Chapter 1576 Banishing The Deities

Chapter 1576 Banishing The Deities

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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"Karis, tell me where the Rion is," he demanded, his voice echoing slightly in the memory-filled void.

Karis lifted her weary eyes to meet his, a spark of defiance still burning within.

"I can't tell you, Thalos. I won't let you destroy what I've planned."

Thalos's frustration was palpable, but he masked it quickly and tried a different angle.

"Why deny me of my share? This was never the plan so stop being selfish."

Karis shook her head slowly, her voice soft but firm.

"The Nereus Sector cursed me. It made me a criminal. I blame this place for the loss of my child. I won't let anyone else suffer as I have. What I'm doing with the Rion... will make sure nothing like this is repeated. Just leave the Nereus Sector for your own sake."

Thalos scoffed as his patience wore thin.

"Tell me where the Rion is, Karis. This is not a game."

Her resolve hardened as she repeated her refusal.

"No, Thalos. I must finish what I started."

At that moment, Thalos burst into laughter, a sound that seemed jarringly out of place in the somber atmosphere. Karis stared at him, confusion and surprise written across her face.

Thalos, catching his breath, waved his hand dismissively.

"I don't need you to tell me, Karis. Look around you."

As he spoke, the memories swirling around them began to shift. The images of past tragedies and struggles faded, replaced by more recent memories.

Karis watched, horror-struck, as scenes of her arrival in the Nereus Sector with the Rion played out around them. The memories showed where she had headed, whom she had contacted, and even where she had hidden the Rion—all displayed vividly in the shimmering dimension.

Karis's eyes widened with realization and dread.

"How...?"

Thalos's smile was thin and cold.

"You see, Karis, the mind, no matter how strong, starts to crack under constant reliving of grief. It opens doors and makes it easy to navigate to the memories I want to see. Your plan, your contacts, the Rion's location—I know it all now."

Karis felt a chill run down her spine as the implications of Thalos's words sank in. Her last defense had been breached, her secrets laid bare not by torture or threats, but by her memories.

He spun on his heel to retreat, but Gustav appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"Going somewhere?" Gustav's voice was cool, calm, and ominously quiet.

Thalos reached into his jacket, his hand closing around another reflective, mirror-like device, but before he could use it, Gustav was upon him.

With a swift move, he disarmed Thalos and pinned him against a wall.

"You're not escaping this time, Thalos. Not with the Rion, not with anything," Gustav stated firmly, the grip on his adversary unyielding.

Thalos, caught and deflated, his eyes darted around the room, taking in the array of Triton operatives that had already surrounded him.

"How did you...?"

He couldn't believe his eyes. They really got to the Rion before him but he could sense that something was wrong.

Gustav's eyes narrowed as he turned to the Triton guards.

"Keep him secured. I'm going to figure out how to neutralize the Rion without causing damage to the sector."

A few minutes later, Gustav stood before the Rion, his brow furrowed in concentration. The crystalline structure pulsed with an ominous glow. Gustav, with determined precision, attempted various methods to dislodge the Rion, but each attempt was met with failure—the mineral remained unyieldingly fused to its surroundings.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, officer Eyhrum called upon Vlaid Zenith for his assistance. Zenith, whose past actions had indirectly contributed to the current crisis, approached the Rion with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

As they inspected the setup together, Zenith's knowledge proved invaluable.

"It looks like it's user-locked... A mineral with binding sentience," Zenith observed, examining the interfaces that linked the Rion to the infrastructure.

"Only the person who activated it can deactivate it. This thing is bonded to Karis."

Gustav processed the information, "So, we need Karis to shut it down."

Zenith nodded grimly. "Yes. If that energy is released, it'll obliterate everything. The entire Nereus Sector—gone. There's too much power being accumulated; no one would survive, and while my men and I can escape, it is impossible to evacuate millions in time."

Regret washed over Zenith's features as he considered the implications of his past betrayals. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't turned on Karis, none of this would be happening. I wish there was something I could do now."

"There might be something you can do, Zenith. Help convince Karis to deactivate the Rion." Gustav voiced before turning away.

Leaving Zenith to ponder his role in the unfolding disaster, Gustav strode with purpose toward the area where Thalos was being held. Thalos looked up as Gustav approached, his expression defiant yet curious about the intentions of his captor.

"Thalos, we need Karis to deactivate the Rion. It's linked to her, and she's the only one who can shut it down safely," Gustav explained, his tone commanding yet edged with a plea for cooperation.

Thalos scoffed, his skepticism clear.

"And why would I do that? What's in it for me?"

Gustav met his gaze steadily, "Thalos, if that mineral goes off, you'll die along with everyone else. This isn't about deals or leverage anymore—it's about survival."

"Hmph! Perhaps dying isn't such a bad option so long as that treacherous bitch gets to join in," Thalos spat out, his disdain for Karis was evident in his sneer.