The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Laboratory of Experiments

It was well past midnight when I arrived at the location where Aoda and Valentine had been waiting.

The place was hidden deep within a remote forest, far enough from the nearest settlement that even the sound of an explosion would have little chance of attracting immediate attention. From the surface, the area looked like nothing more than an abandoned mining site, with several ruined stone structures scattered around the entrance and thick vegetation concealing most of the surroundings.

That was only the surface, however.

Beneath the ruins was a large underground laboratory that extended far deeper than the abandoned structures above suggested. Several concealed entrances had been discovered during our surveillance, and the Order had already positioned its members around the surrounding forest to prevent anyone from escaping once the operation began.

Aoda and Valentine were waiting near one of those entrances, accompanied by ten elite members whose bodies were completely covered by their black attire. Their faces were concealed as well, making it impossible to identify them at a glance.

The moment they noticed me, Aoda and Valentine immediately lowered themselves to one knee.

"Master. The preparations have been completed."

"Stand."

Valentine stepped forward.

"We still haven’t confirmed their exact numbers, but based on the movement we’ve observed through the entrances and the supply routes connected to this facility, there should be more than a hundred people inside. There may be considerably more in the deeper sections."

"More than a hundred..."

I looked toward the entrance.

"Have you identified anything unusual among them?"

"We’ve confirmed that several individuals possess considerably higher mana than ordinary researchers or guards," Valentine replied. "Their behavior also suggests that some of them are directly involved in the experiments rather than simply providing security."

Aoda continued.

"We also found indications that the substance recovered from the bandit leader is being used here."

So that substance had reached another laboratory.

I had already suspected that the bandit incident wasn’t isolated, but finding the same material in another facility made the connection considerably more difficult to ignore.

"Good work."

I looked toward the entrance again.

"We’ll destroy this place tonight."

Aoda nodded.

"Understood."

"I’m going to handle the destruction personally, but before that, I want the survivors evacuated. Did you confirm whether anyone unrelated to the organization is being held inside?"

"Yes," Valentine answered. "There are five children and three adults. We’ve confirmed that they aren’t researchers or guards, and they’re being kept in a separate section of the facility."

"Good. Once they’re out, take them as far away from this place as possible."

"Understood."

I paused for a moment before looking at both of them.

"This is only the beginning. The situation surrounding Algazar is becoming more serious than I expected, so we can’t afford to spend too much time dealing with every facility individually."

Aoda’s expression became serious.

"The revival of the Grave Tyrant."

"That’s right."

I glanced toward the ten elites standing behind them.

"Move in."

Aoda turned toward the group.

"You heard Master. Begin the operation."

The ten figures disappeared into the darkness one after another, moving toward the concealed entrances without making a sound.

Valentine followed shortly afterward, with Aoda beside her.

I remained outside for the moment.

There was something I wanted to see before I destroyed the place.

---

Deep beneath the ground, the central chamber of the laboratory was considerably larger than the upper structures.

Rows of enormous glass capsules occupied the chamber, each connected to a complicated network of pipes and magical conduits. Some contained animals suspended inside strange-colored liquid, while others held human subjects who appeared unconscious. Several capsules were empty, though traces of liquid remained along their inner walls.

Around the room were several workstations covered with documents, magical instruments, containers of unidentified substances, and equipment used for examining the bodies of the subjects.

The researchers moved between the stations wearing white coats, while armed guards stood nearby wearing similarly colored uniforms beneath their protective equipment.

At the center of the chamber, one of the senior researchers was examining a large magical display.

"The latest results are considerably better than the previous batch."

He adjusted his glasses while studying the information.

"The substance is increasing their mana capacity, but the instability remains a problem."

Another researcher looked toward him.

"How many survived this time?"

"Three."

"Out of how many?"

The senior researcher paused.

"Twenty-seven."

The other researcher looked away.

"Another failure rate like that will become difficult to maintain."

"We know."

The senior researcher continued examining the display.

"Which is why the next phase will focus on stabilizing the transformation rather than increasing the amount of mana."

A guard standing nearby listened quietly.

"Do you think we’ll actually reach the desired result?"

The researcher gave him an irritated look.

"That’s why we’re conducting the experiments."

Before anyone could continue the discussion, a heavy explosion suddenly shook the chamber.

BOOM!

The magical display flickered violently.

Several researchers stumbled against their desks while the guards immediately reached for their weapons.

"What was that?"

Another explosion followed from somewhere deeper within the facility.

BOOM!

This time, the entire floor trembled.

One of the researchers looked toward the ceiling.

"Was that a containment failure?"

"No."

The senior researcher stared at the magical readings.

"The containment systems are still functioning."

Then the door to the chamber suddenly opened.

A guard rushed inside.

"Director!"

The senior researcher turned toward him.

"What happened?"

The guard was breathing heavily.

"It’s emergency, we have intruders."

The room immediately became tense.

"Intruders?"

"A group of people wearing black clothing has entered the facility. They’ve already breached several sections and are attacking our personnel."

"How many?"

"We don’t know."

"Then find out."

The guard turned to leave.

He barely took a step before something struck him from above.

CRACK!

His body collapsed onto the floor.

The researchers stared at him.

"What..."

One of the guards slowly looked upward.

His face changed.

Figures were standing along the upper platforms and beams surrounding the chamber, their bodies covered completely by dark clothing while their faces remained hidden beneath their coverings.

They had surrounded the entire room without anyone noticing.

The researcher swallowed.

"What’s this..."

"Who are you people?"

Valentine stepped forward.

Her gaze moved calmly across the chamber.

"We are the Eclipse."

The researchers exchanged confused looks.

"The Eclipse?"

"Is that an organization?"

One of the guards stared at the figures above them.

"Wait..."

His expression changed.

"Their voices..."

He looked from one figure to another.

"Are all of them women?"

Valentine ignored the question.

Aoda stepped forward beside her, resting one hand against the hilt of her sword.

The ten elites moved into position around them.

Valentine raised her gaze.

"When light meets darkness, neither shall prevail—for we are the shadow that devours them both."

The chamber fell silent for a brief moment.

The senior researcher finally recovered from his shock.

"I don’t know what kind of organization you think you are, but this facility is protected by the kingdom’s finest mercenaries and knights. Kill them."

The guards immediately drew their swords.

"Move!"

The first group rushed forward.

The ten Eclipse elites dropped from the upper platforms at the same time.

Ten swords manifested into their hands before they reached the floor.

CLANG!

Steel collided.

One of the guards was forced backward by the first impact.

"What strength—"

An Eclipse blade struck across his chest before he could finish.

He collapsed.

Another knight rushed toward the attacker from behind.

"Watch your back!"

The Eclipse member turned, caught the incoming blade, and redirected it before driving his own sword into the man’s shoulder.

"AGH!"

The knight stumbled backward, clutching his injured arm.

"Surround them!"

Several more guards rushed forward.

The chamber quickly filled with the sound of steel striking steel as the Eclipse elites moved through them with frightening efficiency. They didn’t waste movements, and every attack was deliberate, forcing the guards backward despite their numerical advantage.

"There’s too many of them!"

"Don’t let them reach the researchers!"

"Call the advanced knights!"

"They’re already fighting!"

One of the senior knights stepped forward, gripping his sword tightly.

"Half of the guards stationed here are advanced-rank knights, and several are high-ranking knights. Don’t tell me you’re going to lose to a few infiltrators!"

He charged.

An Eclipse elite met him directly.

CLANG!

The knight’s sword was pushed aside.

"What?"

A second strike crossed his chest.

He staggered backward, blood staining his uniform.

Before he could recover, another blow struck the side of his head and sent him crashing onto the floor.

The remaining knights began to realize that something was seriously wrong.

"They’re not struggling at all..."

"We’re supposed to be the ones defending this place!"

"Then keep fighting!"

"We are fighting!"

Aoda finally stepped down from the platform.

She landed among the guards, and the impact alone cracked the stone beneath her feet.

Several knights instinctively backed away.

One of them stared at her.

"Another one?"

Aoda drew her sword.

"Stand aside."

The knight gritted his teeth.

"Don’t underestimate us!"

He charged.

Aoda swung once.

BOOM!

A concentrated burst of Eclipse Power exploded from her blade, sending the knight flying across the chamber.

He crashed into the wall hard enough to crack the stone.

"What was that?!"

"She didn’t even touch him!"

Another knight rushed toward Aoda.

She met his sword directly.

CLANG!

The force of the collision drove him down onto one knee.

His arms trembled.

"What kind of strength..."

Aoda pushed forward.

His sword slipped from his hands.

He barely had time to look up before she struck him across the shoulder, sending him rolling across the floor.

Valentine stepped forward on the opposite side of the chamber.

Several guards immediately turned toward her.

"Take that woman down!"

Three knights attacked at once.

Valentine remained still until the last moment.

A crimson rose appeared beside her.

The petals suddenly scattered through the air.

The first knight raised his arm.

"What’s—"

The petals struck.

"AGH!"

He stumbled backward as several sharp petals tore through his armor.

The second knight swung his sword.

Valentine vanished from his sight.

Petal Step.

She reappeared beside him.

His eyes widened.

"Where did—"

A crimson blade flashed.

He dropped to the floor.

The third knight stopped.

He stared at the bodies around him before tightening his grip on his weapon.

"No..."

Valentine looked toward him.

"Still want to continue?"

The knight’s face paled.

"Attack her!"

Another guard shouted.

"Don’t just stand there!"

The knight rushed forward.

Valentine moved to meet him.

Their weapons collided.

CLANG!

The knight attacked again.

Valentine blocked.

Another strike.

She redirected it.

The knight tried to change his angle.

A crimson rose appeared beside his shoulder.

His expression changed.

"Wait—"

The rose burst.

BOOM!

He was thrown across the room.

The remaining guards began losing formation.

"Fall back!"

"We can’t!"

"Then call for reinforcements!"

"There aren’t any left!"

The senior researcher stared at the scene in disbelief.

His hands had begun to tremble.

"Impossible..."

He looked around the chamber.

"How can this be happening?"

A wounded knight stumbled toward him.

"Director..."

The researcher grabbed his shoulder.

"What’s happening? Why aren’t they stopping them?"

The knight looked back toward Aoda and Valentine.

His expression was filled with fear.

"We can’t stop them."

"What?"

"They’re too strong."

He swallowed.

"Especially those two women."

Before he could say anything else, an Eclipse blade flashed past him.

The knight froze.

A thin line of blood appeared across his chest before he collapsed.

The researcher stared at the body.

His face had gone completely pale.

The battle continued around him.

The guards were still attempting to fight, but their formation had already collapsed. The Eclipse elites continued advancing while Aoda and Valentine moved through the remaining resistance without needing to unleash their full abilities.

The laboratory, which had once been filled with the confident voices of researchers and guards, had become a chaotic battlefield.

"Protect the specimens!"

"Forget the specimens! Save yourselves!"

"Don’t retreat!"

"They’re going to kill us!"

"Where are the reinforcements?!"

"There aren’t any!"

Valentine glanced toward Aoda.

"We’ve seen enough."

Aoda nodded.

"Agreed."

She raised her sword.

Eclipse Power gathered around the blade.

The remaining guards immediately noticed.

"Wait!"

"What is she doing?"

"Get away from her!"

Aoda swung.

BOOM!

A massive burst of force tore through the chamber.

Magical equipment shattered.

Several capsules cracked.

The lights flickered violently as the laboratory’s containment systems began collapsing.

The researchers screamed and rushed toward the exits.

"Evacuate!"

"The containment system is failing!"

"Get the subjects out!"

The ten Eclipse elites immediately moved deeper into the facility.

"Search every room."

"Find the survivors."

"Move the children first."

"Understood."

Valentine looked toward the senior researcher.

He was standing beside the central platform, staring at the destruction around him as though his mind had stopped functioning.

She walked toward him.

He instinctively stepped backward.

"Who are you?"

Valentine stopped in front of him.

"The Eclipse."

She turned away.

"Remember thar beautiful name."

The researcher stared after her.

"The Eclipse..."

His voice trembled.

"Why would an organization like you attack us?"

Valentine didn’t answer.

Aoda looked toward the collapsing chamber.

"We’re done here."

Valentine nodded.

"Let’s get the survivors out."

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