No one answered her. The technicians and marines didn't understand the language of this continent. Only Cero did, but he appeared engrossed in the data displayed on his helmet screen.
Isvel let out an annoyed sigh, crossing her arms. "Hey, are you even listening to me?" she snapped, her voice rising.
Finally, Cero turned toward her, a faint smile on his face. "I heard you. Relax. I understand what you're saying," he replied in fluent Altheran. "I was just considering the possibility that this Core"—he gestured toward the small protective case containing the artifact—"might possess energy potential far greater than anything listed in the periodic table."
Isvel tilted her head, confusion etched across her face. "Periodic table? What's that?"
Cero shrugged, placing the Core's case on a makeshift analysis table as the technicians worked to enhance its containment. He glanced at Isvel, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his eyes.
"The periodic table," he began with a more casual tone, "is an organized chart of the elements found in the world I came from. Everything in our universe—solid, liquid, or gas—is made up of combinations of these elements."
Isvel still looked perplexed, though she tried to mask it. "Combinations of elements? You mean like how our magic harnesses basic elemental forces?"
"Sort of," Cero replied. "But in my world, there's no magic. What we have is science. We study how the universe works through logic and experimentation, then create tools and technologies based on that understanding. The periodic table forms the foundation of it all."
Cero pulled a small pen-like tool from his uniform pocket and sketched something on the digital notebook in his hand. Within moments, he displayed a simple diagram to Isvel. "This is the periodic table. Each box represents an element. For instance, hydrogen is the lightest, and uranium… well, it's incredibly heavy and radioactive. I suspect that the energy in this Core far exceeds anything produced by those elements."
Isvel frowned as she examined the diagram, trying to grasp what Cero had explained. "So, you're saying your world has a profound understanding of… the building blocks of reality? Like how our magic works, but without any magic?"
"Exactly," Cero confirmed, closing the notebook. "This Core might go beyond what we know about energy. But the principle may be the same—it harnesses natural processes taken to an extreme."
Isvel narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting to the faintly glowing Core within its case. "But what makes this Core different? Are you sure this energy is purely scientific, or are you overlooking some magical elements?"
Cero shrugged again, his faint smile persisting. "It might have magic in it. But in my hands, I'll treat it with a scientific approach. Anything that looks like magic is simply something we don't understand yet."
Isvel sighed, throwing up her hands. "You're a strange man, Cero. Though I can't deny that your way of seeing the world is fascinating."
Cero chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a compliment." He turned to the technician monitoring the holographic tablet displaying the Core's containment data. "What's its status?"
"Stable, Director," the technician reported. "No energy leaks detected. The containment field is functioning perfectly. We're ready to transport it to the headquarters at any time."
Cero nodded slowly, a faint grin on his face. "Good," he said briefly. He turned slightly, his eyes landing on Isvel, who remained near the Core with a half-curious, half-wary expression.
"Well," Cero said, smirking, "would you like to join my team in studying this? I think your magical perspective could be invaluable."
Isvel crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the dimly glowing Core within its protective case. She seemed to ponder his offer for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "Fine," she said at last. "I'm curious. Besides, the work you've given me so far hasn't been overwhelming—just teaching your people the Altheran language. I'll join."
Cero's grin widened, as though he had already expected her answer. "Alright," he said, immediately addressing one of the lead technicians. "Add Isvel to the research team and notify the lab director that she'll be collaborating on this project. She's officially part of it now."
The island where Cero had first awakened had transformed into a bustling hub of activity, reflecting the rapid progress made in the past month. The main headquarters towered in the island's center, a complex of futuristic buildings blending modern Earth architecture with the local Altheran aesthetic.
One of the most prominent structures was the Institute of Technology and Energy Research, a facility established by Cero to develop advanced technologies and unravel the mysteries of this new world. Despite the facility's construction and operation draining a significant portion of Cero's resources, he didn't hesitate.
"An investment in the future," he often told his officers.
Inside the institute, the atmosphere was vastly different from the outside world. Advanced equipment from Earth was integrated with local materials previously unknown. Scientists worked fervently, surrounded by holographic displays, electron microscopes, and compact energy generators tailored for experimental purposes.
Though the institute was still in its infancy and hadn't yielded major breakthroughs, the researchers' enthusiasm was palpable. The world of Althera presented them with unparalleled opportunities to explore entirely new phenomena—materials, remnants of ancient technologies, and even magic—all of which expanded the boundaries of their studies.
Amid the flurry of activity, a man stood in the lab's control room, clad in a well-worn lab coat. He was Charles Volta, the head of the laboratory. Tall with slightly disheveled hair, his face was framed by thick glasses, and his sharp gaze radiated an intense passion for anything scientific.
Charles Volta was no ordinary man. A graduate of a top-tier Earth university with dual degrees in physics and nuclear engineering, he had been one of the most brilliant scientists of his time. Before being recruited by Cero, Charles had been a senior researcher for a global superpower, directly involved in the development of advanced weapons and cutting-edge energy systems.
Behind his genius, however, lay an eccentric personality that often made those around him uneasy. Charles was a highly logical thinker, but he tended to veer into "mad scientist" territory when faced with complex experiments.
In the lab's control room, Charles was speaking with one of his subordinates through a comm device.
"Hello… Charles Volta here," he said, grinning broadly. "What have you got for me this time? Don't tell me it's just another routine report. I need something that'll keep me up all night!"