Trial Of The Tower (3)

Xavier and Razer emerged from the swirling red and white light, its radiance slowly dimming behind them until it vanished completely. The air was thick with dust and decay, a stark contrast to the grandeur the Empire State Building once held. The once-polished floors were now cracked and broken, the walls lined with deep gashes and scorch marks. Elevators stood motionless with their doors pried open, revealing nothing but darkness within. The entire first floor was a ruin, a graveyard of shattered architecture.

Xavier's eyes flickered toward a shadowed corner of the room, his instincts tingling with warning. A glint of light flashed, and without thinking, he ducked low while simultaneously kicking Razer out of harm's way. A jagged, rusted metal shard tore through the air and embedded itself into the crumbling wall behind them. The force of the projectile sent a sharp vibration through the floor. Xavier let out a shaky breath, a nervous smile forming as Razer hissed, his gaze fixed on the darkened corner.

Then, a figure emerged.

The aura it emitted sent an involuntary shiver down Xavier's spine. The suffocating pressure was eerily familiar—it was the same overwhelming presence he had felt when facing Razer before making him his subordinate. This was no ordinary monster.

The creature took slow, deliberate steps into the dim light, revealing its humanoid shape. At first glance, it resembled a female, clothed in a short, tattered black habit reminiscent of a nun's attire. A dark, frayed cloth covered her eyes, her disheveled white hair streaked with crimson as if stained by blood. Her hands were clasped together in an unsettlingly serene posture, each finger encased in black gloves that ended in razor-sharp, claw-like fingertips. Despite its human-like features, the aura it radiated left no doubt in Xavier's mind—this was a monster.

A grin stretched across the creature's lips, revealing jagged, razor-sharp teeth. Slowly, it hunched forward in a predatory stance, its hands loosening from their clasp. Then, it began to hum—a hauntingly tranquil tune, both eerie and soothing in equal measure. As the melody filled the ruined space, a glowing red system display materialized above its head, revealing its name.

[Sinful Blind Nun]

Xavier narrowed his eyes, his hands tightening around the Phantom Requiem bow. Without hesitation, he gave the order. "Razer, attack!"

The ghoul wasted no time, launching himself forward with feral speed. But before he could even get close, the monster vanished from sight. Xavier barely had time to process what was happening before a sickening crunch echoed through the air—Razer's body bent inward as the monster's knee collided with his stomach, sending him flying backward. The impact rattled the entire floor, sending a shockwave through the room. Debris and dust exploded outward as Razer crashed into the nearest wall, leaving a deep crater in the concrete.

Xavier swallowed hard. "Fast," he muttered. Faster than anything he had fought before.

Before he could analyze the situation further, the monster was already closing in. Its foot lashed out in a blur, aiming straight for his skull. Xavier barely managed to duck, narrowly avoiding a decapitating strike. He twisted his body, dodging a rapid succession of kicks and claw swipes, each attack carrying enough force to shatter bone. The pressure was relentless, giving him no room to ready an arrow.

He gritted his teeth. "It's too close! I need distance!"

The monster seemed to sense his desperation, its wicked grin widening. Then, with an unnatural twist of its body, it flipped backward, using the wall as a launchpad to propel itself toward him at an even greater speed. Xavier's heart pounded as he realized he had no time to react.

Just before impact, something yanked him backward with incredible force.

The monster's foot swung through empty air, missing Xavier's face by mere inches. The sheer force of the kick created a shockwave that sent him tumbling back alongside his unexpected savior—Razer.

The ghoul had recovered faster than Xavier had anticipated, though he was visibly weakened. The deep dent in his stomach remained, his body slightly hunched as he struggled to maintain balance. Yet, despite his injuries, he had managed to intervene at the last possible second.

Xavier's gaze flickered back to the monster as it adjusted its stance once more, preparing to strike again. His mind raced. If they kept fighting like this, they wouldn't last. He needed an edge, something to tip the scales in his favor.

Then, his eyes landed on his system screen.

More specifically, on the skill: Ruler's Supremacy.

A reckless idea began to form in his mind. His fingers hovered over the skill's details, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. He muttered under his breath, "This could either save us… or get me killed."

But at this point, what did he really have to lose?

Taking a deep breath, Xavier made his choice.