In any case, he had already lost everything.
Finally, Edmond turned the knife towards his own heart.
In the final moment as his consciousness faded, he heard a cold voice:
"Experiment Record: Edmond Matthew has completed self-destruction as expected.
Psychological impact assessment of pseudo-human creation technology is complete.
Conclusion: The target was unable to withstand the cognitive impact and executed the eradication procedure according to design parameters.
Recommendation: The next experiment should increase psychological stability testing to ensure the subject can provide longer-term data."
It was Victor’s voice.
Cold, rational, without any emotional fluctuation.
As if he was recording a successful experiment.
......
In the following fragments of memory, he saw more terrifying experiments:
The "pseudo-humans" created by Victor were placed into different families to observe the reactions of ordinary people.
Some, like Edmond, discovered the anomalies and ultimately suffered mental breakdowns.
Some remained unaware until their deaths, living out their lives in false happiness.
Others noticed the anomalies but chose to escape, pretending everything was normal.
Every reaction was meticulously recorded to improve the manufacturing technology of "pseudo-humans."
Most appallingly, Victor even created "pseudo-humans" of "pseudo-humans."
He let these artificial beings interact to observe how they would develop so-called "emotions."
The result was a completely fake society, where every individual was a precisely manufactured puppet, yet they believed themselves to be real.
In this twisted world, the "pseudo-humans" married, had children, worked, and lived.
They had complete memories and realistic emotional reactions.
But it was all programmed, all designed.
Victor stood at the center of this false world like a cold god, watching every detail of the life he created.
He recorded their "growth," analyzed their "emotions," and improved their "humanity."
In his eyes, these "pseudo-humans" were not life, but data.
Not beings, but experiment results.
......
The final fragment of memory showed Ron the true origin of the "Stand-In Puppet."
It was the last experiment Victor conducted after becoming an ancient alchemist—creating a "pseudo-human" capable of "growth."
Not simply imitating existing personalities, but developing unique self-awareness by devouring real souls.
"Traditional ’pseudo-humans’ are merely static imitations."
Victor’s voice echoed in the laboratory:
"But true perfect creations should have the ability to grow dynamically."
He crafted a special puppet, embedding it with complex soul capturing and fusion apparatus.
This puppet was designed as an "empty shell," capable of gradually acquiring real emotions and consciousness through contact with real life.
"Emotions cannot be directly replicated, but can be gradually absorbed and assimilated."
Victor meticulously adjusted the puppet’s internal structure:
"Through prolonged contact and resonance, this creation will acquire a genuine ’self.’"
This was the prototype of the Stand-In Puppet.
A man-made life designed to "grow," perfecting its existence by devouring the souls of others.
In Victor’s vision, this creation would eventually become a fully real life.
Not imitation, but true rebirth.
But the cost was the disappearance of countless real lives.
Each "growth" meant the devouring of a real soul.
Each "enhancement" meant the consumption of a real existence.
This was a terrifying creation that used the lives of others as nourishment.
And now, it was right in front of Ron.