Xavier tightened his grip around the string of his bow, his knuckles whitening as he aimed his next shot. Meanwhile, Razer let out a gut-wrenching roar, a mixture of a screech and a hiss, before charging headfirst toward the Sinful Nun. The force of his impact sent the monstrous figure crashing into the cracked and crumbling wall, debris raining down upon them.
Seizing the opportunity, Xavier released several arrows in rapid succession. Two streaked toward the Sinful Nun's exposed legs, one embedding itself deep into her right knee. Another pierced her shoulder, and the last sank into her abdomen, though it grazed Razer's flesh in the process. The arrows' effects activated almost instantly, their magic flaring as the Sinful Nun let out a blood-curdling screech, [Critical!] its intensity shaking the walls.
The monster retaliated with alarming speed despite her injury, using her one good leg to deliver a vicious kick to Razer's torso, sending him skidding across the ruined floor. He wheezed, struggling to catch his breath, but he remained standing, if barely. Xavier clenched his jaw. Even with her damaged leg, her strength was overwhelming. He needed to weaken her further before executing his plan.
But hesitation crept into his mind. If he sent Razer in again, he knew it would be a death sentence. He recalled how, before entering the tower, his level-up to Level 2 had barely placed him on equal footing with this formidable foe. Without it, both he and Razer would have already met their end. His gaze flickered to his battered subordinate. Razer was barely holding himself together, his form trembling under the weight of his wounds.
Xavier swallowed his uncertainty and forced himself to focus. He had known the risks before stepping foot into this dungeon. He had known what it meant to challenge something beyond him. Steeling himself, he raised his bow once more and issued a firm command.
"Razer, attack. Now."
With a guttural hiss, Razer obeyed, launching forward with every ounce of his remaining strength. He collided with the Sinful Nun, driving her into the floor with a deafening crash. A shockwave burst outward from the impact, sending dust and debris flying through the air. A sharp crack echoed—Xavier could only hope it belonged to the enemy and not his ally.
Pinned beneath Razer's claws, the Sinful Nun writhed in agony, her ribcage caving slightly under the pressure. But even in her weakened state, she retaliated, thrusting her one remaining leg into Razer's stomach. A sickening crunch followed as his body shot upward, slamming into the ceiling with bone-shattering force.
Xavier wasted no time. Three arrows loosed from his bow, each striking true—one to the chest, one to the neck, and another to the stomach. The sheer impact sent the Sinful Nun skidding across the floor, her body convulsing as the magical effects from the arrows took hold.
[Critical!]
[Critical!]
[Critical!]
She lay there, twitching, momentarily incapacitated.
Xavier's breath came in short, rapid bursts. His head snapped upward, his heart pounding as he scanned the ceiling for Razer. He called his name once, twice—no response. A cold dread settled in his stomach.
Then, he straightened his posture, his expression darkening. His voice rang with authority, infused with something deeper, something commanding.
"Razer. Come to me."
A faint orange hue flickered around him as his words resonated with power. Moments later, the weakened ceiling above groaned and crumbled, and something heavy fell from its depths. Razer crashed to the ground before Xavier, kneeling with his head bowed. His body was ravaged, his breathing shallow, but he had obeyed. Xavier exhaled sharply, relieved. Razer was barely hanging on, but he was still alive.
Turning away, Xavier approached the trembling form of the Sinful Nun. Her once menacing presence had been reduced to that of a defeated beast. He stared down at her, knowing that if she had remained unrestrained, her strength would have torn through them both with ease. The effects of his arrows had weakened her enough—but his plan was not yet complete.
Raising his hand over the creature's body, Xavier's eyes darkened, his voice a whisper, yet filled with undeniable authority.
"Obey."
The system screen flashed before him, the Ruler's Supremacy skill activating in full force. The battle was not yet over—but the tides were about to shift in his favor.