Necromancer Dreams of Mechs Chapter 43: Chapter 49

Read chapter 43 of Necromancer Dreams of Mechs by Magic on NovelPedia.

Chapter 43: Takeover “What do you mean she never left the building?” Alexander Clarence’s voice cracked like a whip across the control room. The CEO of Dynamex stood at the head of the long steel conference table, his custom-tailored suit sharp enough to cut glass. Yet his composure was fraying at the edges. The helmeted officer at the far end of the table instinctively took a half-step back, his gloved fingers tightening on the datapad in his hands. “Sir… they’re still somewhere inside the building. We’ve only recovered two guards so far.” He swallowed hard. “Both of them… died. Their brains were liquefied. Just like the delivery driver we sent to intercept the other target.” He motioned to a cluster of monitors along the far wall. Several feeds flickered and sputtered in chaotic static, like eyes opening and closing in random patterns. “From the moment they split off from our escort team, the cameras started to fail. Power surges, intermittent blackouts—almost as if someone was toggling the system from inside.” James Williams, standing a cautious distance behind Alexander, watched the exchange with a disconcerted look. His own son, Nathan, was missing, along with Ciara. He knew what had happened, at least in part, but the knowledge didn’t comfort him. If anything, it made his stomach twist. Alexander turned sharply, his glare landing on James like a blade. “Talk.” James lifted both hands, palms out. “Nothing I say will change what’s already in motion. This is much bigger than our kids vanishing, Alex. I told you not to act rashly.” “And what do you think this is?” Alexander snapped, his voice a growl. “The Architect? That… thing is still locked inside the game where we trapped it—or am I wrong?” James didn’t answer. He just held Alexander’s stare, the silence between them stretching like a taut wire. “I’m not going to sit by and watch while my company is torn apart,” Alexander barked, pacing. His polished shoes clicked against the floor, but the sound no longer matched the rhythm of his breathing. “It’s already too late, isn’t it?” James said quietly. His calm tone carried more weight than shouting. “The Architect was free the moment you turned the game engine on. I warned you. You killed them to get what you wanted, and you’ve made it clear what your intentions were for this project. But none of that matters now.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You can leave now, but if you do, your rights to this company will be revoked. And the Architect will tear Dynamex apart from the inside out. If you stay… you’ll have to join us in the game.” Alexander clenched his jaw. The veins in his temples pulsed. “Seize him. Lock him up until we figure this out.” He motioned to one of the guards. The guard didn’t move. Not at first. When he finally did, it wasn’t in the way Alexander expected. The man reached up, unclipped his helmet, and pulled it free. His eyes were pure white—pupil-less, glowing faintly. Tears of blood rolled down his pale cheeks like crimson rivulets. “Hello, Alexander Michael Clarence,” the man said, his voice layered with a synthetic undertone that vibrated through the room. “It’s good to finally meet you face to face.” Alexander froze. He had built Dynamex from nothing, clawing his way up from obscurity to control one of the most dangerous and powerful enterprises in the world. He had removed obstacles personally, stained his own hands when necessary. Yet now, standing before this pale, blood-streaked face, the titan of industry trembled in his expensive boots, fighting the urge to soil himself. “How… how…” He tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come. The Architect gave him a soft smile—gentle in shape, but devoid of warmth. “Oh, Alexander. Your name and past may not be public knowledge, but I’ve spent the last few days learning all about you.” “How did you do this?!” Alexander managed to choke out. “How can you talk using someone else’s body?” “How?” The Architect tilted the guard’s head slightly, as though h