Chapter 544: Chapter 543- An unexpected visit

“Are you sure about this?” Iris asked after hearing Adrian’s plan.

Not just the two of them, but Mark, Elana, and several high ranking soldiers were gathered inside the room.

Adrian had been the one speaking until now, calmly outlining what he had in mind.

“Before that, can she really do it?” one of the soldiers asked, glancing at Elana.

“Not to be rude,” Mark added, “but this mutant plant has lived in this world for decades. I do not doubt your judgment, Sir Adrian, but you should reconsider.”

Elana did not feel offended that they doubted her skills. What unsettled her was that they were questioning his decision making.

Adrian, however, did not appear even slightly disturbed. “Trust me,” he said evenly, “she is our best chance. She has the right tool, the mana reserve, and the experience to handle this.”

He continued, “Our only task is to eliminate the plant once she prepares the battlefield for us.”

A brief silence settled over the room as everyone weighed the decision.

The truth was, none of them had ever seen the plant up close. Everything they knew came from old logs and the spoken accounts of their predecessors.

“Then we must prepare the special unit,” Iris said at last.

Mark glanced at her, uncertain. The other three men shared the same look.

Iris shook her head. “It is not as if we have another option. We cannot keep losing lives at this rate, no matter how many artifacts we create.”

She clenched her fist at her side. “And if this continues, sooner or later we will grow desperate enough to charge at it blindly.” She could not speak for the others, but recently she had felt that urge herself, driven by anger and frustration.

Another stretch of silence followed before Elana finally spoke.

“It is not like you can attack it if I fail. So you are not truly risking anything.”

What she said was true. If she succeeded, they would strike at the source. And if she failed, what would they really lose? A little more time? Was that not worth the attempt?

Iris nodded. “I agree with her. Chris, gather your units and wait for me near the assembly hall.”

The soldier saluted and left at once.

Then she added, “Mark, you will be in charge of the base in my absence.”

Mark wanted to argue. He wanted to stand beside Iris in the coming battle. But he understood how much this base meant to her. If the operation failed, this place would become the last surviving haven on the planet.

So he swallowed his protest and gave a brief nod.

The scarred man soon departed with one of the two remaining soldiers.

Iris turned to the third. “Tony, prepare the equipment for us.”

He saluted and left as well.

Only three of them remained.

Iris faced Elana.

The girl was barely in her teens. Yet the certainty in her eyes, the quiet confidence she carried, reminded Iris of her younger self.

She stepped closer and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “You are brave. No matter what happens today, you have my gratitude.”

Elana said nothing.

Iris then looked at Adrian. “I will wait for you near the stairs.”

Adrian nodded. They shared a brief embrace before Scarlette turned and walked out of the room.

Adrian turned toward Elana, ready to remind her of the things she needed to stay mindful of. Before he could speak, she asked, “You seem quite close to your ’just friend’.”

He chuckled, unable to hold it back. “She is already engaged, Elana. And just because I have more than one partner does not mean I chase every woman I look at.” He could almost feel how badly his image in matters of romance had been ruined in her eyes.

Elana crossed her arms. “The Professor does not need to chase anyone. Women naturally try to get closer to him.”

Adrian shook his head, dismissing it, and redirected her attention. “Once we step out there, nothing should break your focus. Your task comes first. No distractions.”

Elana nodded. “I understand, Professor.”

Even as she said it, she did not know how she would react if she saw Adrian in real danger.

He had already warned her. The sixth tier spell she had recently learned was her limit. She could not afford to hesitate. If she faltered even once, their enemy would seize the advantage instantly.

Not long after, they left the room side by side. Just as Iris had said, she was already there, fully geared and waiting.

“Come with me,” she said, leading them down a short gallery before stepping into the room she had occupied moments earlier.

It was clearly an equipment room, judging by the rows of protective gear lined up across from the entrance.

“Tony, help them with the vests.”

The soldier nodded, removed two from the rack, and handed one to each of them.

As Adrian helped Elana put hers on and adjusted the straps, he heard Iris speak.

“Adrian, you will stand with the reinforcement unit. Your primary task is already complete. I am only allowing you to join because you insisted.”

Earlier, Iris had asked him to remain at headquarters and let them handle the operation. In her eyes, he was a creator, not a frontline fighter. As a Runesmith, his duty had already been fulfilled.

But Adrian had refused.

Not only could he provide support if needed, he also wanted Elana under close supervision. It was her first time using such a high grade tool in a real battle.

He finished tightening the vest and looked at Iris. “Do not worry. I will observe the situation and intervene only if absolutely necessary.”

….

“So much happened, and I was sleeping through all of it?” Annabelle asked, staring at Ariana in disbelief as she stood inside her office.

Ariana let out a quiet sigh. “Adrian was never truly in danger. The wound he received happened because he chose to spend the battle analyzing the situation. And this time, his opponent was someone he wanted to save, not kill.”

Annabelle huffed. “Even so… I always seem to be asleep or away whenever something happens to you or Darling.”

Ariana chuckled softly. “If that is the case, then Ruby and I should feel the most guilty. I rarely leave the academy, and she cannot abandon her work every time something occurs. We cannot always be at your side either.”

Annabelle grumbled, clearly unconvinced. “That is different.”

She stepped closer and dropped into the chair across from Ariana’s desk. “So? What happened after that? How did Darling manage to control that brat?”

The brat, of course, was Elana.

Ariana hesitated, weighing her words. She was still deciding whether to tell Annabelle about the memories Adrian had recently uncovered.

Before she could speak, a knock echoed through the office.

Annabelle frowned. “Should I…?”

Ariana shook her head. “No. Wait.” If it was one of the Professors, their reaction to seeing Annabelle would only complicate things. It was better if she handled it herself.

She walked to the door and pulled it open.

The moment she saw who stood outside, she froze.

Annabelle reacted instantly. She grabbed Ariana and pulled her back, then drove a punch straight at the man’s face.

Her fist passed through him.

She stumbled forward, caught off balance, and immediately followed with a sharp kick.

It phased through him as well.

No impact. No resistance. No effect.

Annabelle growled, “You have some nerve showing your face here, Nytharos.”

The man, no, the fallen deity, slowly raised his hands. “I came to talk.”

His gaze shifted to Ariana. “I could have entered without knocking. I thought using the door might improve my image, at least a little.”

Ariana remained tense. The memory of nearly dying to this face, twice, still haunted her. She would never admit it aloud, but the trauma lingered like a shadow she could not shake.

Still, she steadied herself and asked, “What do you want?”

Nytharos let out a quiet sigh.

It seemed the actions of his other fragment had left a far deeper scar on them than he anticipated.

Regardless, he did not keep them waiting.

“I came to clarify what happened with my apostle this morning,” Nytharos said calmly. “I intended to reach Adrian, but it seems he is not here.”

Annabelle scoffed. “So you thought this was the perfect chance to attack us?”

Nytharos gave a faint chuckle. “If attacking you were my intention, why would I come myself? I could have used you instead. You are my other apostle, after all.”

Annabelle went still.

Her heart dropped, though her expression did not soften.

She had never doubted her Darling when he told her she was blessed by Nytharos. But hearing it from the deity himself erased even the faintest trace of uncertainty.

There was no room for denial now.

She truly was blessed by Nytharos. Or rather, cursed.

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” Ariana asked, her voice even despite the anxiety she was experiencing currently.

Nytharos shook his head, “I am just making it clear that I mean no harm. And if not for the urgency of the matter, I wouldn’t have approached you in the absence of Adrian.”

Ariana exchanged a glance with Annabelle. The raven-haired woman appeared uncertain as well.

Ariana finally straightened her posture and told him, “Alright tell us. What did you want to say?”

Nytharos took a moment before calmly stating, “It’s dire. My Apostles’ life might be in danger. If they can’t kill Adrian, my brothers would surely kill my Apostles to take revenge.”

His gaze hardened as he added, “And it might happen any time soon.”

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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