Chapter 49: Natural Nanotech Blood Serum I
Chapter 49: Natural Nanotech Blood Serum I
Their voices rang loud and clear as Damian passed by, shaking his head at how some of them were still there—since this morning—just standing around, waiting for genuine Guardians to walk by.Did they not have jobs? Or did the people living in Skyglass Heights simply not need to work?
He grumbled to himself as he tapped his earpiece and spoke.
"Where am I going, Anastasia?"
She had left far earlier, even before the lockdown was announced, going to secure the payload—the boons they had acquired during their daring venture into the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation.
Her reply came quickly.
"Zenith Glass Lodgings. I booked you a hotel between the Hollow Stacks and Skyglass Heights for the next week. It fits the identity of Therion Dark, the Trial Guardian of ZENTHRA. As a Trial Guardian, you can now use ZENTHRA services—one of which is the ZENTHRA Buses and Vessels. You’ll see them parked just outside. Tell them where you need to go."
...!
As she said, Damian passed the fanatics and reached Guardian’s Road—a massive stretch the width of a football field, lined with parked ZENTHRA vessels near the corporation’s front gates.
It was truly a fleet.
The ZENTHRA air-bound transportation system consisted of sleek, high-efficiency vehicles known as Skyhaul Vectors and ZENTHRA Shuttles.
The Skyhaul Vectors resembled elongated, chrome-plated bullet crafts, equipped with whisper-quiet antigravity thrusters and shimmering aetherglass panels, primarily used as employee buses.
In contrast, the ZENTHRA Shuttles were sleeker, elite-class vessels with retractable wings and vertical liftoff, typically reserved for VIPs and Guardians.
Both were piloted by Cybernetic Navigators—humans with neural-link implants—and Transit-Class Androids, built with synthetic skin, glowing circuitry, and mechanical precision.
This emotionless precision meant zero accidents.
Even if an elderly woman boarded a shuttle piloted by one of them, it would be nearly impossible for it to crash.
These pilots received real-time ZENTHRA grid updates and AI-assisted trajectory support.
Damian recalled this information as he approached a ZENTHRA Shuttle, noting the Cybernetic Navigator in front of it. The modded human bowed the moment he saw Damian’s white suit. The shuttle’s doors lifted upward.
"Please, Sir Guardian. This way."
"...."
Damian had arrived here through the lower Skyrail compartments—and now, he was leaving in a luxurious ZENTHRA Shuttle.
He gave the blue-uniformed Navigator a nod and stepped inside.
The interior was sleek and adaptive, with auto-adjusting seats and projected holo-displays.
Damian sat down as Kitsuul leapt off his shoulders, happily landing on the plush seat. The doors sealed shut.
"Where will Sir be going?" the Cybernetic Navigator asked.
"Zenith Glass Lodgings," Damian answered quickly.
The Navigator nodded. Lights flickered on across the dashboard.
A soft hum filled the cabin, joined by ambient lighting, creating a calm, futuristic atmosphere.
HUUM!
A deeper hum pulsed beneath them. In the next moment, the shuttle began to rise.
Damian felt his heart race.
He had seen Aether Skimrunners and vessels fly overhead his entire life—but always from below, as something unreachable.
Not anymore.
Now, he was in one.
Once it climbed fifty meters above the ground, the shuttle accelerated toward the Hollow Stacks.
Damian looked out the window, eyes wide at the gleaming metropolis below. Towers of glass and wonder stretched in every direction. Even in the distance, some buildings soared far higher than he was now.
But in this moment, he was truly in the sky.
Little Kitsuul placed her paws on the glass, her eyes full of wonder. Damian smiled and stroked her fur.
The experience didn’t last long. That was both its weakness and strength—you didn’t need long to get where you were going.
No traffic. Just gliding through the sky.
In under three minutes, the shuttle began its descent. Before Damian stood a sleek ten-story hotel with a glowing banner:
Zenith Glass Lodgings.
As if Anastasia could see him, her voice rang in his ear:
"Come to the 7th floor. Room 755."
Damian grabbed the two Welcome Crate cases beside him, nodded to the Cybernetic Navigator, and stepped out.
The hotel was known to house Glassbloods and the occasional wealthy Stackborn.
Inside, the lobby was a blur of activity and motion. Damian passed through, took the elevator, and stepped out on the seventh floor.
Room 755 wasn’t hard to find. The door unlocked with a turn of the handle—and he stepped in to find...
A room that looked ravaged.
Torn pillows. A smashed bed. Tables split in half with what looked like a single blow.
And at the center, a woman still in her blue ZENTHRA jacket.
Before her were six matte black cases. One of the clear vials inside one—containing a golden Natural Nanotech Blood Serum—was empty.
Damian’s expression hardened as he shut the door behind him.
A sharp needle rested near the empty vial, a dried drop of blood clinging to its tip.
Sitting on the couch in front of it all, Anastasia spoke.
"The Natural Nanotech Blood Serum is capable of augmenting normal Humans and Beast Masters alike. It was a terrifying innovation that the Drunken Butcher and his allies wanted to keep hidden. That’s why they logged it deep in the 125th floor, lining up buyers and deciding how to exploit this rare creation."
...!
Her eyes blazed with emotion.
Fury and grief warred behind them.
Tears streaked down her cheeks as she looked at Damian with fierce resolve.
"I... I want the strength to rip him apart, Damian. I want to tear his arms and legs off—just like he did to my family! Please... can you promise me? Can you promise I’ll be there when you face him? I’ll do whatever it takes. If these serums aren’t enough, I’ll find cybernetic implants. If those fail, I’ll find an Interstellar Beast. I—"
...!
Damian stepped forward and sighed, walking up to the trembling woman who had taken the serum.
He gave her a firm, steady hug.
"It’s okay."
His voice was soft.
"You don’t have to do all of that... but I can promise you this."
"The day Vex Talon dies—you’ll be there to rip his arms and legs off."
...!