The square in front of the Hollow Tower was steeped in an eerie calm, punctuated only by the occasional distant groan of the moonscorched roaming nearby.
Dave and Claire stood before the massive structure, its colossal doors bound by an ancient magic that pulsed faintly.
They had tried to break the seal multiple times, their attacks repelled by the invisible force that shimmered around the doorway.
[Hollow Tower]
[Be the last participant alive, complete 5 tasks and kill all moonscorched commanders to open the door.]
Dave, the brown-haired, broad-shouldered man, glanced down at his hand, where his sword felt like an extension of himself, constantly humming with latent energy.
His gaze shifted over to Claire as she held her ground beside him, blonde hair catching the cold light of the square.
The two of them had made a formidable team since entering this trial, their powers complementing each other perfectly.
And for some strange reason, almost no monsters dared to approach the tower.
They could see the moonscorched monsters around the square, staring at them, but none entered.
Dave was carrying his sword in his right hand like always.
It didn’t seem like he was powerful, but he was in fact a monster.
As shown before, every domination user’s power has a specific name:
For Shock, it is [Domination: Electricity], for Sora it is [Domination: Plants].
What about Stark, you might ask.
Well… who knows?
Maybe later.
Dave’s power was named: [Domination – Reach] and Claire’s was [Domination – Monster]
The former can teleport almost aywhere in an area because of his reach, and even his sword can elongate itself up to one kilometer.
It would be hard to keep up with him in an actual battle.
Claire on the other hand can transform any of her body parts into [Aleor], the monster she awakened when getting her class.
Whether it is arms, legs, face, she can transform anything into the black beast!
She can also fully transform, but that is her [Godly] skill.
Together, they exuded a quiet confidence, standing before the Hollow Tower undisturbed by the foreboding aura it cast.
But that quiet confidence would soon be shattered.
They expected to be alone here.
But they were wrong.
“More… More…”
[Prove your devotion.]
[Kill 5 participants.]
[2/5]
“I need more…”
Follower had gained incredible abilities from the [Godless Demon], allowing him to grow so strong he could defeat a moonscorched commander by himself.
As you probably realized, he had contracted with the godless demon himself to grant him more power.
It was something you could do: contract with one of the apostles, or the godless demon himself to become one of his followers.
As a price for that, he would need to follow the orders of the godless demon forever, but it didn’t bother him: he actually liked it.
“I need… more…”
And in the end, if he manages to complete his ultimate task, then he will rank up to being one of the [Godless Demon Apostles].
[Ultimate Task]
[Kill Stark Heartsouls, AKA Chosen, and escape this trial alone.]
The more he fed on these powers, the more powerful he would become.
Being an apostle was a honor to him.
Oh, yeah, and let’s just say… he wasn’t the only one who received this offer.
Actually, the task [Kill Stark Heartsouls] had been given to two other people beside Follower.
They were people the [Godless Demon] deemed strong enough to become possible apostles.
Anyway, back to the trial, Follower was moving fast through the city, killing anything he saw, unbothered by the experience gain as two attacks were enough to end most monsters now.
And then… he arrived at the square where the massive [Hollow Tower] is located.
A low voice, barely a whisper yet filled with an insatiable hunger, echoed through the square.
“More… more…”
Dave’s grip tightened on his sword as he scanned the darkness beyond the square.
He saw the figure approaching, slowly stepping into the faint torchlight.
The figure’s eyes glinted with an unnatural gleam, and his presence alone seemed to make the air heavy, thick with malice and an insidious intent.
The man’s skin seemed pallid, almost gaunt, as though drained by something far darker than death.
“…”
“…”
Follower’s eyes, glassy and intense, locked onto them, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
His fingers traced the edge of his [Cross-Sword], the weapon gleaming with a deadly, crimson aura.
He muttered something under his breath, and the shadows seemed to grow thicker, the world closing in around him.
He stopped a short distance away, standing before them with an air of reverence, yet somehow still seething with a quiet, feverish madness.
“Prove your devotion,” he whispered, voice tinged with something unhinged. “Three more… for the godless demon.”
Dave and Claire exchanged a quick glance, understanding flashing between them.
There was no need for words; they’d been in this trial long enough to know that anyone who wore that expression was either an enemy or a dead man walking.
Without hesitation, Dave surged forward, his sword elongating to strike from a distance.
The blade stretched out, hurtling toward Follower, but with a smirk, Follower sidestepped, his movement fluid and disturbingly fast.
With barely a pause, Dave teleported beside him, using his [Reach] to close the gap in an instant and unleash a powerful overhead slash.
Yet Follower was already ready, moving in sync with Dave’s assault.
His [Cross-Sword] flickered upward to meet Dave’s blade in a harsh clang of metal.
Follower’s smirk grew, his voice lilting as he taunted, “Is that all you can do?”
Claire’s eyes narrowed as her arm began to shift, black scales creeping up her skin as she transformed it into the monstrous claw of Aleor.
She rushed forward, thrusting the claw toward Follower’s torso.
He spun, narrowly dodging her attack, his movements as smooth as liquid, and in one swift motion, he brought his sword down toward her exposed side.
Dave’s sword whipped through the air, intercepting Follower’s blow and deflecting it with a burst of energy.
“You’re not getting through that easy,” he growled, stepping in front of Claire.
ENERGY SWING!
His elongated sword shimmered as he swung it, creating arcs of energy that swept across the square, forcing Follower to leap back, momentarily on the defensive.
“Well… at least I tried to be nice,” Follower sighed, “This is gonna be painful.”
But as they moved, they felt an overwhelming pressure, an aura thick with an unnatural power that seemed to crush the very ground beneath it.
Follower’s eyes glowed as he lifted his [Cross-Sword], a twisted smile on his face.
His voice dripped with a chilling satisfaction. “You don’t understand, do you? You’re not fighting a mere participant anymore.”
CRIMSON CORRUPTION!
With a dark incantation, the [Godless Demon’s Blessing] surged through him, transforming his aura into a pulsating, corrupted energy that radiated outward.
He vanished, reappearing behind Dave in an instant, bringing his sword down with a vicious slash.
Dave barely had time to parry, his arm vibrating from the impact.
Follower’s strength was unreal, like the weight of several men pressing down on him at once.
Claire lunged at Follower, her left arm shifting into Aleor’s claw as she swung at him, aiming to tear through his chest.
He sidestepped, his movements impossibly swift, and retaliated with a precise strike to her side, the blade grazing her flesh with a flash of crimson.
-43,414!
Claire hissed in pain, retreating a few steps. “He’s stronger than he looks,” she muttered, clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers.
“Stay focused,” Dave replied, his voice grim.
He raised his sword once more, determined not to let their opponent overpower them.
Follower grinned, feeding off their fear and desperation.
His [Godless Demon’s Blessing] had pushed his abilities beyond human limits.
He raised his hand, dark energy swirling around him as he whispered another incantation.
DEMON’S GRASP!
In the next instant, he disappeared from sight, reappearing behind Claire and thrusting his sword toward her back.
Dave’s instincts kicked in, his [Reach] activating as he teleported beside her, intercepting the strike just in time.
The impact sent both of them skidding backward, but Follower didn’t let up.
He pressed forward, his strikes relentless and brutal, his eyes glazed with a fanatical hunger.
Claire transformed her legs into Aleor’s, kicking Follower back with a monstrous force.
ALEOR COMBO!
She followed up with a flurry of slashes, her limbs shifting between human and monstrous, her strikes erratic and unpredictable.
But Follower’s reflexes were razor-sharp. He dodged each blow with an almost supernatural ease, retaliating with a brutal slash that sent her sprawling.
“Claire!” Dave’s voice was strained, his own energy waning as he charged forward, summoning all his strength to launch a final assault.
STAR REACH… EXPLOSION!
His sword stretched to its maximum reach, a blur of steel and fury as he swung with every ounce of his power.
Follower merely smirked, raising his [Cross-Sword] to block. “Is that all?”
ATTACK NEGATION!
With one powerful swing, he shattered Dave’s attack, the force of the collision reverberating through the square.
Dave staggered, struggling to stay on his feet, his sword trembling in his grip.
“Die,” Follower whispered, his tone devoid of mercy.
With one swift motion, he plunged his sword through Dave’s chest, the blade gleaming with crimson light as it tore through flesh and bone.
DEMON DEVOURING!
“Adios,” Follower smiled.
His blade turned completely dark as he whispered his strongest perk.
And then…
BOOM!
-999,999!
Dave’s eyes widened, a gasp escaping his lips as he slumped forward, life slipping from his body.
Claire screamed, her form shifting completely into Aleor’s monstrous shape as she lunged at Follower, her claws slashing with a desperate fury.
But Follower was calm, his movements a blur, and with a calculated swing, he sliced through her, cutting her down with ruthless precision too.
As the blood pooled around his feet, Follower wiped his blade, a twisted satisfaction settling in his gaze.
He knelt before the massive doors of the Hollow Tower, bowing his head in a mockery of reverence.
“For you, my crimson lord,” he murmured, voice laced with devotion.
The Hollow Tower loomed above him, silent and unyielding, but to Follower, it was alive with the presence of the godless demon he served.
Two more fallen—two more steps closer to becoming an apostle.
With a cruel smile, he rose, turning his gaze toward the city, ready to continue his bloody path through Termina.
[8 participants left.]
[Global Announcement: Participant “Wielder” has been killed by “Follower.”]
[Global Announcement: Participant “Demon” has been killed by “Follower.”]
