Xavier took a steady breath, his voice firm as he uttered a single word: "Obey." The moment the command left his lips, the system activated *Ruler's Supremacy*.
[System Notification]
Ruler's Supremacy Activated
Attempting Subjugation...
Transparent chains materialized from thin air, wrapping themselves tightly around the Sinful Nun. They burned into her skin, unseen by the naked eye, yet their effect was undeniable. She writhed, groaning in agony, her body trembling as she fought against the invisible bonds. But her struggles were in vain. The chains burrowed deeper, not just into her flesh, but into her very soul. A final, guttural cry of defiance left her lips before her body stilled, shuddering in submission.
[System Notification]
Subjugation Successful!
You have gained a new subordinate!
Xavier let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Relief washed over him. He had feared he might need multiple attempts to subdue her, but luck—or perhaps strategy—had been on his side.
His gaze flickered to the Sinful Nun, whose body now pulsed with a faint white and red glow. The light intensified, forcing Xavier to shield his eyes from its brilliance. When it finally faded, he hesitantly looked again.
Before him, the Sinful Nun had transformed. Her once ragged, tattered robes were now pristine, tailored with a refined elegance. The black cloth covering her eyes remained, now etched with strange, glowing symbols. Her bloodstained hair had changed to a striking silver-white, and every wound, every sign of battle, had vanished.
Silently, she lowered herself to one knee, bowing her head in complete submission.
[System Notification]
Please assign a name to your new subordinate.
Xavier exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "So I have to name every one of them? This is going to get exhausting." He mused aloud but then chuckled. "Though... kinda fun too."
His thoughts drifted back to their battle, recalling the eerie yet oddly soothing hum she had made. It had been both haunting and tranquil, like a dark lullaby.
He glanced down at her. "Melody," he decided. "Your name will be Melody."
[System Notification]
Name assigned: Melody.
Level: 2
Rank: Squire
Skill: Body Enhancement Lv.1
Xavier's brows lifted in intrigue. Melody was level 2, the same as Razer. That explained her sheer strength and speed. But what truly caught his attention was her rank—*Squire.* It was different from Razer, who was ranked *Moderate.* Did this mean Melody was of a higher tier? A stronger class of subordinates?
His train of thought was interrupted by a low, menacing hiss. Xavier turned to see Razer glaring at Melody. The ghoul's posture was tense, his lips curled back in distaste. Meanwhile, Melody simply ignored him, keeping her eerie, unwavering focus on Xavier. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Does *Ruler's Supremacy* let them retain some of their personalities?" he wondered aloud.
Melody tilted her head at his words before slowly breaking into a smile—one that sent a shiver down Xavier's spine. Her jagged, monstrous teeth had transformed into something almost beautiful, pristine white and razor-sharp.
Xavier exhaled. "Yeah, let's move on."
As if on cue, the system pinged again.
[System Notification]
[Congratulations! You have cleared Floor 1 of the Tower. You may proceed to Floor 2.]
At the far end of the dimly lit corridor, a broken-down elevator suddenly whirred to life. Its flickering light and humming mechanisms confirmed its functionality—this was his way forward.
But before advancing, Xavier glanced at Razer, whose injuries had yet to fully heal. He pursed his lips, scanning through his inventory. His eyes landed on a piece of torn goblin flesh.
"Would this work?"
He pulled the chunk of meat from his inventory and tossed it to Razer. "Eat."
Razer caught it mid-air and tore into it hungrily. Xavier wrinkled his nose, trying not to gag at the sight. Surprisingly, Melody turned her head away as well, seemingly just as disgusted. Xavier arched a brow but said nothing.
As he watched, Razer's wounds began closing. Xavier smirked. 'So he really does heal by consuming flesh.'
After giving Razer a moment to recover, Xavier turned toward the elevator and stepped forward.
"Let's go," he called, not looking back.
Razer and Melody followed, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridor as they ascended to the next floor of the Tower.