Alcard began executing his plans. First, he fashioned a simple cross by aligning the iron bars.He placed his hand on the bars, concentrating intently."Okay, this should be enough for a simple "Merge" spell."With a quiet breath, he whispered, "Merge," allowing his will to flow through the words.Before speaking, he pressed one of the Silver Moonstones to the bars, channeling its energy."First Rule of Magic""All spells need a source of energy; magic spells cannot be cast without an energy source." "Only level five mages, Original-Level Mages, can produce energy within their bodies and souls to cast spells without needing any external items.""It is sad that I am only just level 1..."Alcard thought as he continued.As the magical energy seeped into the metal, he felt the materials respond, gradually melding together under his command.The faint silver glow from the Moonstone pulsed, reinforcing his creation with magic, while the bars began to fuse seamlessly."Good...""If not for that White Book, I would not be able to cast the "Merge" spell within thirty minutes, but now I can cast it instantly."Alcard smirked to himself, making a self-deprecating comment in his mind."In the end, without these silver moonstones, I can't even cast a basic light spell. Some mage I am."As the iron bars connected and began to take the shape of a crossbow, his thoughts shifted to more critical calculations.He mentally ran through the power required for the bolts, the velocity needed for them to be effective, and the weight necessary to pierce the tough exoskeletons of the Cave Spiders."The crossbow must generate enough force for lethal damage, but the bolts can't be too heavy or they'll slow down."He visualized the anatomy of the spiders—their weak points, the strength of their outer shells.He considered the Moonstones' energy output and factored that into his design, ensuring the bolts would fly fast and hit hard enough to penetrate."I'll need just the right balance. Too much weight, and the spiders will dodge. Too little, and it won't pierce."He tightened his grip on the materials, ready to channel more energy as the crossbow began to take its final form.In just ten seconds, the crossbow took its final form, sleek and deadly.He nodded in satisfaction, mentally reviewing his plan."I can use a blast spell to shoot the sharp bolts toward the target. If I hold a silver moonstone in my hand, I should manage it."He thought, confident in his abilities with the extra energy source.As he glanced at one of the silver moonstones he had used, a small smile crept onto his face."I'd say only about 20% of its energy is spent," he estimated with surprising accuracy. He chuckled inwardly, thinking,"Knowing that just by looking? With special equipment, sure—but for a mage at my level? That shouldn't even be possible."He couldn't help but make light of the strange enhancements."It would be best for me to save my life before thinking about the changes and my past."Despite the bizarre situation, he felt an odd sense of confidence growing within him.Alcard muttered to himself,"Twenty percent of the Silver Moonstone's energy should be enough to fire the bolts at high speed about five to seven times. That should be plenty."Satisfied with the crossbow's potential, he turned his attention to the next project.He gathered the remaining metal parts, focusing on creating a humanoid construct.Carefully, he assembled the pieces, forming a 170 cm tall metal figure.Each part clicked into place as he shaped the limbs, torso, and head, bringing the golem-like structure to life.The design was simple but effective—his goal wasn't to create a powerful fighter but rather a distraction, something that could confuse and delay the Cave Spiders."It doesn't need to be strong, just enough to draw attention away," he thought as he fine-tuned the construct's balance and stability.Alcard focused intently as he placed one of the Silver Moonstones into the chest of the golem. The soft silver glow of the stone pulsed within the construct, as if waiting for its purpose to be fulfilled.He then took one of the remaining metal pieces and, with a steady hand, inscribed the words "Automation and Life" in the ancient magic language rather than the common tongue. Each letter shimmered faintly, infused with his will and magical energy."Automation and Life" was just the title of the spell that needed to be inscribed on the metal pieces.The spell itself needed a strong imagination and commands that needed to be thought of as steps while he was writing.Before touching the white book, he would need six months of studying the spell of automation and life to create such a metal construct. Even with six months of training, he would need four hours of work to do that.But right now there is no such thing for himself to train or wait for.When the inscription was complete, Alcard leaned closer and whispered, "Rise, Iron Butler..."The moment the words left his lips, the magical energy surged into the golem. The inscriptions glowed brighter for a moment, and the metal construct stirred to life.It straightened, its eyes faintly illuminated by the energy from the silver moonstone embedded in its chest. Though not powerful, it was now animate—an obedient servant, ready to follow Alcard's commands."Perfect. Now, let's see how well you can perform."Alcard thought, watching the Iron Butler as it stood waiting for its first task.Alcard observed as the Iron Butler followed his orders, efficiently carrying objects from one side of the room to the other. He nodded in approval, pleased with how smoothly the construct operated."The design is simple, so the magical energy compensates for the scientific intricacies that would normally be needed for such a construct," he thought. "But it's enough for what I need right now."As he watched the Iron Butler in action, a new idea crossed his mind. He couldn't help but wonder,"What if I placed the crossbow in the creature's hands?"The thought intrigued him. By arming the Iron Butler with the magical crossbow, he could create an even more effective distraction or defense.The construct wasn't built for heavy combat, but if it could wield the crossbow, it could provide ranged support while he focused on other spells or tactics."That might just give me the edge I need," Alcard thought, considering the possibilities.