Apocalypse: Transmigrated with an Overlord System-Chapter 230: The Smile Behind the Shock

Liora’s head drooped, her thoughts becoming heavier with every breath. The white room blurred before her eyes as sleep—or unconsciousness—began to pull her under again. Her body was too weak, her throat too dry, and her mind too overwhelmed to resist the darkness closing in.

But then—something changed.

A soft click echoed from beneath the floating chair she was bound to. A faint whirring followed, and before Liora could even react, the armrest beside her wrist shifted. A small, metallic panel slid open, and from within, a mechanical arm emerged with a smooth and clinical motion.

Her eyes widened in alarm.

At the tip of the robotic limb was a syringe, already filled with a glowing blue liquid.

"N-No..." she whispered, her body trying to recoil. "Stop—"

But she couldn’t move. The restraints held her firmly, and her body didn’t have the strength to resist. The robotic arm moved swiftly, pressing the needle into a vein on her arm.

She felt the prick.

She gritted her teeth.

And watched helplessly as the entire syringe emptied itself into her bloodstream.

The moment it finished, the arm slid back into the chair with a quiet hiss. The armrest reformed as if nothing had ever happened. The strange metallic surface became smooth again—normal. As if the injection had never been there at all.

Liora stared at it, her breath shaky, heart pounding.

She waited—expected the worst. Poison. Numbness. Sleep.

But then, something entirely different happened.

A warmth began to spread through her chest. The dizziness that had clouded her head slowly lifted. Her limbs still couldn’t move, but her vision became clear, and the pounding pain in her skull eased. Her muscles felt lighter. Her breathing steadied. She blinked, confused.

The injection... had made her feel better?

Before she could figure it out, a soft whoosh echoed across the room.

A part of the white wall silently slid open.

Her eyes snapped toward the movement.

And then, someone stepped in.

Her entire body tensed.

The man who entered the room was tall, lean, and wore a long coat that brushed against the floor as he walked. His silver-gray hair was pulled back loosely, and his eyes were like ice—sharp, gleaming, and dangerous. But more than that—his face was familiar.

Too familiar.

Her eyes widened.

"...It’s you." It was Kazren. Liora find herself almost suffocating as she recognised him.

The man smiled—slowly. Darkly.

"Ah, so you remember me. That’s good," he said, his tone smooth and calm, with something cruel hiding beneath it. "You knowing me makes things easier."

He walked toward her with no rush, like he had all the time in the world. Another chair materialized from the floor, forming silently beside her.

He sat on it like a king, crossing one leg over the other.

"So," he said with a grin, leaning slightly forward, "you know me. That’s good. Now tell me—how much do you know about me?"

Liora’s lips trembled slightly.

She lowered her gaze for a moment and then whispered, "I... I only saw you once. That day... you were fighting Lord Atlas."

The man’s smile stiffened.

"Oh?" he murmured, though his tone had grown sharp. "Only that?"

He tilted his head, studying her expression. Then, he frowned.

"You know... I hate liars," he said softly. "Lying is such a waste of time."

Suddenly, pain exploded down Liora’s spine. A harsh electric current surged through her body, sharp enough to make her gasp. Her back arched slightly, and her hands clenched in their restraints.

She breathed hard through her teeth.

"What... are you doing...?"

"I forgot to mention," he said with a false sigh, "this little chair of yours has a fun feature. It shocks you when you lie. Isn’t that clever?"

He leaned closer.

"Let’s try again. What’s my name?"

Liora swallowed hard. Her heart raced. She knew she couldn’t give him what he wanted. So she stared him dead in the eyes and said calmly, "I don’t know."

The jolt hit her again—sharper this time.

She didn’t cry out, but her entire body tensed. She closed her eyes and forced her breathing to stay even, pretending it didn’t hurt.

The man chuckled softly.

"You’re stubborn," he said. "That’s dangerous."

He tapped his fingers on the armrest of his own chair. "Alright. Let’s change the question. What do you know about Lord Atlas?"

Liora looked away and spoke slowly. "He saved me. Two months ago. He left the base in my care and left on his own journey."

The man nodded.

Another electric shock surged through her.

She gasped but held her voice. Her face tightened, but she didn’t break.

"Impressive," the man said. "You can lie so naturally. But the chair still knows."

Liora gritted her teeth. "If you want Atlas, go find him yourself. Why bring me here? I’m just a base leader."

The man smirked.

"Exactly. A base leader he left behind. A base he keeps checking on. People like Atlas don’t leave things behind unless they matter. So I thought... maybe you do matter."

He stood slowly, his gaze becoming colder.

"I want to know why."

Before Liora could respond, he asked again.

"So... what’s your relationship with the First Commander of Spire?"

The question made her blink in confusion.

"What?"

Her voice cracked.

"I don’t even know anyone from Spire! What Spire? What kind of—"

The chair zapped her again.

This time, she screamed.

Her body jerked from the shock, and her throat burned from the sound.

She looked up, eyes wide, chest heaving. "I told you—I don’t know him! I don’t even know who the First Commander is!"

The man smiled again. Cold. Mocking.

"You don’t know him... but he’s willing to kill thousands of monsters to find you. You must be very special to him."

He turned, walking toward the exit.

"What a sad thing... to be forgotten by someone you care about," he added, with a hint of amusement. "Should I pity him?"

"Wait—!" Liora shouted, her voice shaking. "Why are you doing this?! What do you want from me?!"

The man stopped near the wall, glancing over his shoulder.

"Oh, one more thing," he said lightly. "My chair doesn’t actually detect lies."

Liora froze.

"What...?"

He smirked. "I just made it shock you with every answer. Funny, isn’t it?"

With that, the wall behind him opened again. And he walked out, disappearing into the white hallway.

The wall closed. And the room returned to silence. Liora slumped back in the chair, trembling, breathing hard. Her wrists were bruised. Her heart was racing. Her mind was filled with questions.

Who was that man?

What did he want with Atlas?

Why did he think she had a connection to Spire?