Chapter 243: Edge of the Core and the Cold Sacrifice

Beneath the ventilation grid was a space vast beyond imagination.

This was no longer the ancient, decaying “heritage” zone, but one of the cold, technological heartlands under the Doctor’s control—countless thick energy conduits coiled like giant serpents along ceiling and walls, blinking with colored indicator lights; massive mechanical arms and automated platforms glided silently along complex tracks, performing precise operations; holographic screens cascaded with torrents of complex data; pale-uniformed staff moved like worker ants below.

At the center of the space stood a massive cylindrical device, tightly shielded by multiple layers of energy barriers and physical armor, radiating a terrifying energy fluctuation—a secondary interface hub of the Ark’s primary power core, the “Heart.”

Though merely a node extending from the “Heart,” its scale was staggering; immense energy pulsed within it like breath, emitting a low, thunderous roar.

They had actually reached the edge of the core zone!

Yet incongruous with this bustling scene was a temporarily cleared area on one side—cordoned off, where several technicians in heavy protective suits, their masks bearing the Doctor’s insignia, nervously operated a extraction device. The device’s other end connected to several large, transparent containers.

Inside the containers were imprisoned dozens of huddled, expressionless elves and humans—their clothes ragged, bodies emaciated, energy conduits linked to their skin, glowing faintly as they siphoned away a pale-white energy stream rich with faint life and emotional fluctuations.

This extracted energy flowed through a complex piping system toward another direction—a region sealed by a heavy metal door covered in runes and cooling pipes. Above the door glowed a red label: 【Laboratory-Project 7-Highest Clearance】.

The Doctor wasn’t just harnessing the Ark’s energy—he was directly siphoning life and emotional energy from living beings! For his mad “Project 7”?

Lingna felt icy dread crawl through her, her stomach churning. Fury and revulsion made her want to vomit. Ya’s fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms; his emerald eyes burned with suppressed rage and deep pain. Among those drained, perhaps were his own former kin.

“Monster…” he hissed through gritted teeth.

At that moment, commotion rose below—a squad of armed Cleanser soldiers escorted a new “energy source” forward: a middle-aged human male in a tattered researcher’s uniform, wearing glasses, vaguely familiar—his face filled with terror and despair, struggling uselessly.

It was the Doctor’s researcher who had coldly recited Aly’s “value” in the detention cell!

“...No! Let me go! I’ve served the Doctor! I gave everything to the ‘Ascension’ project! You can’t do this to me!” he screamed in panic, utterly unlike his former cold detachment.

A Cleanser commander replied coldly: “The Doctor’s order. Your emotional fluctuation levels have severely exceeded thresholds—filled with useless fear and regret, impairing research efficiency. But as ‘feedstock,’ your purity remains acceptable. Make your final contribution to ‘Ascension.’”

Ignoring the researcher’s cries and pleas, the soldiers forcibly shoved him into an empty container and connected the energy conduits.

The conduits flared—the researcher let out a piercing scream, his body convulsing violently as the light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, becoming as numb and hollow as the others’.

Cold. Efficient. Inhuman. Such was the Doctor’s rule.

Lingna felt a chill in her bones. Even his own subordinates, once useless, were discarded without hesitation—turned into “feedstock.”

“We have to do something!” Lingna whispered urgently, glancing at Ya.

Ya’s face was grim, terrifying. He longed to rush down and smash those damned machines—but he drew a deep breath, forcing himself calm: “Storming in is suicide. Our goal is to find a gap into the laboratory or control hub, create chaos, and—if we get the chance—try to sever this energy supply.”

He pulled out a scanner, attempting to locate weak points in the structure or the ventilation ducts’ pathways.

But the scanner’s screen was overwhelmed by interference—nearly impossible to render an image.

“The interference is too strong… caused by the power core and the energy extraction devices…” Ya muttered in frustration.

Just as they were at a loss, the heavy metal door of the laboratory below suddenly shifted from red to green, emitting a hiss as its airtight seal released.

The door slowly opened.

A slender figure in a white research robe, hair meticulously combed, emerged from within, flanked by senior researchers.

It was the Doctor.

He looked weary, yet behind his rimless glasses, his eyes burned with intense excitement and fanaticism—as if he’d just achieved a major breakthrough. In his hand, he held a data board, rapidly issuing orders to the researchers beside him.

“...The catalyst’s activity has finally stabilized… Though only preliminary fusion, the direction is correct… Prepare immediately for the next phase. I need more ‘feedstock’—emotional spectra must cover anger, fear, despair… especially extreme ‘yearning’…”

His voice drifted faintly through the ventilation grid—cold, clear.

Lingna and Ya held their breath, pressing themselves lower, hearts pounding.

The Doctor seemed in good spirits. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the energy extraction containers like a collector admiring his treasures, finally settling on the newly inserted former researcher.

“Oh? Isn’t this our excellent energy manager, Josh?” The Doctor’s lips curled into a cold smile. “It seems he’s finally found his ideal place—providing foundational nourishment for great evolution. Excellent.”

His words drew suppressed, approving laughter from the surrounding researchers.

The Doctor turned to leave—but as he passed directly beneath the ventilation shaft, his steps paused slightly.

He seemed to sense something—he snapped his head up, those icy eyes sharp as blades, as if piercing through the ventilation grid to strike directly at Lingna and Ya hidden above!

Both froze—their blood seemed to turn to ice!

Found?

The Doctor’s gaze lingered on the ventilation shaft for two or three seconds, his brow furrowing slightly, as if sensing and confirming something.

The entire core zone fell silent, save the low roar of the power core.

Lingna clamped a hand over her mouth, stopped breathing entirely—sweat instantly soaked her back. Ya’s hand was already on his pulse pistol, body taut like a hunting leopard, ready to fight to the death.

Yet unexpectedly, the Doctor did not order an immediate search. His confusion faded, replaced by a deeper, knowing, almost amused expression.

He adjusted his glasses, the cold smile on his lips deepening, speaking in a tone just loud enough to be faintly heard above, as if to himself:

“...Little mice… finally crawled into the core? Faster than expected… impressive.”

He paused, his gaze seemingly idly sweeping over a certain interface of the power core, then added, voice laced with mockery:

“...It seems the ‘Cleansers’ of the ‘Heritage Corridor’ and the ‘Echoes of Old’ couldn’t stop you… and even inadvertently ‘purified’ some unnecessary impurities for you? How… interesting a variable.”

Lingna and Ya were stunned! The Doctor didn’t just know they were here—he seemed to know every step of their journey? How was that possible?!

The Doctor turned away from the ventilation shaft, as if losing interest, and continued walking, leaving behind only one final, weightless remark that struck them like a hammer:

“...Enjoy this final bit of ‘freedom’… after all, you… especially the ‘Key’… are my ultimate experiment’s most perfect… ‘core vessel’…”

His voice faded as he vanished down a corridor, escorted by Cleanser soldiers.

Core vessel?

The Doctor’s words exploded like thunder in Lingna’s mind—she wasn’t just a “Key” or a “vessel.” The Doctor’s ultimate goal was to make her the very “core” of some horrific experiment?!

An endless chill crept up her spine.

Below, the core zone resumed its bustling activity, as if nothing had happened.

Above the ventilation shaft, Lingna and Ya remained silent, stunned by the Doctor’s casual yet devastating words.

Was he bluffing? Or did he truly control everything?

At that moment, Ya’s scanner emitted a faint, unfamiliar beep. Amid the interference snow on the screen, a faint, intermittent energy flow pattern emerged—a route bypassing the main current, connecting to an extremely hidden backup interface of the power core… and a maintenance access tunnel outside the laboratory!

Was this the Doctor’s seemingly casual glance—a hint? Or a blatant trap laid for them?

Ya’s expression shifted, then hardened into resolve.

“...Regardless… this is the only chance.” He looked at Lingna, eyes blazing with desperation, “Willing to gamble?”

Lingna stared at the numb “energy sources” below, recalling the Doctor’s cold smile and his words—“core vessel”—and nodded firmly.

Fear still lingered—but some things must be done.

The two crawled along the ventilation ducts, following the faint energy path indicated by the scanner.

Ahead lay a gap to the laboratory’s edge—or the Doctor’s meticulously laid deathtrap?

The answer waited at the end of the cold pipes.