Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 254: Ether Suppression

Zain stepped over a cracked pipe, his boots scraping against the moss-covered stone.

His eyes scanned the narrow path ahead, still cloaked in a faint layer of ether mist.

"Is it still far?" he asked, adjusting the sword strapped across his back.

Velra walked just ahead, one hand brushing against the wall as she followed the route mapped from the stolen files.

"Not far now. We’re almost there," she said.

"But we need to take the side route."

"A hidden path used by the Beastkin Brood to sneak into Hero Association territory."

Zain raised an eyebrow. "They built a backdoor?"

Velra nodded. "The Brood had spies everywhere. Even among the heroes."

Zain smirked. "Typical."

They pressed on, the tunnel growing tighter and colder.

After a few more turns and a long descent, they reached a dormant teleportation platform tucked beneath a ruined access point.

Velra quickly activated the console.

The old gate hummed back to life, its faded sigils glowing.

"Ready?" she asked.

Zain cracked his neck. "Let’s see what this new playground looks like."

The light flashed.

A moment later, they stepped out into a different world.

Zain paused immediately.

The city before him was massive.

Towering spires reached toward the sky, some made of glowing steel, while others were entirely transparent, with flowing light inside.

Hover rails zipped across the air, connecting floating stations.

Holograms were projected across buildings.

Patrol drones moved in clean patterns through the skies.

It looked like a more advanced version of B-Zone—sharper, cleaner, brighter.

Even the air felt smoother. Charged. Refined.

"...Impressive," Zain muttered.

Velra looked around.

"Welcome to one of the outer Hero Association cities."

"Not a capital, but still above B-Zone."

Zain took a step forward, but then stopped. His body tensed.

He frowned.

"...Something’s wrong."

Velra turned toward him. "What is it?"

Zain’s eyes narrowed. "My ether’s reacting. It’s... getting pushed down."

He clenched his fist. "And my killing intent... It’s weaker. I feel calm. Too calm."

Velra slowly nodded. "I was expecting this."

Zain looked at her sharply. "Explain."

She took a breath.

"From the data we found earlier—inside Hero Association territory, everyone experiences mild suppression."

Zain’s face darkened. "Suppression?"

"Yes," Velra continued.

"Your body, your class, even your instincts. It all gets... dulled a little."

"Just enough to prevent chaos. Riots. Assassins. Even normal criminals are less aggressive here."

Zain growled under his breath. "That’s not normal suppression. That’s control."

Velra nodded. "They said it’s tied to the leader."

"The one who rules over the Hero Association. Everything in his territory bends to his presence."

Zain’s eyes narrowed further. "Who is he?"

Velra shook her head. "I don’t know. His name wasn’t listed."

"No image, no public record. Just whispers. They call him the Apex Guardian."

Zain stayed quiet. Then let out a breath.

"Tch. Someone powerful enough to suppress this much... across a city? Without even being present?"

He looked up at the sky, expression unreadable.

"That’s not just a class... That’s domination."

Velra watched him. "What do you want to do?"

Zain smirked, though his eyes were sharp.

"I want to meet him."

He stepped forward, ether humming faintly around his body, even if it felt slower than usual.

"Anyone who can calm the Heavenly Demon without trying... deserves my attention."

Velra followed beside him. "We’ll need to move carefully. We’re in their territory now."

Zain nodded. "Fine. But if someone like him stands at the top of the Hero Association..."

He smiled.

"...Then this game just got a lot more fun."

---

Zain glanced around at the bright, towering cityscape.

He looked over at Velra as they walked through the crowded plaza.

"Velra," he said, "aside from those files we got from the Beastkin Brood... you’ve been here before, right?"

Velra nodded, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "Yeah. A long time ago."

Zain kept walking. "Then explain. What do you know about this place?"

Velra glanced at him. "I’ll tell you, Master. But not out here. Let’s talk somewhere more quiet."

Zain nodded. "Fine. Pick a spot."

A few minutes later, they stepped into a clean, sleek hotel building.

The walls were smooth glass, and lights floated gently along the ceiling.

No one greeted them.

There were no workers, only a central pillar with a glowing blue screen and a touch platform.

Velra stepped forward and placed her palm on the panel.

Ether sparked at her fingertips.

The machine glowed, absorbed the ether, and a soft chime confirmed the transaction.

Zain raised an eyebrow. "They pay with ether here?"

Velra nodded. "Only way. Everything runs on ether flow in this district."

A soft voice from the machine directed them to a room on the 30th floor.

They took the silent elevator up, then entered their hotel room.

The space was bright and modern, featuring a minimalist design.

With glowing lines along the floor and a huge transparent wall that showcased the city skyline outside.

Zain leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "Now talk."

Velra sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him. "Yes, Master."

"I’ll tell you what I know... though it’s not much. I wasn’t that important back then."

She took a breath. "Back when I was a kid, my family visited here—once or twice."

"We were high-class in B-Zone, so we had the rights to enter."

Zain raised an eyebrow. "So this is where they sent the rich?"

"Kind of," Velra said.

"This territory belongs to the Hero Association. It’s called Skyreach Dominion."

"The entire Skyreach Dominion is divided into sectors. This one... is called Ether Haven."

Zain looked out the window. "And it’s for civilians?"

Velra nodded. "Yeah. People come here for rest, holiday, or tech support."

"Heroes sometimes pass through. But mostly..."

"This place is for those rich enough to breathe the best ether without fighting for it."

Zain smirked. "Interesting. A calm center in a war-fueled sky."

He turned to Velra. "A place built for recreation... for the rich. For the nobles."

Velra nodded. "Exactly. The ones who don’t need to fight anymore. They just float above the rest—literally."

Zain tilted his head, watching a sleek transport pass silently through the air.

"I wonder why they built this place in the first place."

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