Merely witnessing an angel and a demon imprisoned inside the towering machine was astonishing enough. Still, it quickly became shocking when the Sky Seed Depravitas used their powerful A.I. Chips to closely analyze the two beings. Their eyes widened as they realized these entities were not mere pawns—both creatures emanated auras vastly surpassing the limits of the Sage Tier.
"Legends!" Vlad involuntarily exclaimed, awe coloring his voice as a shiver ran through his spine.
He had long known the Dino People had explored and dominated various realms during their apex, even clashing with the fearsome demon race. However, capturing and experimenting on Legendary-tier beings from Heaven and Abyss was astonishingly ambitious, something far beyond Vlad’s expectations.
As the initial shock subsided slightly, the Depravitas turned their attention to the central chamber of the apparatus.
Suspended delicately in the middle tube was an extraordinary egg, completely flawless and glowing subtly with an ethereal light. This was clearly not a natural creation.
Despite centuries having passed, the machinery was still active, continuously siphoning and merging energy streams from the angelic and demonic entities into the mysterious egg. Light and darkness intertwined inside, engaged in an unending, harmonious conflict. With every pulse of energy, the shell subtly shivered, hinting at the dormant yet powerful lifeform contained within.
"What exactly was the Legendary Alchemist aiming to create?" Ouroboros murmured softly, exchanging cautious glances with the other Sky Seed Depravitas.
Determined to uncover more details, the group immediately channeled the analytical powers of their A.I. Chips into the egg. Soon, the familiar robotic voice echoed clearly through their minds:
[Beep! Lifeform detected! Energy signature: Legendary Tier.]
Shock once again rippled through the group, astonishment evident on each of their faces. The being inside the egg had not even been born yet, and already its latent energy signature was firmly within the Legendary Realm. The raw talent and innate potential it possessed must have been terrifyingly monstrous.
Yet, just as they began to celebrate internally, the cold, mechanical voice continued its analysis, delivering disappointing news:
[Spirit unstable. Unable to achieve attunement with the body. Lifeform incapable of attaining true birth.]
A profound silence descended over the Sky Seed Depravitas. While the Legendary Alchemist had succeeded in creating a lifeform of immense power, its soul was in conflict with its physical vessel. If removed prematurely from the egg, the entity would become nothing more than a soulless husk, an empty puppet devoid of consciousness.
"The universe always maintains balance," Jormungandr commented solemnly, his voice scholarly and serious. With his extensive alchemical knowledge, he quickly understood the crux of the problem.
The disappointment within the group was palpable. They had momentarily imagined nurturing this creature to maturity, gaining a formidable ally—an ideal scenario now seemingly impossible.
"What should we do with it?" Vlad asked calmly, though a hint of reluctance lingered in his tone. Undoubtedly, the egg represented the greatest treasure within the laboratory, and deciding its fate was essential.
"If I consumed the egg directly, it might grant me the strength to break through into the Legendary Realm physically," Ouroboros offered decisively, his voice resolute.
Due to his racial ability, he could absorb the flesh and blood essence of powerful beings, channeling it into his own body. Naturally, having a Legendary-tier physical body wouldn’t mean his battle prowess immediately reached Legendary strength, but it would substantially enhance the team’s overall combat potential.
Vlad considered Ouroboros’s proposition carefully, nodding slowly as he acknowledged the validity of this idea. Yet, before he could fully agree, Jormungandr stepped forward with another proposal.
"I would like to take responsibility for it," Jormungandr stated with surprising determination. "I believe there is a way to stabilize the soul and help it attain a successful birth."
Vlad’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully upon hearing this bold claim. Though the small yellow cat’s mastery of alchemy was unquestionably remarkable, stabilizing and properly attuning a soul that even a Legendary Alchemist had struggled with seemed like an overwhelming challenge.
However, when Vlad studied Jormungandr closely, he saw absolute certainty and unwavering confidence burning in the feline’s eyes. Clearly, Jormungandr had not spoken lightly or without thorough consideration.
Glancing toward Ouroboros for his input, Vlad saw the white werewolf nod in quiet agreement. Vlad’s expression turned serious as he addressed Jormungandr in a firm and commanding voice.
"I’ll grant you six months. In that time, you must demonstrate clear signs of progress and provide us with a definite path toward successfully birthing this creature. If no substantial progress is made after that period, the egg will pass to Ouroboros for consumption."
Jormungandr accepted the arrangement without hesitation, nodding firmly in agreement. With that decided, Vlad carefully removed the tube containing the mysterious egg from the machinery, handing it gently to Jormungandr. Fortunately, since the lifeform was effectively in suspended animation, storing it safely within a spatial ring posed no risk.
The matter of the egg thus settled, their attention shifted toward the Legendary demon and angel bodies. Unfortunately, although the entities retained Legendary-tier auras, centuries of energy drain had significantly weakened them. Even if Ouroboros consumed both beings entirely, the benefits in terms of absorbed life force and vitality would barely surpass consuming two peak-level Sage-tier lifeforms.
As Ouroboros, Fafnir, and Jormungandr stood pondering silently, Vlad’s eyes suddenly lit up, and a broad smile appeared on his face.
"I don’t know yet about the angel, but I believe I have a perfect method to fully utilize this Legendary demon."
Intrigued, the other Depravitas turned their full attention toward Vlad. Without hesitation, Vlad focused intensely, commanding his A.I. Chip to carefully assess the demon’s current spiritual condition.
"Analyze the state of the soul," Vlad instructed mentally.
Only a few seconds later, the chip’s robotic voice promptly echoed:
[Beep! Legendary soul weakened. Current state: Peak Sage Tier.]
Vlad’s smile widened further, clearly delighted by the A.I. Chip’s revelation. Turning to his comrades, his eyes brimmed with determination and excitement.
"I’ll use this demon’s soul to evolve my Demon Soul Hunter Strength System," he declared confidently.