Chapter 1582

Rhea's response was swift. She sidestepped his attack, but he reacted quickly, whirling around and lunging at her with outstretched arms. He chased her in circles around the small room, as if playing a game. Just as he closed in, Rhea spun, throwing a handful of powder into his face. She quickly jabbed him with an anesthetic syringe; he winced, halting his advance. Within seconds, he slumped to the floor, immobile.

Though his body was limp, his mind sharpened. He rubbed his eyes hard, his roar subsiding into a whimper. When he opened his eyes again, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

"Rhea?"

"I haven't seen you in a few days. Do you miss me?" Rhea curled her lips into a smile. Under different circumstances, in a different place, the man might have found it charming.

Austin snorted twice, the effort to chastise her exceeding his depleted energy. He could only flutter his eyelids and roll his eyes. Rhea, however, seemed pleased with his performance.

"Why? I transferred you to a more comfortable place, and you're still dissatisfied? Tsk, tsk! You don't enjoy your basement suite, do you? Just go ahead and kill me!" He'd been in such agony for the past two days that death seemed preferable.

"Don't wish for death! It's good to be alive. You proclaim to be a miracle doctor, capable of saving lives. How could you seek death?" Rhea's devilish smile widened. "Since you're so capable, can't you save yourself?"

"You demons should go to hell!" he cursed weakly.

"Judging from the current situation, he's the one going to hell soon, isn't he?" Rhea shrugged, unconcerned by his curses. "I don't mind. I'd love to see what hell's like; our world's already screwed. Haven't you heard? Hell is empty, and all the devils are here!" She giggled. "We might as well cleanse the world and let nature decide who goes to hell. How's that?"

"What are you up to, experimenting on human bodies? To rule the world?"

Austin managed to sit up, regaining some strength but unable to stand. Dirty and disheveled, his elegant demeanor gone, he gasped for breath, struggling to stay awake. He didn't know what was inside him, but he suspected a virus. Whenever he became agitated, he felt like he was splitting apart. This was happening more frequently, leaving him exhausted. Yet, each time, he felt stronger before another agonizing phase began. The cycle repeated, its end unknown.

He'd considered dying, even tried to slam himself against the wall, but Rhea was right: humans strive to survive, and death shouldn't be sought. Despite the suffering, he didn't want to die. He wanted to live and see their comeuppance.