Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Chapter 114: _Figure A Way Together

"Higher SS-Rank, Mr President. Easily."

Outside the Echo Rift, the Vice President of the United States Hunters Federation had a phone pressed against his ear. His other hand was clamped around the railing of a warship’s foredeck, hundreds of meters behind the Rift.

"The Leviathan has been brought down." He added, expression grim when his eyes fixed in the direction of the Rift again. "But from the look of things, Magnus and Irina have been spent. They’ll need urgent Guiding."

There was silence from the other end at first.

Until, a deep baritone boomed into his ear. "And the void entity? It’s still... not attacking unless we attack it?"

"Exactly. It’s like it’s waiting for something. It keeps angling itself to the Rift."

"And Hunter Zola and Hunter Han of South Africa and South Korea weren’t able to land any significant hits?"

"None at all."

Just then, a sharp whoosh tore from the horizon like lightning. Vice President Hilary raised his head, staring at the skies behind the warship.

A fleet of fighter jets was incoming—new battleships were also joining the rest of the reinforcements. His assistant walked up to him just then.

"Sir... China, members of the West African joint Federations, Colombia and France have arrived."

Hilary let out a short breath, head spinning back to the void entity.

"Add in the President of the United States Hunters Federation as well." That deep baritone cut through his phone again. "I’m in a jet heading there now. Should arrive in five minutes."

The Vice President’s face lit up with relief.

If the Federation President himself were coming, that might significantly increase their chances.

His eyes slid to the Rift, his jaw tightening. "Let’s hope Hunter Valentine and his team can find some useful information about the Rift."

He paused, uneasiness blooming in his chest. With the Leviathan dead it was only a matter of time before the Echo Rift did what it does best.

And recycle its energy into something far more terrifying.

★★★★★

Echo Rift Dungeon

"How the fuck did this even happen?!" Viktor snapped, head arched toward the sealed ceiling above them.

The underground cave-like structure had glowing blue veins etched on the walls, providing light to the team. These veins crawled upwards, making Ambrose realise they were the same ones covering the ground above.

"On the bright side," Devon sighed, "at least there are no longer any more beasts to attack us. Those whales—"

"I’ll take fighting the whales to being buried alive any day!" Viktor shook his head, eyes darting around like a cornered rabbit. "I–I can’t be here. It’s—"

"Behave yourself," Valentine mumbled, his back turned away from the group. "Now is not the time to panic."

Ambrose squinted hard at Viktor.

His current reaction wasn’t... normal.

Heck, he could pick up the sound of his heart racing faster. His breathing was raspier and his aether thrummed erratically.

It all made sense when Aura rang with a system notification.

[WARNING: Subject, Viktor Morozov, showing high signs of aether instability. Loss of control is imminent. Emergency Guiding required.]

Shit.

Really? Now of all times?

"Easy for you to say." Viktor sneered at Valentine’s last statement, attracting an over-the-shoulder glance from him. "You and your... evil army of undead could just crawl out of here."

Devon seemed to notice something wrong too, exchanging a look with Ambrose. Then he pivoted to Viktor. "Dude. Hey—it’s okay. We’re going to get out of here."

Only the S-Rank was aware of the ice Prince’s claustrophobia. The cave might be wide open but its lack of an exit or entrance was easily a trigger.

Not to mention his mind was already fragile after all the aether he’s used.

"Does any of this look like we’re getting out of here?" A dangerous light flashed in Viktor’s eyes, his voice bouncing off the walls. "No..." he added something in Russian, real proof that he was slipping.

Ambrose didn’t waste another second, rushing to his side. To everyone’s surprise, the Guide caught Viktor’s wrist, making him lift his head to him.

"Hey," Ambrose’s tone was gentle. Like he was trying to get through to a child. "It’s okay." His aether energy twirled out in invisible strands, connecting with Viktor’s.

The Guiding process began discreetly.

"You’re okay," Ambrose added, letting out a relieved breath when the icy light in Viktor’s eyes died. "We’ll figure a way out. Together. Okay?"

[Subject’s Aether and mind stabilising.]

Viktor’s shoulders dropped—just slightly. The tension didn’t vanish, but it loosened enough for him to breathe.

"...Together," he echoed, quieter this time.

He leaned in without warning. Closer than necessary. Close enough that Ambrose could feel the cold radiating off him, sharp and biting, but no longer out of control.

Devon’s fists curled instantly.

"What the hell...?" He muttered under his breath, something ugly flashing across his face.

Across from them, Gabriel’s eyes flicked to Valentine.

Valentine caught the look and smirked.

He didn’t seem surprised or even concerned.

Just... entertained.

Aura chimed again.

[NOTICE: Subject Viktor Morozov’s Attraction Points have increased.]

[Current Level: 88]

Ambrose’s breath hitched.

Eighty-eight?

He almost smiled. He was so close. Just a little more and—

A low pulse interrupted his line of thought.

It rolled through the cave like a heartbeat, making everyone freeze.

"You felt that, right?" Devon said slowly.

Then—a blinding light flared from the far centre of the cavern. All five of them snapped their heads toward it.

Ahead of them stood a massive, grotesque mass embedded in the cavern floor. Veins of glowing white and pitch black pulsed through it, twisting and knotting like something alive.

Mangled remains of monsters were fused into it, half-formed, clawing their way out before being dragged back in, over and over again.

Recycled. Rebuilt.

The energy it gave off slammed into them. Suffocating. And hungry.

Gabriel’s expression sharpened instantly. "That’s the core," he said, voice tight. "The Rift’s recycling system. It’s converting aether—"

"That’s no mere core." Valentine’s voice cut through him.

Ambrose turned with surprise.

Because Valentine looked... disturbed. Genuinely. A rare crack in that ever-present composure.

His eyes were locked onto the mass, something dark flickering behind them.

"That thing," he continued softly, "is alive."