Exiting override mode.

Certain that the battle had already met its end, the Codex displayed a message that allowed me to take a breather. My heart raced wildly even though I was only watching. Exhilarating and suspenseful, the fight that was worthy enough to be included in a movie. To be watching and feeling it first hand was an experience I would never forget.

“We won.”

A large difference in skill and power, conquered using a technology that wasn’t even complete. Unbelievable at first, the Codex proved itself worthy of being called the most advanced A.I. in the world. Considering that it flawlessly utilized fighting techniques and skills that were freshly implemented inside its memory, it was safe to say that we’re undefeatable if confronted by an enemy with the same skill and power level. Furthermore, it was still at its first phase of learning. There were endless possibilities with the passage of time.

“If only it is possible to mass produce exosuits with this A.I. onboard, I’m pretty sure world domination will not be impossible.”

It was an idea that I could probably put into work but it would take a large amount of time. Spending a couple of decades creating factories that could autonomously produce robotic soldiers. A familiar setting that had its own risks. However, if I was left with no other choice, I could seriously consider this option in order to get back home.

“Though I need to stay alive for that.”

I jokingly said, a forlorn smile appearing on my chapped lips.

It was fun thinking of new ideas, exploring possibilities and implementing them in real life. But all of those didn’t matter if this life was cut short. It was pitiful indeed but I wasn’t scared. Somehow, it felt like death wasn’t new to me.

Enough with that! What’s more important here is that the test is a success!

Feeling optimistic while being covered by the fluids and innards of the mantis, I lifted the hammer that was embedded into its disfigured body. Quite similar to the state of the insect, the hammer’s head was facing the wrong direction, but still the it didn’t separate from the handle. Making it clear that the hammer was far from being a long term weapon.

“Hmm….maybe the Codex can help me with forging.”

I muttered as I stepped out of the depression on the ground where the insect lied to rest.

Forged metal instead of the casted metal I conjured using the printer. Even though the printer could create a wide range of materials quite easily, forging was impossible with it. Disappointing as it was, forging metals required technique and was hard to replicate using robots. That’s when the Codex comes in. With its vast knowledge in almost everything, I could probably make a weapon that would last longer.

“What are you?”

The moment I got out from the hole, a blade engulfed in flames welcomed my armored face. Along with a question that I had expected to hear from her eventually, the princess intimidatingly pointed the fiery weapon at me.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to ask you as well.”

Through the built in microphone and waterproof speakers of the exosuit, my voice was relayed to the Princess without much difficulty. Unperturbed by her display of hostility, I nonchalantly closened the distance between the two of us.

“A normal human doesn’t have glowing hair or have the ability to set a sword in fire.”

“To have survived a bombardment from a [Midnight Winged Reaper] and even defeating it without using mana, surely you’re the abnormal one here.”

She firmly stood her ground and continued to aim the point at my head. Without even blinking once, her crimson eyes stared daggers at the one who was supposed to be her savior.

It was through technological superiority and not innate fighting skill and strength that I managed to defeat that monstrosity. Her accusation of me being abnormal was in a sense, explainable. As for Catherine’s weird capabilities, they were hard to discern.

“If you are indeed a firstborn, such a feat won’t be impossible.”

Once again, that word was brought up by the Princess which further peaked my curiosity as to what kind of creature a firstborn really was.

Was it someone so powerful and frightening that she would just point a sword at it regardless of the fact that it had just saved her from danger?

“You must have planned to make us your slaves and suck our blood for your daily meals. I know that blood of virgin maidens are irresistible for vampires like you!”

Really now.

Suddenly, I got an urge to bang my head onto a wall after hearing her delusions. Without even hearing my side of things, Catherine just kept on forcing her own interpretations to me.

“I already told you that I am not a vampire! I don’t have fangs, I can walk under sunlight and I don’t suck blood! Is it that hard to believe me?!”

“Then prove it to me! I won’t believe you until I see it with my own eyes!”

In front of the obstinate princess, I inevitably blew a fuse. Instead of talking things out in a relaxed manner it became a shoutfest. No matter how I look at it, this conversation wouldn’t get us anywhere and it's only making my headache worse.

“Suit yourself, I’m going back home.”

Fed up with all the useless chatter, I decided to end the stagnant conversation.

With so much things left to do, idling for so long could inevitably lessen my chances of surviving through this ordeal. The princess was free to voice out her own opinions but now was not the right time to discuss such things.

“Don’t do anything stupid or else you’ll regret it.”

As I turned my back at her, I issued a warning that was filled to the brim with hostility.

We had already compromised on an agreement that I would escort them back to their kingdom in exchange for clues on returning back home. Anything more than that wasn’t my concern at all, unless it would help us with our journey.

Not wanting to delay things any further, I kicked the ground beneath me, propelling my armored body towards the direction of the warehouse. After considering her threats as mere nonsense, I left Catherine who was probably enraged by my nonchalant behavior.

It didn’t take long before the distance between me and the Princess widened to an extent that her dot wasn’t displayed anymore in the interactive map. And for some inexplicable reason, my head felt better after that argument. Like being submerged in a tub of water that was refreshingly cold, the pain unusually disappeared just like that. I wanted to know the cause but I think I should just be thankful for this instead of worrying

____________________________________________________________________________

“That stupid little! Ughh! I’ll slice you into pieces once I found out that you’re really a vampire!”

While performing a combo of sword slashes that cut nothing but air, Catherine irritatingly complained about the annoyance she suffered from that white haired boy.

Everything about him seemed fitting of a vampire no matter how many times she viewed him. He had hair that was as white as the snow that covered all the vampire kingdoms they had passed by during their journey. Seth also had pale skin which somehow made him look lifeless. As for the fangs, he showed that his teeth were indeed normal but vampires should have one or two tricks on hiding those sharp canines. He possessed terrifying strength and agility that was beyond human capabilities, as witnessed from the battle just now. Lastly, she felt an unimaginable amount of mana contained within his body.

The princess felt that he was making fun of them despite of all these evidences that she had found out. For sure he was abnormal but still Catherine wanted to show him that she wouldn’t falter whatsoever. Nevertheless, he disinterestedly denied her accusations and just walked away like that. She felt irritated and relieved at the same time since there was a chance that he might get rid of her if he was proven guilty.

“If only my sword and armor was with me, I could probably fight him as an equal.”

Equipment that were considered as relics, passed down through several generations of royalty in the Alteria kingdom. Enchanted with high level magic, it could bestow its wearer superhuman strength and mana. Catherine, who was next in line to the throne, donned that armor and wielded that sword through numerous battlefields ever since she was announced as the crown princess. Considering that it could amplify her fighting capabilities by at least three-fold, taking Seth down was possible. But still his maximum power was still undetermined since he didn’t use even a tad bit of mana from the battle earlier.

“For a [Reaper] to be reduced into this state….”

Exaggeratingly bent at an acute angle and had a large hole on its jet black carapace, the mantis’ body was left in shambles. Catherine took a peek inside the hole where the monster was embedded.

Possessing high magical damage and magical defense, the [Midnight Winged Reaper] was a monster that could be classified between rank A and rank S depending on the size it had attained. The one that Seth had defeated was clearly an adult rank S that could bombard a large area with magical attacks with just a single swipe of both its scythes. He must’ve exerted a colossal amount of brute force for its carapace to be wrecked, especially with only a few hits from that hammer.

“A mana core should be somewhere here.”

Monsters above rank D should always leave a mana core behind if it was defeated in battle. They were spheres of solidified mana with varying sizes, depending on the rank of the monster. Used for crafting magical tools and enchantments, adventurers could earn a living by hunting monsters and selling the cores they drop.

“There it is.”

Deep within the hole on its body, detectable amounts of mana leaked even though the monster was clearly dead. For someone who had studied magic under the guidance of high ranking court magicians at a young age, Catherine acquired the ability to detect mana at a certain degree. Sensitive enough to identify a source within a five meter radius, the Princess could be classified as a genius among people of the same age as her.

“Ughh..”

While wearing a face that was full of disgust, the princess inserted both her arms inside the hole, trying to fish out the core which would definitely come in handy once they've arrive inside a town.

The body didn't smell that much since it was dead only for a short amount of time. But still, the feeling of warm guts touching her bare skin made Catherine exceedingly uncomfortable.

“Got it.”

Catherine relievedly muttered as her hands got a hold of something round and cold.

She could feel the density of mana from the surface of her palms and as soon as the sphere left the body where it belonged to, the whole body of the monster disintegrated into countless particles that illuminated the entirety of her surroundings. They were like fireflies but their light was azure. Bit by bit, the gigantic body was turned into small spheres of blinding fluorescence. Swirling and whirling, thousands or even a million, the core sucked in every last bit of them as if reclaiming what rightfully belonged to it.

“Amazing….”

Held between her hands was a jade colored sphere that was as big as a basketball. Its green hue represents the attribute of the monster where it came from. In this case, wind was the magical attribute. Catherine could feel a bit of mana, that was leaking from the sphere, course through her skin and flow into her system. It was cold and relaxing, the wind attributes’ innate characteristic. Nevertheless, the mana she spent just a while ago wasn't replenished since her attribute was fire and not wind.

“Eh?”

The princess couldn’t help but emit a dumbfounded sound as soon as she saw something unusual happen to the core.

Without even lasting for a few minutes it disintegrated again into fine particles. Dispersing in all directions at a single time, like fireworks exploding in mid air. Catherine reflexively squinted both her eyes amidst the radiance that was much more brighter than before. But it didn’t last for long as the spheres, instead of swirling like before, began to move at a specific direction which made it look like something or someone was commanding them.

“Mana cores don’t break that easily.”

Everything that she had learned about magic from books and through lessons of her teachers, Catherine was sure that mana cores weren’t supposed to disappear just like that. Exerting greater amounts of magic that exceeds its capacity, mana overflow was the only possible way to destroy a core. But then, it happened in front of her eyes without even doing anything to it.

“Firstborn.”

She muttered grimly while observing the path the spherical particles took.

Further solidifying her accusations of Seth, the particles flew at the direction where he left.

Fast enough to probably caught up to him, they zigzagged through the natural maze of the forest. Fascinatingly, they looked as if they were alive. Even though they left quickly, Catherine caught a glimpse of those spheres clustering together before they flew away.

Firstborns had bizarre skills that made them forbiddable in any type of battlefield. Shapeshifting, conjuring legendary familiars, casting spells that could wipe a city, enslaving people with mental magic, all sorts of abilities that could potentially wipe a kingdom. Information about them were scarce but there was a high possibility that Seth had something similar, Catherine thought.