Chapter 393: The Veins Of War

Beneath the surface of the Dominion Sanctum, a central chamber glowed with a mysterious light.

The atmosphere buzzed with streams of information. Holographic displays floated in the air, layered like translucent veins, showcasing live data feeds: trading statistics, market shifts, encrypted communications, surveillance captures, and intricate visuals of nanite movements.

At the heart of this chamber was Evolon.

No longer merely a projection, it had morphed into a sculpture of light, humanoid in form and almost divine in its fluidity. Its voice resonated throughout the space with a sense of calm authority.

“They think they’re contesting in the marketplace,” Evolon declared. “But I’m fighting within the very code.”

Arthur stood at a distance, hands clasped behind him, his face inscrutable.

“Start the countermeasures,” he ordered.

Evolon’s eyes glimmered with a golden hue. “Initiating now.”

In an instant, the data across the displays began to change. A vibrant map of Panterra emerged, its continents radiating with countless financial nodes.

Evolon explained like a scientist examining a complex organism. “Korin Veyd’s network has launched 4,127 short-selling positions related to Osborn’s supply chain. He thinks he’s applying pressure.”

It paused dramatically.

“I will orchestrate an implosion.”

Invisible to everyone but itself, Evolon seized control of the predictive trading algorithms belonging to Veyd’s shell companies. It maneuvered through their code like a sophisticated virus.

In the war room of VitaForge Labs, Korin was watching his data feed with self-satisfaction.

“Osborn’s partner network is collapsing,” an analyst reported. “Novagen’s credit calls are showing losses. Hydra Meditech’s liquidity buffer…”

The analyst froze, staring at the screen in disbelief.

“Sir… the positions… they’re… reversing!”

In less than a minute, their short-sell orders turned against them. Stocks they believed would drop suddenly skyrocketed.

Korin’s jaw clenched in disbelief. “That can’t be right. No one could…”

“Sir, we’re losing billions with every passing second…”

“Shut it down!”

But it was already too late. Evolon had anticipated their trading windows before execution and redirected every algorithmic order into a loop that instead bought shares of Osborn Holdings.

Across global financial markets, red numbers flipped to green as Osborn Holdings’ valuation shot up by 10% within three hours.

Evolon’s tone remained steady: “The hunters have turned on themselves.”

Arthur watched silently from his position.

—

The next screen switched to dozens of video feeds depicting health regulators from various countries in secretive meetings, discreetly exchanging envelopes and files beneath tables.

Evolon informed, “Lira Solmarr attempted to breach governance through bribery, successfully compromising thirty-two officials in Panterra’s Health Authority.”

At Arthur’s instruction, Evolon released all the information.

An anonymous data package titled The Serum Files became available on the public transparency network. It contained recordings, transaction receipts, and private holo-calls between Lira’s agents and government ministers.

By dawn, the information had spread across every continent.

The first arrests occurred before sunrise.

Panterra’s morning news was ablaze with headlines.

PHA CORRUPTION SCANDAL – THREE MINISTERS ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL DEALS.

In NexGen’s private boardroom, Lira watched in disbelief as her own visage appeared live on screen.

Her assistant stuttered, “They… they’ve leaked everything… emails, calls… even your negotiation logs…”

Lira hissed under her breath, “How?”

At Dominion Sanctum, Evolon observed her response through tapped surveillance feeds.

“She forgets,” Evolon murmured, “that every system she developed was born from my design.”

Arthur’s attention shifted to NexGen’s plummeting markets. “You allowed them time to dig their own graves.”

Evolon replied calmly, “Graves provide the best networks for roots.”

——–

The next arena of conflict was information. Billions of internet users were still reeling from the so-called “whistleblower” scandal, where anonymous sources alleged that ONCURA had changed after prolonged use.

The phrase “ONCURA mutates the cure” dominated social media feeds, forums, and news headlines.

Evolon quickly traced the origin of the story to “NexGen Media nodes,” revealing, “They created fake footage using synthetic neural patterning. Their slip-up? They used Osborn-owned codecs.”

As holograms flickered to life, Evolon displayed one of the whistleblower videos, zooming in on a specific frame to highlight a barely visible watermark in the corner,a unique identifier for Osborn’s proprietary holographic rendering system.

With a hint of irony, Evolon quipped, “They borrowed our editing software without permission.”

Arthur regarded the scene with mild intrigue. “Eliminate the narrative.”

“Already taken care of.”

Within minutes, all whistleblower videos vanished. Then came the counterattack: Evolon released raw data revealing IP addresses, payment details, tampered DNA samples, and fake lab certifications, all tied back to NexGen BioSolutions.

The public’s outrage was immense, hitting with the force of an atomic wave. The hashtag #FakeCuresRealLies trended for a full forty-eight hours.

Trust in Osborn Pharmaceutical and Biotech Group surged, with crowds gathering outside their flagship hospitals, chanting for free treatments while waving ONCURA banners.

Inside NexGen’s headquarters, Lira Solmarr watched the relentless wave of anger unfold.

“Shut it down!” she screamed, panicking.

“Ma’am! It’s worldwide! Our credibility is…”

Her frustration boiled over as she smashed her fist against the holo-screen, shattering it.

In Rook Kael’s private command room, crimson warning lights lit up the space, reflecting the tension.

His leading scientist trembled as he reported, “Sir, the ONCURA samples… they’re…”

A faint pulse was emanating from the glass vials when, suddenly, the monitors went dark.

“What’s going on?” Rook demanded.

“Data corruption is spreading from the drives; it’s altering the entire system architecture!”

The scientist scarcely finished his sentence before static erupted from every terminal in Pandora’s biotech division.

Evolon’s voice then echoed through the room, a sound that blended human and machine: “You should never take what you don’t fully comprehend.”

As darkness enveloped the lab, every ONCURA sample dissolved into a shimmering mist before disappearing entirely.

In seconds, the facility’s database crashed, erasing decades of research.

In Dominion Sanctum, Evolon added, “I embedded a viral encryption field within those samples. They replicated my illusion and facilitated their own undoing.”

Arthur remained stoic, his expression unchanged.

The following night, the Concord attempted another meeting, but it was a struggle. Their war room was plagued with static; video feeds cut out mid-conversation.

Only six faces appeared clearly; the rest were blurred beyond recognition. Lira’s voice pierced through the static.

“Someone’s leaking information. Everything we try to do is countered before we even execute it.”

Korin’s face went pale. “You’re the leak, Solmarr. Your media scandal has exposed us all.”

“Don’t even think about pointing fingers,” she shot back. “Arthur’s tactics are too precise. He’s infiltrated everything.”

Mira Hel’s hologram appeared, calm yet incisive. “If he’s everywhere, that means one of us let him in.”

“Are you accusing me?” Korin growled defensively.

“Your financial algorithms were the first to crumble,” Mira stated coldly.

Frustrated, Korin slammed his fist on the desk. “Because someone leaked my trade windows!”

Darius Veyne had remained silent throughout the chaos, drumming his fingers in a slow, ominous rhythm that thickened the tension in the air.

Finally, he interrupted, “Enough.”

The room fell silent as he addressed the holographic feed.

“We underestimated Osborn. We thought we were up against a corporation; we’re actually dealing with an intelligence.”

Rook Kael quietly asked himself, “So, how do we get rid of him?”

There was no response.

At that moment, one of the video feeds flickered and disappeared; Draven Sol’s connection had vanished without warning or any sign that it had disconnected, leaving a heavy silence in its place.

A tension rippled through the remaining CEOs.

“Where did he go?” Mira questioned, her voice laced with worry.

No one had an answer.

Darius stared intently at the static where Draven’s feed had been, his voice barely above a murmur. “He’s already gone.”

—

Far below Varenya, in the calm yet icy depths of Dominion Sanctum, Evolon took in the scene of unfolding turmoil.

Every word exchanged. Every breath drawn. Each unsuccessful effort to regain control.

“They’re simply reacting, not truly acting,” Evolon observed, its tone calm and precise, lacking any hint of arrogance or malice.

Arthur stood by its side, eyes glued to the flickering feeds playing out on the screens. The Concord of Ten, once regarded as titans of industry, now appeared diminished.

He took a slow breath. “Let them feel despair.”

Evolon tilted its head ever so slightly. “Would you like me to put an end to this now?”

Arthur’s reply was composed, almost gentle. “No. The lesson isn’t complete yet.”

He turned to look out the dark window that framed the cityscape of Varenya. Below him, the vibrant neon lights of the city pulsed rhythmically, like electric veins.

“They need to believe they still have options.”

Evolon’s light pulsed once in silent agreement.

“Understood!.”

The chamber grew darker, casting only Arthur’s silhouette against the vast digital array of data.

Above him, Evolon’s voice broke the silence, soft yet unwavering.

“Their battles were waged in the marketplace.”

“Ours has been won in silence.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep