The flames, gradually growing larger, seek out a source of power that will further feed their own spark.
In the heart of the Ignis Empire, in the Fusion Facility located in southern Volcanium.
Inside, cores from other empires were arranged by type, but there were not many of them.
“So... the research we have to do now is developing a three-attribute core...”
Researcher Rexa was muttering with her gaze fixed on the cores.
“I’m at a loss because I can’t even think of where to begin...”
There had already been several attempts at fusion.
They had first tried to fuse a Life Core into a Geyser Core.
The Geyser Core, a two-attribute core, was created by fusing four Flame Cores and four Wave Cores respectively.
Then, if four Life Cores were mixed in as well, would a three-attribute core be created?
“This does not seem to be the right method.”
Researcher Calteon shook his head as he spoke.
“No matter how many times we try, it doesn’t work. Fortunately, they are not attributes that harm each other, so we have not wasted any cores, but neither side shows any particular reaction to the other.”
Beside him, Researcher Nexor was silently lost in thought.
Rexa approached them.
“What do you think the reason is?”
“Hmm... on the surface, it seems the problem is that the Geyser Core is already tightly bound together. As expected, it doesn’t seem easy for a new attribute to squeeze its way in between them.”
Rexa said,
“It’s nearly impossible to newly form an existing ring that has already been connected. Rather than that, building a structure on top of it would be more likely.”
“A new ring on top of the ring...?”
Nexor spoke with his arms folded.
“But... it doesn’t seem like a stable structure can be formed. In the case of two attributes, each supports the other, allowing the structure to stabilize, but when three attributes exist together, wouldn’t it become ambiguous as to which attribute should hold the structure together...?”
Nexor lined up a Flame Core, a Wave Core, and a Life Core on the table as he continued his explanation.
“For example, if our fire attribute is to maintain the structure, it has to rely on either the remaining water or wood attribute, but then it cannot connect to the other attribute. From what we have researched, it appears that one attribute can only form a structure with one other attribute.”
“So, fire cannot connect to water and wood at the same time...?”
“Yes. At least according to the experiments so far, that seems to be the case.”
“Haa...”
Rexa propped her chin on her hand and pondered.
“Even in the fusion of two-attribute cores, cores weren’t used one at a time. Only when four of each were consumed did a complete core emerge. Would it not work to increase the amount of single-attribute cores used as materials?”
Calteon answered.
“With the amount we have invested so far, there has not even been a sign of fusion. Judging from that, it may be that single attributes lack the necessary limit of energy. That is why I believe two-attribute cores must inevitably be used in the fusion.”
Rexa tilted her head.
“No, but if that’s the case, the balance seems off again. The energy of the remaining one attribute is far too weak.”
Nexor said in a quiet voice,
“Yes... that is also a problem.”
Rexa turned and looked around.
“It seems no definite method has emerged yet. Fortunately, you said no cores have been discarded so far, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Even so, we don’t have many cores left. The only core that comes from our land is the Flame Core. Even that production has dropped sharply now because Metalum invaded.”
Nexor pressed his lips tightly shut.
Then, after a moment, he grumbled.
“Wouldn’t it be better if we summoned a dragon as well? It is true that we were the first to develop two-attribute cores, but isn’t developing a three-attribute core right now too hasty? Especially when we are already short on resources... Besides, if we counterattack Metalum, we can seize their cores too.”
Rexa answered in a low voice,
“His Majesty must have his reasons. In any case, what matters is that our research cannot proceed easily. Above all, we barely have any cores left. If only we had a sufficient supply of cores, we could try something at least.”
No one said anything.
She turned her head toward the entrance of the Fusion Facility and continued speaking.
“First, let us report the situation so far. His Majesty must know the circumstances we are in, so that he may take some form of action.”
The Flame Core on the table was emitting a red light as though flickering.
As if it wished to burn something, and as if it wished to spread its energy into its surroundings.
Inside Vulcanus’s fortress, located in Volcanium.
Emperor Vulcanus was seated on his throne, and Engineer Pellos delivered the report from the Fusion Facility.
“The research on the three-attribute core that Your Majesty ordered has continued. However, they say they lack the cores needed for the research. At present, it is almost at a standstill.”
Vulcanus raised his head and looked outside the fortress.
“Yes, to obtain the cores of other empires, we need their cooperation...”
His eyes brightened briefly.
“But in the current situation, cooperation is difficult to expect. If not cooperation, then attack is also one method.”
Vulcanus sank into thought.
The targets they could invade were the Metalum Empire and, if they used their ash troops, perhaps the Terra Empire.
However, the Ignis Empire did not possess enough military strength to invade another empire.
Another method was to seize cores without permission, as they had done against the Silva Empire.
It was the act of exploiting the fact that Silva could not attack Ignis due to their one-sided mutually beneficial relationship, thereby plundering the Life Cores produced in Silva’s territory.
However, unlike back then, Silva now possessed Slime Cores.
Since the soldiers produced from Slime Cores could attack Ignis, it was obvious that if Ignis provoked them again, retribution would immediately follow.
Ragdor opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, how about revising our strategy even now? The direction with the most possibility is expanding the fortress. Should we not at least rebuild the defensive wall first?”
Vulcanus’s eyes flashed, and he answered at once.
“I am not saying we will neglect our defensive system. However, we do not have much time given to us. That much will delay our development, and in the meantime, the other empires will advance even further.”
Vulcanus slowly looked around once.
The flame of Ignis, barely kept alive, was preparing to blaze again.
But there was no telling when Metalum might attack once more.
According to Vulcanus’s thoughts, even in this situation, Ignis had no room to halt its original plan, not even for a moment.
“Wait...”
Vulcanus suddenly seemed to recall a certain memory.
“When we were heading toward the center, did we not discover something? A certain forest that suddenly appeared before our eyes. It was a place filled with the energy of trees, like Silva.”
His retainers, too, remembered the forest Vulcanus mentioned.
A forest of unknown ownership located to the northwest by Ignis’s standards, and to the southwest by the center’s standards.
Since it was very far from Silva, it was clearly not Silva’s territory.
Barkas asked Vulcanus,
“It is true that the forest has strong wood energy, making it a beneficial place for all of us. It would be highly useful in a battle against Metalum, but aside from that, can we make use of that forest?”
“The energy of trees.”
Vulcanus paused for a moment before answering.
“That wood energy is very tempting. If that forest does not belong to Silva, then can we not, as the ones who discovered it first, take possession of it? In our land, only Flame Cores are produced, but in that forest, cores possessing wood energy may be produced.”
The retainers looked at one another.
If Vulcanus’s conjecture was true, Ignis would be able to acquire Life Cores without coming into contact with Silva.
Vulcanus said to them,
“Let us move at once. We will go find that forest again. Only by examining that place will we be able to discover any path forward.”
Vulcanus and his retainers moved northwest with a small force.
Before long, they arrived at the forest they had discovered before.
It was an area not very far from the southwestern border of the Terra Empire.
A quiet forest that seemed untouched by anyone other than Ignis.
Vulcanus spoke to himself.
“If this is not Silva’s forest, then whose forest is it? Did it exist even before all of us began moving in this world?”
None of his retainers could readily answer his words.
It was something even Vulcanus could not know clearly, so there was even less reason for the retainers to know.
What was certain was that they and their soldiers were now burning even more brightly because of the forest.
Pellos said,
“It would truly be wonderful if we could give form to the wood energy emitted by this forest as a core.”
Fundamentally, Energy Cores were naturally generated in this world.
And within the territories of each empire, Energy Cores were converted into five types of cores according to each attribute.
However, the ownerless forest, though it contained wood energy, was unable to infuse that energy into Energy Cores.
Vulcanus said to Pellos,
“We must find that method. I too can inject the energy of fire into Energy Cores to create Flame Cores. Energy Cores and wood energy—the necessary resources are already prepared. What remains is the technique to combine the two. With that alone, we too can possess as many of the cores produced in Silva as we wish.”
Once again, flames rose from the bodies of not only Vulcanus, but also his retainers and soldiers.
Those flames may have been burning with the aid of the wood energy, but at the same time, they also represented their anticipation for what lay ahead.
Pellos nodded and said,
“As it happens, one of the cores the researchers require is precisely Silva’s core. They say that if even that alone is supplied in sufficient quantity, they may be able to resume the research.”
Vulcanus turned and looked at the group as he spoke.
“Good. Since we have secured this region, we will defend it. Move our researchers to this region and construct a defensive wall. This forest is the perfect opportunity to rekindle our flame.”
“Understood!”
The retainers and soldiers bowed their heads before Vulcanus.
Now, the direction of Ignis seemed to have been clearly decided.
Even within the Ignis Empire, hope was rising among the buildings reduced to ash.
Collapsed structures were raised once more, and the sound of citizens’ laughter began to mingle in the crimson alleys.
“We have to wrap the pillars in two layers. So that the likes of Metalum cannot even lay a hand on them.”
The artisans of fire moved busily, erecting the framework of the city that would rise again.
A passing Crimson Flame Knight placed a hand on a newly ignited wall.
“Yes, we are still alive. The heat that has not cooled from within is spreading outward.”
And in the distance, a red shadow moved toward the northwest.
Emperor Vulcanus was trying to set the empire ablaze in his own way.
The Ignis Empire had not fallen.
They were preparing to bloom again atop the ashes.