CHAPTER 280: JUST GRABBED IT AND DIPPED

Ashblade stepped inside the next room, his boots making no sound.

The lights inside were dim, but the red glow from the liquid tubes lit the walls.

He looked around.

There were at least ten large glass tubes.

Each one was filled with thick, red liquid.

Inside the liquid floated the corpses of beasts—mutated, twisted, and broken.

Some had extra limbs. Some had fire scars.

One had no face at all, only burned muscle.

Ashblade moved closer to the nearest tube.

He tapped the side once. The red liquid rippled.

"Serum lab," he whispered.

He turned his attention to a console at the corner of the room.

A dusty screen flickered with symbols.

Ashblade crouched down and tapped a few buttons.

The system buzzed.

He didn’t know everything about tech, but Whisperlash had taught him enough.

The screen showed files. Test logs. Failure rates. Beast types.

He kept scrolling.

"Flame God Serum – Mix Variants: 32 tested. 7 usable."

Another window popped up.

Base Components:

Blood of fire-adapted beasts

Marrow from unstable monsters

Ash crystals dissolved in acid

But the main line caught his eye:

Primary Catalyst: "Dual Blood—origin not listed. Sent from High Command only. Must be kept sealed and injected last."

Ashblade’s eyes narrowed.

"They don’t even name it."

He tapped another file.

Transfer Notes: "Samples delivered from central base. This facility is secondary. No direct testing permitted without approval."

"So this isn’t their main base," Ashblade muttered.

He stood up and looked around again.

The whole base was just a branch. A smaller part of something bigger.

He walked toward the storage shelves.

Small vials rested in cold cases, some cracked, some glowing faintly.

He then opened the back door.

It led to a small hallway with crates and fireproof lockers.

Two cultists appeared at the end.

Ashblade stepped back. Too late. They saw him.

"Who—?!"

He vanished with [Phantom Step], reappearing behind the first one.

His blade struck clean.

The second cultist screamed.

Ashblade didn’t wait. [Rift Cleave].

The slash hit first, followed by the delayed wave that dropped the man to his knees.

Ashblade grabbed his body and dragged it into the shadows.

He stepped back into the storage room.

He moved quickly toward the cold cases on the side.

There were several vials inside.

He took one and held it up.

The liquid inside moved slowly, almost alive.

"This should be enough," he said quietly.

He slipped two vials into a small metal case, locked it, and strapped it to his waist.

Then he tapped his wrist comm.

"We’re done here. This is a branch base, not the main one. I’m heading out."

Volt answered first. "Copy that. We found some documents."

"This lab only controls nearby flame cult outposts. Nothing major."

Ember’s voice followed. "Yeah, their leader here’s some guy named Reval. Never heard of him. Probably low rank."

Ashblade walked through the hallway, retracing his steps. "Good. Clear out. Regroup at the cliff point."

"Got it," Volt said.

"Don’t take too long," Ember added.

Ashblade moved quickly, passing the broken bodies of the cultists he had silenced earlier.

The stone gate was still half-open. He slipped through it and back into the cool night air outside.

The heat from the volcanic land hit him again, but it felt lighter now.

Volt and Ember were already waiting when he arrived.

Ember was stretching his arms. "Took your time."

Ashblade looked at him. "Had to collect proof."

Volt held up a small folder. "Their files were sloppy. Barely encrypted. But I scanned everything."

Ashblade gave a small nod.

Whisperlash arrived next, walking casually from the north trail. "Guess we’re done?"

"Yeah," Ember said.

"No alarms, no big fights. I’m starting to think these cult freaks are all show."

Sightpiercer dropped down from a ledge above. "Don’t assume. The real ones are somewhere else."

Ashblade pointed at the serum case on his belt.

"This... is just a sample. The true lab is still out there. This was only surface-level."

Volt glanced toward the smoky horizon. "Then we report this, recharge, and prepare."

Ashblade turned. "Let’s go."

But the ground rumbled slightly.

Something was off.

From behind the nearby rocks and ridges, a group of cultists stepped out.

They wore the same black and red robes, but these ones moved differently—calm, confident.

In the middle of the group, a tall man with ash-grey hair and glowing red eyes walked forward.

He had no mask, only a cruel smile on his face.

Volt’s eyes narrowed. "That’s him."

Ember clenched his fists. "Reval... the branch leader."

Reval looked at them and grinned. "Well, well. Rats from the Hero Association."

"Thought you could sneak in and out without anyone noticing?"

He stepped forward. "You’ll make good test subjects."

More cultists appeared behind him.

Two of them had already begun to change. Their veins glowed red.

Their skin burned at the edges. They had taken the Flame God Serum.

Ashblade didn’t flinch.

He unstrapped the case from his waist and tossed it to Volt and Ember.

"Take the samples back."

Volt frowned. "Wait. What about you?"

Ashblade looked at the cultists, then back at Volt. "Whisperlash and I will handle this."

Ember stepped forward. "We can fight. We’re not running."

"You lost before," Ashblade said flatly.

"And that was against one who used the serum."

He pointed at the two cultists now glowing.

"These two have taken it. Reval is stronger than both."

Whisperlash stepped beside Ashblade and stretched her whip.

Ashblade’s voice was calm. "You and Sightpiercer leave. Now. That’s an order."

Volt hesitated. Ember looked like he wanted to argue again.

But Sightpiercer placed a hand on Volt’s shoulder. "He’s right."

Volt took the case and gave one last look at Ashblade.

"Don’t die."

Ashblade didn’t answer.

Volt, Ember, and Sightpiercer turned and moved fast across the rocks, heading for the upper trail.

They disappeared over the slope.

Ashblade stepped forward and drew his blade.

Whisperlash spun her whip in one hand.

Reval smiled wider.

"So, you two think you can stop us?"

Ashblade raised his sword slightly.

"Let’s see."