fantasy novels Chapter 1685: When the True Devil Whispers, Even the Saint Falls: Part-1
Chapter 1685: When the True Devil Whispers, Even the Saint Falls: Part-1
Beta TowerIts colossal structure pierced the clouds, wrapped in rivers of violet light and towering holographic displays that stretched across entire sections of the skyscraper. From every angle, glowing strands resembling DNA spiralled across its sleek metallic-glass surface, turning the entire tower into a radiant beacon visible from 10s’s of kilometres away under the perpetual neon sky.
Around its base stretched a vast complex of laboratories, artificial womb facilities, genetic research centres, and enhancement clinics humming with quiet efficiency. Transparent domes sheltered teams of scientists, engineers, and researchers who worked tirelessly to reshape the future of human life.
Massive screens projected vivid images of developing embryos, intricate genetic sequences, and perfected human models, their radiant glow painting the surrounding streets in shifting shades of silver, violet and pink.
Standing on the bridge overlooking the district, the young man wearing a black hat stared at the enormous structure. Countless advertisements floated across the tower’s surface, appearing and disappearing in streams of luminous data.
"It’s really... fucked up. Genetically modified? Give birth to your designer baby with no defects? Eliminate undesirable traits? Fuck every one of you..."
He gritted his teeth as he read the glowing advertisements scrolling across the holographic displays.
For reasons he could not fully explain, those words ignited a deep irritation within him... strong enough that he wanted to smash every advertisement display into pieces.
Every smiling face displayed beside those slogans felt disgusting. Every perfected child advertised across the screens felt like a product instead of a person.
When Young Aether arrived near the Beta Tower, he honestly wasn’t surprised by its size. After all, he had fallen from one of its highest floors only a few days ago. Even now, standing on the ground and tilting his head upward, the tower’s summit remained hidden beyond the clouds.
Shaking his head, he released a quiet scoff.
*These people never change... They keep searching for perfection, but none of you will ever be perfect.*
With his hands resting inside his pockets, he continued across the bridge. Streams of automated vehicles moved beneath him while aerial transports crossed overhead in organised traffic lanes marked by glowing navigation grids.
Before long, he arrived at the Zoo.
Families wearing fancy clothes moved through the entrance with excited expressions while children pointed toward various attractions displayed on floating holographic maps.
Of course, the entrance required ID verification, but it was nothing compared to the security surrounding the Beta Tower and Borders.
People leaving the facility weren’t checked at all. A wide exit corridor remained completely open, monitored only by a single guard whose job seemed limited to preventing people from entering through the wrong side.
Step!
Young Aether appeared inside the Zoo almost instantly and continued walking through the crowd without drawing attention. The bustling visitors never noticed the impossible speed at which he had crossed the distance.
His calm gaze wandered across the facility...
Floating information panels hovered beside every enclosure. Artificial weather systems simulated natural environments above specific habitats.
Then his eyes settled on one particular enclosure.
A group of captured elves occupied a caged artificial forest near the main pathway. Towering trees and carefully arranged bushes filled the enclosure, creating the illusion of freedom while concealing nothing.
Visitors crowded around the reinforced observation glass, observing every movement with shameless curiosity.
"Look at them hiding again," a man laughed while pointing toward the enclosure. "As if those trees can protect them. They still haven’t realised they’re trapped."
Several elves flinched at the sound of the crowd.
Fear lingered within their eyes as they huddled together behind the trunks and foliage.
Many instinctively avoided direct eye contact with the spectators, as though years of captivity had taught them exactly what happened when they attracted attention.
"Damn, look at that elf. Those naked bastards... didn’t even have the shame to cover themselves. Utterly disgusting pigs," a man said with an amused grin while shamelessly staring at the crotch of an elven woman.
An elven woman shrank behind a broad-shouldered elven man, her long, elegant ears twitching in terror as she tried to shield her breasts and mound with slender arms. The man kept one hand cupped tightly over his genitals, yet every slight movement only gave the spectators better angles to stare through the transparent glass.
Several nearby visitors laughed.
"That’s what makes them interesting," another spectator replied. "If they acted like normal humans, nobody would pay to see them."
Further down the pathway, the Beastkin enclosure attracted even louder laughter and attention. Sleek wolf-eared men and women paced restlessly through the enclosure. Soft fur patterns covered their shoulders, tails, arms, and thighs, giving them an appearance that was both human and distinctly different.
A young handsome male beastkin with striped orange-and-black fur on his ears and tail tried to curl into a ball behind a fake rock formation, his tail lashing in visible distress.
"Oi, kitty! Show us that big cock properly!" a group of young women jeered, banging on the glass. One of them whistled sharply.
"Look how they’re built down there... different from humans but still so fucking lewd. Bet they’re in heat all the time."
One woman whistled loudly.
"They’re actually kind of cute when they get embarrassed."
Several others burst into laughter as the young beastkin lowered his head even further.
Farther down the pathway stood an entirely different enclosure.
A group of skeletal beings occupied a large open habitat surrounded by towering metallic walls. Unlike the other enclosures, there were no forests, decorations, or artificial environments. The skeletons simply stood scattered throughout the area, staring blankly at one another.
Curiously, most of the spectators here were children.
"They look so cool!"
"I wonder if we can take one home!"
"Oi, Bones! Look at us!"
Several children picked up small stones and tossed them toward the skeletal figures.
The moment the stones struck their skull, several skeletons turned their skulls simultaneously.
"TKTKTKTKTK!"
Their jaws rapidly clattered together, producing a strange clicking sound.
"Hahaha!"
The children erupted into laughter.
"Do it again!"
More stones flew into the enclosure.
"TKTKTKTKTK!"
The skeletons responded once more, causing another wave of laughter from the crowd. Some children even began recording the reaction with holographic cameras floating beside their heads.
Then he continued walking.
Farther along the path stood a massive transparent water tank positioned beside one of the main attractions. The container stretched several stories high and contained an artificial ocean ecosystem complete with glowing coral structures.
Three aquatic people sat near the front viewing panel. Thin gills lined their necks while faint bioluminescent patterns glowed beneath their skin.
Unlike the elves and beastkin, they smiled brightly at visitors and waved whenever someone approached.
Children excitedly waved back.
The aquatic beings continued smiling.
Thu!
Someone spat on its face while others laughed loudly without any remorse or pity.
Then...
Another enclosure.
Then...
Another races.
Then...
Another crowd.
...Hours passed.
By the time the sky turned orangish, Young Aether sat alone on an empty bench.
His body leaned forward in a crouched position.
His gaze remained fixed upon his tapping foot.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His head occasionally twitched left and right.
His eyes flickered between endless darkness and an icy blue glow.
His fingers intertwined tightly before repeatedly tapping against one another.
He didn’t speak at all; only the nervous tapping of his fingers continued as his skin grew cold while his blood boiled with anger.
The surrounding crowds continued moving.
Children laughed.
Visitors smiled and shamed his people like nothing!
Something inside him churned violently between hunger, anger, disgust, and sorrow.
Then a dark voice echoed within his mind.
"You have seen it with your own eyes."
"How do they look?"
The dark voice sounded calm.
Almost curious~
"Huh? Tell me. Those people. YOUR people. The ones you swore to protect. Look at what they have become."
Young Aether lowered his head.
The dark voice continued.
"Treated like nothing more than shitty animals—caged, trapped, shamed, and forced—"
"S-Stop!" Young Aether said as his head twitched several times furiously. He felt those words like needles driving deeper into his thoughts... and he was slowly losing control.
"You know I’m right."
"S-Stop..."
His breathing became uneven.
The voice refused to disappear.
"They laugh at them. They stare at them. They treat them like objects, lusting them, throwing objects at them, whipping them, spitting at them, treating them like a pig to be slaughtered and so on and on... worse than animals!"
*STOP!*
Young Aether suddenly clenched his head.
The images of what he had just seen suddenly flashed back in vivid detail.
The frightened eyes.
The trembling voices.
The laughter from the crowds.
"Stop? They won’t. They fucking won’t. "
The voice hissed inside his head.
"You experienced No.25’s memories. Out of everyone, you know exactly what these assholes are capable of. They won’t stop until they’ve destroyed every last thing that doesn’t fit with them"
The voice laughed inside his head.
"Yet here you are, still trying to solve everything peacefully. Still trying to talk things through. Hahaha... Fucking nugget!!"
"S-Stop it!" Young Aether growled under the brim of his hat just then—
"Today we didn’t have many visitors, right?"
"Yeah, I think until the Lockdown ends, we will have fewer visitors"
Young Aether glanced upward.
Two employees were dragging one of the aquatic men through a transparent transport container.
The aquatic man remained silent as the workers guided the floating containment unit toward a nearby service corridor.
A frown appeared on Young Aether’s face.
Without drawing attention to himself, he quietly followed.
The workers eventually passed through a security gate marked with glowing red letters.
RESTRICTED PERSONNEL ACCESS
Just as Young Aether approached the entrance, a guard stepped forward.
"Sir, the visitor pathway is that way."
The guard gestured toward the public section while blocking the entrance.
Young Aether glanced toward the departing container before looking back at the guard.
"Can I take a picture with that aquatic guy? I’ve been trying all day, you know. It would mean a lot if you could help me out."
"Sorry, sir. Company policy. Only authorised staff members are allowed beyond this point."
The guard’s expression remained firm.
Young Aether stared at him for a moment.
"Come on. It’s just one picture."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out an expensive watch.
"Here. This thing is worth twenty thousand dollars. All I need is a single photo."
The guard’s eyes briefly moved toward the watch.
Then his expression hardened even further.
"No."
Young Aether sighed.
"Worth a shot."
He walked away very slowly, hoping the guard would change his mind at the last moment.
To his surprise, the guard did not even glance back at him.
Several minutes later, another employee approached the restricted entrance carrying a tablet filled with maintenance reports.
The guard scanned his identification.
A green light flashed.
The reinforced door slid open.
The moment the employee stepped forward...
Step!
Sssshhh~
A faint current of air slipped through the opening before the door closed once again.
Neither man noticed.
Young Aether had already entered.
Beyond the entrance stretched a network of industrial corridors hidden beneath the Zoo. The polished public attractions above were nowhere to be seen.
Cold metallic lights illuminated rough stone walls reinforced with steel supports and maintenance conduits.
Young Aether walked through the corridor.
Soon, the pathway split into two directions.
He paused before choosing to move to the left passage.