NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Raizel stepped into the container hall, suppressing the urge to groan. He already felt like trash—turns out transmigrating into a Noblesse-like world didn't come with a free health upgrade. Nope, just cool powers with a side of illness.
He glanced around. Two separate stasis chambers stood before him, each containing an unfortunate soul frozen in time.
One held Michael Corvin, the hybrid—half-vampire, half-lycan, and 100% someone Raizel didn't feel like dealing with.
The other? Selene.
Now that was an interesting one.
But first thing first.
With a sigh, Raizel lazily lifted his hand, red energy flickering around his fingers. Michael's chamber shattered instantly, ice shards flying in every direction as his body collapsed forward.
Raizel stared.
Michael didn't move.
"...Did I break him?"
Then, Michael twitched, gasping as his body reacted to the sudden thawing. His eyes snapped open, flickering between confusion and pure instinctual terror as he looked at Raizel.
Ah. Good. He understands.
Before Michael could get any funny ideas, Raizel snapped his fingers, conjuring a pair of pants for the guy. Because honestly, nobody wanted to deal with a naked, confused hybrid today.
Michael was still in a daze, but Raizel wasn't about to wait for him to reboot. He turned toward the second chamber.
Now, Selene...
The moment his eyes landed on her frozen form, his mind did an unnecessary double take. Right. Cryogenic freezing meant no clothes.
Well, oops.
He momentarily considered stepping back and pretending he didn't see anything—but nah, too late. Instead, he shattered her stasis chamber with the same casual flick of his fingers.
Selene fell forward, her body still regaining movement. Raizel, being the respectable individual he was, conjured her signature black attire with a snap.
Selene's eyes fluttered open. And the first thing she saw?
Raizel.
Standing there. Watching.
Silence stretched between them.
Selene instinctively reached for a gun that wasn't there. Michael, now slightly more coherent, pushed himself up—only to realize he felt wrong.
"That was quick," Raizel commented, amused at Michael's panicked expression.
Michael staggered forward, then stopped. His hybrid form was gone. Completely suppressed.
Michael's face twisted in confusion. "What did you—?"
Raizel waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. I just made sure you wouldn't do anything stupid."
Selene narrowed her eyes, stepping between Raizel and Michael. "Who are you?"
Raizel smiled. Not his usual elegant, mysterious smile—oh no, this was the Frankenstein special.
"The one who woke you up," he said smoothly, before tilting his head. "And the one giving you both a choice."
A sudden pressure filled the air.
Michael collapsed first, his strength instantly failing him. Selene gritted her teeth, trying to resist, but the sheer force pushed her down to one knee.
Raizel's voice remained calm, even casual.
"Serve me…" He paused. "Or die."
Selene glared at him, and Raizel could already see the 'I'd rather die' look in her eyes. Which, frankly, was too much effort for him to deal with.
So he sighed. "I mean, not immediately die. That'd be a waste. But, you know—Union exists, and I'm sure they'd be very interested in a little Corvinus experiment."
Michael flinched. Selene stiffened.
Bingo.
Raizel folded his arms. "You've both been frozen for over a decade, by the way." He watched as that particular detail sank in. "So, you can either work with me and actually have a chance at life—or, well…" He glanced at Michael. "I could just put you back in the fridge."
More silence. Then, slowly, Selene exhaled.
"...What do you want?"
Raizel smirked. Good question.
He turned on his heel, walking toward the exit. "We'll talk once you're properly awake. For now? Consider yourselves lucky. I'm giving you a chance most wouldn't."
Then, just as he stepped out, he casually added, "Oh, and if either of you tries to run—I'll find you. And I'll make it annoying."
With that, he left them to process what they just heard.