Steel calculates a direction.
Toward a direction it had never coveted until now.
A mysterious lake located northwest of the center of the world.
There had nearly been friction with the Terra Empire for a time, but unexpectedly, they withdrew with ease, allowing Metalum to take possession of the lake.
Resource Manager Peron and the researchers Keldren and Renma were patrolling and observing the area around the lake.
“Aqua has never even set foot here, yet the energy of water has not disappeared.”
At Renma’s words, Keldren nodded.
“I don’t know why, but it’s a good thing. The reason we occupied this lake is precisely because of that water energy.”
Renma slowly approached the edge of the lake.
He gently dipped his hand of metal into the surface.
The lake’s surface rippled around his hand.
When he withdrew it, droplets of water clung to his fingers.
“It seems to be affected by us, and yet it also seems to show no particular reaction.”
Peron and Keldren also approached the edge of the lake.
Keldren said,
“It may be because we are steel. Since Terra possesses the energy of earth, they would have a harder time handling this lake than we do. But we have no problem.”
Peron said to the researchers,
“Our current goal is to control the water energy possessed by this lake. Merely occupying the lake does not mean we can say we own it.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
What Metalum hoped for most was to obtain Aqua’s Wave Core from this lake.
In Aqua’s deep sea, Wave Cores were produced naturally, but in the lake, only the energy of water existed; it did not transform into Wave Cores.
Keldren said,
“We need to turn this water into a core. We have Energy Cores too, don’t we? Since we have both Energy Cores and water energy, if we inject the water energy into an Energy Core, Aqua’s core should be created.”
The words themselves sounded simple.
But they were beings who possessed the energy of metal.
Metalum was not yet able to freely handle other attributes, including Aqua.
Renma asked Keldren,
“Chief, how about examining the Aqua cores still remaining in the laboratory? It seems we would only be able to imitate them once we understand how those cores were made……”
Keldren nodded.
“We should try every method available. Besides, the problem we must solve clearly has an answer. We simply haven’t found the solution yet; it is not something that does not exist in this world.”
Peron said to the researchers,
“Then I’ll be expecting results. There is no need to rush. But if all the necessary conditions have been met, then there is a need to continue the research at once.”
“Yes, we will proceed.”
The researchers bustled about once more, and Peron watched them for a moment before turning and heading toward the fortress.
Inside the fortress located in Oruka, the heart of the Metalum Empire.
Emperor Oruma entered the conference room.
Agnon, Belkar, and Peron were waiting for him there.
“We took the lake more easily than expected.”
Oruma said as he looked down at the map on the table.
The location of the discovered ownerless lake was marked on the map.
According to the map, the lake was closer to Terra than to Metalum in terms of distance.
Agnon said,
“It appears to be a good thing from our standpoint, but Terra’s actions are difficult to understand. Terra has always stubbornly insisted on using only their own attribute without making use of other attributes, but even so, to hand over land so readily……”
Terra had provided quite a lot to Metalum.
From Aqua’s Wave Core to their own Earth Core, Ignis’s Flame Core, and now even a special region known as the lake, they had yielded all of it to Metalum.
Belkar replied,
“Given their nature, it may truly have been an area they had no need for. In addition, the lake is a region with strong water energy. We may be fine, but it is not an attribute that suits Terra. Though earth is stronger than water, they are still two attributes that are difficult to go together.”
Agnon shook his head, as if his doubts were still unresolved.
“That is not the only strange thing. Even looking at the distance, the lake is closer to Terra than to us. So if we were to take possession of this region, the directions in which Terra could expand its influence would become that much more limited. Terra is continuing to expand its land in order to increase the number of cores, so they can protect the center with only their own energy. For that very reason, giving up this lake goes against their plan as well.”
Oruma said,
“They must have some sort of plan of their own. Perhaps making us focus on this lake is also part of that plan.”
The retainers looked at Oruma.
He continued,
“Could it be that they were looking in another direction? We took the lake, but they may have been pursuing something more important than that.”
Agnon looked around and asked,
“Then should we also continue exploring other unknown regions?”
“Hmm. That is enough.”
Oruma’s tone was firm.
“There is an order to everything. We have already secured one lake region, and it seems we have not even found a way to utilize the lake yet. Even if we discovered another region, it would hold little meaning.”
He pointed to the lake with his fingertip.
“The most important goal given to us is this. I know it is difficult research, but that is precisely why, once it succeeds, our situation will change greatly.”
Metalum creates Wave Cores.
Just imagining it would create a great stir throughout the world.
Whether in a good way or a bad one.
The moment the Golden Core, the first dual-attribute core, appeared in the world, there had been chaos all across it for some time.
And when the first dragon, Montanus, appeared, the world had also been engulfed in shock.
But now, all ten kinds of dual-attribute cores had been fused, and other dragons had been summoned as well, yet the world had instead grown quiet.
That was because fusing dual-attribute cores required a continuous supply of resources, and resummoning dragons also came with the restriction of taking a considerable amount of time.
Metalum began steadily increasing its forces.
However, due to resource limitations, they could not newly produce dual-attribute troops.
They once again organized their army around Siege Giants and Steel Knights, just as they had in the past.
In the underground laboratory inside the fortress, various single-attribute cores and dual-attribute cores remained.
These would likely be used for something in the future.
But deciding how to make use of those cores was another problem in itself.
The newly assigned researchers Calmorin and Orvian were looking down at the cores in the laboratory.
“It feels like our technology has regressed.”
Calmorin grumbled inside the laboratory.
Orvian added a word as well.
“I believe we once researched dual-attribute cores quite actively, but now it seems we are once again moving with our own cores alone.”
Calmorin replied,
“The reason we were brought into this laboratory is to find a way to use these cores. The seniors have gone out into the field to research the lake.”
“Mm…… Until now, dual-attribute cores were used to produce new troop types, weren’t they? Still, it does seem absurd to say cores were fused simply to create soldiers.”
“That was probably the truth. But now it’s time to find uses other than that.”
The two new researchers fixed their eyes on the Golden Core among the various cores.
A fusion of Metalum’s Metal Core and Ignis’s Flame Core.
Compared to Ignis’s Golden Core, the Golden Core fused by Metalum had a weaker red light and a stronger yellow light.
“This is true gold. What the likes of Ignis made is fake.”
“Of course.”
Orvian carefully picked up the Golden Core.
“We can make soldiers with this too, but its power doesn’t seem strong enough to match its name. Who could Golden Soldiers defend against? Ignis? Silva? Because of the fire energy inside it, we’re the ones who have to be careful.”
At that moment, Calmorin’s gaze changed.
“But gold is the metal all of us desired. We must raise the status of this gold.”
Orvian nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. We cannot waste this great gold on something as trivial as war. Though those damned Ignis bastards wouldn’t know the value of gold.”
“Come to think of it, we gained quite a bit from this war.”
Calmorin and Orvian shifted their gazes to the Flame Cores piled up in the corner.
Red cores that had not yet been fused into Golden Cores.
Calmorin said,
“Those cores themselves are of no particular use to us anyway, so shall we try making them into Golden Cores?”
“Let’s do that. The seniors gave us permission to make Golden Cores too.”
“Good. Then we should research the Golden Core further.”
Using the core fusion technique passed down to them by Keldren and Renma, they began producing Golden Cores.
Metalum’s underground laboratory was set in motion once more.
They did not lower their guard outside Metalum either.
While training additional soldiers, they had to prepare for the day a counterattack would come from the Ignis Empire.
“It’s quieter than I expected.”
Commander Karden muttered.
Commander Robik approached his side.
“The damage must have been quite severe. That is Aureus’s achievement.”
“Mm.”
They were monitoring the southeast, where Ignis was located, but no great heat was detected.
Contrary to expectations, Ignis did not seem to be showing any movement, such as moving an army toward Metalum.
“I don’t know. They may raid us again like last time. We have no choice but to keep watching them.”
At that moment, a Steel Knight approached them.
“Commander, a faint energy is being detected from Ignis.”
“Hmm?”
Together, they fixed their eyes on one place.
As expected, it was heat detected from the southeast.
“Are they finally moving?”
“There is no movement at present. However, it is certain that they have drawn closer to us.”
Silence settled between them.
Karden spoke first.
“Did they simply expand their territory?”
Robik replied,
“That may be the case, but if it were Ignis, I believe they would have moved more violently.”
“They are staying in place for now……”
After a moment, Karden continued,
“There must be a reason. They have drawn closer to us, but if they do not advance any farther from that position, it seems difficult to say they are preparing a counterattack.”
“Could it be that they discovered something as well?”
“Like how we discovered the lake?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Karden revealed his discomfort.
“That is not particularly welcome news either. It would be better if they were moving their army instead. We may need to hurry and finish our technological development before they do.”
“We may also be able to use that opening to attempt another attack on them.”
“But we must not jump to conclusions.”
Karden spoke firmly.
“We must first report the movement we have discovered to His Majesty, then judge carefully. The Ignis bastards have lost much, so their recovery will also be swift. On the surface, their embers may seem to be rising slowly, but there is no knowing when they might suddenly spread in all directions.”
Metalum judges the present through the experiences of the past.
Each person calculates and decides their next action according to the role they have been given.
And the Center, too, silently observes the world.