"A complete and utter failure."

Another cold voice interface projected an outline like a twisted metal sculpture. "Three years of planning, a thousand pieces of high-quality soul fuel, the precious Fallen Corrupted Dragon's Origin Skeleton, and even the results of the 'Puppet Derivation' experiment... What's the result?"

"The Skeleton Master lost control and escaped. Spencer Canberra was completely destroyed. Warwick Bennett... hmph, I'm afraid he's in great danger as well."

"We put on a grand fireworks show for the Holy Light Church and the Star-Moon Church free of charge, and it even caught the attention of the Seraphim!"

All the projections, their gazes like physical probes, focused on a relatively clear figure on one side of the hall.

He was a tall "wise man" with a strange mask covering his face.

The mask is neither gold nor wood, but is made of a material as smooth as jade. It is engraved with intricate and elegant ice crystal vines and star track patterns, symbolizing the mysteries of nature and space.

He is the "Puppet Master", one of the wise men of the Enlightenment Society.

"Puppeteer," the sage in the star cloak spoke, the chill in his voice almost freezing the air. "This 'rebirth' project will be designed and led by you."

"Warwick is your most proud 'puppet-derived' creation, and Spin's transformation was also adjusted by you personally. A few third- and fourth-level professionals disrupted the ceremony. Now, how do you explain it?"

"Explain?" The puppeteer's voice came through the mask, calm and composed. He had been adept at shifting blame even before joining the Enlightenment Society. "The variables are beyond our expectations. Isn't this due to your inadequate intelligence gathering?"

"Kyle Spence, the most outstanding monk in the Holy City Monastery, has a pure affinity with Holy Light that exceeds the upper limit of deduction."

"Sister Ruby Montoya's 'Martyrdom Flame' is of such exceptional purity that it can actually trigger the arrival of the 'Seraph's Judgment'."

"Also... haven't you thoroughly studied the magical properties of that priest named Mark Stu? He was the one who completely disrupted the final energy balance point. I told you before, before the ceremony begins, we need to send someone to trap this special priest in Osborne Town!"

"special?"

The metal sculpture-like projection of the wise man made a harsh friction sound, like a sneer, "Failure is failure! Using 'variables' and 'special' to prevaricate, is this the attitude of a 'wise man'?"

"Your plan was imperfect! Your 'puppet' Warwick failed to suppress the Corrupted Dragon's will! Your actions have wasted a vast amount of the organization's resources and even drawn the highest-ranking 'Eye of Judgment' of the Church of Holy Light towards us! Do you realize the severity of this consequence?!"

"Second." A voice as cold and serpentine as a venomous snake uttered, "Puppeteer, you are responsible for this failure. In accordance with the emergency regulations of the Council of Wise Men, hand over all the core scrolls of your research on 'Puppet Derivation' magic. The Council will seal and evaluate them to ensure that this kind of... major mistake does not happen again."

The puppeteer's eyes flickered beneath his mask, but his voice remained steady. "Handing over the research data means the 'Puppet Derivatives' project will be stalled for at least five years. Without the special puppets, the 'God Creation' project will also be affected."

"This is better than having you 'weaken' the organization's existing strength again!" the Star Cloaked Sage sternly said, "This is the Council's resolution! Execute it immediately!"

A brief silence.

The blue light in the hall seemed to be a little dimmer, and the oppressive feeling was almost suffocating.

Everyone present here knows whether it is sealed or not.

In fact, other people were attracted by the research results of the "Puppeteer" and wanted to extend their influence into the field he was responsible for.

However, as a research genius, the "Puppeteer" looks down on everyone equally.

Even if we put the research results in front of these people, they won't be able to come up with anything new.

After all, the most important research ideas are in his mind.

"Okay," the puppeteer finally said, without arguing.

He raised his hand, and silver-white magic threads flowed from his fingertips, outlining a complex magic circle in the air.

Amidst the flashing light, three dark purple scrolls with ice crystal vine patterns wrapped around their surfaces slowly emerged.

He was then pulled by an invisible force and disappeared under the floor in the center of the hall, which was the core data storage vault of the Enlightenment Society.

It is just sealed and prohibited from use. All wise men are qualified to read it...

"Also," the Metal Sculpture Sage added, his tone unwavering, "As the price for this failure, you must capture a new, stable biological specimen with potential no less than Legendary for the organization within one year to compensate for the loss of the Skeleton Lord. This is your only chance to regain their trust."

"One year... Legendary creature..." the puppeteer repeated softly, the star tracks on the mask seeming to flow. "I understand."

His shadow bowed slightly, his movements elegant yet with an indescribable sense of alienation, and then slowly faded away in the blue light, as if he had never existed.

Inside the hall, the projections of the other wise men also dissipated one by one, leaving only the image of the ruins of the Witch Dragon Lake in the crystal ball and a deeper silence that was brewing a storm.

————

Wulong Lake, ruined island.

The aftermath of the energy annihilation finally subsided, leaving only devastation.

The broken bone altar and the remains of the giant beast exuded a burnt and decayed smell.

The huge empty shell of the fallen dragon lay quietly in the center of the island, covered with cracks and without a trace of spiritual light.

Ruby Montoya lay in Kyle's arms, the light-forged armor and divine majesty brought by the arrival of the Seraph had long since dissipated.

Before dissipating, Seraph used her last strength to repair her waist and abdomen that were severely injured by Warwick, as well as the overdraft damage to the source of life caused by forcibly igniting the "fire of martyrdom".

Although she was no longer seriously injured, her face was still pale, but her eyes were sharper than before, hiding a more blazing glow.

Her eyes, like two tempered blades, were fixed on Team Mark, especially glancing back and forth between Enzo, Monica, and Anna.

Dark red liquid flickered in the cracks of Enzo's lava stone armor, which had not yet completely faded, emitting a rich and pure aura of dark magic. In Ruby's perception, it was like a torch in the dark night, dazzling and blasphemous.

Monica stood a little further away, her shadow wings retracted, but the shadow magic lingering around her flowed like a living thing, carrying with it a deepness that the Holy Light instinctively repelled.

Her eyes were calm beneath her hood, and after sensing Ruby's hostile gaze, her hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of the dagger at her waist.

The bowstring of the elven longbow in Anna's hand was still humming, and a hint of shadowy fluctuations mixed in with the natural magic power also made Ruby frown. The pair of pupils that had transformed into gray and black did not look good to Ruby.

As for Mark...