The First Project, Part 7
Nemesis was busy dodging the overwhelming aura radiating from Leon's sword.
Sian quickly moved her right hand, imbuing the dummy puppets with self-destruct magic.
The puppets charged toward Leon.
But Leon calmly swung his sword.
One.
Crunch.
Two.
Crunch.
Three.
Crunch.
With every sweep of his blade, a wave of blue flames surged forward, shattering the puppets into pieces.
Sian felt the threads of mana snapping one by one at her fingertips.
Her face turned pale.
Oh no...
Nemesis was also in a state of temporary discharge from the destruction beam it had fired earlier.
The Mana Core in the center of the puppet's chest was empty.
It would take at least thirty seconds to recharge.
But Leon had no intention of stopping.
His eyes were sharp, and intense blue flames still blazed from his sword.
Sian knew instinctively.
I'm going to lose at this rate.
If she didn't do something, defeat was certain.
"I can't lose like this..." she muttered.
Desperation bled into her voice.
On this monumental day, when she finally got to pilot the war weapon she had anticipated so much, she couldn't afford to lose so helplessly.
The look in Sian's eyes changed. Her fingers began to move in intricate patterns.
Instantly, a peculiar energy rippled through the threads of mana.
Sian's lips parted slowly.
Her voice carried a deep, mystical resonance, entirely different from her usual tone.
Sian chanted the spell under her breath.
"Symphonie Finale des Ombres Enchaînées"
⟨ Final Symphony of the Chained Shadows ⟩
The spell that flowed from Sian's mouth translated to 'The Final Symphony of the Chained Shadows.'
With those words, a suppressed power erupted like an explosion.
It felt as if something long bound was unleashing its final reserves of strength.
In that instant, the magic stones embedded in Nemesis began to flicker erratically.
Moving her fingers delicately as if manipulating invisible strings, Sian forcibly drained the mana from the magic stones and gathered it into the Mana Core.
Nemesis's frame began to vibrate violently. The overloaded mana coursing through the puppet's body resembled blue lightning.
Under Sian's control, Nemesis slowly brought its arms together, and a massive energy cannon began to form at their tips.
At the final moment, Sian closed one eye, aiming at her target with the other.
Her posture was like that of a seasoned sniper.
Her index finger curved slightly, mimicking the motion of pulling an invisible trigger.
Click.
KABOOM!
Along with a light so blinding it was hard to keep one's eyes open, a tremendous explosion shook the training ground.
The output was three times greater than before.
A direct hit.
A flash of certainty in her victory gleamed in Sian's eyes.
That shield has no choice but to break now.
"..."
However, as the smoke cleared, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
Leon was still standing, holding the shield.
An even more intense blue light was pulsing across the shield's surface.
Sian's face turned pale.
W-what on earth is that shield made of...?
Her hands began to tremble slightly.
No matter how much I attack, I can't break it...
Sian's gaze shifted to Leon's sword.
The magical power radiating from the sword now seemed to be three times what it was earlier.
Where on earth is that power coming from?
Sian furrowed her brow. With that level of output, his mana should have run dry long ago.
No... where is that much mana even coming from...?
Various thoughts raced through her mind.
As the fight dragged on, Leon's magical power was only growing stronger.
"Ah...!"
Sian's eyes suddenly widened. Her expression shifted in an instant.
That shield... I knew there was something strange about it...
Only then did Sian realize. This shield wasn't just embedded with massive magic stones.
Don't tell me...
It had absorbed all the magic she had poured into it, as well as Nemesis's physical impacts, and stored them as mana.
And the power pouring from Leon's sword was undoubtedly utilizing that absorbed mana.
T-that's impossible...
Sian was in utter chaos.
She knew how to handle almost every school of magic.
Yet, she had never heard of a spell that could absorb attacks like that.
Sian desperately tried to manipulate her mana threads.
Click. Click. Click.
But Nemesis, having already fired its energy cannon under overload, gave no response.
Leon slowly approached.
His eyes were cold and resolute.
True Kraken Style: Waterspout
With Leon's shout, all the mana accumulated so far erupted from his sword in the form of blue flames.
KABOOM!
An unbelievable sight unfolded.
Nemesis was shattered to pieces right where it stood.
"T-this can't be..."
Sian collapsed to the ground.
It was hard to accept that Nemesis—one of only three in existence, representing the pinnacle of the Empire's technology—had been destroyed so effortlessly.
"N-no... Nemesis..."
Her voice trembled.
She had never imagined the Empire's greatest combat puppet would fall so easily.
A shield that absorbs and releases any attack... A freshman made a monstrous thing like that?
Sian's trembling eyes turned toward Edward.
He was watching from a distance with his arms crossed.
Only then did a satisfied smile spread across Edward's face.
In that moment, Sian realized.
The real monster wasn't the shield, but someone else entirely.
Elena felt as if she had been struck on the head with a hammer.
In fact, she had been analyzing the Kraken's Wave Staff until dawn today.
The process felt like wandering through an endless maze.
Hold the staff.
Infuse her own mana.
Feel the subtle vibrations as the mana entered and returned.
Feeling those vibrations, Elena adjusted the direction and frequency of the mana she injected.
She meticulously recorded the results, trying to grasp the structure.
Or rather, she struggled desperately to grasp it.
Yet, she now had a faint inkling.
That analyzing the design of this staff was an impossible task.
Nevertheless, she had no choice but to repeat that meaningless action.
Her behavior was gradually turning into an obsession.
.
.
.
"..."
Elena watched the battle before her, unable to utter a single word.
Her mind went completely blank.
This combat puppet, Nemesis, was a custom creation from the Empire's finest magic workshop, Crimson Lotus.
Crimson Lotus, a magic workshop established for territorial expansion.
Under the full support of the Imperial Family, it was a place that researched and produced countless weapons of war.
Among their creations, this Nemesis was a gift personally bestowed by the Emperor to commemorate the academy's 60th anniversary.
In accordance with the Emperor's decree that "the Imperial Academy must cultivate the Empire's top elites," it was intended to be used for training the highest-tier students.
Built using the Empire's finest magic engineering technology and resources, its durability was immense.
Furthermore, since it was personally designed and forged by Myrddin, the head of Crimson Lotus, it was not a mere testing tool but a combat weapon of mass destruction.
Yet, that very Nemesis lay shattered in pieces.
Anxiety crept into Elena's heart.
What... what do I do about this? It was a gift personally bestowed by the Emperor...
She bit her lip and looked around. Debris was scattered everywhere.
Repairing it... is probably impossible, right...?
Elena's breathing quickened. This was not a matter that could be brushed off as a simple mistake.
Should I report this to Crimson Lotus? Or should I hide it for now?
Her mind grew increasingly tangled. But at that moment, an even greater question seized her.
More importantly... what is up with this guy?
She stared at Edward.
In truth, she had known since the entrance exam and the first class.
That an extraordinary student had enrolled.
Edward had already far surpassed the level of a mere student.
Edward raised his hand.
"...Yes?" Elena asked, looking bewildered.
"May I continue the presentation?"
"Right now... the presentation?"
"Yes, since I haven't explained our project's results yet."
Elena stared at Edward in disbelief. He wanted to continue the presentation in this situation?
Normally, a freshman wouldn't be so unfazed after witnessing such a battle.
The other students were already trembling, exchanging shocked glances.
A few had even collapsed to the ground, their faces pale.
"Professor...?"
"Ah! Yes, well... go ahead."
Edward smiled faintly and spoke.
"Well! The demonstration took longer than expected, delaying the explanation. Let us begin the formal presentation for Group 1. I am the group leader and presenter, Edward Granger."
As Edward bowed slightly, his demeanor exuded the air of a professional.
"What we have developed is the Mana Circulation Shield, which utilizes an integrated energy conversion circuit."
An integrated energy what now?
Elena's eyes widened.
"Here, please take a copy."
Edward began handing out the printed materials he had prepared in advance.
His actions were so natural and composed that it seemed as though the battle just now had never happened.
"This is the research paper we referenced."
Elena accepted the printout with a confused expression.
Numerous questions were still swirling in her head.
A Study on Multi-Attribute Magic Energy Integration and Conversion Circuits
Isn't this... a paper published by our academy?
Elena widened her eyes and checked the printout once more.
It was a study she had read before when reviewing for an academic journal.
It was a study that had concluded commercialization was impossible due to clear limitations, namely its low efficiency and the volatility of the converted mana.
Edward continued his explanation.
"This shield absorbs the impact of any magic utilizing mana or physical attacks from the enemy and converts it into pure mana."
His voice was calm and filled with confidence.
"And this shield has a total of three functions: mana absorption, storage, and discharge."
Elena held her breath as she listened to his explanation.
"Since absorption and storage are easy to understand, I'll leave it at that and move on to explaining the method of discharge..."
Edward suddenly looked at Leon.
"Now that the demonstration is over, could you hand me the shield?"
Leon wore a blank expression for a moment before quickly snapping out of it.
"Oh... right!"
He hurriedly handed the shield to Edward.
Edward received the shield from Leon.
It was a circular shield gleaming with a silvery light.
Intricate patterns were engraved on its surface, and a magic stone emitting a blue glow was embedded in the center.
With practiced hands, Edward unplugged the cord connected to the Kraken's Sword and reassembled it back to the lance it was originally connected to.
His hand movements were like those of a craftsman with years of experience.
"The more impact this shield absorbs, the more its own defensive magic is enhanced, making it even stronger."
Everyone held their breath and listened intently to Edward's explanation.
Every single word he spoke seemed to overturn conventional wisdom.
"Furthermore, by unleashing the Iron Wall Surge engraved on the shield, you can discharge that impact once again. This shield alone is already a weapon that integrates offense and defense."
Elena stared the shield with wide eyes.
Countless thoughts raced through her mind.
"But we took it a step further."
Edward continued.
"Compared to the shield's durability, the capacity of the charging magic stone was limited, making it impossible to hold more than a certain amount of mana."
His eyes sparkled.
"So, we thought, what if we connect this shield's mana to other magic weapons? That was the idea we came up with."
Elena gasped without realizing it.
She could fully comprehend the implications of Edward's words.
It was a revolutionary concept that opened a new horizon in magic weapon crafting.
Edward paused briefly to gauge the audience's reaction.
Then, he spoke again.
"Furthermore, by utilizing this method, you can also charge the magic stones of other magic weapons. In other words, this shield can act as a mana reservoir and a charging station for other weapons."
Elena's eyes widened in astonishment.
A soft gasp escaped her lips.
"That's... actually possible?"
Edward nodded with a confident smile.
"Yes, it is. We have already verified it through testing."
Elena shook her head in disbelief.
The revolutionary changes this technology would bring flashed rapidly through her mind.
To think that the mana charging issue, long considered the limit of magic weapons, could be solved so simply.
After Edward's presentation ended, the students filed out of the training ground.
Gathering in the hallway, their faces were still filled with excitement and awe.
Like sailors who had just navigated a stormy sea, their expressions held wonder mixed with a hint of fear.
"Hey, have you ever seen a shield like that before?" one student asked his friend. His voice was still trembling.
"Of course not. I couldn't even understand a single thing from the paper he explained earlier," the friend replied, shaking his head. His eyes were still filled with confusion.
Another student chimed in.
"Seriously, I thought I was attending some Imperial new weapon project presentation."
"Did those three really make that? I can't believe it," one student sighed and said.
"Edward aside, it feels like the gap between us and the other two has widened immensely now."
"Ah, you mean William and Chloe? Yeah, seriously."
"I wish I had joined Edward's group too..."
Several students expressed their regret.
"When those two were fighting earlier, I thought I was going to die of fright."
"Me too. I almost pissed myself."
"Didn't you already piss yourself?" someone teased.
"Ah, get lost!"
Laughter erupted among the students. The tension seemed to ease slightly.
As they walked, one student stared blankly into space.
Seeing this, another friend asked.
"Hey, what's with you? You've had that dazed look on your face for a while now."
The student shook his head and answered slowly.
"I... felt so proud."
A student suddenly said.
"Proud of what?" another asked, puzzled.
The student replied, his eyes shining.
"I get it now. Just how important the weapons we make are."
"...All of a sudden?"
"Knights fight and mages cast spells using the weapons we create."
"...W-well, yeah."
"Think about it. Could someone become that strong just by training their whole life?"
"Well... we wouldn't know that," one student said cautiously.
"I don't think so," the student continued passionately.
"Depending on the weapons we make, the combat power of every single soldier changes. Even an ordinary soldier can become strong if they hold a weapon we crafted. I think I finally understand why our department was created."
More and more students began to listen to his words.
Their expressions grew quite serious.
Although the atmosphere had been playful and excited just moments ago, it was now shifting into one of realization.
In their eyes, an expectation slowly bloomed: Maybe we can do something like that too.
"...If we study hard, we'll be able to make things like that too, right?"
"Where are we right now?"
"Lucentia Academy."
"We're in the Weapon Crafting Department of the Empire's greatest academy. If not us, then who?"
"Right? Exactly. William and Chloe have already improved that much. Why should we be any different?"
"Yeah, our turn will come someday. I'm going to make things like that too, just like Edward."
"Exactly, we're still only first-years. We can definitely get there."
Edward's presentation had planted a small seed in the hearts of the Weapon Crafting Department students.
It was a seed of pride, passion, and possibility.
It was clear from their eyes that they were now ready to nurture that seed.
It was the moment the future blacksmiths took their first steps toward their dreams.