CHAPTER 289: COMET RAIN VS DEMON FLESH

Vorthar narrowed his eyes and took a step forward.

"So, you really think this is a game?"

Zain didn’t answer.

Vorthar raised his hand.

"Then let me give you a game over."

The flames around his body surged.

[Firebrand Ascension]

His entire body began to rise into the air, cloaked in fire.

His cloak split open as his aura swelled like a sun.

The stone beneath his feet melted from the heat.

Zain looked up.

The ceiling above cracked and then broke apart.

From above, fireballs the size of wagons formed in the sky.

[Infernal Comet Rain]

Zain raised an eyebrow.

"...You’re really not worried about wrecking your own base?"

Vorthar’s voice cut through the rising heat.

"If it burns, then let it burn."

Flames twisted above him, growing denser.

"This whole place can turn to ash for all I care."

He didn’t even glance at the crumbling walls.

The only thing he truly valued was the lab, and that was deeply buried.

It would survive.

"I won’t let some rat walk away after mocking the Flame God Cult."

His tone turned sharp.

"You’ll die with the rest of the rubble."

Zain’s smirk returned for a second.

"Well... guess I talked too much."

Dozens of flaming meteors fell from the skies above.

Zain clenched his teeth.

He activated both of his core abilities.

[Heavenly Demon Body]

His body pulsed with corrupted ether, growing stronger.

[Heavenly Demon Breathing]

He inhaled deeply, pulling in some of the ambient energy before the sky was filled with fire.

Then he dashed forward through the storm.

But Vorthar was focused now. His hands shifted.

He redirected all the falling meteors at one point.

Zain narrowed his eyes and rushed to dodge, block, and leap.

But the force was too much.

One meteor slammed beside him, blasting stone and flame into the air.

The second crashed straight down.

It hit.

A massive explosion followed.

The ground split. Fire roared.

The upper level shook like it was about to break apart.

Smoke and heat filled the space.

Vorthar slowly lowered himself through the smoke.

His voice was cold.

"It’s over."

But down in the smoke, Zain gritted his teeth.

He looked at the base’s wide layout.

"Tch. A place this big must have something underground."

He gathered his corrupted ether.

Then slammed his fist into the floor with all his strength.

[Heavenly Demon Fist]

The floor cracked open.

A hole burst downward, revealing a lower level.

Zain dropped through and smirked.

"Perfect. Let’s go deeper."

His feet touched metal flooring.

It was different down here.

The heat was still strong, but steadier and controlled.

Tubes glowed red along the walls. Machines buzzed.

He could see faint glass chambers deeper inside.

Above, Vorthar hovered in mid-air, watching the smoke.

"He should be gone. Nothing survives that much flame," he muttered.

Then he saw it.

A large, jagged hole opened in the floor. Firelight flickered around it.

Vorthar’s eyes widened.

"No."

He flew down fast, his voice shaking.

"That hole... it leads to—"

He gritted his teeth.

"Damn it!"

He landed and leaned over the edge, looking down into the lab’s hidden structure.

"He dropped straight into the underground lab," he said, furious.

"Damn, damn, damn!"

He turned and waved one hand, summoning more fire.

"That experiment is near completion. I can’t let him touch it."

Without another word, he dropped down after Zain.

He didn’t want Zain to ruin the Flame God Cult’s most important secret.

---

Zain walked deeper into the lab.

The red glow from the tubes lit the dark space in pulses, like a slow heartbeat.

He moved slowly, eyes scanning every corner.

Rows of thick tubes lined the walls. Inside each one, red liquid bubbled quietly.

Shapes floated inside.

They were twisted beasts, burned corpses, and some were barely recognizable.

"So this is where they created the Flame God Serum," Zain muttered.

He stepped closer to one of the tubes.

The beast inside was huge, but lifeless.

Its skin was cracked. Its bones showed through its scales.

"Just ingredients," he said. "Not the real power."

He kept walking. Past rows of consoles.

Past open notes and diagrams. Many were burned or half-erased.

Then he stopped.

At the end of the lab stood two massive tanks, taller than any others.

Thick glass. Glowing red inside. The liquid inside pulsed.

He walked closer, placing a hand gently on one of them.

The glass was warm.

He looked up.

There were no names.

Just two letters etched into the steel frames.

One tank had a bold "S" carved on it.

The other had a sharp "Z".

Zain’s eyes narrowed.

He stepped back and checked the nearest computer.

The screen showed live data.

Extraction in progress.

Energy values. Blood readings. Flame compatibility. All pointed to one thing.

"These two... they’re the main source," Zain said. "Not ingredients. Origins."

He leaned closer and tapped the screen.

The numbers were rising.

"Still active," he whispered. "Still being drained."

He stared at the tanks for a long time.

The liquid swirled slowly.

Who or what was inside?

He couldn’t see through the red.

His fingers tapped lightly on the glass again.

Then he smirked.

"What if I destroy these?"

He turned to glance at the control systems.

The entire lab pulsed with it.

Zain chuckled.

"Would it all collapse?" he said to himself. "Would it burn?"

His smirk grew sharper.

He looked at the "S" and "Z" marks again.

"You really went this far, huh, Vorthar?" Zain muttered.

"Feeding from something you shouldn’t even touch."

His eyes narrowed.

"You played god in this place," he said. "So let me do the cleanup."

He stepped back.

Two blades formed in his hands. Glowing black with corrupted ether.

"I wonder what kind of face you’ll make when you see this place in pieces," he said.

"When you see your precious serum shattered."

He raised both swords.

"Let’s see if your screams sound better than your flames."

Just as he took a step forward, a voice echoed from behind the tanks.

"Don’t you dare!"

Zain’s eyes shifted toward the sound.

Then came footsteps.