Chapter 61: Absolute Dominion

Mike was taken aback when he heard the word "aberrant."

"You know about it?"

Olivia glanced at his right hand with a hint of a smile.

Mike shook his head as he walked through the deep corridor. "Not too clear on the specifics, just occasionally heard the Necro Cult's living scum mention it during interrogations."

Olivia suddenly paused, placing her hand on the hard rock wall and pushing with force.

It turned out to be a hidden room, with dilapidated culture dishes covered in dust, broken cables and circuits, and a massive cage containing a hideous, skeletal form. There was also a human corpse on an operating table.

The skeletal remains in the cage were obviously from some kind of aberrant. And the corpse on the operating table was human, but with a pair of bony wings sprouting from its back!

Unfortunately, there were no other records left behind, only abandoned items from the experiments of an unknown number of years ago. But even just from these two skeletal remains, one could glean some insights.

There were many more such rooms deeper in the corridor, with almost identical configurations, differing only in the shapes of the aberrant and human corpses, which looked bizarre.

Moreover, there were numerous weathered skeletal remains lining the sides of the corridor.

They were burly and fierce, clad in armor and kneeling in the corners, clutching guns and axes in their laps.

They seemed to be the guards of this place.

A chill could be felt when passing by them.

"It's Constantine's handiwork," Olivia murmured. "He comes from a primitive clan and has some unique beliefs. He believes that after death, the soul resides in the bones and can only be liberated when buried in the soil. But if the corpse is confined, the soul will never be extinguished and will forever guard this place."

She paused. "Wherever he goes, he leaves behind his devoted followers. These followers consider it a great honor to attain immortality and await the return of their king."

Mike mentally scoffed, "What a goddamn lunatic."

Occasionally, ancient murals depicting deities and demons could be seen on the rock walls, similar to the totems engraved on the bodies of the Genesis Nest, which were part of the evolution chain.

"Can you read them?" Mike asked curiously.

"'Genesis Nest,' 'Immortal Deities,' symbols of primal forces," Olivia stated calmly.

Mike knew there was more to it, but she was unwilling to elaborate.

"So, aberrant art is about fusing Dark Matter into one's own body?" This was similar to what he had done.

"More or less, but it requires perfect fusion. The Necro Cult's evolution is deformed and failed; their bodies will rot and their lives are short-lived. I've seen people who truly mastered aberrant art, for whom it was like an additional organ within their body."

Olivia spoke in a detached tone. "That person... you've seen them too."

Mike paused, his mind flashing with various figures. The Third Generation Sacred Sovereign, the ancient secrets of Holy Mountain, aberrant art. Could it be Williams?

"Wait, an organ?" Mike seized on the key point.

"Yes, an organ. The adaptability to Dark Matter varies from person to person, so aberrant art can only master one ability. Those who wield aberrant art are called Apostates. They often choose to fuse with a specific aberrant from the four major evolution chains."

Olivia crossed her arms and explained, "This way, they can transform into a single aberrant form to gain tremendous power. Furthermore, Constantine can also separate the Dark Matter, amplifying it greatly to become his puppet."

Mike fell silent, realizing his abilities were somewhat different but also similar.

He wasn't sure if he could do something similar.

"This flesh and blood is probably just a byproduct of the experiments. The Dark Matter has been extracted, causing it to lose control and infect the entire underground space," Olivia said, her eyes growing sharp as she heard a pulsing sound like a frantic heartbeat.

"Found it!"

Mike grabbed her wrist. "Quick!"

A thunderous rumble shook the ancient ruins, and debris began to tumble down.

The entire ruin was in upheaval, about to explode!

Olivia glanced at his hand, already accustomed to this physical contact.

Mike led the way, rushing out of the corridor and into a vast, open plaza.

A massive sacred statue stood in the darkness, completely enveloped in flesh and sinews. The exposed blood vessels pulsed with scorching blood, beating with the force of a heart.

This was the core of the fleshy growth, its proliferating masses encroaching upon the surrounding rock walls.

Everywhere, there were gnarled blood vessels, throbbing powerfully.

"Haha!"

Matthew's voice rang out.

He walked backward towards the central stone steps of the square.

At the end of the stone steps was a large gate, which seemed to be the only exit.

"You're too late, it's about to explode! I advise you not to move, or else I'll detonate this explosive right away and we'll all ascend to heaven!" Matthew took a remote control from his pocket with a red button, ready to press it at any moment.

Bang! A gunshot destroyed the detonator in his hand.

"Who the hell are you trying to fool?"

Mike suddenly rushed out, bringing a huge explosive force with lightning speed.

Olivia narrowed her eyes, has this young man always been so reckless?

"Olivia, think of something quick."

Mike shouted, "I can only buy you 30 seconds!"

A strange light flickered in Olivia's eyes, she seemed to have not seen such a spirited young man in a long time, even though he was far weaker than his opponent, he still dared to challenge.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her pupils were filled with a holy light.

The entire underground square's structure became clear in her eyes.

It was as if she could see the blood and flesh core of the holy statue.

Bang, bang, bang! Matthew fired three shots, but they were all blocked by the young man's raised hand.

The bullets hit his palm, but it was as if they had collided with steel.

"Hm?" Matthew realized something was wrong.

The target he had just aimed at was the nun.

Because she seemed to have a way to stop the explosion.

But this military officer in front of him was a bit too troublesome.

"Then you can just die!"

Matthew, with half his body scorched from the previous battle, could only use his right hand. He gathered a huge wind blade and slashed down at the young man.

Boom! The wind pressure cut through Mike's forehead hair as he stepped back to dodge.

He propped himself on his hand to stabilize his stance, and his electric whip leg swept out.

"Who said I'm not a heavenly phenomenon type?"

Matthew, relying on the speed of the wind, dodged sideways and struck out with his right fist.

Mike wanted to use his immortal power, but the gap in rank seemed too large, so he decisively chose to fight head-on, with just a chip between his fingers!

In that instant, Matthew seemed to also see the object, his pupils slightly contracting.

Boom! A huge fire burst open, a mushroom cloud rising to the sky.

In the rolling clouds of smoke, Matthew's left eye had been blasted out, leaving only a scorched eye socket, his body was also engulfed in searing flames, which he blew away with a gust of wind.

"Is this all you've got, still wanting to challenge Williams?"

Mike said viciously, "Have you been drinking?"

He rushed up in an instant, electricity flickering.

Suddenly, a wind blade fell from the sky and ruthlessly tore through his back, blood gushing out like a waterfall, the intense pain making his vision blacken and him slightly disoriented.

Matthew rolled and dashed forward, trying to slice his throat with the wind blade.

Unexpectedly, Mike, even after being injured, showed no stiffness at all. He reached out and grabbed Matthew's wrist, and the crushed chip in his palm suddenly burst into scorching flames!

"Surprised? Unexpected?"

Mike lifted his head and grimly smiled, "This hand is my gift to you."

The three chips given by Williams each had three different abilities:

The Dragon's Impact.

Explosive Flames.

And the burning hot flames on the palm.

These flames wouldn't hurt him but could spread along the enemy's arm.

In an instant, Matthew let out a miserable scream as his right arm was suddenly turned to charcoal.

"You beast, didn't expect this day would come when you're the one being tortured, huh?" Mike tore off his carbonized arm and landed a vicious uppercut!

Bang! Electric arcs burst out!

Matthew was sent flying, but at the same time, he spewed out a violent gale!

Boom, Mike was hit head-on by the fierce wind, his chest a bloody mess.

He fell like a broken kite, crashing hard to the ground.

Both were defeated!

However, at this moment, the underground ruin fell into a deathly silence.

The flesh and blood no longer pulsed, but turned a bizarre blood red.

A dense, nauseating bloody aura emanated out.

"Haha, it's going to explode, you're all doomed!"

Matthew staggered up the stone steps, like a shaking puppet.

"Spiral, explosion, ascension!"

His wanton laughter echoed in the silence, "You maggots, go to hell! Haha!"

Mike looked up and was shocked to see the flesh embedded in the holy statue was about to explode.

At this moment, Olivia's earpiece crackled with an urgent voice.

"Mike, what's the situation on your end? The people from the Sanctuary have arrived, and they plan to directly carry out a great annihilation on the entire underground space to suppress the explosion!"

That was Rose's anxious call, mixed with Damon's weary sigh.

Mike lifted his head with great effort, his face covered in fresh blood.

He did not shout back in response but waited for something.

At this moment, Olivia opened her eyes.

She didn't say anything, just tossed the earpiece back.

"I have a solution."

She said softly, "Whether to trust me or not, the choice is yours."

Outside the underground district, Williams sat in a wheelchair, speaking into a miniature microphone.

Chief Charles of the Law Enforcement Bureau led the inspectors to seal off the scene, his face deathly pale.

No one had expected that the High Priest would encounter trouble at this critical juncture.

The Sanctuary's response was quick, and the six High Priests arrived at the scene within ten minutes.

They were all the High Priest's students, with their strength uniformly at the fourth realm, the Perfection Realm.

The origin, the honor, the victory.

This was a watershed moment.

Above this, the fourth realm was the Perfection Realm.

"Adjudicator Williams, Chief Charles, the situation can no longer be delayed. We cannot allow that mass of flesh underground to explode, or the entire underground district will be wiped out, and the surface will also be affected to a certain extent. Choose the lesser evil, let's act."

The High Priest was a sickly young man. Even though his teacher might have already died, he did not show any excessive emotions, only yawning constantly, as if he was about to fall asleep. "After the great annihilation, I still need to go home and sleep."

In his hand, he held a golden Olivia, glittering brightly in the dim alley, as if containing immense power.

The remaining High Priests all wore masks and did not speak.

Williams had not received any news from the young man for a long time.

Perhaps he had met his end by now.

Damon and Rose had not yet withdrawn. Once Olivia sank into the ground, they would both die.

Including those Adjudicators and innocent civilians.

No, not only that.

The so-called great annihilation was a forbidden weapon of the Sanctuary.

He knew the power of this thing.

Not only the underground but the surrounding neighborhoods would also be affected.

They, the Evolved, could evacuate, but other ordinary people could not.

"Williams, what are you still hesitating about!"

Chief Charles said coldly, "A few deaths are nothing compared to the safety of the entire underground district and the surface. Can't you see which is more important?"

He roared, "If we delay any longer, we'll all die."

The six High Priests raised their eyes, their life energies erupting, already preparing to forcibly annihilate.

"Rescue team, pay attention, you have thirty seconds left, immediately carry out the annihilation on the ancient ruins deep underground! This is an order! Pay attention, this is an order from the Chatelaine's Office!" The icy voice of the Chatelaine's Office secretary echoed through the communication channel, the order from the Smith family had been issued.

At this moment, the gaze of the entire upper echelon of Avalon City was focused here.

Again, the so-called trolley dilemma.

On one side were the subordinates deep underground, as well as innocent civilians.

On the other side were the millions of civilians on the surface and underground.

What should be done?

This was an extremely difficult choice for Williams. Just as he was about to close his eyes and resign himself to fate, a familiar voice suddenly came through the earpiece.

"Trust me."

Mike said seriously, "I can handle it."

Not only Mike's voice but a cold female voice was also superimposed.

It was their voices, like a meteorite plunging into the surface of the lake, causing a great commotion.

"Received."

Williams suddenly opened his eyes and took a vial of reagent from his pocket, injecting it into his leg.

A sudden gust of wind!

Boom!

The underground district began to tremble as if an incredibly terrifying power was surging.

"I, as the Grand Adjudicator of the Heresy Tribunal, hereby declare that the command authority of the rescue team in the East Street of the underground district has been revoked by me. I will refuse any instructions from the Chatelaine's Office, and any actions attempting to annihilate the underground ruins will be regarded as heresy."

Williams rose from his wheelchair, his eyes burning with a blazing fire.

His white hair fluttered, and his tall, majestic figure seemed to envelop the entire underground.

At this moment, the six High Priests felt a tremendous aura of pressure.

Their auras were being suppressed.

Because Williams' life energy fluctuations were surging!

The third Victory Realm.

The fourth Perfection Realm.

The fifth Majesty Realm.

The sixth... Compassion Realm!

Could it be, another one?

Director Charles was nearly scared out of his wits by the immense oppressive force, and roared, "Esteemed High Priests, quickly break through by force! This guy has gone mad, he's gone mad!"

The six High Priests faced the scorching wind, their expressions changing swiftly.

They had been cowed by the enormous pressure, unable to take a single step forward.

Williams' eyes seemed to reflect the depths of hell, as the violent Dark Matter churned within him, and flames burst forth from his back, skeletal figures rising from the flames!

This was...the power of the Saints!

This was...the power of aberrant art!

Just as the sickly High Priest was about to forcibly break through while carrying Olivia...

"You are suspected of the crime of illegally obstructing official duties."

The chilling voice echoed through the entire underground district as if a demon was roaring.

Williams spoke indifferently,

"You are suspected of the crime of illegally slaughtering public officials and federal citizens."

"You are suspected of the crime of colluding with heretics to disrupt urban safety and religious peace."

"You are suspected of the crime of apostasy."

Each sentence struck the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer.

The skeletal giant in the flames suddenly let out a roar, its enormous voice reverberating.

"You have been targeted -"

Williams raised his right index finger.

At that moment, the tip of his finger seemed capable of shattering the entire world.