My Talent's Name Is Generator Chapter 705: Deathmist Runes

"Yes," I answered without a second thought. "By achieving the unexpected."

"And if I refuse?" he asked in a low voice.

"Then I will simply bypass you and proceed with my plans anyway," I said, a subtle smile playing on my lips. My tone held no malice, only absolute conviction.

Saleos scrutinized my expression for a long time. His stare was intense and heavy, as if he were attempting to peel back my skin to uncover what was buried beneath. Although the fire in his eyes remained, the wild rage had subsided.

"Your group," he spoke slowly, "it’s called the Order of Absolute, isn’t it?"

I gave a nod. "That is correct."

He exhaled sharply through his nostrils. It resembled a laugh, though it was devoid of any joy. "A prideful name."

"It is," I conceded smoothly. "I won’t argue with that." I then added, "I am Billion Ironhart, for the record. These two behind me are my subordinates."

Saleos’s gaze shifted past me, pausing on Knight and Lyrate, whose figures remained obscured by their cloaks. "Yes," he remarked. "The ones I wasn't informed about. Where exactly were you keeping them hidden?"

I gave a small shrug. "There are a few more tucked away as well. You don’t survive a conflict like this by showing your entire hand at once."

That comment earned me an even deeper look of contemplation.

"So, tell me, Commander. After the experience you just had. After being pulled from the core layer without a single alarm being triggered. After witnessing what we can accomplish without the need for legions or banners..."

I trailed off, allowing the tension in the silence to grow.

"Are you feeling even slightly inclined to take a gamble?"

"If you are," I added in a steady voice, "then we will proceed to the next display. Afterward, you can decide if we are worthy of your trust."

This time, his response was immediate.

"Yes," Saleos declared. "I want to. I want to lead my people out of this stalemate. I want to wipe the Eternal from the face of the universe." His jaw set firmly. "However, what you have demonstrated thus far is not yet enough for me to stake everything on you."

I nodded once, taking his words without any offense.

"Fair," I remarked. "I wouldn’t trust a stranger either if all they did was boast and kidnap me." A small smile twitched at the corners of my mouth. "Very well. Let us move on to the next demonstration."

Turning slightly, I gestured toward the demon encased within the cocoon.

Lyrate moved to the side and snapped her fingers. The wooden shell finally began to unravel. The tightly woven strands of law-infused wood untwisted layer by layer, shrinking and compressing until the entire mass collapsed back into a solitary dark seed. She caught it with ease and tucked it away.

Phegor’s body hit the floor with a heavy thud.

"He was being far too loud," Lyrate explained calmly. "So I knocked him unconscious."

I let out a soft chuckle and stepped closer, halting right next to Phegor’s limp form. Saleos tracked my movements, his face grim and now marked by a clear sense of caution.

"Commander," I began, "when I passed through your defensive perimeters earlier, I spotted something quite intriguing."

I looked up to meet his eyes.

"I am certain you are aware, but there are traitors hidden within your ranks."

His eyes narrowed instantly. "That is nothing new."

"I agree," I replied. "What caught me off guard wasn’t the existence of traitors. It was the sheer number of them."

I paused to let the weight of that statement settle before continuing.

"It isn't just one or two. It isn't a small group. It's a pattern spread across various layers. Command centers. Medical facilities. Front-line units."

Saleos’s body went rigid.

"And then," I went on, "I discovered something even more fascinating."

I looked down at the fallen Phegor.

"Your right-hand commander is one of them."

The air in the hall seemed to turn frigid.

Saleos took a step forward, his aura surging for a split second before he restrained it. "Watch your tongue," he warned coldly. "Phegor has stood by my side in battle for decades."

"I don't doubt it," I replied with composure. "That is precisely why his betrayal is so effective."

"That is enough," Saleos barked. "You have crossed—"

I slowly raised a hand to silence him.

"Commander," I said, "you asked for proof. I am providing it."

I stared directly into his eyes.

"I realize this is hard to swallow. I know it sounds preposterous. But before you reject it, before you strike at me, or before you label me an enemy, do one thing."

I pointed toward Phegor.

"Let me show you."

Saleos wavered. His fists were clenched tight. His eyes darted between me and the unconscious demon and back again.

"Do not interfere," I added in a low tone. "If you do, our talk ends right here. And I might just attack you myself. I have said enough."

A shift occurred in his expression.

"Proceed," he finally commanded.

I looked at Knight and gave him a nod.

In an instant, shadows erupted from his form. They coiled around Phegor’s limbs, wrapping tightly before hoisting him into the air. His arms were pulled wide and his legs stretched apart, his body suspended as if pinned to an invisible wall. The shadows sank deep, binding not just his physical flesh but his very Essence. Even in his stupor, his body fought the restraints, his muscles twitching instinctively.

"He won't be waking up," Lyrate noted calmly. "I made sure of it. I flooded his system with enough suppressant to keep his mind completely offline."

Saleos remained silent, his eyes fixed solely on Phegor.

I moved closer and held up a single finger.

The atmosphere shifted.

First, Phegor’s armor began to crack, eventually shattering completely as the pieces vanished before hitting the ground. His clothes followed, shredded as if by unseen hands, leaving his bare chest exposed to the hall's chill.

Simultaneously, deep within the dawn core, the Star of Origin began to vibrate.

I sensed it vividly. It was the same reaction I had felt previously. The same sense of corruption.

Dark veins started to manifest across Phegor’s skin.

They began at his chest—thin, ink-like lines at first. Then they widened, crawling across his stomach and pulsing as if they possessed a life of their own. A third vein appeared on his left thigh, twisting unnaturally under the surface.

Saleos took a sudden step forward before checking himself.

"What are you doing to him?" he demanded, his voice hushed and laced with shock.

"I am doing nothing," I answered steadily. "I am merely allowing you to see what was already hidden within him."

I intensified the pressure on the space surrounding those veins. The black marks shuddered and began to shift. Slowly and painfully, they were pulled inward, converging as though drawn by a central magnet.

The skin tore open.

Three runes surfaced.

One emerged from Phegor’s chest. Another ripped free from his abdomen—this one heavier and denser, carrying a weight that caused the local Essence to recoil in disgust. The third appeared from his thigh, smaller but much more intricate, its design sharp and purposeful.

They hovered in mid-air, leaking a black residue that evaporated instantly.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

With a flick of my wrist, the runes ascended higher, spinning slowly so Saleos could view them from every side. Wisps of Deathmist drifted from them.

I turned back to him.

"Commander," I said softly, "I believe you know exactly what these represent."