"What is that black tower... what exactly is it?" Merka gazed at the twisted and distorted mysterious black tower in the distance, feeling a spontaneous urge to move away from there, while an unstoppable sense of retreat emerged within his heart.

He was very shocked. Even before entering, his body was already sending signals of fear, which was highly illogical.

"That is the highest research institute of the laboratory - the No Smoke Zone."

The shadow narrated the story of the No Smoke Zone. Its long tone made it sound as if it were recounting an unsung epic.

"There, countless angels are sealed..."

"Preserving all the research findings recorded in the laboratory..."

"All the secrets of Acadia can be answered there."

"...At the same time, it is probably the most dangerous place in all of Acadia now."

"This might be why Oedipus decided to place the backdrop there."

"It's not just the danger in the objective world, but also the danger in the subjective world."

"There, discussing the difference between reality and illusion is foolish."

"Illusion is reality, reality is illusion."

"Your most feared nightmares will climb out from the depths of your dreams and come to claim your soul."

"And those sealed angels have quietly sharpened their fangs, waiting for the arrival of visitors."

"Turing."

The shadow shifted its gaze from Merka to Turing.

Although it was unclear if it was smiling at Turing, Merka could tell that its words were filled with kindness and gentleness.

"Um, elder, are you calling me?"

Turing raised an eyebrow, cautiously turning her head to the shadow, asking hesitantly.

Turing didn't quite understand what the shadow and Merka had just talked about, she felt that Merka could understand those things for her.

"Yes."

"Girl, this is the ultimate test for you to examine your inner self."

The shadow kindly told Turing, like an old grandmother guiding her juniors.

"For someone with no inner confusion, the No Smoke Zone poses no danger."

"But for you, its danger level may exceed even that of the battle with Beezelbub."

"Remember what I am saying, once you go in there, never deceive yourself. You must gather courage to face your inner self."

"Do not hope for what does not belong to you, nor cling to a fate that is not yours."

"Do not end up like Eve, until the moment of death..."

Boom!

A sudden loud noise came from a distant huge reef, interrupting Merka and Turing who were engrossed in listening to the shadow speak, startling both of them.

"What is... that?"

Merka looked suspiciously towards the reef, casting a puzzled look at the shadow.

"It should be the tidal power generator."

"Acadia has prospered for thousands of years, relying solely on oil fuel is no longer sufficient."

"So, a long time ago, I and backdrop built some generators on the uninhabited west coast to produce energy."

The shadow flashed to the distant reef, calling out to Merka and Turing.

"Do you want to come and see the ancient generators, they are quite spectacular."

"..."

Merka hesitated for a moment, exchanged a glance with Turing, then followed suit.

Two lovely figures, one black and one red, strolled on the beach sprinkled with blue light, leaving behind two pairs of footprints, one deep and one shallow.

Although the current situation was pressing, Merka believed that since the shadow invited him, there must be a reason for it. It would not do something meaningless.

"What...?"

Crossing the reef, seeing the immensely huge generator, Merka realized that the shadow's description of magnificence was not just mere words.

Thousands of tentacles extended over the sea, forming a terrifying machinery that Merka, solely based on modern scientific knowledge, could not understand.

Those tentacles floated on the sea surface, mechanically rising and falling with the waves.

Enormous magical fluctuations surged from those tentacles, like straight drills shooting into the sky, piercing straight into the top of the black tower next to the beach.

"You see it too."

"That is wireless charging technology, perhaps something you still can't comprehend."

"But know this, if you follow the threads of these magical fluctuations, you will find backdrop."

"Go, Merka."

The shadow patted Merka's shoulder, whispering quietly.

"I know your inner strength far surpasses Turing's. You will surely overcome this tower of desolation."

"Remember to take care of that child, she needs you."