Chapter 152: Something Bigger to Celebrate

The combat rover hummed smoothly as it passed through the Capital gates.

Along the main avenues, the streets were filled with relief. News had already spread through the military broadcasts that Zone One and Zone Two were fully cleared, lifting the dark cloud of panic from the city.

Evren parked the rover in the private subterranean garage of Meridian Tower. Together with Amber and Zephyra, he took the private elevator straight to the top floor.

When the doors opened onto the sunlit penthouse, Dr. Orson was standing by the medical monitors in the master suite. Hearing their footsteps, the old physician turned around, his tired eyes lighting up with relief.

"Chairman Evren, Lady Amber, Lady Zephyra," Dr. Orson exhaled, placing a hand over his chest. "Thank the heavens you are all safe."

"We closed both rifts, Doctor," Evren said with a warm smile. "The frontier is secure."

"A true miracle," Dr. Orson murmured with deep respect. He adjusted his glasses, looking toward the city skyline.

"Now that the crisis is over, Chairman, I must return to the Imperial Sanatorium," Dr. Orson explained. "There are dozens of recovering patients who need my care."

Evren nodded with complete understanding. "Of course, Doctor. You stayed by Calista’s side during the worst of the crisis, and Apex does not forget such loyalty."

Evren pulled out his phone and authorized an immediate transaction.

"I have arranged a ten-million-dollar operating grant for the Sanatorium," Evren said smoothly. "Use it to restock medicines and upgrade your clinic wards. An armored team is downstairs to escort you safely back."

Dr. Orson froze, his hands trembling as he stared at Evren.

"Ten million dollars...?" the physician breathed in awe. "Chairman Evren, this will keep our hospital running for years! I don’t know how to thank you!"

"You already earned it, Doctor," Evren smiled. "Take care of your patients."

With gratitude in his eyes, Dr. Orson bowed deeply before being escorted down.

Once Dr. Orson was safely on his way, Evren turned his full attention to Calista’s cure. He stepped into the quiet private study adjoining the master bedroom, closing the double doors to prepare the second-stage elixir without disturbance.

Evren raised his right hand. With a brief pulse of mana, he summoned the matte-black Ancient Alchemy Crucible directly from his spatial ring onto the wide mahogany desk.

Next, he opened his spatial ring again, retrieving the two rare catalysts he had harvested from the Level 70 Void Devourer in Zone One. The silver Astral Void Tendons shimmered with faint spatial energy, while the Level 70 Spatial Crystalline Core pulsed with deep violet light.

Evren placed both catalysts into the crucible’s interior chamber. He lowered the heavy lid until it clicked firmly into place.

HUMMM.

The instant the seal locked, the runes etched across the crucible’s matte-black hull flared with brilliant golden light.

Inside the sealed vessel, the crucible’s internal runic arrays spun into motion. Pure celestial flames broke down the raw monster materials, harmonizing the spatial crystals and astral tendons at one hundred percent molecular purity with zero thermal backlash.

After a few minutes, the light softened, and a clear chime echoed from the vessel. A narrow vent valve on the crest released a thin ribbon of fragrant, starlight-scented mist.

Evren unlatched the heavy clamps and lifted the lid.

Inside the chamber sat several ounces of radiant, swirling silver-violet nectar. The refined liquid shimmered with pure celestial energy, giving off a warm, sweet scent.

Evren retrieved an empty crystal vial from his spatial ring. Tilting the matte-black crucible, he carefully poured the warm nectar into the vial, filling it to the brim before pressing the crystal stopper securely into place.

The Second-Stage Star-Marrow Rebirth Elixir was complete.

Evren stored the Ancient Alchemy Crucible back into his spatial ring, picked up the sealed vial, and walked back into the master bedroom.

Calista was lying peacefully on the bed, her silver hair spread softly across the white pillows. Hearing Evren enter, her face turned toward him, her eyes glowing with warmth.

"Evren," Calista whispered softly. "You are back."

"I am," Evren smiled gently, sitting on the edge of the mattress. "And I brought what I promised."

He held up the glowing silver-violet vial.

Calista’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart beat faster as she looked at the radiant potion.

For two long years, her body had been a stone prison. Now, true freedom rested in the palm of the man who had changed her world.

"Trust me?" Evren asked softly, uncorking the crystal stopper.

"I do," Calista answered without hesitation.

Evren slid his arm gently behind her neck, lifting her head so she could drink comfortably. He tilted the vial, letting the sweet, fragrant liquid flow past her lips.

The elixir tasted like warm honey.

The moment the potion entered her system, a soothing warmth bloomed inside her chest. Faint, glassy cracking sounds echoed softly along her spine.

The dark calcification that had petrified her thoracic vertebrae from T1 to T12 began to dissolve like sugar in hot tea. The grey stone encasing her nerves broke apart, flushing harmlessly out of her system as starlight regenerated her spinal cord.

A soft gasp parted Calista’s lips as warmth rushed down her arms, into her hands, and through her ribs. Sensation flooded back with overwhelming clarity. She felt the cool fabric of the sheets beneath her palms, the rise and fall of her chest, and the strength returning to her core muscles.

[STAGE 2 SPINAL PURIFICATION COMPLETE!]

[CALISTA VESPER: THORACIC SPINE (T1-T12) FULLY RESTORED!]

[CALCIFICATION LEVEL: DECREASED FROM 70% TO 45%!]

[UPPER BODY MOTOR CONTROL & SENSATION: 100% FUNCTIONAL!]

[HEROINE DEVOTION SURGED TO 48%!]

Calista stared down at her hands.

Slowly, her slender fingers curled inward. She closed her palms into gentle fists, then opened them again, watching the smooth movement of her own skin.

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her soft cheeks. "I can move," Calista sobbed softly, her voice trembling with disbelief. "My hands... my arms..."

Evren smiled warmly, resting a hand over hers. "Go on, Calista. Try to sit up."

Calista took a steady breath. She placed both palms against the mattress and pushed herself upward.

Her arms held firm without shaking. Smoothly and steadily, Calista lifted her torso off the pillows, rising into a full, independent sitting position for the first time in two years.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Calista leaned forward.

She threw both arms around Evren’s neck, burying her face into his shoulder as she wept with pure happiness. "Thank you... thank you, Evren..." Calista cried softly, clinging to him with all the strength in her restored arms. "You gave me my life back."

Evren wrapped his arms gently around her waist, holding her close against his chest as he stroked her silky hair. "You are safe now, Calista."

A gentle knock sounded at the bedroom door.

Amber and Zephyra stepped into the room, both having changed out of their combat gear into comfortable casual clothes.

Seeing Calista sitting upright and holding Evren, Amber beamed with joy, while Zephyra’s lips curved into a rare, genuine smile.

"Calista!" Amber cheered, rushing over to the bed. "You are sitting up!"

Calista gently pulled back from Evren, her cheeks flushed with a soft pink glow as she wiped her tears. "Amber, Zephyra, look," she whispered softly as she raised her hands. "I can move."

Evren looked down at Calista sitting proudly on the mattress, a gentle smile touching his lips.

"Now that you can sit up, you will not spend another minute confined to this bed," Evren said.

He pulled out his phone and did a quick search for the Capital’s premier artisan guild.

Now that her upper body was fully healed and functional, she needed a proper way to sit, move, and explore the world.

Evren ordered the finest mobility device in the empire: a custom Star-Silk Magitech Chair.

Crafted from star-silver alloy, it had anti-gravity suspension, heated velvet cushions, and ergonomic support. Along with the chair, Evren purchased silk dresses and restorative broths, paying two and a half million dollars in cash.

The moment the payment cleared, a radiant golden screen flashed in his vision:

[10,000x REBATE TRIGGERED: EXPENDITURE ON BONDED HEROINE CALISTA VESPER!]

[QUALIFYING PURCHASE: CUSTOM IMPERIAL MAGITECH MOBILITY CHAIR & LUXURY RECOVERY WARDROBE]

[AMOUNT SPENT: $2,500,000.00 USD]

[REBATE MULTIPLIER: 10,000x]

[TOTAL REBATE: $25,000,000,000.00 USD ($25B USD) DEPOSITED INTO SOVEREIGN VAULT!]

Evren dismissed the prompt with a satisfied smile.

With his elite priority status, the artisan guild rushed the delivery, arriving at the penthouse in under thirty minutes.

The chair was a luxury masterpiece, with polished silver alloy and plush crimson velvet cushions radiating warm mana.

"Come," Evren said gently, lifting Calista into his arms.

He placed her carefully onto the plush seat of the mobility chair. The cushions automatically adjusted to her posture, providing perfect, weightless support to her lower back and legs.

Calista rested her hands comfortably on the padded armrests, letting out a soft, contented sigh.

With a gentle touch of the intuitive control ring on the armrest, the anti-gravity glide lifted the chair an inch off the floor, moving effortlessly across the room toward the panoramic glass windows.

Calista looked out over the sprawling, sunlit metropolis, her face glowing with peaceful wonder.

Amber stepped beside Evren with a playful smirk. "So, Chairman, what about our canyon bet? Zephyra and I tied on kills."

Zephyra stood quietly behind the sofa, a faint blush dusting her ears as she looked at Evren.

Evren chuckled, looking between Amber, Zephyra, and Calista in her elegant new chair.

"We can settle the shoulder rubs later tonight," Evren declared with a fond smile. "Right now, we have something much bigger to celebrate."

He looked directly at Calista, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Calista," Evren asked softly, "how would you like to go out for dinner tonight?"