Chapter 61For the next few hours after they left the slums, the rain in Aethelgard fell like the sky was opening a freaking gigantic tap on you.Joe drove the armored SUV like he was playing a video game with a broken controller. He swerved around a pothole the size of a jacuzzi, drifting the heavy vehicle through the slick streets of Sector 2."So, let me get this straight," Joe shouted over the roar of the engine and the drumming rain. "The homeless guy? The one who smelled like cabbage and dead rat? He’s the super-villain?""He’s not a super-villain, Joe," Adrian said, checking the magazine of a pistol he had confiscated from a Red Scorpion. "He’s an architect really, some sort of a visionary. And apparently, a homicidal maniac."Adrian winced as the car hit a speed bump. His ribs, still knitting together under the System’s care, gave a sharp throb of protest.[ SYSTEM STATUS: REPAIRING (72%). ][ ADVISORY: AVOID SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, EXPLOSIONS, AND FALLING OFF SKYSCRAPERS. ][ ENER

Chapter 63A few hours later, after the doctors tried their best to resuscitate Silas, the sub-basement of Ironhold Prison was silent, except for the dripping of coolant water. Silas Vance, the man who tried to become a god, sat slumped in his chair, shivering and broken. The wires hanging from his head sparked weakly as he tried to sit straight. Adrian stood over him, looking rather bored. "It's over," Adrian said.He turned to Sheriff Miller, who was peeking out from behind a doorway, looking pale."Sheriff," Adrian called out. "He's all yours. Strip him of the tech. Put him in a hole so deep even the rats can't find him. And Miller?""Yeah?" Miller swallowed hard."If he escapes again," Adrian’s eyes flashed gold, "I won't be coming back for him. I'll be coming for you."Miller nodded rapidly. "Understood. We'll weld the door shut."Adrian signaled to Joe and the androids. "Let's go. I need a shower and about three days of sleep."The ride back to the estate was quiet. The rain

Chapter 65The honeymoon suite at the Grand Aethelgard Hotel was larger than the entire apartment complex Adrian had grown up in. It had marble floors, a chandelier made of real diamonds, and a view of the city that made the cars below look like ants.It was also the coldest room Adrian had ever been in.He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the city he had saved. The lights were back on and the traffic was flowing. The smog was clearing and it was now a masterpiece of order, restored by his hand.But inside the room, the air was nearly suffocating him in his double breasted suit. "Adrian?"The voice came from behind him softly. Adrian didn't turn around. He took a sip of the sparkling water he was holding, staring at his reflection in the glass."Go to sleep, Selene," he said. His voice was flat, devoid of the warmth that used to color it when he spoke to her long ago."I can't sleep," she whispered.He heard the rustle of silk and saw her reflection in the wind

Chapter 67A few hours after their shitty welcome back home, the rain had stopped, but there was still this gloomy atmosphere that hung over the Black Estate.Adrian sat in the library, the glow of the holographic map reflecting in his eyes as he watched the projection. The map before him displayed the topography of the coastline, specifically a deep trench known as "The Maw" located ten miles offshore.[ TARGET: PROJECT LAZARUS - SITE.][ DEPTH: 2,000 METERS. ][ STATUS: ACTIVE SIGNALS DETECTED. ][ REQUIRED KEY: BIOMETRIC FINGER (ACQUIRED). ]"We go tonight," Adrian said coldly as he listened to the system's instructions. Joe was standing by the window, cleaning a heavy pulse rifle. He had been quiet all day. Too quiet. Usually, Joe would be making jokes about fish people or asking if they needed to pack swimwear. Tonight, he looked like he was attending a funeral."Are you sure about this, Adrian?" Joe asked, not looking up from the weapon. "Site B isn't just a lab. It's a tomb.

Chapter 69Adrian learnt two things about rage. First, it was blind, like literally. He couldn't quite recall seeing anything he'd done in that haze of wrath. Second, it could cost you a trusted best friend and sidekick. The Black Estate was quiet.It wasn’t the peaceful quiet of a library or a sleeping house. It was a sad silence that seemed to physically press against Adrian’s ears. For the first time in months, there was no footsteps running down the hall. No bad jokes about tacos. No crashing sounds followed by "I meant to do that!"He was coming to terms with the fact that Joe was gone.Adrian sat at the head of the long mahogany dining table. His breakfast of eggs, toast and coffee sat untouched. He was staring at the empty chair to his right.[ SYSTEM STATUS: RECOVERING. ][ ENERGY LEVEL: 40%. ][ WORLD ENDER MODE: COOLDOWN (29 DAYS). ]The explosion at the ocean had nearly killed him. Crushing the yacht had drained him to the point of collapse. He had woken up two days ago