Necromancer, but pre-collapse civilization

　After completing the drawing of the magic scroll, Moros used a teleportation spell to arrive at his private meditation room on the top floor of the magic guild.

　The previous series of intense alchemical practices had left him feeling somewhat mentally exhausted.

　Therefore, before proceeding to the next, and most crucial, preparatory step, the necromancer needs to find a quiet place to properly adjust their state.

　While Moros was meditating deeply and carefully adjusting his state, Sue and Kevin quietly arrived at a secret room on the 35th basement floor of the Moth of Fire headquarters.

　Dr. Mei was already there, waiting for their arrival.

　As the heavy soundproof door slowly closed, Dr. Mei showed no intention of keeping it a secret any longer.

　"Kevin, Sue, you must be filled with confusion and doubt about why I have gathered you here."

　As Dr. Mei gazed into Kevin's blue eyes and saw not a trace of doubt in them, a ripple of emotion stirred within her.

　Sorry, Kevin...

　After silently apologizing to her lover, Dr. May finally revealed the real reason she had summoned Kevin and Sue here.

　"Su, I need you to take charge of the [Stigmata Project]."

　Upon hearing this, Su Na slightly opened her tightly closed eyes a crack.

　“Dr. Mei, I understand the weight of this mission. As a psychic fusion warrior, I am willing to shoulder this responsibility, and I will do my utmost for the future of humanity.”

　However, just as Dr. May was about to elaborate on the key details of the plan, Kevin suddenly spoke up.

　“Mei, let me carry it out. I am well aware of the importance of this mission and understand the risks involved. But I firmly believe that with my strength, I may be able to give the [Stigmata Project] a greater chance of success.”

　Upon hearing this, Dr. Mei swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

　Her gaze lingered between Kevin and Sue, as if she were carefully weighing the pros and cons of having Kevin carry out the [Stigmata Project].

　“Kevin, I’ve always admired your determination, but the [Stigmata Project] demands extremely high levels of mental strength, and Su is more adept at that…”

　"Mei, don't forget, I have faced life-or-death situations countless times, and my willpower and resilience are equally strong."

　Interrupting Dr. May, Kevin's eyes revealed an undeniable firmness and confidence.

　Just then, Sue also interjected into Kevin and May's conversation.

　“Kevin, I am well aware of your abilities, but this task requires deep exploration and guidance of the soul. However, if you believe you are capable of handling it and are willing to bear the potential consequences, I will respect your choice.”

　Kevin met his best friend's gaze without flinching, his eyes revealing a firm conviction that even Sue found moving.

　"Is that so... I understand..."

　Nodding slightly, Su closed her eyes again.

　Then, he turned to look at Dr. Mei.

　“Dr. Mei, I believe Kevin is capable of fulfilling the role of the executor of the [Stigmata Project].

　Seeing this situation, Dr. Mei made her final decision.

　"Kevin, since you're so insistent and have Sue's support, then the [Stigmata Project] is entrusted to you. But please remember, this mission concerns the future and hope of all humanity. Are you ready?"

　Kevin's gaze hardened as he faced Dr. May's question.

　He straightened his spine, as if at that moment he was shouldering the weight of the entire world.

　“Mei, I am ready to face any challenge. I promise that I will do everything in my power, at any cost, to ensure the success of the plan.”

　At this point, Kevin paused slightly, his gaze turning gently to the gray-haired youth with his eyes closed.

　"Su, your understanding and support mean a lot to me. Thank you, my dearest friend."

　After the person chosen to carry out the "Stigmata Project" was determined, May did not keep Kevin and Sue any longer.

　Whether it's her, Kevin, or Sue, they are all indispensable pillars of the Firemoth organization.

　In this difficult time when human civilization is teetering on the brink of collapse and on the verge of destruction, the responsibilities on each of their shoulders are exceptionally heavy and arduous.

　The fact that we were able to spare precious time for in-depth discussions in this secluded room is because the [Stigmata Project] is important enough.

　After completing their business, they naturally needed to quickly return to their respective posts and continue to shoulder their mission and responsibilities.

　Back in his office, Dr. Mei dialed the hotline to the research and manufacturing complex belonging to Wilwick in the heart of the Victoria Desert.

　She needs to confirm with Velvi the progress of the key aspect of the [Fire Seed Project]—the creation of the Fifth Divine Key, the Key of Stasis, the Hibernation of All Things, based on the Herrscher Core of the Fifth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Ice.

　To deceive the terrifying Herrscher of the End and leave a spark of hope for future human civilization, the Key of Stasis is indispensable.

Chapter 693 The Key to Stasis: All Things Go into Hibernation

　In the vast historical panorama of the present world, the reason why the previous civilization was able to leave behind heroes such as Kevin, Hua, and Su, who became the forerunners of the present civilization, is precisely because of the existence of the Fifth Divine Key - the Key of Stagnation - the Hibernation of All Things.

　Without the protection of this key of the gods, the blueprint for Project Fire would be like a castle in the air, lacking any foundation.

　After all, when the final meteor streaked across the sky, the fate of those Firemoth members who were not fortunate enough to enter the hibernation pods was self-evident.

　It's important to know that, unlike the planet where the necromancer was born, in the original world, Dr. May only managed to seize control of human civilization after the twelfth Great Collapse.

　Against this backdrop, it would be an unimaginable oversight for the pre-civilized elites to fail to plan ahead and establish their own refuges.

　When it comes to their own safety, the efficiency with which the powerful and wealthy act is beyond question.

　However, even so, after the end of the world, all that remained of the previous civilization were the carefully selected elites who had entered the hibernation pods where all things were in a state of dormancy.

　Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine the ultimate fate of those refuges built at great expense by the former elites of civilization.

　On this planet, Dr. Mei has already gleaned a glimpse of the Herrscher of the End from the information in the Moon Temple.

　Therefore, she could naturally deduce that ordinary shelters were simply incapable of bearing the heavy responsibility of the [Spark Project].

　In order to ensure that human civilization would have a way out even if it encountered misfortune on its journey to the end, Dr. Mei did not hesitate to use the Herrscher Core of the Second Herrscher - Herrscher of the Void as a bargaining chip to exchange with the necromancer, thereby obtaining the Herrscher Core of the Fifth Herrscher - Herrscher of Ice.

　Despite the recent escalation of the conflict between Dr. May and Morros, both sides are well aware that cooperation is the only way out when faced with the common threat of the Herrscher of the End.

　Therefore, their communication channels have always been unobstructed.

　For necromancers, the Herrscher Core of the Second Herrscher - Herrscher of the Void is undoubtedly more valuable than the Herrscher Core of the Fifth Herrscher - Herrscher of Ice.

　Since Dr. Mei is willing to exchange the Herrscher Core of the Void for the Herrscher Core of the Ice, he naturally has no reason to refuse.

　After successfully obtaining the Herrscher Core of the Fifth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Ice, Dr. Mei initially planned to rely on...

　The Fire Moth used its own power to complete the development of the hibernation pod.

　However, harsh reality soon told her that the research department of the Fire Moth was not capable of completing this arduous scientific research task.

　There was no other way; time was just too tight.

　The research department of the Fire Moth lacks genius scientists like her, Velvet, and Möbius.

　To complete such a challenging scientific research task in such a short time is an impossible task.

　Under these circumstances, Dr. Mei had no choice but to outsource the task of developing hibernation pods using the Herrscher core of the Fifth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Ice, to Velvet.

　With the resources Dr. May possesses, she is certainly capable of making this deal with Vervière.

　This is why she is currently in contact with Vilvi.

　Upon receiving Dr. Mei's message, Velvi, who was in the final debugging work on the Fifth Divine Key, raised an eyebrow.

　"Oh, Ms. Mei, is there something urgent that you're contacting me all of a sudden?"

　When asked by Vilvi, Dr. May made no attempt to beat around the bush and frankly stated her intention to make the contact.

　When she learned that Dr. Mei had come to inquire about the progress of the Stasis Key's manufacturing, a hint of surprise flashed across the expert's face, but it was quickly replaced by her usual professionalism and composure.

　“Ms. Mei, regarding the progress of the Stasis Key research and development, I must admit that it is an extremely challenging task. But as you would expect, I have made a breakthrough.”

　Vervi's voice was filled with undisguised pride.

　Demonstrating her technological achievements to another brilliant scientist always brought her immense satisfaction.

　"Currently, the core system of the Divine Key has undergone many rigorous tests, and its performance has far exceeded our initial expectations."

　Upon hearing this, Dr. Mei breathed a sigh of relief.

　She knew that Vervi's professional competence and dedication were enough for her to trust.

　Even so, Dr. Mei couldn't help but ask another question.

　"So, what is the specific completion time? Our time is really very tight."

　“I understand, May. Please believe me, I am doing my best to push this work forward. If all goes well, give me two more days, and I will be able to complete the final assembly and debugging of the Stasis Key. Of course, this will require your further support, including the necessary resources and technical support.”

　The expert's implication was very clear.

　Her work is nearing completion, and it's time for Dr. Mei to pay the remaining balance for the outsourced work.

　With Dr. May's intelligence, how could she not understand the unspoken meaning in Vilvi's words?

　However, she did not refuse to pay the remaining balance.

　"Vilvie, you can rest assured about the resources and technical support. I will make arrangements immediately to ensure that your work is not delayed in the slightest due to logistical issues."

　The expert was very satisfied with Dr. Mei's response.

　"With your words, I have even more confidence. Don't worry, I will also work against the clock to ensure that the Stasis Key can be delivered on time."

　If the Key to Stasis were a weapon-type divine key that could pose a threat to necromancers, Velvi might not have made such a prompt promise.

　But since the essence of the Stasis Key is a hibernation pod with fully hidden abilities, she naturally had no reason to detain it.

　As is well known, Vilvi always leaves some hidden tricks in her works.

　The key to stagnation is no exception.

　In the field of mechanics, she was undoubtedly the pinnacle of existence in the pre-civilization era.

　Therefore, the expert was not worried at all that Dr. Mei would be able to discover and resolve the backup plan she had left inside the Stasis Key.

　With the help of this special mechanism hidden inside the Stasis Key, Velvi is able to track and know the exact location of these hibernation pods in real time.

　With this precise positioning ability, these hibernation pods will not cause any trouble or problems for the Fire Moths in their battle against the Necromancers.

　Although Dr. Mei did not delve into all the details, she had a vague sense of what was going on.

　However, the original intention and purpose of the "Fire Seed Project" were never aimed at necromancers.

　This is why Dr. Mei was able to accept and tolerate the existence of this potential danger.

　Of course, there are also practical considerations behind this decision—the research department of the Firemoth has been truly disappointing in the development of the Divine Keys.

　If the research department of the Fire Moth can demonstrate research capabilities commensurate with its status and treatment, and independently complete the development of the Fifth Divine Key, then Dr. May will not need to compromise on the contingency plan left by Velvet.

Chapter 694 An Unusual Vampire Transformation

　Moros couldn't possibly be unaware that Velvi had developed the fifth divine key, the key to stagnation, the key to dormancy for the Firemoth.

　But he trusted his lover and was convinced that she would never harbor any ill will towards him.

　As for the deal between Wilvi and Dr. May regarding the Key of Stasis?

　The necromancer didn't care at all.

　Vervière was his beloved, not just a collectible.

　He should rightfully grant her this freedom and space.

　Getting back to the main point, through the baptism of deep meditation, Moros completed the final adjustment of his own state.

　He then stepped out of the meditation room that had been built specifically for him and into the necromancy laboratory located on the lower level of the magic guild.

　Here, a massive caster team consisting of over 100,000 high-ranking liches has been waiting for some time.

　As indispensable spellcasting assistants in this magical ritual, these great liches stood silently and majestically, awaiting the next instruction from the necromancer.

　In other words, the necromancy laboratory in the [Level 5 Magic Guild] has been cleverly expanded with spatial magic, giving it the ability to accommodate such a large number of undead units.

　Otherwise, Moros would have to travel far outside the Magic Guild to perform this crucial magical ritual.

　This will undoubtedly bring a lot of unnecessary trouble and potential risks.

　However, there are no "what ifs" in reality.

　Now that the Necromancy Laboratory has the capability to undertake this important task, Moros naturally has no need to leave the Magic Guild and go to another part of the demiplane to hold this magical ritual.

　Vampire Transformation Ritual!

　This is the essence of the magical ritual that the necromancer is about to perform.

　However, this vampire conversion ritual that Moros is about to hold is quite different from the standard vampire conversion ritual.

　If one's necromancy level were slightly lower, it would be difficult to connect this magical ritual with the vampire conversion ritual widely known in the Ashan World Cemetery faction.