Chapter 60: Into the Lion's Den

Gen descended the grand staircase to the lower levels, her steps soundless on the marble.

The entrance to the basement had been concealed behind a bookcase in the library, and she'd had fun finding it. It hadn't been easy but she'd found the hidden latch and pulled, revealing the dark staircase leading down into the depths of the mansion.

Based on what she could feel from spreading her Aura thin over the place, the basement was large, a labyrinthine network of rooms and corridors. Who the fuck needs this? Why would anyone want to hide when there's a fight to be had? She couldn't understand people like that.

It was clear that Ivan had fortified the area, preparing for a siege. The walls were lined with steel, and the floor was covered with discarded tactical gear and weapons. Explosives, ammunition, and various high-tech gadgets littered the space. seaʀᴄh thё NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Gen nudged them away with her feet. She didn't need them. Besides, he trapped every one of them. I'll wear a bulletproof vest and when I face him, it'll just blow up. Smart of him.

As she moved deeper into the basement, she encountered more traps. Explosives carefully concealed behind seemingly innocuous objects. She even laughed when she saw a grenade disguised as a potted plant. She dodged each one with ease, zipping by with speed before their sensors even registered her presence.

Finally, she reached the heart of the basement. Ivan had barricaded himself in a large, reinforced room. She could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady. The door was heavily fortified, but it was no match for her strength. With a roar, she kicked it open, the metal groaning and buckling under the force.

Inside, Ivan stood surrounded by an arsenal of weapons. His eyes were wild, a mixture of fear and sleep deprivation. He held a detonator in one hand, a gun in the other. The room was filled with monitors displaying various parts of the mansion, all showing the aftermath of the explosions.

"Ma'am," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I knew you'd come." The bearded, burly man stood, watching her.

Gen stepped forward, her eyes sparkling in delight. "Of course I did, Ivan. You knew too much. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Ivan laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "I knew you were unnatural. I saw things that night. Things that shouldn't be possible. Things that humans cannot do. I knew you'd come to silence me."

Gen nodded slowly, a smile on her lips. "You're right. We can't afford to leave any loose ends."

Ivan raised the detonator, his finger hovering over the button. "Then let's see how this ends. Will you get to me first? Or will I blow this whole place sky-high, taking you with me? Either way, your death is assured."

"You assume too much." Gen laughed as Ivan swung the gun towards her. As Ivan began shooting at her, the basement echoed with the deafening roar of gunfire. Bullets whizzed past her, some narrowly missing, a few hitting her and punching holes clean through, others glancing off the walls.

Her eyes narrowed as she dodged, drawing deeply from her reserves of vitality, speeding her perception and reactions to a supernatural level.

The world seemed to slow around her. Each bullet moved in slow motion, and she could see the minute details of the spinning projectiles. With a burst of agility, she launched herself sideways, her feet barely touching the ground as she zipped through the deadly storm of steel.

Dark, sticky webs shot from her body, pushing and pulling her out of the line of fire. She swung through the room with incredible speed, dodging even as Ivan tried following her with his gun. She landed behind a sturdy metal crate, using it as temporary cover.

"You're wasting your time, Ivan!" she called out, her voice cutting through the cacophony of gunfire. "You can't win this."

Ivan responded with another volley of bullets. "I won't go down without a fight, Ma'am! You may be a monster, but I won't let you take me. I'm no ordinary man."

Gen moved again, using her webs to dart closer to Ivan. Each movement was calculated to bring her closer to her target while avoiding the hail of bullets. She swung from one side of the room to the other, her enhanced speed making her a difficult target.

The gunfire continued, but Gen's agility and perception allowed her to stay one step ahead. She felt the familiar burn of vitality being expended at an alarming rate, but she pushed through, knowing she had to end this quickly. With each swing and leap, she closed the distance between herself and Ivan.

As she landed behind a support pillar, Gen took a moment to assess her surroundings. The room was a mess of overturned furniture, scattered ammunition, and bullet-riddled walls. Ivan's hands were beginning to tremble, and the sound of his gunfire was becoming more sporadic.

Gen saw her chance. She shot another web, pulling herself up to the ceiling and then dropping down behind Ivan. He spun around, firing wildly, but Gen was too fast. She dodged the bullets with ease, her body moving in a blur.

She was nearly upon him when Ivan's gun clicked empty. Panic flashed across his face as he fumbled for a fresh magazine. Gen seized the moment, shooting a web that yanked the empty gun from his hands. It clattered to the floor, useless.

Ivan's eyes widened with fear as he reached into his belt and pulled out a large, serrated knife. He held it in front of him, his stance defensive. "You think I'm afraid of you? Come on then, let's finish this!"

"Really? I thought you were blowing us to kingdom come. What happened?"

Ivan snarled. "I don't need a bomb. I'll kill you myself."

Gen tilted her head, considering his challenge. Her eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and respect for his defiance. She took a step back, her sticky webs fading away as she faced him head-on. "Alright, Ivan. Hand-to-hand it is."