When Hel was lifted by the mechanical tentacle into the ceiling's network of pipes, she finally laid eyes on the true form of the thing carrying her.
[Name]: Rock Guardian
[Rank]: Tier 4
[Description]: A combat construct unit from goblin mechanical technology.
It looked like an octopus forged entirely from metal. But instead of a normal head, its "brain" was replaced by a massive, transparent hexagonal crystal filled with blood-red liquid. The combination of flesh and machinery gave off a disturbing, grotesque aura.
"This energy… feels similar to a Philosopher's Stone," Hel murmured, letting herself be dragged through a corridor while quietly studying the liquid inside the crystal.
Through her senses, she confirmed it was indeed composed of highly condensed soul energy — though less pure than the Philosopher's Stone, and mixed with other, unknown forces.
"I really want to take it apart and see what's inside," she thought wryly, her curiosity nearly overwhelming.
But she restrained herself — for now. Her mission was to find Edwina's real body, not to stir up unnecessary trouble.
Before long, the mechanical octopus carried her through several tunnels and finally brought her to a large chamber.
It was spacious and filled with all sorts of strange instruments. In the center stood a single chair, with a large dome-like device suspended above it — not unlike one of those hair dryers found in old barbershops.
Hel was placed in the chair, metal restraints locking her in place. The device above descended and clamped around her head.
Then came the pull — a powerful, terrifying suction that felt as if her very soul were being torn from her body.
It wasn't just an illusion.
The machine was literally designed to extract souls.
Hel glanced toward the room's corners and saw several crystal cylinders identical to the Rock Guardian's head, each filled with the same crimson liquid.
"So… it extracts the soul first, then takes the body," she realized. "That's… cautious of her."
She couldn't help but sigh internally. The body she was using had its aura completely sealed off, appearing no different from an ordinary puppet. Yet Edwina still refused to show herself in person.
Left with no choice, Hel separated a small fragment of her own soul — a sliver of consciousness — and disguised it as a blank, empty soul. The rest of her essence hid deep within the body's core, perfectly concealed.
Given Hel's current power, there was no way Edwina — a mere Tier 6 Peak — could detect her deception.
Sure enough, after a few moments, the machine finished its extraction process and powered down.
The mechanical octopus seized her again. This time, Hel went fully limp, abandoning all control over her body except for her most basic sensory functions — to better play the part of an inert vessel.
After being carried for what felt like a long time, she was strapped down once again — this time onto a golden surgical table firmly locked into the floor.
"Wait… don't tell me they're planning to dissect me now," Hel thought with dry amusement as she extended her senses outward.
Fortunately, dissection was not on the agenda.
Instead, the metallic creature pressed a switch beside the table. The platform — along with a section of the floor beneath it — began to descend, slowly sinking deeper underground.
After passing through a long subterranean tunnel, Hel arrived at what was unmistakably an underground base.
In the very center of the vast chamber stood a colossal crystalline structure, dozens of meters high. Inside that crystal flowed the same red liquid — though thinner now, translucent enough for Hel to see what floated within.
Brains.
Countless brains of all shapes and sizes. Some were as small as peanuts; others were as massive as a house. Clearly, they did not all come from the same species.
[Name]: Ascension Brain (Goblin)
[Rank]: Tier 6·9 Stars
[Description]: A computational matrix composed of the finest brains from multiple species. One of the pinnacle achievements of goblin alchemy and technology — and one of the actual ruling entities of the Goblin Empire.
Surrounding the gigantic crystal was a dense network of translucent conduits — some connecting back to the crystal, others extending into the walls.
Hel could guess their function: the blue signals pulsing through those tubes likely carried data — thoughts — from the many brains, combining into a vast consciousness that spread throughout the complex and, perhaps, across the entire city.
"This thing is massive," Hel thought, marveling at the scale. "Where do I even start dismantling it?"
Her shadow flickered faintly on the floor as she considered her options — but before she could make a move, the mechanical octopus released the table's locks and wheeled her into another chamber.
This new room was dominated by a huge wall made up of countless translucent light screens. Behind them, Hel could vaguely make out more brains floating in liquid tanks.
The octopus fixed her table upright at a forty-five-degree angle, ensuring she faced the display.
Then, one of the light screens flickered to life.
A figure appeared — a short, plump woman with sharp ears and a hooked nose: the unmistakable features of a goblin female.
Her image scanned the room, confirming Hel was restrained, before speaking.
"You should still be able to control this body, shouldn't you?" she said.
Hel stiffened.
"What—? Did I get exposed?" she thought instantly. "Do I strike now?"
But Edwina's next words made her relax — and almost laugh.
"A2-B5-001," Edwina sneered. "Don't think I don't know you have some kind of remote-control link to that puppet."
Ah… so that's what she meant.
Hel exhaled silently, settling back to watch what the last 'pureblood goblin' had planned.
Edwina's smirk turned venomous. She snapped her fingers, and the main screen before Hel changed — now showing the very chamber where her soul had been extracted.
Only this time, the one strapped to the chair wasn't her.
It was Niv.
"I don't care whether you can control that body or not," Edwina said coldly. "I don't care if you're still loyal to the Empire."
Her crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"There's only one thing that matters — I can't use that body safely until you're dead."