The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

Chapter 250: Tension in the Sect

While Elder Silvia was taking care of things in the Oasis District, Elder Iset, by orders of the Chief Elder, had requested assistance from Elder Baset, Gabi’s master, to aid her in a very important mission. The mission was to detain Elder Caron, who was known to be the closest counterpart of Elder Derek.

Why?

Elder Derek’s actions had caused a butterfly effect. All his disciples had been detained in the council hall, awaiting further action. This wouldn’t have been necessary had Iset not found Rexi limping as he came out of Derek’s room, all disheveled. The scent of sex on him further solidified her suspicions about Derek. This was a shared suspicion by most of the elder council. Elder Derek always took male disciples with the exception of Lily. This shouldn’t have been any huge matter. After all, everyone had preferences.

But over the years, they noticed a steady decline in the overall strength of his disciples. That wasn’t all. They noticed his disgust for women, too. This all made the suspicions build, and then when Bahamut came to the sect, most noticed how he acted any time he saw the blind guy. It was like a predator that had spotted fresh meat.

Derek was very smart, but sometimes, he forgot that he was dealing with old monsters like Silvia, Anutach, Tankhut, Iset, and Baset. Even more so, Henut. He had blown his cover since the beginning. They just needed hardcore evidence. It was sad that Bahamut had to be used as the scapegoat to get him, but what choice did they have? How would they know the mission was from Derek? Silvia was wise. She took a huge gamble, and it worked out, or else, they would’ve gotten Derek, but whatever harm he planned on doing would be done, and there would be no way to reverse it.

Thankfully, they’d moved quickly, and the victim in person was more of a wolf than a sheep. If Derek thought he was going to have it easy subduing him, then he was very wrong. They were even thankful to him that he set his eyes on Bahamut. If it were any other person, the outcome would’ve most likely not been the same.

...

The Shadow Fang Sect had never been this loud before. The Obsidian Citadel, usually calm and oppressive in its silence, had descended into controlled chaos. Disciples moved hurriedly through corridors, whispering among themselves with pale expressions while elders and enforcers stormed through the sect like a tidal wave.

For the first time in decades, the disciples witnessed something unbelievable: Sect Elders moving personally. Almost all of them. The skies above the sect were filled with streaks of light and mana signatures powerful enough to make weaker disciples collapse from pressure alone. Some flew openly without even concealing their aura anymore. It felt like war. No one knew what was happening.

...

"Move aside!"

BOOOOOOM!

The doors of a residence exploded inward as armored enforcers rushed inside under the lead of Elder Tankhut. The massive elder’s expression was darker than thunder itself. Three disciples dressed in inner sect robes froze in terror.

"E-Elder?!"

"By order of the Elder Council, you are hereby detained for investigation under suspicion of assisting Elder Derek and Elder Caron."

"W-WHAT?!"

The disciples barely reacted before chains of earth erupted from under them, locking around their bodies instantly. Tankhut didn’t even blink.

"Take them." The enforcers moved immediately.

Elsewhere...

SCREEEEEECH!

A gigantic vine dragon crashed through the courtyard of another residence. Disciples screamed and scattered as Elder Iset descended atop the construct of living plants, her deep green eyes cold with fury.

"Search everything."

The vines spread instantly into the building, ripping rooms apart. Secret compartments were uncovered. They were filled with documents, pills, letters, and storage rings. Everything was confiscated. One disciple tried to flee. He barely moved three meters before a thorn vine pierced the ground before him. He froze in fear, accepting surrender without another move.

...

At the western disciple grounds, panic had already spread completely. Groups of disciples gathered together nervously.

"What is happening?"

"I heard Elder Derek attacked Elder Silvia!"

"No, that’s impossible!"

"I heard he kidnapped her disciple!"

"They said the Oasis District exploded!"

"Someone said Elder Caron betrayed the sect!"

"No way..."

Rumors spread faster than wildfire, and fear always followed immediately afterward. Silence fell suddenly as everyone felt a heavy aura on them. Everyone turned to see the Chief Elder himself walking through the courtyard. Sekhem, the vice sect master. The man moved calmly with his hands behind his back, but the pressure around him was enough to suffocate the atmosphere completely. Behind him walked dozens of elite enforcers, dragging terrified and bloody disciples behind them. Some cried openly, some begged, some screamed their innocence, but no one dared step forward. No one even dared breathe loudly. The Chief Elder looked furious. This was true fury.

"Seal the western residences entirely," Sekhem ordered calmly. "Nobody enters or leaves without permission."

"Yes, Chief Elder!"

Formation masters immediately moved into action, and in no time, massive barriers rose around several sections of the sect simultaneously while the disciples watched with horror. This wasn’t an ordinary investigation anymore. This was a purge.

...

Meanwhile, deep within the inner sect, Elder Baset moved through the corridors silently beside Elder Iset. Unlike the visibly furious Iset, Baset remained calm and unreadable, but that was worse. Gabi’s master was known throughout the sect for one thing: When he became silent, someone usually died afterward.

"We should’ve acted sooner," Iset said coldly.

Baset nodded in agreement.

"He hid it well."

"No. We ignored the signs."

Iset’s eyes darkened.

"The decline of his disciples."

"The disappearances."

"The obsession."

"And now Bahamut."

The air around her trembled slightly from anger. Baset finally spoke again.

"Caron is more dangerous."

That made Iset narrow her eyes. Yes. Derek was unstable and obsessed, and even predictable in some ways. But Caron? Caron was quiet and calculating. He was a practitioner of dark arts and prophecy. He was the kind of person who prepared escape routes years in advance, the kind who survived while others died. Which was exactly why they had been ordered to capture him immediately and alive if possible.

...

Far away, hidden within the darker parts of the sect, Caron moved quickly through underground corridors. His breathing was uneven. His premonition had come true. Everything had collapsed.

"Damn it..."

He could already feel the disturbances throughout the sect. Barriers activating, enforcers moving, elders searching... Derek had failed.

No... Worse.

Derek had exposed everything. Caron clenched his teeth and moved faster. He needed to leave the sect immediately before the Elder Hakar learned everything. The moment that monster got involved, there would be nowhere left to run.

"You should stop running." A voice echoed ahead calmly.

Caron froze instantly, his pupils shrinking. At the end of the corridor stood Elder Baset and Elder Iset. The underground tunnel trembled slightly from the pressure pouring off the two elders.

"So fast," Caron slowly exhaled.

"You should surrender quietly," Iset’s eyes glowed green.

"You know I can’t do that," Caron laughed weakly. Darkness began leaking slowly from beneath his robes.

"Then this will hurt," Baset sighed softly. And the tunnel exploded.