CHAPTER 418: TWENTY THREE POTENTIAL OPTIONS

We were sitting in Leo’s office when I started explaining to Lyrate about the rest of the world—its cities, the technology, the endless lands still untouched by abominations. She listened quietly, her eyes roaming across the strange furniture and glowing screens, curiosity burning in her gaze.

That was when Cassian walked in. He didn’t bother knocking, just entered the room and looked straight at me.

"Arkas said you want to visit the prison?" he asked.

"Prison?" I frowned. "You mean the volcano?"

He gave a small nod. "Yeah, the same thing."

I leaned back in my chair and nodded slowly. "Yes. I want to visit."

Cassian’s eyes flicked to Lyrate for a moment, then back to me. He studied me as if weighing my resolve before giving a short nod. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and began typing quickly. The glow of the screen reflected off his sharp features, his fingers moving with practiced ease.

After a few moments, he put the device away and faced me again. "Alright. I’ve passed the order. You’re cleared for entry. You can teleport from here to the Capital, and from there straight to the prison."

I rose from my seat, feeling Lyrate’s curious eyes follow me. "And you’re not coming with us?" I asked.

Cassian shook his head firmly. "No. This one is for you. Go ahead and do your thing."

There was no hesitation in his voice. I met his gaze for a moment, then gave him a small nod of thanks.

Turning back to Lyrate, I could already see the excitement building in her expression. She had no idea what waited for us at that volcano.

With Cassian’s approval, we went straight to the teleporter inside the base. A flash of light carried us back to the capital, and without wasting any time I chose the next destination—the so-called "prison" Cassian had mentioned.

The moment I confirmed, the portal pulled us through, and we were once again flung out of the capital into another place altogether.

We landed inside a tall tower, the portal humming on the middle floor where we appeared. The air was a little chilly but smelled great. Before I could even take a proper look, voices rang out.

"Commander Billion."

Three men in uniform stood before me, all masters, their posture sharp and their faces serious. They saluted in perfect unison.

I gave them a small nod.

"We received orders directly from General Cassian that you would be arriving," one of them said.

Again, I nodded. "Good. No need for formalities."

"Would you like a tour of the place, Commander?"

I rubbed my chin for a moment, then shook my head. "No tour. But I want to know about the prisoners here."

I stepped forward, leaving the chamber. The three men instantly fell in line behind me, boots striking the ground in sync.

As I walked, I extended my perception outward. It spread across the tower first, then spilled further until the entire compound sat inside my awareness.

The main tower was surrounded by several other ancient-styled towers, each arranged in rigid order. Even the housing areas followed the same structure, stone and steel woven together.

Beyond the walls of the compound stretched a dense forest, wild and unbroken. Further still, I sensed familiar grounds, the crater where I had once fought, the field where I first met North, and in the distance, the volcano itself.

The soldier at the front finally answered my earlier question.

"This prison was built to hold dangerous or unique individuals. Many of them are masters. Some are weaker but carry traits or knowledge that make them valuable. We also keep traitors from our own worlds, spies from others... and abominations. If they’re useful or needed for experiments, they’re held here."

I slowed, turning slightly. "Experiments? You conduct experiments here?"

The man’s reply came quick, almost cautious. "Yes, Commander. Some of them... are questionable. That is why this place must stay out of the public’s eyes."

I met his gaze, silent for a moment, then nodded and moved on.

He continued, his tone steady.

"The prison has five levels. Prisoners are arranged by strength. The lowest tier holds those under level fifty. Then fifty to one hundred. Next, one hundred to one fifty then one fifty to two hundred. The fifth level is for those between two hundred and two-fifty. Anything higher is considered too dangerous and is instead kept within the capital itself under the strictest watch."

I asked, "How many abominations are above level two hundred here?"

"Commander," he replied without hesitation, "we currently hold nine hundred thirty-two captured abominations. Out of them, twenty-three are between level two hundred and two-fifty."

That revelation caught me off guard. The empire was actually keeping that many grandmaster-level abominations alive and locked up. For a moment, I couldn’t believe it. Abominations at that stage were monsters who could wipe out armies, and yet here they were, chained inside this prison.

"Any reason why they are not killed?" I asked, my voice calm but edged with curiosity.

The man hesitated. I caught the flicker in his eyes, the way his lips pressed together before he finally answered. "They are... useful, in one way or another, to the empire."

I gave a slow nod, though inwardly I didn’t like that answer at all.

To me, abominations were suffering souls that deserved release, not endless captivity. Killing them was mercy. But then, as I thought about it, I couldn’t ignore the hypocrisy.

I myself had three summons, bound to me, and though my connection with them was far more complex than these creatures, it still wasn’t the freedom I claimed to value. My case was different... but only slightly.

I pushed the thought aside and focused again on the soldier. "Any unique abominations among those twenty-three?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Ones with strange powers, skills, laws, or abilities that stand out?"

The man exchanged a quick glance with the others before replying.

"Yes, Commander. A few of them are unlike anything we’ve seen before. Some have abilities that even our researchers haven’t fully understood. Their bodies, their essence, even the way they bend laws, are different from the rest. Those ones are under constant observation."

His words stirred something inside me. Unique abominations... that meant potential summons for me, if I could bind them.

At last, we reached the ground floor of the tower. The heavy doors opened, and I stepped outside. The air carried the faint scent of smoke and ash, mixed with the metallic tang of Essence lingering in the atmosphere.