Endless Debt-Chapter 852 - 6: Pioneer of Change

Secret Source.

The origin of all Ether, the starting point for Condensers, the foundation of Alchemy Matrix Technology, countless Scholars have spent their entire lives longing to face this brilliant myth.

In the "Golden Thesis," the Secret Source is regarded as the root of all Ether, and Bologue sees it as the culprit that causes Ether tides.

Over the long passage of time, the Secret Source has poured vast amounts of Ether into this world, and with the passage of time, its output has increased, causing Ether concentration to rise rapidly in recent years.

The entire world is advancing towards the extraordinary, with numerous Ethereal Vortex Points being born under the high concentration of Ether, each becoming a potential source of supernatural disaster.

In the current world, due to the standoff between various powers, it remains in a state of high restraint as if on the eve of war, yet outside of war, the material world is advancing towards an extraordinary collapse.

Due to the existence of the Secret Source, it has enabled Alchemy Matrix Technology to arise, facilitating the birth of souls between tangible matter.

When writing this part, Bologue did not continue, as he could not grasp what souls truly meant to humans and what they were to Devils.

According to Mamo’s hypothesis of the Ethereal Realm, the Secret Source is not a physical entity but a dimension, a conceptual existence encompassed by the hypothesized Ethereal Realm.

Encompassed by a mysterious dimension above the Material World.

The Ethereal Realm is within reach yet unattainable, only accessible to Condensers during their Ascension Ceremony when they are briefly drawn to the Secret Source, causing them to experience the so-called Lost, reaching that mysterious dimension.

Mamo mentioned that Bologue’s Lost during his Ascension as a Prayer Believer was indeed an entry into the Ethereal Realm. After much hesitation, Bologue revealed to Mamo what he had seen inside the Ethereal Realm. He concealed the presence of Astronauts.

"A blazing white storm, ghostly shadows, and countless figures frozen on the Icefield."

After hearing Bologue’s account, Mamo pondered for a while, explaining his understanding of body, mind, and soul to Bologue.

"The body is the vessel for the soul, the soul is the carrier of consciousness, and consciousness is our true self.

When humans die, the shell of the ’body’ shatters and rots, the soul representing the ’spirit’ loses the shackle of ’body’ and dissipates... Perhaps they don’t entirely dissipate, but rather return to the Ethereal Realm. In Ascension, the Promoter’s ability to enter the Ethereal Realm via Lost is the best proof.

Yes, exactly, souls carrying consciousness reach the Ethereal Realm, souls are frozen in the Ethereal Realm, while consciousness is drawn into the Secret Source."

This dialogue was based on Bologue’s experiences during Lost, and it was due to this experience that Mamo proposed the idea of reform for Bologue’s subsequent Ascension as a Negative Power User, making Bologue unwittingly become a Pioneer for this reform.

After integrating the information, Bologue formed a rough origin framework regarding how the world became this way, yet many details remain shrouded in mystery.

For instance, what exactly are Devils?

Bologue pondered this as he turned another page, which contained papers left by Ewen, written with Ewen’s speculation about Devils.

Turning the pages further revealed a timeline written by Bologue himself.

Bologue realized that numerous major events in modern times are closely related to Devils, let alone their inherent intent to manipulate the course of history.

Through Bologue’s own investigations, he roughly organized a timeline; there might be errors in specific years and months, but it does not hinder the expansion of his thoughts.

First, in the Rhein Calendar year 1143, the surface major event was the Dawn War, but in reality, it was a conflict stirred by Devils, culminating with the betrayal of Night Race Lord Serey, leading to the collapse of the Eternal Night Empire.

Humanity attained victory for the first time amid the Devils’ conflict, witnessed by Wolfgang Gold, leading to the writing of the "Dawn Oath," eternally imprisoning the remnants of the Night Race in the Land of Eternal Night.

Next, based on Bologue’s memory recall and rough calculation, he was born in Redwood Town in the Rhein Calendar year 1151, eight years after the Dawn War had passed.

Then came a mundane life until around twenty years old, when the Fury of Scorched Earth erupted, followed by the Fall of the Holy City.

Scrolling further downward, Bologue read one important historical node after another, and he couldn’t help but lament the lengthy life he had lived.

Bologue rested for a while; this historical chart was his hobby, and while writing the "Origin Manual," Bologue realized that if this world had a complete historical chronology, many mysteries would be answered.

Regrettably, no such comprehensive history exists in this world; nations and empires have risen and fallen, each region with varying historical recordings, and due to factional interests, many historical stories have been distorted.

Bologue was about to begin working, only to be hit head-on by this grim reality; if world history were a page of text, it would first be edited, then shredded into pieces by a paper shredder, then stained black by vast amounts of ink.

Even those Immortals who have lived for centuries, millennia, struggle to recount complete histories, and Bologue sighed at the challenging work.

For this reason, apart from the "Origin Manual," Bologue also set a long-term goal: to document the history of this world as an Undying Individual.

Only, Bologue felt somewhat daunted by this grand endeavor, unsure where to begin.

Leaning back, Bologue stretched his body hard, rubbing his temples forcefully; even he felt profound fatigue under this ceaseless day and night work.

As he pondered with closed eyes, a clearer song came from outside the door, quickly followed by Palmer’s raucous voice howling.

"Blood, bones, dust, firelight, interwoven!"

Regardless of Palmer’s skill in playing, his voice has a certain quality, without needing any technique, it can give a metallic roar... or perhaps a scream.

Bologue straightened himself, and this time he continued to read the "Origin Manual," briefly organizing the connection between the Ethereal Realm and Ether tides, but to understand more deeply, Bologue currently possesses too little information.

Fortunately, the next opportunity to explore the Ethereal Realm is not far off.

The Ascension of the Condenser.

Relying on the Lost during the Condenser’s Ascension, Bologue fully has the chance to venture once more into the perilous Ethereal Realm.

This is currently humanity’s only means of exploring the Ethereal Realm and the Secret Source, and this method is fraught with danger, and the chances to use it are very few.

One could say that from the very beginning, these lethal constraints have limited humanity’s direct observation of the Ethereal Realm, and Bologue has little advantage in this aspect.

For successful exploration of the Ethereal Realm, Bologue’s subsequent Ascension as a Negative Power User became a secondary priority. To conduct a safe exploration, Mamo will personally host the ceremony for Bologue, which is also what he refers to as reform.

For months, Mamo has been trying to optimize the Ascension ceremony to allow Bologue to explore the Ethereal Realm smoothly, and Bologue naturally became the Pioneer of this reform.

Mamo initially thought Bologue might refuse, as the Undying Body cannot avoid mental and spiritual distortions, but Bologue agreed nevertheless.

For Bologue, the Ascension ceremony is not just an exploration of the Ethereal Realm but also a rare opportunity to directly face an Astronaut.

Currently, Bologue has many questions he’d like to sort out.

"With soaring flames climbing into the clouds!"

After a raucous voice, Palmer pushed open the door with his electric guitar, and Bologue instinctively closed the book, remaining unfazed.

"Are you still researching those matters?" Palmer saw Bologue still working, "Another Evil Spirit?"

"Yes."

Bologue wasn’t lying; writing the "Origin Manual" and exploring the world were part of his daily work, but the "other Evil Spirit" was what he had been focusing on recently.

Without any preparation, Bologue naturally began to chat with Palmer.

"This guy’s actions remind me of some old friends."

"Is that why you pay so much attention to it?" Palmer couldn’t recall any old friends of Bologue that would remind him of such things, "Who?"

Bologue paused to recall his first year of work.

"Man-eater."