Chapter 507: Ancient castle

Moments later, a sleek aircraft appeared in the distance, gliding smoothly through the sky before touching down in the courtyard.

With a crisp click, the hatch swung open—and out stepped Ethan and his crew.

“Holy crap! So this is the North American headquarters of Genesis Biotech…” Chris and the others scanned their surroundings, eyes wide with awe. Towering buildings loomed all around them, sleek and modern.

None of them had ever imagined they’d get the chance to set foot in a place like this.

The Genesis Biotech facility wasn’t just a corporate hub—it also housed a treasure trove of resources still valuable to humanity: advanced cultivation systems for vegetables and fruits, cutting-edge biotech, and more.

Naturally, Mia had her own plans. She figured she’d tag along with Ethan and do a little “clean-up”—after all, there was plenty of stuff he probably wouldn’t even use. Might as well help herself to the “junk,” right?

“Boss! Genesis Biotech North America is officially under our control!” Big Ears came jogging over with Shrimpy and Gatorax in tow, reporting in with a grin.

Ethan swept his gaze across the area, noting the signs of recent cleanup.

“Not bad,” he said with a nod.

Big Ears lit up at the praise, practically beaming. He shot smug glances at Shrimpy and Gatorax, clearly basking in the moment and not-so-subtly showing off.

With the base secured, Ethan, Mia, and the rest of the group began wandering through the facility, taking in the sights of the legendary Genesis Biotech headquarters—and, of course, scavenging for anything useful along the way.

The place was massive, with pristine buildings that looked like they’d just been finished yesterday. Walking through the halls felt like stepping back in time—back before the world went to hell.

Many of the buildings were brand new, never even occupied.

Ethan was already thinking about making this place their temporary base of operations.

Of course, some of the core areas were locked down tight, protected by biometric security—fingerprint and retinal scans required. Unauthorized access would trigger the self-destruct system.

But that wasn’t a problem for Ethan. With his Domain of the Dead ability, he could phase through barriers and move freely, collecting whatever he wanted without setting off any alarms.

…

With Genesis Biotech’s North American HQ fallen and Blackhand City wiped off the map, Texas was now firmly under Ethan’s control.

Meanwhile, Sophia was still aboard her aircraft, having already left U.S. airspace and crossed into foreign territory.

The journey had been relatively smooth. A few mutated beasts had tried to interfere, but her aircraft was top-of-the-line—equipped with Crystal Core Firearms and Blasters for defense. Nothing had gotten close enough to be a real threat.

Still, her mind was a storm of emotions—relief, regret, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite name.

“No one’s coming to save you. If you want something done, do it yourself…”

She muttered the words under her breath, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. The fall of Blackhand City had shaken her—changed her.

No one’s coming. You can’t count on anyone. Power… power is the only thing that matters.

For the first time, Sophia felt a real desire to become an Awakener.

But the truth was, she’d lived a pampered life. She’d never fought, never bled. Her only claim to power was the Neurocore she’d formed using evolution serums.

She was still a long way from becoming a true Awakener.

“What the hell am I supposed to do now?” she murmured, a hint of despair creeping into her voice.

Just then, the aircraft began to slow down sharply, its descent smooth but deliberate.

The ship, powered by a crystal core, was fully autonomous—no pilot needed. Everything was handled by the onboard AI.

“Are we there already?” Sophia rushed to the window.

Night had fallen. The sky outside was pitch black, thick with storm clouds. Lightning forked across the heavens—white, red, and violet bolts tearing through the sky like angry serpents. Thunder cracked so loud it rattled the glass.

The whole scene was eerie, oppressive.

Sophia stood alone, far from home, in a place she didn’t recognize. A knot of unease twisted in her gut.

The aircraft was landing in the middle of a dense forest. Under the cover of night, the trees below looked like a sea of shadows.

The wind howled through the canopy, and the trees swayed violently, their silhouettes dancing like demons reaching out to her with clawed hands.

“What the hell…”

A chill ran down Sophia’s spine.

Where the hell am I?

The aircraft dropped sharply, slicing through the thick night air before vanishing into the shadows of the towering trees below.

With a soft whoosh, the blue tail flames retracted, and the ship settled smoothly onto the ground.

Sophia peered out and saw that the landing site was a stone platform, paved with rounded river stones—clearly man-made, with signs of careful craftsmanship.

“So… someone has been here,” she murmured.

The hatch slid open with a hiss, splitting to either side. A gust of cold night wind rushed in, whipping her hair around like invisible hands trying to drag her out.

Sophia shivered, narrowing her eyes against the chill. She grabbed a high-powered flashlight and flicked it on, sweeping the beam across the dark forest outside.

The trees swayed violently in the wind, their leaves rustling like whispers in the dark. Each trunk was massive—thick enough that it would take three or four people linking arms to wrap around one. It looked like she’d landed in the middle of a primeval forest.

But cutting through the dense woods was a narrow path, also paved with river stones, leading into the darkness. She couldn’t see where it ended.

Sophia hesitated. Alone, in a place like this, fear was inevitable. But there was no turning back now.

She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and jumped down from the aircraft. Her boots hit the stone with a dull thud, and she started walking toward the path.

The cold wind sliced through her clothes, making her flinch. She pulled her jacket tighter around her and kept the flashlight beam moving, scanning the shadows as she walked.

BOOM!

A deafening crack of thunder split the sky, followed by a jagged bolt of lightning that lit up the forest like daylight for a split second.

Then came the rain.

Huge, heavy drops pelted the trees, the ground, and Sophia herself. The sound of it crashing through the leaves mixed with the howling wind, creating a chaotic, almost primal symphony.

Within moments, she was soaked to the skin. The cold bit deeper, and she instinctively hunched her shoulders, trembling uncontrollably.

Her hair clung to her face, plastered down by the rain. Water streamed down her jawline in rivulets.

“So cold…” she muttered through chattering teeth.

The fear, the storm, the isolation—it all pressed down on her. She quickened her pace, flashlight beam bouncing wildly with each step.

After what felt like forever—though it was probably only ten minutes—she finally reached the end of the path.

Ahead, stone steps rose toward the edge of a cliff. And there, looming in the darkness, was a massive, ancient castle.

BOOM!

Another thunderclap echoed across the sky, and lightning lit up the scene behind the castle in a dazzling display of raw power. The bolts crisscrossed the heavens, illuminating the towering structure in stark flashes.

Sophia stood frozen, eyes wide, her face flickering between light and shadow. The sight was breathtaking—and terrifying.

The castle looked like something out of a medieval nightmare. Gothic spires, weathered stone, and an overwhelming sense of weight and age. It felt like a sleeping beast, crouched in the dark, watching her.

A few windows glowed faintly with candlelight, flickering behind thick glass.

“What… is this place?” she whispered.

But deep down, she already knew.

This had to be the estate Vanessa had mentioned—the final destination of her journey.

Could it be… the supreme leader of the Black Hand Legion lived here?

And if so… who the hell was he?

Sophia took a deep breath. The cold, damp air filled her lungs, sharp and bracing. It cleared her head, gave her just enough clarity to push forward.

She climbed the steps slowly, one at a time, until she stood before the castle’s front gate.

The wrought-iron fence towered over her—easily twenty feet high—painted black and gleaming wet in the rain.

At the center of the gate was a carved emblem: a monstrous creature, twisted and grotesque.

Sophia leaned in for a closer look.

It was a giant bat, wings spread wide, fangs bared in a snarl. The detail was chilling—almost lifelike.

She reached out and tried to push the gate open, but it didn’t budge. Locked.

So she raised her hand and banged on it, hard.

CLANG! CLANG!

The sound echoed through the storm, metal rattling under her fists.

“Hey! Is anyone in there?!”

Her voice was nearly swallowed by the wind and rain.

But she stood her ground, soaked and shivering, staring into the darkness beyond the gate—waiting.

…

Here’s a redemption code for everyone: