Standing before him was a towering statue nearly two meters tall, positioned on a raised platform.
The figure wore a crimson robe draped over a sleek bodysuit, every detail carved with such precision that under different lighting he might have mistaken it for a real person frozen mid-breath.
But Oliver had already scanned the ruin earlier.
He knew this ruin has no life signs.
"It's the diamond statue of Emperor Malus," he said under his breath, awe flooding through him.
His eyes drifted past the statue to the compartment behind it — rows of ancient-looking books sealed in protective fields, a handful of weapons arranged with ceremonial precision, and a pristine cape folded neatly as if waiting.
"So the rumors were true… Malus actually left an inheritance behind," Oliver said, heartbeat rising.
"A treasure vault for whoever found it first."
He swallowed hard, staring at the countless books inside the chamber.
Every one of them radiated weight — not physical, but historical.
Monumental.
"If I can absorb everything in here… I could rise to Malus's level," he muttered, almost stunned by the possibility.
The idea of selling any of it didn't even flicker across his mind.
Malus's name alone was enough to silence such thoughts.
Even in the 43rd century, even with the Union controlling nearly every part of civilization, they still relied on scraps of Malus's ancient technology — relics they barely understood, reverse-engineered with only partial success.
That alone said everything.
"Only an idiot would throw something like this onto the Black Web," Oliver muttered, stepping carefully into the compartment.
He reached for one of the books — a blue one, its surface cold to the touch — and pulled it free.
The title shimmered faintly.
"Everguards," he read.
He exhaled, turning the cover open.
"Everguards — Earth's mightiest…" Oliver whispered, eyes scanning the first line.
Click.
The sharp sound snapped through the silence like a knife.
Oliver froze.
His head jerked up as he spun toward the noise, adrenaline tightening every muscle in his body.
His suit's disco lights swept across the chamber, illuminating shattered stone, dust, the statue… but nothing else.
There was no motion at all.
But, he waited a moment longer.
Still nothing.
"…I'm imagining things," he muttered, exhaling the tension out of his lungs.
He closed the book gently and returned it to its shelf as his attention shifted to the second compartment — the weapon vault.
A grin stretched slowly across his face.
"Let's take these instead."
He approached the sealed case.
Inside were items far more interesting than normal relics: a deep crimson robe, gleaming gauntlets, a sculpted mask, and a full armored suit — all clearly crafted with intention, precision, and power.
Unlike the books, this compartment was locked down tight.
Oliver rolled his wrist, dialing up the suit's strength output, feeling the servos whine as power surged through the arm.
He drew back.
BANG.
The reinforced glass shattered under the force, shards scattering across the floor in bright flashes of reflected light.
Oliver felt excitement pulse through him, the kind that made his pulse climb and his thoughts sharpen.
He laughed under his breath.
"Once I get this suit on… Reed is done," he said, voice low, almost cheerful.
His fingers brushed over one of the gauntlets.
"He didn't hesitate to kill me."
"Put me out for ten months."
"Ten months of college life wasted because of his temper."
His voice darkened.
"This time, I'll return the favor."
He leaned in, eyes gleaming with cold intent.
"I'll make sure you don't walk into college next semester. Hell, I'll make sure you don't wake up before the university ends."
He let out a sharp laugh, the sound echoing through the hollow ruin.
With an eager breath, he reached forward, hand stretching toward the suit that would finally let him strike back.
In his mind, he already saw it — Reed's expression, Reed's panic, Reed realizing too late that Oliver Pierce wasn't the one falling behind anymore.
Thud.
The sound shook through the ruined mansion like something massive had fallen.
Oliver spun around instinctively.
And his blood ran cold.
"H-Hold on—what…?" he stammered.
The diamond figure he had mistaken for a statue was no longer on its platform.
It was standing in front of him.
And its eyes—once lifeless carvings—now glowed with a deep, focused red that cut through the darkness like twin beams.
Realization slammed into him.
"You're not a statue," he gasped. "You're… you're a Droid!"
The figure didn't respond.
It didn't need to.
In the next heartbeat, it lunged forward, fist tightening with devastating intent.
Oliver barely managed to twist out of the way.
The blow missed him—
—and obliterated the wall beside him.
BOOM.
A deafening blast tore through the chamber, debris flying outward as the wall caved in, opening a jagged path straight to the outside of the mansion.
The shockwave knocked Oliver off his feet and sent him tumbling beneath falling rubble.
His vision blurred.
Pain pulsed across his skull.
Dust filled his lungs.
He threw his arms up, voice cracking with panic.
"Stop—! Just stop!"
The machine didn't even hesitate.
"I command you!" Oliver shouted, desperation leaking into every word.
The robot kept moving, its steps slower now—almost deliberate.
It seemed to recognize how weak he was, so, It didn't rush.
It stalked.
"I'm your master's successor!" Oliver cried, clawing at the debris pinning him down.
"I'm Emperor Malus's heir—do you hear me?!"
But... there was no reaction.
No pause.
No hesitation.
The machine took another step, closing the final distance.
Oliver tried to push himself free, but the rubble held him in place. The robot's shadow fell over him, the raised fist drawing back for the finishing blow.
"Stop! I'm— I'm…!" His voice choked, fear strangling the last word in his throat.
The massive fist filled his vision, inches from his face.
Instinct took over—his eyes squeezed shut, breath held, every muscle bracing for impact.