CHAPTER 290: THE ONE IN RED

Zain’s blade hovered just a few inches from the glowing tube.

The hum of the machines grew louder. The air was thick with tension.

A voice echoed from the far side of the lab.

"Don’t you dare move a bit."

Zain didn’t flinch. He smiled.

"So you finally showed up," he said.

Vorthar stepped into view, cloak dragging behind him.

His face was pale, brows drawn tight.

He looked tired. But more than that, he looked scared.

Zain didn’t move his blade.

"I see," Zain said, eyes on the tanks. "These are your precious ingredients."

He turned slightly, watching Vorthar’s face.

"I wonder what kind of expression you’ll make if I destroy one."

Vorthar clenched his fists.

His steps were slow and heavy as he moved forward, but he made sure to keep a safe distance.

Inside, he was panicking.

Those two tubes...

If anything were to happen to them, everything would fall apart.

They weren’t just support samples.

They were the true source. The main ingredients for the Flame God Serum.

Even if the formula was perfect, it meant nothing without them.

The serum couldn’t be reproduced. Not without what was inside those tanks.

He didn’t show it on his face, but his thoughts were racing.

He had to stay calm. He had to reason with this man.

His voice came out tense but controlled.

"Don’t you dare. Those are vital to the Flame God Cult."

Zain tilted his head and gave a small nod.

"I figured," he said. "That’s exactly why I want to see what’s inside."

Vorthar’s jaw tightened.

"Just tell me," he said, his voice sharper now, "what do you want?"

Zain turned fully to face him, eyes steady.

"I want this base."

Vorthar blinked. "What did you say?"

Zain spread his arms slowly, letting his voice echo across the lab.

"This base. This lab. Everything you built here. I’m taking it all."

He stepped forward, calm but commanding.

"This will be the first stronghold of the Heavenly Demon Sect on the Supreme Island."

He paused, then added with a grin, "As for you, I’m generous."

"You can work under me. Be my henchman. Not a bad offer, right?"

Vorthar’s face twisted in disbelief. "You’re insane. That’s impossible."

Zain shrugged.

"Suit yourself," he said. "In that case..."

He turned toward the tubes, his blade rising.

"Let’s see what kind of face you’ll make when I shatter your masterpiece."

Vorthar’s eyes widened.

"Wait! Don’t you dare!"

He rushed a step forward, panic rising in his voice.

Zain didn’t even glance his way.

"You really thought I was bluffing?" he said, his tone quiet... and final.

His right sword lifted and slashed across the tank with the bold letter S.

Glass shattered.

Red liquid spilled out across the steel floor.

The machine gave a sharp alarm.

Vorthar’s eyes widened in horror. "No!"

From within the ruined tank, something moved.

Zain raised an eyebrow.

From inside the broken tube, a figure slid out and fell gently onto the ground.

It was not a beast. Not a monster. Not a failed experiment.

It was a woman.

Zain’s smirk disappeared.

His eyes widened.

He slowly stepped forward, staring at her wet hair as it clung to her skin.

Long crimson red.

Her body was strong, tall, and curvy.

His fists tightened as he knew who she was

He had once held her close during quiet nights in the lower zones.

He had watched her walk away... with his sister.

"...Savra?"

Zain knelt beside her.

"Savra... what the hell are you doing here?"

She didn’t respond.

Her eyes remained closed. Her breathing was soft but steady.

She was unconscious.

Zain gently pushed her hair from her face, his jaw clenched tight.

He looked up at Vorthar.

"You," Zain said. "What did you do to her?"

Vorthar blinked. He hadn’t expected that reaction.

"You know her?" he asked.

Zain’s silence was sharp.

Vorthar’s surprise faded into a grin.

"Well... that’s fortunate."

He took a step closer.

"Since you clearly care about her, I assume you won’t do anything reckless now."

Zain stood without answering.

Vorthar kept walking, slow and calm.

"She was the key, after all. The core ingredient. That tube? I can rebuild it. The system is intact."

Zain’s voice dropped, low and sharp.

"Don’t come any closer."

Vorthar raised both hands slightly.

"Oh? Getting serious now?"

He laughed once.

"I wonder... do you even have the guts to stop me? She was your woman, wasn’t she?"

His eyes gleamed.

"Would you really destroy her yourself?"

Zain’s eyes narrowed, fists clenched.

"Tell me," he growled. "How is she even here?"

Vorthar’s grin widened.

"Ah... so you really didn’t know."

He stepped closer, his voice dripping with pride.

"That woman you’re protecting. She’s the true leader of the Flame God Cult."

Zain didn’t flinch.

Vorthar kept going.

"Her name is Savra Svarokh. The last blood of the Svarokh family, the ones who founded this entire cult."

He let the weight of the words hang.

"But when her clan was wiped out, she was tossed into the lower zones like trash... just to survive."

He gave a low chuckle.

"Who would’ve thought she’d crawl her way back."

Zain’s fingers twitched.

Vorthar leaned in, eyes sharp.

"I gave her hope. Spoke a few words. Fed her just enough lies."

He smirked.

"I told her she could rebuild. That she could become something great."

His voice turned cold and cruel.

"And in return? She gave me everything."

"She agreed to the experiments. Never once asked what they were for."

Vorthar laughed, bitter and loud.

"She didn’t even question what I was putting into her. What I was taking from her."

"How easy it was to twist her."

Zain’s eyes darkened.

He said nothing.

But his aura began to shift.

The lab grew colder despite the fire.

Vorthar noticed the change.

But he didn’t stop grinning.

"You didn’t know, did you?" he said.

"She was mine before you ever found her."

Zain slowly stepped in front of Savra’s body, shielding her.

"You’ll regret everything you just said."