"How is Subject 2-AB doing?"
In the middle of the ocean, there was a peculiar ship sailing near Japan. Inside was a research facility. It was a place where magi—scientists who study things about magic—would research forbidden things. At least, things that are usually banned.
This specific ship was granted permission to research by the government. What they were researching was a secret.
In the main control room, an old magus was asking about the experiment's progress.
"Well?"
"Ah, you're talking to me, sir?"
The man nearest to him asked. The old magus wasn't satisfied with his lax attitude.
"Stand up, young buck."
He did so.
"What's your name, rookie?"
"No, sir, I'm Langer Rime. I'm one of the original magi on this project."
"Oh, is that so? I'm sorry for assuming then. Well, you should know whether I'm talking to you or not then."
The old magus sounded offended but wasn't. Langer was the clueless type if something didn't involve experimentation.
"Anyway, sir, Subject 2-AB is currently in hibernation. There's no telling when she'll wake up."
Langer dropped into his chair and typed on his computer. A holographic screen popped into thin air and showed the image of a girl in a tube.
She appeared to be a teenager. Her hair flowed into golden strands. She had a mask on to survive in the tube.
"Give me an overview of our project, Langer."
"Yes, sir!"
He instantly replied.
"This project is called Project Sekai, meaning the World Project. With data on all of the magicians in the world, we're trying to create a test subject who can match the top-tier magicians called the World Magicians. Currently, there are 71."
"There are 72, Langer."
One of the other magi corrected him. The old magus—Ryunosuke Kamiya—turned to him and raised his brow.
"What do you mean?"
He typed on his keyboard and brought up an image. It was of the black fire in Kyoto.
"As of two days ago, there was a fire in Kyoto believed to be set by Ayato Kyouya, a member of the Kyouya Family. The results of the fire, however, were unusual."
Another image popped up.
"Even when sprayed with mana suppressants, the fire wouldn't go out. It didn't spread though. Recalling the data of the Magician of Light, Britanny Bakers, from the US, we believe that it's connected to the Magical Rampage Theory."
Ryunosuke smiled when he learnt about the information.
"Then if it is, then that means another World Magician has surfaced. If it is, then that fire must work on another theoretical element. Brittany told us that it was aether but we can't be sure."
He said, massaging his chin.
"Aether doesn't abide by the laws of nature, unlike mana. We don't know if spells can be used with aether yet. That's why we've come to the assumption that only World Magicians can handle them since we've experimented that any one—magician or not—is exposed to a surplus amount of aether, they start to deteriorate."
Langer explained. The other two nodded.
"It's interesting. The only problem is the fact that the World Magicians who possess aether can't control it since it's linked with their emotions. Getting a little angry won't help with the production of aether either. The World Magician must genuinely be caught in their emotions to control aether. We call this state..."
Suddenly, the room became red as an alarm beeped.
"What is it?!"
Ryunosuke shouted, slightly shaken.
"It's Subject 2-AB! She's woken up!"
The screen of the test subject became larger. The girl in the tube opened her vermilion eyes.
"If she's woken up then...!"
"Yes,"
The old magus grinned and raised his arms as if carrying a baby into the air.
"She's reached it! The Nexus Threshold!"
The test subject moved her hand and destroyed the tube.
"W-what?!"
"She was supposed to be restrained!"
"It's fine... It's fine, with this, the world will approve of my research! They will! I, Ryunosuke Kamiya, have created the world's first artificial World Magician!"
·———·
The girl stepped out of the tube. She had a gentle, yet hardened expression.
"Where am I? Who am I?"
The girl looked around. Despite being in this environment for as long as she was created, she didn't recognise it.
This was the first time she was conscious, she shouldn't have a sense of familiarity. Yet, she did.
"It's cold..."
She exhaled.
She saw a set of clothes left behind by a magus. The girl quickly put them on. Now she looked like a magus.
"Stop right there!"
A group of armed security guards had arrived to stop Subject 2-AB in her tracks.
"Put your hands up, Subject 2-AB!"
They aimed their guns at her. The girl's eyes widened.
"So that's who I am. I am Subject 2-AB. 2-AB would be better for convenience."
She whispered to herself. 2-AB raised her arm and tensed her fingers. She pulled her arm, the guards fell forward, pushed by a strong force.
2-AB dashed past the fallen guards. She looked at the palm of her hand.
"This power. I've never felt it before, yet it feels so familiar..."
She muttered.
"Now, what must I do?"
A goal. No, a purpose would be a better description of what she was looking for. The exact purpose she wanted appeared in her head.
"Destruction. I must kill the strongest to become the strongest. That is what my creator wants me to do. To do that, I must escape from here and arrive at the nearest mainland."
·———·
Ryunosuke Kamiya laughed as he watched 2-AB run past the security guards.
"Sir, we need help! Please don't laugh!"
Langer desperately asked, attempting to close all exits.
"No, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at them. They believe that they can stop Subject 2-AB."
He chuckled.
"Isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?! The government won't allow us to experiment again!"
"It's fine, Subject 2-AB won't shine here if I claim for her to be the strongest magician."
Langer frowned, worried about the old magus' plan.
"Subject 2-AB was created to be the strongest. How else could she do that if she doesn't defeat the strongest? After all, she's the only magician in the world who can control aether."