Chapter 725: An Even More Shocking Mutant

Chapter 725: An Even More Shocking Mutant

Back with Zeth, Sasha, Kurt, Emily, Joe, Pearl, Lavana, Herbie, Dusk, and Laila in the tall, cylinder-shaped room.

They’re still surrounded by Tyrant Sasha’s magic-powered traps.

“Listen, everyone. I think my magic can help us get through this,” Laila says, gaining everyone’s attention.

“I don’t think you’ve even told us about your magic before. What is it?” Zeth asks.

“I have Mechanical Magic,” Laila replies. “It allows me to influence electronic and metal materials. It will help us get out of this room.”

The bear traps and electrical wires do not give them a chance for further conversation, launching themselves forward to attack again.

“Everyone! Get close to me!!” Laila shouts.

Not hesitating at all, the heroes do as she commands. Laila spreads her arms out wide, releasing a light blue wave of magic in all directions. Once caught in the wave, the traps cease their attacks immediately, still glowing with Tyrant Sasha’s magic, however.

“What’s going on?!” A magic-powered bear trap asks, shouting in confusion.

“Must… kill… Can’t… move…” A magic-powered electrical wire mumbles.

Laila sweats as she keeps the magic wave surrounding the heroes and herself. “My range isn’t as good as that other Sasha, and it’s much harder for me to keep it up, but it can get us through. Let’s hurry through the door!”

The other heroes nod, guiding her toward the door while she keeps the wave up. Sasha stands at the front of the circle, in position to open the door. It’s only wide enough to let in one person at a time.

Laila pants as she says, “You all go in first, I’ll go in last to make sure no one can be attacked after I go through.”

With Laila at the rear, the heroes enter through the door in a single-file line. Once she enters through the door, Dusk closes it behind her. They’re now in a gradually elevating twisted hallway.

“So, now what?” Lavana asks.

Laila ends her magic wave, giving herself some rest. Her face is drenched in sweat. “After I rest just a bit, we can proceed further.”

Herbie shrugs in confusion. “Why wait? We’re out of that crazy trap room.”

Dusk sighs. “Moron, there are bound to be more traps ahead.”

Herbie glares at Dusk, insulted. “Who are you calling a moron?!”

Tired of their feud, Sasha glares at Herbie. “Knock. It. Off.”

Lavana facepalms. “You two really will never learn. Lady Sasha is going to kill you both one day.”

“Enough distractions,” Zeth demands. “We need to prepare ourselves while Laila rests.”

“I’ll see what I can detect up ahead,” Kurt says as he closes his eyes to focus.

The others stand there and wait for him to finish. Once he opens his eyes, he says, “Yes, there are definitely more magic signatures throughout these twisted halls that are the same as the traps we’ve already had to deal with.”

“As long as Laila can hold out. They won’t be a problem,” Zeth says.

“I think I’m ready to continue,” Laila replies.

***

A bit later, Laila successfully helps them reach the top floor.

The heroes enter a medium-sized square-shaped chamber, empty except for some kind of humanoid figure strapped to a wall at the other end.

Zeth’s eyes widen as far as they can go as he stares at the figure. “That’s…!! Mom!!?”

Every other hero gives the same reaction in unison. “WHAT?!?!?!?!?!”

They all walk up to it for a closer inspection. What they see is jaw-dropping. Harmona, either dead or unconscious, is strapped to the wall, but she is a mutant, as many parts of her body have either been replaced with demonic dark divine being parts or have added demon parts to them. Only her face is truly recognizable, but it shows signs of rot, with parts becoming dark and wrinkly, or outright have holes in them. A few gross bugs crawl out of her mouth.

Zeth covers his mouth with his right hand, eyes trembling, despair overtaking him. “Mom…!! How…!?”

“My Goddess…” Pearl whimpers, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“Man…” Herbie starts, “if I ever saw the Light Goddess in this poor of a shape, I would have assumed Dakame won.”

“This is an alternate universe…” Emily says before Joe interjects, “Allegedly.” To which Emily nods before continuing her own sentence. “Yes, this is allegedly an alternate universe, so we have no idea how this could have happened to her.”

“As a mortal follower, it hurts to see the Light Goddess like this,” Laila says.

“There must be some sort of sick psycho out there to do this to her,” Kurt adds.

***

Meanwhile, in an unknown location.

The strange man, still in a hallway too dark to see other than light from a vial of glowing purple goop, opens a door that leads into a much larger room that is also too dark to see. However, he quickly flips the light switch on the wall, revealing who he is.

Mad Scientist in the Tyrant Alternate Universe – Tyrant Major Tarres.

Compared to his normal universe counterpart, Tyrant Major Tarres has his hair gelled back, wears glasses with sharper ends, and wears a white button-up lab coat. He raises his arms out wide as he looks at all the mutants locked in cages. “Muhahahaha!!! Yes!! Mutants!! Living Statues!! Freaks!! Absolute Abominations!! It’s all so glorious!!”

“Glad to see you are in a tip-top mood today, comrade,” a voice says from elsewhere in the room.

Tyrant Major Tarres looks over to his right to see someone else who is also wearing a lab coat.

Scientist Inventor in the Tyrant Alternate Universe – Tyrant Major Smithy.

Tyrant Major Smithy only differs from his normal universe counterpart in that he has a long beard.

Tyrant Major Tarres grins and points at him. “Yes, I am, my friend. In fact, I have even more freaky ideas. Let’s get to work.”

Tyrant Major Smithy smiles and nods. “Yes, Commander Tarres.”

Mad Scientist in the Tyrant Alternate Universe – Tyrant Major Commander Tarres.

The man behind the mutant abominations is revealed!

Chapter 725 END

To be Continued in Chapter 726: Divide and Conquer Approach

Author's Note: The crossed out Major in the narration text is intentional. It is not a missed mistake.