“What the hell does it mean by Incomplete?” Kenny shouted. “I have never heard of any type of boss being incomplete. Have you?”

“No,” Val replied as she tried to think about it as well. “I’m more concerned about this guy being a ghost though.”

“Why?” Kenny asked with a confused look. It only took a moment for it to sink in as he said, “Oooooh, damn it. I can’t punch a ghost.”

Val chuckled slightly as she looked back at the floating apparition staring down at them. “Yeah, only magic can damage a ghost. That means this is my batt…”

Before Val could finish her sentence the dark purple ghost let out an airy and shrill shriek that caused both Kenny and Val to swiftly cover their ears. After it had finished its little proclamation, Kenny and Val saw the fresh dirt of five plots start to stir. It didn’t take long for rotted and fleshy hands to breach the surface.

Kenny gave Val a grin as he looked at her and said, “I guess while you attack the ghost I’ll take care of the more physical monsters.”

Val shook her head as she said before sending a blast of mana from her wand at the floating ethereal creature in the back, “You do you.”

She watched as the blast of mana raced towards her target, one that didn’t move at all besides floating up and down. She was growing concerned why the creature wasn’t moving then found out why as it reached its destination.

Before the blast of mana could slam into the ghost, a translucent barrier suddenly appeared in front of the ghost and blocked her attack.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Val complained as she turned to see Kenny was already in a tussle with the first two Turned Zombies that had gotten close enough to them. “There’s a barrier protecting the Ghost.”

“What does that mean?” Kenny questioned as he threw an elbow across the face of one of the zombies.

“It means there’s a mechanic to this fight we need to figure before we’re able to kill the Mid-Area Boss,” Val stated. Realization dawned on her as she said the words. “I think we need to make it complete. I think that’s what we need to do in order to fight and kill it.”

“How do we do that?” Kenny asked. “I don’t remember there ever being any classes or homework on making undead complete.”

“I don’t know either,” Val said back with some frustration. “Maybe the key lies with these Zombies?”

Kenny kicked another Turned Zombie backwards into two other causing them to fall like dominos before he looked at Val and asked, “Do you think killing them will have any effect on the ghost?”

Val shrugged. “Don’t know. Kill one to see?”

Kenny grinned savagely as he turned to the one that reached out a bony arm with flesh slowing falling off. He muttered an apology as he gripped the wrist of the monster, ducked, and spun around giving the monster his back.

As soon as he felt the monster start to feel unbalanced he swiftly pushed his legs up, straightening his knees, while keeping his upper body leaning forward, and hip checked the monster causing it to fly over his back and head, and slammed to the ground. Without wasting any time Kenny stomped several times as hard as he could on the monster’s face until it finally died.

Val watched with slight disgust as coagulated blood splattered against Kenny’s legs and a few specks that made it to his cheeks. “As great as that was, don’t think I’m helping you clean up later. You’re on your…”

Before Val could finish her words a ghastly version of the zombie suddenly flew out of the Turned Zombie’s body and ran in and out of Kenny. Val watched as the rune on the jaw mask on his face flashed for a brief moment before he visibly shivered and took a few steps back as the new being flew in a circle high above Kenny’s head.

Kenny looked at his slightly shaking hands and arms before looking at the ghost and then at Val. With a concerned look he stated, “I just received a Freezing Cold Debuff. Thanks to the mask it lowered the effects, but damn I feel so cold.” He rubbed his arms swiftly. “This Debuff is kind of like your Slow Debuff, but it also makes me feel cold like I’m in a freezer or something.”

Val was about to say something, but then noticed the ghost dive down straight for Kenny. Kenny didn’t notice it due to the Turned Zombies that had reached him and tried to attack. Pointing her staff and called out, “Pain!” A murky ball of grey magic shot out from her staff and flew towards the diving ghost.

To Val’s frustration, her hex missed as the ghost halted its descent right before the ball of murky grey mana could connect. It turned its head right at her and let out a long ethereal hiss before racing towards her.

Val felt her blood run cold as she jumped out of the way before the ghastly creature ran through her body. As soon as she got back to her feet she shot a ball of mana right at it as it tried to dive at her, but missed as it moved out of the way right in time.

Val turned to follow the ghosts movements as it flew above Kenny’s head, missing it by just an inch as he dropped to his knees to dodge another ghost that tried to hit his head. Val got a better look at what was going on.

Apparently, during her short time trying to dodge and attack the one ghost, Kenny had killed three more Turned Zombies and was playing dodge the ghost as they all tried to run their bodies through him.

Val was actually quite impressed with his dodging skills as he dodged, ducked, dipped, dived, and dodged. That was until the one she was trying to deal with had joined in and ran into his back when he wasn’t looking. The other three saw this as their opportunity and flew through his left, right, and front side in no particular order.

The rune on the jaw mask Kenny wore flashed each time the ghosts ran through. If she remembered correctly, the rune-like markings helped defend the wearer against Hex, Curse, and Debuff like attacks used against the wearer.

However, there was a limit to how much it could defend. Whenever any Hex, Curse, or Debuffs are used on the wearer the runes will light up cause the used spells or abilities to lessen the effects and make the wearer more aware of them.

Val didn’t waste any more time watching as she noticed more Turned Zombies making their way over to him. As much as she had faith in the shorter guy, if he started to freeze and grow slower due to the Debuff then not just her chances of survival, but his as well would drop entirely. Even if the effects were lessened because of the jaw mask he was wearing, it looked like the debuff was stacking each time they ran through him. She needed to stop this.

Val aimed for one of the ghosts flying and readied a Pain Hex attack. When she believed her timing was right she released it and watched it go. Val felt relief as the murky ball of grey mana slammed and engulf the spirit right before it could dive right through Kenny’s body once more.

The form of the ghost froze and looked to be in pain as the magic successfully connected with it. Something Val wasn’t entirely sure would work since the much bigger ghost had a shield, but was happy it did. She didn’t waste any time and threw a ball of mana from her wand to hit before she threw another Pain attack at the ghost.

This attack missed the target but as it flew slightly out of the way one of the other ghosts had run right into it by accident and was sent backwards from the impact. This caused the last two ghosts to stop what they were doing and turn their focus on Val.

“Oh fuck me,” Val muttered as she started to backpedal.

She went to turn her body and start running away. However, as she turned she didn’t see the loose wet dirt right behind her. She let out a squeal as she felt her entire body slip and fall face first into the grass and dirt. She tried to recover and scramble back to her feet. However, she was too late.

Val felt a rush of cold race throughout her entire body as a ghost flew through it. The rush of cold started at her chest before it waved out to her shoulders and stomach. She didn’t have enough time to think about how cold those areas felt as another rush ran through her left leg, then her stomach, then her right arm. She let out a shivering yelp as the ghosts flew in and out of her hitting any spot they hadn’t flown through.

They continued this over and over leaving one specific place untouched, her head. Each time one ran through her she not only felt her limbs start to feel like they were growing frozen stiff, but she received a notification telling her about the increase in the Debuff Freezing Cold’s time and effects.

The freezing cold sensation within her had started growing unbearable as the ghosts kept flying through her over and over. She tried to curl herself into a ball but the freezing feeling that rushed throughout her body made her feel like her body was becoming a frozen statue.

The only part of her body she was able to move without issues was her head. She hadn’t realized that she was letting out a chittering shout each time the ghosts ran through her body. As the ghosts continued their assault she had started to believe that this was going to be the end for her.

She was completely useless as she was right now. Lying on the ground frozen stiff, not able to move anything under her neck. Kenny was off fighting the Turned Zombies probably releasing more these ghosts.

He didn’t have the capability to kill these ghosts. That was something she was able to do, but instead of killing them here she was lying on the ground freezing to death all because she slipped on some dirt. What a dumb way to die.

She felt her mind start to give up as the corners of her eyes started to grow dark. A part of her thought it probably would be better if she just died. She was useless, unwanted, and didn’t bring any worth to anyone. If only she had useful abilities then maybe she could…

Val’s eyes widened as a body suddenly flew over her and through the ghosts that were having a field day assaulting her. The body didn’t do anything but stop their assault and caused them to look at who threw the zombie at them.

Val heard Kenny shout something insulting at the ghosts. It made her chuckle at his brazenness for not only trying to get their attention by throwing a monster body at them, something she was starting to believe was a Kenny thing, but now he was trying to aggro them by hurling whatever insult he believed would offend them. His choice of words were…horrible. There was no way anything with a mind would…to her surprise they chased after him.

Val couldn’t move to see what was going on, but it didn’t take long for her to see at the corner of her left eye Kenny coming into view throwing a left and right punch at any ghost that tried running through his body.

Seriously, what was that idiot doing? Didn’t he understand his punches wouldn’t do anything to them? He was essentially attacking thin air like an idiot. Like the protective idiot he was slowly becoming.

Wait…Protective? Was he trying to protect her? But why? She had failed in trying to kill any of the ghosts so far. She was only able to land two hits on two separate ghosts. Then she slipped was hit with the same Debuff multiple times. Enough times that she felt like she had become a frozen statue due to the debuff’s effects. She was useless.

However, watching him trying to punch a ghost, several ghosts in the face or body over and over as he got hit with the same debuff like she did and not falter or succumb to the cold that should be threatening to freeze every limb in his body…just what drove him to try and protect her? And how did he not fully succumbing to the Debuff’s effects?

A flash suddenly flickered several times as the ghosts flew right through him once more. Ah, the jaw mask was lessening their debuffs. While that was good right now, it wouldn’t hold out forever. If only she had something similar…something better. If only she had something that completely negated the debuff. Like how Kenny’s Defense Skill Tree ability negated poisons. That would be useful right about now.

As Val thought this something caught her eye. It was the Turned Zombie that Kenny had thrown to catch the ghosts attention. Apparently, it had died either before or after the throw because a ghost was slowly coming out of the dead or dead undead creature’s body.

Panic started to rise within Val’s mind as she watched the ghost slowly emerge from the physical body. She hadn’t realized how close it was until now. The ghost’s ethereal body was just mere inches away from her head, the only part of her body not effected by the debuff.

For a brief moment, the ghost looked down at her almost like it wasn’t sure what to do. However, that brief moment of hesitation swiftly disappeared as it reached a ghastly hand and plunged it right through her skull.

Val felt a familiar sensation ripple through her mind the moment the hand went through her skull and touched her mind. However, instead of feeling the same cold sensation course through her head like her body had felt, she instead felt a blindingly sharp pain ripple from her skull and throughout her entire body.

A current of high voltage coursed through her muscles and bones shattering and breaking the freezing sensation that froze her limb stiff away. However, she still felt the power of the debuff still within her body as it convulsed and shook from breaking free of the Freezing Cold’s grasp.

Instead of it escaping her body she could feel it swim through her veins starting from her toes up her legs, to her stomach then separated to her shoulders then down her arms before it stopped on her hands were a new pain bloomed. It felt like someone took a hot knife and was carving something on the back of her hands.

She let out a painful scream as the pain grew hotter by the second. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she wanted it to stop. Oh, how she wanted it to stop so badly. Not realizing she was able to move again, her hands moved to her chest instinctively, almost as if clutching them against her body could stop the pain from continuing.

When the excruciating pain finally died down she laid there on the ground breathing heavily. She didn’t know what had happened. She hadn’t felt pain like this since she had awakened her Power Skill Tree…Wait…This pain was exactly like that time. Except this time it focused on her hands instead of just her entire body.

Feeling the lingering raw pain that still remained slightly in her hands, she turned them to see strange dark purple markings on the back of both of her hands glowing sinisterly. She was confused with what she was looking at because they looked like runes, but they were no runes she had ever seen before. Nor did she have any knowledge on glowing markings like these. She didn’t have to wait long as a notification suddenly appeared to tell her what it was that she had gained.

[Congratulations! You have awakened your last Skill Tree. The Defense Skill Tree.]

[Congratulations! Your last partial awakening has been successful. Stats have been accumulated and processed. Awakened Skill Tree has been identified and process. Focus has been confirmed. Stat Talent has been confirmed and connected to a Stat. Ability has been unlocked.]

[Skill Tree Category – Defense has been awakened.]

[Defense Focus – Mind.]

[Stat Talent – Perception.]

[Each level your Perception stat will receive an extra 2 points.]

[Ability – Rune of Absorption.]

[Rune of Absorption – Two Magical Runes form on the user’s body. Any Magical Mental attacks (Debuffs, Curses, Hexes, etc.) that are used against the user will be absorbed into the runes, negating any and all magical mental attacks. Once the runes have been filled completely the user must purge themselves of the power before they get hit with anymore. Immunity to any magical mental attacks will cease when the runes are completely filled.]

[Congratulations! You have fully awakened all of your Skill Trees.]

[You are now Tier 1.]

[Class will be unlocked after the Trial Grounds have been completed and you have visited an accredited Guild Member.]

[Specialized Nodes are now unlocked for all your abilities and other unlockable abilities in your awakened Skill Trees can now be purchased with any Free Skill Points you have. Unspecialized Nodes are available to be filled as well. Please see the Skill Trees for more information.]

[Warning! Due to still being within the Trial Grounds, you are allowed to do only one of the two things: Unlock a new Specialized Node to gain a new ability in any of your Skill Trees or increase the effects of an already existing Specialized Node unlocked by unlocking an Improvement Node.]

Val laid there slacked jawed as she stared at the notifications with disbelief. She had done it. She had completed her awakening and could become an actual Tower Ascender. All she had to do now was…

A loud grunt of pain pulled Val out of her thoughts and back to reality. She didn’t have time to be celebrating right now. She was still in the middle of a fight and her idiotic partner was being attacked by creatures he had no way of damaging or defend against. She was done being worthless. This new ability of hers was something she needed to help protect herself for this fight. However, a gnawing feeling in the back of her mind told her see needed to do something else.

It had to do with the explanation of her new ability, Rune of Absorption. However, it wasn’t the notification of the ability that drew her attention. It was something else, something that could potentially help her even more. She knew she needed to hurry and that she did. As she pulled up what it was she was being led to, a wide grin grew on her face. Oh yes, this was exactly what she needed.