Teleportation carried them from Midgard City all the way to the 80th floor. Agares appeared in a flash of bright blue light, with Aoi perched on his shoulder.
He didn’t arrive at the 80th floor right before the boss room—but just after it.
Now, he and Aoi stood right in front of an iron door with a saber pattern engraved on it. He was ready to move on to the 81st floor and beyond—up to the 100th—to claim Lun Astra.
Agares took off his glove and raised his right hand, showing the red saber mark toward Virelion’s door.
A beam of light sparked from the saber mark on his hand, activating the embedded gem in the door.
Slowly, the door opened, revealing a breathtaking view—not just for Agares and Aoi, but for anyone who might see it.
’Milenia would’ve been blown away by how beautiful this place is,’Agares thought.
The Virelion door shut behind them automatically. Agares summoned his sheathed black longsword from his side, keeping it close.
Aoi stuck with him, admiring and praising the place’s beauty—even though she’d seen it before. Still, no matter how many tis she saw it, she never got tired of it.
"Where are those two?"
"No idea."
"But they were pointing to that floating island. I’m guessing they’re up there."
"Are we flying?" Aoi asked, full of excitent.
"Yep. We’re flying."
Agares reached out so Aoi could hop onto his shoulder more easily. Now settled on his shoulder, Aoi clung tightly to his armor.
Agares closed his eyes, centering his focus and syncing body with mind. With just one inner command, he summoned a pair of bat-like shadow wings from his back—black wings pulsating with dense dark energy.
After making sure Aoi was secure, Agares jumped high and soared steadily down the cliff, gliding fast toward the 81st island.
Aoi clung tight, her claws digging into Agares’s armor to hold on against the wind.
The further he flew downward, the closer the 81st island ca into view. From the top of the cliff, the island looked small with a city sitting on it—but as Agares got closer, it was much bigger than he expected.
Without any resistance, Agares landed smoothly in the city. He had officially set foot on the 81st floor, right on the main road of Kinsaber City.
"Kinsaber?"
Agares glanced around. The city was populated, sure, but the people didn’t behave like a normal town.
They just walked around, trained, sharpened swords, relaxed, and chatted with each other. The rows of shops weren’t selling food or supplies—just empty houses and such.
"What is this city even supposed to be?" Agares muttered, confused.
"Why is their skin blue?"
"I don’t know, Aoi."
He and Aoi stepped closer to one of the townsfolk, who was chatting with his back turned to them.
As Agares reached out to tap the guy’s shoulder, he was stunned to find his hand passed right through—like through air. The man’s shoulder shimred and flickered before returning to normal.
"Are they... ghosts?" Agares asked.
"You must be the challenger from Virelion’s Gate, aren’t you?" asked a woman, approaching a man.
Both of them wore full knight armor—sa as most of the town’s people. But unlike the others, they were the only ones who could actually see Agares and Aoi.
"You two? Aren’t you the ones from yesterday?" Aoi asked.
"Yesterday? We don’t really rember."
"So what’s really going on here? What is this city? Why’s your skin blue? Why can’t I touch anyone?" Agares questioned.
The woman and the man smiled. Since Agares was new to this floor, they had a lot to explain.
"Let’s talk outside, before it traps you," the woman said.
"Traps ? Who?"
They didn’t answer. Instead, they flew up, leaving Kinsaber City. Agares, curious, summoned his dark bat wings again and flew after them.
Now outside the city and hovering past the island, Agares was still confused about what exactly they were avoiding.
"Tell —who’s going to trap ?"
"Before we get into that, let introduce us," the woman said.
"I’m Nova. He’s Kevin."
Agares nodded and introduced himself and Aoi in return. Nova, the saber-wielding woman, explained that they were all spirits—fragnts of souls.
"Fragnts of souls?"
"Yeah. Those who die in the dungeon exist here, living in a state of emptiness."
"It’s their fate," Kevin added.
"They can only interact with other soul fragnts. You, a living human, can’t connect with them," Nova explained.
"But then how co you—"
"We’re your guides," Nova cut in.
Agares cleared his throat and nodded. He flew alongside them and looked up toward the floating islands above.
The 81st floor was the lowest one—and each higher floor was a floating island stacked above.
"Each island is ho to many soul fragnts. That right?" Agares asked. Nova and Kevin nodded.
"How do I free them?"
"No one knows. Only the highest authority in this dungeon can do that," Nova replied.
"I see..."
’Maybe I can do sothing about them once I get my hands on the Lun Astra.’
Agares’s gaze locked on the 81st floor island and Kinsaber City. As Nova and Kevin had said, he and Aoi needed to leave before they got caught by sothing. Whatever it was, they hadn’t explained yet.
"About Kinsaber City—what exactly are you afraid of?" Agares asked.
"The first Saber Knight trial: Sword Shadows!"
"Sword shadows?"
"The city will turn into a sea of swords. You’ll have to find the core of the trial to complete it," Kevin explained.
Kevin flew closer and showed him what he’d earn—aside from EXP and other loot, he’d receive a knight token with the floor number.
The knight token allowed access to the next floor—it was the only way to move up. He’d receive one each ti he completed the trial for that floor.
"It’s still the sa system as a dungeon," Agares said, "but this makes things easier since I don’t have to fight tons of monsters."
"You think it’s easier—but it won’t be," Nova warned.
"Got all that?" Nova asked. Agares nodded.
He flew back with Nova and Kevin, landing just in front of the city gate. Nova and Kevin stood behind him, saying they wouldn’t interfere.
"You have to complete the trial on your own," Nova said.
"Is there a ti limit?" Agares asked.
"No. The trial ends when you either find the core... or die."
’A true death trial,’Agares thought.
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then, he stepped forward—just as the system panel popped up in front of him.
[81st Floor]
[First Saber Knight Trial]
[Trial: First Courage]
[Objective: Find the Core and destroy it]
[Duration:]
[Unlimited]
[Accept Trial?]
[Yes || No]
Taking a deep breath, Agares pressed Yes to accept the trial. The atmosphere of the island shifted—especially within the city—as a chilling aura spread everywhere.
Nova raised her hand and magically pulled Aoi away from Agares, making him panic.
"Aoi!" Agares shouted.
"This is a Saber trial. You have to do it without anyone’s help."
"Get ready—thousands of swords are coming your way!"
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