The transition from the depths of the ocean to the dry, sterile air of my apartment was instantaneous and jarring. But the welcome home was anything but warm.
"S-Rank Arthur Tempest. You are under arrest for the attack on the 'Reaper' Guild and the annihilation of all members stationed at the Regional Branch Office," a man in a crisp, black tailored suit declared.
He stood at the center of a tactical formation, radiating the kind of stiff authority that only comes from a lifetime of enforcing the law. "Under the Ranker Management Law 5A: 'Rankers are not permitted to utilize their awakened powers to harm another Ranker outside the Towers for personal grievances, unless proven otherwise in a Ranker's Court'."
I blinked, the salt still stinging my eyes. I'd never bothered to read the fine print of the RMB's legal codes, but apparently, they'd been busy drafting laws while I was busy saving civilizations. I suppose it made sense, if every S-Rank settled their tea-time disputes with fireballs, there wouldn't be much of a city left. I just had to prove the 'Reaper' Guild was infested with {Demons}, but looking at the grim faces surrounding me, they weren't in the mood for a history lesson.
"[Activating 'Eyes of Gluttony' Lvl 6!]"
I scanned the room, and realised something as i looked at the Rankers. They weren't just standard soldiers; they were specialized in containing human 'Rankers' rather than 'Monsters'. But something was deeply wrong. Their Ranks were listed as A, yet their ages appeared as few months old. That was impossible. My gaze shifted to the man leading them, the country's 5th S-Rank, the famed "Judge of Evil," Officer Han. Perhaps if it was him then..?
"[Personal Information]"
- [Name: Johnathan Han]
- [Age: 45 | Gender: Male | Sex: Experienced]
- [Class: Support - Enchanter | Rank: S-Rank | Level: 42]
- [Stats: STR: 34 | AGI: 33 | VIT: 33 | HP: MAX | PER: 35 | Prana: 42]
- [Title: Judge of the Evil]
- [Exclusive Skills: 'The Soul Market', 'The Standing Court']
- [Skills: 'Iron Tongue' Lvl 7, 'Read the Room' (Passive) Lvl 7, 'Case File' Lvl 7, 'Suppress' Lvl 7, 'Reinforced' (Passive) Lvl 6, 'Deadlock' Lvl 7, 'First Inscription' (Passive) Lvl 8, 'Quick Script' Lvl 7, 'Deep Writing' Lvl 6, 'Inscription Recall' Lvl 6, 'Ego Transfer' Lvl 6]
- [Item: Star Relic 'Chains of the Ten Seals']
- [Anatomical Stats: 6.8 inches hard and thick veiny dick. Trimmed pubic hair and a virgin tight small pink asshole.]
[Copy Condition: You are caught under the webs of the famed 'Judge'. As an S-Rank 'Judge', he takes pride in his Skills a lot and in his ability to contain a Ranker. You will be able to copy one of his Exclusive Skills and one of his Skills if you can break away from him.]
I was right. The "officials" surrounding him weren't humans at all, they were the result of his [Ego Transfer] and [Inscription] Skills, likely constructs or puppets fueled by his own power. Almost like my 'Shadow Soldiers', but refined for bureaucracy. To get his Skills, I'd have to break his"Court" apart.
"Isn't it against the law to barge into a man's home like this?" I taunted, though I didn't resist as I held my hands out. Two of the constructs moved forward, snapping 'Anti-Energy Cuffs' onto my wrists. These were crafted from rare magic crystals designed to nullify all known mana and energy signatures.
"Anything you say will be heard only in the Court, Mr. Tempest," Han replied coldly.
"Officer Han... as much as I'd love to cooperate and clear my name, since I am innocent, I simply don't have the time for a trial when humanity is at risk," I said, my voice calm despite the cold iron on my skin.
"At risk? Do you take me for a fool?" Han countered, his eyes narrowing. "You yourself just cleared the 4th Floor and gave us seventy days. Do not overestimate yourself, Mr. Tempest. Even without you, we have plenty of other skilled Rankers to climb the Tower."
He was speaking from the perspective of a man who saw the Tower as a series of levels to be beaten. He didn't understand that a 'Level-Break' wasn't the only threat, or that the {Demons} had already bypassed the gates. He thought he had me neutralized, but he didn't know that 'Anti-Energy' was nothing to someone wielding 'Chaos'.
Officer Han signaled for his men to lead me out, but as the constructs reached for my shoulders, I let the 'Chaos' in me surge. The 'Anti-Energy' crystals shattered instantly, falling to the floor in useless shards.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Sanctuary of the Shadow'!]"
"[Arise]"
Black shadowy ink rose up from the floorboards. My 'Shadow Soldiers' surged upward, a wall of flickering darkness that violently shoved the RMB constructs back. The apartment transformed into a battlefield in a heartbeat. Officer Han didn't even flinch; as expected of an S-Rank, he moved with practiced grace, subduing the shadow that lunged for him with his chains in a simple flick of his wrist.
"S-Rank Arthur Tempest," Han declared, his green eyes glowing with a sharp, judgmental light. "This is your last and final warning. Do not resist, or I will be forced to use extreme measures."
He wasn't surprised by the shadows. He had spent his career hunting Rogue Rankers, and he clearly thought I was just another one who had lost his way.