"Briefing: Today is August 17th. Most of Haizhou will be sunny this morning, with rain in some areas this afternoon. Average temperature: 37 degrees. The climate is pleasant, sunshine abundant, ultraviolet radiation intense. Sunscreen is recommended."
"Ignore it."
"Tianmen University's Academic Affairs Office has sent another invitation regarding the opening-day speech—"
"No time."
"The accountant from the Homecoming Knights of Central Earth's Red Federation has sent—"
"Wait."
"...Other than that, there are twelve unread messages. No urgent matters at present. They have been entered into the memo as reminders and postponed for later handling."
In the deathly silent workshop, Isis's voice rang out, steady and gentle as ever.
Flashes that flickered like stars hovered in midair, gathering and scattering without form. Every wisp of light drew upon the surging currents of thought within the Six-Phase Spirit Essence Crossfire Array.
Amid the rows of equipment inside the workshop, countless Mercury Hands flowed and circulated, controlling everything like a tide and reflecting brilliant iron light.
Ji Jue stared at the flames rising from the furnace and estimated the time. "Report the project's progress."
"Core temperature stable. Mercury purification complete. Liquid Spiritual Substance is about to reach its evaporation threshold—Project One complete. Project Three is preparing. Project Two begins."
Isis said, "The containment field has been established. Noise has been filtered out. Interference has been removed.
"Sir, you may begin at once.
"Spiritual Substance release countdown—"
"Three."
"Two."
h
"—!"
The instant the countdown reached zero, the furnace shook with a thunderous boom. Then, accompanied by shrill alarms, the screech of steel grinding against steel resounded throughout the workshop.
A straight fissure appeared out of nowhere in the mirror-smooth metal floor, slowly parting to either side. Behind it, within the howling blast of scorching wind, iron light surged and ran wild, repeatedly trying