If Renji’s holding of the “Crimson Star” had only shattered Dr. Roca’s worldview before,
Now,
When Renji let ought the [Small Miasma Crystals]—and not one, but three—this mad scientist in the gray coat had clearly lost his sanity, utterly unhinged.
Perhaps this is what scientists are like.
After all, if we’re drawing comparisons, science itself could be considered a form of Miasma.
On the other hand,
Although Dr. Roca had gone mad,
Ajax, at least, learned from him that what Renji was holding was crystallized Miasma! .𝒎
As a contrast, Ajax pulled out a “precious” reagent he had been carefully hiding in his chest. It was the most successful and highest-concentration [Miasma Reagent] that they in Callewa had developed over several decades.
Ajax had always treasured this Miasma Reagent, even to the point of admiring the beautiful russet liquid inside it each day, gently wiping down the bottle’s surface.
But now, as he took it out and compared it to the dark red crystals in the young man’s hand, he realized—even without being a scientist—that it was trash.
Utter, abject trash!
The level of Miasma stored in both was incomparable. This struck fear into Ajax but also scratched an itch of greed and longing at the depths of his heart. The appearance of those three dark red crystals even made him temporarily disregard the “Emperor’s Relic” that Renji was still holding.
After all, in Ajax’s mind, a “Relic” was like a pie in the sky—visible but out of reach, its potential exceeding its current utility. But those dark red crystals were tangible, and he knew how to use them.
If, if he could get his hands on those dark red crystals and absorb the Miasma energy within, his powers as an “Eclipse” would skyrocket. He might even reach the fabled “Danger Rank”!
Miasma can corrupt one’s sanity, which is why many Eclipses become deranged and mad.
But that’s where science has its merits.
At least Roca still maintained basic rationality and judgment.
He noticed Ajax’s greedy and profane thoughts next to him and Dr. Roca burst out in disdainful and angry sarcasm:
“Heh, heh, heh, you’re not worthy! No! Except for those five supreme beings, no one is! No one is worthy of using them!”
“Our lowly, inferior bodies can’t contain their nobility. The moment this high-concentrated Miasma?energy enters you, it will tear your body apart, dominate your soul, and you’ll burst into death, transforming into one of those foolish tainted corpses!”
“No one can absorb them in an instant. They should be enshrined by me, should be researched by me. Let me slowly unravel them, peel away their shells, and dig into their power. Yes! That’s their true purpose! That is the way they should be used!”
Dr. Roca’s fanatical speech was not yet over when the young man beside the furnace, seemingly to intentionally infuriate him, directly thrust the Miasma crystals into the girl’s body—and all three of them at once!
“No!!!!!!!!”
In that moment, Dr. Roca let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Because in his eyes, Renji was wasting something, treating such a precious, dreamlike entity like a barbarian. It was as if the goddess of his dreams had been handed over to a beggar by some kid.
Even though the three dark-red crystals were brought out by the young man himself.
Even though the “goddess(three crystal)” had nothing to do with him.
Dr. Roca was still enraged; this was a waste of the greatest artistic gem in the world! Throwing caution to the wind, he leapt down as if possessed, teeth bared and claws out, ready to charge at Renji. He wanted to interrogate the young man, and even split the girl into half to retrieve the dark-red crystals.
Shhhhhh~*
A surge of energy, rocketing upwards like a fiery arrow from Eileen, tripped him and sent him sprawling face-first onto the ground. As he scrambled back to his feet, he was shaking his head, even more shocked than when he’d seen Renji holding the “Crimson Star.”
“Impossible! Why didn’t she explode and die? Why didn’t she turn into a Tainted Cropse? This isn’t scientific, no, it can’t be! Even such a high concentration of crystal can’t be absorbed in an instant. What… what sort of monsters are you?”
As for that…
Eileen didn’t have the time to deal with this madman who had appeared out of nowhere.
This wasn’t her first time absorbing a “Small Miasma Crystal” and perhaps because she had been adapted, she felt the process go incredibly smooth. Right now, she felt as if she were soaking in a hot spring, warm all over, each pore seemingly stretching in delight.
If she had to describe it in one word, it was “awesome.” In two words, “super awesome!”
But this feeling of awesomeness soon hit a bottleneck. When she tried to advance further, an invisible wall stopped her, heavy shackles enveloping her entire body, keeping her from moving forward.
But in the next moment…
Once Eileen had been fully leveled up, Renji once again placed the [Eclipse Essence] into her chest. This time, the essence encountered no resistance and rapidly integrated into her, becoming one with her.
Hum*
Centered around Renji and the girl, a dark-red glow erupted, illuminating the entire factory under the cloak of night. Callewa’s gang members had to shield their eyes, as the fierce winds that followed blew away everything around them.
Eileen found herself back in the spiritual world that resembled a sea of blood, a place she had visited when she first became an Eclipse.
In this world, her limbs were bound by chains, with only the one around her neck released. A new crimson star had appeared, falling like a meteor and eventually floating before Eileen.
Gathering all her strength, the girl tried to grasp the star in front of her despite her restraints. The star, as if sensing her will—especially her desire to break free—began to morph. It changed from its original four-pointed shape into a crimson greatsword.
The sword aimed itself at the heavy chain cuff on Eileen’s outstretched right hand and, in the next moment, cleaved down fiercely.
Snap!
The chain was severed, the cuff opened, and Eileen’s now free right hand finally moved forward to grasp the crimson greatsword.
At the same time.
A panel window appeared before Renji in the real world.
[Your Eclipse, ‘Eileen,’ has successfully advanced to ★★★★ (Danger Rank), with the maximum level cap now open to level 50]
[Your Eclipse, ‘Eileen,’ has successfully triggered the ‘Tainted Miasma Deviation’ effect, replacing the original ‘Ultra Berserk’ ability gained after advancement]
[Your Eclipse, ‘Eileen,’ has acquired a new ‘Danger Rank’ skill—’Annihilation’]
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