System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)-Chapter 354: The Desert Road
The morning air was crisp as Ethan stood by the armored SUV parked in the private hangar of the Royal headquarters. Jason, Cassandra, Sarah, and Lena stood before him, the weight of his departure evident on their faces.
"I’m leaving the city and the operations in your hands. Everything is set. Just keep the momentum going," Ethan said.
Jason stepped forward, glancing at the empty passenger seats of the vehicle.
"Boss, at least take a squad of the Vanguard with you. Ryan and his men are itching for a real assignment, and having eyes on your back wouldn’t hurt. They could be useful for the grunt work," Jason said.
Ethan offered a faint, confident smile as he adjusted his gloves.
"If I encounter an enemy that I can’t handle, a squad of soldiers won’t change the outcome. They would only be targets. My path is one I have to walk alone for now," Ethan said.
Jason nodded slowly, realizing the truth in those words. In this world of monsters and hidden powers, Ethan moved on a plane that even the elite could barely perceive.
"I understand. We’ll keep the house in order until you return," Jason said.
"Don’t take too long. The bed feels too big without you," said Lena, stepping forward to pull him into a lingering kiss, followed quickly by Sarah and Cassandra.
"I’ll be back before the first plasma batch is fully cooled. Take care of each other," Ethan said.
He climbed into the driver’s seat, the engine turning over with a low, hum. With a final wave, he accelerated out of the compound, leaving the rising towers of his new empire behind.
The journey across the heart of the country was a stark contrast to the order he had established in Massachusetts. As he crossed state lines heading west toward Colorado, the landscape changed from bustling reconstruction to desolate stretches of highway. He saw the signs of the "Outsider" panic—abandoned gas stations, charred husks of military convoys, and a general sense of lawlessness that gripped the states still relying on a failing federal government.
Ethan drove for hours, his eyes fixed on the horizon, while Crul’s voice echoed through the vehicle’s speakers.
"We are approaching the coordinates in the Colorado canyon systems, Master. My satellite sweeps confirm that this sector is a dead zone for the Great Clans. There are no signatures from Celestial, the Union, or even the Assassin’s Legion," said Crul.
"An abandoned matrix. It’s hard to believe they would leave a gateway unguarded," Ethan said.
"It is not merely abandoned; it is hidden. The energy signature is buried under layers of ancient rock. According to the decrypted data from the Union’s archives, this matrix was considered ’unstable’ and was sealed centuries ago. It is the perfect backdoor," said Crul.
The lush greenery of the east gave way to the jagged, red-rock majesty of the Colorado canyons. The road narrowed, turning into a dusty trail that wound deep into the shadows of the towering cliffs. Ethan could feel it—a faint, rhythmic pulse in the air that made the atoms in his body vibrate.
He pulled the SUV to a stop at the edge of a massive ravine. Below, hidden by a natural projection of the canyon wall, sat a structure that defended modern architecture. It was a circular platform of obsidian-like stone, etched with glowing blue runes that flickered like a dying heartbeat.
"The matrix. It’s still breathing," Ethan said.
"Its power is low, but it is functional. If you can jumpstart the core with your own energy, we will have a direct line to the coordinates you seek," said Crul.
Ethan stepped out of the car, the dry wind whipping his coat. He gazed down into the abyss; his amethyst eyes gleamed in the twilight as he scanned the area and planned his descent.
After carefully assessing the situation, he noticed the sun beginning to set.
Ethan pulled the SUV away from the edge of the ravine, the obsidian platform still pulsing faintly in his rearview mirror.
"Let’s find a town to stay in for the night. We need to explore the perimeter and see what we’re dealing with before I initiate the sequence," said Ethan.
"Calculating... there is a small settlement approximately twenty miles north, Master. It is a transit point for hikers and miners, though its population has dwindled significantly since the collapse began," said Crul.
The drive was quiet, the red dust of the Colorado desert coating the sleek finish of the vehicle. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the flickering neon signs of a lonely town appeared. It was a place that felt forgotten by time, a cluster of wooden and brick buildings clinging to the side of a mountain.
Ethan pulled up to a rustic-looking inn at the end of the main street. He stepped inside, the bell above the door chiming softly. The air smelled of old pine and fried grease. He took a seat at a corner booth, his eyes scanning the room with practiced ease.
A moment later, a waitress approached. She was a striking woman, a "milf" who appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties. She looked slightly haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes, but she couldn’t hide the natural poise and the arrogant tilt of her chin—the unmistakable attitude of a woman who had spent her life surrounded by wealth and power.
Ethan looked at her, and for a split second, his amethyst eyes sharpened. He recognized her immediately, but he kept his expression perfectly neutral, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.
What an interesting coincidence, thought Ethan.
"Do you have any rooms available for the night?" said Ethan.
The woman tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her movements graceful despite her worn-out apron. She looked Ethan up and down, her gaze lingering on the quality of his clothes and the aura of authority he radiated.
"We have one left. It’s quiet, if that’s what you’re looking for," said she.
"I’ll take it. And I’d like a plate of whatever is fresh in the kitchen, a beer, and a mineral lemonade," said Ethan.
The woman hesitated for a heartbeat, her eyes searching his as if trying to place where she had seen a man of his caliber before.
"Coming right up. Don’t go anywhere," said she.
She turned and walked toward the bar, her gait still possessing the refined elegance of a socialite, even in this dusty, middle-of-nowhere inn.
