Nourishment.
As he walked further in, muffled curses and growls greeted him, echoing through the chamber. The captives—his victims—were locked inside reinforced glass cells.
They hurled insults, their voices bouncing off the cold, sterile walls. But the moment his face came into view, the curses faltered. Shock rippled through the group like a wave.
"Hey, everyone!" Reddington greeted with a cheery wave, his grin as wide as it was unsettling.
"You… you…" one of them stammered, their words tripping over disbelief.
"What… the hell?" another whispered, their confusion cutting through the tense silence.
"I know you!" a man suddenly shouted, his voice sharp with realization. "You're the useless young master of the Draemir family!"
The room erupted.
"What?!"
"No way! Him?"
"Quick, get me outta here before the Dark One's guards come back!" one man shouted, his voice rising with desperation. "I'll take care of you, protect you, make sure no one messes with you ever again!"
A golden-haired boy, trying hard to look innocent, added, "Yeah, just unlock this glass door. It's easy! No password, just hit the unlock button on the control panel." Hope gleamed in his eyes, practically spilling out of him.
Reddington tilted his head, pity flashing briefly in his eyes. "Oh, y'all got it wrong," he said, his voice almost gentle. "See, I am that useless young master. But y'all forgot somethin' important."
The golden-haired boy blinked. "What…?"
"I'm useless," Reddington said with a shrug, his grin widening. "So how exactly am I supposed to save you?"
Silence filled the room for a beat before someone yelled, "Just do it! Hit the button! You can!"
Reddington chuckled, low and cold. "Yeah, about that. After all the trouble I went through to drag y'all here, you think I'm just gonna let you go?"
"Wait… what?" someone muttered, the disbelief thick in their voice.
"You're the Dark One?" another finally asked, their tone a mix of horror and incredulity.
Reddington's grin turned sharp, cutting. "What do you think?" he asked, spreading his arms. "How else you think I'm walking around free?"
"No… no way," the golden-haired boy stammered. "The Dark One's powerful, ruthless. That ain't you…"
Reddington stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as his grin faded into something more sinister.
"Not powerful, huh? Lemme tell you somethin'," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. "I don't pick fights I can't win. And when I do fight, there's collateral damage. Lots of it."
He glanced around at the terrified faces. "And now that y'all are stuck in this little array I set up, your celestial energy locked away, guess what happens next?"
Before anyone could answer, he raised his hands. Black light began to seep from his palms, cascading down like ink spilled in water. It snaked through the air, slithering into the cells, wrapping around the captives like living shadows.
Panic erupted.
"No!"
"Stop!"
"What the fuck is this!"
Screams of pain echoed as the black mist tore through their bodies, draining their vitality and celestial energy. Reddington closed his eyes, the power surging into him like a tidal wave.
His body glowed faintly, his aura growing darker, denser. He didn't flinch, didn't even blink, as the chamber descended into chaos.
When the last scream faded into a strangled whimper, Reddington finally lowered his hands. He took a deep breath, his grin returning, though this time it was tinged with satisfaction.
"Would've been nice if leveling up was always this easy," he mused aloud, his tone light, almost conversational. "But I guess the world's gotta stay fair, huh? Sooner or later, that trial's gonna come knocking."
He turned and walked out without a second glance, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber.
_______________________________
[Name: Reddington Draemir]
[Title: Youngest son of Draemir family]
[Current Tier: Novice Resonance, Stage 17]
[Celestial Aspect: Heaven Devourer]
[Status: Active]
VITALITY: ██████████ 799/100 (Health & stamina pool)
AETHER CONTROL: ███████ 100/70 (Energy pool & regeneration rate)
STRENGTH: ██████ 80/50 (Physical power & endurance)
AGILITY: █████████ 90/80 (Speed, reflexes, and evasion)
RESISTANCE: ██████ 30/40 (Survivability against Sun, Moon, and other hazards)
CELESTIAL INSIGHT: ████████ 19/20 (Mastery over Stellar Seed abilities)
[Resonance Stage 17 → Trial Threshold: Stage 20]
Progress: ██████████ 75%
Trial Readiness: Moderate
Sun Resistance: 40%
Moon Resistance: 20%
[Current Location: Sunlit Barrens]
Environment Status: HIGH HEAT (Critical Danger)
- Sun Resistance: 40% (Moderate protection)
- Moon Resistance: 0% (Inapplicable)
[Inventory]:
- Solar Core Shard x3 (Boosts Sun Resistance temporarily)
- Lunar Ice Fragment x1 (Absorbs heat to protect against Sun)
- Healing Salve x2 (Restores 30 Vitality over 10 seconds)
_____________________
He turned and walked out without a second glance, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber.Back in the corridor, Reddington stopped by a storage panel and unlocked it with a flick of his wrist. Inside hung his black overall—a suit of futuristic design made from a soft, durable material that could withstand the harsh conditions of the post-apocalyptic world.
Golden lines ran along the seams, forming intricate, angular patterns that glinted faintly under the chamber's light. He slipped it on with practiced ease, the material fitting snugly, engineered for both mobility and protection.
Finally, he picked up his faceless mask, a sleek, matte-black piece with a reflective surface that distorted any image caught in its gaze.
Dressed and ready, Reddington strode out of the chamber, his demeanor cool and composed. Outside, a line of identical clones awaited him, their expressions blank, their bodies poised for action.
"I'm out to get Harrison," he said simply, his voice cutting through the silence. The clones nodded in unison.
Reddington walked past them to the elevator, stepping inside and pressing the button for the surface. As the elevator hummed to life, he leaned against the wall, his thoughts already ahead of him.
When the doors slid open, he stepped into the blinding light of the surface world. A shimmering portal flickered nearby, its edges pulsing faintly.
Beyond it, his stolen hover bike—a sleek, angular machine that seemed to hum with restrained energy—hovered a few inches off the ground.
"Thanks, Hanna," Reddington muttered under his breath, a sly grin tugging at his lips as he swung a leg over the hover bike. The engine purred to life, responding instantly to his touch. Without hesitation, he gunned the throttle, speeding through the portal and into the unknown.