James's car came to a halt in front of a large, imposing laboratory-like building.

The structure loomed against the night sky, its windows glowing with an eerie light.

This was the location of Dr. David, the place Robert had reluctantly allowed him to visit.

James's heart raced as he stepped out of the car, a mix of anticipation and anxiety churning within him.

As he approached the entrance, he was greeted by the laboratory guards, their expressions neutral but their eyes sharp.

"Hello, sir!" one of the guards said politely, standing at attention.

"Hello," James replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Are you going to guide me inside here?"

The guard nodded.

"Yes, sir. I'll be your guide," he said, his tone respectful but firm.

James could sense the unspoken understanding: the guard was there to monitor his actions as much as to guide him.

"But before entering the building, we need to check you. Are you fine with that, sir?" the guard asked, his tone professional yet firm.

"Yes. Go ahead," James replied, raising his arms sideways as the other guards approached with their detection tools.

He felt a chill as the device scanned over his body, searching for any weapons, electronics, or unauthorized items.

"All clear, sir," one of the guards finally said, stepping back.

"Can I enter now?" James asked, lowering his arms and feeling a slight sense of relief.

"Sure, sir. Let's go," the guard responded.

He moved to the door and entered a complex password on the keypad, each beep echoing in the otherwise silent corridor.

The gate slid open with a mechanical hiss, revealing the interior of the building.

James followed the guard inside, his footsteps echoing on the polished floor.

The interior was even more imposing than the exterior, with its labyrinthine hallways and the low hum of high-tech machinery.

The cold, clinical atmosphere was a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil swirling inside hom.

"Sir, let me guide you to Dr. David first," the guard said, his tone courteous but firm.

James nodded, and they began walking through the labyrinthine corridors.

Each step heightened his anticipation and anxiety.

He took in the sights of advanced technology and intense scientific work, feeling both out of place and profoundly curious about what lay ahead.

The guard led him to another section of the building and stopped in front of an older man who stood engrossed in a cluster of monitors.

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"Sir, this is Dr. David," the guard introduced.

The old man looked up, his eyes sharp and intelligent behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.

He wore a crisp white lab coat, the quintessential attire of a seasoned scientist.

"Hello, Dr. David," James said, extending his hand.

"Hello, Mr. James. Are you here to see the armor processing work?" Dr. David asked, shaking James's hand with a firm grip.

There was an air of calm authority about him, a man who had seen and understood much.

"Yes, sir," James confirmed, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.

"Okay. Follow me," Dr. David said, leading James deeper into the facility.

They walked through a series of high-security doors, each one requiring biometric clearance.

The tension in James’s chest tightened with each step, the importance of this meeting growing clearer.

They passed through brightly lit laboratories filled with cutting-edge equipment and focused scientists, the air buzzing with innovation and discovery.

Finally, they arrived at a large room where the armor processing work took place.

The room was a hive of activity, with engineers and technicians meticulously working on various components of high-tech armor.

The walls were lined with schematics and blueprints, and the center of the room was dominated by a massive assembly line where pieces of armor were being assembled with precision.

Dr. David gestured to the machinery.

"This is where the armor is produced, refined, and tested. Each piece is designed to provide maximum protection and efficiency for our officers," he explained, his voice filled with a blend of pride and professionalism.

James watched in awe as the assembly line operated seamlessly, each part fitting together with mechanical perfection.

The room was a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of advancement.

"How do you make them capable of handling the powers of the awakened?" He asked, his curiosity piqued by the impressive technology before him.

Dr. David’s eyes gleamed with the light of someone who had dedicated his life to his work.

"Well, it is an interesting tale," he began, his voice taking on a storytelling cadence.

"You know about mana stones, right?"

"Yes, I know." James nodded.

"Good. As you know, mana stones are sources of extreme energy, the very lifeblood of the awakened," David explained.

"In my early research, I endeavored to create something akin to a mana stone, hoping to harness that raw power. But instead of success, I encountered countless failures. One day, however, in the midst of my failures, I stumbled upon something remarkable."

James leaned in, captivated by the story.

The hum of the machinery around them seemed to fade as Dr. David continued.

"I discovered a material—unexpectedly resilient and unlike anything I'd ever seen. It wasn't a source of energy but a dam, capable of halting the overwhelming flow of energy from a mana stone," David said, his voice tinged with both wonder and frustration from the memory of those early days.

"So you used that material in your armors?" James asked, his eyes widening as he began to grasp the significance.

"Correct. But as you know, creating such a material consumes a lot of mana stones, which are rare and precious," Dr. David explained, his voice tinged with the frustration of this limitation.

"So, instead of making the whole armor out of that material, I analyze the power level of the villain we're dealing with and mix the material with various metals accordingly."

James's curiosity deepened. "How do you measure their power levels?"

"Oh, that!" David called to the guard, "Bring it here."

The guard quickly retrieved a device, presenting it to David.

It was an intricate piece of technology with a reading panel and an orb-like structure at its center.

The orb seemed to pulse faintly, almost alive with the latent energy within.

"This device is crafted using mana stones," Dr. David said, handling it with reverence.

"If you inject your power into the orb, it will show a number on the reading panel, representing your power level. Why don't you try it?"

James hesitated for a moment, the weight of the task pressing on him.

"Okay," he finally agreed, extending his hand toward the orb.

As David had said, James injected some of his power into the orb.

The orb pulsed with light, growing brighter until the reading panel lit up, displaying a high number that made David raise his eyebrows.

"Wow! That's truly a high number. You possess incredible strength," David remarked, clearly impressed.

"Now that I think about it, your power is Astra Mark, right?"

"Yes," David confirmed, his voice steady but with a hint of reservation.

"It’s an incredible power. But why don't you use it properly?" David asked, curiosity tinged with a hint of concern.

Astra Mark.

A power that allowed its user to imprint a mark on their opponent.

The conditions set while imprinting the mark were absolute—the opponent had to follow them or suffer excruciating pain.

It was akin to a forced mana pledge, a formidable tool for control and manipulation.

James sighed, a shadow passing over his face. "I just don't like to use it that way," he admitted.

The truth was, he abhorred the idea of controlling others, even in the pursuit of justice.

The power of Astra Mark felt like too much, a step over the line that separated protection from tyranny.

He had seen too many people suffer under the control of others to willingly inflict that same loss of freedom, even on villains.

James nodded thoughtfully.

"Okay. I won't force you," he said, his tone gentle and understanding. "Let’s continue our meeting."

James appreciated David's respect for his principles.

As they moved through the facility, the conversation shifted to other technical aspects of the armor and its capabilities.

David explained how the unique material blended with various metals, adapting to different power levels to provide optimal protection.

James listened intently, his mind a mix of admiration for the technology and contemplation of his own power.

The laboratory buzzed with activity, each scientist and engineer a vital part of the effort to safeguard their society.

The sense of purpose in the air was palpable, a stark contrast to the turmoil James felt inside.

The conversation returned to Noel and the recent events, with James sharing his theories and observations.

He offered insights, drawing on his vast knowledge and experience, helping David piece together a clearer picture of the challenges they faced.

The technological marvels he had seen, the wisdom shared by Dr. David, and the deep-seated belief in justice that his father had instilled in him all coalesced into a clearer path forward.

He knew the decisions he made would not only impact his own future but the safety and justice of the city he had sworn to protect.