Incubus Ascension Chapter 54

Liam and the girls were still standing there, trying to catch their breath after everything that had just gone down. The air felt heavy, like the island itself was holding onto the tension. Then, out of nowhere, a bright flicker of light appeared right in front of them. A hologram snapped into view, glowing blue and sharp, like soone had sliced open a window in the air. Liam’s eyes widened. His stomach dropped for a second as he stared at the figure looking straight back at them. The girls gasped beside him, one of them grabbing his arm without thinking. Who the hell was this? They had just wrapped up Sylvia’s ga, and now this?

It was Simon. No doubt about it. The guy’s face filled the hologram, calm and smiling like he belonged there.

"As expected from you," Simon said, his voice coming through clear and steady, almost friendly. "You easily solved Sylvia’s ga."

Liam’s mind raced. How was this even happening? Simon was supposed to be on the other side of everything, the kind of guy you stayed far away from. But here he was, popping up like it was no big deal. Liam could feel his pulse thumping in his ears. He glanced at the girls for a split second, they looked just as thrown off as he was, but he kept his focus on the hologram.

"How can you talk to us like this?" Liam asked, his voice coming out steadier than he felt. "This is Sylvia’s channel, right?"

Simon let out a low chuckle, like Liam had asked sothing obvious. "Relax, kid. I hacked this channel to talk to you privately. Sylvia won’t be intervening or listening in. It’s just us for now."

Liam hesitated. Hacked it? That sounded risky as hell, but it also ant Simon had gone through so trouble to get here alone. The girls shifted on their feet, staying quiet, but he could sense their eyes on him, waiting to see what he would do. Part of him wanted to shut it down right there. Simon was bad news, he knew that from every mory of his past life. But walking away without hearing more felt stupid too. What if this gave him sothing useful?

Simon leaned in a little closer through the hologram, his smile not fading. "Sylvia wants to use you. You’re the chosen one, and she’s got her plans all lined up for that. But I know a better choice. Join , and I’ll treat you like an equal. No strings, no using you as so pawn."

Liam paused for a long beat. His thoughts churned. Should he even ask this guy anything? Simon had turned on humanity before, sided with the monsters like it was nothing. Asking felt like stepping too close to a fire. But then again, what harm could one question do? It might give him the full picture without him promising a thing. He swallowed hard. "What does Sylvia plan for , exactly?" he asked, keeping his tone even.

Simon didn’t miss a beat. His smile stayed in place, but his eyes sharpened. "She’s planning to sacrifice you in one of the rituals she dug up from those ancient tombs. That’s her endga for the chosen one. Use you up for whatever power boost she needs."

Liam stared at him for what felt like forever. The words sat heavy in his chest. Sacrifice? It sounded crazy, but the way Simon said it made it feel real. He could feel the girls tensing up next to him, the air in the room, or whatever space they were in, going completely still. "Do you really believe I would trust you?" Liam finally said, his voice low but firm. "The person who sided with the monster race? After everything?"

Simon just smiled wider, like the question didn’t bother him at all. "I won’t ask you to trust on my word alone. I’ll show you the truth instead." He reached off to the side, out of the main view, and pulled out a rolled-up copy of an old scroll. Then he tossed it forward. The hologram made it appear right in front of Liam, solid enough to catch. "This is the translation of the scroll. Read it for yourself."

Liam picked it up carefully, his fingers brushing the paper. It felt real, not so trick. He unrolled it slowly and scanned the lines. The translation was clear, details about a ritual, the chosen one being offered up in so ancient ceremony for power or control. It lined up exactly with what Simon had said. Liam’s heart beat harder as he read. After a minute, he shook his head and lowered the scroll. "I can’t trust this," he muttered, more to himself than anyone. "I can’t trust this guy who betrayed humanity in my past life."

But even as the words left his mouth, his brain was already turning. Okay, so Simon was offering proof, but that didn’t an Liam had to buy it. How could he flip this? Use it sohow without actually joining up? Then a mory clicked into place from his past life. There had been this S-ranked dungeon gate, one no one could clear. It was brutal, packed with monsters that tore through teams like they were nothing. Dozens of strong hunters had gone in and never co out. If he sent Simon there, maybe that would be the end of the problem. Simon would walk right into it, thinking it was easy for him, and that could be it.

Liam kept his face thoughtful, like he was really weighing the offer. He rubbed his chin for a second, buying ti. "Okay," he said at last. "I would think about your offer if you fill one of my requests first."

Simon tilted his head. "What is it?"

Liam took a breath, keeping his voice casual. "There was a dungeon gate I found. It looks way too dangerous for soone like to handle alone, but for soone as strong as you, it would be easy to solve. Clear it, and I’ll seriously consider what you’re saying."

Simon stared at him for a long ti, eyes locked on like he was searching for any trick. The silence stretched out, making Liam’s palms sweat a little. He could feel the girls watching too, the weight of it all pressing in. Finally, Simon nodded once. "Okay. If that’s what it takes to make you reconsider my offer of joining , sure."

Then Simon rattled off his phone number, right there in the hologram. "Give the location here," he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Liam blinked, feeling a rush of bewildernt hit him. He had just gotten the phone number of his enemy. It felt weird, almost ridiculous, like holding onto sothing that could blow up in his face. But he pulled out his own phone anyway, typed in the pin for the gate’s location, and added a quick ssage. He hit send and looked back up. "Done!"

Simon checked his side quickly. "Okay, I’ll take a look there. But if that was a trap..." His voice dropped, serious now. "I would make you pay."

Liam gulped, the threat landing like a cold splash. His throat felt tight for a second. This whole thing was a gamble, but it had to work.

Before Simon could say anything else, the hologram flickered and cut out completely. In its place, the city leader Sylvia appeared again, her face filling the glowing space.

"Did Simon manipulate you or sothing?" she asked right away, her tone sharp with worry. "Don’t believe anything he says."

Liam shook his head slowly. "It’s okay." He kept his face neutral, not giving anything away. But he wasn’t letting this slide either. He looked straight at her. "You too didn’t say everything, isn’t it true? You owe an explanation."

Sylvia let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping just a bit. "I will tell you everything." She snapped her fingers, and the world shifted in an instant. The hologram vanished, and Liam and the girls found themselves standing in Director Elena’s office again, like they had never left.

Liam looked around, his eyes landing on the table in the middle of the room. Empty alcohol bottles were everywhere, dozens of them, scattered across the surface and piled on the floor. He felt a wave of bewildernt wash over him. How much had they gone through? And none of it seed to have touched them. These people could drink like it was water and still look completely fine. It didn’t make any sense, but nothing about this day did.

Sylvia turned to face him directly, her expression serious but steady. "Alright, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth, but now get ready to hear everything."

Liam felt the sudden shift in the room, the air growing thicker and more tense. He gulped quietly, his muscles tightening as he braced himself. He was ready to hear her answer, whatever it was.

She looked him in the eyes and said, "The island ga I gave you wasn’t for my own enjoynt. It was actually a test for you."