Stark's heart pounded as he and Sora locked eyes with Father Hugo.
The dark-robed figure was a nightmare brought to life, his twisted smile stretching unnaturally as he filled the corridor with his overwhelming presence.
Every step echoed, the floorboards creaking beneath his weight, and that nauseating stench of decay rolled toward them, making Stark's stomach turn.
"There you are, little ones," Father Hugo murmured, his voice reverberating with a chilling edge. "Only the faithful will find salvation in this sacred place."
The notification blared in front of Stark's vision, listing out tasks he hadn't completed that were scattered throughout the orphanage.
[Task #13: Defeat Father Hugo in the Orphanage.]
[Task #14: Investigate the abandoned classrooms; there may be something in there.]
[Task #15: Find the missing orphan's journal in the library and bring it to its ghost.]
[Task #16: Banish the lingering spirits in the dormitory.]
[Task #17: Kill all entities inside the orphanage.]
[Task #18: Destroy the cursed toys in the playroom.]
[Task #19: Survive Father Hugo's "test of faith."]
"Well, that's comforting," Stark muttered, eyes scanning the corridor for a way out.
He tightened his grip, glancing at Sora. "Let's move. That thing's going to tear us apart if we stay here."
Sora's face was tense, but she nodded, her aura flaring around here, ready to deflect or block any attack, "Where?"
"Anywhere that isn't here," Stark hissed, and they bolted down the corridor.
Father Hugo's footsteps were slow, almost measured, as if he was savoring the chase.
Stark and Sora dashed through the narrow hallways, their feet pounding against the decaying wood.
Every so often, they'd catch a glimpse of Hugo's shadow stretching across the wall, his presence relentless.
He was walking so slowly, yet always caught up no matter.
Stark would try and send [Crimson Spears] or [Crimson Fists] at him.
But...
Fwish! Fwish! Fwish!
For some reason, Father Hugo blocked it all.
Maybe he had actually let Stark's spear hit him before? Who knows.*
Even the [Spear of Judgment], who Stark thought was incredibly powerful, was blocked and broken.
[Task #15: Find the missing orphan's journal (in the library) and bring it to its ghost.]
Stark spotted a room labeled Library to his right. "In here!" he whispered, gesturing for Sora to follow.
The room was cluttered with dust-covered books and forgotten toys, their once-bright colors dulled.
Stark's eyes scanned the shelves, searching for anything that resembled a journal.
At last, he spotted a small leather-bound book tucked away on a shelf and pulled it out.
The faded name of a child, "Samuel," was scrawled on the cover.
[You have found the missing orphan's journal.]
Before they could take a breath, a low, cold whisper filled the room, "Have you come to read my story?"
A translucent form, the ghostly figure of a child, appeared near the corner of the room, his pale face drawn with sorrow. Stark held out the journal, offering it to the child.
"It's yours, isn't it?"
The ghost nodded, taking the journal in trembling hands before fading away, leaving a strange, cold silence in its wake.
[Task #15 Complete. Reward: "Blood-Stained Amulet" (Reduces the infection rate)]
Stark slipped the amulet between his neck alongside his [Sculk Necklace] and gave Sora a nod. "One down. Let's keep moving."
Sora picked up one of the toys—a ragged bear with a sewn-on smile.
As soon as she touched it, its eyes glowed red, and it lunged at her hand, trying to bite down.
"These toys are cursed... they're alive."
Stark's crimson energy flared around him. "They won't be for long. Crimson Spears!"
The spears materialized, and with precise control, Stark launched them into the cursed toys, tearing them apart one by one.
The toys writhed and twisted, releasing small bursts of dark energy as they were destroyed.
[Task #18 Complete. Reward: "Master Key" (Unlocks any lock in the orphanage).]
"I DON'T WANT ANY OF THESE THINGS," he shouted, "I WANT A GODDAMNED COOLDOWN GEM!"
If he didn't have his [Heaven's Spear] ready at any point, every contestant would try to kill him.
He wanted to make sure he had it at all times.
Otherwise, he would have to use it on [Father Hugo] and put himself at risk.
When using [Heaven's Spear], a giant angel appears in the sky, so if the angel throws the spear, it wouldn't take a genius to realize that Stark didn't have it anymore.
Especially CEO, that asshole, even though he is alone now, probably is strong enough to take him on without issues.
"Wait, Stark!" Sora mumbled, looking at the key, "This can be useful!"
"...Yeah," Stark's mind raced as he clutched the Master Key.
There had to be one place left they could escape to.
His memory snapped back to a map he'd glimpsed earlier—a layout of the orphanage showing a courtyard just beyond the main hall.
"Come on, Sora. I think we can reach the courtyard," he said, pulling her along as they navigated the winding hallways.
As they neared the main hall, Hugo's voice boomed behind them, filled with unholy wrath. "Your insolence shall not go unpunished!"
They threw open the final door leading to the courtyard, bursting into the night air.
Stark's chest heaved as he looked around, taking in the vast, open space filled with tangled vines, decrepit statues, and a suffocating darkness that shrouded the area.
For the first time, he allowed himself a brief moment to catch his breath.
But the reprieve was brief.
A strange chill filled the courtyard, coiling around them like a suffocating fog.
Stark and Sora froze as the ground in the center of the courtyard began to tremble.
Shadows pooled together, congealing into a massive, writhing figure, its form shifting and pulsing as it absorbed the darkness around it.
In an instant, Stark's vision flashed red, warning of an incoming enemy:
[Eternal Regret – Level 600, Formed from the Tormented Souls of the Orphanage's Lost Children]
The creature stood taller than Father Hugo, its translucent body shuddering with the faces of dozens of children, mouths twisted in agony.
The cries of the lost souls pierced the air, a dreadful chorus of pain and sorrow.
"Oh god," Sora breathed hard, still trying to keep her cool, "Stark... what do we do?"
Stark's mind raced.
His skills weren't fully cooled down, and he knew that facing the Eternal Regret head-on would be a death wish: it could be just as strong as Hugo.
But there was nowhere to run.
They were trapped between Hugo and this monstrous embodiment of pure anguish.
The beast's eyes flickered, focusing on them both, a single word echoing from its hollow chest in dozens of different voices.
"Release..."
Stark steadied himself, his jaw set. "Sora, whatever happens, stay close and don't let go."