Chapter 236 235: Vanishing Ring & Mind-Link
Chapter 236 235: Vanishing Ring & Mind-Link
Inside a dimly lit room within one of the hotels of the Underworld Emporium, Corey and Divine sat at a small table, each with an exquisite drink in hand. The ambiance was mysterious, with dim lighting and the faint murmur of conversations from other guests, all contributing to the secretive aura that surrounded the Emporium.
Divine, observed Corey closely. Corey, on the other hand, wore a stoic expression as he lifted the cup to his lips, his thoughts seemingly distant.
Divine's concern for his partner grew as he asked, "Are you okay?" He knew that Corey's well-being was not what truly troubled him. Rather, Divine's question probed whether Corey was mentally prepared for the upcoming heist. Corey met Divine's gaze and simply nodded, but the answer was far from reassuring.
Corey's focus wavered, his mind not fully committed to the impending heist. The weight of unresolved issues from his past bore heavily on him, casting a shadow over his thoughts. He couldn't help but dwell on memories of the enigmatic temple of flames, the mysterious pope, and the location and well-being of his sister.
"I'm not going to ask you about your past," Divine assured, his voice gentle. "But know that if you want to exact revenge, you need strength."
Divine's cryptic words carried the weight of shared experiences. He understood the burning desire for vengeance and how it could consume one's thoughts. Corey's mind remained divided, torn between the past and the present. "Strength you could probably find in this place," Divine added, offering a glimmer of hope to his conflicted partner.
Divine's assurance allowed Corey to momentarily set aside his inner turmoil. He knew that the success of this heist was pivotal for his future, and he couldn't afford to fail, no matter the distractions.
With newfound determination, Corey nodded in response to Divine's query. Divine acknowledged Corey's readiness with a nod of his own before casting an observant glance around the room.
"Are you ready?" Divine inquired, breaking the silence that had enveloped the room.
Corey took a deep breath, centering himself, and then nodded. Divine mirrored his readiness with another nod, and together, they rose from their seats and made their way out of the room, their path set toward the impending mission.
Leaving the hotel, they blended seamlessly into the flow of the Underworld Emporium, their presence inconspicuous to the casual observer. As they navigated the luxurious halls and corridors, they exchanged polite greetings with the security guards stationed at various locations. The guards, seemingly disinterested and detached, barely acknowledged their presence.
Once inside one of the main toilets, Corey and Divine finally allowed themselves a moment to prepare. In silence, they donned their disguises—masks that concealed their identities and intentions. Divine, begrudgingly, slipped on a chicken mask, his discontent evident in his disgruntled comment, "I hate this mask."
Corey, unfazed by Divine's protest, offered a nonchalant response, "Next time, get a better mask."
Divine clicked his tongue in mild irritation before conceding, "I'm ready."
With their masks secured, Corey extended his hand, and without a word, Divine grasped it with his own. A silver ring adorned Divine's middle finger, and as he rubbed it, a dim white light enveloped the duo, obscuring them from sight. The magical cloak provided by the ring made them imperceptible to anyone who might cross their path.
"Let's go," Divine announced, and with their hands still connected, they stepped out of the toilet, their mission now in full swing.
As they approached the seemingly indifferent security guards, Corey couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness coursing through him. With bated breath, they walked past the guards, their hearts pounding. To their astonishment, the guards' eyes remained disinterested, as if they had become a part of the background.
Divine came to a sudden halt, and Corey, puzzled, watched as he waved his hand in front of one of the guards. However, the guard didn't react, not even subconsciously.
"[See, it worked. There's no reason to be nervous.]" Divine's voice echoed within Corey's mind, and Corey rolled his eyes in response.
"[Stop playing around and let's go.]" Corey replied, his thoughts conveyed through their telepathic connection. Divine shrugged, and they continued on their path, having successfully eluded the guards.
The key to their seamless entry lay in Divine's Vanishing Ring, a potent artifact that had the ability to make its wearer invisible to mystical beings up to tier 4.
According to Divine, the vanishing ring had the ability to hide his presence from tier 4 mystical beings, though it wouldn't be as perfect as when used to hide from a tier 3 or lower being.
With the vanishing ring in Divine's hand, Divine had caused quite a lot of chaos in certain places in the Underworld. Though, none ever knew it was the work of Divine, apart from his teammates.
The ability to make a mortal, that was at least tier 1, hide from a mystical being was already so amazing, but surprisingly, the vanishing ring also had another ability.
Apart from concealing its wearer, the Vanishing Ring held another surprising power. It could render any person held by Divine "invisible," though this concealment no longer worked against mystical beings. This unique attribute of the ring offered them an additional advantage.
Divine had once used the Vanishing Ring to appear unannounced in Corey's room when he was practicing with the elemental breathing technique.
Even after Divine made his presence known by speaking, Corey could not see him.
Divine's confidence in the success of the heist stemmed from the absence of mystical beings within the Emporium and his possession of the Vanishing Ring. This, however, was not the only remarkable aspect of the ring.
However, the ring had its limitations. It couldn't conceal sounds, which meant Corey and Divine could not communicate verbally during the heist. To overcome this challenge, Divine's Mind-Link skill came into play. It allowed them to exchange thoughts telepathically, an essential method of communication during the mission.
The synergy between the Vanishing Ring and Mind-Link, coupled with their other acquired skills, gave Divine and Corey the confidence that their heist would be a success. The clock was ticking, and they were prepared to execute their mission in silence, relying on their unique abilities to outmaneuver the underworld's security measures. The stakes were high, and their future hung in the balance.