Evolution of the Ruined Heir

Chapter 341: Plan

A man made his way through a grand hallway, deep in thought.

He was a small man, but with a shrewd glint in his blazing orange eyes. His hair was spiky, also orange, and he carried himself with the gait of an elite.

It was none other than Nesroth Aldrenari. Images of the ruined city of Sylvastein flashed in his mind, and he attempted to stop his body from trembling.

But it wasn’t the chaos of that night that made him nervous, no, it was who he was going to see.

’A petal.’ The thought made Nesroth shiver with fear and excitement. To think he was going to meet one of the five petals of the dark lotus…

’I must not forget anything.’ Nesroth reminded himself. Not even Beatrix made him feel this way. Though, he’d always thought the woman nothing more than a pawn.

An ant that thought it could challenge a dragon.

’An idiot.’ Nesroth thought.

The events of Sylvastein had only occurred just last night, and the entire west was still reeling from it. The city of Sylvastein had almost gone extinct. The shock that went through the people could not be imagined.

Yet, Nesroth was a bit relieved. He had found his chance to escape when the vita veil had suddenly been broken. Without even looking back, he fled Sylvastein using an Equilador, as fast as he could.

Now, he had made it to Ironhold. But minutes after his arrival, he had been found and summoned by a petal of the black lotus. Shocked, Nesroth had immediately answered the summons.

The black lotus were an organization older than even the Maugrim. Their main purpose was the destruction of the dome, and the descent of the darkness.

And a petal was one of the pillars of the black lotus, a figure of authority. He couldn’t afford to waste any time.

Nesroth prepared his mind as he reached the end of the hall, where a large double door awaited.

’Be calm.’ He reminded himself before pushing the door open.

A wave of force hit him, sending him stumbling back. Then, Nesroth felt the chill grip him. The feeling of death.

’Darkness creature.’ He realized.

Nesroth gulped. He steadied his heartbeats and entered the room, trying hard not to flinch when the door closed with a bam behind him.

In a large room, Nesroth spotted two figures. The first was an awkward woman kneeling. His attention was stolen by the antlers that jutted from her head, seemingly about to pierce the sky, along with other beastly features.

’A Gor’Mekhai.’ He thought with narrowed eyes, thoughts already spinning. But a cold voice snapped him out of his daze.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

Nesroth felt the chill intensify, and he turned to the second figure.

Crimson hair, imposing presence. And flushed black eyes that seemed to pierce his soul.

’It’s the first pulse.’ Nesroth’s eyes widened without even realizing. He had always considered himself shrewd, and that nothing could possibly catch him off guard. However, this was just far too insane.

Who would have thought that a petal, one of the pillars of an organization that wanted the end of humanity, would be the first child of the giant of the west?

Nesroth quickly caught himself, realizing that he’d just been standing. He approached, kneeling just beside the Gor’Mekhai. The latter didn’t react to his entrance, she just knelt, still, eyes lost.

“Do you know who I am?” The first pulse, Drennos’ voice sounded like numerous overlapping voices saying the same thing.

“Yes, first puls—”

A mountain-like weight, and Nesroth found himself slamming against the ground. He struggled, but he could not move.

“Do you know who I am?” The voice slithered once more.

Nesroth, eyes wide, finally realized his error.

“A petal.”

“Good.”

The pressure lifted, and Nesroth shakily rose, still kneeling. His breaths were ragged.

“Relay your mission in Sylvastein to me. Don’t leave out anything.”

Nesroth swallowed and began speaking.

His mission, as the black lotus had said, had been to get close enough with the fourth pulse to be included in her operations. More importantly, her experiments.

She had been searching for a way to give one person multiple abilities. But so far, her experiments had been unsuccessful.

However, after Nesroth successfully got in her good graces, he had been included. With orders from the lotus, he had replaced her scientists with people from the black lotus. Beatrix hadn’t cared, especially when she saw the result. Her hard work was bearing fruits, at last.

“The mission was going well, until last night. I’m not sure what happened to Sylvastein, but there’s a possibility that all is lost.”

“Nothing is lost.” Drennos suddenly said, a cruel smile on his lips. “All went according to plan.”

Nesroth narrowed his eyes. ’Plan? Don’t tell me…’

His eyes widened as he began to realize.

“You planned for the grade fours to spawn and destroy the city…”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Nesroth spouted. He couldn’t imagine why the lotus would destroy all their work. Then as though suddenly realizing what he had just done, he bowed.

“I’m sorry—”

“It’s fine.” Drennos waved, unfazed. “I can understand confusion.”

’He’s different.’ Nesroth had never met the first pulse before, but he’d heard rumors. He was cold, rigid, and never the type that would allow any hint of disrespect, even if it was a slip up.

’It’s not him.’ His eyes flashed with the image of Drennos he’d seen before. His eyes had turned pitch black, and there were countless dark veins snaking across his face.

’He’s been possessed… by a darkness creature.’ He realized.

“Our purpose is more simple than you realize. The Sanguine Catacombs.” Drennos said, leaning in. “Do you know what that is?”

Nesroth’s brows furrowed in thought. The Sanguine Catacombs… it was the first time he’d heard it.

Drennos nodded, as though expecting it.

“Tell me… humanity struggles for survival within a dome where any death spells the spawn of darkness. Of my brethren. The more powerful the person, the stronger the darkness creature. In such a world, how do you deal with a being that stands at the peak of the power ladder… one who has reached the end of his lifetime?”

Nesroth’s eyes widened. Now he understood what Drennos was trying to say. Humans would eventually die, no matter how much power they gained. It only postponed the inevitable. Even a Zenith wasn’t excused from this.

And the question remained: when a Zenith, the peak of humanity, reached the end of their lifetime, how would humanity deal with it?

A grade four was calamity enough. But a grade five… that was extinction.

“They put them to sleep,” Nesroth finally said. His voice was low, almost reluctant.

Drennos smiled, satisfied.

“That’s right. And where would they keep them?”

Nesroth’s eyes tore open, his throat tightening.

“The Sanguine Catacombs,” he muttered, suddenly swallowing hard. Now he got the full picture.

They’re after the slumbering Zenith… His body shuddered at the thought. A grade five…

“You’re keeping up.” Drennos praised, his tone mocking, as though acknowledging a puppy that had finally learned a trick.

He leaned back, eyes gleaming.

“Your mission is only a part of the elaborate plan. The destruction of Sylvastein is another thread in the weave.”

Nesroth’s confusion deepened, and Drennos could see it clearly.

“The Catacombs,” Drennos continued, voice dropping like a weight, “are also where the Sanguine keep their prisoners.”

Nesroth’s eyes almost burst from his sockets. Now he had seen everything, the full, terrifying picture.

First was his mission. With the success of her experiments, the fourth pulse, Beatrix, had forced almost every single one of her subordinates to go through the experiment.

If not because of his high status, he too would have been forced. Even Beatrix herself had gone through one or two refinements.

However, this wasn’t his focus.

’They’re going to use them to infiltrate the catacombs.’

The fourth pulse was responsible for the destruction of Sylvastein. The main cause.

If by some luck, they somehow survived the event, they would never see the light of day. If the sovereign didn’t blatantly kill them, they would most probably get imprisoned for life. Imprisoned, in the catacombs.

’They planned everything.’ Nesroth shuddered at the thought. He suddenly glanced at the Gor’Mekhai beside him.

“Ah yes. She also works for the lotus. She was responsible for the destruction of the city. Exchange greetings, you might be working together in the future.”

Nesroth nodded. “Nesroth.”

The Gor’Mekhai turned towards him, staring. “Grath’Mekhai.” She said, tone devoid of any emotion. Like a robot.

Nesroth didn’t think much of it. His attention was on another thing.

“Why… why have I been summoned.”

A smile appeared on Drennos’ face, as though he had been expecting that question.

“We have a new purpose for you.”

’A new mission.’ Nesroth clenched his fist. He couldn’t decide if he was happy or sad.

“Yes. You are to go to the city of blood, disguised. There’s someone we need monitored at all costs. No matter what it takes.”

Nesroth swallowed.

“Who?” He asked.

A pause, and then the pressure spiked, killing intent spilling from Drennos.

“Malakai Von Sanguine.”

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