All things freeze, time stops.

This grand performance has been paused by a lunatic presence; in the rift of time and space, Aimou faces that evil will alone.

"Alice" never revealed her identity, but now Aimou already knows who she is—the specter that has always accompanied her, delivering the Fantasy Species to her, a sinister entity.

Devil.

Aimou suddenly felt a massive sorrow. If she had opened her heart to Bologue, if she hadn't agreed to the Devil's bargain, if she hadn't used the Fantasy Species...

None of this should have happened.

Aimou muttered, "This is a conspiracy... from your conspiracy."

Alice maintained that eerie smile, in this eternal realm everything was stagnant, they had ample time to discuss the content of the deal.

Scenes from Aimou's past experiences floated before her eyes, at this moment Aimou realized what kind of trap she had walked into.

The Devil granted Aimou the Fantasy Species, giving Aimou a sliver of hope, but the ensuing events completely obliterated Aimou's hope.

When a person loses all hope, what kind of choices will she make?

For that pitiful and humble wish, reaching out recklessly, whether it's thorns or a Sharp Sword, anything she could grasp would be held tightly.

Just like Teda.

With all hope lost, Teda desperately chose that crazy path, knowing what kind of end awaited him, but urged by that insane thought, Teda had no choice.

Aimou was no different.

Now Aimou found herself in a desperate situation; the Fantasy Species was about to consume her Philosopher's Stone, and the blood and flesh twisted around her would do the same. Once time resumes its flow, Aimou would step toward death.

"What a pitiful guy... his desire is strong, but unfortunately, he holds no value for me,"

Alice approached Teda instead of continuing to press Aimou and watched Teda's complex expression.

Teda was thrown into a safe area by Aimou; from his perspective, he watched Aimou being entwined by flesh, walking towards death.

Horror, sorrow, anger... various emotions emerged on the decrepit face, Alice gently asked, "He looks very sad."

"Do you think he's sad about what? The extinction of the self?"

Aimou glanced at Alice and Teda, and Teda's condition was terrible, with successive heavy injuries and corrosion; Teda was covered in blood, much of his skin had disappeared, and his abdomen was a bloody blur with intestines exposed.

Teda was still alive, relying solely on his Tier as a Negative Power User. Years of contact with Ether had gradually Etherealized Teda's body, thus freeing him from mortal constraints.

But even so, with such injuries, Teda's life had entered a countdown.

"No... do you think he still cares about such things? If he feared death, he wouldn't be so stubborn."

Looking at Teda in such a miserable state, Aimou felt pity.

"If that's the case, why save him? You can see, he's aware his wish can't be fulfilled; what he does now is merely seeking death," Alice said.

Aimou's voice paused, "I can't do it..."

"Can't do what?"

"Can't watch him die. Whether he ever loved me or not, I always loved him; he is my father, even if only I think so."

Aimou's voice grew increasingly despondent until she couldn't help but laugh herself. Remembering her decisiveness when she left, Aimou thought she had broken free from the shackles of emotion, but when death truly descended, her heart softened.

"Is it worth it?"

"What's there to be worthy or unworthy? I don't care what he thinks; it's enough if I feel satisfied." Aimou shook her head.

"What about him? It's clear he saved you; don't you want to keep going with him?"

Alice vanished and then appeared beside Bologue, staring at Bologue's angry expression.

Aimou looked at Bologue with sadness, hesitated for a while, and frankly said, "Of course I do, not just him; this world is full of surprises; if possible, I sincerely wish to explore it all."

"But now you're about to die."

Alice spoke coldly, appearing again beside Aimou.

"I know what you want to do; I have entered a dead end. Either I submit to death, or I kiss your hand, right?" Aimou said.

Listening to Aimou's words, Alice let out a series of disturbing laughs, watching Aimou trapped in desperation as her own greedy desires continued to surge.

Aimou continued to ask, "Who are you really?"

"That question is meaningless."

"No... I mean, which one of the Devils are you?"

Aimou's tone gradually became firmer, gazing at the eerie Alice, and thoughts churned in her mind until an answer emerged in her consciousness.

Indeed, long ago, when Aimou first saw the illusion of Alice, she had that strange feeling, as if she were being targeted by some unknown presence.

As time passes, this feeling becomes stronger and stronger, until Aimou can even see the shape of the other in that deep darkness.

"Wandering in the Great Rift, greedily enjoying the tributes of people..."

Aimou clenched her fist, her voice icy.

"Tyrant."

Alice's smile froze, and then her expression became more twisted and maniacal, her head splitting into horrific petals, while slender tendrils wildly danced in the air.

She laughed hysterically, and after several seconds, gradually calmed down, reforming her face into Alice's visage.

"I like smart children, but sometimes being too smart isn't a good thing."

The clear female voice disappeared, and this time, from Alice's throat came only a deep male voice, as if some evil will had briefly taken over Alice's body, using it as a conduit to communicate with Aimou.

"What do you really want, Tyrant?" Aimou inquired.

"Aimou, you are unique, extraordinary, of immense value... I crave your soul."

The Tyrant made no attempt at concealment, admitting to Aimou, "I am willing to pay a good price for it."

"A good price?" Aimou smiled, eyes full of disdain.

"Don't you believe me? Devils never lie," the Tyrant's voice brimmed with pride, "I can grant all your wishes!

Wealth piled to the heavens, the power to command kingdoms, the ability to destroy all things, I can satisfy you!"

The Tyrant painted the picture of a beautiful future for Aimou, making all sorts of promises.

"Even freeing you from this cold metal shell, reversing your fate, becoming truly human!

I can do all this, as long as you are willing to give me everything."

Another arm extended from the flesh and blood, slowly hovering in front of Aimou, the blood-stained pale back of the hand reaching closer to her.

"So... what is your choice?"

The Tyrant spoke no more, waiting quietly for Aimou's decision.

In the eyes of the Tyrant, Aimou had already reached a dead end. Refusing him would only lead to her death, a completely meaningless death.

"I seem to have no reason to refuse."

Aimou spoke coldly, as soon as time resumed, she would head to her end, but if she gave up her own soul, she would welcome a new life.

"After all, this isn't my soul... it's just Alice's soul."

Aimou muttered as if convincing herself, while the Tyrant wore a sinister smile, everything was going according to the Tyrant's plan, Aimou couldn't escape her own desires, since it was so intense.

The Tyrant expected Aimou would experience complex emotional turmoil, but her actual behavior was quite calm; she only thought for a moment before making her decision.

Aimou took hold of the pale hand, tightening her grip.

"I'm thinking about something."

Aimou suddenly paused, muttering to herself.

"I am merely an Alchemy Puppet; the soul I possess is merely borrowed from another, but I think... but I feel, that what defines a soul is not this, just like you devils often say, everyone possesses some kind of value.

So I think, when I make certain choices, when I become a certain type of person, I should also possess a certain spiritual kind of soul... a noble soul."

Aimou grasped the pale hand firmly, exerting strength until she snapped the bones in the hand, crushing it into a mass of filthy blood.

The Tyrant's smile froze.

Aimou lifted her head, eyes flashing with anger, she saw Bologue in the distance, equally enraged, and growled.

"I have made a mistake once, I can't disappoint him again."

Aimou fiercely tore off the extended arm, then swung her fist back, landing a direct punch on the Tyrant's face... it should have been Alice's face, but given the situation, it didn't matter anymore.

Pain struck, and the Tyrant did not react for a moment; it had been many years since anyone had defied him, let alone attacked him.

Aimou rejected the deal, the static time began to loosen; she could hear the roaring of gears, the dissolution of her self-awareness.

"How dare you!"

The Tyrant wanted to reprimand further, but Aimou was completely indifferent; she reached into her chest, grasped the Constant Motion Core, and to the Tyrant's disbelief, Aimou ripped out her own heart.

Aimou held the Constant Motion Core in her hand, her consciousness started to fade, and the frozen time began to thaw and flow again.

Like a film missing a scene, Bologue saw Aimou encased in flesh, but in the next moment, she broke free from the constraints of flesh, standing straight.

Bologue witnessed Aimou pulling out her Constant Motion Core and throwing it towards the stunned Teda.

"I'm giving your daughter back to you."

Aimou shouted with her last ounce of strength.

"We're even!"

The Constant Motion Core rolled unsteadily to Teda's feet, and from afar, Aimou lost all her light, transforming into a cold statue, like a lifeless object.

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