Chapter 73: Fallout III
Chapter 73: Fallout III
"100% Resonance and 750 Entropic Energy Values... you’ve clearly undergone a significant change from this accident, Therion Dark."On the 150th floor of ZENTHRA Beast Corporation, a Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Master student stood in front of Damian and the others, reviewing data on a sleek black tablet as he spoke.
Lyra and Serena were unhooking themselves from the wires and machines that had been monitoring their vitals. Damian had already done the same.
He gently stroked the fur of Kitsuul, nodding.
"Yeah. My Beast went into overdrive to protect me, and something happened. It seems to have gained... a bit more power."
"A bit more? Hah!"
The man laughed- refined, sharp. He wore black-rimmed glasses and a sleek black suit that practically screamed wealth and power as he shook his head and continued.
"You’re just 250 Energy Values away from becoming a Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Master, even if only a weak one. But your Beast... it shows unique qualities. We have programs here at ZENTHRA where you could loan your Beast for a few days, or a week, for us to study. We might even unlock more of its potential for you..."
...!
Ridiculous.
Those words, spoken so casually by this ZENTHRA Guardian, made Damian’s eyes flash with dangerous light. He nearly smacked the man across the room for even suggesting Kitsuul be handed over for experimentation.
But he didn’t.
Because Lyra Veyrin stepped in front of him.
"Are we done here? All of this has been traumatic enough, and I believe we deserve a day or two of rest. The Trial Guardian regimen can resume once whatever happened is investigated. Only three of us are left anyway."
...!
Her radiant blue hair shimmered as she stood tall, no longer the shy girl they’d met days ago. That mask was gone. Shattered by what they’d endured. What they’d survived.
Serena glanced sideways at her, gently stroking the scales of her serpent. Its tail still pierced into her back, evidence that the merging she’d initiated to survive the Entropic Domain wasn’t easily reversed.
The Guardian in the suit coughed, clearly uncomfortable. And yet, he didn’t challenge Lyra. Couldn’t.
He knew.
Guardians had clearly spoken amongst themselves.
Guardian Sludgeborn must have already let them know exactly who Lyra Veyrin was.
"Well... you can’t leave quite yet."
"Who says?" Lyra’s voice cut sharp as steel. Her gaze daring anyone to challenge her.
And...
"I said."
...!
A voice echoed from deeper within the building. Through the crowd of bustling ZENTHRA employees came a man in a pristine white-gold suit, flanked by five elite Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Masters.
His eyes were radiant blue- uncannily similar to Lyra’s.
And his presence... it exuded sheer authority. Power.
There were no visible Beasts with him or his companions, but Damian could feel it. Each of them radiated a pressure that surpassed even Guardian Flameborn.
"My little girl’s gotten this feisty after just one Rift Dive?"
Lyra’s expression softened. Her eyes flicked past the stunned Guardian who had addressed them, landing on the man who had spoken.
Her father.
ZENTHRA’s Director of Operations.
Manager Park.
Dark hair streaked with blue. Piercing blue eyes. Power and elegance wrapped in one terrifying package. He didn’t look at anyone else- just his daughter.
Lyra ran into his arms.
Even her Blue Slime leapt from her head, landing proudly atop his, a moment of absurd charm in the middle of a tense scene.
"You okay?"
Manager Park smiled down at her.
Lyra nodded. "Mmm... Is Aunt...?"
"Haha, she’s fine. Stronger than she looks. We already have a new Interstellar Beast lined up for her as soon as she wakes and can form another bond. But... who do I need to thank for saving my daughter?"
His gaze turned to Damian.
Razor-sharp.
Lyra visibly tensed. She quickly composed herself and answered, voice even.
"Therion Dark. A new Trial Guardian... stronger than the rest."
There was distance in her tone now. Polished and detached. As if she didn’t want her father to suspect how close she and Damian had become.
Manager Park nodded and strode toward Damian, looking him up and down before extending his hand.
Damian accepted the handshake, keeping up appearances.
BZZT!
It was like being gripped by a primal Beast. The sheer strength in that clasp... it was a test. A warning.
Pressure enough to crush any weak Initiate Interstellar Beast Master.
"We need more Guardians like you. Thank you for your bravery today."
His voice was grave, sincere.
"You saved my daughter’s life- and that earns you a very large favor from me. I’ll be watching, Therion Dark. And as for all of you..."
He glanced at Serena and Lyra, releasing Damian’s hand.
"You get today and tomorrow off. We’ll finish investigating what caused the changes inside that Rift. Once that’s settled, you’ll be assigned a new Guardian to continue training."
His tone darkened, commanding.
"You survived an event that nearly killed a Symbiotic Resonance Interstellar Beast Master. Reflect on what you saw. When you return in two days, let the trauma push your strength higher. So nothing like this ever happens to you again."
...!
Damian and Serena exchanged nods, the weight of his words hanging heavy.
They were dismissed, and as they walked away, Damian stole a glance at Lyra.
She didn’t look back.
Her focus was squarely on her father, her expression unreadable.
And Damian didn’t blame her.
He didn’t know just how deep her ties ran- how much power she held behind that delicate facade.
He only knew one thing.
Things were about to get messier.
Because now... he had the attention of ZENTHRA’s highest.
And that could either be a very good thing-
Or a catastrophic one.
—
His mind was filled with many possibilities as he and Serena went down the elevator in silence, their Interstellar Beasts having a staring contest with each other.
She had her Void Serpent wrapping around her while he had Kitsuul silently sitting on his shoulders, their eyes unblinking.
With Kitsuul’s increased level of power and the things that he could possibly do now, there was a lot that he wanted to try, as there were also more risks that he could take.
A risk like...
"So, Valentine Bateman."
...!