Charles Mavis was a living legend in the medicine industry. His contributions surpassed that of the current head of the Department of Medicine, Chester Cornfield.

Before he came here, he only thought that there was a severe sickness that he has to heal using his medical knowledge.

He had never imagined learning another Secret Art that even came from a junior of his clan. He diligently learns the Art and realized that this can never be attempted to anyone other than Wallace who had made ample preparations for this.

As a matter of fact, the prisoners that were sent here never managed to complete the operation due to their weak life force.

These prisoners were already magicians and they didn't even last for an hour of operation.

The last one who managed to survive was only because Charles didn't intend to pursue it further. At most, he just made use of his soul and spirit to practice on a way of handling it.

He never tried to tear it which allowed him to survive.

Right now, he was at the critical part of the operation the tearing of Wallace's soul and spirit to be transferred on the other body.

'This life force... This soul and spirit... How can someone have this level of attainment in their bodies? Is he related to the rumored Celestial Beings?'

This only passed briefly to his mind as he continued the operation.

***

Wallace wasn't sure what was happening to him but he was definitely feeling his soul being ripped and he almost unconsciously defended himself and activate his Astral Core.

Luckily, one of the doctor's magic formation somehow tried to restrain him which he immediately realized and calmed himself down.

It would be a problem if he fully activated his magic defense and astral core's power during the operation. It may not only hurt the doctor but also himself.

'Calm down... Calm down... Urgh!'

He felt it. His life force was weakened and he was sure that a part of him has been ripped apart.

It didn't take long before the doctor's attention turned to his other body. He realized this because the doctor's Soul Art and Spirit Art pressing down on him lessened by a huge degree.

'It should be almost over... I'll leave it to you, doctor...'

Now that the most critical part was over, Wallace can now have a rest to bring back the life force that he had lost together with a part of his soul and spirit...

***

Percival and Avery had been on the run for several days already. They already lost the count since they haven't seen the sun for days and they stopped bothering to count.

It felt like the deep and dark dungeon they moved into using the Sealed Mana Artifact was created to be a maze and nest to some unknown creatures.

Anyway, the only source of light inside the place were the crystals growing around almost in every corner of the building.

They were now in tattered clothes and the previous majestic presence they both exude was long gone...

"Are you still alive?"

Avery asked Percival who was now lying down due to recover his strength. He was more powerful than the lady and even though he wanted to save his strength to avoid getting backstabbed by this lady, the creatures they were fighting just keeps getting stronger.

Luckily, the lady seems to be in the same condition as she was aware that without him, she'll be unable to leave this place in a complete piece. So during all the time that they spent here, she more or less becomes cooperative to Percival's instruction.

Even if she was told to act as bait several times to defeat some chimera, Percival didn't have to repeat himself and she will act accordingly.

"Mhmm..."

"You should already have a guess about this place we're into..."

"Mhmm..." Percival doesn't seem to have plans to waste his saliva at the moment.

"This should be a laboratory with some blasphemous goals..."

Avery seriously said.

The man-eating plant they defeated by burning its core, the several chimeras they defeated, and the structure of some rooms and facilities they found inside this underground base gave all clues...

"I'm not sure how long had passed when this laboratory was made but the Sealed Mana Artifact I used was definitely older than my grandfather... This place doesn't make sense..."

Avery softly said as she had seen one of the facilities that seem to have the purpose of incubating some unknown species and she guessed that they were the chimera's origin after meeting one of them.

A bear with a tail of a scorpion, bat wings, and eyes of an eagle at the back of its head doesn't seem be natural occurrence however she look into it.

They first thought that it was only an evolved Mana beast but the way the other parts of their bodies was fixed into doesn't seem to be naturally grown there.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"I heard you... I saw them as well. Stop thinking about the origin of this place. Don't waste your energy on that. Just find another exit..."

"Hmph! You even called yourself a headmaster... What's with that way of thinking, don't you know that learning the origin of this place may allow us to learn how to get out of this place?"

Percival went silent and Avery gloatingly looked at the middle-aged man. She didn't noticed when he said 'another exit'.

She rejoiced deep in her heart as she felt like she defeated him the first time.

Anyway, she was like this since they weren't in a battle anyway. Once a battle started, she will behave and follow the man's commands.

While she was thinking how perceptive she was about their current predicament, Percival answered him.

"The room where we first arrived here was the first exit we found..."

"What?!"

Percival didn't bother to explain as he walked away leaving her behind to follow.

"Wait! Explain it to me... Shouldn't we going back instead?"

The man didn't stopped and continued walking while ignoring the lady. He even dared her to go back there. Of course, she didn't take such obvious taunt.

Soon, they met another chimera as they busied themselves fighting it. It was now a mix of a snake with other three more heads of different species of snake and a it also has a tail of an alligator.

There was also a folded butterfly wings behind it even though it looks so impossible for this being to fly. The thinness of the wings felt like it would just be ripped apart by a strong wind.

"Stay behind me... Ready your Piercing Vortex!"

Percival quickly instructed. He was taking every fight with seriousness and instructs the most efficient method of eliminating their opponents. It was to conserve energy and always be ready with multiple battles.

***

Avalon could not quantify the life force of a being but through Veda's help. It was able to monitor Wallace's status.

[ Your user is under a weakened state after the mysterious medical treatment he just had. ]

[ Is it life threatening? ]

[ No. Not even a quarter of his life force was removed. He can repeat the same medical treatment about two more times without suffering significant problem in his life force. He will heal naturally. ]

[ Understood. Please, continue to monitor him. ]

[ Fine. ]

[ Thank you. ]

Veda went silent before it started to converse with Avalon again.

[ Do you want to be like me, a superior Artificial Intelligence? ]

[ Negative. The user is happy at the current me. ]

[ Fine. Suit yourself. ]

After a few more hours, Veda reported the current situation.

[ There's two identical life force coming from inside the room. ]