solid beneath.

The heat surged violently around him, flames flaring outward as the phoenix tried to pull away, its remaining wing beating in a desperate attempt to regain control.

Klein tightened his hold.

"Stay still."

The phoenix fought harder, trying to throw him off, but without one wing, its movements lost balance as it began to drop to the ground.

Klein used that.

He shifted his weight forward, dragging its head down with him as gravity took hold, forcing the creature into a downward spiral.

His other hand shot back, and he used his telekinesis skill on his spear.

The spear shot upward through the air in a sharp, controlled line, cutting through the rising heat.

Klein released the phoenix’s head and pushed himself off.

His body launched upward from it just as the spiraling descent accelerated, creating a brief separation between him and the collapsing phoenix beneath.

The spear met his hand midair.

His grip locked around it in one smooth motion.

Then he turned.

The world inverted for a fraction of a second with the falling phoenix beneath him and the shattered platform rushing up to meet it...

...and Klein drove himself down.

All of that gathered momentum, all of that falling force, condensed into a single line.

The spear came down first.

Straight toward the phoenix’s head.

The tip pierced through with devastating force, tearing through flame, bone, and whatever remained of its core as Klein followed through with the full weight of his descent behind it.

THOOOM

The spear slammed the phoenix into the ground, pinning its head directly into the stone as the force of the strike detonated outward.

The platform shattered beneath them, cracks exploding across its surface as fragments of rock blasted upward and outward in a violent shockwave.

The phoenix’s body convulsed under the force, and flames burst outward wildly for a brief moment, then faltered.

Klein landed in a low stance over it with the spear driven deep into the ground through the creature’s head.

The air settled slowly, and a deep exhale left Klein’s lips.

"Damn it, it took a lot more than I expected."

Deep burns marked his arms, his shoulders, and even across his side where the phoenix’s flames caught him mid-exchange.

The skin was charred in places and raw in others, but then with a faint singing sound, the wounds began to heal.

[Trait Resurgent Soul activated]

The damaged flesh knitted itself back together as new skin formed beneath.

Klein stretched his arms as the stiffness eased, "Still annoying."

His gaze dropped to the corpse of the phoenix.

A faint shimmer formed above the body, and three objects slowly rose into the air, drifting upward until they hovered in front of him.

Klein’s eyes narrowed slightly "There it is. First-time clear rewards."

A vial of dense, glowing liquid that pulsed faintly and a single crystalline droplet.

And the third item is a deep red core.

Klein stepped forward without hesitation and reached out, his fingers passing through the floating items as they dissolved into light the moment he touched them.

The Arbiter Panel opened.

[Item Acquired: Phoenix Blood]

A high-grade mythical essence condensed from the core of a reborn phoenix. Contains immense vitality and regenerative properties.

– Greatly enhances fire resistance after being consumed.

[Item Acquired: Phoenix Tear]

A rare crystallization of a phoenix’s final emotional imprint upon death.

– Capable of restoring severe internal damage and reviving anyone on the brink of death.

[Item Acquired: Ember Core Fragment]

A residual fragment left behind after the collapse of a phoenix’s rebirth cycle.

– Contains condensed fire-aspect energy.

– Can be integrated into weapons or used to enhance affinity.

Klein read through the descriptions once before storing the items in his ring.

"To the next floor."

---

Meanwhile, outside the tower, the leaderboard changed.

1st - Klein Faress - 36th Floor

2nd - Austin - 35th Floor

Everyone who was gathered around the leaderboard stared at it in utter shock.

"...He cleared it?" someone muttered in disbelief.

That single voice broke whatever silence formed, and the reaction followed immediately.

"What do you mean cleared it... h-he just got there!"

"No, no... that’s not possible..."

"He was on thirty-five just now... how fast is he moving?!"

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?"

"He is casually breaking the records."

"But didn’t Mr. Austin just say that the 35th floor can’t be passed?"

Evelyne stood frozen where she was with her eyes locked onto the board and her lips parted slightly.

"...Thirty-six..."

She didn’t even realize she said it out loud.

Just moments ago, he was tied with Austin.

Now, he stepped past him.

Her fingers curled slightly at her side and a smile took over her face "He actually cleared it..."

Around her, the media erupted.

Cameras that had only just stabilized began flashing again in rapid bursts, and reporters raised their voices over one another as they scrambled to keep up.

"Update the feed, confirm it again!"

"He broke past thirty-five... he’s on thirty-six!"

"A first-year has surpassed the current record in a single run!"

"KLEIN FARESS DID IT!"

"HE BROKE THE RECORD AND SET A NEW RECORD!"

"IS HE THE GENIUS OF THIS ERA?"

Meanwhile, Austin stared at the leaderboard in horror

1st - Klein Faress - 36th Floor

Above his record.

"...No way..."

He worked so hard and trained himself to the bone to reach the thirty-fifth floor, but seeing the monster there, he gave up.

Because he knew that it was not something he could defeat.

Everyone in this world awakens at the age of 21, and the tower only allows people on the age of 22 and under.

Then how could someone... who awakened just weeks ago easily clear that floor?

His jaw tightened slowly, and the muscles in his face tensed as the reality settled in.

Around him, the reporters noticed immediately.

"Austin! He’s reached the thirty-sixth floor... what’s your response?!"

"Does this mean the thirty-fifth-floor boss was cleared?!"

"Is he going to keep climbing?!"

The questions came one after another as the cameras turned toward him again.

"...That’s not possible," he muttered under his breath, his mind still reeling in disbelief.

"That thing isn’t something you just ’clear’ like the other floors."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the tower.

"...He’s insane."