Lin Luo had expected fetching the Fifth Element from the Restricted Zone of Life to involve a fierce battle, perhaps even resulting in his or Qiqi’s demise. To his surprise, the outcome was unnervingly easy—a bit anticlimactic, really. It felt like reading a novel where the author builds up the Big Boss after much fanfare—purchasing gear, recruiting allies, even preparing a resurrection token—only for the final confrontation to reveal the Boss is just a laughable buffoon.

Frankly, Lin Luo was disappointed. If this were a book he were reading, he’d have tracked down the author for a sound thrashing. But since this was his own experience, disappointment was overshadowed by immense relief.

In any case, avoiding danger was infinitely preferable to facing it.

Thus, returning to the small town and reuniting with Xiaoxiao, Lin Luo commenced the final step... the creation of a living, sentient doll.

Qiqi couldn't assist at this stage. To avoid disrupting Lin Luo's process, she returned to his Sea of Consciousness. Even though, after activating the Ninth Sense, Lin Luo existed merely as a thought-form, their bond meant the transition was as seamless as if she still had a physical body.

Xiaoxiao was overjoyed to see them both return, eagerly preparing to assist Lin Luo.

This time, Lin Luo didn't refuse. He first instructed Xiaoxiao to gather all the materials and tools. Then, piece by piece, he began the careful selection process. Crafting an ideal doll required ideal components. While the Fifth Element provided the life and soul, the doll’s physical body still demanded real-world materials.

In terms of materials, since it was no longer the Golden Age of Doll Masters, Lin Luo lacked the exceptionally rare substances needed to create a doll on the caliber of Kongque and the others. However, this was no great worry. Where precious raw ore was missing, Lin Luo could refine superior materials into exquisite ones through processing.

Indeed, even during the Golden Age, materials that grew naturally without any artificial crafting were rarer than phoenix feathers, almost impossible to find. Nearly all rare components were refined by the Divine Craft Masters themselves. Take Kongque’s group, for instance; the materials for their bodies were meticulously refined by their father over ten arduous years—a true testament to his dedication.

Lin Luo’s doll-making skill was in no way inferior to that Divine Craft Master’s, and having unlocked the Ninth Sense, his realm was far beyond what that master could ever hope to attain. Most crucially, Lin Luo possessed the Law of Creation.

He wouldn't need ten years; he could forge materials superior to those used for Kongque and her sisters in a fraction of the time.

Consequently, Lin Luo’s first procedure was material refinement. He fused all the superior-grade materials, extracting the essence while discarding the dross. Then, augmented by the Law of Creation, he imbued them with an inherent aura of life. Finally, after a full three months, the one-of-a-kind doll material was born.

“These materials should be enough to make many dolls, right?” Xiaoxiao remarked, gazing at the massive mound of material, which stood four or five times her height.

“Yes, but I only need to make one,” Lin Luo nodded. In truth, despite the abundance of material, the refining process consumed vastly more—a hundredfold difference, achieving one part in a hundred selection.

The reason Lin Luo would only create one doll was simple: there was only one Fifth Element.

“If you’re only making one, why not refine the materials even further?” Xiaoxiao pressed. Though she already considered the material incredibly precious, having watched Lin Luo refine it for three months, she believed his ability could push the materials even higher.

“Too much is as bad as too little. Everything requires moderation. It’s like choosing clothes; we don't necessarily need the absolute best, but the most suitable for us,” Lin Luo explained with a slight smile.

Xiaoxiao nodded blankly. Though she didn't fully grasp the philosophy, she adhered to whatever her Master instructed.

Next, Lin Luo began the formal construction of the doll, pouring all his focus and energy into the task. His extreme concentration made him lose track of time and awareness of his surroundings. His eyes, his hands, and the object of his internal gaze were solely the gradually taking shape doll.

Unsure how much time passed, when Lin Luo finally withdrew from that state, a lifelike doll stood before him. She possessed a delicate countenance, scarlet pupils, and long, silver-white hair, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen years old, yet standing only ninety centimeters tall.

Lin Luo then dressed her in the pre-prepared attire: a black Gothic Lolita dress featuring inverted crosses. Once clothed, the doll sat in a chair, her head slightly tilted, resembling one asleep, exuding an aura of serenity.

She was currently lifeless, devoid of even the faintest consciousness. Though externally indistinguishable from a human, in terms of ‘substance,’ she was inferior even to the performance dolls Lin Luo had first encountered; she wouldn't move even if wound up. Lin Luo did this intentionally to maintain the doll's purity, maximizing the chance that when the Fifth Element was finally placed within her, she would gain both soul and life.

“She’s so beautiful,” Xiaoxiao whispered from the side, admiring the doll that resembled a dark angel. “If I hadn't watched Master create her personally, I’d never believe she was just a doll... Oh, Master, what is her name?”

“A name?” Lin Luo, equally mesmerized by the doll he had crafted, felt pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. Hearing Xiaoxiao’s question, however, he paused. He genuinely hadn't considered the matter of a name.

“How about Li Goudan?” Lin Luo asked Xiaoxiao with utmost seriousness.

“Eh!” Xiaoxiao froze, struck dumb.

“Joking, just kidding,” Lin Luo waved his hands rapidly upon seeing her expression. No matter how mischievous he was, he wouldn't saddle such a lovely girl with a dreadful name like Li Goudan; it was purely banter.

“Hoo…” Xiaoxiao let out a deep sigh of relief. If Lin Luo had actually intended to name the doll Li Goudan, she would have objected, even to her Master. “Then, what will her name be?”

“Let me think…” Lin Luo stared at the quietly seated doll, resting his chin in thought. Countless names flashed through his mind—Phoenix, Xue’er, even Jiaojiao… but none satisfied him. At that moment, Lin Luo dearly missed Tohsaka Rin. If the literary young lady Tohsaka Rin were here, naming this doll beautifully would be effortless.

“Schwarzes Mädchen?” Suddenly, an unfamiliar name leaped into Lin Luo’s mind, without warning, as if his Sixth Sense had spontaneously activated, escaping his lips before he could stop it.

“Schwarzes Mädchen? Does that name have any meaning?” Xiaoxiao inquired upon hearing it.

“Probably not much,” Lin Luo shook his head, unsure how to explain it, and instead asked, “What do you think of this name?”

“It flows well, and it sounds very pleasant,” Xiaoxiao replied.

“Good, then she shall be called Schwarzes Mädchen from now on.” There was no grand ceremony; simply because of that sudden inspiration, Lin Luo casually settled upon the name for the doll he had labored toward for several years.

But for Lin Luo, it wasn't casual at all. He never doubted his instincts; if his intuition suggested Schwarzes Mädchen, then it must carry significance.

The doll manufacturing was complete, and the name decided. The next step was the final one... the infusion of the Fifth Element.

On the surface, the Fifth Element appeared as a sphere slightly smaller than a football. Since the doll's interior was hollow, placing it inside wasn't difficult.

Using his own ability, Lin Luo gently waved his hand, and the Fifth Element settled into Schwarzes Mädchen’s body. Then... then Lin Luo began to wait.

One minute, two minutes, ten minutes... an immeasurable amount of time passed in the deathly silence of the room. Lin Luo and Xiaoxiao stared intently at Schwarzes Mädchen, but she showed no change whatsoever.

Could it be that even the Fifth Element wasn't enough?

Lin Luo couldn't help but frown. Just then, Kacha! The sound was faint, yet in that moment, it felt deafening. He then saw Schwarzes Mädchen's body stir, trembling slightly.

At that instant, Lin Luo’s eyes flashed with ecstasy.

Then, Schwarzes Mädchen’s closed eyes slowly opened, revealing scarlet irises. The initial blankness gradually cleared as time passed, and finally, her gaze settled upon Lin Luo.

“Fa... ther...” Schwarzes Mädchen parted her lips with difficulty, uttering a clear, girlish voice. She then lowered her feet to the ground, slowly rising to stand, and began walking step by step toward Lin Luo.

Lin Luo stood rooted, suppressing the overwhelming joy of success. Just like a father watching his newly walking daughter, he spread his arms, waiting for Schwarzes Mädchen to fall into his embrace.

A joyous smile bloomed on Schwarzes Mädchen’s face as she took trembling steps, calling out, “Fa... ther... Big... Ah!”

In the very instant she was about to leap into Lin Luo's arms, Schwarzes Mädchen’s expression warped abruptly. Amidst her cry of pain, her body violently snapped into two halves, crashing heavily onto the floor. The Fifth Element tumbled free, rolling across the tiles...

The smile on Lin Luo's face instantly froze. Looking at the severed, lifeless doll halves at his feet, the sound of the Fifth Element rolling on the ground was piercingly harsh to his ears. RQ