Two hundred and ten years ago, Publius, who was born in Helios, met Garand, who came from the present realm.

This may be the intersection of their destinies.

It's a pity that there was no turmoil, and no two sides looked at each other at first glance and knew that the other party was their destined enemy. It's just a simple encounter.

Alchemists from the present realm came to Helios, and the alchemists of Helios welcomed them with hospitality and bid farewell to the last group of guests.

began their long seventy years of time together.

For Publius, Garand, an alchemist from the present world, was too boring, unsmiling, and uninteresting.

For Garand, an existence like Publius that is too out-of-the-box is a real alien in the alchemist's sanctuary, chattering and troublesome.

It can be said that the two look at each other and hate each other.

However, in order to cooperate in research topics and the direction in which each other is good at, the two sides have to maintain a superficial peace and close relationship, and even secretly cooperate with each other.

As the bearer of the Holy Name of the Blessed Family, Garand defied the ban of the previous Chief and secretly shared the books of the present realm he was carrying with him.

Publius, on the other hand, reciprocates the mystery of Helios.

Both sides take what they need.

A good deal.

But at the same time, it is more and more like a mockery from fate.

Obviously born in a holy place like Helios, inheriting the blood of the gods of Olympus, and at the same time having a talent that is difficult for ordinary people to achieve, but Publius does not want to stay in a dry and monotonous place like Helios, and dreams of the prosperity of the current world.

However, the alchemist who came from the present realm was limited by a short period of time, his own identity, and strict prohibitions, and he had no way to spy on the true inheritance of Helios......

It is like two frogs meeting in the dark, and the frog at the bottom of the well wants to go to the outside world, but the frog in the outside world dreams of staying in the well.

They all live in their own hell and someone else's paradise at the same time.

So, they made a pact.

The final deal was struck......

"—We performed the Eleusis Secret Rite. ”

Garland calmly explained: "Although it is stolen from Hecate's authority, it points to the realm of Demeter, the mother of the four seasons...... In other words, it is a 'reversal of gains and losses'. ”

Under the witness and auspices of their mutual friend Hedi, they exchanged the price of their fate.

And unlike others......

They swapped twice!

"Once in exchange for 'loss', once, in exchange for 'gain'—"

Garland calmly told Huai Shi, "It's not just a simple exchange of identities, but along with fate, talents, and even souls...... A thorough exchange. ”

With the secret ritual as a relay, from both positive and negative directions, a comprehensive exchange of consciousness, soul, body, and even fate is realized.

From then on, Publius became Garand, and Garand ...... Became Publius!

"Wait!"

In her contemplation, Huai Shi suddenly realized that something was wrong: if the body was only exchanged, the soul would not be able to escape the law of Helios, but if even the soul and consciousness were exchanged......

How do you know who you are?

Just a memory?

If an apple has the shape of an orange, the structure of an orange, the taste of an orange, and even the shelf life and texture are exactly the same as an orange, then it should be an orange!

It's almost like the ship of Theseus.

After the two ships have replaced each other with their decks, rails, sails, equipment, and even crews, and so on, apart from changing records and an ethereal memory, what difference is there between this and not having to change them!

"If that's the case, why do you say that you were once Publius? Maybe you're just Garland with the memories of Publius!"

"This is alchemy, isn't it, Huaishi?"

For the first time, a smile appeared on Garland's solemn face, so calm, but it made people feel cold inside: "There must be gains, but sometimes, the important thing is not what you gain, but what you lose." ”

Is the mortal iron that has become gold still the same mortal iron?

Fan Tie doesn't care!

As long as it can be golden!

Philosophical speculation has never been important in alchemy, and the so-called replacement is only a process, and the most important thing is the result.

For Publius, it was the greatest feat of his life and his escape from prison.

Long before escaping from the Lunar Prison.

He had already escaped from the cage of Helios!

Since then, their fates have been misaligned, like two intertwined straight lines that have become entangled with each other and then continue in their original direction.

What kind of entanglement happened in that tiny intersection? It doesn't matter, what matters is that they get the result they want.

Ironically, the Elusis Secret Rite, which was originally used by the devil and liars to steal other people's wealth and lives, turned out to be the birth of two great masters.

Garand, who thirsted for alchemy, had no inheritance, and Publius, who had it, had no freedom, and they might not have been able to achieve anything if they had not exchanged fate......

It's as ridiculous as winning the jackpot twice in a row.

Exchange the future of a Grand Master for the future of a Grand Master......

This wave, ah, it's TP in situ!

But immediately after, Huai Shi couldn't help but feel creepy: he finally realized that this topic was really serious!

Interfering with fate with alchemy is bound to follow the rules of alchemy.

There are gains and losses, disasters and miracles are two sides of the same coin.

Since the exchange of fates has created the emergence of two great masters, it must be accompanied by a price!

"But at what cost?"

"Fate itself is the price, Huaishi, isn't it?"

Garland seemed to be smiling, so mocking, "I am 'Garland'." What I got was everything that Garland had originally enjoyed, reputation, ability, expertise, experience, blood......

And what 'Publius' gets is the future that belongs to Publius.

Since hundreds of years ago, it has been predestined for the future—that is, what you see today, now. ”

With his words, a blood-colored flame of light rose into the sky in the distance.

Finally, it climbed to the edge of the Japanese wheel.

Touched the boundaries of the gods.

Hold!

A hurricane swept over Helios, and amid the roaring wind came the sound of ecstatic laughter.

He finally touched the edge of his 'dream'!

Hold your own destiny!

Even if it's this fate, this dream, and this oneself...... It's just a forgery from someone else!

From the beginning, the existence called Publius was the result of the scheming efforts of the alchemists of Helios.

A 'miracle' created through genetics, essentia, through the bloodline of hell, and through the secret ritual of fate!

It can be said that he himself is an existence born specifically for alchemy!

The final result of a mission dedicated to fulfilling the forbidden prayers and goals of the alchemists of Helios throughout the ages......

It was a secret that should have been kept under wraps before the exchange.

It's like the signs of Garland's own blood fever and the many dark legacies of the Blessed Family.

But after the two sides learned about it, they did not hesitate.

It's like Publius doesn't care.

In this regard, the former Garland is as happy as a glutton!

"The so-called life, no matter how colorful and how powerful it is, is just a short period of time, and it will go away with a snap of a finger...... There was nothing left when they came, and when they left, they were silent, and in the end, they couldn't keep even a handful of ashes.

Too embarrassed, too pitiful and too humble compared to his own creation. ”

The former Garland was shocked, "Don't you feel unwilling?"

He said, "I want to be eternal!"

"But there is nothing in this world that is not bad for a long time, the so-called life is like this, as long as you live a wonderful enough, I don't think there is anything wrong with having an end. ”

Publius shook his head, "You know, even gods can't be eternal. ”

"Then become a god first!"

Garland said categorically, "One day, we will be able to reach the immortal ......"

"So, make an exchange, Publius. ”

The alchemist took his hand, and his eyes lit up with a feverish light, "In this way, I can get immortality, and you, you can be free!"

At that moment, Publius realized that perhaps he was more worthy than he was of all that the name Publius represented.

No, perhaps, that's what he's here for!

This is his fate......

At the same time, that's the price he has to pay.

Thus, Publius became Garand, and Garand, became Publius.

Since then, it's been a long time.

They walked on the path that once belonged to others, chasing the fruits of their dreams, no matter the hardships, the torments and the apprehensions, even if they were in a cage or in the quagmire, tired of paying the price of their choices, but they never regretted the deal of that day.

Until now.

"But what about you?" said Huai Shi, "what is your price?"

"My share has already been paid off, Huaishi. I'm a little earlier than his, though not much lighter......" Garland looked at him meaningfully, "Now, it's your time." ”

Huai Shi shook her head indifferently: "I never owe you anything, nor have I prayed to fate for what I don't deserve." ”

"Perhaps, but is that really the case?"

Garland said nonchalantly: "In Helios, the connection between cause and effect is far greater than anywhere else.

The fate here is to close the vector in the flask, and when there is a vector, there must be a reverse vector in order to be balanced.

This is the essence of alchemy.

Isn't it not the same price for you to come to Helios for your own desires, and in the end, to stand in opposition to Publius?"

"You will gain much, and you will lose much—"

In this way, the prophecy from the old priest Ima is meaningfully repeated, "But if you want to gain more, or you want to lose less, the solution is in front of you." ”

With his words, the hurricane roared, and there was a constant roar.

Rachel's face turned pale.

Because the terrifying shadows have emerged from the tower of bones, under the command of Hedi, in the darkness that the light cannot illuminate, the countless distorted spirits and the abyssal precipitation have bred a large group of hell, which has spread out in all directions without any difference.

The first to bear the brunt is Huai Shi, who has already been entered into the must-kill list!

In front of the surging army of Hell, Gala sat aboard a chariot of gold and bones, gazing up at the surging core in the distance. When the scythe blade in his hand was raised, countless hideous shadows roared behind him, turning into torrents and surging towards this place.

And on the throne of the Suncaster, Huai Shi, raised his pupils.