Hiiro was reading an article he hacked from the server:

After weeks of experimenting, all demon parts transplanted on Ada were rejected by her weak constitution. Her condition is getting worse for every experiment performed. Each day that passed by was like a week worth of life removed from her. The curse to extend her life was disappearing. We didn’t have a choice but to halt the experiment. I must fulfill my promise to Agatha. Our daughter must live.

Months of study and research passed by, I’ve tried everything I could think of, yet, all of it failed to cure her. I was too late; Ada died. Sorrow and depression soon followed. I asked my friend to cast necromancy to preserve her body. Until one day, after an endless wandering on the Demon Kingdom, I met one of my colleagues from the Human Kingdom. He told me about a top secret project they made 10 years ago after the ‘Legendary Hero’ died, extracting the consciousness of a human being.

My hope was restored. If I can’t transplant demon parts to Ada’s body, then I just have to transfer her consciousness to a demon. Using the article I found, I began studying, researching about this method. However, it didn’t go according to plan. In order to preserve a person’s consciousness, a demon’s corpse was not enough. It required something mechanical. Thus, the project aimed at creating a modern frankenstein was born, Artificial Demon Android or  Project: A.D.A.

 “I can’t believe someone would do this to their own daughter.” 

“Master, I am detecting a number of unidentified beings approaching us,” Emi announced, interrupting me from reading.

Eight guards entered the room room each carrying a gun. Half of them wore something on their heads similar to NVD or Night Vision Goggles.

“We know you're standing there,” a guard announced while pointing his sub-machine gun at me. “Resistance is futile. Come with us or we will shoot you.”

How can they see me? ... Those goggles, does it have a function that enables them to see invisible things, or maybe detect something from me?

“Deactivate your invisibility now, and raise your hands,” the same guard from before shouted.

Tsk, I don’t have a choice.

“Barrier.” Using magic I created a translucent shield made of mana. Seeing this the guards were alarmed and they repeatedly shot at me. However, the barrier blocked all of their bullets.

Zero has a built-in defense mechanism, but I need to be sure.

After that, I used mist filling the entire room with fog. This made visibility almost zero other than the caster. The guards stopped firing while pondering what just happened. “Water Whip.” In combination with looping, a function I invented before, a number of runes appeared, and created water whips enough to disarm all my opponents. Soon after, I cast aqua burst to make the whips explode knocking out the guards. While walking towards the door, I examined them to confirm something.

Thank God, they’re still alive. I know this is a mission with our lives on the line but I can’t just bring myself to kill someone.

“I’m still not ready to do that.” 

As I went out of the room, I saw a familiar girl with her head staring down on the left side of the corridor, gazing at every her step while plodding towards me.

“Ahm… miss? What are you doing here?” However, she didn’t respond. Waves of silence pervaded on the entire place. “Miss?” Suddenly, she dashed towards me and punched me. It was too fast that I couldn't react. It threw me to a considerable distance, destroying walls on the way. Good thing the defense mechanism of the suit worked or I might've died in that attack. Staring at the girl, I immediately recognized her. A lot of questions arose in every part of my mind. “What are you doing, Wolf?” It was Robyn, my partner in this mission.

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Outside the lab… 

[Aria] Sexy Demon, are you really sure she is the abducted princess of the Elven Kingdom?

[Lucie] Yes. I’ve seen her a lot of times when I went to the Elven Kingdom for a mission. There’s no mistake. She is princess Arisa.

[Aria] What are we going to do now?

[Lucie] We have no choice. We must protect her until we return to the castle. After that, it’s up to the King’s decision what we should do next.

“Ahhh. Put me down. I need to find Onii-chan,” the princess shouted.

“I’m sorry, princess. Please, you have to stay with us. We are currently in a very dangerous place,” Aria requested.

“Ahhhh. Put me down. Put me down. Put me down,” the princess squirmed continuously with annoyance. “Put me down,” she shouted as black flames exploded from her body, blasting everyone near her. Everyone was dumbfounded. In that split second, all of them had seen complete darkness. After that, the princess ran away to the lab.

“Shit,” Lucie cursed. “Yellow Goblin, follow the princess, quick. Make sure she’s safe,” she ordered one of the soldiers.

“Sexy Demon, what’s happening? How can an elf use a cursed flame?” Aria questioned, looking at Lucie with a paled face.

“There’s no time to explain. Lightning can you contact team B inside the lab?” Lucie asked.

Aria tried to use telepathy, however, no one answered her query.

“What’s happening inside the lab?” Lucie pondered as she walked left and right while her hands rubbed each other’s skins. “Team A proceed to plan B. We will go inside the lab for reinforcement. However, saving the princess is our top priority. If you find her contact us immediately.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

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Meanwhile, in a different area of the lab... 

[Voice of a woman] How many times had we seen this portrait again? We’ve been sneaking for so long, yet we always end up in the exact same place.

[Voice of a man] Shut up, you stupid dragon.

[Voice of a woman] You’re so bad at directions. You should’ve brought Arisa along.

[Voice of a man] As if I can bring that kid in a dangerous place like this.

[Voice of a woman] Oh really. How many dangerous situations did you get her in the past again, huh? Do you regret killing the guards now? You could’ve just used your telepathy to get information. I always wonder how did you even get your esper abilities. This is why simple minded guys like you are so...

“Ahhhhhhhhh. Are you going to shut up or not?” the man shouted.

[Voice of a man] I’m trying to concentrate. Don’t interrupt me,

[Voice of a woman] Heh… If you want me to shut up then use your power. Oh, right. You can’t. Since we’re basically one.

[Voice of a man] I swear. If I ever restore your body back, I will kill you again.

[Voice of a woman] Heh. I want to see you try, young man.

After the man entered a door, he was greeted with a room full of light, enough to temporarily blind anyone unprepared. As the man’s eyesight returned, he saw a girl standing while staring at him.

[Voice of a man] Oi Qilin, there’s something weird about that girl. I can’t read her mind.

[Qilin] Hmm. Come to think of it. This room is also weird. Soro, we’re not casting normal shadows in this place

[Soro] I think they’re using soft light to reduce the shadows in this room.

[Qilin] Soft what?

[Soro] Soft light. It’s a technique used in filming. Did they know we’re coming?

[Qilin] Tsk. I can’t use my magic with this quality of shadow.

[Soro] I know, and it seems my telekinesis is not working with that girl. I’ve been trying to move her, but I can’t. This is a trap.

[Qilin] If only Arisa is here. Do you regret not bringing her now?

[Soro] No. I can do this just fine.

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At the main room of the lab, Dr. Albrecht is talking with himself.

“Sorry kid. You underestimated the capabilities of our security system,” he whispered while looking at the monitor with Hiiro on screen.  

“Most of the our technology came from the Human Kingdom who already reached Technological Singularity, but I’ll still let you play it for a bit. Still, I would like to know how did you create your perfect invisibility cloak. Will you please give it to me so I can study it?” He relaxed on his reclining chair, then gazed again at the monitor.

“Ahhh. It’s been so long since I last saw you, Robyn. It’s a good thing I have the apparatus responsible for your controls. After Aria’s escape, we installed a microchip inside your brain that would allow us to control you. We can’t have the ultimate lifeform we created, such as you, to go berserk on us. Now Robyn, show me the power of the limbs of Lycaon, the King of the Wolves.”

Dr. Albrecht made a maniacal laugh while looking at the screen. After that, he moved his eyes to a different computer. “Now, let’s watch this other guy.”

“I’ve heard rumours about how you abducted the princess and attempted to murder the Elven Queen, but to think that you would actually attack my lab,” Dr. Albrecht muttered. “Investigations showed that you’re able to use shadow magic, but I never expected that it was actually shadow dragon magic. Entertain me, oh most notorious criminal of the Elven Kingdom; Soro, the Black Wolf.”

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Meanwhile, Hiiro is running away… 

I’m at a disadvantage. I can’t fight her in this narrow space. I need to look for something spacious. My invisibility cloak is also useless with Robyn’s enhanced senses. What’s happening with her? Why is she attacking me? 

“Master, I am detecting a child-like figure in the direction you’re going,” Emi announced.

“What?” As I continued running, a girl with pointy ears stood in front of a door. Looking back, I saw Robyn threw a large boulder. “Shit. If I dodged, the kid will be hit. Move out,” I shouted, but the girl didn’t respond. Immediately, I pushed the girl to the ground, and the boulder went over us. After that, I ran while carrying the girl. “I’m sorry kid. It’s dangerous here.”

“I’m not a kid. I’m a 22 year old adult elf,” she shouted while squirming.

“Please, stop moving.” Realizing something, my pace slowed for a second. “Wait, you’re an elf? That's so cool. This is my first time seeing an elf in this world.”

“This world? I think I’ve heard that somewhere before,” the girl murmured.

“I’m sorry for calling you a kid back there.”

“Onii-chan… Arigatou.” She smiled as she hugged me tightly that I nearly let go of her.

“Don’t move too much or you’ll fall.”

“Gomenasai. This is the first time someone acknowledge my adult charms so I’m just happy,” she replied with sparks in her eyes.

I didn’t really say that last part, but, oh well.

“Ne ne onii-chan, Why are we running away?” she asked.

“Shit. I forgot. Emi, check the map for a wide space.”

“Scanning… Master, I found a large area which seems to be a testing ground for weapons,” Emi replied.

“Emi, direct me there, right now.” While dodging several of Robyn’s attacks, Emi guided me to that room.

A few meters before I reached the place, Emi spoke, “Master, it seem the room is locked. Would you like me to hack and open the door?”

“Yes please.” As the door opened, I quickly jumped inside, but I was welcomed by a man flying fast, and crushing towards the wall on my left.

“Soro onii-chan,” the elf shouted. She broke free from me, and ran towards the man.

“What… What just happened?” Looking to my right, I saw a missile coming from a girl. Based on its trajectory, it aimed at the man and the elf. I tried running towards them so I could block it, but I was too exhausted from running. There’s also the fact that I carried the elf all the way the room. “Dodge it,” I shouted while staring at them, slowly awaiting their doom.

Fortunately, the elf was alerted. “Don’t bully onii-chan,” she shouted as black flames came out from her right hand, going towards and blasting the missile. The area surrounding them, and the path the flame took towards the missile turned completely devoid of light after a few seconds it disappeared.

“Is this… a curse?”

Before, while conversing with Satrillo in the castle, he explained to me the difference between magic and curses. Magic, even though it seemed unreal, followed the Laws of Physics. All fire magic still needs the Triangle of Fire to work, while most water magic turns the air around into liquid. It’s also the same for other forms magic. However, curses are different. It’s a type of magic that even I would have a hard time mastering. Like how Lucie has an ability that goes beyond just creating hallucinations and reading the mind; or how I retained all of my senses (though I still haven’t tried taste) despite not having the body part responsible for it; curses could distort the laws of physics. It seems fictitious at first, but this is the truth. It was the only explanation I could think of after seeing an impossible flame. A flame that does not produce, but consumes light.