The Celestial Player: Conquering the Tower of Gods

Chapter 17: The Shadow of the Tower

The cheers of the crowd still echoed from Jin's victory over Vincent Albrecht, but he had no time to celebrate.

Because now, the Rank #2 fighter had finally stepped forward.

A presence unlike any other filled the Arena of Kings, sending a shiver through the air.

Jin turned toward the towering figure descending from the VIP section, his eyes narrowing.

The man wore a flowing black cloak, his silver-white hair contrasting against his shadowed armor. A single sword rested on his back, its presence alone radiating power.

But what stood out the most was his mask—pure black with no visible eye holes.

And yet, Jin could feel his piercing gaze.

The system spoke.

> [Opponent Identified: ??? – Rank #2]

[Analyzing Data… ERROR.]

[No Records Found.]

Jin raised an eyebrow. What? Even the system can't read him?

The masked warrior finally spoke, his voice calm and emotionless.

"You fight well, but you have no understanding of what true power is."

Jin smirked. "Then come show me."

The system chimed.

> [Arena Battle Assigned: Jin Seol vs. ??? – Rank #2]

[Battle Begins in 5 Minutes.]

The crowd fell into a tense silence.

Aerin muttered from the stands. "Jin… I don't like this. Something about that guy is different."

Jin exhaled slowly. I can feel it too. He's not normal.

And then—the battle began.

---

Jin vs. The Unseen Phantom

The system's voice echoed.

> [Arena Battle Start!]

Jin immediately activated Lightning Step, vanishing from sight and reappearing behind his opponent.

But—the masked warrior didn't move.

Jin threw a devastating punch infused with Crimson Overdrive—

But his fist passed straight through his opponent.

Jin's eyes widened. What?

> [ERROR: No Contact Made.]

[Opponent's Presence Unreadable.]

And then—the masked warrior appeared behind Jin.

Before he could react, a cold whisper reached his ears.

"You're too slow."

BAM!

A devastating force slammed into Jin's back, sending him flying.

He crashed into the arena floor, skidding across the stone.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Aerin's eyes widened. "He hit Jin before he could even react?"

Jin coughed, forcing himself to his feet. His instincts screamed—this wasn't just speed. This was something else entirely.

The masked warrior slowly stepped forward. "You rely too much on what you can see. That is why you will lose."

Jin wiped the blood from his lip, grinning. "You talk too much."

And then—he charged again.

---

Fighting the Unseen

Jin unleashed a flurry of high-speed strikes, his fists moving faster than ever.

But every single one missed.

The masked warrior wasn't dodging. He simply wasn't there.

> [Opponent's Presence: Undefined.]

Jin grit his teeth. "What the hell are you?"

The warrior finally responded.

> [Skill Activated: Void Phantom]

An ability that erases the user's presence, making them untouchable for a short duration.

Jin's instincts screamed. He's not just fast. He exists outside normal perception.

And then—the masked warrior struck again.

BOOM!

Jin barely blocked, but the sheer force sent him staggering backward.

The masked warrior tilted his head. "You are adapting. Good. But not enough."

And then—he drew his sword.

The air grew colder.

Aerin tensed. "Jin, don't let him use that sword!"

Jin smirked. "Oh? Finally getting serious?"

And then, the masked warrior vanished completely.

Jin had no time to react.

> [Void Slash: First Form.]

SLASH!

A dark crescent of energy ripped through the air, cutting across Jin's chest.

Blood splattered onto the arena floor.

Jin gritted his teeth, staggering. That was too fast.

The masked warrior stood motionless, his sword now humming with unseen power.

"You cannot fight what you cannot touch."

Jin wiped the blood away. "Then I just have to touch you first."

And then—he closed his eyes.

---

Jin's Gamble

Aerin's eyes widened. "Jin, what are you—"

Jin took a deep breath.

> [Skill Activated: Predator's Instinct]

Sense all movements, even those outside of normal perception.

He could feel it now.

Not just sight.

Not just sound.

But presence.

The masked warrior moved again, vanishing from vision—

But Jin sensed it.

He twisted his body—and countered.

> [Skill Evolution: Predator's Instinct → Void Hunter]

Allows the user to perceive and strike even against those erased from reality.

Jin's fist crashed into the masked warrior's chest—

BOOOOM!

For the first time, his opponent staggered.

The crowd exploded in shock.

The masked warrior remained still for a moment. Then, he let out a soft chuckle.

"…Interesting."

He slowly removed his mask.

And for the first time, Jin saw his face.

A young man with piercing violet eyes, his gaze colder than ice.

> [Opponent Identified: Xenos – Rank #2, Phantom of the Tower]

Xenos smiled faintly. "Now… you're worth fighting seriously."

Jin smirked. "Let's go, then."

The real battle was about to begin.

> [Phase One Progress: 20% Complete.]

---

End of Chapter 17