Tower of Paradise

—And you? —Susan counterattacked—. Haven't you just condemned all those children to death? The girl you love so much?

The mention of Cassie made something change in my expression. My fist, wrapped in crackling electricity, pierced through the chest of the remaining figure, turning it into a reddish mist that dispersed in the night air.

As Susan clapped slowly, I noticed an unsettling smile drawing on her lips.

—There it is. The real Emilia. The one who doesn't hesitate to kill when necessary.

—You're wrong, Susan —I said softly—. I haven't condemned them to death. I've given them a chance to live.

—Live?

Susan let out an empty laugh.

—In this world? Without the protection of the Rulers?

—I saw how they raised you, Susan. I know what they made you believe. But even you must see that what we do here is wrong.

We stared at each other for a moment before simultaneously disappearing. Our legs met in the air with devastating force. The impact generated a shock wave that cracked the ground beneath us. I took advantage of the moment to press down Susan's leg, but she spun in the air like a dancer, her foot cutting through the air where my head had been an instant before.

—The Rulers gave you everything

Susan growled as we exchanged blows at dizzying speed.

—They gave you purpose, power, respect.

—They gave me chains

I blocked a kick that made me retreat several meters.

—And they turned me into a monster who sent children to their death.

With agile movements, we both took distance while evaluating each other.

—And what will you do now? Do you think you can erase all these years of service with one act of rebellion?

I caught her fist, making electricity crackle between my fingers.

—I'm not seeking redemption, Susan. I just seek to do the right thing for once.

The ground beneath me suddenly broke and I reappeared right in front of Susan.

She stepped back, dodging my fist. But just when she had dodged it, she heard a sound similar to paper coming from her right side.

Burst-

Before realizing it, Susan felt a tremendous force hit the right side of her face as her head fell to the ground.

Whistle-

Before her mind could even understand what was happening, a similar sound rang above her head and she turned around.

From the corner of her eye, Susan saw my fist crash into the arid earth, shattering it.

Before she could continue, with both hands behind her back, Susan flexed her torso and jumped. Then, turning her heel, she kicked toward my head.

Burst-

But just as her foot was about to land on my head, raising my left hand, Susan felt a powerful grip taking hold of her shin.

As she raised her head, her eyes met mine and everything suddenly stopped.

—Is this all?

I asked, disappointment drawing on my face while increasing my grip.

—Ukh

Susan let out a groan of pain. Clenching her teeth, a red tone suddenly sprouted from her body.

Jumping with her other leg, she turned her body and kicked toward the other side of my face.

Her movement was so smooth and fast that it left residual images behind.

Burst-

But, just like before, I grabbed her other leg, surprising her.

—How?

She asked confused.

Grabbing both of Susan's legs, I looked at her coldly.

—With this you want to stop me.

Then, releasing her feet, I raised mine and kicked her right in the middle of the chest with the sole of my foot.

Burst-

Like a broken kite, her body flew to the other side of the desert area, crashing against a rock wall.@@novelbin@@

—Cough... cough...

Susan coughed several times, and I could notice a sweet sensation in her gaze while she observed me.

Although she still hadn't given her best, it was evident that she noticed I was extremely strong at this moment.

She quickly stood up, shortening the distance between us at a spine-chilling speed.

In an instant, her kick was already heading to my stomach. I stepped back, dodging the blow that split the air, when Susan raised her leg now launching a high kick that grazed my jaw while I continued retreating.

When her left arm moved swiftly, I raised my own arm to block the horizontal blow that was approaching my face. In an instant, Susan turned while I deflected the incoming fist with my right palm in a quick movement.

I tried to get closer but she quickly retreated. Still, I counterattacked with my left fist which Susan dodged while retreating, followed by a right punch that she blocked by raising her arm while deflecting my blow.

Susan tilted her head back when my palm passed grazing her head. She dodged my quick and precise blows that went from left to right. However, a high kick to her ribs was all I needed to send her flying doing somersaults in the air.

I was aware that the high combat power of the parasite cult was due to the strengthening effect of a parasitic worm they carried in their bodies.

The worm could not only grant different abilities when fully developed but had the capacity to influence the behavior of its hosts.

In synthesis, they could subtly control their minds through hive thought, letting themselves be carried by the will of the Parasites, without questioning or critically evaluating their ideas or decisions as if the person had no conscience or intelligence of their own.

Without saying a word, I saw how Susan took out a black orb the size of a marble that had engraved in a crimson tone the silhouette of a horned beast.

I narrowed my eyes, taking only a moment to realize what it was when my face suddenly hardened. Unfortunately, that was enough time for Susan to be able to embed it in her mouth and chew it.

My body trembled upon realizing it was too late, it was beyond my imagination that Susan had such an object, it wasn't possible. Sweat dripped from my forehead, while black smoke came out of Susan's body.

That was a Resonance Pill: an object that momentarily converted humans into Parasites through parasitic worms by means of resonance. That was the trump card of only a select group of the Parasite cult, it was unheard of that Susan had one.

While thinking, I observed how Susan took the form of a tall woman with gray skin, long limbs, and long, silky jet-black hair. She had a narrow face with sunken eyes, wrinkles in the upper half of her face, and a permanent red smile that exposed her large teeth. A black armor with many pointed features adorned her body. The chest plate was completely black, except for a small internal arrow-shaped protrusion on both sides near her stomach.

The plate was lined with several spikes that went from top to bottom. The multi-layered shoulder pads connected to the chest plate and featured several pyramid-shaped spikes that protruded outward. Around her neck was a large spiked collar, matching that found around the chest plate, but much larger. A lighter colored metal covered the upper part of her arms before connecting to the black shoulder pads. The shoulder pads featured two metal straps and two pointed protrusions near the elbows. At her waist, there was a multi-layered spiked skirt that ended in the spikes found on the shoulder pads. Around her waist was a simple belt with bands.

A frightful presence radiated from her entire body as she moved. I clicked my tongue in amazement as the world slowed down around me. My entire body was covered by a powerful golden aura, maximizing my senses.

Frankly speaking, my chances of survival were null. There was an overwhelming difference in our respective physical capabilities. And there was no way I could triumph over an enemy who for a moment had become a Parasite.