Endless Debt

In the following week, Bologue's life was very routine. Each day he reported to the Order Bureau, glanced at Aimou to check her condition, then discussed preparations for the upcoming triple trials with Lebius, and occasionally visited Palmer.

In fact, Bologue only visited Palmer once, where he observed him treating the Border Sanatorium as if it were his own home, mingling closely with the nurses every day.

Seeing Palmer in such high spirits, Bologue deeply realized that he shouldn't have been concerned about him.

Since Teda was still missing, the Sixth Group had taken over Bologue's work. During this period, Bologue was essentially on vacation, giving him plenty of time each day to improve himself.

After finishing the necessary tasks each day, Bologue would immerse himself in the practice room, training his Secret Energy and Perception of Ether there.

Nowadays, Bologue had improved significantly in various abilities, even achieving the precision needed to craft mechanical watches, though there were still some minor discrepancies in details.

Fortunately, during battles, Bologue rarely summoned such precise weapons; his current abilities were already sufficient for combat.

After reviewing the data and learning that his Blessing's form of resurrection was time regression, Bologue also noticed the names given by people to this unique Blessing.

Time Reversing Axis.

A unique, cyclic, and independent timeline.

Bologue liked this term; it was much more accurate than vaguely using terms like Undying Body and Resurrection.

Afterward, Bologue also took the data to ask Lebius about some details, such as the unknown situations that might be encountered, mentioned by the person covered under "information concealment."

Lebius didn't know much more about it either. In his words, when the Order Bureau discovered the Blessing · Time Reversing Axis, Lebius himself might not have even been born.

However, during the discussion with Lebius, Bologue deduced some information himself.

First, it's important to know that this data about the Time Reversing Axis was compiled decades ago, when Bologue was not yet a Condenser, merely an unwilling-to-die Debtor.

The Time Reversing Axis still has many undiscovered secrets. One point of doubt is that after Bologue ascended to become a Condenser and fell into death, his time wasn't reset to the stage before he became a Condenser.

Moreover, subsequent self-training, increases in Ether Affinity, and other enhancements were not reset either.

Bologue speculated that each time regression keeps him in his optimal state, and every increase in power refreshes the reset time node.

Standing in the vast practice room, Bologue followed these conjectures to verify his idea.

At this moment, on the ground before Bologue lay a row of Alchemy Potions, all taken from the Sublimation Furnace Core. Their effects varied widely, but all could directly or indirectly enhance the ability of a Condenser.

Alchemy Potions generally have strong side effects, and rarely do Condensers use these potions directly, but Bologue didn't care about that.

Now Bologue considered something else: if he utilized Alchemy Potions, that is, many external forces, to make himself powerful, would his time regression reset to this enhanced state?

In fact, from previous battles, Bologue had long deduced the answer: he would only be reset to his normal state, with all enhancements removed.

Yet, Bologue maintained a rigorous experimental mindset. After a brief reflection, he gulped down these potions one by one.

Like a drunkard, after drinking a few bottles, Bologue clearly felt something was off, as bottles and jars rolled everywhere. Ether surged and roared within the Alchemy Matrix.

Bologue waved his hand to summon, and the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid proliferated into a dense tangle of steel thorns, soaring in all directions.

Centered on Bologue, a ten-meter radius killing web was constructed, the sound of it slicing through the air echoing continuously, while the ground beneath was carved with countless grooves.

Dust filled the air.

Bologue raised an eyebrow; the feeling of taking potions was rather good. If he had the support of Aimou's Shared Chord Body, Bologue believed his combat power could rise significantly.

However, today's experimental goal wasn't to see how strong he could be. After confirming the enhancement from the Alchemy Potions, Bologue reached for a short-barreled shotgun.

Taking a deep breath, Bologue pressed the gun's muzzle under his chin, pulled the trigger without a hint of hesitation.

With a gunshot, Bologue's head exploded, turning into a rain of blood that painted the ground red.

The headless body lost strength and fell backward, but before Bologue completely collapsed, the Time Reversing Axis had already activated.

With all enhancements, Bologue was now in his strongest state. Thus, his first death would lead to an exceedingly rapid resurrection.

The scattered blood began to reverse flow, the shattered flesh reassembled, consciousness began to revive.

The falling figure paused, the swarm of snakes supported Bologue's body, reestablishing him upright.

Touching his own face to confirm his revival, Bologue wrote and revised on paper.

This is a record written by Bologue himself, and it has filled several pages.

After all, one cannot die many times in a short period, so Bologue dies once or twice every day to test his Blessing and keep a record.

After repeated testing, Bologue could confirm one thing: after his death, the amplification effects of the Alchemy Potion would be removed, but likewise, the side effects would also be removed. It could be said that Bologue would return to the state before drinking the Alchemy Potion.

However, if not completely dead and only partially injured, the injuries would revert, not affecting the overall benefits of the Alchemy Potion.

Another thing that Bologue can completely confirm is that these external gains, either direct or indirect, would not be counted in the best state.

Only the improvements from Bologue himself would be recorded by the Blessing and would reset upon death.

"Salt, sulfur, mercury, body, mind, spirit..."

Bologue murmured to himself.

The next significant boost for Bologue could only come from the benefits of the threefold trials.

Like advancing as a Condenser, it's a form of self-sublimation that can be recorded by the Blessing.

For this reason, Bologue can completely confirm that one of his major advantages is this Blessing: Time Reversing Axis.

No matter what difficulties or obstacles are encountered on the path of advancement, as long as he touches that Tier, he will record the time node and reset.

For example... the Crowned.

Bologue is unclear about what King Solomon has gone through, but as long as he can touch that sacred crown, unless he is imprisoned and forever in a state of death, he will eventually return as the Crowned.

Slapping his face, Bologue stopped thinking about such distant matters; the current threefold trials had no definite plan yet.

After applying to Lebius, Lebius forwarded the report to the Sublimation Furnace Core, where the Alchemists were preparing the materials needed for his trials.

In the past, a few days of preparation was enough, but Bologue wanted to complete all three trials in one go, which troubled the Sublimation Furnace Core a bit.

It's not that they didn't want to help, but the stockpile of materials needed some time to sort out, and they also wanted to observe Bologue's trials.

The trials of salt, sulfur, and mercury were common, but conducting all three simultaneously was a first, he wanted to record all of it carefully.

Just like before, Bologue only needed to wait for notification next.

After stretching his body vigorously, it was time to proceed to the next task.

The benefit Aimou provided to Bologue was continuous. In the state of Shared Chord Body, Bologue's affinity for Ether greatly increased, allowing him to clearly perceive those surging energies.

Consequently, during subsequent practice, Bologue's perception of Ether was significantly enhanced. Over the past week, he has been using this familiar memory to train his Ethereal Concealment.

With calm breathing and a slowed heartbeat, the body gradually sank into a silent state, and the Ether within the Alchemy Matrix similarly quieted down.

The Ethereal Radiance around Bologue began to dim until there was no more light; the Initial Activation Phenomenon was completely suppressed.

Now, Bologue's Ether reaction was compressed to the minimum, making it hard for the enemy to detect it in chaotic combat, which meant that Bologue now mastered the Extreme Technique of Ethereal Concealment.

However, as Bologue started moving, his breath gradually became chaotic, and when he swung the folding knife, the power of Ether also began to leak, eventually breaking the Ethereal Concealment.

Bologue appeared somewhat troubled; this was the current predicament he faced. He could concentrate and enter the state of Ethereal Concealment, but once he started moving, maintaining it became difficult.

"Aimou... Aimou..."

Bologue muttered softly; if he had the support of Aimou's Shared Chord Body, perhaps his training would go more smoothly.

Glancing at the time, he realized it was time to proceed to the next task, but at that moment, Bologue sharply sensed something, turning his head to see a figure on a raised platform looking at him with a complex expression.

"Yo, when did you come?"

Bologue greeted the figure, "Sido... ah no, Hart!"

Bologue had a sharp impression of Hart. After all, seeing a fuzzy fellow like Hart in recent times was rare, and he still remembered that movie with the talking dog named Sido.

Hart had gotten used to Bologue's mistaken calling of "Sido." Although he didn't know who Sido was, as if it was a nickname, upon being called that many times, he understood Bologue was addressing him.

Hart's expression was very peculiar now, and Bologue couldn't imagine reading a "what the heck" sentiment from a nearly wolf-like face.

"I was here just now," Hart swallowed and replied, "from when you started that self-kill."