Chapter 101: The Second Phase

Chapter 101: The Second Phase

“‘A certain… overlooked factor or condition?'”

Ewan followed Mera’s train of thought, yet he couldn’t discern anything amiss.

Then again, it was understandable. If even Mera couldn’t avoid the evil god’s subtle influence, how could he possibly detect any clues?

However, speaking of subtle influences…

Ewan narrowed his eyes, his thoughts suddenly drifting far back in time.

The puzzling aspects of a previous incident seemed to click into place.

‘That Miss Siren…’

“‘In any case, I can only keep moving forward,'” Ewan sighed softly.

No matter what, if he didn’t reach Senior’s side soon, nothing else would matter.

“‘Oh, you have courage, but recklessness is hardly a virtue,'” Mera chuckled.

“‘Recklessness? I won’t be reckless again. Recklessness, naiveté, and arrogance—these are all things I must abandon.'”

Ewan lowered his gaze. Through the exquisite sea of flowers, he seemed to see that girl once more, a blossom that had withered in an instant.

“‘Hmph, a good look in your eyes. Though I don’t know what happened in just a few days, it seems you’re now qualified for the second phase,'” Mera remarked, a satisfied expression suddenly gracing her face as she glanced at Ewan’s eyes.

“‘Huh? The second phase?'” Ewan was utterly bewildered.

“‘Have you forgotten? The reason I asked you to procure ancient dragon heart’s blood.'”

Mera clapped her hands softly. The colossal mechanical construct that had spanned heaven and earth slowly receded, and the sea of flowers, stirred by the gentle breeze, once again rippled with enchanting waves.

At the center of those waves stood a creation that seemed utterly out of place amidst the beautiful floral expanse.

It was… a bed. A metal bed, its shape vaguely familiar, reflecting a cold gleam. This was precisely what Mera had been hammering away at moments ago.

“‘Alright, lie down on it.'”

Mera patted the large metal bed, which shimmered with a frigid light and clearly looked… very cold. She offered a smile.

“‘This… what is this?'”

Despite Mera’s smile being incredibly kind and amiable, filled with the unique, adorable charm of a white-haired loli, Ewan couldn’t help but subtly retreat.

His familiar premonition of death had once again transformed into the neighborhood’s mischievous child, frantically tugging at his hair, urging him to flee, flee!

“‘Just an ordinary bed, nothing to worry about.'”

Mera’s smile grew even brighter, her eyes sparkling with an inexplicable joy.

She rubbed her small hands together, speaking excitedly, “‘Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything. Just leave everything to me, your teacher! I’m very skilled!'”

“‘Don’t make it sound like I’m entering some kind of illicit entertainment establishment!'”

His brain hadn’t even made a choice, but his body instinctively wanted to run. Before Ewan could even take a step, his vision blurred into chaos.

His face suddenly slammed onto a cold, flat surface. Before he could even register what was happening, Ewan heard several crisp clicking sounds.

It was the sound of locks engaging. Ewan looked back in horror, finding himself sprawled on the metal bed, his wrists, ankles, and even his waist suddenly secured by metal shackles that locked him tightly in place.

“‘Me… Mera, what are you doing?'”

Only his neck retained a small range of movement. Ewan turned his head and saw that Mera had, at some point, changed her attire.

The pink nightgown was gone, replaced by a simple, professional white lab coat. Her slightly baby-faced features were neatly covered by a mask and goggles. As Ewan looked on, Mera was briskly pulling on rubber gloves.

In this getup, didn’t she look exactly like a mad doctor poised to transform him into some unspeakable abomination?

And at this moment, Ewan finally remembered what the metal bed resembled: a surgical table from his previous life!

A doctor.

A surgical table.

And this posture.

Could it be…

Was Mera’s so-called ‘second phase’ to first remove his kidneys?

“‘No! I haven’t enjoyed life enough! Mera, can we find a gentler method? Or perhaps just take one kidney? The Campbell family depends on me for an heir!'”

“‘I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but don’t worry, this time it’s not like when I kicked you into the Mercury Well; it won’t be life-threatening.'”

Mera tilted her small head thoughtfully. “‘Probably?'”

‘Probably?’

What did she mean, ‘probably’?

‘You’re clearly not confident yourself!’

‘And you’re completely treating me like a lab rat!’

‘Though you said that from the beginning… I’m trembling with cold. When will this lab rat stand up?’

‘Even if you want to play a mad doctor, couldn’t you…’

‘Wear black stockings under that white lab coat? A white lab coat without black stockings has no soul!’

“‘Focus!'”

Mera suddenly extended a finger and lightly flicked Ewan’s forehead, startling him from his wild thoughts.

Ewan quickly held his breath and concentrated, casting those strange notions aside.

“‘The so-called second phase is to initially establish your connection with the Eternal Clock, given that your physical body has a certain foundation.

To achieve this, I will inscribe a vast alchemical matrix onto your body. With this matrix as the core, thousands upon thousands of magical runes will branch out, connecting you to the Eternal Clock.'”

Mera pulled out the metal container Ewan had given her earlier. With a flick of her small hand, the container opened. Instantly, the terrifying pressure of the ancient dragon heart’s blood surged forth, and the majestic, ferocious phantom of a colossal dragon roared skyward, seemingly intent on crushing the disrespectful ants before it into dust.

But Mera merely cast a cold glance with her crimson eyes. The dragon phantom immediately showed signs of fear, its high-pitched roar cutting off midway, and the illusion instantly dissolved into scattered bubbles, leaving only the crystal holding the blood droplet, trembling slightly.

Mera picked up the crystal from the container, examining the glistening blood droplet within against the light. She nodded in satisfaction. “‘The ancient dragon heart’s blood has excellent purity; it saves me the trouble of refining it.'”

Mera then produced a strange solution shimmering with five colors and crushed the crystal, allowing the ancient dragon heart’s blood to drip into it.

“‘Roar!'”

The furious, ferocious, yet distinctly fearful roar of a dragon echoed once more. The ancient dragon phantom, now only palm-sized but incredibly solid, flapped its wings, attempting to escape from the bottle.

Yet, it was once again pressed back by Mera’s slender finger.

The ancient dragon heart’s blood let out an unwilling wail, gradually mingling with the solution. Countless violent changes occurred within the bottle, yet it could not escape the control of Mera’s small hand, slowly transforming into a pure golden hue.

“‘How incredible,'” Ewan murmured from the side, immersed in Mera’s violent aesthetics.

But then, a shiver ran down his spine.

For as soon as the mysterious solution was prepared, Mera’s gaze… shifted to him.

“‘The first inscription of the alchemical matrix for the second phase will require approximately seven thousand five hundred and sixty-four incisions on your body… This will likely take a full day.'”

With a flick of her small hand, a surgical knife, thin as a cicada’s wing, appeared between her fingers.

With another flick, one surgical knife… multiplied into countless others, filling the gaps between her small fingers.

“‘My dear disciple, are you ready?'”

Mera smiled, gazing at the pale-faced Ewan. Her voice, a sweet loli tone, was deceptively gentle as she said, “‘I’m going to… begin now.'”