Chương 327: Chapter 319: Got him by the balls

Jasmine climbed the stairs behind Cassandre. Unlike the rest of the tower, the final ten floors lacked elevators. Staff and visitors had to climb on foot, while Dal Cal could zip around using his personal Concept road—a subtle way of reminding everyone who was in charge. The assassin's sharp eyes caught the neon-green channel running the length of the ceiling in the sprawling penthouse. A knockoff of the Guild's umbral highway, no doubt. Poison? Drugs? Sadism? Who could say what twisted Concept powered it?

Either way, Jasmine's shadows couldn't infiltrate here. Only the Baron could use this path to move swiftly—or escape. Priam's job was to destroy the Concept road the moment Jasmine started the fight. With no way out and a wound from Jasmine's initial strike, the Tier 3 would be forced to fight at a disadvantage. Together, the two Champions would bring him down, with Priam delivering the final blow. The plan was straightforward but hinged on Jasmine getting close enough to land a devastating first strike.

To avoid rousing suspicion, Priam had stayed back while the two women ventured deeper into the lion's den.

"This is it," Cassandre said, her voice tight as she placed a trembling hand on the doorknob. Jasmine sighed inwardly. Where was the fierce, proud woman who had been her partner for a decade? Less than a month on Dal Cal's leash, and drugs had broken her. Malnourishment and dehydration had carved lines into her face, and every tremor betrayed her addiction. If she didn't get a fix soon, she might die. Dal Cal had forged a leash stronger than steel.

"Whenever you're ready," Jasmine said, projecting confidence. After a shaky breath, Cassandre pushed open the door, revealing a chaotic suite. The stench of tobacco, drugs, and sex assaulted Jasmine as she stepped inside. Six armed guards awaited them, one stepping forward with a lecherous smirk.

"We need to search you."

"Do we look dangerous, Karlo?" tried Cassandra.

"Two bombshells like you deserve a lot of attention," the creep replied. Cassandre rolled her eyes and spread her arms. Jasmine hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. Just weeks ago, she wouldn't have thought twice—this was part of the job. Now, as wandering hands roamed her body, her mind snarled in defiance. Who were these weaklings to touch her? In her dreams, it was Priam's hands that caressed her, stirring both desire and pride. Once, she had considered her body merely a tool.

Now, she yearned to love herself, to be loved in return. The guard mistook her stillness for fear and took the opportunity to grope her behind. Jasmine leaned forward slightly, drawing his gaze to her deep cleavage. He bent closer, only to freeze when he felt the cold of a shadow blade against his throat.

"I think that's enough," she murmured, her voice deadly calm. The guard gulped.

"Welcome. The Baron's waiting…" He stepped aside, letting the women enter the main apartment. It was like every wealthy home Jasmine had visited—tastefully decorated by people who didn't live there. Cassandre led her through a den of debauchery. Naked bodies littered the floor among shattered screens, sex toys, and powders in every hue. A quartet of blindfolded musicians played a soft tune in one corner.

The display of depravity continued, but Jasmine's harsh upbringing had long since desensitized her to such sights.

"An orgy to celebrate his nomination as leader of the Barons?" she asked.

"Not really, it's like that every night," Cassandre replied, crouching to pocket a pouch of cyan powder. She avoided Jasmine's gaze as she stood and continued walking. Jasmine clenched her teeth, recognizing the pouch's contents as shal'quicine. The drug turned its users into puppets. Lost in a pleasant dream, their mind relinquished control of their body, leaving them to obey any command. Dal Cal supplied it to most of his prostitutes. Highly addictive, withdrawal was a grueling ordeal.

The rest of the walk passed in silence, Jasmine imagining all the ways she could make Dal Cal pay for what he had done to her friend and this city. Once it was done… With the System, there must be a way to help her. Maybe Osiris can reboot her brain. Her friend stopped before a heavy purple curtain, snapping Jasmine out of her thoughts.

"He's waiting in there," Cassandre said.

"Do… do you want me to stay?" The offer clearly cost Cassandre, and Jasmine's heart swelled with pride.

"No need. I won't be trapped in there with him—he'll be trapped in there with me," Jasmine said with a predatory smile.

"You've always been a fighter," Cassandre replied, hugging her briefly before turning to leave. Now alone, the Champion centered herself, shedding fear, joy, and anticipation. Emotions had no place in an assassination. This was a job, and she was a professional. The shadows rippled and flowed over her skin, forming a delicate Venetian mask. It didn't hide her identity but added an air of mystery while emphasizing the depth of her eyes. Clad in all her finery, the Shadow stepped through the curtain.

The room beyond was dimly lit, hazy with green smoke. The sole piece of furniture was an enormous bed—a throne for debauchery. A nude man lounged against a pile of pillows, idly stroking the bruised body of a sleeping woman who had clearly endured rough treatment. From her faint smile, it wasn't impossible she had consented. The Baron's heavy lids lifted as he noticed Jasmine, and a slow grin spread across his face.

"The Mistress of Shadows herself… Cassandre said you were here to propose an alliance."

"A leader and a Champion to guide our people. A match made in heaven," Jasmine replied smoothly.

"If you've got what it takes to stand by my side." Ugo Dal Cal laughed, shoving the unconscious woman off the bed without a second thought. Her body tumbled to the floor, without waking her.

"Come closer, then," he said arrogantly, "and let me convince you." What kind of idiot invites an assassin to approach him? In Jasmine's experience, men fell into two categories. Those who devalued themselves, putting women on a pedestal, and fools who believed themselves irresistible. The pride of the latter often led to their downfall. Jasmine smiled and, drawing inspiration from the lithe grace of a street cat, rolled her hips toward the bed and climbed onto it.

Crawling on all fours, she leaned forward, offering the enemy a tantalizing view of her ample cleavage. Her right hand slid up the Baron's leg, starting at his foot and creeping higher with deliberate slowness. With her left hand, she began to loosen the side of her dress, the fabric parting to reveal a thong so dark it captured the Baron's attention.

"A shadow that hides only the view," she murmured, moving closer. [Homo Elysian Predation].

"I want to see," the Baron growled, succumbing to his basest instincts. His heart raced, sending blood rushing to his private parts.

"As you wish," Jasmine purred. Her right hand reached the Baron's groin and gripped the monster by his testicles, holding him in place. With her other hand, she gathered the shadowy material of her lingerie into her palm and rose slightly. Her loosened dress parted further, revealing her flawless body. The Baron, mesmerized by the glorious sight, failed to notice the subtle shift in her posture or her raised arm. In Jasmine's hand, the shadowy thong transformed into a blade.

[A Shadow of Their Former Self], [Apex Huntress's Eye], Death Aura, Dagger Mastery! The Juggernaut's Shadow struck with precision, her arm descending like the executioner's axe. Augmented by her most powerful abilities, the weapon pierced the Baron's temple with a sickening crunch. Jasmine leapt back, shadows swirling around her in a defensive cocoon as she prepared for retaliation. The first blood was hers, but she still needed to stall Dal Cal until Priam arrived to finish the job.

To this end, her add-on sent her boss a signal. A trickle of black fluid seeped from the corners of the Baron's lips before his body went limp.

"... Really?" Completed Quest: Proxima - Domination A territorial war pits humans, Arkanians, and Empyreans against each other. You have eliminated an enemy leader. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Congratulations! From beginning to end, you had him by the balls! Your race is in conflict with your Title [Champion of the Arkanians]... Priority established. Reward: Teleportation of one million Arkanians to Proxima.

Reward (Last Hit): A̶c̶q̶u̶i̶s̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶a̶r̶g̶e̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶r̶a̶c̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶T̶a̶l̶e̶n̶t̶(̶s̶)̶. Deeper understanding of associated Talent (Homo Elysian Predation). Jasmine let out a low growl as she finished reading the notification. Approaching the corpse, she collected a drop of blood on her finger and licked it.

"Drugged?" she muttered, frowning. Dal Cal had many flaws, but he wasn't stupid enough to sample his own merchandise. It had to be a setup.

"Fuck!" she cursed before melding into the shadows. Cassandre hurried down the stairs as fast as her legs would carry her. Bursting through the final door, she spotted Priam sitting before a glass wall overlooking the city. She let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

"Priam?" she called uncertainly. Her boss had assured her that the contact poison she had applied to her hands was potent enough to kill a Tier 3, but she wasn't about to underestimate a man repeatedly lauded by the System.

"… Yeah?" the young man replied, his voice groggy. Cassandre swore under her breath. The poison should have killed him outright, yet he only seemed dazed. She approached quickly, studying his dilated pupils before summoning a shadow blade to finish the job herself. Her weapon shattered against his skin, shards embedding themselves in the marble floor. Fuck, I hate tanks. What could she do? She didn't have time to go get a drill! Cassandre's pulse quickened.

In moments, Jasmine would eliminate the Baron, summoning a million Arkanians, then rush to Priam's side. Staying meant death, but fleeing without killing Priam would ensure her boss's wrath—a death sentence in itself. Hesitating only briefly, she pulled a pouch of cyan powder from her pocket, dissolving it into a vial of water. Scanning his body for a visible vein, she cursed again, recalling the hardness of his skin.

"Drink this," she barked, thrusting the concoction toward him. With this dose, an overdose was inevitable, even orally. The young man weakly extended a hand, as feeble as a newborn's, and took the vial. Proxima Announcement: Congratulations to Jasmine Kaldwin for slaying the arkanian Leader! Ugo Dal Sal, the Crime Lord, has passed away. Teleportation of one million arkanians to Proxima.

"Oh."

"Oh," Priam echoed. A searing light burst from his eyes, and Cassandre caught the acrid scent of burning fat. In the next instant, his pupils normalized, and he raised the vial to his nose, sniffing deeply.

"Cherry flavor?"

"You—the neurotoxin should've fried your brain!" Cassandre stammered, stumbling backward.

"It did. I just purged it with fire. Thanks for the [Poison Body] levels, by the way." Cassandre's thoughts spiraled as she recalled her orders: kill Priam Azura, first among the Champions. A monster who made Tier 3s quake in fear.

"This is too much…"

"That's what she said. Sorry, couldn't resist. But you're right, it is a lot," he said, glancing behind her. Cassandre turned. In the cyberpunk city, a million portals had opened, disgorging a tide of Arkanians. Before the newcomers could find their footing, colossal forms pierced the clouds—winged titans diving to feast on the helpless. The assassin gaped at the spectacle of gigafauna, creatures that typically patrolled between continents.

Revived by some unholy power, the monsters attacked the city, leaving behind corpses that were already beginning to rise.

"The apocalypse…"

"Meh. I haven't even started my Tribulations yet… Though I'd really like to know why the spawn of the Necromoon is present on Proxima." Priam now stood beside her.

"Are you going to kill me?" Cassandre asked, her voice imploring, clinging to a slim hope. He was male, and though Jasmine was undoubtedly more beautiful, few powerful men settled for just one woman.

"I already did," her own shadow replied. Cassandre barely registered the words before her head hit the ground. As her soul was about to embark on its great journey, a non-System screen appeared. The Necromoon sees your soul, Tears it from the cursed Seven, Rise anew… Seek the Demiurge Father and the Revolutionary Son. Find the Depths. Before Cassandre could comprehend her new reality, a blaze of fire consumed her. A terrible force devoured her soul, reducing it to ash.

"I prefer for my enemies to remain dead," said Priam. Lvl Up: [Poison Body] lvl 30, 31 CONST +2 VIT +2 META (Endurance) +2 Status: PHYSICAL: Strength 893 Constitution 1 434 (+3) Agility 1 194 Vitality 1 326 (+4) Perception 864 MENTAL: Vivacity (D) 599 Dexterity 758 Memory 902 Willpower 1 015 Charisma 680 META: Meta-affinity 1 016 Meta-focus 568 Meta-endurance 935 (+3) Meta-perception 541 Meta-chance 616 Meta-authority 453 Potential: 27 674 (+4) Tier 0 Sun points: 1 143 444 [He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF.

Reloaded in 0 hour 17 minutes 14 seconds.

Concepts: Breath (T0): 100% / Harmony Fire (T0): 100% / Unity Pyro (T1): 100% / Half-step Unity Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony Bloodlines: Phoenix: 3% Dragon: 1% Rewards standing: Fusion Token - Skill (Epic) Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary) Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%) Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror) Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph) Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic) Colosseum VIP Token Reborn Token - Reset biological lifespan (Legendary) Minor skill Epiphany High Tribulation essence (Soul Tailored - Sumstreh's half core) Seed of Potential Trophy Compass [Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until: Time: 132 days 0 hour 46 minutes 27 seconds. Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 3 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 500 Next arc already complete on Patreon if you want to find out what happens next! https: //www. patreon. com/ANovelConcept