บท 13: Ether particles

In a towering London building, Ivan stood within an expansive area where a piece of equipment had been installed. The power supply was active, with its indicator light flashing, poised for immediate use. Positioned behind Ivan were the Red Devil and his most trusted ally, Kerry, who reported to him.

"Master Ivan," Kerry began, "we've employed your upgraded equipment for extensive investigations and, as you instructed, we've finally located this place, which indeed exhibits strong, abnormal spatial fluctuations. Following your guidance, we've acquired this property and, to prevent any anomalies during our operation, we've also purchased the surrounding land to secure it from falling into others' hands."

Kerry couldn't help but feel a pang of regret every time he thought about the money spent on acquiring this site. It was essential to note that this was a residential area, not opulent by British aristocratic standards but still housing a considerable number of residents. Purchasing this land had come at double the regular price, and compensating the residents for demolition had added to the costs. All in all, it had taken five or six times the standard price to secure it.

Additionally, the subsequent expenses for reconstructing the area under the guise of a hospital had been substantial. Despite all the calculations, Kerry couldn't shake the feeling that this venture was a significant financial loss.

Ivan could discern Kerry's reluctance and was well aware of his thoughts. However, to Ivan, the value of the precious gem far outweighed mere wealth. Even if the cost had been tenfold, a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold, Ivan wouldn't have hesitated to spend it. His wealth had grown to the point where it was beyond quantification, and problems solvable with money were not real problems.

"Kerry, the money we've spent is an investment to generate more wealth. We've already amassed substantial riches, and a minor setback won't deter us. Furthermore, this land's value is destined to appreciate over time. Who knows, we might still strike it rich in the future," Ivan reassured him.

While Ivan could issue orders to others without a second thought, Kerry was a special case. Having been under Ivan's care since childhood, he held a unique place in Ivan's heart, and Ivan didn't want to create any resentment.

Kerry, however, continued to wear a discontented expression, silently musing to himself, "You're not the one footing the bill. You don't appreciate the value of money, even though you've amassed a fortune."

"Alright, let's prepare and initiate the device upon my command. Let's uncover what's concealed here," Ivan declared decisively, unwilling to prolong the wait.

Kerry hesitated momentarily and made one final plea, "Master Ivan, we remain uncertain about the nature of what lies within and the potential risks involved. I still believe it's prudent to send others in first to ensure your safety. Please reconsider."

Ivan's resolve remained unshaken. "No need for further persuasion. I've made up my mind; I will venture in personally."

While others remained unaware of the contents within, Ivan knew they concealed ether particles. Sending others in could risk possession by these ether particles, potentially alerting the dark elf king, Malekith, and even attracting the attention of Heimdall, the all-seeing guardian of Asgard. Ivan's plans would be compromised.

Recognizing the gravity of his tone, Ivan offered reassurance, saying, "Don't worry, Kerry. Azazel is with me; he'll ensure my safety. You know how formidable Azazel has become. With him by my side, there's hardly anything that can threaten me. I've also prepared an array of life-saving tools in his personal space, along with various weapons and equipment to handle any contingencies."

Kerry understood the futility of his attempts to dissuade Ivan but made one last effort. Seeing his persuasion fail once more, he turned away and ensured that preparations were in order, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Ivan attached immense importance to this endeavor. After Kerry departed, he meticulously inspected his belongings. Finally, he retrieved a small box from his bag, unlocked it with a password, and revealed its contents—three vials of blue liquid, emitting an enchanting, psychedelic glow.

These vials contained CPH4, a substance obtained through extensive resources and years of effort. It was extracted from pregnant women after 24 weeks of pregnancy. After Ivan's prior explanations, Kerry invested heavily, establishing over a thousand hospitals to expedite the extraction process. Although they fell just short of the 100-gram requirement, they had amassed 90 grams, which Ivan then dissolved to create these three vials.

While Ivan's experiments had confirmed that CPH4 could indeed enhance the brain's development, he remained cautious about self-injecting it. He was mindful of the risk portrayed in the superhuman narrative: enhanced brain development at the cost of cellular betrayal due to insufficient nutrition, a process unstoppable once initiated, leading to emotional suppression as reason took over. Ivan did not wish to become devoid of emotions like a machine.

Aware of these risks, Ivan sought a solution. He had chosen Ether particles or reality gems as his answer. In his view, the Reality Gem's function was to transform reality and existence. Though initially manifested as the red fluid by the dark elves, Ivan believed it to be a derivative of the gem's true potential. They had not yet discovered the correct way to harness its power.

Ivan's current plan was to collaborate the Reality Gem with CPH4 to enhance his brain development, albeit not to the extent depicted in the superhuman narrative. Once he reached a certain level, he would employ the Reality Gem's ability to toggle between illusion and reality to halt the process.

Moreover, using the Reality Gem in this manner would tap into the red fluid's energy, preventing cellular betrayal due to nutrient scarcity. Concerns about Malekith's consciousness within the ether particles did not trouble Ivan; he believed that with his heightened mental power, he could erase Malekith's presence and claim the Reality Gem as his own.

Despite countless iterations and exhaustive preparations, Ivan knew success was uncertain. It was a high-stakes gamble, risking his own life. Triumph would grant him incredible power, elevating him above most on Earth and even in the universe. Yet failure could result in catastrophic consequences, from bursting due to ether particle energy to mental breakdown from excessive brain development.

Understanding the peril, Ivan had chosen to embark on this gamble. He recognized the impending dangers facing Earth—formidable foes like Thanos, and Darkseid, and cosmic threats like star-devouring entities. The thought of facing such adversaries filled him with trepidation. With his current strength, escape was not an option. Thus, he had chosen to seize the opportunity and take the risk. Regret was not an option, even in the face of failure.

"Let's commence"

Following Ivan's command, the team swiftly initiated the equipment. All components were connected to the power supply and began their operation. The central machines were equipped with energy crystals extracted from the cosmic cube.

As the machines hummed to life, the energy crystals emitted a brilliant blue light. Suddenly, several blue beams converged, forming a small, fist-sized wormhole before them. Gradually, the wormhole expanded, ultimately forming a two-meter-wide space portal, large enough for a person to pass through.

Ivan had prepared himself for this spectacle, maintaining his composure. However, the others couldn't hide their curiosity, gazing at the portal in anticipation of what lay beyond.

With the appearance of the space portal, Ivan wasted no time. He confidently stepped into it, with the Red Devil closely following suit, vigilant and prepared for any imminent danger.

Emerging on the other side of the portal, Ivan and the Red Devil found themselves in a dark, disorienting space where discerning direction was impossible. They proceeded cautiously, but it didn't take long for Ivan to identify their target.

Directly ahead, a swirling mass of red fluid floated in the air, radiating a subtle luminescence and continually morphing—a source of profound mystery.

"It's here, just as I suspected" Ivan exclaimed with excitement, a culmination of extensive effort and determination. Although he was exhilarated, he remained composed, recognizing the inherent danger of these ether particles. He signalled to the Red Devil to halt and maintain a protective barrier.

The Red Devil comprehended the signal and, using his spatial abilities, erected a protective barrier around the fluid. The fluid occasionally brushed against the barrier as it transformed, but didn't attempt to breach it.

Satisfied that no immediate danger was present, Ivan relaxed slightly, focusing on the red fluid before him.