Ren ran up like an unstoppable little whirlwind. Sector 4 had been completely handed over to Vane and the slaves, who had now transformed into a rebel army. The screams and the clashing of weapons from below grew louder—more than enough to cover his footsteps.
He did not stop.
One by one, he destroyed the sectors with a speed and precision that was terrifying for a seven-year-old child.
Sector 5 – Central Guard Headquarters
The main control Lacrima that regulated all the tower's energy was located in the center room. Twenty-five elite guards were already on high alert. But Ren appeared from the ceiling like a ghost. Bungee Gum shot out from both of his hands, wrapping around their necks and Lacrima weapons simultaneously. Within seconds, the 25 wardens were bound and thrown against the wall. The large Lacrima was destroyed with a single Double Impact punch. The entire middle floor went dark.
Sector 6 – Experimental Laboratory
Twelve mage guards tried to cast spells. Ren was too fast. Bungee Gum stuck to the ceiling, and he swung his body like a living slingshot, smashing the heart Lacrima on the center table until it shattered. The mages were sent flying by the gum's elastic recoil. Not a single one managed to finish their spell.
Sector 7 – Main Ethernano Storage Room
Thirty heavy guards with Lacrima shields. Ren didn't fight for long. He released Bungee Gum in the form of a giant net, pulling all of their shields at once until they collided. The super-sized Lacrima on the wall was destroyed with a barrage of punches. Small Ethernano explosions shook the walls, but Ren had already leaped upward.
Sector 8 – Central Corridor
Only ten guards. The Lacrimas on the pillars were destroyed in a single pass. Ren didn't even need to stop. He kept running while throwing his gum like a whip, binding them to the corridor walls.
Sector 9 – Core Lacrima Control Room
Twenty elite guards and two mages. This was the toughest one yet. But Ren had become increasingly proficient. Bungee Gum turned into a long whip that spun like a tornado. Their Lacrima weapons were destroyed, the mages were sent flying, and the second core Lacrima was shattered to pieces with a single flying kick reinforced by a maximum gum spring.
As the Sector 9 Lacrima shattered, the entire tower shook violently. The blue light everywhere died out. Only Sector 10 at the top still glowed faintly.
Ren's breath was ragged as his feet finally touched the black marble floor of Sector 10—the vast and cold Zeref ritual room. The air here felt heavy, thick with a dense aura of darkness.
But before he could step any further, a deep, slow, and arrogant voice echoed from the darkness in front of the giant Lacrima.
"Hoh… you are quite bold to come all the way up here, little brat."
A tall man slowly emerged from the shadows. His long black hair fluttered even though there was no wind, the white streaks at the ends looking like a lunar scar. His eyes were dark red, glowing with mockery. His luxurious black robe fluttered gently, the inverted crescent moon emblem on his chest glowing faintly. He carried no weapon. He didn't need to.