Oblivion's Throne-Chapter 85: Secrets and Lies

"Why do you think the Zey'rans were behind it?" Orion asked, his voice low, eyes narrowing as he studied Valeria's reaction.

Valeria's breath didn't hitch, nor did she flinch, but her expression—so carefully controlled—shifted. It was the subtlest thing: the barest flicker of her eyelids, a fraction of a second's pause. To anyone else, it would have been nothing.

To Orion, it was confirmation.

Even Varun, ever observant, stirred at the realization. His brows knit together, eyes flicking to Valeria in confusion.

"I didn't say that," she replied evenly, but Orion caught the way she measured her words. "It's highly unlikely."

Not impossible.

Orion held her gaze. Valeria never lies to him.

"Then why do you sound unsure?" Orion pressed, his gaze steady, voice edged with quiet insistence.

She exhaled slowly, her gaze steady but shadowed with calculation. "Because I can't leave anything to chance," she said, her voice measured, laced with quiet steel. "Whoever did this was either reckless or precise. If it was the Zey'rans, then a faction within my own family is willing to take a direct step against you. If it wasn't them, then the enemy could be even closer."

Varun let out a slow breath, arms still crossed. "That's a hell of a possibility, Lady Reyes," he muttered. "How are we supposed to know who did this, if we didn't even realize this was an assassination attempt?"

Valeria's gaze flicked toward him, sharp as a blade. "Oh, I will find who did it."

Finally, Valeria rose, stepping toward Orion's bedside with the effortless grace that made her such an indomitable force. She placed a hand on the railing beside him, fingers tracing the cool metal.

"This does not leave this room until we figure out more." Valeria asked, her voice quiet but absolute, each word brooked no argument.

Orion furrowed his brows. "You're telling me to keep quiet?" he asked, not fully understanding what Valeria was aiming to achieve by that.

"Yes," Valeria said, her voice firm.

The single word left no room for argument.

Varun's expression was tight with barely hidden frustration. "With all due respect, that's..." he said.

Valeria's gaze snapped to him. "Necessary," she said, her voice clipped, allowing no room for debate.

Orion frowned, his fingers drumming against the bed railing. "Then we need to have a cover story," he said, his voice low but firm, the weight of the situation pressing against his words.

A hint of approval flickered in her expression—brief, almost imperceptible. "You were poisoned by a rare mushroom, during your survival training."

The excuse was plausible. Orion had spent the last week surviving in the wild. A natural toxin, a rare fungal strain. It would certainly satisfy any scrutiny.

His stomach coiled as a heavy weight settled in his gut. "We don't know who to trust." he murmured, his voice laced with quiet unease.

Valeria's silence was answer enough.

A chill ran through Orion. If even his mother, the woman who built an empire on control, wasn't certain who was loyal... then the game was far deadlier than he had realized.

Varun let out a slow breath through his nose, his gaze turned to Orion. "Say 'Status,'" he instructed.

Orion frowned, his brows drawing together. "What?" he asked, his voice edged with confusion.

Varun's lips twitched, almost smirking, as he met Orion's confused gaze. "Just do it," he said.

Orion sighed, pushing back his exhaustion. "Status," he muttered, his voice tinged with reluctance.

He had to admit—he liked Varun better when he was stern and stoic. This smiling version of the man was starting to give him the chills.

The moment the word left his lips, his vision shifted.

A glowing screen appeared in front of Orion's eyes. But it wasn't floating in the air like a normal hologram—it felt like it was inside his head, as if his own mind had created the display.

「Status」

- Name: Orion Reyes

- Age: 5

- Biological Age: 13

- Muscle Density: 323% above baseline

- Bone Reinforcement Index: 246% above baseline

「Mutation Data」

- Mutation Type: Hybrid Enhancement

- Mutation Variants:

- Enhanced Strength (+72% Strength Output)

- Sensory Expansion

- Xenothalamic Adaptation (Partially Stabilized)

- Genetic Influence:

- Alien DNA: 0.00038% Integrated

- Unknown Genome Fragment: 0.00009% (Dormant State)

His fingers twitched slightly as his mind raced, tracing the meaning behind the data. Strength capped due to recovery. Mutation stabilized. Alien DNA—what? His Xenothalamus had somehow stabilized with a trace amount of non-human genetic material? His sensory processing had recieved a boost?—far beyond what he should have been capable of at this stage?

Varun's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Your mutation has stabilized enough for it to activate." he said, arms crossing over his chest. His expression held the satisfaction of a man who had expected this outcome.

Orion swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus on the display. It wasn't just a diagnostic tool—it was a direct, internal interface. A breakdown of his body, his capabilities, his evolution.

His mind honed in on the numbers again.

No wonder I feel sharper.

65% mutation growth potential? What the hell does that mean for me in the future?

Alien DNA—was that from the Genesis Strain? Or something else?

Varun watched him carefully. "Your body is still weak, but..." His eyes flicked toward the data, scanning it with practiced ease. "Judging from this, you should be able to perform three—maybe four—forms before you start breaking down."

Orion clenched his jaw. Three or four? That was better than he had expected.

Orion exhaled sharply, gaze lingering on the interface.

This was his reality now.

He parted his lips to ask more—

But before he could the doors slammed open.

Orion barely had time to process the sound before Ren Reyes stormed.

Her face was pale, her usually composed features twisted in something raw, something Orion had never seen before.

Fury.

Fear.

For the first time in years, Ren looked truly shaken.

The moment her sharp eyes locked onto him, her breath hitched. A single, fleeting second of hesitation. Then, as if that fragile moment had shattered into something uncontrolled, she strode forward, her fists clenched.

"You absolute idiot," she spat.

Orion blinked. His body was still sluggish, his mind reeling from everything he had just learned, but before he could even think of a response, Ren was in front of him, her hands gripping the sides of his medical bed, her knuckles white.

"You almost died." Her voice wavered, cracking at the edges.

Orion opened his mouth. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say—some kind of explanation, some reassurance—but he never got the chance.

Orion had never seen Ren like this. Not since they were children. Not since the last time she had ever allowed herself to be vulnerable.

And then—

Her shoulders shook.

Her face twisted, and despite the sheer force of her anger, a single tear slipped down her cheek.

This wasn't just anger. It was terror.

She had feared losing him.

Orion stared at her, stunned.

Valeria remained seated, watching quietly. She did not interfere. Did not reprimand Ren for the outburst.

Varun, standing off to the side, had the good sense to say nothing.

Orion swallowed.

Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.

He had no words.

No excuses.

Slowly, hesitantly, he reached out—his fingers brushing against hers.

Ren stiffened.

For a second, he thought she would pull away. But she didn't.

Instead, her hand grasped his, squeezing so tightly it almost hurt.

For now, this was enough.