Virtual Reality Cultivator-Chapter 59: Duel in the Dark

The Ardent Flame crashed hard into the hangar of Victor's stronghold. Moments after landing, the lights shut off one by one, leaving only a dim, flickering red glow. A chilling atmosphere settled over the team.

"Communications are down," reported Seraphina from the control deck. "We've been completely trapped."

"We knew this was a possibility," said Ethan, eyes locked on the exit door slowly creaking open.

Through the Death HallThey exited the ship in formation. Bell led with a heavy rifle, Claire and Nova flanking the sides, while Ember and Ethan stayed in the center, shielded. The corridors were lined with remnants of experiments. The walls oozed biological fluids, and cables hung like plant roots—this place no longer felt man-made.

"This isn't a base... it's a slaughterhouse," Nova muttered.

They pushed forward, but then alarms blared, and from the end of the hall, black-armored troops emerged—their glowing red eyes revealed they were far from human.

"Bio-mechs," Seraphina hissed. "Half-machine, half-organic creatures. Directly controlled... by Victor."

The battle erupted.

Relentless CombatBell charged forward, unleashing explosion after explosion. Claire spun with her twin-blade sword, cutting down enemies like a storm. Nova hurled electromagnetic grenades, disabling Bio-mechs from a distance.

But more kept coming.

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"We have to move—now!" Ethan shouted.

Ember closed her eyes for a moment. Her hands trembled—not from fear, but from the psionic energy awakening within. In an instant, a wave of mental force erupted from her, obliterating the enemies ahead.

Everyone froze, staring at her.

"The path is clear. Let's go."

The Room of TruthAt last, they reached the heart of the base—a massive chamber filled with tanks of green fluid and half-formed bodies. In the center, Victor stood calmly atop a high metal platform.

"You arrived sooner than I expected," he said, removing his mask.

His face was half-human, half-machine. But more shocking was his resemblance to Ember.

"You..." Ember whispered. "You're a clone?"

Victor chuckled softly. "I'm your first version. You are the perfected one, Ember. I... am the failure. But I still have purpose."

Ethan clenched his jaw. "You killed thousands for revenge?"

"Not revenge," Victor replied. "This is about the survival of human evolution."

The Psionic DuelWithout warning, Victor leapt down and attacked Ember directly. Waves of psionic energy clashed in the air, forming a vortex of power that nearly tore the chamber apart. Ethan and the team were thrown back, unable to approach.

Two psionic forces collided. Ember struggled to hold off Victor's assault, slowly being pushed back.

"You're not strong enough, because you're still afraid," Victor said coldly. "You still think like a human."

Suddenly, from behind, Lena shouted:

"You're not a monster, Ember! You're still human because you care!"

Those words struck something deep within Ember. Her power surged—her eyes glowing a brilliant blue. With one final burst, she reversed Victor's attack and hurled him to the ground.

The End of the BattleVictor collapsed, bleeding and gasping for air.

"You... are perfect... Ember..." he whispered before his body dissolved in a red light, detonating along with his life-support systems.

Silence followed. Ember stood, weakened—but victorious.

"This is just the beginning," she said softly. "There's still so much truth to uncover..."