The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 243: Ch 242: The Lab- Part 2

Ethan didn’t waste another second.

He sprinted after Selene, his focus razor-sharp, his senses heightened. The faint traces of her aura lingered in the air, leading him toward the outskirts of the city.

’Hold on, Selene...’

But just as he was gaining ground—

A sudden blast of mana exploded behind him.

"Not so fast!"

Isabella’s voice echoed through the night.

Ethan cursed under his breath and spun around.

Isabella stood with her hands outstretched, a vicious grin plastered across her face.

"Seriously?"

Ethan muttered, glaring at her.

Isabella’s eyes burned with raw determination.

"You’re not leaving,"

She hissed.

Isabella had somehow caught up to him, despite being left behind by Ethan a while back. She was someone who did not seem to know the meaning of the word ’give up’.

However, no matter how insistent Isabella was, Ethan did not have time or patience for her and his actions showed it.

Ethan’s patience snapped.

"I don’t have time for this! Sorry, but I will be taking my leave now."

Ignoring her, he turned to leave—

But then—

BOOM!

A barrage of wide-range attacks erupted around him. Fire. Wind. Shards of ice. All exploding outward with alarming intensity.

Ethan’s instincts kicked in. He dodged and weaved through the chaos, narrowly avoiding the deadly strikes.

"Isabella! What the hell are you doing?!"

He roared, anger rising in his voice.

"Stopping you!" she screamed, her mana flaring wildly. She also had artefacts in her hand, and she used them without hesitation.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

’She’s burning through her mana... too fast.’

"Are you insane? You’ll kill yourself at this rate!"

He snapped, blocking a fireball with a flick of his blade.

Isabella’s face was flushed, sweat dripping down her brow.

"I don’t care! I’ll deal with the consequences later! I just want you to pay!"

She growled, her voice filled with raw emotion.

Ethan’s jaw clenched.

’She’s lost it.’

"Enough."

He growled, his patience gone.

With a swift motion, Ethan reached into his inventory and pulled out the Chains of Subjugation.

The black chains gleamed under the moonlight, pulsing with dark energy.

"Sorry, Isabella."

Before she could react, Ethan’s chains shot out, wrapping around her limbs with lightning speed.

"Wha—"

The chains tightened instantly, binding her completely.

"Stop wasting my time."

Ethan muttered, his eyes cold and unforgiving.

Isabella struggled, but the chains held her firmly in place.

"Damn it!"

She screamed, her face contorted with rage.

Her pride was shattered.

Defeated. Again.

"Let me go!"

She hissed, but the chains tightened, draining her remaining mana.

Ethan didn’t even glance back as he turned to leave.

"Stay there. I don’t have time for this."

He muttered.

But just as he was about to sprint off—

"Not... yet..."

Ethan’s instincts screamed at him.

He turned, just in time to see Isabella pulling something out of her pocket.

A small bag.

’White powder. That is-’

Ethan’s eyes widened.

’No...’

"Isabella!"

He shouted, his voice laced with alarm.

But it was too late.

Isabella poured the powder into her mouth.

Her body convulsed instantly.

Ethan watched in horror as her aura spiked violently, her body shaking as raw mana surged through her veins.

"Damn it..."

Ethan muttered under his breath.

Reawakening powder.

The illegal, dangerous substance capable of forcibly increasing one’s power—at a deadly cost.

"Isabella! What did you do?!"

Ethan’s voice was sharp.

But Isabella didn’t respond.

Her eyes glazed over, her expression contorted in pain as her aura doubled—then tripled.

Her power skyrocketed, but her body...

Ethan could see it.

Her veins bulged unnaturally. Her skin paled.

’Her body can’t handle this.’

"Idiot."

Ethan muttered, his grip on his sword tightening.

Isabella’s body trembled violently.

And then—

She attacked.

Without hesitation, Isabella launched herself at Ethan.

Her movements were faster. Stronger. More lethal.

But...

Sloppy.

Ethan parried her attacks effortlessly.

"Isabella, stop!"

He barked, trying to get through to her.

But she was beyond reason.

Desperation fueled her strikes.

Ethan countered her every move, but it was clear—

’She’s burning out.’

Her stamina drained rapidly.

And then—

She stumbled.

Her movements slowed.

Her breathing turned ragged.

Ethan saw it coming.

’Her body’s giving out.’

"Damn it..."

Isabella collapsed.

Her body hit the ground with a thud, her breathing shallow.

Ethan stood over her, his expression unreadable.

"Fool! They’re all fools."

He muttered softly.

He tightened the Chains of Subjugation around her again, ensuring she wouldn’t get back up.

"You just wasted both of our time."

Ethan didn’t spare her another glance as he finally turned back to where Selene’s trail led.

But—

When he looked around...

’Selene was long gone.’

Selene’s wrists ached from the tight binds.

She had been struggling against them for what felt like hours, but they refused to budge.

Her breaths came out short and ragged, her frustration building.

"Stop thrashing around like a fish, dear."

Madam Verta’s smooth voice echoed beside her.

Selene gritted her teeth.

"Let me go, Verta!"

She hissed.

Madam Verta merely chuckled.

"Relax, child. We’re almost there."

She said calmly.

Selene’s eyes narrowed as she finally took in her surroundings.

The streets...

The buildings...

Familiar.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"No..."

Her eyes widened in recognition.

This place.

’Doctor Aedric’s secret lab.’

The memory of this place hit her like a freight train.

Her past life.

The screams. The agony. The experiments.

’No one ever left this place alive.’

Selene’s stomach twisted painfully.

"Why..." her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Why here?"

Madam Verta glanced at her with a sly smile.

"Don’t worry, dear," she purred. "You’ll be just fine."

Selene’s blood ran cold.

’Liar.’

Her mind raced, her pulse pounding in her ears.

She needed to get out.

Now.

But the binds...

Her body was still too weak.

’Damn it...’

Her eyes flickered around, searching for anything she could use.

’There has to be a way...’

"Relax. You’re about to meet someone who’s very eager to see you."

Madam Verta said again, her tone almost amused.

Selene’s heart pounded louder.

Doctor Aedric.

Panic clawed at her chest.

’I can’t go through that. I might die if I meet the doctor.’