Teda often mentions Alice when working, even saying that when Alice is old enough to stand on her own she might replace him as the new Sublimation Furnace Core Minister. At that time, Teda would be able to set aside these tedious affairs and immerse himself completely in research, like previous ministers.
Therefore, Belli and Balder are not seeing Alice for the first time; they have heard her famous name from their teacher’s endless lectures. Simply put, in terms everyone can understand, Alice is "someone else’s child."
"But is it really possible to implant ahead of time?" Balder queried softly.
In the Alchemists’ research, the origin of the soul remains a mystery continuing from ancient times, yet Alchemists have discovered some patterns despite the enigmatic nature of the soul.
When children are born, their souls aren’t stable, like an indistinct mist difficult to consolidate into form. But as they age, their souls gradually stabilize, reaching full stability at eighteen, like soft soil turning into hard stone.
Thus, eighteen years is regarded as the mark of soul formation and adulthood. Many implantation rituals occur when subjects reach adulthood, but in some ancient Extraordinary Clans, they possess extremely secret knowledge and perform implants differently, though these are just isolated cases.
Balder glanced at Alice behind them and then asked, "She’s only sixteen; her soul hasn’t fully stabilized yet."
"You know, Balder, sometimes rules must give way to genius," Teda said confidently. "And besides, the implantation ceremony is under my direction, with the Sublimation Furnace Core supporting from behind."
With the Sublimation Furnace Core Minister personally in charge, the whole department backs him, making it beyond lavish, a feat even some Extraordinary Clans struggle to match.
Balder seemed to nod slightly, aware of his own personality flaw of excessive caution, completely opposite to Belli’s impulsive nature. Teda often remarked that their working together was the perfect complement.
With the teacher present and the entire Sublimation Furnace Core backing up, there was nothing to worry about.
Teda understood Balder’s concerns; initially, he shared the same thoughts, but Alice couldn’t wait anymore. She was weary of Teda’s teachings and craved deeper, more obscure knowledge.
This knowledge exists only within the Sublimation Furnace Core, yet before she could enter, she needed first to become a Condenser, join the Order Bureau, and be part of the Secret Energy faction, opening the path toward the "Secret Source."
Teda frequently glanced at Alice, consistently feeling that she would propel the world’s history, deepening Alchemists’ understanding of the "Secret Source."
With these thoughts, he was enveloped in beautiful anticipation, but the next second, an ear-piercing alarm shattered the dream. Alarm bells clanged and blinding red warning lights flashed continuously.
Before anyone had managed to understand what happened, the "Cultivation Room" started writhing violently, as emergency passage doors appeared from thin air. After a brief panic, everyone entered the unknown doors in accordance with protocol.
For many, it was the first time the "Cultivation Room" opened emergency passages leading to shelters; for Teda, it was the same, this situation happening for the first time since the establishment of the Order Bureau.
Though people tried to remain calm, the continuously collapsing "Cultivation Room" nevertheless instigated fear among the crowd. Everyone understood the mystique and power of the "Cultivation Room," yet despite seeming impregnable, it crumbled under some forceful attack.
Waves of Ether siphoned out from within the "Cultivation Room," rushing towards a certain point, along with fading the densely patterned bricks. Deprived of Ether’s support, they too turned into ordinary stone, falling and collapsing.
Massive stones crushed many people, blood-soaked cries echoing nonstop. Many Ether facilities malfunctioned in the Ether vacuum condition, some directly causing explosions.
Columns of fire erupted, hot metal shards rained down like dense bullets, slicing through whatever flesh they struck.
"Get out of the way!"
Balder shouted as he pushed Belli aside. Being close to the emergency passage, Belli was thrown directly to the side of the passage by Balder’s forceful shove. Then another loud explosion occurred, fiery light engulfing Balder.
Dim light flickered across Balder’s body; he attempted to activate Secret Energy to protect himself, but upon trying, found his "Rectangular Soul Critical" had already been breached, leaving no trace of Ether within.
What terrified Balder even more was that the entire Sublimation Furnace Core was in this utter Ether vacuum; neither Condensers’ Ether nor Alchemy Armament’s strength remained, as if some tyrant power descended, ravaging everything.
The Protective Clothing meant for safeguarding the body began disintegrating; essentially Alchemy Armament, it fell apart as its material’s Ether was seized.
Balder thought he was doomed, flames scorched his flesh, consciousness fading when a large hand reached into the fiery abyss and dragged him out.
Teda screamed as he hurled Balder away. Though just a scientific personnel, Teda was indeed a Negative Power User, possessing strength to resist against this oppressive force.
Balder slammed heavily against the wall, burns covering his body, but thankfully the helmet wasn’t shattered, preserving his head. Belli reached out to grasp him, no need for thanks now, she pulled Balder into the emergency passage.
Teda breathed painfully; being able to act under such power meant he bore unimaginable pressure. The high temperatures engulfed the Sublimation Furnace Core as if he stood at a volcano’s mouth, each breath bringing intense scorching pain.
"Are you okay, Alice?"
Teda cried out the girl’s name; when the collapse occurred, he immediately embraced Alice, radiating dazzling light trails. Under the drive of Illusion Creation, extreme cold pushed back the heat and resisted imminent dangers.
Alice did not respond; like a kitten, she quietly lay on Teda’s shoulder, with her face exposed gradually as the Protective Clothing disintegrated, shattered.
Amid the roaring death impulse, Alice’s gaze was dazed and hollow, like a puppet stripped of its soul.
From within the tearing apart of the "Cultivation Room," in the apocalyptic scene, the Celestial God-like figure descended amid the destroying Thunder, under his authority, all things collapsing.