"Me?"

"Mhm. Others could kill these evil spirits, so... will you help me?"

Aruola's eyes shimmered with expectation, pure as a child begging her brother for candy. Zhang Luan, the old pervert, felt as if he'd taken 10,000 points of critical damage.

But...

"Still... forget it. Those spirits are pretty strong. And there aren't just one or two, right? Even if I beat a couple, I can't wipe out more."

He spoke truth. He'd seen this spirit's stats panel. Level 37—not absurdly high, but no joke. Their low intelligence prevented evolution, yet killing one was manageable. What if more came?

Two? Three? He could handle that. With his arsenal of mythic artifacts, failing against a few zero-stage spirits barely ten levels above him would be pathetic. He might as well bash his head against a tofu block.

But everything had a limit. Even Zhang Luan.

From experience, he could handle six spirits max—if he could see them. This Mage Tower drowned in darkness so thick even Stellar Flame couldn't pierce it. Fighting blind? Three was his absolute ceiling. Half his capacity. A terrible trade, even for a girl as adorable as Aruola.

Aruola didn't seem surprised. She simply nodded.

"Mhm. Makes sense. There are over a hundred. You truly couldn't handle them alone. And it's pitch black outside... but they've already surrounded us. You can't leave now."

She pointed into the shadows. Light shot from her fingertip, scattering the darkness even Stellar Flame couldn't banish. Five snarling spirits lurked in the cleared patch. More hid beyond.

Zhang Luan's face darkened. Trapped.

"When did they arrive? Was this intentional?"

"After you entered this room... they gathered. These evil spirits crave the scent of the living. But I sealed them inside this tower. Humans guard the outside... so they starve. You're alive. Had you taken the right corridor earlier... they would've devoured you. That's their den."

Her meaning was clear: *You must eliminate them.*

Zhang Luan had options. Stab himself near-death, then use the Choice Coin to teleport out. But facing these spirits seemed safer than that gamble.

"Fine. I'll help you wipe them out. But I can only kill a few at a time. They're swarming now—we need a plan."

Aruola hesitated. His point was valid. Her request *was* unreasonable. From her pile of teddy bears, she pulled a black one and pressed it against Zhang Luan.

"A... protective charm."

**[Aruola's Black Teddy Bear]**

*High-Tier Item*

*Effect: Briefly masks the scent of the living.*

Three combat strategies instantly formed in Zhang Luan's mind. As long as he avoided encirclement, these mindless, ravenous monsters would be easy prey.

Pressing the bear to his chest, a chill swept over him. A thin, shimmering film enveloped his body. The snarling spirits froze, confused. They paced wildly, trying to enter Aruola's room—but its light held them back. Slowly, they dispersed.

Zhang Luan eyed the bear. Effective. If they couldn't see or sense him, eliminating them would be simple.

Then Aruola shattered that hope.

"This bear... lasts five minutes. Two remain."

Zhang Luan's mouth twitched. "Why didn't you say so earlier? When it fades, they'll find me again!"

Aruola nodded. "Mhm."

"*Mhm* my ass! Any other bears to hide my scent? Don't tell me this is the only one."

Still expressionless, she nodded again. "Mhm."

Zhang Luan sighed. No point complaining now. He drew the Ends Bow, summoned the Azure Righteous Sword, and stepped into the corridor.

"Will you follow?"

Aruola floated beside him, gripping his shoulder lightly. "I... guide. And I see them. I... warn you."

*No wonder she's the Tower Spirit,* Zhang Luan thought. *Her grip weighs nothing.*

He inhaled sharply, devouring two dishes from the Culinary God's Spicy Pot. The buffs **[Supreme Delicacy]** and **[Super Spicy]** flashed on his panel. Fiery heat surged through him; a chili-red aura swirled around his body.

Next, he sheathed himself in Stellar Flame, amplifying its output until it formed a spherical barrier. He saw nothing within the darkness—but any contact with the flame would alert him instantly. Like a spider sensing its web. The spirits were prey.

The cost? Rapid mana drain.

The Ends Bow shifted to Black Moon form. Jagged black lightning crackled wildly in all directions. These spirits weren't pure physical beings. Using Crimson Sky to drain life would be less efficient than Black Moon's mana recovery—not to mention its 50% suppression bonus against such foes.

Bow drawn. Arrow nocked.

As if certain he'd never return, Aruola sealed her room shut, locking it multiple times.

*She's not the innocent, emotionless girl she seems,* Zhang Luan realized. *This one's scheming!*

No retreat left. Zhang Luan stepped forward—into the dark.