The Damned Demon
chapter-667

Few weeks passed,

The 50th floor of the Infinity Tower on Mars was a hidden realm of meticulous secrecy. As Lena and Rachel stepped out of the elevator, Rachel's eyes widened in disbelief. The floor was an enigma, cloaked in such strict concealment that Rachel would have never known it existed if Lena hadn't revealed it.

As they walked down the bright, metallic corridor, the tension in the air was palpable. The steel door at the end of the hallway loomed ahead, bathed in a radiant yet overwhelming blue glow from the intricate sealing arrays etched into its surface. The runes pulsed with an dangerous light, creating an aura of foreboding that seemed to hum with suppressed power.

Rachel halted abruptly, her gaze fixed on the ominous barrier that was a mix of defensive and offensive arrays, "What is in there?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and concern. It was as if these arrays were installed to seal whoever was inside but also kill them if they manage to get out.

It had to be a person since there was no need to use offensive arrays on a non-living object.

Lena, with an air of nonchalance, waved her hand dismissively, "That's nothing of importance to us now. Just continue walking. What I want to show you is ahead."

Rachel's eyes narrowed, a determined edge in her tone, "Just tell me. It's not like we are in a rush, are we?" She then added with a soft chuckle, "I am dying with curiosity here."

With a sigh, Lena stopped and turned, her expression softening into reluctant seriousness, "Fine. I brought you here because Lenny said you're ready. I'm sure he must have told you how Project M.A.M started, right?"

Rachel nodded, her interest piqued, "Yes. How is it connected to whatever is behind this door?"

Lena's gaze grew contemplative, "Hmm, in a way. You see, no matter how technologically advanced we are, we are limited by one thing. Our own radiant mana."

Rachel's brow furrowed in confusion as Lena continued, her tone explanatory, "We have the capability to deeply explore and learn demon biology. But what stops us from manipulating their biology is our own mana. Our radiant mana is their bane, and we can't experiment on them without killing them. So, no matter how many demons we brought, we couldn't carry out our experiments all the way. We did manage to succeed on our own, but we needed our success to last longer. So we needed someone from their side who could help us."

Rachel's eyes widened in sudden realization, "Don't tell me... that demon is inside this door? Who is it?"

Lena shrugged nonchalantly, her indifference apparent, "How do I know? It doesn't really matter, does it? Come on now."

Rachel inwardly frowned, her gaze lingering on the sealed door, feeling that Lena was hiding something on purpose.

Her mind raced with questions. Had the demon betrayed their kind to aid her father, or were they coerced into this grim alliance? The tight security implied they were not there voluntarily, and the thought gnawed at her. Just who could it be?

Reluctantly, Rachel followed Lena down another corridor. The air grew colder as they approached a new set of doors, which hissed open to reveal a large hall. Rachel's eyes darted around, taking in the sight of several small compartments, each with its own miniature sealed door. The scale was daunting—each small door was a fraction of the one they had passed, making her wonder what these small prisons were holding. Could it be…

Rachel's brow furrowed deeper, "What's all this?" she asked casually.

Lena's lips curled into a smirk. With a dramatic upward sweep of her hands, she commanded the mechanisms controlling the containment units. The sealed doors, once immovable barriers, slid upwards with a smooth, synchronized motion, revealing thick, transparent glass that gleamed coldly in the sterile light.

Rachel's eyes widened as she took in the sight. The compartments, each housing a demon of various races, were like grim exhibits in a macabre gallery. Young demons, clad in plain white clothes, were visible within these prison-like enclosures. Some appeared very young, while others were close to her own age. Their bodies were gaunt and frail, faces pallid and haunted. Scars marred their skin, and a few were missing limbs, a clear sign of the inhumane experiments they had endured.

As Rachel walked along the row of cells, she saw that each demon was staring at her with a mix of shock and fear, their eyes reflecting a deep terror at the sight of their visitors as they tried to hide in a corner or what barely could be called one.

The atmosphere was thick with a suffocating sadness, and Rachel never thought she would feel a pang of compassion for demons.

"These demons... are they..." Rachel maintained a casual voice as she struggled to comprehend the scene before her.

"These weak creatures are failed products of our experiments," Lena said coolly, folding her arms across her chest. Rachel heard her words, talking as if she were discussing mere objects rather than suffering beings.

Rachel's gaze fell on the last cell, where a young demoness stood out from the rest. Her midnight black skin and metallic arms gave her an almost pitiful yet daunting appearance, and her red eyes were fixed with wary resolve on Rachel. Unlike the others, she did not flinch or hide but regarded Rachel with a scrutinizing stare.

Cila looked at this unfamiliar face and wondered who this Hunter was and if she was a friend of that evil blonde woman. What made her metallic fingers tighten was the radiant blue eyes of this woman, which were eerily similar to those of the blue-eyed monster.

But why was this human looking at her with a gaze that starkly contrasted with the rest…as if there was a hint of kindness within. Rachel's heart ached at the sight, "Why are they still here?" she asked, her voice curious as she looked back at Lena.

"I don't know," Lena replied with a chuckle, "As experts say, we can still learn from failures."

Rachel shook her head slowly, then turned to Lena with a question that had been lingering in her mind, "So if all these are failed products... who were the successes? You mentioned some successes, didn't you?"

Lena's expression grew contemplative, her eyes reflecting a hint of shadow, "There was only one success, but I'm not sure what happened to that subject. My job here is to bring in fresh subjects. What we see here is merely one batch among many. That's why I brought you here. You'll help me pick out those with potential."

Rachel's brow furrowed, an unsettling thought crossing her mind. The Thundering Reaper—was that the successful subject Lena mentioned? Yet Lena seemed intent on hiding the full truth.

Rachel chuckled softly, trying to mask her unease, "Do you really think we'll be able to create a demon army like this? Isn't it more practical to focus on nurturing powerful Hunters instead?"

Lena's smile widened, a hint of amusement in her eyes, "You're right, but what happens if those powerful Hunters go rogue? We need someone or some demons to keep them in check, don't we, especially when we are heading towards a new era without demons to threaten us?"

Rachel's stomach churned as she realized the full implications of Lena's words. Her father's plan wasn't just about building a demon army to wage war on demons; it was a strategic move to maintain control over any Hunters or people who might rebel. If this was the case, was he planning to control or suppress anyone who might be against his ideas? Just how far would he be willing to go to make sure of it?

The thought was both chilling and revealing, a glimpse into the dark motivations driving her father and his projects.

Suddenly, the silence in the hall was broken by the soft yet authoritative clack of boots on the cold metal floor. A guard stepped into the chamber, his posture rigid and respectful. His eyes locked onto Rachel with a touch of formality.

"Miss Sterling, the president is expecting you. Please allow me to guide you," he said with a measured tone.

Rachel's eyes widened slightly, her surprise evident, "He wants to see me?" she mumbled, her heart carrying a mix of curiosity and anxiety.

Lena sighed with a hint of exasperation, her eyes softening with an apologetic glint, "I'm sorry, Rachel. I couldn't show you everything without letting your dad know. But don't worry. He isn't going to rebuke you. That much I'm sure of."

Rachel shot Lena a secretive, reproachful glance, her frustration barely concealed. Lena's smug smile only made the situation worse. Rachel knew she was taking a risk, but she also understood it was only a matter of time before her father discovered what she was up to.

With a resigned smile, Rachel said, "Don't worry about it, Lena. I'm doing all this for him anyway. Maybe he'll finally recognize my efforts. Let's continue when I'm back." She offered a brief nod and followed the guard as he led her toward the 200th floor.

The journey was quiet, with only the soft hum of the elevator and their footsteps breaking the stillness. The guard halted before a set of large metal doors, gesturing towards them before stepping back. Rachel approached, her footsteps echoing softly in the vast, empty corridor.

The doors hissed open, revealing a room bathed in a sliver of reddish light. The illumination cast long shadows across the plush furnishings, creating an almost surreal ambiance. In the center of the room, her father, Derek, reclined on a sumptuous sofa, a cup of tea cradled in his hand.

As Rachel entered, Derek placed the cup down with a deliberate clink and fixed his gaze on her. His expression was unreadable, yet there was an unmistakable weight in his eye.

"Take a seat, Rachel," he said, his voice carrying a tone of authority that brooked no argument.

Rachel's heart raced as she walked over to the sofa beside him upon feeling the intensity in his tone. She fought to steady her breathing, her nerves betraying her calm facade. She was seeing him again after learning the evil things he were doing and yet she still struggled to believe the man sitting before her was the same person.

She sat down with deliberate care, trying to project confidence despite the anxious fluttering in her chest. Her father seemed unusually serious. Does he know?

Derek's eye bore into her, his expression serious and unyielding, "Rachel... I believe you have a lot of explaining to do."

Rachel wished she could take a deep breath, feeling the weight of his scrutinizing gaze, and struggled to prepare to answer him