Evolution Arc: Chapter 60 - Mission Set
**[Quest 2]**
**[You have 00:00:26 left until you resu your quest.]**
Axel stood silently in a narrow, shadowed alleyway, his eyes locked on the glowing notification hovering before him. The cold glow of the countdown tir reflected in his pupils, casting a pale light on his tense expression. His breath fogged in the chill evening air, and though he seed calm on the outside, inside he was a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
The world felt suffocating, each second ticking away like a countdown to his doom. He wanted to disappear, to escape. He had left the sterile, white walls of the hospital behind, wandering through the winding streets until he found himself here, surrounded by cracked brick and garbage bins, waiting for the inevitable.
"Master," a deep, gurgling voice interrupted the silence. Velerium, the ancient entity bound to him, materialized before Axel, his translucent form flickering in and out of the shadows. His hollow eyes, glowing faintly, were filled with concern. "I sense grief in you."
Axel didn't respond imdiately. He just stared at the ground, his fists clenched at his sides. His mind churned with thoughts of failure, weakness, and uncertainty. The desire to grow stronger gnawed at his soul, but the endless cycle of pain and struggle had drained him.
Finally, he sighed and shook his head, "Everything is changing too quickly, Velerium... I want to get stronger, but honestly, I don't want to do the work anymore." His voice was a strained whisper, almost lost in the wind that rustled through the alley.
Velerium let out a low, guttural hum, sothing akin to a laugh but too distorted to be comforting. "That's a feeling all living beings have, Master. At so point, we all desire power without struggle, victory without war, happiness without sacrifice. But such desires are illusions. To gain, one must suffer."
Axel's lips curled into a bitter, humorless smile. "Then I guess I just have to suffer until I rise higher than everyone else."
Velerium hovered closer, his formless body coiling around Axel like a living shadow. "You've ignored this quest for three days, despite knowing what it holds. Though I will reward you, I feel compelled to warn you of what this mission truly entails."
Axel's brow furrowed. He had assud Velerium knew more than he let on about this mysterious quest. "What kind of reward?" Axel asked, though his voice was still flat, devoid of the excitent such a prospect would normally bring.
"One," Velerium growled softly, "is a cure for your mother."
The words hit Axel like a sledgehamr. His body stiffened, and his breath caught in his throat. For a mont, the world around him ceased to exist. The sounds of distant cars, the chill wind, even Velerium's presence—all faded. Only his mother's frail image remained in his mind.
Axel's voice trembled when he finally spoke, barely managing to keep himself composed. "What... What do I need to do?"
Velerium's gaze darkened, and his voice dropped to a grave tone. "This is no simple task, Master. Unlike your first quest, which was rely a glimpse of Hell, this will take you to the very heart of it. Your mission is to claim the throne of Hades himself. You must beco his successor." He paused, as if to let the weight of his words sink in. "It will be the most difficult trial you've ever faced."
Axel's heart raced, but his resolve hardened. "I don't care," he said, voice strained but filled with determination. "Send in already."
Velerium ignored his impatience and continued, his form flickering as he spoke. "The ti within the realm you're about to enter is distorted. One week there will only be a day here. You can endure endless trials and return, barely having missed a breath in this world."
Axel braced himself, ready for the plunge into darkness.
"...5..."
Velerium's eyes flickered, as if hesitating. "But Axel—"
"...4..."
"If you die there—"
"...3..."
"...2..."
"...1..."
"It will just be the beginning of your emptiness."
---
Axel blinked rapidly as his surroundings shifted in an instant. He was no longer standing in the cold alley. Instead, he found himself on a rugged platform made of molten rock. The heat emanating from the ground seeped through his shoes, prickling at his skin. He looked around, his senses adjusting to the harsh, unforgiving environnt.
The tunnel stretched endlessly before him, dark and foreboding, with jagged rocks forming unnatural shapes along the path. Behind him lay a dead end—his only option was to move forward.
"So this is it," Axel muttered, his voice low. A notification flashed in front of his eyes.
**[Welco, Vessel of Hell.]**
**[Quest 2: The Empty Throne of Flas]**
He dismissed the notification with a swipe of his hand, his gaze hardening. "Mum... I finally have a chance. I'll get you that cure, no matter what happens."
His resolve set, Axel began to walk, each step echoing ominously in the empty tunnel.
**[You have entered Wave One of the Trial.]**
---
anwhile, in the distant city, Hendricks reclined in his luxurious office chair, swirling the bitter coffee in his hand. The dim lighting barely illuminated his gaunt face, casting long shadows across the room.
"It tastes awful," Hendricks muttered under his breath, though he kept sipping. His gaze shifted to the man standing at the far end of the room, his figure locked in a rigid, painful stance. General Kurtly stood frozen, veins bulging in his neck, his teeth gritted as he struggled against invisible binds.
"Calm down, General," Hendricks said mockingly, stirring his coffee with a silver spoon. "I thought you wanted an interview, or was it an investigation?"
Kurtly's eyes blazed with fury, but his body refused to obey his commands. He had been trapped in this torturous hold ever since he had been ambushed earlier that day—dragged into a dark room, tortured by masked n, and then thrown at Hendricks' feet like a broken toy.
"You bastard!" Kurtly shouted, his voice hoarse. "Why the hell are you doing this?"
A twisted grin spread across Hendricks' face. "Everything is falling into place, General. And I have you to thank for it." He let out a chilling laugh, each note dripping with malice. "Thanks to you, I've acquired all the pieces I need."
"Please, President Hendricks, I can still be of use—" Kurtly's voice cracked as desperation laced his words. "Whatever your goal is, I can help you achieve it."
Hendricks' smile vanished, replaced by a cold, dead expression. He rose from his chair, slowly walking towards the helpless general. "I'm not Hendricks."
Kurtly's mind raced. What did that an? He struggled to speak, his words trembling. "W-What are you talking about?"
Hendricks' eyes glead with a dark, inhuman glow. "I've been here far longer than you realize. The pain, the manipulation—it's all led to this mont. I've diverted every hunter in Kyota to focus on Axel Teras and the Dawning Blood. No one suspects ."
Kurtly's confusion deepened. He hadn't been briefed on any of this.
"You don't understand," Hendricks continued, his voice lowering to a nacing whisper. "I used the Hangi group you hired to attack specific targets—targets that would draw Axel closer. I planted the seeds of suspicion, manipulated Seo to investigate him. Now, the hunters will move to eliminate that girl." His grin returned, more sinister than before. "And this is only the beginning."
Kurtly's throat tightened. "You've been playing everyone... like puppets?"
Hendricks nodded, the madness in his eyes now fully unveiled. "And I've transcended beyond humanity. I've uncovered secrets that would shatter your mind. Secrets about the system... and the Infinite Gods' abilities."
Kurtly's fear deepened. His voice cracked as he asked, "Then... what are you?"
Hendricks leaned in close, his lips curling into a terrifying smile. He whispered, his voice echoing with unnatural power.
"I am torion."
***Author's note***
This volu will have a lot of reveals so even as the author i advice bulk reading at tis... So I will also be mass releasing, like yesterday I posted three chapters, I will increase the daily release to make sure to satisfy your want.
Thanks for reading fan.
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