This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Pain

…

There were no other thoughts in Cherry's head except for the intense pain that filled her entire body.

However, whereas previously the pain had been external due to the knives and needles digging into her skin, now it was coming from within her. She could sense that something had been placed within her and was now subtly controlling the flow of the very limited amount of spiritual power within her body.

The sterile hum of the laboratory lights faltered for a split second, followed by a faint

pop

before all of the lights within the laboratory went out. The constant humming of the various equipment also stopped, indicating that it was a facility wide power outage.

However, it wasn't as simple as the electricity simply being turned off…

Wish 3:

To prevent the activation of any electronic devices within the vicinity of the building.

Price: Currently unknown.

The reason the wish was phrased this way was to prevent a back-up generator from kicking in, thereby rendering the wish useless. Additionally, it would also prevent the activation of any electronic alarm systems or phones that could be used to request help.

Kain and Serena discretely made their way into the building, taking one of the hidden side entrances that led to what appeared to be a discrete corner of the building—at least based on the 3D blueprint of the facility in their minds.

When they entered, they were pleased to see that there weren't any guards and if there was an alarm at the door, it was currently inactive.

Kain summoned all of his Vespirae guards and sent them to hunt down the guards. There were 5, and the strongest should only be 5-star beast-tamers. Moreover, all of them should be located at various washrooms, making them much easier to find…

Wish 4: Severe diarrhea for all of the guards present.

Price: Severe illness befalling an ally.

Surprisingly the price for this wish did not fall on Kain himself, after all Balins couldn't guarantee that it would fall on him every time.

'Sorry Bridge…

' Kain thought, trying not to imagine the current poor state that his brother was likely currently in.

'Maybe when I get back I can pay to renovate the orphanage's washroom'

Kain decided after passing by one of the washrooms on the way to the laboratory.

The washroom presented a grotesque scene. A sharp, gag-inducing stench dominated the air, so thick it seemed to stick to the walls. The sour, acrid smell of bile mixed with the overpowering reek of excrement created a miasma that could turn even the strongest stomach.

Pools of watery feces were spread in uneven, nauseating splashes across the tiles, some smeared by desperate handprints as though the guard had tried and failed to regain balance. The toilet itself was a disaster zone: the seat and surrounding wall were streaked with brown, the result of a catastrophic loss of control.

And there, lying in the middle of the washroom floor, was the unfortunate guard. He was slumped unconscious, his pants bunched around his ankles made a humiliating picture.

His face was pale and glistening with sweat, his body twisted awkwardly as though he had collapsed mid-struggle. There was a large and bloody injury at the back of his head, and the Vespid standing above him had obviously knocked him out while he was vulnerable dealing with his…unfortunate situation.

However, despite the horror of the scene, the guard was still alive, as should the other four guards since he'd need them for information.

Kain, standing just outside the doorway, pinched his nose and grimaced. "This... is worse than I expected." The stench seemed to claw its way into his lungs despite his best efforts. He glanced at the Vespid, which clicked its mandibles smugly, as if proud of its efficient work.

He planted one of Bea's splits on the guard, and since he was unconscious and unable to put up much of a fight, Kain quickly got the information he wanted and began walking to the laboratory while avoiding triggering any of the traps set up that weren't reliant on electricity.

As Kain approached the lab, the atmosphere grew heavier—as did the metallic scent of blood barely covered by the smell of harsh chemicals.

The silence within the powerless facility was oppressive, broken only by the faint echoes of dripping water and the occasional creak of the old infrastructure settling. He motioned for Serena to follow close behind, her steps careful and precise as they navigated the dim, shadowy corridors.

The laboratory door was ajar, and the horrifying scene was just barely illuminated by some glowing stones embedded into the walls and various mechanical devices. Clearly not everything in the lab was powered by electricity, much of them must have been reliant on spiritual power.

After quickly taking in the scene of the room, Kain ran forward.

"Cherry!"

In the center of the lab, strapped to an ominous-looking metal table, lay Cherry. Her small frame trembled, her skin slick with sweat and her own blood.

Kain didn't notice it in his distress, but Serena who was taking in everything in the room for hidden threats did—there was faint, unnatural movement beneath her skin. It was unnerving, as though something foreign and alive had been placed inside her. Her breathing was shallow and she seemed to have lost consciousness form the pain.

Kain quickly got to work unstrapping her and just handed her over to one of the Vespid guards to carry when a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the room.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound cut through the tense air like a knife, freezing Serena and Kain in place. Both spun around toward the source, instincts on high alert.

Standing in the doorway was a tall, gaunt man, his lab coat pristine despite the bloody experiment he had just inflicted upon Cherry.

A cruel smirk twisted his thin lips as his predatory gaze flicked between the intruders and the pale, bleeding girl on the table.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "It seems we've developed a bit of a pest problem…"