Chapter 154: The Flame Core [2]

Kale read the notifications with a sharp, satisfied smile. The final piece of the fire element was anchored, pushing Neo’s fire affinity to absolute perfection without a single genetic rejection cascade.

The four Peak Master enforcers walked forward in utter disbelief, staring at the pile of shattered grey rocks on the floor. They looked at the green-haired young master with profound reverence, unable to fathom how an Apprentice-level tamer could destroy an Apex beast so cleanly.

’Clear the remaining rubble.’

’We secure the control room now.’

The team moved swiftly down the ruined walkway, reaching the heavy iron door of the Sector 9 central control room. The protective runic arrays on the entrance were completely fried, showing clear signs of intentional mana overload rather than natural wear.

Kale stepped inside the control room, the brass keycard in his hand humming as he approached the main console. The room was filled with complex copper gears, crystal display tubes, and massive brass valves that regulated the toxic gas distribution across the lower vaults.

Upon inspecting the central control array, Kale’s green eyes narrowed into cold, calculating slits. The dual Master locks required to override the gas valves had been forcefully jammed using a specialised artificer corrosion paste.

Beside the melted locks lay a discarded silver badge, bearing the intricate crest of the capital’s High Council. This was not the work of church paladins or wild beasts; it was internal sabotage carried out by a high-ranking Association member.

The discovery confirmed his worst suspicions regarding the political decay within the capital’s governing bodies. Someone among the senior grandmasters was actively manipulating the subterranean containment systems to manufacture artificial crises.

Kale retrieved his surgical tools and used his unified Trinity Crafting skill to analyse the corrosion paste’s chemical composition. The formula matched the exact alchemical signature used by House Morrow’s private research laboratories.

’Someone in the High Council intentionally triggered the subterranean breach to force the destruction of Sector 9.’

His voice carried no surprise, only the cold analysis of a researcher uncovering a hidden variable. He carefully stored the silver badge in his spatial storage as material evidence for the future.

Kale used his daggers to scrape away the reactive paste, pouring a stream of his refined mana into the copper valves. His Hexarion physiology allowed him to bypass the damaged brass array, manually resetting the internal gear alignment with his mana.

The central console hummed back to life, its crystal tubes glowing with a steady blue light as the gas valve override was successfully executed. He cancelled the automatic purge sequence, preserving the ancient stasis vaults and their rare genetic samples for future research.

The heavy brass gears inside the central mechanism turned with a satisfying click, sealing off the distribution pipes. The faint hiss of escaping suppression gas ceased immediately, leaving the ambient air in the control room clear and stable.

The lead enforcer stepped into the control room and offered a deep bow to the standing young master.

’The breach points in quadrant four have been fully sealed, Master Kale.’

’Good.’

’Report to Grandmaster Lazek that Sector 9 is secure.’

The four enforcers bowed their heads in formal acknowledgement and departed through the iron doorway to carry out their orders. They moved with newfound speed, eager to report the total resolution of the subterranean crisis to the High Council.

Kale walked out of the control room, his grey headband firmly covering his hidden gold mesh seal. Neo rested comfortably on his shoulder, its consolidated Flame Core pulsing in perfect harmony with its master’s heartbeat.

He walked down the quiet iron walkway, his eyes scanning the ancient stone walls of Sector 9. The preserved stasis chambers lined the deep corridors, holding preserved genetic material from extinct species that had walked the world millennia ago.

These genetic samples represented an invaluable goldmine for the next phases of his Elemental Resonance Project. With his Master credentials established and the gas purge prevented, he could return to these vaults at his leisure to extract rare DNA sequences.

He reached the spiral stairwell leading back to the upper research sector, his steps quiet on the stone. The cool air blowing down from the fourth floor carried the familiar scent of old paper and alchemical reagents.

Grandmaster Lazek Oberon stood waiting at the top of the stairwell, his grey cloak draped neatly over his shoulders. His dark eyes scanned Kale from head to toe, noting no severe injuries.

’Sector 9 is fully stabilised, Master.’

’The gas valves have been overridden, and the breach points are locked.’

Lazek offered a short, approving nod, taking a slow puff from his curved smoking pipe.

’You executed the mission with exceptional efficiency, disciple.’

’The High Council will have a difficult time explaining the sudden failure of their containment protocols.’

’They left clear evidence behind,’ Kale added flatly, his tone devoid of anger.

’House Morrow’s corrosion paste was used to jam the central valves.’

Lazek let out a short, cold laugh, blowing a ring of grey smoke toward the ceiling.

’Dorn Morrow grows careless in his desperation to reclaim political leverage.’

’We shall use this evidence at the opportune moment to solidify your position.’

They walked together down the quiet marble hallway toward the fourth-floor research sector. The Association guards stationed along the corridors bowed respectfully as the two Fleshcrafters passed by.

Kale unlocked the heavy steel door of his private laboratory, the protective runic arrays flaring softly before returning to standby mode. He stepped inside and secured the iron bolts behind him with a heavy turn of the key.

The research room’s quiet atmosphere welcomed him, the soft orange glow of the Ignis Core pulsing steadily inside its glass vat near the central table. The ambient temperature was comfortable and stable.

Kale walked over to his stone workbench, unrolling a fresh sheet of parchment beside his surgical tools. Neo hopped off his shoulder, landing on the table with eager, fluid movements as it stretched its green wings.

The hydra’s scales shimmered with a deep, consolidated fire energy, the pristine Flame Core inside its marrow providing an unshakeable foundation for its growth. The project’s first major elemental milestone was complete.

Kale picked up his feather pen, dipped the tip into dark ink, and began logging the integration metrics. His hands moved with absolute physical stability, guided by his Hexarion physiology and unified Trinity Crafting skill.

He mapped out the next phase of the Elemental Resonance Project, focusing on the blueprint for the second elemental catalyst, the Aqua Matrix. The water attribute would balance the fire core, providing the structural harmony needed for Neo’s eventual evolution to Ravager rank.

The research continued in silence as the clock on the wall ticked steadily toward evening. The Genetic Engineer was fully prepared for whatever political storms or secret plots the capital would throw at him next.