At 8:00 AM, Chen Gu was already standing inside the spaceport of Yinglong Star.
Empire River Star also had a generator, but that one could only be used by the Star Wind Centurion and the Star Battle Instructor.
An internal affairs officer from the local branch came to receive them. "You can rest for the morning. The initiation ceremony will begin at 2:00 PM; everything has been arranged here. If all goes well, you will be Professionals when you take the flight back this evening."
"I wish you good luck in advance!"
At noon, the director of the Zhaojieze City branch personally went to the nineteenth floor beneath the building, where the incredibly precious generator was housed.
Staff members were expertly calibrating the instruments. The branch director found the person in charge and said, "When the second initiate enters the generator, set the Omega Index to its maximum."
The person in charge was startled. "The higher the Omega Index, the harder it is for the initiation to succeed..."
It was common for those with connections to do each other favors and try to set the Omega Index lower. After all, different branches had different generators, and one never knew when someone from Yinglong Star might need to go to Empire River Star for their initiation.
The branch director said indifferently, "Just do it. This is an order from the Director-General."
"Yes." The person in charge secretly pondered about this second initiate. A minor figure, how had he managed to offend the Director-General?
After arriving at the Zhaojieze City branch, Chen Gu felt a persistent sense of unease. This was an intuitive ability Milna Katerina had left him, originating from Mind Belief.
The feeling was awful. Could he even complete the initiation to become a Professional? Chen Gu wondered.
If he failed, the consequences would be unthinkable. His adult son would definitely become suspicious. Chen Gu had no confidence his son would keep his secret; that fellow would most likely choose righteousness over kinship. Would he be forced to become a lab rat from now on?
Chen Gu hadn’t rested well all morning and had a bland lunch. After waiting for over an hour, at 1:30 PM, an internal affairs officer from the Zhaojieze City branch came to take the two of them to the nineteenth sub-basement level.
This was Chen Gu’s first time seeing a generator. It was a nine-meter-tall, advanced instrument imbued with a high-tech aesthetic.
However, even through the instrument’s casing, Chen Gu could feel the formidable power emanating from the super life form within.
Nagano Takesakura was Number One. She took several deep breaths, composed herself, and then approached the generator. Chen Gu, standing behind her, clenched his fists forcefully and shouted, "Come on!"
"Triumph in your trials!"
"We’ll return to Empire River Star together as two Professionals."
Nagano Takesakura paused, turned back to look at him, and revealed a bright smile. Her ordinary features seemed to possess a special beauty at that moment.
Then she nodded firmly and resolutely entered the generator.
"Super-material filling complete."
"Energy invocation complete."
The person in charge pressed a button. "Begin."
The operators methodically opened one energy channel after another. In that instant, even the lights in the room dimmed.
Inside the generator, an incredibly intense light burst forth, so bright it seemed to penetrate even the thick metal casing.
This was only because the casing was specially constructed; otherwise, the intense light would have caused immediate blindness.
The process lasted for merely a dozen seconds. Suddenly, a swath of red numbers lit up on the surrounding instruments, and various indicators skyrocketed!
The person in charge immediately ordered, "Terminate the ceremony! The initiate can’t bear it any longer. If this continues, she’ll explode and die!"
The lab staff quickly cut off the various energy channels, and the generator’s light swiftly extinguished.
Then the generator’s hatch opened. Several people rushed in. Chen Gu saw Nagano Takesakura sitting motionless, her face blank, her clothes charred black. As the staff reached her, she suddenly began to scream hysterically and struggle, refusing to leave. "I can still hold on! Why did you stop?!"
"Damn it, you ruined my dream!"
"I really can! Let me try again! Don’t mind whether I live or die—I’d rather die than fail to succeed!"
Chen Gu felt a surge of sympathy, but the staff couldn’t possibly let her try again; they had seen this scenario too many times.
They tried to pull Nagano Takesakura out, but she resisted fiercely. Having completed the preliminary training, her physical fitness was far superior to an average person’s. She easily overpowered the group of lab staff, tossing them about. Suddenly, a figure appeared before Nagano Takesakura, seized her by the throat with one hand, and lifted her out.
Nagano Takesakura was like a helpless chick in that person’s grasp. A Professional,
The person tossed Nagano Takesakura out of the generator, then shot Chen Gu a cold glare, warning, "Don’t you dare act like her later. I have a bad temper, and I won’t go easy on you if I have to intervene a second time!"
Chen Gu pursed his lips and said nothing. In truth, he was extremely nervous at that moment and had no mental capacity to concern himself with such matters.
The person in charge patted Chen Gu on the shoulder. "It’s your turn. Go in."
The person in charge felt some sympathy for this unlucky fellow. A newcomer who’s offended the Director-General—what good end could there be for him? With the Omega Index set to its maximum, he’s doomed to fail this time.
"I’ve prepared some super-material myself," Chen Gu said quickly.
The person in charge said nonchalantly, "Bring it out, then. They’ll guide you on how to load it."
Such matters had to be handled by the individual concerned. Otherwise, if the initiation failed and they suspected the staff of secretly withholding their super-material, it would lead to an intractable dispute.
When Chen Gu took out his super-material, even the staff couldn’t help but stare. Such a large quantity wasn’t something an ordinary family could afford.
"All set." Chen Gu exhaled deeply. He glanced at the spot where Nagano Takesakura had been sitting, then silently sat down and fastened the safety harness.
The hatch closed, and the person in charge’s voice came through the intercom, "Are you ready? We’re about to begin!"
The Professional stood outside, hands clasped behind his back, his face impassive, ready to intervene at any moment.
Chen Gu responded. He suddenly felt the ambient temperature soar and was quickly enveloped by an intense light that blinded him completely.
"AAAAHHH—" Chen Gu let out an agonized scream, feeling as if his entire body was about to melt.
The super-material began to take effect, disintegrating in the light into a fine dust that filled the space, constantly permeating and transforming Chen Gu’s body.
Under such immense pain, time seemed to stretch. Chen Gu felt as if years were passing in mere moments. Every time his body reached its limit, seemingly on the verge of a violent mutation from the intense radiation or on the brink of total collapse, the super-material dust would penetrate his system and stabilize his condition.
There were many moments when Chen Gu felt as though he had become a monster! His muscles, blood vessels, organs—everything—seemed to be transforming into some tentacled demonic entity. Even his bones seemed to have developed a life and consciousness of their own, wildly growing into thorny, jagged shapes.