Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 154 Lab Rat?

*clap* clap* clap*

The sound of deliberate clapping echoed behind Rex, slicing through the lingering hum of battle. He turned sharply, his shoulders tense, scanning the dimly lit arena. Emerging from the shadows was General Silas....sorry, the new general

The new General. His steps were measured, exuding an air of authority that clung to him like a tailored cloak. His eyes glimmered with something Rex couldn't quite place...pride? Amusement? His hands were clasped neatly behind his back, giving the impression of someone inspecting a masterpiece, or perhaps a crime scene.

Walking beside him was the woman from earlier, the one who had orchestrated the gear-run test. She held a sleek, black tablet in her hands, her focus glued to its flickering screen. Her fingers danced across the surface, her expression unreadable as though she were analyzing Rex's every move, every breath.

"Yo!" Rex called out, breaking the heavy silence, his voice laced with irritation. He jabbed a finger toward the woman. "I asked for ten. So why the hell did I get a whole army of those damn mechs?"

The General's lips curled into a faint smirk as he let out a dry, dismissive hmph. "I told her to increase it, kid," he said, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

Rex arched a brow, his confusion giving way to a spark of annoyance. "And why's that?"

The General paused, stroking his thick, brown beard, the gesture slow and deliberate. His eyes seemed distant for a moment, as if pondering the weight of the world—or maybe just the spectacle before him. Finally, he spoke

"I wanted to see how strong you really are," he said, his gaze locking onto Rex's with the intensity of a predator observing its prey. "And to understand that ability of yours."

As the General uttered the word "ability," he gestured toward the woman beside him with a flick of his hand. Without missing a beat, she tapped swiftly on the sleek tablet in her grasp, her movements precise and calculated. A moment later, shimmering holograms sprang to life in the air, bathing the room in a cold, bluish glow.

The images played like a surreal replay of Rex's fight against the robotic onslaught. Every movement, every strike, every flicker of Aether he had summoned was captured in stunning, meticulous detail. The holograms mirrored him perfectly, his precision, his ferocity, and his control.

The woman, Patricia, spoke with an analytical tone, her voice sharp as the edge of a scalpel. "His ability is... strikingly similar, no, identical to that of the young Lady of the Valenbrook family." Her eyes glinted as she delivered the statement, as though piecing together a puzzle only she could see.

The General folded his arms, his gaze fixed on the holographic spear Rex had conjured mid-battle. "Yes, Patricia. For now, we've only confirmed three capable of wielding such power," he said, his voice heavy with intrigue. His eyes shifted to Rex, studying him as though he were a rare artifact. "Jefferson, the young Lady… and now this 'lil lad."

A slow, deliberate smile crept across the General's face, one that sent a ripple of unease through the air. "Truly," he murmured, almost to himself, "this is a unique ability, one that demands research."

Rex watched them closely, his expression carefully neutral, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. So, their fancy holograms couldn't catch my time abilities.

"Seems they're as blind as they are curious," he thought, a touch of satisfaction curling in his chest.

"Yes, Harbinger," Cronus' voice chimed in his mind, resonating with pride and quiet amusement.

But his attention snapped back to Patricia. She smiled at him, a perfectly polite expression that didn't quite reach her eyes. There was something unnerving about it, beneath that polished exterior, Rex swore he caught a flicker of something darker. Dangerous. A spark of mania lurked just beneath the surface.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than was comfortable, her lips curling slightly wider as though she could sense his unease. The smile wasn't just a smile, it was a calculated expression of control, of dominance.

Rex's instincts prickled. Mad scientist, he thought, his internal voice dripping with disdain. She seemed like the type who would dissect a butterfly just to watch its wings flutter one last time.

"Kid! Might I ask you how you awakened this ability? What were the circumstances surrounding it?" The General asked

Rex shrugged "well...through the normal process of course! Awakening through the academy's awakening stone"

"Kid, you can drop the act," the General said with an air of certainty that made Rex's fists clench. "We've gone through your files. We know you didn't awaken during the Academy ceremony. So, how did you get it?"

Rex's mind raced, his expression carefully blank. Cronus, ever the unhelpful peanut gallery, snickered in his head. "Well, this is awkward. Should've gone with something more creative, Harbinger. Maybe, 'I got it from a glowing meteor?'"

Rex grit his teeth, inwardly cursing himself for underestimating how thorough the military would be. Of course, they'd dig into my past, he thought. What was I thinking with that weak excuse?

"And," the General continued, his tone growing heavier, "the other two wielders of this energy? Jefferson and the Valenbrook girl? They were born with it. It's part of their very essence, not something acquired through artificial means." His piercing gaze locked onto Rex's, as if daring him to contradict him.

Patricia tilted her head slightly, that eerie smile still on her face. "So," she said, her voice smooth and clinical, "care to enlighten us on how you came to wield such a rare and fascinating power? Or would you prefer to come with us for… closer study?"

Rex took a step back, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. 'Closer study'? What are we talking about here? You mean like… questionnaires? A little Q&A over coffee? Or are we leaning more toward strapped-to-a-table-while-maniacal-laughter-echoes-in-the-background- type of study?"

Patricia's smile didn't waver. "Whatever gets results, Mr. Rex."

Rex blinked, then laughed. "Yeah, no. I've seen this movie before. You're not poking me with needles or sticking me in a jar labeled 'Specimen Aetherius Rexius.' I'm flattered, really, but I'm gonna have to pass."

The General stepped forward, his presence suddenly more imposing. "Kid, this isn't a request. We need to understand what makes you tick. For the greater good."

Rex crossed his arms, his grin widening as he leaned slightly to the side. "Oh, for the greater good, huh? See, that's funny. 'Cause when people say 'greater good,' they usually mean 'let's sacrifice this poor sap for our science fair project.' And I'm not about that life."

Patricia raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his flippancy. "You don't seem to understand the gravity of your situation, Rex. We're offering you a chance to be part of something groundbreaking. You could be a pioneer."

"A pioneer?" Rex repeated, feigning thoughtfulness. "You know, that sounds pretty tempting… except for the part where I end up being the guy who 'pioneers' a fancy cage for himself."

The General let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Kid, you're not making this easy."

"Easy?" Rex quipped. "You just told me I'm one of three people in the world with this power, and your first thought is to study me? What happened to 'thank you for saving the day' or 'here's a shiny medal'? You guys have the worst customer service."

Cronus chuckled in his head. "Keep it up, Harbinger. At this rate, you'll annoy them so much they'll leave you alone out of sheer frustration."

The General's patience was visibly fraying, but Rex wasn't done yet. "Look, I get it. I'm amazing. You're curious. But let's be real—you want to stick me in a lab and poke me like a science experiment. And I hate to break it to you, but I'm allergic to needles, white coats, and people who say 'for the greater good.' So… hard pass."

Patricia's expression darkened slightly, and Rex noticed her finger hovering just over her tablet. He held up his hands again, this time in a theatrical gesture of peace. "Okay, okay. How about we compromise? I don't come with you, and you don't, you know, sic an army of killer robots on me? Sound good? No? Tough crowd."

The General's voice rumbled, low and dangerous. "You're really testing my patience, kid."

Rex grinned. "Oh, I'm just getting started, General Beard-o-sage. But hey, if you want a real test, let me go, and we'll see how long it takes you to realize that trying to study me was the worst decision you ever made."

The General stared at him, his jaw tightening. For a long moment, no one spoke, the tension so thick it could've been sliced with one of Rex's Aether spears.

"General! I think you're going too far!"

The voice thundered through the room, reverberating like the ominous roll of distant thunder. Its sheer power carried a weight that seemed to press against everyone present. The aura that followed wasn't just commanding, it was suffocating.

Rex spun around instinctively, his heart racing. His gaze landed on a familiar figure, and relief washed over him like a cool breeze in the desert. Standing there, as imposing as a red storm, was Jefferson.

The red coach cap perched neatly on his head cast a shadow over his sharp eyes, but they gleamed with an intensity that made Rex feel like he was being both shielded and scolded at once. His crimson gloves, flexing slightly as he adjusted them, seemed to hum with untapped power. The matching red jacket he wore was pristine, as though no battle or hardship could mar its bold, fiery hue.

"Thank goodness!" Rex breathed, his shoulders sagging with relief as if a mountain had been lifted off them.

But General Silas was far from fazed. If anything, his response came with a sharp, almost mocking edge. "And what do you mean by that, Jefferson?"