Veilbreaker! Oops I Bleed Again
Chapter 47: Laboratory

Chapter 47: Laboratory

As they descended, Draven noticed a dim light below.

The faint glow flickered, barely cutting through the darkness.

The air also grew colder.

When they reached the last stretch, there was nothing left to hold onto.

Draven let go, landing lightly.

Then he caught Deka as he dropped down.

A moment later, Bella descended gracefully.

But before her feet touched the ground, she grabbed onto Draven’s arm instead.

"Oops, thank you."

The three turned around to look at what was awaiting them. And their eyes widened.

Before them stood a massive steel door.

Three meters tall and just as wide.

Towering.

Unmoving.

The surface was rusted. But beneath the decay, it looked almost modern.

Draven exhaled.

"Looks like we just hit a secret jackpot."

He stepped forward, placing both hands against the cold metal.

He tried to push, but the door didn’t budge.

Draven frowned.

"Heavy bastard."

Then he tried to blink past it.

But the moment he reappeared, he was right back in front of the door.

Draven sighed.

"Tch. So, I need to actually see where I want to go before I can blink through."

Deka inspected the area.

"Maybe there’s a keyhole. Or something to push."

Draven glanced around.

"Doesn’t look like it."

The space was small, barely enough room for the three of them.

Just a dirt floor, stone walls, the well opening above...

And the door.

Draven’s eyes narrowed.

"That means something’s hidden."

He ran his hand along the rough dirt walls, pressing against them.

After a while, he smirked.

"Found it!"

He noticed a small, nearly invisible indentation.

His hands pressed it.

Nothing happened.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Five.

Still nothing.

Draven raised an eyebrow.

"Tch. Guess there’s more."

Deka searched the opposite wall, running his fingers along the surface.

He also found a faint groove.

Quickly, he pressed it.

But still, there’s nothing.

Draven suddenly had an idea.

"Why don’t we push them together?" He grinned.

Deka nodded.

Both of them pressed at the same time.

Suddenly, a low vibration rumbled through the chamber.

Slowly, the steel door groaned open.

Draven removed his hand from the wall and was about to step inside.

But the moment he let go, the door slammed shut.

Fast.

The speed of its closing was twice as fast as it had opened.

Bella exhaled sharply.

"Let’s leave, Draven. This isn’t our priority, remember?"

She shivered slightly.

"I don’t like this place. It feels wrong."

Draven’s eyes narrowed.

"That’s exactly why we need to check."

He lifted his chin slightly.

"I smell blood."

The scent was faint but strong.

"Old blood."

Deka’s body tensed.

Draven turned to him.

"Deka, put up a barrier the moment the door opens."

Deka nodded. "Got it."

Draven and Deka pressed the walls again.

As the steel door slowly opened, Deka shaped his barrier into a thick wall, perfectly framing the door.

Then both of them let go.

"SLAM!"

The steel door collided with Deka’s barrier, and now it was jammed.

It shook violently but failed to close completely.

"Wow, that actually worked!" Deka smiled.

Draven grinned, giving Deka a nod.

"Your barrier is ridiculously strong!"

Deka’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush crept onto his face.

It was the opposite of everything he had ever heard back in the Mad Clan.

With them, he was met only with insults, mockery, and pain.

Draven smiled.

"Alright! Now let’s see what’s inside."

The door now held open, and the three stepped inside.

Immediately, they were met with light.

It’s not from torches, but from the ceiling.

The walls and floors were concrete, unlike the natural caves above.

It was structured.

Built.

Long, artificial lights flickered dimly overhead, casting pale glows down the corridor.

Bella’s gaze sharpened as she scanned the surroundings.

"What is this place?"

Draven exhaled. "Wish I knew."

As they walked, they passed a large, normal-looking door.

Draven’s attention shifted slightly.

But then he noticed something.

Deka wasn’t walking with them anymore.

He looked back.

Deka was standing still, frozen in place.

His body trembled, sweat dripping down his face.

Slowly, he took a step back. Then another.

"Deka!" Draven tried to wake him up from being dazed.

Deka’s head snapped up, but his eyes were filled with fear.

"I... I remember this place."

His voice shook and his legs wobbled.

"L-Let’s stop here, sir. Please."

Draven’s brows furrowed.

"What’s wrong?"

Deka’s breath hitched.

"Please, sir, we need to go."

Draven’s eyes narrowed.

"Is this related to the slave hunters?"

Deka slowly nodded, still trembling.

"Tell me," Draven said.

But Deka’s lips quivered. His eyes darted to the doors ahead as if dreading what was behind them.

Draven clicked his tongue.

Then he slapped Deka.

It’s not hard, but it’s enough to break his trance.

Deka stumbled slightly, gripping his cheek.

Pain snapped his focus back.

Draven’s voice was calm but firm.

"Get a grip, Deka."

He locked eyes with him.

"You’re not a slave hunter anymore. This place doesn’t own you."

Deka stared at him. His hand still clutched his cheek.

The fear in his eyes didn’t disappear completely. But it lessened somehow.

He swallowed hard.

"I’m sorry."

Draven nodded. "You okay now?"

Deka inhaled deeply. "Maybe."

"Then tell me. What happened here?"

Deka’s fingers curled into fists.

"A few months ago, we came here. But I didn’t know where ’here’ was."

His voice was low, haunted.

"When we arrived, they blindfolded us at the Deep Ruins in layer 6."

Draven’s gaze darkened.

Deka took a shaky breath.

"When we opened our eyes... we..."

His voice caught in his throat.

Draven stepped closer.

"You what?"

Deka’s body tensed.

Bella’s arms crossed, her expression impatient.

"Spit it out, Deka."

Deka squeezed his eyes shut. Then he dropped to his knees.

Tears fell freely.

"We delivered Verdants here."

His voice cracked.

"A lot of Verdants."

Bella’s breath hitched. Her hands curled into fists.

Draven’s eyes narrowed.

"For experimenting?" he said it bluntly.

Bella stiffened. "Verdants are getting experimented here?"

Her rage surfaced instantly. "Those bastards!"

Deka’s shoulders shook.

"They’re not just for experiments."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

His fingers dug into the concrete, nails scraping.

Bella took a step forward, furious.

"What the hell do you mean?"

Draven stopped her with a raised hand.

His expression was unreadable. But deep inside, he already understood.

For a place like this, there were only two possibilities.

Experimentation.

Or they were using the Verdants to feed something.

Draven exhaled deeply.

The air turned heavy.

The pale lights buzzed faintly above them.

Bella’s face darkened, her veins twitching in anger.

Deka sobbed silently.

And Draven...

He slowly looked forward.

Then he walked toward the sealed door ahead and opened it.