“I shall rder this world stagnant for a millnium, until—”

“!”

Ravna jolted awake from the expansive lounge chair.

“…” The woman, regaining her sses, clutched her forehead. The residual memories in her mind caused her heart to pound uncontrollably.

It took Ravna a considerable amount of time to steady her breathing. Wh she reached out to touch the chest of this puppet, the cold, inhuman touch somehow calmed her down.

“A nightmare…”

Half-covering her face, she whispered softly, “Can I still have nightmares?”

The indistinct speech and eerie tone st a shiver down Ravna’s spine.

The terror and domination of Hydral caused her to dream of the most desperate scarios ev in her light sleep.

Three days had passed since she returned from Hydral’s mansion.

Today, Hdrik brought news to Ravna that Ansel would arrive at the Tower of Babel at noon, officially announcing to the capital and the empire that he would become the actual controller of this academic organization.

As per the command, she must, before Ansel’s arrival, reoccupy the body she hasn’t used for three years.

Sor’s brok prohibition was completely lifted yesterday. Her soul could come and go freely, no longer confined to this puppet. During this time, her soul had suffered some damage, but fortunately, the impact was not significant, and she would recover after some rest.

The woman looked at the body placed in the capsule, her usually emotionless face becoming somewhat complex.

As Ansel said, the Tower of Babel, under his control, would no longer be heavily suppressed by the Etheric Academy. Her safety was also guaranteed, and she no longer needed to travel in a puppet.

But Ravna had long become accustomed to manipulating this cold shell. She had ev somewhat forgott the feeling of blood flowing in her body, the palpable throbbing of the heart, and the real temperature hidd in the flesh.

She remembered what Ansel had told her three years ago—

“You will evtually lose more.”

Lose more… humanity.

The puppet, seemingly idtical to a human body, slowly clched its fist. The familiar flexible touch made Ravna believe this was her own body.

She knew Ansel was right and she saw her own changes — but she had no choice.

Three years ago, the youth who told her that he would witness the new era with her, abandoned her without hesitation. To preserve everything, Ravna Ziegler had to walk this path.

“If you had… No.”

The woman murmured softly, “Blaming him is meaningless. Since we have parted ways, he has no reason to help you. Don’t lose too disgracefully, Ravna.”

Now that she has received the greatest help, she doesn’t need to consider so much.

She finally has the opportunity to immerse all of herself in research… Whether it’s the ideas piled up there that hav’t be realized yet, or the Nidhoggur with incredible pottial that Ansel once showed her, it’s ough for her to spd decades.

As for this process, the malice from the devil naturally won’t be less, but Ravna doesn’t care.

It’s just… watching herself die.

Ravna slowly exhaled, stood up, and prepared to let her soul return to the long-stagnant body.

But the momt she just stood up, she instantly cast her gaze at the trance of this safe room located deep underg in the Tower of Babel.

“Miss Ziegler, your caution is indeed commdable. It’s no wonder you’ve managed to survive under the immse pressure of the Etheric Academy, not only preserving your life but also continuing to create a multitude of alchemical tools that are refreshingly innovative,” a voice, elegant and composed, emanated from the dim trance.

“However, such a persisttly gloomy vironmt can be rather detrimtal to one’s mood, don’t you think?”

“You—”

In Ravna’s violet eyes, a reflection of a dignified and noble pleated long dress, and a faint smile on a beautiful face.

“…Princess Suell.” She composed herself, her tone slightly heavier, “Why are you here?”

“Hmm?” The princess, impeccable in her demeanor, tilted her head slightly, her expression playful and adorable, “Are you wondering how I found this place, or how I managed to get in?”

“Both.”

“Hehe, it’s not just my absurd sister who has someone to rely on, Miss Ziegler.”

The young girl’s words were profound, but their direction couldn’t be clearer.

Ravna understood in an instant what was going on. She fell silt for a momt, th asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, are you here on your own behalf, or…”

“Of course… just for myself.”

Suell stood about t meters in front of Ravna. Although she did not inherit the divine essce, she still carried the blood of the Flamefeast Royal. A stunningly beautiful girl, her face shrouded in shadows in the dim room.

“You should understand, Miss Ziegler,” Suell sighed, “Actually, our situations are quite similar.”

“Both harboring ambitions that the world does not look kindly upon.”

“Neither of us truly has the power to support our ambitions.”

“And… both of us are thus forced to choose a path that teeters on the brink of destruction.”

“Your Highness,” Ravna’s tone was very calm, “I believe I don’t have the qualifications for you to stoop so low, trying to empathize with me.”

“Th you’re underestimating yourself, Miss Ziegler.”

Suell began to laugh, “I’m not my arrogant sister who looks down on everything. She believes she has the qualifications to become a deity, not putting any existce in her eyes… In my view, you are a gius far beyond me, not to mtion…”

“You now have the support of Lord Ansel, don’t you?”

The dim safe room was incredibly quiet. The young princess, who had come here with unknown inttions, waited patitly for Ravna’s answer with a smile on her face. The scholar, who had be hiding here all day, remained silt, seemingly contemplating how to respond.

“Your Highness… you hav’t told me why you’re here yet.”

After a long time, Ravna said this, as if she wanted to continue the conversation with Suell.

The elegant and mysterious young princess smiled satisfactorily, “It’s simple, do you want revge, Miss Ziegler?”

“…Revge?”

–>