Chapter 86: An Attack Type Tower of Souls
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Ⅲ. Soul Sentinel:
⟨Transforms the Tower of Souls into a defensive Soul Structure.⟩
⟨Can temporarily manifest Soul Guardians using refined souls.⟩
⟨Consumes Soul Essence during combat.⟩
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Edgar chose the third option without any delay or hesitation.
The moment Edgar selected the third option, a familiar scene unfolded before his eyes.
The Nightmare Stones floated and cracked in the air before a white liquid encompassed the entire tower.
A deep rumble spread through the Fortress.
The newly erected Tower of Souls trembled.
Crack!!
Crack!!
The stone shell peeled away in massive slabs before dissolving into wisps of black mist.
Edgar could feel that people had noticed the changes, especially the lady whose origins were mysterious.
’I just hope Gordon doesn’t let anyone close.’
Before coming here, Edgar had already made the necessary preparations.
The countless bone-like pillars composing its exterior slowly bent outward.
They intertwined with one another, forming the silhouette of gigantic ribs embracing the tower.
Near the very top, a skull emerged.
Unlike a human skull, this one possessed elongated horns that curved backward like a ram’s.
Its empty eye sockets burned with pale blue soul flames.
Then the runes carved throughout the structure lit up one after another.
They were not the usual crimson color but had a deep azure glow.
A faint mist drifted from the tower’s entrance before dispersing harmlessly into the air.
Edgar instinctively opened the status.
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⟨Tower of Souls - Soul Sentinel⟩
Level: 2
Function:
Refines souls into Soul Essence.
Stores Soul Essence.
Can manifest Soul Guardians to defend the Fortress.
Maximum Active Soul Guardians: 10
Current Soul Guardians: 0/10
Soul Refinement: 0/10
Passive Effect:
All defeated Nightmares within Fortress territory automatically have their souls drawn into the tower.
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Edgar’s eyes narrowed. "So it collects them automatically..."
That alone was worth the upgrade, as previously every body had to be manually delivered to the tower.
Now, the Fortress itself would harvest them.
He continued reading.
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Soul Guardian Creation Requirements
• One refined soul. (10 normal souls)
• Soul Essence.
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Edgar rubbed his chin and looked at the requirements carefully.
To get a refined soul, he could just feed the tower Nightmare bodies, and he also had an abundance of Soul Essence.
After thinking for a while, Edgar walked toward the place that was already filled with concerned people.
"My Lord!" one of the citizens said in a loud voice. "Are you alright!? There was a rumbling—."
"I did that," Edgar replied with a straight face. "Rest assured, everything is fine."
The people let out a sigh of relief as Edgar found Andrew, who was standing by the side.
"Where are the dead bodies stored?" he asked impatiently.
"Some of them are outside," he replied. "Should I bring them in?"
"No need," Edgar replied and turned toward the gate.
He walked out of the Fortress and found a few dead bodies of the ape-like Nightmares.
’Hufff...’
Letting out a deep breath, Edgar quickly grabbed ten of them with his Invisible Hands.
Under the astounded gazes of the citizens, he dragged them toward the new Tower of Souls.
The ape-like Nightmares scraped across the stone road, leaving deep grooves behind them.
Scrrrrkkk...
Each corpse weighed several hundred kilograms.
Yet under the pull of Edgar’s Invisible Hands, they slid across the ground as though dragged by an unseen giant.
The citizens instinctively stepped aside.
Even after witnessing Edgar perform countless miracles, the sight still left them speechless.
"...The Lord’s ability..."
"It never ceases to amaze me."
Semele, who had been quietly observing from a nearby rooftop, rested her chin on the back of her hand.
Her crimson eyes followed the corpses with undisguised curiosity.
"...Telekinesis?" she whispered. "No... something more refined."
Meanwhile, Edgar stopped before the newly evolved ⟨Tower of Souls⟩.
The tower’s pale azure flames flickered inside the horned skull as though they had sensed the approaching corpses.
The runes carved across the tower ignited.
A deep azure light spread over the black stone.
The empty eye sockets of the skull flared brilliantly.
Hummmmm...
The entire structure released a low vibration that resonated through the ground.
Four streams of azure mist shot from the tower, and like serpents, they wrapped around the Nightmare corpses.
With abnormal speed, they snatched them all inside the archway.
The process of refinement was much faster than the normal tower.
Within minutes, it had completely decomposed the Nightmares.
Edgar mused to himself. "So ten ordinary souls become one refined soul..."
The conversion rate was exactly what the system had stated.
Without hesitation, another panel surfaced.
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Soul Guardian Creation Available
Requirements:
• Refined Soul ×1
• Soul Essence ×10
Would you like to proceed?
YES / NO
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Edgar selected YES.
The horned skull atop the tower suddenly opened its jaw.
BOOM!
A pillar of pale azure fire erupted toward the heavens.
The temperature around the tower plummeted. The ground before the tower began trembling.
Clack!!
Clack!!
Countless bone fragments burst from the entrance.
At first, they appeared completely random, but they quickly took the shapes of different parts.
Dozens of bones floated into the air as though pulled by invisible strings.
The sight was eerie enough to make several children hide behind their parents.
The scattered skeletons of the ten ape-like Nightmares had all been stripped clean during the refinement process.
Now, those same bones began assembling themselves.
In just a few fleeting moments, a new Skeleton Guardian was ready.
Unlike the ape-like Nightmare it originated from, the completed creature stood upright.
It was nearly three meters tall.
Its entire body was forged from blackened bones covered in glowing azure runes.
Within its empty eye sockets burned two steady soul flames.
The skeleton slowly flexed its fingers and clenched its fist.
A pulse of Soul Essence rippled through every bone.
The creature turned toward Edgar, and without a word, one knee struck the ground with a heavy thud.
The blue flames inside its eyes lowered respectfully.
A notification appeared.
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⟨Soul Guardian Successfully Created⟩
Designation: Soul Guardian
Grade: White
Origin: Ape Nightmare
Status: Active
Remaining Refined Souls: 9
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Edgar slowly walked toward it as the Guardian remained perfectly still, obediently waiting for his orders.
He circled around it, inspecting every detail.
There was no flesh or blood.
Only an immaculate skeleton strengthened by Soul Essence.
He reached out and tapped one of its arm bones with his knuckles.
Clang.
His eyebrows rose.
"Metal?" Edgar mumbled, tapping its arm a few more times. "No. It sounds denser than bone."
He immediately understood.
The Tower hadn’t merely reassembled the skeleton.
It had reforged it to make it much stronger than normal. "Stand."
The Guardian obeyed instantly.
Its movements were surprisingly smooth, lacking the stiffness Edgar had expected.
It looked less like an undead corpse and more like a silent soldier.
Edgar smiled faintly. "Punch that rock."
The Guardian turned and, without hesitation, stepped toward a thick rock near the edge of the Fortress Wall.
It drew back its fist and--
BOOM!
The punch exploded forward.
The rock, nearly half a meter thick, splintered apart with a deafening crack.
Rock chips erupted in every direction as the monster slowly pulled its hand back.
Edgar was really satisfied with how things turned out.
He smiled, turned, and yelled,
"GORDON!"
The veteran soldier immediately rushed toward him.
Once his gaze moved toward the monster, he instinctively pulled out his sword.
Edgar raised his hand to stop him.
"This is my new product."
His sword remained half-drawn from its scabbard as his sharp eyes studied the towering skeleton from head to toe.
The azure flames burning inside its empty eye sockets met his gaze without the slightest hint of emotion.
Finally, Gordon slowly sheathed his sword.
"So, this thing belongs to you?"
Edgar nodded his head. "It obeys every command without question."
Gordon looked at Edgar with a weird expression. "...Are you perhaps a witch?"
"How can I be a witch?" Edgar got annoyed by his comment. "I am a man!"
"...Right."
Gordon didn’t seem convinced.
Edgar was pressed for time, so he didn’t give him too much of an explanation.
He looked at the monster and ordered, "Go with him and guard the Fortress Wall."
Edgar then looked at Gordon.
"Lead him out and make sure he doesn’t create panic among the citizens."
"As you wish."
Gordon nodded his head, walking away as the monster began to follow him.
Edgar heard the cries of his citizens, but he didn’t give them too much thought.
Taking in a deep breath, Edgar took out an object from his pocket.
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⟨Name: Soul Seed⟩
⟨Grade: Yellow⟩
⟨Description: The origin of a Soul Structure that can be fused with a compatible structure to awaken a unique evolution.⟩
⟨Warning: The Soul Seed will be consumed upon use.⟩
---
Edgar drew in a deep breath and willed it to be used.
The moment the command left his mind, the Soul Seed trembled.
A soft azure radiance seeped through the countless veins covering its surface.
Crack...
Tiny fissures spread across the seed.
The seed slowly floated from his palm until it hovered before his chest.
Its shell shattered.
Instead of falling apart, the fragments dissolved into countless motes of pale blue light.
The light collided with the newly formed ⟨Tower of Souls⟩.