Chapter 366: Stay Put (3)

Perseus POV

My heart was pounding as I made my way to the lab, he's obviously going to have one of the gods as his guard since they'll think I'll go to him first. Fortunately, I got Maple coming along.

The memories of my time as his captive, the unspeakable horrors I had endured...those kinds of things never disappeared no matter how much therapy I got. In fact, therapy had been its own form of torment, a painful journey through the depths of my trauma as I was instructed to recount it and relive it over and over.

I vividly recalled the sleepless nights that followed, the night terrors that left me drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. It was as if every attempt to confront my past only served to plunge me deeper into the abyss of my own trauma.

I don't know if killing him will push it all away...if anything, I know it won't, but I don't mind having my trauma be relieved temporarily.

I arrived at the place and was quite surprised at the fact that there was no god nearby, I was wrong. It's probably because they're scared at the chance of us sensing a god in the area and that could have aroused our suspicions.

This is an underground facility located in quite a populated area and it's under this convenience store. I used the shadows to just get us to the floor where he was and I made my way on foot from there.

This facility was different from the main one, through the windows, I could see equipment and devices of every conceivable kind cluttered the laboratory's tables and countertops.

Bubbling flasks, sparking coils, and arcane machinery hummed with eerie malevolent energy, like something out of a mad alchemist's fever dream.

I couldn't help but shudder as I came across another row of cages, each containing twisted and mutated creatures that bore the marks of Keith's experiments. Their pitiful cries and animal-like noises for release were a haunting reminder of the horrors I had witnessed during my captivity.

"Is there no way to turn them back?" Maple asked

"Unfortunately no..."

"Poor souls...they want you to end them..." she said with a quiet voice, "They...said that it's very painful."

"Alright. As you wish."

*****

Carefully, I move through the labyrinthine passages of the underground facility. My heart pounds in my chest as I inch closer to the laboratory. As I round a corner, I spot a security camera. I take a moment to disable it, not wanting any record of my presence here.

After I got to the lab's door, I sensed no one inside, and with Maple's silent prayer, I turned the doorknob and eased the heavy door open.

The laboratory beyond was a chamber of horrors, bathed in an eerie, greenish glow from the humming machinery that filled the space. Tubes and wires snaked across the floor, connecting to monstrous contraptions of Keith's design. The air was thick with an overpowering smell of chemicals, a nauseating mixture of decay.

I further scanned the room, taking in the chaos that surrounded me. Equipment lay in disarray, toppled over or smashed to pieces. Shattered glass and spilled chemicals marred the once pristine surfaces.

My heart pounded as I realized that something had gone terribly wrong. It was as though the laboratory itself had been torn apart by some unseen force, a whirlwind of chaos and destruction.

I saw the hidden chamber that was used to contain the monster earlier, but...it was destroyed, chemical liquids were everywhere and there were so many torn wires and broken equipment on that side of the room.

On the floor were traces of blood and a decaying arm that seemed to have been bitten and eaten...what happened? 

I know that I can't sense anyone here, but I just assumed that it's because of the magic enchantment on the room itself...

I turned to Maple and she shook her head, that means that no one was here...did Keith die? I then followed the traces of blood and it led to an escape hatch.

There were footprints as well...but only of Keith's...

The trail of blood led me to an unassuming section of the laboratory floor. There, hidden beneath a layer of debris and scattered papers, was an inconspicuous escape hatch.

Without hesitation, I pushed open the escape hatch, revealing a narrow passage that descended into darkness. The stench of decay and despair wafted up from below, intensifying my sense of unease.

He can't die...not yet.

As I descended into the gloomy depths, my footsteps echoed eerily, the sound bouncing off the cold, damp walls. The trail of blood continued, winding its way through the narrow passage, as though beckoning me further into the abyss.

With each step, I couldn't help but wonder. Had Keith escaped with his nightmarish creation? Or was there something even more sinister lurking in the shadows, waiting to confront me?

I then stumbled upon a remarkable discovery. The trail of blood led me to another hidden chamber, within it was a pool of blood and...the traces of magic.

Maple examined it and it was teleportation magic, I examined the room and found another pair of footprints...but this was of another human...an Urgess was here, and they teleported Keith away...the monster along with it.

"Shit, he escaped. DAMN IT!"

"Good news is that the monster seems uncontrollable." Maple commented, "Take out your laptop, we might want to rewatch the footage."

I did that and watched the footage. Keith released the monstrous creation from its colossal machine. His face went from excitement and contorted to a mix of desperation and terror as he attempted to control the abomination he had brought into existence. I could see the panic in the scientist's eyes as he realized that he had lost control over his own creation. 

Keith made his escape from the laboratory and lost his arm in the process. It ate his arm and then proceeded to run after him.

The monstrous creation followed closely behind, but what's strange is that the monster left no footprint, its step was soft...and its body exhibited multiple abilities...and it caused a decay by gathering magic in its hand...this is bad.

What if the monster runs wild in a populated place? Magic and multiple powerful abilities...fuck, I need to handle this quick.

"Maple, track where the teleportation went earlier, we gotta kill this thing."