Omega Ascension System[BL]-Chapter 296: _Tracking Divinity

Kyren’s POV

*****

"Farrell. Updates on the excavation’s pause." He took a sip from a glass of wine.

Kyren stood behind a desk in a dimly lit study room—not at all connected to his palace’s grand Library.

After the catastrophe that was brunch earlier, he’d left for this room. He needed to give his little flame space. But he also needed some space to strategise.

The Alpha Prince sat in front of the desk, squinting curiously when he placed his mouth close to the communication wrist band.

"Ishtar is in stable condition, my lord," Farrell responded after a few seconds of silence, tone unenthusiastic. A change Kyren noticed instantly.

He didn’t ask about Ishtar. He asked about the paused excavation.

"Forgive my... Lack of concern, Farrell." Kyren found himself saying despite the urge to ignore his commander and carry on.

Lucian arched a brow from across the table, silver eyes glinting with shock underneath the red illumination of the lamp between them.

"S–Sir—" Farrell stuttered from the other end like a panicked dog. "You don’t need to apologise—"

"I didn’t apologise, commander." Kyren cut him short. "Just pointing out something. Ishtar is an important member of my staff. She was badly hurt by the Divine crystal explosion and I should’ve asked of her. So... Forgive that."

He felt like his insides were being nibbled on just saying that. But he ignored it, faking a cough. "Anyway, give me updates. It’s been a long day and I want to know if there’s any chance of us restarting the excavations soon."

He’d seen it. Or rather... He felt it.

Divine energy, pulsing in Elian after he woke up from his little vision in the dining room earlier. The same divine energy he felt when he first visited the excavation site. The same one he felt thrumming from Sylas like a bomb waiting to blow.

So much divinity gathered in one spot. In HIS territory.

If there’s anything he’s learnt from his mother and her schemes so far... It’s that none of it was a coincidence.

"The divine energy corruption in the area surrounding the crater is still thick, sir," Farrell explained from the other end. "It’s like radiation... Except capable of causing change at a much more rapid rate."

Kyren’s jaw tightened but he waited patiently still.

He’d be lying if he said the idea of Lucian’s long-lost brother being here all along didn’t... Trouble him. Or on how easy it had been to take the boy in.

A Stormborn royal... Who was also an Omega. And a hybrid artificially created with a functioning mana core. It was all too clean.

Too structured. Like chess pieces arranged meticulously on a board.

"In other words, we still aren’t sure of why the explosion happened," Farrel continued. "Some of our experts suspect it has something to do with that palace servant. Sylas. He lit up like a Divine energy circuit after all."

The Rogue king gave Lucian a glance. The latter could also hear the words of the commander but didn’t make any input.

"When do you think it would be safe to start excavating again?" Kyren queried. The thought of them sitting around like ducklings while Amara plotted Hades knows what unnerved him.

"A week tops, my Lord." Farrell sighed. "I know it feels like we’re... Lacking behind the High Matron and Arcadia. But it’s the best time I can give. If we’re to avoid another cataclysmic curse worse than the Blight."

Those last words were enough to calm Kyren’s shoulders. He certainly couldn’t risk that. Not in his lifetime.

"Very well." He nodded. "Keep me posted on Ishtar’s recovery." And then he hung up, adjusting his sitting posture. Tilting his head, he narrowed his gaze on Lucian. "You heard all that, right?"

The Alpha Prince rubbed his forehead. "Yeah... Something’s not right. The Divine crystal’s reaction. It’s a possible connection to Sylas."

"It IS connected to the lad," Kyren reaffirmed. "And it makes so much sense. He was augmented with its divine energy. Now anytime the damn thing reacts, it... Calls to the divine energy within him."

Remarkable. It was almost as if the divine crystal had some semblance of sentience in it.

Alas, where he grew fascinated, Lucian grew impatient and weary. "But how? How was your mother able to siphon any Divine energy and do anything to Sylas with it? For the moon’s sake, it’s buried deep in YOUR territory."

Right... That.

Kyren remembered a few words Elian mentioned during his breakdown at brunch earlier.

"Am I even real? Are my emotions real?" His little flame’s painful words echoed in his mind. Not because the Rogue King enjoyed torturing himself with them. But because... They sparked a thought. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

What if whatever Elian saw about himself... Had a connection with their present mystery? How was Amara able to get access to divine energy?

"She definitely didn’t come here at any point eighteen years ago," Kyren mumbled. "Believe me. She must have gotten the energy some other way."

Before Lucian could respond, the room flickered—once, twice—before seven crimson holograms snapped to life in a circle around the desk.

Kyren’s nostrils flared. "The Dukes?"

They never called unannounced. Not all at once.

High projections of his most powerful subordinates solidified.

All bowing.

"My lord," Onika spoke first, her voice sharp but respectful. "Forgive the intrusion. We sensed a surge from the Divine Crystal’s stabilisers. A second spike within such a short time is... concerning."

Lucian straightened in his seat, expression darkening.

"Report," Kyren ordered.

Duke Varos cleared his throat. "The corruption is spreading faster. The crater’s radius has expanded by another half a kilometre. Our experts believe something—or someone—is destabilising the Crystal from afar."

A beat of tense silence.

Then Talmar stepped forward, jaw clenched. "We’ve convened privately and reached a... suggestion."

Kyren didn’t like the hesitation.

"Spit it out," he growled.

The seven exchanged looks. Onika took a breath, eyes glowing faintly.

"We believe the safest course of action is to cease all attempts at containment," she said. "And instead..."

Talmar finished it, voice flat:

"...hand the Divine Crystal over to Arcadia."