Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss - Chapter 397

Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Tricked
Professor Sera’s eyes glinted with something strange, and without another word, she slammed her hand down on a big red button on the side of the machine panel. A loud mechanical click echoed through the room, and in an instant, Mirae’s and Junhee’s machines lit up bright red.

Metal restraints shot out from the sides of the booths—like thick shackles—and clamped around their wrists and ankles so fast they couldn’t move. Mirae let out a sharp scream as the cuffs locked her in place, and Junhee shouted in surprise, “What is this?! I can’t move!”

Before the other three—Nathan, Elshienne, and Sion—could even react, their machines started to move too, the restraints beginning to emerge. But unlike the others, they didn’t wait.

“Elshienne! Get out!” Nathan shouted.

All three of them quickly stepped out just in time before the metal shackles could grab them.

“The hell is that for, Professor?!” Sion yelled, glaring at her, completely annoyed and furious.

But before she could answer—shhk!—the machines holding Mirae and Junhee activated again.

From inside the walls of the machines, three long syringes appeared—two from the sides and one from the top—and without any warning, they stabbed straight into their arms and neck.

Both of them screamed.

“AAAHHH!!” Mirae cried, tears falling down as her body shook.

Junhee tried to resist but his voice broke, “IT HURTS! STOP!!”

Nathan turned to face Professor Sera again, eyes burning with rage. “What did you do—” But she was gone. She had vanished from the room like a ghost.

“Elshienne!” Mirae sobbed. “It hurts, it hurts—make it stop!”

Elshienne ran to the machine and tried to pull the restraints off, using all her strength, her hands shaking. “Damn it, I can’t get it off! Junhee! Mirae! Hold on!”

“Help me, Sion! Nathan!” she shouted, desperate, her voice trembling.

Nathan and Sion rushed forward to help her. They tried pulling at the restraints, kicking the side of the machines, anything that could work, but the machines wouldn’t budge.

Then—click click click—they all froze.

A strange sound echoed through the walls, and suddenly, sharp mechanical arms shot out from the ceiling and floor around them. These arms had long, needle-like extensions, with glowing lines on the sides like they were filled with some kind of fluid.

The three of them quickly jumped back, just in time to avoid getting caught.

“What the hell is this?!” Sion shouted again, backing away fast.

Nathan clenched his fists, breathing hard. “She tricked us…”

And then they heard it—Professor Sera’s voice.

It came from above, like a speaker hidden in the ceiling, her tone no longer warm and kind, but cold, smooth, high pitched and almost excited.

“I told you, didn’t I?” she said, her voice full of fake sweetness. “This is a special day. You’re going to awaken—one way or another. And I’m going to watch it all happen.”

“You’re insane!” Elshienne shouted, turning her head upward. “You’re hurting them!”

Sera laughed lightly, the sound echoing. “You think awakening is gentle? You think power comes without pain? I gave you food, water… now it’s time for the main course. Don’t ruin it by acting surprised.”

Junhee was crying now, his glasses falling from his face as his body arched in pain. “P-Professor… please…”

Mirae’s voice was weak. “Make it stop… please… I don’t want this…”

The three outside could only watch, helpless, as the machines around their friends glowed brighter and the strange needles filled with mana began to pulse.

“Elshienne,” Nathan said through gritted teeth, “we need to break these machines—now.”

Out of desperation, Elshienne turned around and grabbed the nearest desk with trembling arms. Her heart was pounding, and her hands hurt from gripping the metal.

Without thinking, she shouted, “I’ll break the machine! I’ll break it if I have to!” and lifted the desk high, ready to throw it toward Junhee’s machine.

But Sion quickly rushed to her and stopped her, holding her arms tightly. “Stop, Elshienne! If you hit the machine, it might hurt them even more! There could be more needles or—something worse!”

Just then, Mirae and Junhee’s bodies began to twitch. Their eyes rolled back, showing only the whites, and bubbles started forming at the corners of their mouths. Their chests moved rapidly, like they were choking or trying to scream but couldn’t.

“Mirae! Junhee!” Elshienne cried out, terrified, reaching toward them again.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from above—BANG!

From the ceiling, Professor Sera dropped down like a shadow, landing on her feet with a loud thud. But she no longer looked human. Her eyes were glowing, and black, hardened veins pulsed under her skin. Her arms had long sharp nails like blades, her limbs too long, her smile too wide, her figure twisted but still human… just barely.

She looked at them with her eerie glowing eyes and said with a voice that was still soft but now completely terrifying,

“It’s too late to stop anything. But you three…” she pointed a long, sharp nail at them, “why don’t you join them? Go to your machines as well. Don’t worry. It won’t take long. I promise.”

All three of them froze.

Their hearts raced and their instincts screamed. Every part of them said the same thing, ‘She’s dangerous. We need to get out of here.’

“Run,” Nathan said, grabbing Elshienne’s hand tightly.

He pulled her with him, and Sion ran beside them without a second thought.

But before they could reach the door—THUD! THUD! THUD!—more creatures jumped down from the ceiling.

Five of them. All looked like Sera—half-human, half-monster. Their bodies were thin and twisted, but their eyes glowed just like hers.

Nathan gritted his teeth and took a step in front of the other two. “What are you?! Why are you doing this, Professor Sera?!”

Elshienne stepped back slowly, her face full of pain and confusion. Her voice shook as she spoke. “Professor… please… tell me this wasn’t your choice. Tell me someone forced you to do this. Please…”

She tried to walk toward her, tears forming in her eyes. “You were kind to us. You encouraged Mirae. You said you believed in Junhee. Please…”

But just as she got close, Sera’s twisted arm suddenly lashed out with inhuman speed—aimed right at Elshienne’s face.

“Elshienne, move!” Nathan and Sion shouted at the same time.