Chapter 38: Perfect Clearance II
Chapter 38: Perfect Clearance II
Over half the trial of freezing cold had passed, and the Predator Drones hadn’t found them. Inside the snow-cocooned space, the Blue Slime bounced around a regal Kitsuul while Lyra exclaimed."There’s a freaking deathmatch arena in the Hollow Stacks?! And people risk their lives for... what, 10,000 Credits? That’s it?!"
She looked both horrified and fascinated, while Damian skillfully avoided sharing anything personal. Instead, he told her about life in the Hollow Stacks—bits and pieces that seemed to both terrify and intrigue her.
At the same time, he slowly coaxed more information out of her, especially regarding Beast Masters. He asked about Guardian Flameborn. About Guardian Valentina, who was being stalked by the Serpent Queen, Serena.
He had asked about the Drunken Butcher. When he did, he made sure not to give away anything in his expression—just another name, just another question!
And he obtained even more information this way.
"10,000 Credits that you consider measly as a Glassblood could mean life or death for a Stackborn. Fathers and sons risk it all in the Rustblood Circuit Arena to feed their families. Most die, leaving nothing behind. Their wives and daughters are forced into brothels. Their sons join gangs—or worse. That’s one version of life in the Hollow Stacks."
...!
His words made her expression fall. She looked down, apologizing softly.
"I’m sorry. Can I ask about...?"
She trailed off, but her eyes said she wanted to understand more. And time continued ticking by.
The cold began to dissipate.
And then...
Then came the biome of chaos.
Damian felt the land rumble beneath his feet. The air shifted, taking on a sharp metallic tang.
The forest transformed into a labyrinth of steel thorns, magnetized vines, and ever-shifting platforms.
Electromagnetic surges rained down from the canopy in jagged bolts of violet lightning—enough to sever the mental bond between Beast and Beast Master in a single hit.
The ground pulsed with low-frequency vibrations, messing with balance and throwing off inner-ear orientation.
Predator Drones in this biome adapted rapidly. They mimicked voices, reflected signals—leading Beast Masters into traps or tearing them from their Beasts. This was a place where instincts had to override everything else. Only the resilient would survive.
"They’re really going all out for the last section of the trial... but it still won’t matter much."
Damian spoke calmly, eyes narrowed. He could feel how close he was to his goals.
Clear this first part, and only the Combat Trial remained.
After that, he’d be a Trial Guardian. He’d have full access to ZENTHRA’s arsenal. The strength, the data, the resources—everything he needed to bring down one of their strongest Guardians within the next few months...or even potentially weeks!
All just to keep a promise.
A promise of blood and fucking retribution!
Even his conversations with Lyra Veyrin, who seemed to genuinely seek a friend—maybe because of how her Blue Slime had bonded with Kitsuul—were just stepping stones.
He wasn’t looking for friendship.
He didn’t want to admit how much Vex Talon’s actions had poisoned the way he viewed other Guardians...and Glassbloods in general.
But still...
Why had Vex Talon shown up at a wedding venue so close to the Hollow Stacks? Why had he shredded members of Ilyana Veln’s family while drunk—and gotten away with it? Because they were just Stackborn?
Damian didn’t know what went through the mind of the Drunken Butcher.
But it didn’t matter.
It—
"Your eyes are looking a little scary, you know?"
...!
Lyra’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She stood on the branch of the metallic tree they were camped in, watching him closely.
Without a word, she reached into her oversized coat and pulled out something sleek and translucent.
A Noteglyph Nexus.
It was a crystalline notepad laced with Veiltech circuits. It projected 3D holograms, stored memory-linked sketches, and when paired with a Glyph Stylus, could record elemental energy, tactics, and insights—straight from the user’s neural signals. At least, that’s what Lyra had told him earlier during one of her many info dumps about Beast Master tech.
She scribbled something down and tossed the Nexus over to him.
"I don’t know what’s really going on with you. But I was being genuine—just wanted Little Bluey and Kitsuul to have some fun. If we end up friends later on, great. If not, just bring Kitsuul around and don’t say anything to me. Just let them play. That Nexus has my number and anything else you need to reach me. The final phase usually messes up communication, and we’ll be joining the others soon for the Combat Trial. Can’t exactly chat during that."
Damian caught the device and gave her a small nod—nothing more.
She sighed, shaking her head as she motioned for her Blue Slime to return.
"Come on, Bluey. That’s enough playing for today. Let’s not get grumpy Therion Dark in trouble, hmm?"
At the end of the day, she was a Glassblood. He was a Stackborn. The more time they spent together, the more complications that could arise.
So she pulled the sullen Blue Slime away. He looked back at Kitsuul—still curled up on Damian’s shoulders—with wide, heartbreakingly sad eyes.
Kitsuul just turned her head and ignored him.
And so, a Blue Slime and her Beast Master left the region, leaving Damian alone to count the minutes, avoiding Predator Drones through the final stretch of the Trial.
He’d learned a lot over the last four hours—especially from Lyra Veyrin. His knowledge of Beast Masters had expanded. His understanding of ZENTHRA’s inner workings had grown sharper.
Armed with that knowledge, he was more ready than ever.
He passed the time in the metallic labyrinth with ease. The electromagnetic surges? They didn’t disrupt his bond with Kitsuul at all.
Either he hadn’t come across any of them...
Or they simply had no effect on Kitsuul.
Whichever it was...
BOOM!
A colorful explosion lit up the sky.
Fireworks.
The artificial forest began shifting once more. The metallic terrain receded. Greenery began returning.
The first trial had ended.
And honestly? It hadn’t challenged Damian at all.
Kitsuul was that unique.
He reached up and scratched her head. She nuzzled his neck, purring lightly.
His eyes lifted toward the horizon, where the second part of the trial—combat—was about to begin.