Conjoining Sorcerer (3)
The Third Seat of the Ability Awakening Brigade. Immortal Mikal Zellich.
A psychic possessing immortality based on extreme regeneration, and a superhuman who had been captured by the Conjoining Sorcerer and dissected alive.
Zellich, whom even Bernard had given up on surviving, was still alive.
Reduced to only half of his brain floating inside a tank after his entire body had been dissected.
[So that’s it. You came because that brat Bernard asked you to~]
The left hemisphere floating in the tank wobbled as it slowly emitted thought waves.
[What a thoughtful kid. Well, he was always respectful toward me even back when he was the youngest member among the Pioneers.]
[I once slipped him some spending money whenever I had the chance, and it seems he didn’t forget the favor. Quite rewarding, really.]
“This hardly seems like the time to be rambling about that.”
Lennok stared at the babbling brain inside the tank with an incredulous expression and asked:
“No matter how immortal you are, shouldn’t you already be dead at that point? Why are you still alive with your entire body dissected and only your brain remaining?”
[What, were you hoping I’d be dead? Well, understandable enough. Who would want to take responsibility for a broken toy defeated by the Conjoining Sorcerer?]
Zellich laughed loudly as the left hemisphere bobbed around.
[Sorry, but I’ve experienced things far worse than this in my life. Something like this doesn’t bother me at all.]
[I became numb to pain and death quite a while ago. Deep down, maybe I even slightly wish for it............ Wahaha, just kidding!]
Zellich continued after making a tasteless joke to himself.
[I don’t want to die, but staying alive in this state isn’t entirely my choice either. This would technically qualify as unlawful occupation and embezzlement of bodily property through coercion.]
[There’s no such crime in continental law.]
[Hm? What was that?]
“Nothing.”
After lightly patting Davi, who couldn’t hold back the rebuttal, Lennok glanced inside his coat.
“If the Conjoining Sorcerer dissected your body, where are the rest of your body parts?”
Then Lennok immediately corrected his own question.
“No, how are you communicating with me this fluently with only half of your left brain remaining?”
Even if he accepted that Zellich, possessing immortality, could survive with only a brain remaining—
It was still undeniably strange that only half of that brain remained and yet he could converse with Lennok perfectly normally.
Though the cerebral cortex was certainly important for psychic abilities, wasn’t this far too intact?
[That’s because the left hemisphere plays a far larger role than the right in understanding and expressing language.]
Yet Zellich’s answer was far more detailed than expected.
[There’s no difference in receiving and understanding information, but turning that into output is the left hemisphere’s role.]
“......”
[I don’t know why the Sorcerer specifically severed and preserved only my left hemisphere, but the fact that I can communicate with you like this isn’t strange at all.]
It felt as though the left hemisphere was staring directly at Lennok.
[Actually, from my perspective, you’re the strange one. You’re not even part of the Brigade, yet you react this sensitively to a psychic’s thought waves......... If you hadn’t explained yourself, I would’ve assumed you were an incredibly powerful innate psychic captured by the Conjoining Sorcerer.]
“Captured by the Sorcerer?”
[The Conjoining Sorcerer has a habit of collecting and dissecting people with potential or rare talents.]
Zellich answered bitterly.
[That’s why I ended up like this after losing to him. My ability is rather unusual even among trait-type powers, so I’ve been hounded quite a lot because of it.]
“By hounded, do you mean the kind of thing where you cooperated in the Cult’s Immortal Body experiments?”
[............Hm, it seems Bernard told you about that.]
For a moment, the reaction of the left hemisphere noticeably slowed.
Did that mean the Immortal Body experiments were an even more unpleasant experience to Zellich than his current condition?
From the horrors left behind in this operating theater, Lennok found that hard to believe.
“I know the Immortal Body experiments were a project to create the High Priest’s physical body.”
Lennok’s eyes shone intensely as he gripped the tank.
“What exactly happened there? Did you personally meet the High Priest in exchange for cooperating with the Immortal Body experiments?”
The Immortal Body experiments were human experiments conducted by the Cult to create a body capable of anchoring the High Priest to reality.
Wasn’t Dylan O’Casey of the Antares Mercenary Corps one of the victims created through those experiments?
Considering Dylan’s absurd regenerative abilities, one could easily infer just how immense the concept of immortality pursued through the experiments truly was.
And it was certain that Zellich had served as one of the samples in the process.
If Lennok uncovered the details behind those experiments, he might be able to regulate Dylan’s regenerative powers and restore him.
Or perhaps even copy the regenerative ability itself and grant it to Lennok.
[You know an awful lot about the Immortal Body experiments. Even the people involved in the experiments would hesitate to speak openly about things beyond that point.............]
However, despite Lennok’s demands, Zellich only hesitated and could not answer easily.
[I’m sorry. I don’t know the specific process of the experiments very well. I merely provided my biological information to them.]
“....”
[At the time, there were several samples besides me that bordered on immortality. A True Ancestor vampire, a Seven-Calamity Long-Lived species, even phantom beasts that had mastered Life-Prolonging Arts.]
“There were other samples besides you?”
[The Immortal Body experiments attempted to combine the biological information of those samples, identify the governing laws, and apply them to the human body. I do feel responsible for the victims created during that process, but................]
Zellich rotated his left hemisphere uncomfortably.
[How should I put this? At the time, I couldn’t oppose the Cult. More precisely, I trusted the High Priest that much.]
“.....”
[There aren’t many beings in this world capable of claiming divinity. Even if he failed, if he truly tried to save the world....... I simply believed he might also be able to save me.]
The thought waves that had remained lighthearted throughout suddenly sank into immeasurable heaviness.
Did that mean the salvation Zellich sought through the Immortal Body experiments had truly been that desperate for him?
Though he claimed he did not wish to die, the thought waves emitted by Zellich seemed to carry a wish completely opposite to those words.
As Lennok fell into thought, Zellich added something as though he had suddenly remembered.
[Ah, if you want to know more about the Immortal Body experiments, go to Larabeli. I heard the sample of the World Tree located there determined the success or failure of the experiments.]
“Larabeli’s World Tree?”
Was he referring to the plant city said to exist at the edge of the continent?
Lennok had only heard stories of that other city-state through Druids or Raphael.
[It’s a divine tree containing the greatest life force on the continent. Even the Ascendants coveted it yet failed to obtain it—the navel of the star.]
Zellich spoke as though recalling old memories.
[I feel like I heard more about the experiments too... but maybe because only half my brain remains, I can’t remember very well. Puhahaha!!]
“.....”
He certainly did seem insane from having only half a brain left.
As Lennok shook his head at the grotesque joke only Zellich could make, the floating left hemisphere spun lightly after clearing its nonexistent throat.
[I don’t have much more to tell you. If you want regenerative abilities, you’re free to take my body. As the owner, I grant permission for at least that much.]
“How absurd. Do you really think you’re in any position to claim ownership over your own body right now?”
[Hm? But didn’t you come to this operating theater to defeat the Conjoining Sorcerer?]
Lennok momentarily fell silent at Zellich’s sharp insight.
[Once the Sorcerer dies and I recover my right hemisphere, I’ll regenerate on my own. Then I’ll go back to living this damned life all over again.]
“.....”
[Well, it’s not like I want to die either, so I’m willing to cooperate with you. Until you defeat the Sorcerer, I’ll stick by your side and guide you through the interior of this horrific Life Domain.]
The left hemisphere shook itself proudly as it spoke.
[I may look like this, but I’m someone with such powerful mental fortitude that I never lost consciousness even once while the Sorcerer disassembled my entire body. I can tell you everything I saw and heard. What do you think?]
“That feels far too miraculous to explain away as mere mental strength......”
Though still doubtful, Lennok changed his mind and raised mana toward the tank.
“Fine. Until I find what I’m looking for inside the operating theater, you can accompany me.”
[Looking for something? Isn’t your goal to defeat the Sorcerer?]
Woooong!!
The moment Lennok gestured toward the tank, the container holding Zellich’s left hemisphere floated into the air.
As Lennok walked while levitating the tank beside him, it naturally followed after him.
[Oho, this energy…. You’re a mage?]
The left hemisphere inside the tank exclaimed in admiration.
[To be this sensitive to thought waves yet choose magic instead of psychic powers. Bernard really brought in an extraordinarily blessed sorcerer as reinforcement.]
“That’s enough pointless chatter. More importantly, there’s something else I want to ask regarding your condition.”
The moment they exited the writhing gallery, the corridor itself slowly shifted away from Lennok.
The operating theater’s pathways constantly changed in direction and width without pause.
Lennok had wondered right after contacting Zellich, but it seemed the Conjoining Sorcerer still had not noticed the anomaly.
“Why do you think the Sorcerer split your brain in half and preserved it separately?”
Lennok asked while walking through the corridor.
“If he wanted to study your immortality, there would be no reason to separate and preserve the left and right hemispheres. It would’ve been much better to study the ability with the cerebral cortex intact.”
[Who knows. Maybe he was worried I’d regenerate on my own inside that freezer?]
The left hemisphere bobbed as it answered.
[If the brain is split apart, psychic abilities don’t function properly. Maybe he wanted to neutralize me before beginning full-scale research.]
“......No. I don’t think that’s it.”
Walking through the corridor, Lennok muttered thoughtfully.
“A sorcerer at the Conjoining Sorcerer’s level would have countless ways to suppress psychic abilities. There’d be no reason to physically divide the brain and preserve only one side separately.”
[Hm?]
“The Sorcerer wasn’t trying to study your immortality. Rather... I think he intended to use your right hemisphere for something completely different.”
The way Zellich’s brain had been preserved was far removed from the handling of an ordinary research specimen.
The fact that only the left hemisphere had been stored separately in the freezer meant, conversely, that the right hemisphere was currently useful elsewhere.
Suddenly raising his gaze, Lennok immediately began retracing his steps.
“Don’t tell me—the surgery the Sorcerer is currently performing on his patient is....”
The moment Lennok realized it and rushed back to Anesthesia Room No. 2 where he had first awakened—
A mechanical announcement echoed from the speaker mounted on the ceiling.
[Sequential mana circuit connection with a 2 minute and 25 second interval before suturing the incision.]
[Today’s first patient surgery complete.]
“ . . . · · · !!”
The first surgery handled by the Conjoining Sorcerer had ended.
Judging by the timing, it had taken roughly fifteen minutes.
Had he truly completed the operation merely by suturing the incision?
If the Sorcerer discovered Lennok had left his place now, he would certainly try to capture him within the Domain.
There was no time.
Without having found the fragment of the Curtain, Lennok needed to decide immediately how to deal with the Sorcerer.
“Good.”
[Evan Martinez?]
Leaving Zellich floating above the tank, Lennok headed back toward the operating table where he had originally been restrained.
As he sat on the anesthesia table and snapped his fingers, the loosened restraints tightly bound his body once more.
At the same time, he deactivated the target-designation resistance he had kept active.
Returning himself to the exact state he had been in when first captured by the Sorcerer, Lennok turned toward Zellich.
“As Immortal Mikal Zellich, you won’t die just from entering a subspace, right?”
[............What exactly are you asking?]
“The Conjoining Sorcerer will return to the anesthesia room soon. If he finds you, he’ll notice the anomaly immediately.”
Lennok spoke expressionlessly.
“I’ll open a subspace, so hide there. Otherwise, there’s no way to conceal your thought waves from the Sorcerer.”
[Hide? That’s absurd from the start—]
Ignoring Zellich’s reply, Lennok gestured with his hand.
A small spatial rift opened beneath the tank and instantly swallowed Zellich whole.
A rudimentary subspace Lennok had created while training his manipulation spells.
Though inspired by Agneta to create a subspace, his mastery over it was still incomplete.
It was only barely large enough for one person, but sufficient for temporary use like this.
Considering the Sorcerer’s transcendent sensory perception, this was currently the best option.
Slurp!!
At that moment, the wall of the anesthesia room split open and the Conjoining Sorcerer walked inside.
As though he had just finished washing his hands, he wiped his gloved hands with a dry towel while surveying the room.
“Hm....…”
The Sorcerer’s eyes glinted indifferently between his surgical cap and mask.
Silently examining the room, he slowly walked forward with both hands raised.
Passing the silent Lennok, he stopped before the unconscious Tower Master slumped forward.
“......”
“I suppose we’ve reached the same level, but...”
The Sorcerer tilted up the unconscious Tower Master’s chin and peeled back his eyelids before speaking.
“I can’t understand the thought process of great archmages. Should I record even this as part of his individuality?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you deliberately knock the Tower Master unconscious again?”
The Conjoining Sorcerer’s eyes spun slowly as he looked toward the silent Lennok.
“The dosage of anesthetic I administered should have worn off exactly twelve minutes ago. Even accounting for a two-minute margin of error, he should have regained consciousness immediately after I completed the first surgery. You forcibly rendered the Tower Master unconscious again using the anesthesia room’s equipment. I can roughly guess what you were trying to do................”
Laying the Tower Master on the operating table and checking his pulse, the Sorcerer tilted his head.
“Considering the body temperature fluctuations maintained at seventy-five degrees immediately after anesthesia, the change in heartbeat, and resistance to the newly administered anesthetic—”
Slowly turning toward Lennok, the Sorcerer asked:
“Did you steal the Tower Master’s [Ember] while I was gone?”
Just from briefly examining the unconscious Tower Master’s body, he had already deduced that much?
Yet Lennok remained completely unfazed even as the Sorcerer pierced directly to the core of the matter.
‘He still doesn’t know I recovered Zellich’s left hemisphere.’
The Conjoining Sorcerer recognized that Lennok had tampered with the Tower Master, but he had not realized Lennok found Zellich.
That was likely because, regardless of Lennok releasing his target-designation resistance, the Sorcerer still could not directly search or observe him.
If the Sorcerer had yet to notice the disappearance of Zellich’s left hemisphere, there was room to exploit that.
Having finished his calculations, Lennok slowly spoke.
“So you knew about Embers despite not being a flame mage.”
“I also have interest in maximizing destructive power through preheating to reach the ultimate state.”
The Sorcerer answered indifferently as he slowly approached Lennok.
“I know that high-ranking flame archmages eventually seek new Embers to burn in place of their own Qi.”
For someone supposedly a trait-type sorcerer, his understanding of flame magic was abnormally deep.
Should that simply be understood as proof of the profound insight possessed by the Conjoining Sorcerer as one of the Federation’s Great Sorcerers?
“Ever since being captured within my Domain, you’ve spent your time stealing the Tower Master’s Ember.”
The Sorcerer’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at Lennok.
“That isn’t the behavior of a sorcerer who has given up on life. It’s preparation for surviving and planning for the future.”
“....”
“Not going to answer? Fine. That isn’t what’s important.”
“.....”
The moment the Sorcerer snapped his fingers, the operating table restraining Lennok began sliding away.
Crackkkkk...............!!
The writhing inner walls split apart as the positions of Lennok and the Sorcerer inverted and shifted deeper into the Domain.
A form of spatial movement that directly exchanged the location coordinates within the operating theater itself.
Lennok frowned at the unreal positional shift that lacked even the sensation of movement.
“Case 29541. Open Main Operating Room No. 1.”
Flash!!
Before he knew it, Lennok was lying inside a vast white chamber illuminated by blinding lights.
A space far larger and more expansive than any room he had seen inside the operating theater so far.
Complex machines stationed throughout the room turned toward Lennok as though targeting him on the operating table.
Clank!
The moment the Conjoining Sorcerer pulled a lever on the wall, the activated machines all simultaneously pivoted toward Lennok.
“Pressure reduction adjustment. Mana synchronization. Maximize mana-resistance cancellation resonance. Prepare activation up to tertiary auxiliary power chambers.”
As red measurement lines spread across Lennok’s body, targeting indicators emerged and began calculating values.
At the same time, dozens of graphs and streams of data began appearing on the screen beside the operating table.
“Open database. Sequentially record all notable characteristics mentioned from this point onward into the remarks section.”
Wearing transparent gloves on both hands, the Sorcerer looked down at Lennok with an indifferent gaze and spoke.
“Watcher of Eyes of the Blue. Final master of the Ganges Sand Labyrinth. Successor to the barrier arts of the Ascendant Jindun. Eighth-Level flame archmage.”
“Current time: 2:42:14. Commencing examination of Treadburn Evan Martinez.”
Click!
After sterilizing the needle of the ampoule in his hand, the Sorcerer’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Now then, let’s see exactly what’s residing inside that body of yours.”