Chapter 74: Fallout IV
Chapter 74: Fallout IV
He spoke the words casually, as if he were just making small talk in a descending elevator.Yet the effect was instant- Serena froze, her Void Serpent flashing with dangerous black flames. She kept her emotions in check, but her voice came out cold.
"What...about him?"
She wanted to play dumb.
As if she had no idea what he was referring to.
But Damian could afford to be bold now. His power had grown. And at this moment, he was looking to tap into someone like him, someone who also wanted to tear apart a high-ranking Guardian of ZENTHRA.
Someone he and Anastasia could use.
"You tell me. But if you want to discuss such a...sensitive subject, I’m headed for drinks right now."
He said it offhandedly as he stepped out of the elevator and strode across the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation lobby, which was crawling with even more drones and security than usual.
He didn’t need to glance behind him to know Serena was following. Her steps were steady, her expression set in stone.
Pulling out his phone, Damian messaged Anastasia while walking.
[Some crazy stuff happened. Coming out of ZENTHRA now to obtain more intel with a Guardian. Any updates from you?]
The reply came within five seconds.
[Another outing with Lyra Veyrin?]
The tone practically lifted an eyebrow. Damian’s fingers moved quickly.
[Serena. Confronted regarding Valentine Bateman. Heading to Hollow Stacks. Any updates?]
There was a longer pause this time before her response came:
[The boss of the Rustblood Circuit Arena is a Vagrant Beast Master. Currently harboring the escaped Beast Masters. You and Kitsuul would be perfect for infiltration...]
[Oh?]
Damian’s eyes flashed with interest.
Thoughts churned.
[Then I’ll bring Serena to the Rustblood Circuit Arena. I’ll need to grab some masks...]
He couldn’t walk in freely after his last performance. Even though he could more than handle himself now, there was no harm in staying low-profile when needed.
He ignored the screaming fanatics outside, some even shouting at him and Serena, both clad in crisp, new ZENTHRA Trial Guardian bodysuits. He flagged down a ZENTHRA shuttle and got in, leaving the upward-opening door wide.
Moments later, Serena slipped inside silently.
Her face was unreadable, a mix of curiosity, caution, and tightly coiled thought, while Damian remained composed, speaking to the Cybernetic Navigator.
"Take us as close as you can to the Hollow Stacks."
...!
He didn’t miss Serena’s subtle flinch at that.
Her mind was likely racing: Why mention Valentine Bateman? Why the Hollow Stacks?
The navigator nodded without question, and the vessel lifted into the skies, gliding smoothly over the glittering spires of Ebonreach Metropolis.
They soared away from Skyglass Heights and toward the bleak expanse of the Hollow Stacks.
Kitsuul, calm and composed, watched quietly with glowing eyes. Serena’s Void Serpent met her gaze, and for a brief moment, something heavy passed between them as power recognized power. It recoiled slightly, sensing the dense stillness within the small fox-like beast.
Serena stiffened further. Her thoughts deepened.
Meanwhile, Damian followed Kitsuul’s gaze as it lingered on the border between Skyglass Heights and Hollow Stacks.
Down below, protestors gathered. Their signs waved, their voices carried through the wind as they faced rows of enforcer drones.
[We have rights too!]
[We want livable streets!]
[Vagrant Beast Masters deserve respect!]
[This is a revolution...!]
The Metropolis was boiling.
Ever since the recent chaos in Skyglass Heights, talks of martial law had grown louder. Many powerful voices were calling for raids into the Hollow Stacks to flush out Vagrant Beast Masters.
The tension had become combustible.
The Stackborn knew what came next, raids would tear through their crumbling apartments, and lives would be lost.
Damian’s shuttle passed it all silently. In under eight minutes, the vessel descended onto Guardian’s Road within the Hollow Stacks.
Stepping out, Damian inhaled the thick, gritty air.
It wasn’t clean, but it felt like home.
He moved toward the jagged silhouettes of clustered gray and black buildings, leading them into the underbelly of the city only locals could navigate.
"First time in the Hollow Stacks?"
He didn’t look back, just tossed the question toward Serena, who was taking in her surroundings with barely hidden wariness.
Her head snapped to him in surprise. She hesitated before answering.
"I... I’ve passed over it before, when I was younger. But no, I’ve never actually been here."
...!
Stackborn and Glassbloods.
Each trapped in their own bubble, rarely, if ever, crossing into the other’s world.
"Then today will be good for you. Time to expand your horizons. Come."
He gestured for her to follow, walking with practiced ease through the streets. People gawked, first at the descending shuttle, then at the imposing Beast Masters who emerged from it.
They drew plenty of attention, but Damian ignored it as he led them to one of the larger stores near the district’s junction, a place kept clean for its proximity to Skyglass Heights.
Minutes later, Damian emerged with a sleek overcoat and mask. He handed similar gear to Serena, a gray-black robe that covered her white bodysuit completely.
Her Void Serpent wrapped around her frame and hid within the folds.
Kitsuul, for her part, pretended to slip inside Damian’s robe, then vanished into invisibility and returned to his shoulder, yawning.
Now they blended in.
Gray and black oversized coats were everywhere in the Hollow Stacks, a uniform of the unseen.
They passed rows of decrepit apartments, slipping deeper into the district. Serena looked around with a mixture of caution and intrigue, occasionally pointing things out.
"What’s that?"
Damian explained when necessary, his voice quiet but steady.
It wasn’t every day that a Glassblood Interstellar Beast Master walked through the Hollow Stacks.
And it was clear.
This experience was going to leave a mark on her!
Over the next few minutes, Serena’s eyes were opened to an entirely new world. Damian had to guide them carefully, making sure they didn’t become targets of any local gangs or draw the attention of anyone looking to scam, rob, or worse.
"In the Hollow Stacks, don’t talk to anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary. Treat every stranger like a potential threat. Don’t flash valuables. If you have your phone, keep it close and hidden. And if someone stares at you, don’t engage. They’re probably searching for weak targets to rob or kidnap."
...!