Deep within the underground depths of the Snezhnaya Capital, in an absolute forbidden zone that even the howling blizzards could not touch, the air was as thick as congealed grease. There were no windows here; the only light source came from dim, cool blue light strips embedded within the walls, barely outlining the contours of the room—a secret chamber hidden deep within the foundations of the palace. The air was permeated with the scent of rust that not even disinfectant could fully mask, the pungent odor of chemical reagents, and a deeper, soul-stirring metallic tang originating from the Abyss.
A flag hung upon the cold metal wall. It was not adorned with Snezhnaya's icy blue background and the sword and rose; rather, it bore a somber lead-gray base, centered with a massive, intricately structured dark gold gear, at the heart of which was inlaid a fractured one-eyed motif. The restoration flag of Khaenri'ah hung beneath the very eyelids of the Tsaritsa, like a silent mockery.
An experimental workbench occupied the greater part of the room. Under the glaringly pale shadowless lamps, rows of test tubes, beakers, and distillation vessels reflected a frigid light. In the central low-temperature incubation tank, several sealed sample tubes floated, labeled with heart-pounding words: "Genetic Material Sample - Cryo-Bloodline Purification Sequence." Beside it, within a more complex apparatus, a viscous, purplish liquid enveloped an irregular multi-faceted crystal, inside of whi…
Chapter 186