230 Chapter 230: An Assassin’s Honor (2/2)
”You know what I mean.” Serena clenched her fists. ”We didn't tell them the whole story. They think there's still a chance, no matter how small, that the both of us can return alive.”
”And there is. If it works out, you'll return to them.”
”I don't want to return alone! How do I explain it to them?!” Serena turned and clasped Cronus's arms before embracing him. ”I…can't. We can't live without you. How am I supposed to explain to them that you are…?”
”You know as well as I do that we don't have a choice. Our enemies have proven stronger than anticipated. In order to fulfil our clients' request, we must…make certain sacrifices. We must overpower our opponents. Even when horribly wounded, the phoenix is still a formidable foe. Michael Porter has taken out at least three of the top Frenzor Assassins in our Guild. If this goes on, he'll reach the location of the ritual and stop it. This is…the only way.”
Serena scowled. ”Are we seriously selling our souls to a bunch of nut-jobs who plan on destroying the world? In exchange for money? Doesn't the Grand Master understand that if we let them have their way, they'll trigger an artificial Emergence event in Vermillion city and lay waste to it?”
”That's not all. Given the unique fiery ley lines of Vermillion City, they don't plan on summoning just any rank A monster. They want to summon Surtr.”
”The Demon of Fire, Surtr?!” Serena's hand flew to her mouth. ”Are they serious? They really plan on destroying the world, don't they?!”
”We've known that ever since they hired us…the Grand Master is completely aware. But he plans to honor the contract to the very end…even if we all die in the process. That's our honor as hired Assassins.”
”That's insane.” Serena sighed. ”Then again, this whole world is insane. Maybe it's better to let it get destroyed.”
”The strongest will survive.” Cronus smiled, despite himself. ”In such a deadly world, our Assassin Guild will thrive. The world will need natural-born killers such as our children. I trust Granny to raise them well, and prepare them for the new world.”
”…perhaps.” Serena nodded.
By now the both of them had reached the building adjacent to the camp of the Assassins Guild. They virtually melded with the darkness, slipping through the myriad of sensors set to detect any lesser human foolish enough to trespass upon the hallowed grounds of one of the Assassins' temple. They avoided the traps, dodged the line of fire of automated sentry guns programed to indiscriminately open fire upon any moving object, living or mechanical, swung past pitfalls and glided through invisible lasers that would cut them apart.
This was the Assassins' temple. There was no safety switches, no friend-or-foe identification system, no recognition device, no biometric scanners…nothing. The traps would kill both ally and enemy alike if any blunder into them. No Assassin manned them, no human watched out for intruders and allowed visitors in.
They were Assassins. They were expected to clear the traps of every temple effortlessly. For if they could not, then they had failed as Assassins, for what use was an Assassin who could not infiltrate the most highly guarded fortresses of their targets? If they died to their own traps, then they have proven themselves failures, and their losses would not be mourned but justified.
Cronus and Serena split up, weaving through the invisible lasers, which were indicated as red on their bioengineered retinas and relying on their enhanced senses and reflexes to evade being cauterized by them. The two of them reunited past the intricate web of lasers, and then gracefully leaped over a pitfall that was concealed by a tile. A misstep and the two would plunge into a space of enchanted spikes. They then melted into the shadows to fool the sensors of the sentry guns that guarded the next corridor, rematerializing behind the guns – almost as if they had teleported.
Eventually, they reached a massive laboratory that was guarded by heavy doors.
Without bothering with the doors, the two Assassins slipped into a ventilation shaft some ways away, and vanished. The next time they appeared, they silently dropped behind a couple of scientists covered in full-body protective suits.
The first one turned to them, not at all surprised by their sudden, stealthy appearance. Even though they were not as skilled in the art of killing as the other temples, the Collegia Sect was still a branch under the Assassins Guild. Specialized in research, information warfare, biological experimentations and weapons developments, they were the doctors and armorers of the Guild.
”Cronus and Serena Wright?” the Collegia Assassin stated coolly, his expression concealed behind a sterile mask and wide goggles. There was no emotion in his voice, only a cold, calculated detachment.
”That is correct.” Cronus nodded. The Collegia Assassin scanned them with a biometric scanner anyway, to confirm their identities – the Deceivum Sect, after all, was known for disgusing themselves as others by literally transforming and altering their physical features. The Assassins could never be too careful.
Once he was satisfied, the scientist then led them toward the center of the laboratory, where a massive machine stood in the center, a single orb revolving amidst a collection of metallic vanes and generating ethereal energies.
”You are aware of the consequences of this spell, correct?” the scientist stated emotionlessly. ”I believe I do not need to brief you.”
Cronus was holding Serena's hand, and he gave it a squeeze before he nodded.
”That is correct. We've come, mentally prepared.”
”Good.” The scientist nodded. ”Then let's not delay the process. We should begin right away. Which one of you will be the vessel?”
”Me…” Cronus began, but Serena pulled him back.
”Are you sure about this, Cronus?” She was hesitating at this last moment. ”There is no going back. Once you walk into that, you will…”
”I know. And I'm ready for it. As you should be too, Serena. We've already talked about this.” Cronus reached out and stroked Serena's face.
”I should…”
”No. we've already discussed this. I'll be the vessel.”
Tears were streaming down Serena's eyes. ”No, don't do this, please…”
”I'm sorry.”
Cronus shrugged her off, and then walked straight into the machine. The energies began to intensify as he neared it.
”No! Cronus!” Serena shrieked and she lunged forward, but three of the Collegia researchers immediately grabbed hold of her and restrained her, pulling her away from the machine. She struggled and kicked, almost breaking free, but she was outnumbered.
”Don't worry, Serena. It's not as if I will be gone. I'll always be by your side. And this time, I will be with you forever.”
With that, Cronus placed his hands on the spinning orb in the center of the machine.
”NOOOO!!!!”
While Serena sobbed as a blinding, white light engulfed her husband, a single, solitary figure watched from the distance, her hands resting on the railings of the observation room.
Angelica Porter narrowed her eyes, and then turned to leave the laboratory.