Demonic monsters were beasts that rampaged by feeding on dark mana. They were walking weapons of slaughter, the loyal hounds of the Demon Kings.
Demonic monsters knew no fear, tearing at their enemies until the very moment of death. Even in their final breath, they sank their fangs into their foes. Facing them head-on meant inevitable and devastating losses.
It was no exaggeration to call them disasters of the battlefield.
And such dreadful beings weren't born of nature. They were manufactured by the Demon King.
“...They were being produced in places like this?” Caron asked.
At Caron’s question, Shiker slowly nodded and replied, “Yes. They were being bred in hatcheries. This is not the only one. There were several more.”
“So they didn’t just fall from the sky. Come to think of it, I’ve never once heard of demonic monsters reproducing,” Caron said.
The endless waves of demonic monsters that had appeared without explanation... Now the secret was clear.
Caron stroked his chin and nodded. Indeed, with a civilization as overwhelmingly advanced as this, it seemed they had even dared to trespass into the realm of the gods, the domain of creation.
Their sins, however, had now spilled over and harmed the peoples of the present continent. That, Caron resented.
“Can this thing still be operated?” Caron asked.
Shiker’s expression turned troubled, then he answered, “Not overnight. It has been neglected for far too long, and the materials are lacking.”
“What kinds of materials are needed?” Caron pressed.
“Raelnium, Mana Stones, synthetic facilities to create artificial blood, and more. The production process itself is highly complex. We’d also need skilled mages of the highest level...” Shiker’s explanation continued at length, but at that moment, Gratia—who had been standing quietly in the back—stepped forward toward the central control device.
“Hmm.” After a moment of thought, she placed her hand upon the device and said, “Caron, I think I can handle this. It’s not too different from how we dragons create guardians to protect our lairs. This model is more sophisticated, but if I analyze the circuits, we can adapt it to our own methods.”
Curiosity colored her voice.
Dragons stood at the pinnacle of magic. In truth, it made sense—if they could produce guardians, then creating other constructs wasn't far removed from their nature.
“With the help of the two Tower Masters, it should be possible,” Gratia said with growing confidence.
Caron narrowed his eyes and asked, “You sound rather eager, but even if you manage to activate it, won’t it just produce demonic monsters?”
“Strictly speaking, demonic monsters across the continent were also born from the influence of dark mana. If we can control them, there is no real issue,” Gratia replied smoothly.
“Then are dragons themselves born under the influence of dark mana?” Caron asked dryly.
Gratia’s eyes sharpened and snapped, “Are you insulting the honor of dragons, Caron? Tower Masters of the Empire and of the Black Tower, say something, will you?”
At her prompting, the two Tower Masters’ eyes gleamed. They nodded eagerly.
“Please, Caron, let us attempt activation. I confess, I am personally very curious. If we can indeed produce monsters, it would provide a tremendous advantage in the war,” one of the Tower Masters said.
“Even a trial run would suffice,” added the other. “We need data if we’re to conduct research.”
Mages were all the same, drooling over any chance to glimpse new knowledge or technology.
Caron hesitated only briefly before nodding, then asked, “Shiker, do you see any risk in this?”
“None. Running the facility won’t cause problems. Truth be told, I’d like to see it myself,” Shiker admitted.
At his agreement, Caron let out a small sigh and turned to Gratia, then said, “Very well. Do as you wish.”
Gratia smiled, as though she had been waiting for that moment, and summoned her power.
Whoosh!
Pure, untainted mana surged from within her body. It came directly from her Dragon Heart.
The greatest magical organ in the world released its power, and in an instant, it swallowed the violet-hued device whole.
Whoooosh!
The control device groaned with a metallic screech as it activated. At the same time, a look of alarm spread across Gratia’s face.
“...Complicated circuits. So this is how they secured control? This will not do,” she muttered.
She drew in a deep breath, then spoke in a voice brimming with mana. “Interpret.”
It was a draconic incantation—one of the absolute authorities of a dragon. Perched at the very peak of magic itself, a draconic incantation was both spell and will incarnate. It was the power to manifest one’s intent directly through mana.
Riiipppp.
Blue wings unfurled from Gratia’s back. The strain showed on her; part of her polymorph spell had unraveled.
As the activation grew serious, the Magic Tower masters hurried into action.
“Lady Gratia, the circuit branching upward on the right seems to be asserting control. Should we start by stabilizing the right circuit?” Libre suggested, as if waiting for such a moment.
“I will calm the left circuit,” Cor, the master of the Empire’s Magic Tower, said as he poured his mana into the device to assist her.
Nearly twenty minutes passed in this way.
Screeeech!
The metallic howl rang again...
Dark mana began to stir within the once-empty glass chamber. A vague, gelatinous shape took form, while the entire hatchery flared with bright light. Darkness fled in an instant.
Inside the chamber, now bathed in light, Caron frowned and stepped closer. He remarked, “So we poured in mana... and what comes out is dark mana?”
Normally, mana produced mana, and dark mana produced dark mana. Such was the natural law. Yet here, before their eyes, that law had been twisted. Inside the glass rested only the most primitive of shapes—like clay steeped in dark mana.
“So, all that remains is to mold this thing into whatever shape we desire?” Caron wondered aloud.
It looked like the seed of some evil, sinister enough that even toying with it gave one the sense they could lose their mind.
Shiker gave a small, sober nod, then explained, “It seems the facility still held traces of Raelnium. That clay-like substance is called Disruption. It can divide on its own and reshape itself into any form using dark mana. It was the hallmark of magitech civilization.”
“In other words, it's crazy metal?” Caron asked dryly.
“...Caron, this is a revolution!” Cor cried, his voice rising with excitement. “A metal not only alive, but capable of propagating itself? If we bring this back to the continent, it could catapult magitech into an age of unprecedented progress. This is—!”
But Caron only shook his head with a flat expression. He interrupted, “Wake up, Magic Tower Master. In this form, it can never leave here."
“Why not?” Cor pressed.
“Can’t you see how dangerous it looks? That thing is spewing gobs of dark mana as if it’s eager to devour lives,” Cor said.
“It can be controlled if we—” Cor began to protest, but was cut off.
“Ah, maybe it’s your age, Tower Master. Patience doesn’t seem to be your strong suit anymore,” Caron interrupted then, sighed heavily as he gazed at the substance.
Yes, it had potential, but used as it was now, it would cause nothing but disaster. He could feel the dark mana—thick, corrupted, and steeped in malice.
After a moment of brooding, Caron glanced toward Leo and said, “We’ll need to run a few experiments, Leo."
Leo shuddered and said, “Don’t tell me you’re planning to feed that thing to me. Or attach it to my body? Please, Caron. I’m your cousin. Don’t turn me into some lab rat—”
“Who said I’d experiment on you? Go fetch Seria,” Caron instructed.
“Huh?” Leo responded.
“I want to see what happens if it’s purified with holy power,” Caron explained.
If dark mana was the problem, then perhaps it could be cleansed. It could lose function, yes, but at least the risk of corruption would vanish.
Relieved, Leo let out a sigh and nodded, then said, “Thank the heavens. At least I’m still human.”
“...Still human? Since when were you not?” Caron asked, brow arched.
“Well, most of the time I’m not, right? Practically a demon in my own right... Never mind, I’ll go. Just wait here,” Leo muttered, then hurried off.
Caron turned back to the glass chamber, peering in again. He murmured, “Could this really change the balance of power?”
The key was whether it could produce creations fit for battle.
“Handled this way, it might...” Caron trailed off.
“Lady Gratia, perhaps we should adjust the circuits slightly?” Libre suggested.
“You blasphemous dark sorcerer! You would dare tamper with circuits more precious than treasure itself? Foul, vile beyond words—” Cor snapped.
One dragon and two half-mad mages.
Caron held his breath, listening to their endless quarrel. He thought, ...It’ll work out somehow.
All he could do was wait. Answers would come in time.
And so Caron quietly waited for Seria’s arrival.
***
After Leo brought Seria, what happened could only be described as a miracle.
“I did not see this coming,” someone muttered.
“It became an entirely new substance. But... Can it even be controlled?” another asked.
The dark mana compound once called Disruption had been utterly transformed by the light Seria released.
Caron scratched his head awkwardly as he looked at what used to be Disruption. Not a single trace of dark mana could be felt within the clay. Instead, the once-dark matter now brimmed with dazzling holy power. It was a strange compound where sacred energy and mana coexisted.
“This is the will of the Light,” Seria said.
“You turned something precious into trash, and you say that so shamelessly?” Caron asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Surely there is a reason why the Light willed it so,” Seria answered.
“Wow, unbelievable. Look at that shamelessness,” Caron muttered.
“I learned it from you,” Seria replied flatly.
Even Shiker scratched his head, baffled by the birth of a substance that had never before existed in the world. He wondered, “...Should I call this an invention or a discovery? I have no idea."
“Has magical civilization never attempted research into holy power?” Seria asked.
“That power was never permitted to us,” Shiker answered curtly.
“I see...” Seria said.
The mixture of mana and holy power sat there like a lump of clay, and nobody knew what to do with it.
Caron glanced at Seria and asked, “Any ideas on what to do?”
Seria lifted her chin proudly and replied, “I only did what you told me to do, Warrior. Why try to pass the responsibility onto me?”
“I just felt like it,” Caron said.
“Shut your mouth,” Seria snapped.
Seria grew fiercer by the day. Caron scratched his head again as he stared at the half-holy, half-mana hybrid substance. He suggested, “Why don’t we just try making something out of it?”
“No telling what will come out,” Shiker said.
“We’ll see. It would be a waste to just throw it away. Our mages, are the preparations done?” Caron asked.
Gratia nodded reluctantly and said, “...For the most part. We repaired all the circuits, so it should run.”
“Good. Better to produce something than waste it,” Caron said.
It seemed doubtful that anything worthwhile would be created from the strange hybrid, yet doing something felt better than discarding it.
“Shiker, can you at least explain how to use this device?” Caron asked.
“Just turn it on. I’ll handle the controls,” Shiker said.
At Caron’s nod, Gratia and Cor activated every circuit in the device.
Flaaash!
The control unit, brimming with mana, lit up in a dazzling glow, and Shiker skillfully manipulated it.
Moments later...
Shhhhhh!
White steam filled the glass chamber, and the strange compound began to writhe.
Caron stepped back, watching closely. The clay substance rapidly divided and multiplied, no longer holding its original shape.
“Oh, it’s growing,” Leo muttered in awe as the thing changed shape with startling speed.
How much time passed, none could tell, until Shiker suddenly shouted, looking troubled, “T-This is outside my control! This substance is unlike Disruption! I cannot predict the result! I cannot... I cannot contain it!”
And then...
Flaaaash!
Radiant light burst from the chamber.
Craaaash!
The glass shattered, sending shards flying everywhere. If Caron hadn't swiftly swung Guillotine to block, Seria would likely have been hurt.
“...An enemy?” Leo asked, swallowing nervously as he gripped his sword. A hazy shadow loomed beyond the swirling dust.
“We’ll see soon enough,” Caron said, frowning.
Another flash of light cut through the dust. And then, from within it, a woman emerged. She bore eight pure white wings. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her gaze was cold as she looked down on Caron.
“Warrior, greet me with joy. My name is Raphael, Archangel of Light. I have descended to this world to aid you!” she declared.
The sudden arrival of an archangel silenced the chamber.
At the name Raphael, Caron glanced slyly at Leo and asked, “Isn’t your dad's name Raphael too?”
“...It is,” Leo admitted.
“Congratulations, Leo. Looks like you just gained another father,” Caron teased.
“You lunatic! How can you joke in this situation?” Leo barked.
“Hmm. An angel, huh,” Caron mused.
After a pause, he looked up at the so-called Archangel and spoke in an insolent tone, “Angel or not, how are you going to compensate for the damage to our facility?”
“...What?” Raphael asked, blinking.
“You broke the chamber. Do you have any idea how valuable that was?” Caron asked.
“As I said, I am the Archangel Raphael—” Raphael began, but was cut off.
“Customer, would you like to get smacked?” Caron interrupted, cracking his knuckles.
Angel or not, Caron’s instinct was to beat first and talk later.
Such was Caron Leston, the Warrior of Light.