Eternal Master: Path to Godlike Status-Chapter 2: ENDLESS PART

He returned to his usual composure, but the brief slip had revealed that beneath his stoic exterior lurked a side far more dangerous than anyone could imagine.

It was a part of him he always kept in check—the part shaped and scarred by an eternal life.

Living a hundred years brought a sense of power. A thousand, and invincibility. Ten thousand, and boredom set in.

But what comes after that? He had once found the answer—and regretted it.

"Walk me through it. What do the victims have in common? What are your scientists saying?"

She took a sip of her coffee before continuing.

"The survivors wake up with their memories in pieces. But they all describe the same thing. They all experienced a nightmare"

"Is that all you’ve got?"

"That’s all I know, Master. My clearance only goes so far. If you want the full picture, you’ll need to talk to the Director."

The café noise filled the silence between them. He picked up his cup and drained the last of the liquid.

"You’ve got my attention. So where are we headed?"

"It’s in-state. We can leave now." She slid the tablet into her bag.

"Let’s go"

A black SUV waited by the curb. They climbed inside and drove off.

The car’s vents hissed, pushing out cold air. It was the scent of a world that lived in boxes—artificially cooled, stripped of its soul, and entirely too dry.

He closed his eyes. For a heartbeat, the noise of the engine vanished. He could almost taste the old world.

It was the scent of blooming acacia and wet earth, a thick, fresh air that filled the lungs like wine.

Compared to that, this air was far worse—despite its hefty price tag.

"Master?" Elaine’s voice broke the silence.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Miles of desert replaced the city. Scrubby trees and empty fields stretched toward a horizon that refused to get any closer.

An hour later, the first gate appeared.

Several watchtowers overlooked the area, giving visibility from above.

Beyond the fence, the road stretched for another five kilometers.

"ID." An armed guard stepped forward, flanked by twenty more men. They wore desert camouflage.

She handed over her card. "Elaine Smith, Senior Agent I."

The vehicle was swept with detectors.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A minute passed in silence before the metal gate finally groaned open, allowing them through.

"You’ve come a long way since the last time I saw you," he remarked.

"It’s been two decades, Master. It would be embarrassing if I were still that clueless girl who always needed your protection,"

"Two decades, huh...I suppose it feels long to you. For me, it just slipped by. Maybe that’s for the best. Living this long is hard enough as it is."

She gripped the wheel a little tighter. "Master... I know you hate this topic, but I have to ask. How old are you, really?"

Rain exhaled heavily.

"I don’t know the exact number of years. But I remember when the Sahara was a forest. I remember the first time a man thought to put a handle on a stone."

The SUV lurched as she slammed on the brakes. Only now did she realize how badly she had underestimated his age.

"Eyes on the road," he reminded.

"Yes, Master."

She bypassed the parking lots and drove straight into an underground passage. Metal walls swallowed them, the air turning cold and sterile as they descended.

The tunnel opened into a massive cavern. It was five stories high, a subterranean base. Tanks, APCs, and missile launchers filled the space.

He remembered when the height of human ingenuity was a jagged flint tied to a stick. In the end, not much had changed—humans simply built bigger rocks and learned to throw them faster.

Stepping out of the car, they were met by a group in black coats.

A man in his sixties with graying hair greeted them.

"Director Jackson," he said, extending a hand. "An honor to finally meet you properly."

Rain shook the man’s hand and studied his face.

"I remember you. You fell into a harbor while chasing me. Forty years ago."

Jackson laughed, a short, dry sound. "I walked right into that one. Master, please. I’m sure you want to see them."

Rain started to move but noticed Elaine staying by the car.

He turned. "Come with me."

Jackson began to explain. "She doesn’t have the clearance—"

"Then promote her. You’re the Director, aren’t you?"

Jackson’s jaw tightened. He looked at the security cameras, then back at Rain. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Protocol is—"

Rain didn’t say anything. He simply waited.

Jackson exhaled, defeated. "Agent Smith, you’re cleared for Level Five. Don’t make me regret it."

They rode electric carts deeper into the facility, arriving at a control room lined with wall-sized monitors. Each screen showed a different reinforced training cell.

Rain stood near the front, hands behind his back.

He saw them. People with strength that defied biology. Others manipulating fire or ice.

"Is this live?"

"Yes. If you want, I can arrange a meeting."

The Director stopped mid-sentence. He felt it—a sudden, violent shift in the room’s pressure.

Rain couldn’t contain his excitement any longer. A drumbeat echoed in his chest.

He caught the look of sheer terror on their faces and pulled that suffocating presence back into his skin like a sheathed blade.

"Please, lead the way."