Chapter 140: [Bonus Chapter] The Federation Hidden Experiments.

[Charrock Plateau]

In another region of the Uncharted Territory lay the Charrock Plateau, a vast expanse of flat volcanic stone stretching endlessly beneath a gray, oppressive sky.

Jagged shards of obsidian littered the plains, their razor-sharp edges glinting faintly in the dim light.

At irregular intervals, vents ruptured the surface, releasing thin streams of smoke that curled upward like ghostly fingers.

Walking across the jagged plain, Jareth wore a solemn expression. The recent meeting with Riona replayed in his mind again and again, each word analyzed and reconsidered.

With the Beast God Sect already making its move, he knew time was slipping through his fingers.

If they succeeded in consolidating their power first, everything he had worked for would collapse.

He needed to act.

And he needed to act quickly.

His thoughts shifted to the subordinate he had dispatched to deal with the rising Necromancer.

At the time, he had not considered the task particularly troublesome. It should have been simple, a routine elimination.

Yet now, he realized he had not received any report.

No confirmation.

No update.

A faint frown creased his brow.

“What could have happened to them?” he muttered to himself.

The possibility of their deaths did not immediately cross his mind. The team he had sent consisted of powerful Level 16 Awakeners, and Nyssa had been on the verge of breaking into Level 17.

They were veterans and capable.

How could something have gone wrong?

He shook his head, dismissing the uneasy thought.

“When I finish the research,” he murmured, “I’ll return to town and personally look into it.”

For now, his attention had to remain on something far more critical.

After walking for several minutes across the fractured plateau, he arrived at the base of a broken hill.

The hill itself was a massive formation of jagged volcanic rock, rising sharply from the plain like a shattered fang.

Embedded at its base was a structure that seemed oddly untouched by the surrounding devastation.

A small building had been constructed directly into the heart of the stone.

Despite the harsh environment, it remained intact.

Stone steps carved into the hill led upward toward the entrance. Jareth ascended them with measured strides.

His movements were so light that his footsteps made no sound against the stone.

Reaching the entrance, he pushed open the thick wooden door.

Inside, a brightly lit torch hung on the wall, illuminating the otherwise dim interior.

“Chief!”

Three individuals immediately rose to their feet and performed the Federation Police salute.

All three were Level 15 Awakeners, stationed as the first line of defense.

“At ease,” Jareth said calmly, not slowing his pace.

He walked past them and proceeded through a narrow doorway at the end of the room. Beyond it stretched a long corridor carved directly into the stone.

The air grew cooler as he advanced.

At the end of the corridor lay a larger chamber.

Another group stood guard inside, this time, Level 16 Awakeners. Their expressions were stern, their weapons within reach.

Jareth moved through the chamber without pausing.

He passed through several additional sections, each protected by increasingly powerful personnel.

Security grew tighter with every step deeper into the hill.

Finally, he descended a series of steep stone steps that led far below the surface.

The temperature dropped further, and the faint hum of energy vibrated through the walls.

At the bottom, he entered a wide chamber.

Only one individual guarded the entrance.

A Level 18 Vanguard.

The man remained seated, leaning back against the wall. His presence alone was enough to deter most intruders.

“How did it go?” the Vanguard asked without rising, his eyes fixed on Jareth.

“Just as you predicted,” Jareth replied coldly. “The Beast God Sect has already begun its operations.”

The Vanguard’s expression did not change.

“And what are you going to do now?” he asked evenly.

“What choice do we have?” Jareth scoffed. “We must make this work…immediately.”

Failure was not an option.

If they failed, they could forget about ever leaving the first floor of the Abyss. Their countless atrocities would eventually surface.

The people they had sacrificed, the illegal experiments, the covert operations, everything would come crashing down upon them.

They had bet everything on this project.

There was no turning back.

Jareth approached the large metal door positioned at the center of the chamber and pulled it open. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

The Vanguard watched him go and slowly shook his head.

Since they chose this path, retreat was no longer an option.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

Men and women dressed in plain white robes moved back and forth across the expansive chamber. They murmured inaudible words under their breath.

The room was enormous, with a ceiling towering more than ten meters above.

At its center stood a colossal humanoid figure.

It was nearly five meters tall.

Imposing.

Monstrous.

Lifeless.

The creature’s body had been stitched together from countless parts. Hundreds of sutures crisscrossed its flesh like grotesque seams.

This was no natural being, it was a man-made construct.

One arm resembled that of a massive ape, corded with unnatural muscle. Patches of scaled skin, resembling that of serpents, covered parts of its torso.

Its legs were mismatched in structure, one thicker and more bestial than the other.

It was an abomination born of experiments.

Beyond the mismatched anatomy, the creature’s entire body was inscribed with intricate runes.

Symbols carved and etched into its flesh pulsed faintly with dormant power.

On the first floor of the Abyss, rune knowledge was virtually nonexistent.

Yet the Federation Police possessed a complete understanding of it.

Jareth did not linger his gaze on the towering construct.

Instead, his attention shifted to the scholars and arcanists overseeing the project.

“Chief… you’ve returned,” a young woman said, her voice weary.

She stepped forward from among the robed figures. Dark circles lined her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights.

“You are running out of time,” Jareth said sharply, his voice edged with impatience.

The young woman exhaled heavily. She was a Level 10 Arcanist, a rare and highly valuable profession.

Such a class appeared perhaps once in a thousand Awakeners.

“Chief, we are doing everything we can,” she replied. It was not the first time she had spoken those words.

But Jareth did not care about effort.

He cared about results.

“We require a Soul Binder,” she continued carefully.

“Without one, we can only attempt alternative methods, and those methods are unstable.”

“Where do you expect us to find a Soul Binder?” Jareth snapped. “It is an even rarer profession than yours.”

Her lips tightened.

“If this fails,” Jareth said coldly, his gaze sweeping across the room, “I will not hesitate to send all of you to the Slave Trade Guild.”

The threat hung in the air like a blade.

At the mention of the Slave Trade Guild, all the scholars visibly trembled. They all knew what fate awaited those handed over to Fenric’s organization.

Experimentation.

Sacrifice.

Or worse.

“C-Chief…” the young Arcanist stammered. “Please, give us a little more time. I swear…we will make it work.”

Her voice shook despite her attempt at composure.

The thought of being delivered into the hands of the Slave Trade Guild filled her with unspeakable dread.

Jareth snorted in irritation.

“Twenty-four hours,” he said flatly.

Silence fell over the chamber.

“That is all you have.”

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the room, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind him.

****

[AN: Thank you for your support and gift. This Chapter is sponsored by Nooope.]

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