Chapter 152: The Ruined Vaults

The lead enforcer stepped over the pool of smoking black sludge, his broadsword shaking slightly in his grip. The heavy scent of acidic venom and burnt ozone still hung thick in the narrow hallway.

’How did an Apprentice-level specimen collapse in seconds?’ the enforcer muttered, his eyes shifting from the dark stain on the marble floor to Kale’s unreadable face.

’It was an Apex-rank Abyssal Crimson Fiend,’ Kale replied, his voice cold and steady. ’The lower containment runes are failing across the entire fourth quadrant.’

Before the enforcer could respond, another deep tremor shuddered through the stone floor, far stronger than the first. A series of muffled explosions echoed from the deep stairwell, followed by the distant, chilling roars of multiple beasts waking from stasis.

Lazek Oberon emerged from the dust at the far end of the corridor, his dark grey cloak billowing behind him. The Fleshcraft Grandmaster carried a glowing silver rod, his face tight with rare, sharp tension.

’The central containment shaft in Sector 9 has completely ruptured, disciple,’ Lazek announced, his black eyes sweeping over the dissolving remains on the floor. ’This was no natural seal degradation.’

’Someone overloaded the runic anchors from the internal control room,’ Lazek added, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous register. ’Three ancient Apex specimens and a dozen Ravager chimaeras have breached the containment perimeter.’

Kale narrowed his green eyes, adjusting the headband over his hidden gold mesh seal. The timing of this subterranean sabotage was far too deliberate to be a mere coincidence.

’The High Council is deploying the senior enforcers to seal the upper gates,’ Lazek continued, looking directly at Kale. ’They intend to flood the lower vaults with toxic suppression gas to exterminate every escaped subject.’

Kale’s mind calculated the biological variables instantly. The stasis vaults contained preserved genetic samples from the early founding era, rare species that were now completely extinct on the surface of Nergal.

Allowing the Association to gas the lower vaults would destroy countless high-density cores and gene sequences that Neo needed for his future elemental evolution.

’I am descending into Sector 9 before the gas is deployed, Master,’ Kale stated, his tone carrying absolute conviction. ’I will secure the breach point directly.’

Lazek stared at his disciple for a long second, a dark, understanding smile slowly spreading across his pale face. ’You want the cores of those ancient specimens before the Grandmasters reduce them to ash.’

’A researcher cannot afford to waste pristine raw materials, Master,’ Kale replied flatly, his hand resting easily on the pommel of his twin daggers.

’Take four Peak Master enforcers with you,’ Lazek commanded, tossing a heavy brass keycard to Kale. ’The control room for Sector 9 requires dual Master credentials to override the gas valves manually.’

Kale caught the brass keycard, nodding once. He turned toward the lead enforcer and the three strongest warriors in the corridor, his green eyes flashing with an unyielding command.

’Form up behind me,’ Kale ordered, his voice carrying the natural authority of a Hexarion Human. ’We clear the stairwell and secure the lower control room before the main shaft collapses.’

The four enforcers offered no objections, completely cowed by the young master who had slain an Apex beast without taking a single step back. They drew their heavy weapons and fell into formation behind him.

Kale led the strike team down the spiral iron stairwell, descending into the dark, humid depths beneath the Fleshcraft Tower. The air grew progressively hotter, thick with the stench of ancient blood, decaying sap, and raw mana leakage.

Deep within the gloom of Sector 9, the iron walls were torn wide open, revealing the cavernous, stone vault chambers beyond. Broken runic pillars lay scattered across the floor, their protective enchantments completely dead.

On his shoulder, Neo shifted into a matte black chameleon state, its three heads arching high. All six golden eyes tracked the shadows in the vast vault with intense, predatory hunger.

A sudden, wet tearing sound echoed from the dark ceiling above. Two massive, multi-limbed predators dropped from the stone rafters, landing with heavy thuds on the iron walkway ten meters ahead.

They were Void Stalker Chimaeras, Peak Ravager rank horrors engineered with translucent skin, needle-like fangs, and long, whipping tails tipped with bone blades.

The enforcers raised their heavy shields, preparing for a defensive wall formation. But Kale did not wait for the beasts to organise their assault.

He channelled his Beast Force through his internal pathways, his Hexarion physiology elevating his physical speed to its absolute limit as green mana wreathed his legs.

He blurred into motion, diving beneath the first Stalker’s sweeping bone tail with surgical precision. He coated his daggers in a high-frequency, vibrating edge of pure mana, striking the beast’s knee joints as he passed.

’Neo, execute!’ Kale commanded through the shared bond.

The Nemesis Hydra shot off his shoulder like a black arrow. Midair, Neo activated its Partial Transformation Trait, expanding its jaws and unleashing a concentrated, low-frequency Rattling Roar directly into the second Stalker’s face.

The psychic shockwave paralysed the Void Stalker instantly, its translucent skin rippling wildly as its nervous system buckled under the monarchal pressure.

Neo’s three heads bit into the creature’s chest cavity simultaneously, its sharp jaws tearing out the glowing, dark purple core with savage strength.

The hydra swallowed the Peak Ravager core whole, its All Devour trait immediately digesting the dense, void-attributed mana.

Notifications flickered across Kale’s retina in rapid succession, logging the rapid absorption data.

[The Nemesis Hydra has devoured a Peak Ravager Void Stalker Core.]

[Darkness Affinity increased by 3%. Current Darkness Affinity: 88%.]

[Physical Agility and stealth perception increased.]

Kale brought his right dagger up, driving the vibrating blade straight through the first Stalker’s eye socket, ending its life before it could recover from his joint strike.

The four enforcers watched the twin kills in utter shock, their weapons half raised. The entire engagement had taken less than seven seconds.

’Clear the pathway to the central control room,’ Kale ordered, wiping the black fluid from his blade without taking his eyes off the dark vault corridor ahead.

From the deep, cavernous darkness of Sector 9, an even larger, more terrifying roar reverberated through the iron walls, making the floor shudder under their feet.

A giant, six-armed Apex-rank Obsidian Goliath emerged from the shadows, its volcanic stone body pulsing with ancient, uncorrupted fire essence that lit up the dark chamber.

Kale stared at the glowing stone core within the Goliath’s chest, a cold, dark smile touching his lips in the gloom.

The final piece needed to push Neo’s Fire Affinity to a complete 100% had finally presented itself.