In the dim-lit depths of the Valefar Pact’s study hall, Aether Vaelfhaer huddled over an elaborate setup of arcane tools and ingredients, focused with the intensity of a hunter as he prepared for a ritual that would bring his wildest ambitions to life. Beside him was Celesse, her blue eyes alight with excitement. Her brother’s automatic demon-summoning device hummed in the background, pulsing with a deep purple glow and casting shifting shadows across the room. This machine was no joke. It fed on soul shards, rare and hard to come by, each holding pure fragments of stolen essence that were highly illegal, and with every fragment used, the air in the room grew sharper, more intense.
The plan was daring, even reckless, but if they pulled it off? They’d be legends. They were working on crafting a dungeon core, a powerful heart that could endlessly spawn creatures as long as it was properly fueled. The first step was summoning a demon, and after that, they’d need a dantian—a demon’s mana core, brimming with raw energy. These dantians were like dynamite, compact powerhouses capable of fueling spells, magical devices, and, if all went as planned, this dungeon core.
To contain the demon, Aether had acquired liquefied *space-time mana stones,* rare and costly materials. He carefully heated the stones, their ethereal, midnight-blue fluid twisting and bubbling as he began glassblowing it into a sphere. The liquefied mana cooled rapidly, trapping the demon in what looked like a miniature cosmos.
Celesse watched with an unrestrained grin. She’d gathered every component with Aether over weeks, and now it was real. “Alright, Aether,” she said, smirking, “time to make history.”
Once the core was in its early stages, they’d need a *transmutation circle* to bind the essence of the creatures they wanted the dungeon core to spawn. For this, they had a special sacrifice—a batch of *artificial creatures* Adrian had made that had been deemed obsolete. But these creatures weren’t just disposable experiments; they had character. Imagine a tiny, winged tiger with a spiky tail, or a bouncy, round creature with big, button eyes and a tail covered in shiny scales, like a scaly chipmunk with neon-pulsing fur. Another had a plump body with stubby arms, pearly-white teeth peeking from a pouty expression, and chubby wings like a baby dragon. The last was a furry critter, a miniature saber-toothed tiger with oversized ears and expressive, soulful eyes. Cute but flawed, a mix of organic and alchemical machinations.
Celesse carefully placed these creatures in a circle, glancing at each one as if they were about to join her personal army. “We’re talking unstoppable,” she whispered to herself, her pulse racing. Her mana reserves were vast, practically an ocean, and with a dungeon core fueling a constant army of these beasts? She’d be unstoppable. With a quick snap, she crushed another mana stone into the soil around the pot. As she buried the demon sphere, the ground absorbed the magical essence, taking on an eerie hum that resonated through the creatures. It was raw alchemy, a gritty transformation of life and death powered by grit and ambition.
The goal wasn’t just to summon adorable creatures, though that was a nice side effect; Aether’s plan ran deeper. By using talismans, they could capture these creatures’ souls and harness their unique abilities. Talismans had fallen out of favor over the years—capturing rogue souls and wicked spirits wasn’t exactly trending. But Aether had a new spin. He didn’t want just any creatures; he wanted badass cute ones, fierce but endearing, as terrifying as they were loyal. With each talisman, they could unleash something unexpected and powerful.
The process was risky, as some creatures’ abilities were so unstable they occasionally self-destructed. But by locking their souls within the dungeon core—a type of phylactery—while containing their bodies in talismans, they’d be practically immortal, able to reform endlessly as long as there was mana to sustain them.
“Aether, you know no one’s ever tried this, right?” Celesse said, watching as he worked the glass sphere with expert precision.
“I know,” he replied, voice low. “That’s why it’s going to work. People limit themselves because they’re scared. We’re going to rewrite those limits.”
“So, you’re sayin’,” Celesse grinned, “these little critters can go from cute to cold-blooded as long as you got enough mana and the talisman don’t crack?”
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“Exactly,” Aether replied. “They die, I summon ’em again. They’re immortal on the leash, and the mana flow keeps them strong. No one’s gonna mess with this pack.”
Celesse nodded, feeling a thrill ripple through her. She loved the idea of wielding an army of adorable creatures that packed power beyond what anyone expected. It was something no one had ever dared to attempt, and with her near-limitless mana reserves, the possibilities felt endless.
The shadows in the dimly lit den of the Umbrus Pact seemed to close in as Charm stepped up, her eyes flashing from Selene to Ennuy with that mix of amusement and disbelief she was known for. “That love potion you thought would fix Adrian’s attitude? Didn’t even make him blink.” Her words cut through the silence, and all eyes shifted to Morwen, who looked like she’d just been slapped. “Impossible,” Morwen muttered under her breath, her gaze clouded with denial.
Frostie, leaning against the wall with a cool smirk, shot a look at Selene. “How about asking your brother to quit trying to get Ennuy smoked every chance he gets, huh?” The room fell dead silent, and eyes bore into Selene, half in shock, half in suspicion. But Selene’s icy stare didn’t flinch. “Let him try,” she replied, voice low and unyielding. “I’ll fight for Ennuy any day. Adrian wants to test us? I say bring it.”
Charm let out a low laugh, crossing her arms as she leaned in. “You’re serious, huh? That’s dumb, Selene. You’re both gonna get smoked.”
Ennuy’s voice cut in, his tone a defiant growl. “Nah, if I can’t back her up, I’ve got no business here.”
Frostie shook her head, her exasperation barely hiding her concern. “Great. So we’re all signing up for a war just to prove who’s got the real grit?”
Morwen's voice broke the tension, still preaching about the power of the D-MECHs, but Selene, Ennuy, Charm, and Frostie exchanged knowing looks. They were done with the talk and hype. Their stakes were already higher. Ennuy shot Selene a look, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he jerked his head toward the exit. “Let’s go to the garage. This game’s only starting.”
They slipped out of the workshop as Morwen kept dropping specs on the D-MECHs, the others captivated by her show. Moving down the corridor, Charm couldn’t resist jabbing Selene, laughing under her breath. “You’re dead serious about challenging Adrian for Ennuy, huh?”
“Damn right,” Selene fired back. “If Adrian thinks I’ll stand down just because he’s family, he’s dead wrong. He wants to scare us off? Good luck with that.” Her voice was steady, every word dripping with conviction.
Ennuy chuckled darkly, rolling his shoulders as he looked at her with a gleam of mischief. “I’m right here for it. If I can’t step up to him with you, what kind of partner am I?”
Frostie sighed but couldn’t hide her smirk. “You both are out of your minds, but I’ll give it to you—Adrian’s never seen this kind of crazy.”
They entered the garage, where the hum of power and magic in the air was almost tangible. The half-constructed D-MECHs loomed over them like silent prehistoric titans, each one a weapon waiting for its pilot. This wasn’t just machinery—it was personal. They’d built these with blood, sweat, and a need to answer Adrian in a way he couldn’t ignore.
Selene’s eyes fell on her D-MECH, the Tyranno-X1, its frame glinting under the dim lights. The skeletal structure was monstrous, built to channel sheer destruction. It was her answer to Adrian’s power—a way of saying she wouldn’t bend or break for anyone. “This isn’t just armor,” she murmured, her fingers brushing against the massive bone-reinforced plating. “It’s a statement. Adrian’s about to find out he’s not the only one with the fire to fight.”
Charm smirked, glancing at the Tricera-T4. “You’re bringing heat, alright. But Adrian’s no joke; he’s got moves and backup. This might be harder than you think.”
Ennuy, unfazed, looked over at the sleek, agile Raptor-R7 he was gearing up to pilot. “Let him come. He thinks he can snipe me from a distance? I’ll make him chase me across the field.” He cracked his knuckles, a dark, ready gleam in his eyes.
Frostie laughed, standing by the Ptero-P9. “Alright, crazy duo. When Adrian’s all over the place, I’ll be watching from above and cleaning up whatever mess you leave.” She shot them a look softened with rare worry. “Just don’t get killed out there.”
Morwen’s voice echoed from behind, her lecture to the rest of the crew carrying tones of pride and authority. “These D-MECHs are more than machines. They’re the power of an age-old force, waiting to be unleashed in the hands of those ready to wield it. This is a new order of strength, and it can shape the future.”
Selene turned to her clique, her smirk fading, replaced by dead-serious resolve. “This is loyalty. We’re not just building these for power; this is about proving ourselves. When the time comes, Adrian can meet us out there. I’m not backing down.”
Ennuy nodded, stepping beside her, his gaze hard. “And I’ll be right there with you. If this is what loyalty means, we’re signing on together.”
Charm leaned back, her eyes shifting from one D-MECH to the next. “Alright, you two, go bring the heat, then. Just remember, we’re Umbrus Pact. We don’t play— we finish it.”