BXBX NOVEL Chapter 393: Ashborn Vengeance
A deafening boom echoed through the city. The ground shuddered, sending tremors that rattled buildings and shelves. Delicate objects like glasses and urns tumbled from their perches, shattering on the floor.
Billy found himself sprawled within a crater shaped like a giant fist. Despite the devastation, he clung to an unlife granted by the False Life spell, a magic far more resilient than life itself. His bones were pulverized, turning to dust, but the potent mana coursing through his undead form kept him from succumbing. However, even fueled by magic, movement was impossible.
It would take time – precious time Daniel and his soldiers wouldn\'t hesitate to exploit.
They would secure him in a specially designed containment unit, a prisoner until he acquiesced to Daniel\'s offer. And this time, the terms wouldn\'t be so lenient. The years of servitude before his "reward" would be significantly longer, and the treatment he\'d endure during that time… far worse.
Hulking power-armored soldiers surged forward, clearing the area with practiced efficiency. Field engineers deployed swarms of Metal Scarabs – micro-construction robots – to swiftly build a specialized containment unit for Billy.
Maria, without needing a word from her master, understood her part. She made her way towards the fort\'s entrance, where a crowd of townsfolk had gathered, clamoring for answers.
Assembling a group of prominent citizens in the city hall conference room, Maria deployed her subtle vampire charm. Weaving a light brainwashing spell, she spun a tale.
This \'incident,\' she explained, was a malfunctioning Confederate weapon hidden within the old fort. The controlled explosion, she assured them, was necessary for disposal. She emphasized the need for continued caution while the soldiers cleared the residual fallout from the weapon\'s detonation.
To further appease the populace, Maria promised monetary compensation for any damage sustained. Reassurances flowed freely – the city was safe. However, for those seeking temporary relocation, the Astral PMC would generously cover travel and living expenses until the situation normalized.
Relief washed over most of the townsfolk. Without alternative homes, they opted to stay. Others, however, fueled by paranoia or having distant relatives in San Francisco or other cities, opted to relocate.
Maria facilitated their departures, gladly processing compensation and helping them move. Vehicles were provided, and additional house-moving services were hired to expedite the process.
With everything settled, Maria returned to Daniel late that night. Despite resting in the city\'s finest hotel, sleep eluded him. Work continued well past midnight. He needed to contact the labs back in Sector Alpha City, urging them to develop a more permanent solution for containing the undead – a solution far more secure than the current, hastily constructed unit holding Billy the Kid.
"My Lord," Maria reported, her voice crisp, "everything\'s been handled according to protocol. The citizens who wished to relocate have been moved, and those who chose to stay have received compensation and are no longer causing a stir."
Daniel\'s lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Excellent work, Maria." The praise brought a flicker of joy to her face, quickly masked by a professional demeanor.
A jarring emergency alert blared from Maria\'s phone. Recognizing the caller ID, she answered with a hurried, "Yes?"
Maria\'s expression morphed rapidly – surprise giving way to anger, then sheer panic.
Sensing her distress, Daniel inquired, "What is it? A problem?" He didn\'t have the bandwidth to micromanage the vast intelligence network of his organization.
"The Hightowers..." Maria stammered, fear lacing her voice. "No... the Ashborn family! They\'ve attacked San Francisco. It seems like revenge."
Daniel\'s booming response echoed through the room. "What?!" His eyes narrowed, glinting with murderous intent. Maria understood instantly that his wrath wasn\'t directed at her, but the sheer intensity of his anger sent shivers down her spine nonetheless.
Witnessing Maria\'s apparent terror, Daniel forced himself to calm down. He had implemented numerous security measures and fail-safes for his family back in San Francisco. Besides, Envy, considered the most powerful witch in history, resided there. It would take an entire army of mages to even threaten her.
Once his anger subsided, Daniel focused on the situation at hand. "What do we know?" he asked Maria calmly.
"The situation remains unclear, Maria explained. The Ashborns seem to be using a powerful bound field spell, repelling anyone from outside and preventing any form of external perception. While witnesses might observe the events unfolding, they wouldn\'t retain any memory of it moments later.
Even magical recording devices and artifacts are rendered useless – they capture the scene visually, but the data cannot be stored. Our only information comes from Lady Envy herself, who managed to send a message via familiar to Oceanos. That\'s the sole reason we\'re even aware of the attack."
"The Ashborns... yes, I recall them," Daniel muttered, the name sparking a memory. "Cyrus Ashborn, the Grand Councilor of the Hightower and leader of the Path of Knowledge Faction."
"They seem to be acting out of vengeance," Maria elaborated.
Daniel scoffed. "Vengeance? I haven\'t laid a finger on Cyrus! It was the Golden Scale Enforcers who took him out!" Anger flared in his eyes. Someone was clearly framing him, but the culprit remained a mystery. Regardless, the Ashborn family\'s actions, fueled by a misunderstanding or not, had caused harm.
They would face the consequences.
"Tell the engineering team to prepare the teleportation portal immediately," he commanded. "They have four hours. Then, summon Vlad. It\'s time the Ashborns receive a personal visit." A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, a clear manifestation of his murderous intent.
— San Francisco - 4 Hours earlier —
— Greed Mansion, Lombard Street —
Envy slammed the phone shut after hurriedly telling her loved one she needed to catch up on a "good scene" in a Korean drama. Of course, it was a blatant white lie to prevent them from worrying. While the living room held Michaela, Koyuki, and Little Sylvana engrossed in the Korean drama, the real reason for the abrupt end of the call wasn\'t what was on the screen.
It was a telepathic message, a chilling unexpected contact from none other than Golden Scale himself.
Envy stood for a moment, composing herself before announcing to the room, "Koyuki, Michaela! I\'m heading out for groceries. I\'ll be back soon, enjoy the show!"
"Okay, travel safe!" responded Koyuki, waving her hand without tearing her gaze from the TV.
The moment Envy exited the mansion, Koyuki tilted her head in sudden realization.
"Wait a minute... didn\'t we just do a grocery run yesterday?" Confusion clouded her features. She knew there had to be a decent amount of food left in the kitchen, especially since Lust had also been visiting lately to indulge in Envy\'s cooking, which surpassed even the finest five-star chef.
—
Atop the Golden Empire Tower, the heart of San Francisco, Greed stood silhouetted against the cityscape. Clad in a power suit – scarlet red with a pencil skirt and a garter belt – she exuded the aura of a businesswoman at the pinnacle of success. But beneath the façade resided one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Greed, the most influential and wealthiest woman on Earth.
The cool night air swirled around her, carrying the faint scent of salt from the nearby bay and the distant hum of the city below. A million glittering lights sprawled before her, a dazzling tapestry woven from the neon pulse of casinos, the warm glow of residential districts, and the searchlights of ships gliding across the inky water.
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, a crimson ribbon against the night starless sky, stretched majestically across the bay, a monument to human ambition that resonated deeply with the embodiment of Greed within her.
Her gaze, sharp and calculating, fell upon a cloaked figure across from her. The man, shrouded in white and gold robes, kept his face obscured by the hood. Yet, Greed recognized him – the last remaining Grand Councilor of the Hightower, Golden Scale, and leader of his namesake faction.
A series of measured footsteps echoed across the rooftop as Envy approached unhurriedly. Golden Scale, his voice distorted by the magic that maintained his ever-shifting state between material and immaterial, remarked, with a hint of disapproval.
"Your tardiness is a deviation from the established protocol, Envy. One would expect a fellow Grand Councilor to demonstrate a stricter adherence to time constraints." His sardonic tone, however, evaporated the moment his gaze fell upon Envy\'s attire.
The normally composed Golden Scale was undeniably startled. Envy stood adorned in an imposing battle armor forged from the hides of powerful hell creatures. Her gloves, imbued with the eyes of an archfiend, glowed eerily with demonic power, serving as mana amplifiers.
Atop her head, a crown encrusted with a blood-red diamond, secured with the heart of a vanquished hell lord, completed the menacing ensemble. This was the gear reserved for battles demanding her full might.
Envy strode onto the rooftop, her gaze locking with Golden Scale. Gone was the usual warmth in her voice, replaced by a chilling emptiness. "Why are you here?" she demanded.