Chapter 167: About time.

[Re-booting: 98%.]

The facility's core is a sentient artifact that is in control of everything in the facility.

One of its functions was surveillance of both the interior and exterior of the facility and that included almost the entirety of Bulian hills.

It could scan every nook and cranny of the interior and as for the exterior, once anything got into its range of surveillance all their actions were monitored.

That was how the teleportation array had perfectly gotten the trio.

When it came to security, it could control every single security system and also act as a hive mind for all of them.

Currently, these functions and many more not listed were unavailable due to the re-booting process.

Right now, some parts and functions of the facility were on autopilot and that was the reason why the golems were sloppy and the scanners were not active.

But not for long.

…

The next day at the center of Bulian hills.

Having no need to sleep for at least a month, Zirrack had been meditating in a crossed-legged position for hours.

Not only has he been preparing for the task ahead but he was avoiding setting the entire Bulian hills aflame by suppressing his anger through meditation.

He felt like every minute he spent waiting meant less time he had for his vacation, but he knew it was necessary to wait for the association to contain the area before people were caught in the fire.

"Any news?" Zirrack's tone had a hint of impatience and anger.

"The containment field will be ready in half an hour and then you will be free to do as you please." Walden replied.

"I can wait..." Zirrack said as he closed his eyes and continued meditation.

…

Around the same time at the beast floor.

The trio had finally awoken from their sleep. They had quite a long night and causing them to sleep late.

Blake had tried to crack the array that granted access to the last floor (control floor), but even with the help of Mind boost, he was still unsuccessful.

"If we end up surviving this, I will soak myself in a hot tub for at least half an hour before scrubbing." Brian couldn't help but cover his nose after a brief sniff of his pits.

"Thinking of it, we have solved our biggest problem which is food and although we might be stuck in this room we should make the most out of it." Blake said.

"How?" Castiel asked.

"Let's take a hot bath." Blake's suggestion was received with raised brows. "I know you guys are skeptical because of privacy, but I have that covered."

Blake's plan was to create 3 bathtubs by freezing space. Then Brian would fill them up with water, while he and Castiel would heat it.

As for the privacy issue, it was quite easy. One person would remain in the lab, one behind the creepy furnace and the other at end of the warehouse.

(AN: Lol, they have no clue they are about to be busted out. Imagine Zirrack entering the room, room only to see a naked teen in a transparent bathtub. LMAO)

"That's a great idea." Castiel was excited about the idea. Finally, the air would soon be clean to breathe.

"I call dibs on the lab." Brian shouted.

Shortly after arguing on who was to stay behind the creepy furnace, Blake began constructing the bathtub, but that was when a notification sounded all around the facility.

[Core reboot complete.]

[Core updating: 10%.]

[Scanners activated.]

[SPI-X bots activated.]

"What the fuck is going?"

The robot-like voice put the trio in disarray. Brian who had taken off his shirt began putting it back on.

[Just like I suspected. For a facility as big as this, there was meant to be something like a system.] The system said.

"So, what now?" Brian asked in a panicking tone.

[Well, the scanners activated will scan every nook and cranny of the facility. Where it will begin, I don't know but surely you will be discovered.] The system said in a tone too calm for their situation.

"Are you saying we are going to die?" Castiel asked in disbelief.

[Yes. You can run but you can't hide within the facility.] The system replied.

"What are you doing?" Blake couldn't help but ask when he saw Brian taking off his shirt.

"Since we are going to die, I thought we should go out in a clean way." Brian said with a forced smile.

"…"

Blake and Castiel couldn't wonder how Brian could think of such things at a time like this.

(AN: Is it only me that acts this way in a serious moment XD?)

For a moment Blake thought it wasn't a bad idea, but he soon changed his mind when he realized he would die without even trying.

"Put on your clothes, we can't die without trying." Blake said to Brian, but that was when light from the walls began scanning the room.

"Fuck!" The trio cursed in unison. They knew it was coming but they hadn't thought it would be instantly.

They quickly rushed out of the room and began heading to where they came from.

"What's the plan?" Castiel asked.

"I don't have any idea but we are heading back to the energy research floor." Blake said, causing Castiel and Brian to look at each other.

…

On the surface.

"The containment field has been set up. Let's just pray the boys are still alive and please don't go destroying every…" Zirrack cut the communication link and stood up.

"About time…" Zirrack began cracking his knuckles as his body burst into darkish-purple flames.

"Time to crack this hard nut and teach whoever owns this place a lesson for wasting my precious time." The more Zirrack spoke the hotter the air became till the air around him burst into flames.

Calling his gear, 2 darkish purple gauntlets with red stripes converging from the base to the knuckles appeared on his arms.

BOOM!

BOOM!