66 Going home
Authors Note-
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Although the Cradle of Rebirth could be considered Ivan's magnum opus, it still possesses some imperfections, according to Ivan himself. In his perspective, it remains incomplete. Every time a mutant passes away, the Red Devil must hurry to retrieve their soul, and the pace must be swifter. This process can be quite bothersome.
In cases where mutants meet their demise, the Red Devil often finds himself too preoccupied to act in time. If he delays, the soul may become irretrievable. It's crucial to remember that there are deities in this world, including gods responsible for overseeing souls like Shri Lanka, Anubis, Yama, and more, even though their current whereabouts remain uncertain. The realms of the afterlife and heaven undoubtedly still exist. Ivan's endeavors almost resemble competition with them for resources, yet his efforts are somewhat sluggish, leaving room for others to seize.
Ivan has meticulously examined the descriptions of heaven, the afterlife, and associated angels, demons, and gods within this world. On the surface, it's commonly believed that virtuous individuals ascend to heaven upon death, while the wicked descend to the afterlife.
However, this notion is, in reality, a falsehood. As per Ivan's conjecture, both ascending to heaven and descending to the afterlife are methods to recruit soldiers for the gods, but the cultivation methods of these two major forces differ, resulting in distinct requirements for the souls.
Angels require faith, respect, and adoration from others for their cultivation. Good-hearted individuals meet these criteria and are thus guided to heaven, where they are molded into servants. On the contrary, demons in hell seek human fear and revulsion. Only those who exhibit extreme malevolence and cunning qualify, while those in the middle of the moral spectrum are sent to hell, where they may, if fortunate, be reborn, or, if unlucky, be devoured by malevolent entities.
Mutants possess an array of extraordinary abilities that can influence the soul in various ways. They are markedly more potent than ordinary souls, making them vulnerable to certain entities. Once a soul enters hell, Ivan's ability to recover it diminishes.
During an attempt to reclaim a soul, the Red Devil once encountered the Ghost Rider, who had appropriated numerous souls. A confrontation ensued, with the Red Devil utilizing his abilities and inflicting injuries upon the Ghost Rider. However, the Ghost Rider swiftly recovered from any harm, and the flames adorning his body were agonizingly unrelenting.
Luckily Evil Knight remained incapable of harming the Red Devil, as the latter could conceal himself within an alternate dimension, rendering him impervious to attack. Even the Eye of Judgment couldn't fulfill its role due to the spatial isolation of power. Ultimately, the Red Devil utilized his spatial abilities to grasp the elusive soul and return it to Skull Island.
According to the Red Devil, the Ghost Rider he encountered rode a fiery skeletal horse, likely the first-generation Ghost Rider, Carter Slade, until Johnny Blaze assumed the mantle.
It's essential to mention that mutants who undergo rebirth can rectify their inherent defects. For instance, the mischievous character from the original work, who involuntarily drained the life force of others upon contact, can regain control of her abilities if reborn in the Cradle of Rebirth. Now, she can interact with others without absorbing their life force.
This conclusion was founded on the experiences of mutants resurrected through Ivan's experiments. Ivan speculates that the genes used in cloning their bodies have been enhanced by the magical energy from the phalanx. The phalanx likely represents the remnants of the Celestials' energy that could fortify mutant genes while substituting certain elements secreted by a mother's body during fetal development, promoting healthy growth.
With these thoughts in mind, Ivan's gaze wandered toward another direction. If he could peer through the wall, he would spot an incubator containing a fetus, his unfortunate son.
Ivan lamented the scarcity of energy stored in the phalanx. It sufficed to bolster some cells but proved inadequate to fortify a fetus already as large as a rice bowl. Ivan contemplated using the energy converted by the energy converter but found it always lacked a trace of vitality. It was inexplicable why he couldn't utilize it to fortify his body with the necessary trace elements.
Returning to his primary concern, Ivan yearned to expedite the summoning of deceased mutants' souls to Skull Island. His research on King Kong and the Skull Lizard's genetics had caused a slowdown in this particular aspect. Ivan decided to shift his focus, tackling the soul-summoning issue first. He already had some ideas in mind.
Ivan recalled the rich tradition of soul-summoning in his native China, one of the world's oldest countries with a wealth of spells and incantations dedicated to souls. In the village where Ivan grew up in his previous life, elderly individuals possessed simple techniques to call back souls. When children in the family became frightened and fell ill with high fever, even needles, and medicines couldn't help. They would seek out an elder who would successfully retrieve the souls.
Since ordinary elderly individuals possess this soul-summoning knowledge, there must exist more advanced techniques across China. Ivan resolved to visit China, seeking answers and, if possible, contributing to his former homeland. Even though this world's China might not be the same as his original homeland.
"Red Queen, come forth," Ivan called out while standing in front of the glass window.
As his words faded, a faint buzzing filled the air, and minuscule entities, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, converged toward the center. Within moments, they assumed humanoid form, akin to liquid taking shape. After a brief ripple of transformation, a little girl with red hair emerged.
"Dr. Ivan, Red Queen is at your service"
She wasn't a mere illusion but a tangible form created by nanorobots. However, she represented a sub-entity rather than the Red Queen's primary program.
"Tomorrow, I'm departing for China. Although I can have the Red Devil bring me back periodically, there are many responsibilities in the laboratory. During my absence, you will oversee the laboratory and ensure its smooth operation."
"It is my honor to serve you. Rest assured, Dr. Ivan, I will maintain all laboratory functions and ensure their smooth operation."
"Excellent. Inform Azazel and Kerry for me. Ask Azazel to wait for me outside the laboratory tomorrow morning and request Kerry's assistance in preparing the necessary materials."
The Queen received a blank piece of paper from Ivan, bowed, and then gracefully withdrew.
Ivan retrieved a box from a nearby cabinet. As he opened it, he began to pack items, including clothing, magical potions, and magic artifacts. The process took an hour to complete.
In reality, these tasks could be handled by Kerry. However, for some inexplicable reason, whenever he thought of returning to China, he experienced a sense of restless nostalgia, akin to a child returning to their hometown after many years. It felt like home, yet it wasn't.
Throughout the night, Ivan struggled to find sleep, tossing and turning as a multitude of thoughts swirled in his mind. He recollected his life journey from birth to the present, only managing to drift off in the middle of the night.
Early the following morning, Ivan's internal clock roused him on time. After dressing and eating breakfast, he picked up the prepared box and exited the door. Red Devil was already waiting, and he stepped forward upon Ivan's arrival.
Without many words, Ivan reached out and grabbed the Red Devil's shoulder, saying, "First, we need to stop by Kerry's. I have something to collect."
The Red Devil swiftly activated his abilities, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the English manor. Upon the news reaching Kerry, he arrived with a stack of documents in hand.
Kerry handed the documents to Ivan and remarked, "Master Ivan, this is the information you requested. China has recently concluded its civil war and established a new country. This information is invaluable to them, covering various aspects such as machinery and technology development, as well as the location of ore deposits and oil fields."
Ivan smiled and replied, "No problem, these materials are worth sharing. I'm heading to China to accomplish some tasks, and I'll need their support for both experimentation and research. Sharing these resources won't be a loss."
Kerry offered his support, saying, "As long as you're satisfied. I've already notified the Chinese side. They will send someone to pick you up, and if you require anything, feel free to let me know. The Chinese side will do its best to accommodate your needs. If it involves specialized equipment that China can't provide, just inform me, and I'll arrange for it."
Ivan held complete trust in Kerry's capabilities and nodded in agreement, saying, "Excellent, you've done well. That's all for now. It's getting late, and I must be on my way."
Kerry led the way to a private small airport in the rear. "Master, I've arranged a plane for you because we need to conceal Azazel's abilities."
Ivan smiled and expressed his approval. Kerry's thoroughness in ensuring safety was commendable. He boarded the plane with the Red Devil, and the pilot soon initiated their flight to China.
Through the plane's skylight, Ivan could admire the breathtaking scenery below. However, his thoughts were far from the picturesque landscape. Instead, he was filled with anticipation and apprehension about returning to a home that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
