Chapter 48: A Guardian of ZENTHRA IV
Chapter 48: A Guardian of ZENTHRA IV
Damian stepped out of the Trial Guardian Room, zipping up the white ZENTHRA Trial Guardian reinforced suit. It hugged his toned frame tightly, as if tailored just for him.He stood tall in the sleek suit, glancing around and listening. Its seamless design molded perfectly to his lean physique, accentuating the subtle contours of his muscles—broad shoulders, defined arms, and a core refined through days of bonding with Kitsuul.
He looked powerful, composed—almost too perfect in the synthetic second skin.
The soft glow of aether-infused circuitry pulsed along his limbs, enhancing his presence until he resembled a warrior reborn.
"Oh my..."
Nearby, Lyra Veyrin appeared, whistling as she gave him an obvious once-over.
"You look like a proper ZENTHRA Trial Guardian now..."
Her usual shyness had vanished. It was just the two of them amid the chaos, with ZENTHRA employees running in every direction and Guardian Flameborn shouting across the floor.
"What happened?" Damian asked, turning to her with a sharp gaze.
His eyes grew serious.
She wasn’t in her usual rich Glassblood overcoat. Instead, she wore the white ZENTHRA reinforced suit too.
And...
She looked utterly breathtaking in it. The sleek material clung to her athletic form like a second skin. The suit shimmered faintly under the lights, emphasizing her graceful curves. Her long, flowing blue hair fell over her shoulders in stunning contrast, and her vivid sapphire eyes sparkled with intelligence and quiet brilliance.
Each movement she made was laced with elegance and precision—though her chest looked almost too full for the tight uniform, the effect unintentional but eye-catching.
Damian quickly refocused as she spoke casually.
"Apparently, there’s been a breach in the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation. Something serious. Something’s missing on one of the lower floors, and they can’t even figure out how it happened. Pretty big deal..."
Her tone was light, as if she didn’t grasp the weight of the chaos. Another new Trial Guardian, Vixor, joined them, watching the unfolding frenzy.
In the distance, Guardian Flameborn spotted them. She leapt down from her post, her body blazing with energy as she landed directly in front of them, eyes fiery.
"I won’t be able to hold a proper debrief today," she said, her voice firm. "Not until this security breach is resolved. It involves something a higher Guardian brought in, and I’m the highest-ranking one here, so I’ve got work to do. Take these."
She handed each of them a clear packet containing ID cards.
"ZENTHRA will be going into lockdown soon to trace what happened and how. Use what you received in your Welcome Crates. Report back here—150th floor—tomorrow at 9:00 AM for your debrief. The Entropic Rift Dive will proceed as scheduled."
Her tone left no room for argument. She turned and vanished instantly, beckoning other Beast Masters and ZENTHRA staff toward the elevator.
Things were about to escalate.
And Damian—the very person responsible for the breach—was being given access cards to come and go freely.
He was the culprit... and they were letting him leave just before lockdown.
His expression hardened. He returned to the room to grab the two cases given to him, Kitsuul bouncing on his shoulder and squeaking in excitement. Her sounds were incomprehensible to others, but her joy was palpable.
She knew they were responsible for the chaos now spreading across the corporation—and no one had a clue.
That made her all the more pleased, letting out a little laugh.
Lyra Veyrin’s blue slime tried to match Kitsuul’s energy, bouncing slightly as she looked at Damian and asked with a playful smile, "Leaving so fast? A lockdown doesn’t sound that bad. I could show you—"
She looked ready to spend more time with him. But Damian shook his head.
"I want to get familiar with what I was just given. Go over a few things. You’re coming to the Club Skyspire celebration tonight, right? I’ll see you then."
This place was a ticking bomb. He didn’t want to linger longer than necessary.
He grabbed the items that were legally his and walked toward the elevator.
Behind him, Lyra looked disappointed as she started to turn away.
Beside her, Vixor smiled and introduced himself.
"Hello, I’m Vixor. I’d love it if you could show me around—"
He barely finished before Lyra gave him a curt nod and turned away.
"Sorry. I’m busy."
"..."
Vixor blinked, lowering his hand with a faint sigh.
She didn’t seem busy a moment ago when she offered to show the other guy around...
—
Inside the elevator, Damian scanned his new ZENTHRA ID badge for the first time. The lift descended smoothly, without issue.
Wearing the reinforced white ZENTHRA suit, none of the bustling employees stopped him. Even the weaponized drones and androids scanning everyone overlooked him.
He exited the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation building. Nearly an entire day had passed, and yet everything had changed.
They’d uncovered information about the Drunken Butcher. They learned more about the true power structures behind the organization—and the might of Beast Masters.
They discovered the tools and resources that could strengthen beasts.
And Damian had just stolen an unknown number of those resources... including something the Drunken Butcher himself had smuggled in.
Something that could be a game changer.
But above all, Damian had taken on a new identity.
No longer just a hidden threat—he now walked openly as a ZENTHRA Guardian.
A Trial Guardian.
It was his first step toward doing whatever it took...
To one day spill the blood of Vex Talon—the Drunken Butcher!
With such a firm conviction, he went out and was greeted by the booming noises past the gates of ZENTHRA Beast Corporation.
Screams.
Noises.
Bustling waves of chaos all around in a haphazard manner.
As he stepped out of the massive building in Skyglass Heights, Damian ignored the screams of the fanatics, who were sectioned off by dividers to his left and right.
"OMG... is that a Trial Guardian? He looks new!"
"That’s the one with the fox that passed here this morning!"
"I remember him! He looked a little ugly before, but in that white Guardian Suit? Wow!"
...!