Chapter 161: The Hollow Crown [14]

Klein's gaze condensed slightly "...Alright. Let's try it."

He glanced between Orpheus and Artoria, as if making sure both of them were actually following before he started explaining.

"What we're going to do is essentially trick the Spirit Realm," he began.

"The Spirit Realm only accepts beings who already carry spirit essence inside their core. That's the fundamental rule."

"Pure dragons, cursed beings, ordinary humans... none of them can cross the boundary permanently unless that essence is present."

He glanced at Artoria, who listened in silence, "So Orpheus will slip a controlled amount of spirit essence into your core to register you as a valid presence to the Spirit Realm's laws."

"Once that is in place, the Realm will treat you as something it can accept."

"After we deal with the Tower and free you from it, you'll be able to teleport directly into the Spirit Realm through Orpheus."

Orpheus had a thoughtful look "That's... something I have never thought of. It will not turn her into a true spirit. It will only open the door."

Klein sighed in his heart, 'What I did with cursed energy in my previous life was quite different. Let's see how this works.'

'If this succeeds, then maybe... I can try the same method on Arwen and Cyn to bring them to the Spirit Realm too.'

He raised his free hand.

Green spirit energy began to gather at his fingertips.

With precise motions he started drawing runes in the air.

Complex interlocking symbols formed one after another, hanging suspended in front of them like a glowing diagram.

Orpheus's eyes widened "Husband… you told me you didn't know rune magic."

Klein continued drawing without looking away from the forming array.

"I don't know the full system. I only remember this one formula. Zrryha used it when she turned those dragons into curses for me. I never learned the complete art... only this specific sequence." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The final rune locked into place, and the entire array pulsed once.

Klein's eyes narrowed in concentration as he began altering the flow.

"I'm reversing the polarity and the binding direction so it can accept spirit energy instead. The core structure stays the same. Only the nature of the force running through it changes."

Orpheus watched in amazement. 'Elfaria did teach me some rune magic, but that's just to heat the pot... what is this?'

The array stabilized in mid-air, radiating a balanced green light.

Artoria watched the process in silence abd made no move to interrupt.

As a being who had already surrendered her true name, she simply waited for her master's next command.

Orpheus stepped closer, looking the completed array with a mixture of surprise and interest.

Klein lowered his hand, "It either works, or it doesn't," he said.

"We'll find out now. Orpheus... channel your essence through the array. Keep the infusion light and controlled. Artoria, do not resist when it enters your core."

Orpheus raised both hands, and pure green spirit energy gathered at her palms as she prepared to feed it into the inverted formula.

"Understood, Husband."

Orpheus pressed her glowing palms forward, and the gathered spirit essence flowed into the inverted runes.

The array drank it in without rejection,, and the green light brightened as the modified formula accepted the new energy and began reshaping its flow.

Thin luminous threads extended from the center of the array and drifted toward Artoria's chest.

The first thread touched her skin.

Artoria's body tensed, and the spirit essence slipped past her flesh and scale-memory, sinking deeper until it reached the dense, ancient core of a True Dragon.

For a moment the two forces met... raw dragon existence and pure spirit energy and the inverted runes flared, forcing a controlled compatibility.

Klein's eyes narrowed, sensing the spirit essence securing itself, forming a small foothold inside Artoria's core.

Orpheus's expression tightened with concentration. She poured a carefully measured thread of her essence through the array.

Then a moment later, the green light faded.

The array dissolved into drifting motes of spirit energy that scattered across the cracked stone.

Artoria exhaled slowly and placed a hand over her chest as she felt the strange presence resting inside her core.

"…It is there," she muttered.

Orpheus lowered her hands with a sheen of sweat on her forehead from the precise control the process had demanded.

She looked at Klein and smiled rpoudly "See? I can do it too."

With a quiet chuckle, Klein slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her gently against him.

"Yeah… you did very well."

He reached up with his free hand and brushed a stray strand of green-tinged hair from her cheek.

Orpheus's smile softened at the praise and rested her forehead briefly against his collarbone.

Klein held her for a moment longer, then spoke in a lower voice.

"You should head back soon. Summoning you here and keeping the connection open is burning through a lot of mana. I'm still recovering from the fight and the domain."

"If I keep this up much longer, I'll be running on empty before we even deal with the rest of the Tower."

Orpheus pulled back just enough to look up at him and gave a small nod.

"Alright finish it soon."

Klein glanced at Artoria. The True Dragon met his eyes and spoke quietly.

"I am still tied to the Tower. Until they are cut, I cannot leave."

He released Orpheus and stepped forward, taking the Epic-grade spear fully into both hands.

'I have to put all my remaining mana into this... I managed to do the Original Spear first form against Yinran. I should push it to second form this time.'

He raised the spear.

Both hands gripped the shaft firmly as he lifted the weapon high above his head.

Every remaining drop of mana he could safely force out poured into a single point at the tip along with his spear intent.

The two forces compressed together until the air around the spearhead began to distort.

A deep, rumbling vibration spread outward across the ruined 40th floor.

Cracks widened beneath Klein's feet, unable to withstand the pressure gathering above it.

Loose debris lifted from the ground.

*SWOOOOSHH*

The surrounding ambient mana surged violently, spiraling upward toward the raised spear like a storm being dragged into a singular axis.

An enormous phantom spear manifested overhead, towering dozens of meters high.

The phantom weapon pointed straight downward, aligning perfectly with the real spear in Klein's hands.

The broken chains scattered across the platform rattled against the stone.

Klein's arms trembled under the strain, and fresh cracks split open along his shoulders and forearms from the overload, only to seal themselves again under the continuous work of his traits.

Orpheus also used her spirit energy to heal him, making it easier for him to withstand the strain.

[Trait: Spear Body Unity]