Chapter 510: The Soul Warden [1]

Dark Silk Threads!

Countless threads of dark silk erupted from Emilia’s scepter and shot toward the Soul Warden, wrapping around its limbs and torso in an attempt to restrict its movements.

At the same time, she activated another skill.

Bone Shuffle!

A massive wave of bone spikes erupted from the ground beneath the creature, piercing its body and forcing it to stagger slightly.

Blood trickled from several wounds as the combined attacks managed to restrain the Soul Warden.

For a moment, everything seemed to be going according to plan.

The silk threads held the creature in place, while the bone spikes prevented it from moving freely.

Emilia immediately began gathering the energy required for [Heaven’s Wrath], knowing that if she could complete the spell, she would have a good chance of ending the fight.

However, just as she was about to unleash it, the Soul Warden suddenly raised its head.

ROOOOAR!

A deafening roar erupted from its throat, releasing an enormous surge of electricity that spread throughout the chamber.

The attack struck Emilia directly, but rather than injuring her, the electricity disrupted the energy she had been gathering, interrupting her spell before it could be completed.

Her expression changed immediately.

The Soul Warden had understood that the elf standing before it possessed a dangerous ability, and it had deliberately interrupted her casting before she could unleash it.

At the same time, the creature violently tore through the dark silk threads restraining its body before shattering the bone spikes with its immense strength.

The restraints that had seemed so effective moments earlier were no longer an obstacle.

Emilia stared at the creature as it freed itself, realizing that she had lost her best opportunity to finish the fight quickly.

The Soul Warden turned its attention toward her once more, and it seemed to smile.

Then, without warning, it vanished.

“Huh?”

Emilia barely had time to react before the creature appeared directly behind her.

She tried to turn around, but the Soul Warden was already moving.

Emilia had two great weaknesses even with all her power, the first was her physical Strength, although that was rarely a problem because her fighting style relied primarily on spells.

Her Agility, however, was another matter.

Despite having around ten million combat power, a considerable portion of her attributes was invested in Spirit and Constitution rather than Agility.

While her speed was still respectable for a player of her level, she could not react quickly enough to an opponent as fast as the Soul Warden.

Fwoosh!

The creature’s enormous hand shot forward and seized Emilia by the neck, lifting her off the ground before she could escape.

She immediately grabbed its wrist and tried to break free, but the Soul Warden’s grip was far too strong.

The electric aura surrounding its mace intensified, crackling with enough power to illuminate the entire chamber.

Without hesitation, the creature raised its weapon and prepared to bring it down on the helpless elf.

Yet just as the attack was about to land…

SLASH!

The hand holding Emilia was suddenly severed.

Her body dropped toward the ground as the Soul Warden staggered backward, staring in disbelief at the stump where its hand had been.

“…?”

ROOOAR!

The creature roared in pain, taking a step back before turning toward the person responsible for the attack.

Standing before it was a human man holding a sword, its blade glinting with fresh blood.

Leon had arrived.

“Looks like I came just in time. Good thing I followed it,” he said with a grin.

He glanced briefly toward Emilia to make sure she was safe before turning his attention toward the enormous creature.

Eye of Truth!

—

[Soul Warden (Floor Boss)]

[Level: 100]

[Talent: Soul Fortification (A-Level), Supreme Strength Enhancement (S+-Level), Ultimate Lightning Affinity (S-Level)]

[Combat Power: 28,300,000]

[Details: Hunts powerful souls throughout the Tower of Souls. Its immense strength and control over thunder allow it to overwhelm its prey, while its fortified soul makes it exceptionally difficult to kill.]

—

‘Floor boss.’ Leon noticed the title next to the creature’s name, ‘So this thing is the floor boss, not the one at the gate like usual.’

The boss they had fought on the previous floor had protected the path forward, but this one served an entirely different purpose.

Its combat power was also extremely high, nearly 30 million.

Combined with its impressive speed, overwhelming physical strength, and control over lightning, it was clearly a dangerous opponent.

Leon tightened his grip on his sword.

‘This really makes me wonder just how powerful the Lord of Souls is.’

If the Soul Warden was merely a floor boss, then the being waiting at the top of the tower was likely far stronger.

Leon was eager to discover the truth, but first, he needed to deal with the thing standing before him.

Leon raised his sword and faced the Soul Warden.

After losing one of its arms, it was much more angry than before, the electricity surroundings it having grown at least twice as powerful.

But to be honest, Leon didn’t care at all, after all… his lightning affinity was still stronger!

His [Master of Elements (SS-Level)] sub-talent boosted the power of his elements to SS-Level immediately.

Meaning that even when the Soul Warden fired a row of lightning bolts at Leon…

Zap! Zap! Zap!

…Nothing happened.

Of course, his [Ultimate Darkness Barrier] blocked the attacks, but even if it didn’t, he would have been unaffected.

“…My turn.”

Leon raised his staff and unleashed his own spell.

Lightning Cataclysm!

Since Leon was trapped inside the Tower of Souls, much like Emilia, he couldn’t use the true and most powerful form of his skill, which normally summoned lightning directly from the heavens.

Even so, the spell was far from ordinary.

Dozens upon dozens of lightning strikes erupted from the tip of his staff, spreading through the air before crashing directly into the Soul Warden.

The entire chamber lit up as the bolts struck its body, releasing deafening thunderclaps and sending sparks scattering across the ground.

Unfortunately, the damage was limited.

The Soul Warden’s powerful body endured the bombardment, and although the lightning surrounding it flickered under the assault, it showed no significant signs of injury.

Nevertheless, the monster immediately attempted to retaliate with its own lightning, gathering the electricity around its body before releasing a powerful discharge toward Leon.

That was when it realized something was wrong: its lightning was completely outmatched.

Leon had far greater control over the element, and the difference in their abilities was so obvious that continuing to exchange lightning attacks would accomplish nothing.

The Soul Warden abandoned the idea almost immediately, deciding that it would be better to rely on its physical strength instead.

Its body blurred as it dashed forward at breathtaking speed, closing the distance between them before swinging its enormous mace toward Leon’s head.

However, unlike Emilia, Leon could follow its movements clearly.

He raised his sword at the right moment and deflected the incoming blow, causing a powerful shock wave to spread through the corridor as their weapons collided.

The impact was considerable, and Leon could feel the tremendous strength behind the monster’s attack, but he remained firmly in place.

‘That thing’s strength is no joke, but it still shouldn’t be enough to smash through the walls of this floor.’

The Soul Warden roared and swung its mace again, forcing Leon to shift his position before counterattacking.

Their weapons collided several times, but neither side managed to land a decisive blow.

Leon had no intention of prolonging the battle unnecessarily though, especially when he possessed several skills that could restrict the monster’s movements and give him an opportunity to finish it off.