Forbidden Experiment
In an underground room hidden deep within the kingdom, a place known only to Parli himself, the earth hero grinned with terrifying satisfaction.
"My immortal army will be perfect," he muttered while observing his experiment results.
The room was filled with dozens of people lying in pitiful conditions. Parli had conducted various horrifying experiments—channeling the essence of immortality from the core of his power into those people's bodies, then trying to kill them to test their endurance.
Some died immediately in agony. Others survived with serious wounds and deep trauma. Not a single person knew about this sadistic experiment, especially Elina who would surely stop it if she found out.
---
In the magnificent kingdom hall, a soldier came bringing two guests—Alice and Rina. Both looked confused and wary.
"Welcome to the kingdom, both of you," Parli said with a false friendly smile. "Servant, provide a good food reception for them."
"Yes, Sir," the servant answered while bowing.
Alice asked doubtfully and confusedly, "Where is Miss Elina? We were picked up here because Miss Elina reportedly found a new recipe for treatment she wanted to teach."
"Elina is preparing everything," Parli answered in a calm tone. "You enjoy the dishes first."
They sat and ate with uncomfortable feelings. Rina whispered to Alice while glancing at Parli, "Sister Alice, I feel something uncomfortable about him."
Alice tried to calm down though her heart was also uneasy, "We'll be fine. After Miss Elina finishes telling what she found, we can immediately say goodbye and leave here."
---
After they finished eating, Parli invited them with an increasingly suspicious smile.
"Please, follow me. We'll meet Elina soon."
They followed Parli with hesitant steps, observing the sturdy and magnificent kingdom building around them. Parli led them to an empty room, then placed his hand on the wall.
The wall slowly opened, revealing a path to a dark underground room.
What they saw in that fairly large underground room was a frightening sight—dozens of people lying with severe wounds. Some had stab wounds, some had burns, all in pitiful conditions.
Alice was shocked, while Rina was scared and immediately hugged Alice while closing her eyes. "Sister Alice..."
Alice turned to Parli with eyes full of anger. "Why? What did you do to them?!"
"You don't need to know," Parli answered coldly. "You just need to heal them with your power."
Alice realized everything. "From the beginning, Miss Elina never invited us. This is all your deception! You lured us hoping we would help you with this dirty work. I won't be willing!"
Parli quickly created earth from below, trapping Rina's body until she couldn't move. The girl was injured on her hand because the earth moved so fast and roughly.
Rina cried in pain, "Sister Alice, help!"
"You! Release her!" Alice shouted angrily.
"Do you think you have a choice?" Parli smiled cruelly. "If you don't heal them, the stone pressure will tighten as time goes by. Do what I command!"
Alice had no other choice. With tears in her eyes, she began healing Parli's experiment victims one by one.
"I heard that little girl has extraordinary healing," Parli muttered while staring at Rina. "Maybe if I take the essence of her life force, I'll be able to maximize my immortal soldiers."
Alice was angry hearing that threat. "Don't you dare hurt her more than this! You will receive painful retribution!"
Rina mumbled softly while crying, "Brother, where are you?"
Parli laughed mockingly. "Hahaha, you're a tough woman, just like Elina."
---
Some time later, while Parli was checking on other soldiers, Alice sneaked toward Rina and whispered.
"Rina, we'll get out of here. I promise."
Alice managed to cut the stone trap with her water technique sharp as a knife. Hearing the commotion, Parli immediately checked and saw both of them trying to escape.
"You two! Won't be able to escape!" Parli shouted angrily.
Rina, though injured, waved her hands toward Parli and created an ice wave that froze his body. The ice was strong enough to hold Parli for a while so they could escape.
Alice ran while carrying the wounded Rina. On the way, Rina tried to heal herself with her Divine Light ability.
When they arrived at the closed wall, Alice tried to break through but failed. Coincidentally there was a servant on the other side of the wall who was cleaning the room, hearing the pounding sound.
"Is someone there?" asked a voice from behind the wall.
"Yes, please get us out!" Alice exclaimed desperately.
"Wait a moment!"
The servant—Maya—tried to find a way and found a stone with an asymmetric shape. She pressed it hard, and the wall opened.
"How could you be here? And you... Alice?" Maya asked in shock.
Alice was surprised she knew her. "Yes, I'm Alice. How do you know my name? And Parli trapped us to here."
"I heard your name from Master Elina," Maya explained. "You must escape from here as quickly as possible. Straight ahead, then turn right. There's a large hall and the main road to exit."
"Thank you!" Alice said while running.
---
On the way through the kingdom corridor, Alice suddenly met Han. Both were shocked and relieved.
"Alice!" Han exclaimed.
"Han!" Alice replied.
"Brotherrrrr!" Rina screamed while crying.
Han was very worried seeing his injured sister. "Alice, what happened?"
"We were trapped by Parli," Alice explained quickly.
Han gently stroked Rina's wounded hand. "Rina, who did this to you?"
"I was imprisoned by that person earlier, Parli," Rina answered while sobbing.
Han restrained his surging anger, then smiled at Rina. "We'll get out of here, Rina. Brother promises."
---
When they reached the kingdom hall, Parli and Zenya seemed to be waiting for them already. That large room had only one exit—and someone had to stay to hold back both heroes.
"Parli, just let them go," Zenya said in a bored tone. "I'm not interested in them."
"This is none of your business," Parli replied harshly.
Han assessed the situation quickly, then said calmly though there was exhaustion and determination in his eyes, "All of you... go. Alice, please protect my sister's safety."
"Han..." Alice's voice trembled, looking at him with eyes full of sadness.
Rina cried softly while hugging her brother. "Brother... What do you mean? Brother promised you'll be okay?"
Han smiled gently while forcing calmness. "Yes, I promise." He pushed them gently. "Now go."
"Han, you're in danger!" Alice's tears began to drop. "Quick, let's leave together!"
Han didn't answer. The large door slowly closed. His face they last saw was a calm smile, but from behind the door, Han stood still facing two terrifying heroes.
---
After running out of the kingdom, Alice hugged Rina tightly while tears flowed endlessly.
"Forgive me, Rina... I couldn't do anything..."
Rina smiled while holding back tears. "Don't cry, Sister Alice. My brother... he's strong. He can definitely escape from there..."
Alice could only cry harder. In her heart, she knew that might not be reality.
---
Inside the hall, Parli smiled satisfied. "You're truly an interesting person. I don't know how you could disable all the guards outside and infiltrate inside... But that's not enough. Now, you can die. And I... will honor your death."
Han was silent for a moment. Alice's voice echoed in his mind: "Han, you're in danger..."
Han smiled crookedly, his step advancing one pace. The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
"In danger, huh...?" Han thought.
Then he stared at both heroes straight. His smile changed—sharp and gripping.
"I'm not in danger, Alice..." Han raised his face, his voice becoming heavy and full of dominance. "I myself... am the danger."
The air around him trembled violently, then dense darkness began seeping from within him, like living smoke, swallowing all light around. The room temperature plummeted to freezing cold, yet at the same time, scorching hot aura radiated from his body.
In his raised hand, ice crystals began colliding and forming a long gleaming sharp sword. However, that wasn't what made Parli and Zenya silent. Terrifying fire suddenly blazed, enveloping the ice blade without melting it, creating a paradox weapon radiating deadly freezing and heat simultaneously.
Zenya's eyes widened, she recognized that terrifying aura, her voice turned angry. "Huh?! So... you're that person? Raksha!" She immediately activated her Divine Mark, lightning striking from the hall ceiling.
Parli smiled with a wild gaze. "Heh... this will be very interesting."
The battle that would determine everything began.
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TO BE CONTINUED...