Chapter 426: Puppets of the Council

The transport ship’s metallic ramp descended, releasing a cloud of freezing mist that scattered across the asphalt. The crunch of military boots echoed against the plaza before three figures emerged from the vessel’s interior.

Leading the group was an elderly man with neatly combed white hair, wearing a gray ceremonial robe trimmed with gold embroidery. Behind him, two armored escorts equipped with mana-enhanced suits and high-frequency pulse rifles kept their hands resting on their weapons, scanning the perimeter.

"Elder Vane," said Scott, taking a step forward as he exhaled a trail of smoke from his cigar. "What an unpleasant surprise. I thought the Council would send someone with actual authority, or at least someone who doesn’t require diapers for intercontinental travel."

Elder Vane halted five meters away, tucking his hands inside his sleeves. His wrinkled face remained impassive despite the insult, though his eyes betrayed arrogance and disgust.

"Your manners remain as deplorable as ever, Scott," said Vane in a raspy voice. "However, the Council of Elders did not travel across the globe to trade insults with the head of the TMC. We are here on matters of national security."

"Save us the political speech, Vane," chimed in Stephen, stepping forward with his fists clenched inside his tactical gloves. "Brian, the Bloody Pillar of Nullity, isn’t on your ship. If the Pillars don’t endorse this raid, you have zero jurisdiction inside our barrier."

Elder Vane let out a dry laugh, a grating sound that chilled the air.

"The Pillars respond to cataclysm-level threats, not guild bureaucracy," retorted Vane, locking his gaze onto Stephen. "We know you are harboring an unregistered Platinum-grade user. An unstable specimen who caused destruction in the outer sector and wiped out one of our containment squads. We are here to take custody of him."

"Take custody?" Scott burst into a laugh before returning the cigar to his lips. "You speak as if you have the leverage to demand it. That ’specimen’ is an exclusive TMC asset. If you want to lay a finger on him, you’re going to have to walk over us first."

Elder Vane reached into his sleeve and pulled out a metallic scroll bearing golden runic seals. Pressing the center of the document, a red holographic projection unfolded in the air, displaying the Council of Elders’ crest alongside the signatures of six executives.

"This is an Immediate Detention Order signed by the majority of the Council," said Vane, letting the hologram hover above the asphalt. "Under the Continental Emergency Act, any unregistered individual who attains Platinum status and exhibits high-hostility behavior must be placed under the custody of the Federation for evaluation. The TMC lacks the authority to appeal this decree."

"Continental Emergency Act?" Scott stepped forward and pressed his lit cigar into the center of the hologram. The burning ember made contact with the runic light, sparking a surge that destroyed the projection. "Oops... Dropped my ash on your precious piece of paper, Vane."

The two Federation guards reacted, raising their pulse rifles and aiming at Scott’s chest.

"Lower your weapons, idiots!" roared Stephen, slamming his foot onto the ground.

An electromagnetic shockwave radiated from Stephen’s boots, causing the internal circuitry of the guards’ pulse rifles to spark and fry, rendering them useless.

Elder Vane narrowed his eyes, and a grayish aura surged from his body, causing the concrete slabs around him to tremble.

"I see you have chosen open treason against the Council," said Vane, his voice echoing with resonance. "If you will not hand over the boy peacefully, I will level this headquarters and pull him out from the rubble."

"Give it a try, you decrepit old bastard," said Scott with a smirk, his own aura erupting to meet the provocation.

Elder Vane unleashed the density of his mana, deploying his domain. A cloud of gray ash expanded in every direction, engulfing the plaza in a mist where visibility dropped to zero and organic matter began to erode on contact.

Scott looked over at Stephen through the ash veil, adjusting his suit jacket.

"Do you want to handle this, or should I?" asked Scott.

"I’ll go," replied Stephen, cracking his knuckles. "It’s been a while since I had fun."

Stephen launched forward, shattering the ground beneath his feet. He pushed his physical strength to its limit, tearing through the air as he concentrated his power into his right fist.

Elder Vane tried to stop the charge by manipulating the mass of ash into a shield around his body. Simultaneously, the gray particles began sticking to Stephen’s skin, attempting to petrify him and arrest his momentum.

However, Stephen’s ability activated: [Adaptive Body].

His skin erupted in heat until flames enveloped his form. The ash trying to bind him burned away before making contact, rendering the Elder’s defense useless. Stephen’s fist drove through the barrier and impacted full-force against the old man’s crossed arms, generating a shockwave that echoed across the complex.

Elder Vane slid back several meters across the asphalt, dusting off his sleeves with a look of indifference. He stretched his arms out to his sides and sneered at Stephen.

"I felt a little bit of that," said Elder Vane, adjusting his robe. "But you aren’t that strong."

Stephen didn’t freeze up; he let out a low chuckle while holding his combat stance.

"Did you forget my nickname, old man?" asked Stephen.

At that moment, the skin on the old man’s arms began turning a blackish color, as though a corrosive fluid were rotting his flesh from the inside out.

"Calamity..." muttered Elder Vane, looking down at his limbs without showing panic. "But you’re only poison-type. That’s useless against me."

The old man’s arms began to glow with a grayish light. The surrounding ash rushed toward his limbs, absorbing and purifying the toxin within seconds until his arms restored back to normal.

Elder Vane took a step forward, causing the cloud of ash around him to swirl with violence as he locked his eyes on both TMC leaders.

"Do you think I came here without knowing that Stephen, the Toxic Calamity, was present? Or that the great Scott, better known as the General Manager, was here?" said Elder Vane, his voice dripping with superiority. "Do not underestimate me."