Grim exploded upward from 80 centimeters to 2.5 meters. His armor solidified into thick plates of black obsidian etched with blazing crimson runes. His scythe grew from toy-sized to a massive two-meter weapon—a curved blade that practically vibrated with contained power.
And his presence...
Even Alex, who was used to this, felt the pressure. Pure death aura radiating from Grim like heat from a furnace.
[Grim - Awakened Form (Full Power)]
Level: 70 (true level without suppression)
HP: 1,200/1,200
MP: 210/360
Available skills: [Maximum Aura of Death], [Full Reaper's Strike], [Soul Harvest], [Death's Grasp], [Army of the Damned], [Maximum Life Drain], [Shadow Scythe], [Grave Domain]
"Perfect," Alex breathed.
The announcer roared through the speaker system:
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE MOMENT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! THE FINALS OF THE NOVICE SUMMONER TOURNAMENT!"
Deafening roar from the crowd.
"FIRST, FROM THE WEST TUNNEL... THE GOLDEN SON OF THE CELESTIAL ACADEMY! THE MOST DOMINANT COMPETITOR IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY! THE OVERWHELMING FAVORITE! WELCOME... MARCUS STEELE!"
Explosion of sound. Gold confetti raining from the ceiling. Giant screens showing highlights of all Marcus's victories—each one absolute domination.
Alex watched on the tunnel screen as Marcus emerged, waving like a rock star, his dragon Aurum—full size now, magnificent and terrifying—flying circles above his head, roaring triumphantly.
"AND NOW," the announcer paused for dramatic effect, "FROM THE EAST TUNNEL... THE MOST IMPROBABLE UNDERDOG IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY! THE COMPETITOR WHO DEFIED ALL EXPECTATIONS! THE GHOST HUNTER! ALEX CARTER!"
Mixed reaction—massive roar from supporters, uncomfortable silence from skeptics, active booing from Academy students.
But Alex barely heard it.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
He just walked forward, Grim at his side in full 2.5-meter Awakened Form.
And when they emerged into the sunlight...
The stadium went completely silent.
For three full seconds.
Because everyone—everyone—could feel Grim's presence.
Death aura radiating like physical pressure.
"That..." one commentator struggled for words. "That is... what is that thing?"
"It... it doesn't look E-rank," the other stammered. "That looks... God, the presence is almost as intense as Marcus's dragon—"
"How is that possible?"
Alex walked to his designated position, ignoring the murmurs, the stares, the absolute shock.
Marcus stood at the other side of the arena, his confident smile faltering slightly when he properly saw Grim.
Aurum, the golden dragon, landed beside Marcus, staring at Grim with narrowed eyes. For the first time in the tournament, the dragon looked... cautious?
The commentators kept struggling:
"Do you see the size of that skeleton? That's two and a half meters tall! And that scythe!"
"And the armor! That's not E-rank equipment—that's elite-grade gear!"
"Something is seriously wrong with Carter's classification, but it's too late to change the rules now!"
The referee—different again, this time a woman in her sixties with a presence that demanded absolute silence—walked to the center of the arena.
"This," she said, her voice amplified to fill the stadium, "is the Final. The winner receives 50,000 crowns plus exclusive access to the Legendary Dungeon Fallen Citadel. The rules remain unchanged. Victory by knockout, surrender, or my decision."
She looked between both competitors.
"This is the fight that will define your careers. That will define your lives. Give it everything."
She turned to Marcus. "Ready?"
"Ready," Marcus said, but his voice had the slightest edge of... could it be uncertainty? No, it couldn't be.
She turned to Alex. "Ready?"
"Ready," Alex said calmly.
The referee raised her hand.
The stadium quieted.
50,000 people holding their breath.
Millions watching the live broadcast.
This was the moment.
"BEGIN!"
---
Marcus attacked first—of course he did.
"Aurum! [Solar Breath]!"
The golden dragon inhaled deeply, his chest blazing with concentrated sunlight—
Then exhaled.
A beam of pure golden light, two meters wide, shot across the arena directly at Grim.
The temperature in the stadium rose ten degrees instantly just from the radiant heat.
"Dodge!" Alex shouted.
Grim moved—not exactly dodging, but something closer to phasing. As if for half a second he existed slightly outside physical reality.
[Shadow Scythe - Passive Skill: Allows phasing evasion]
The golden beam of light passed through the space where Grim had been, striking the arena wall behind, leaving a car-sized scorch mark.
"WHAT!?" Marcus looked genuinely surprised. "Impossible! Aurum, again!"
The dragon exhaled another [Solar Breath]—
Grim phased again.
"This is incredible!" the commentator shouted. "Carter's companion is phasing through the attacks! I've never seen a defensive skill like that!"
Marcus growled in frustration. "Fine! If phasing works, then we'll use AOE! Aurum, [Solar Flare]!"
The dragon roared, wings extending fully (15-meter wingspan), and golden light exploded from his body in all directions.
[AOE Attack - 20-meter radius - No phasing possible]
"Grim, [Grave Domain]!" Alex ordered.
[MP: 190/440]
The ground around Grim darkened—not just in color, but in light itself. A ten-meter radius circle where illumination seemed to die, absorbed by something more fundamental than shadow.
When the [Solar Flare] struck the [Grave Domain], the two energies clashed.
Light versus darkness.
Sun versus death.
And they cancelled, exploding in a shockwave that shook the entire stadium.
"DRAW!" the commentator roared. "The ultimate attacks cancelled each other out!"
Marcus looked less confident now. His dragon too—Aurum was staring at Grim with what could only be described as cautious respect.
"Carter," Marcus said slowly, "what is your companion really?"
Alex smiled—cold, humorless.
"You want to know? Then keep fighting. Because we're just starting to warm up."
He gestured to Grim.
"Show him."
Grim raised his massive scythe.
And the sky above the stadium darkened—not because clouds passed, but because Grim's Aura of Death had become so intense it was literally absorbing ambient light.
The crowd murmured uneasily:
"What's happening?"
"Why is it getting dark?"
"This feels... wrong. This feels very wrong."
Marcus looked around, his earlier confidence evaporating.
For the first time in his life, he realized:
He might actually lose this.
