The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 184: Chapter 185: Nightmare of the Eighth Laboratory

The forest was unusually quiet.

At the highest point of an enormous tree, two figures stood among the branches, looking down toward the dense forest below.

Andrea stood with her arms folded, her eyes fixed on the small opening hidden between several enormous trees.

Beside her, Celeste remained perfectly still.

Her long hair moved gently with the wind, while a faint layer of frost had already begun forming across the branch beneath her feet.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

The entrance below looked completely insignificant.

At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than a small cave leading into the mountain.

But the magical traces surrounding it told a different story.

Deep beneath that seemingly ordinary entrance was an enormous facility.

A laboratory.

The eighth one they had discovered.

Andrea narrowed her eyes.

"Is this the place?"

Celeste studied the cave entrance carefully.

"Yes."

She paused.

"At least, it appears to be."

Her gaze moved across the surrounding forest.

"Although this one is different from the others."

Andrea glanced at her.

"Different how?"

Celeste’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"The magical energy."

She looked toward the cave.

"It’s much denser than the previous laboratories."

Andrea’s expression became more serious.

"So they upgraded their defenses."

"Seems like it."

Celeste looked toward the small entrance again.

"This one is bigger than the others."

Andrea smiled faintly.

"No wonder we’ve been having such a hard time finding it."

She leaned slightly forward.

"Who would expect a major laboratory to be hidden behind an entrance that looks like a rabbit hole?"

Celeste sighed.

"These people are becoming increasingly troublesome."

She looked toward the cave.

"Seriously, why are they doing research like this?"

Andrea remained silent.

Celeste continued.

"They’re experimenting on humans."

Her expression became colder.

"They’re experimenting on monsters."

She tightened her fingers slightly.

"And they’re combining the two as though lives are nothing more than materials."

A faint layer of frost spread across the branch beneath her feet.

"They could have used their knowledge for the sake of humanity."

Her voice remained calm, but there was unmistakable anger beneath it.

"They could have developed treatments, created new methods of strengthening the human body, or discovered ways to help people adapt to monsters."

She looked toward the hidden laboratory.

"Instead, they’re killing people."

Andrea slowly crossed her arms.

"Perhaps that’s why they don’t want anyone finding out."

Celeste gave a quiet sigh.

"Whatever their reason is, they’ve crossed the line."

Andrea’s lips curved upward.

She looked almost amused.

"Then..."

She stepped onto another branch.

"Shall we?"

Celeste looked at her.

Andrea’s smile widened.

It wasn’t a friendly smile.

It was the kind of smile that belonged to someone who had already decided how the evening was going to end.

"Let’s pay them a visit."

Celeste sighed.

"You’re enjoying this."

"Perhaps."

Andrea’s smile became slightly more wicked.

"But can you blame me?"

She looked down at the cave.

"We’ve been searching for this place for quite some time."

Celeste shook her head.

"Fine."

She stepped forward.

"Let’s go."

The two disappeared from the treetop.

---

The Eighth Laboratory

Deep beneath the mountain, the atmosphere was completely different.

The laboratory was enormous.

Long corridors extended through the underground complex, connected by reinforced doors and surrounded by layers of magical barriers.

Several rooms contained strange equipment.

Others were filled with containers of glowing substances.

Magical formulas had been written across several walls, while countless documents and research records had been arranged across the desks.

At the deepest section of the laboratory stood a massive reinforced chamber.

Inside was a cage.

But calling it a cage was almost insulting.

The structure was enormous, constructed from several layers of reinforced metal and magical barriers, with thick restraints positioned throughout the interior.

Five researchers stood before it.

All of them wore white laboratory coats.

Their expressions were filled with excitement.

One of them looked through the reinforced observation window.

"It’s finally complete."

Another researcher smiled.

"After all this time."

A third adjusted his glasses while checking several readings displayed on a nearby magical screen.

"The fusion process has stabilized."

He looked toward the others.

"The monster’s original biological structure has been successfully integrated with the foreign monster factors."

One of the researchers laughed quietly.

"And unlike the previous specimens, this one hasn’t rejected the transformation."

Another researcher glanced toward the cage.

"That’s because we’ve refined the injection process."

He pointed toward several containers.

"The previous specimens received too much foreign material at once. Their bodies couldn’t adapt."

He smiled.

"This time, we introduced each monster factor gradually."

Another researcher nodded.

"The result is remarkable."

He looked toward the creature inside the cage.

"Human biological compatibility."

"Monster regeneration."

"Enhanced physical structure."

"And the ability to adapt to foreign magical energy."

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

"We’ve finally created an S-Rank specimen."

The others stared through the glass.

Inside the reinforced cage stood a monstrous figure.

Its body was enormous, far larger than an ordinary human.

Several layers of hardened tissue covered its limbs, while dark veins pulsed beneath its distorted skin.

Its original shape was difficult to determine.

Human.

Monster.

Something between the two.

Its breathing was slow.

Heavy.

Every time it exhaled, the magical instruments surrounding the cage trembled slightly.

One of the researchers looked toward the readings.

"The energy output continues increasing."

Another smiled.

"Excellent."

"If this specimen survives the next stage, we may finally have proof that artificial evolution is possible."

The researchers exchanged excited looks.

One of them laughed.

"Imagine what His superiors will say when they see this."

Another researcher nodded.

"We’ll finally have access to the resources we’ve been requesting."

The woman standing slightly apart from the others remained silent.

Number Five.

She was the final member of the research team.

Her long black hair fell naturally around her shoulders, with heavy bangs framing her face and partially obscuring her eyes.

Unlike the others, she wasn’t particularly excited.

Her expression remained composed.

Unreadable.

She stared at the creature inside the cage.

"It isn’t finished."

One of the researchers looked at her.

"What?"

"The specimen."

She continued watching it.

"The energy inside its body is still unstable."

The researcher frowned.

"But the readings are within acceptable parameters."

"Acceptable isn’t the same as stable."

She turned toward him.

"If the specimen loses control, this entire facility could be destroyed."

The researcher laughed nervously.

"You’re worrying too much."

Number Five’s expression didn’t change.

"I hope you’re right."

She turned back toward the cage.

The creature suddenly moved.

Its head lifted.

The researchers froze.

The monster’s eyes opened.

A deep crimson glow filled the chamber.

The instruments immediately began producing warning sounds.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

One researcher stared at the readings.

"The energy output increased again."

Another stepped closer.

"How much?"

"Twenty percent."

"What?"

"Twenty percent in less than ten seconds."

The researchers exchanged excited looks.

Number Five simply watched.

Then—

BOOOOOOM!

An enormous explosion shook the laboratory.

The lights flickered.

Several researchers stumbled.

"What was that?!"

Another explosion followed.

BOOOOOOM!

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The magical barriers surrounding the laboratory began flickering.

One researcher looked toward the security display.

"Someone has breached the outer perimeter!"

"What?"

"How?"

The room suddenly became chaotic.

Several alarms began sounding simultaneously.

Number Five remained completely calm.

She slowly turned toward the corridor.

Then she smiled.

"So..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"They finally found us."

One researcher looked toward her.

"What are you talking about?"

Number Five calmly walked toward the door.

"Reinforce the barriers around the major rooms."

She glanced back.

"The laboratory cannot be allowed to collapse."

The researcher stared at her.

"Are you sure you can handle them alone?"

Number Five stopped.

For the first time, her expression changed.

A faint smile appeared.

"Hm?"

She looked over her shoulder.

"Are you looking down on me?"

The researcher immediately shook his head.

"N-No."

He lowered his head.

"Forgive me."

He hesitated.

"But please be careful."

Number Five sighed.

---

Outside the laboratory, the mountain had already been transformed.

A massive explosion had torn through the forest.

Trees had been uprooted.

Rocks had been blasted apart.

Several sections of the mountain had collapsed completely.

Smoke covered the area.

Celeste stood at the edge of the destroyed clearing.

Her expression was calm.

Around her floated ten enormous spears of ice.

Each one was several meters long.

They weren’t ordinary ice.

Their surfaces were covered with intricate crystalline patterns, while an overwhelming frost aura radiated from every spear.

The temperature surrounding the battlefield had already dropped dramatically.

Andrea stood beside her.

She looked toward the smoke.

"My, what a great view."

Celeste glanced at her.

"You’re enjoying this too much."

Andrea smiled.

Celeste raised one hand.

The ten enormous ice spears slowly aligned themselves above the destroyed mountain.

The air began freezing.

The remaining trees became covered in frost.

Even the rocks beneath their feet began developing layers of white ice.

Andrea looked upward.

"Are you planning to destroy the entire mountain?"

"No."

Celeste’s eyes narrowed.

"I’m aiming at the laboratory."

She lowered her hand.

The ten spears descended.

"Frostfall."

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The mountain exploded.

The ice spears struck the ground simultaneously.

A tremendous wave of frost erupted across the battlefield.

The forest disappeared beneath a cloud of white.

Craters opened across the mountain.

Trees were shattered.

Rocks were buried beneath enormous layers of ice.

The shockwave spread outward before being swallowed by Celeste’s control.

Andrea shielded her face from the freezing wind.

"That’s quite destructive."

The smoke slowly began disappearing.

Andrea looked ahead.

Then her smile faded slightly.

"There’s a barrier."

Celeste’s eyes narrowed.

"I see."

The laboratory remained standing.

The outer sections had been damaged.

Several walls had collapsed.

But the major underground facility remained protected by a massive barrier.

Andrea crossed her arms.

"That’s annoying."

Celeste looked at the barrier.

"Then let’s break it."

The barrier suddenly flickered.

A large number of figures emerged from the ruined entrance.

Dozens of guards.

They wore white uniforms reinforced with magical armor, each carrying a weapon infused with mana.

They rushed into the clearing.

"Intruders!"

"Protect the laboratory!"

"Don’t let them get inside!"

Celeste looked at them.

Her expression didn’t change.

A sword formed in her hand.

The weapon was made entirely from condensed frost.

Its blade was translucent, almost resembling frozen crystal, while intricate patterns resembling ancient snowflakes ran along its surface.

She raised it.

Then swung.

SHIIIIING!

A massive crescent of frost swept across the battlefield.

The guards froze.

For one brief moment, everything became silent.

Then—

CRACK!

The ice spread across their bodies.

BOOOOOOM!

The frozen figures shattered simultaneously.

The remaining frost exploded outward, striking the laboratory barrier.

The barrier trembled.

Andrea looked toward the shattered guards.

"Well."

She smiled.

"That was quick."

Celeste lowered her sword.

"Hm."

Her eyes moved toward the laboratory.

"There’s someone stronger inside."

Andrea’s expression became interested.

"Really?"

She looked toward the entrance.

"I can feel it too."

The air suddenly became silent.

The surviving guards stopped moving.

A slow sound echoed from within the ruined entrance.

Step.

Another.

Step.

Another.

Someone was approaching.

The smoke parted.

A woman emerged.

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