novelzi Chapter 196 Arriving At Lab Theta-9
Chapter 196 Arriving At Lab Theta-9
One by one, the pen moved to each immobilized officer, repeating the process. Their defiance was meaningless under the weight of the artifacts' imposition and the absoluteness of the Soul Contract.
The room vibrated faintly with flux energy as the final name was scrawled onto the contract. The jade-green scroll rolled itself up, glowing brighter for a moment before fading into Linsley's waiting hand.
Aurielle's grin widened as she clapped mockingly. "Brilliant. Efficient. Ruthless. Just how I like it. I'm almost proud of you."
Linsley dismissed the hovering artifacts with a wave of his hand, the oppressive energy dissipating into the air.
The officers slumped as the immobilizing rules lifted, though their expressions remained a mix of resentment and helplessness.
Holding the sealed contract, Linsley's gaze swept over them, cold and unyielding. "You're mine now. Your loyalty is no longer to the Astral Dominion. It belongs to me."
Fleet General Wyrn's eyes burned with rage, but his inability to act was evident. The Soul Contract ensured absolute control over lives and freedom.
Aurielle pushed off the table, sauntering closer to Linsley. "You know, if you keep this up, you might actually start scaring me," she teased, though the glint in her eyes betrayed nothing but amusement.
Linsley glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I don't need your approval, Aurielle."
Her grin turned sharper, her violet eyes twinkling. "Oh, but you have it anyway. Watching you finally stop pretending to play nice? Absolutely priceless."
Turning back to the subdued officials, Linsley let his gaze linger on each of them. The weight of his actions settled heavily in the room, but his resolve was unwavering.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered, his voice low and resolute. "The Astral Dominion will soon be under my control. The only ones left are the Emperor and the imperial family, as well as..."
His eyes narrowed, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "...anyone else foolish enough to oppose me."
Aurielle stepped closer, her arms crossed as her sharp grin softened slightly into something almost contemplative. "The Emperor, huh? Ambitious. You're not just flipping tables anymore—you're aiming to burn the whole palace down."
Linsley glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "If the palace is rotten to the core, burning it down is the only option."
"And here I thought you'd have some grand justification for this," Aurielle teased, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "But no, you're just going full tyrant. I have to admit, it suits you."
Ignoring her jab, Linsley turned his focus back to the projections in the meeting room, which showed Lucy attempting to break through the security within Lab Theta-9.
The flickering screen displayed her slicing through reinforced barriers with calculated precision, her black halo glowing ominously as flux energy radiated from her movements.
The guards stationed at the lab were falling rapidly, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of a Level 9.8 Overlord.
"She's not wasting any time," Linsley muttered, his voice low but sharp.
His mind raced, weighing the options ahead. The lab's outer defenses were collapsing faster than expected. If she reached Ted, there would be no containing the fallout.
Aurielle's voice broke through his thoughts, light and teasing but laced with curiosity. "So, this Lucy... she seems important to you. Care to explain why?"
Aurielle chuckled softly. "Reckless? Me? Never."
With a casual stride, she followed him into the swirling gateway.
...
The portal deposited them directly outside the perimeter of Lab Theta-9. The scene was nothing short of chaos.
Swarms of beasts, their bodies radiating an unnatural dark flux, rampaged through the facility's defenses. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the sound of distant explosions.
Above it all, Lucy's presence loomed like a dark shadow.
She hovered in midair, her black wings spread wide and her crimson eyes glowing ominously. Each sweep of her dark lance sent shockwaves through the battlefield, tearing apart defenses and soldiers alike.
Aurielle whistled low, her expression finally betraying a hint of genuine awe. "Well, she's not pulling any punches, is she?"
Linsley's gaze remained fixed on Lucy, his jaw tightening as he surveyed the destruction. His mind raced, calculating his approach.
"We need to reach her before she gets to Ted," he said, his tone clipped.
Aurielle arched an eyebrow, her grin returning. "Oh, so now it's 'we'? I thought you were planning to handle this alone."
He shot her a glance, his voice colder than usual. "I don't have time for your games, Aurielle. Either help or stay out of my way."
"Relax, Linsley," she replied, her tone almost sing-song. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Linsley glanced at the restoration guns in his hands, their flux energy humming faintly. With a sharp exhale, he dismissed them, the weapons dissipating into motes of light.
"This requires a more direct approach," he muttered, his tone resolute.
He raised his right hand, and a black, mist-like aura swirled around it, growing denser with each passing second. The oppressive energy of his Annihilation gift pulsed through the battlefield, a tangible force that seemed to draw the air itself into silence.
Aurielle, observing the transformation, raised an eyebrow, her playful smirk returning briefly. "Switching to brute force, are we? How very unlike you, Lieutenant General."
Linsley didn't respond. With a sharp motion, he unleashed the annihilating energy forward, carving a path through the chaos.
Swarms of rampaging beasts dissolved into nothingness as the destructive flux disintegrated everything in its path, leaving only a pristine void where the terrain once stood, a clean trail leading directly toward the lab.
"Let's move," Linsley commanded, stepping forward with purpose.
Aurielle followed closely, her gaze flickering between the destruction and the distant figure of Lucy, who stood at the epicenter of the chaos.
The Astral Dominion's defenses were crumbling completely now, soldiers retreating or falling under the relentless assault of the beasts.