There's a big problem with dreams in this world.

I want to rest openly and legitimately!

Updates will resume on the 10th. As I said, I'll be taking a three-day break.

Trust me, this time it will be true!

P.S.: The internet connection was actually fixed yesterday. The problem was that the network cable connecting the router to the computer was broken. After replacing it, the problem was solved.

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Chapter 613: The rest is up to Her Highness the Princess

Senator Dis slowly straightened his back, his wrinkled hands meticulously tidying his slightly disheveled clothes.

Outside the hatch of the steel core, where it had been opened, Senator Dis looked at the churning flames and couldn't help but recall the figure he had seen at the ball.

"I am a nobleman who is loyal to the royal family, and sacred blood flows in my veins."

Fifty years! The sacred tree has been withered and dead for fifty years. For more than forty of those fifty years, Councilor Dis has lived in this cold, steel city.

This place is isolated from all the chaos and strife of the outside world. Living here is as if the sacred tree has never withered... is that right?

When you can no longer see the azure sky, when dim light shines on your decaying body, when pale-faced pedestrians walk through the crowded, narrow streets...

Did they truly never feel even the slightest bit of regret?

“I once abandoned my noble surname and fled that bustling city like a stray dog,” Councilor Dis said solemnly, a glimmer of reminiscence in his eyes. He looked into the hearth, where within the roaring flames, it seemed as if someone was slowly moving forward.

“I’m staying here, no matter what happens,” Senator Dees said firmly.

“You…” Eileen looked at Councilor Dis with a complicated expression. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a violent cough.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The steel core's operating sound suddenly became extremely heavy. Prolonged operation under heavy load had brought it to the brink of explosion. A large amount of void energy was drawn from Will's body to suppress the power of the fire element.

"..." Eileen hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Before Will and Moruni could reply, she spoke first: "I have taken Void Potion before, and if you need Void power, I can help."

“I remember you. You are the maid who serves Princess.” Moruni looked at Eileen and shook her head. “It’s no use. The device has already reached its limit, and installing the energy-absorbing disc on the body requires a very complicated process. There simply isn’t that much time right now.”

“Perhaps, we have another way…” Will suddenly looked up as if he had remembered something.

"In fact, the operating power of the steel core is far from reaching its limit. It's just that due to material limitations, I can't push the operating power of the device to its maximum."

try{mad1('gad2');} catch(ex){}“If the power can be increased in a short time, the activity of the fire element inside the furnace will decrease.......cough cough cough.”

Will's condition looked increasingly dire. He looked at the control panel on the steel core and said, "With just a few minor modifications, the steel core can operate at its theoretical maximum efficiency."

"What about time?" Mo Luni asked the most important question.

"15 seconds," Will replied after a moment's thought, giving a somewhat conservative answer.

“In reality, it will probably take a few seconds longer,” Will added after a pause.

“Operating at maximum capacity, cough cough... requires a lot of void energy, which is far from enough for me alone.” Will looked at Eileen and said, “I can install another energy-absorbing device on your body in the fastest way possible. Due to the time constraints, there is no way to give you anesthesia.”

"As for the potential problems caused by violent installation... cough cough cough, with your body enhanced by the Void Potion, it shouldn't have too much of an impact."

“Okay, let’s start now.” Eileen took a deep breath and looked at Will with a determined expression.

“Open that cabinet, the other energy-absorbing device is inside, with pipes attached to the back. Just bring it over,” Will said, pointing to a counter beneath the steel core's outer shell.

When Eileen arrived at Will with the energy-absorbing device, Will suddenly asked, "Do you remember what I said before? The power supplier can cut off the energy supply to the steel core at any time."

“…I won’t disconnect.” Eileen paused slightly after hearing Will’s words before replying.

“Hmm.” Will didn’t continue the topic. He turned to Councilor Dis, who was not far away, and said, “Councilor Dis, since you’re not planning to leave, why don’t you do something for us?”

“Please speak,” Councilor Dis said, nodding solemnly.

“Go to the entrance where Her Highness went in and shout out what we were just discussing,” Will said to Councilor Dis.

"Can Your Highness hear me?" Councilor Dis asked, somewhat puzzled.

“We can only give it a try,” Will said with a slight smile, the wrinkles on his face gradually smoothing out with his movements.

"I see."

Representative Dis wiped the sweat from his brow, then stood at the entrance to the steel core where Lu Qing entered, shouting with all his might.

try{mad1('gad2');} catch(ex){} To prevent any accidents from happening, there were almost no extra items in this room except for the necessary facilities, including a megaphone. There was no other way, so Will had to send Senator Dee to shout over there.

Will shifted his gaze from Senator Dis and looked at Eileen in front of him, saying, "Relax, I promise it will be over soon."

Will had already thought of how to install the energy-absorbing device in the shortest possible time when he first proposed the plan.

Remove the unnecessary parts, extend the energy absorption interface, and insert it directly into the human body. This is the fastest way to install it!

There's no need to install the entire energy-absorbing device inside the human body; you only need to connect the energy interface. The trade-off is that the lifespan of the energy-absorbing device is greatly reduced. Over time, the extended interface will be the first to be corroded by the void energy.

Moreover, after a period of time, the conversion efficiency of void power will also decrease.

But it's okay, they only need fifteen seconds!

"Hmph!" Eileen clenched her fists tightly, the pain of being pierced through her body making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

But this was nothing to her; in the fifty years that the sacred tree had withered, she had experienced far more painful things.

After an unknown amount of time, Will stopped what he was doing and installed the energy-absorbing device on Eileen's back.

"Release the energy within your body and do not resist the suction of the interface. Only in this way can the energy absorption device function properly," Will said after installing the energy absorption device.

Upon hearing Will's words, Eileen gradually released her control over the void energy within her body. The next moment, the energy-absorbing disc installed on her back gradually lit up with a crimson light and began to operate normally.

“This feeling…” Eileen frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable as the device drained her energy.

"Don't resist, or the device won't work." Will smiled bitterly and said, "This is all the technology we can do right now."

“The output limit of the Steel Core has also been adjusted.” Moruni came to Will’s side and said.

"Congressman Dis, you can rest now," Will said, glancing at Congressman Dis, who had been standing there for who knows how long, calling out in a hoarse voice.

"The rest is up to Your Highness."

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Chapter 614: Explosion

"Core temperature is rising, and power has exceeded the set maximum value!"

"Void energy is being steadily absorbed, but core pressure is increasing!"

"Om..."

The dull hum of machinery echoed in the basement. Eileen felt an uncomfortable suction coming from the device inserted into her body, causing her to unconsciously frown.

"boom!!"

Suddenly, a loud roar rang out. Eileen quickly looked up and saw a large amount of steam spewing out from the steam chamber above the steel core. The loud roar was the sound of this steam blasting open the steam inlet.

The temperature in the basement rose rapidly, and after the steam chamber exploded, the entire steel core emitted sounds of unbearable strain.

"Boom..."

A loud metallic clanging sound came from inside the steel core. A large amount of liquid entered the steel core through water pipes, and was then evaporated into water vapor by the high temperature, flowing out from the already bursting steam chamber.

"Did the coolant circulation system explode first?" Will's face showed no change, as if this was all within his expectations.

He gently placed his left hand on Eileen's shoulder, a tired expression on his face.

"The rest is up to you..."

Before Eileen could reply, Will closed his eyes and slumped weakly into his chair.

Eileen instantly understood. The next moment, a tremendous suction force emanated from the device behind her. After Will's death, the only source of the void energy needed for the overloaded operation of the steel core was Eileen.

"Humph!"

A large amount of energy was instantly drained. Eileen suppressed her instinct to stop the extraction of void power and closed her eyes to pray.

"May the sacred tree grant Her Highness the safety of the princess."

"If the sacred tree were still alive..." Eileen couldn't help but think deep down.

......

Meanwhile, inside the furnace.

As the steel core operated at full capacity, the activity of the fire element decreased, and Lu Qing, who was inside, could clearly feel the change in temperature around her.

"Let's hurry over there while we can!" Ling said hastily after sensing the change in temperature.

Ling and Lu Qing had both heard what Councilor Dis said outside the fireplace, and they were well aware of how precious time was at that moment.

Without speaking, Lu Qing simply nodded, her eyes burning as she stared intently at the fire elemental floating in the distance. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time!

[Psionic Dash] + [Charged Strike]

Black and red spiritual energy surged, and Lu Qing, carrying the spirit, rushed into the area where they had been unable to move forward due to the temperature in the blink of an eye.

Fifteen seconds is enough!

As Lu Qing assessed the distance between herself and the fire elemental, a blazing ring of fire suddenly erupted from the fire elemental, colliding with Lu Qing as she was using her psionic charge!

"Thump thump..."

Her body was inevitably knocked back two steps by the ring of fire. Lu Qing raised her head and used her psionic energy to dash towards the fire element again!

She didn't have much time and had no time to think about the fire ring. She only had one goal: to get to the fire elemental's side!

"call!"

A blazing flame rose up, and the flames surrounding the fire element seemed to breathe as they burned intensely, constantly releasing scorching heat in an attempt to repel Lu Qing.

"Get out of my way!"

A flash of black and red light appeared as Lu Qing, wielding two daggers, [Dark] and [Holy Silver], cleaved the flames released by the fire element with unparalleled force!

Five seconds had passed; she didn't have much time left.

With a sudden burst of power, Lu Qing sprinted towards the direction of the fire element at the fastest speed she had ever seen!

However, the flames surrounding the fire element seemed to sense her approach and became even more active, with countless flames burning towards Lu Qing.

"Suck......"