Ryo sat in his seat, idly flipping through the pages of an advanced magic theory book when a sudden, piercing scream shattered the peaceful atmosphere of the academy. His instincts flared to life, and without hesitation, he shot up from his seat and rushed toward the source of the scream. As he approached the training hall, he could already sense something was wrong. The distinct aura of chaotic mana filled the air, making his skin prickle.
Bursting through the doors of the training hall, Ryo's sharp gaze locked onto the scene before him. A massive artifact, one designed to summon creatures for combat practice, was cracked and pulsating with unstable energy. A swarm of monsters had already begun emerging from its shattered core, their grotesque forms clawing their way into reality. In the center of the chaos, a student—one of his classmates—stood frozen in fear. Their weapon, still clutched in trembling hands, seemed to have been the cause of the artifact's breakage.
A powerful barrier had been erected around the entire training hall, trapping everyone inside. The academy's emergency protocol had sealed off the space to contain the situation, but that also meant no one could escape. Ryo clenched his fists. He had no time to waste.
"Tch, annoying," he muttered before activating his Draconic Eyes to analyze the barrier.
Summoning his strength, he gathered energy in his fist and struck the barrier with a precise, mana-infused punch. Cracks spread across its surface before shattering completely. The protective magic disintegrated, allowing him full access to the room.
"All of you, get behind me!" he commanded, stepping forward.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed Bloodflame Mastery, sending waves of crimson fire sweeping across the monsters. The creatures shrieked in agony as they were incinerated. But the artifact was still pulsing, continuing to spawn more abominations.
Realizing he needed to end this at the source, Ryo focused on the artifact. He dashed forward, summoning Blood Weaponry, shaping his mana-infused blood into a massive greatsword. With a single, powerful swing, he cleaved through the artifact. A massive surge of energy erupted as it shattered completely, sending shockwaves rippling through the hall.
With the artifact destroyed, no more monsters emerged. Ryo turned his attention to the remaining creatures. His Draculean Domination flared, paralyzing the weaker ones with sheer intimidation. The rest fell under his relentless assault. Within minutes, the training hall was cleared of all threats.
The silence that followed was filled with heavy breathing and the occasional cough. The student who had caused the disaster approached him with a shaken expression. "Thank you... You saved my life."
Ryo simply nodded. "Be more careful next time."
With the situation resolved, he returned to his seat, finishing his classes for the day. But his responsibilities did not end there. After classes, he gathered his fiancées—this time, Hilda and Lyra were with them as well. Together, they made their way back to Eldoria Palace.
Upon arriving, Ryo led them inside, where his parents were waiting. "Father, Mother," he said, "these are Hilda and Lyra."
His mother, smiled warmly. "Welcome. We've heard much about you. I trust Ryo has been treating you well?"
The two nodded, though Hilda's usual stoicism barely allowed her to show any emotion. Lyra, however, smiled brightly. "It's an honor to meet you."
After formal introductions, Ryo showed them to their rooms, ensuring they were comfortable. With that settled, he moved on to another important task—arranging accommodations for the dwarven craftsmen who had recently arrived.
He oversaw the establishment of suitable housing and designated workspaces for them to begin crafting Ether-tech—an innovative fusion of mana and technology. Once satisfied, he turned his attention to an important diplomatic matter.
Ryo made his way to the Elf Queen's chambers, where she was waiting for him. As he explained his idea of integrating elven magic scripts with dwarven Ether-tech to advance technological development, the queen listened intently.
After a moment of contemplation, she asked, "Do you intend to create weapons with this technology?"
Ryo met her gaze firmly. "Yes, but not for war. My goal is to develop defenses against beasts and monsters that threaten nations. I will do my best to ensure that no creation of mine is used to harm innocent people."
The Elf Queen nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer. "If that is your intention, then I will support this endeavor. However, in exchange, you must provide housing for my people in Eldoria."
Ryo smiled. "I already anticipated that request. Accommodations have been prepared."
The queen raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You are quite efficient."
Changing the subject, she added, "By the way, the pastries, drinks, and donuts from the café—are you planning to open branches in other nations?"
Ryo chuckled. "Yes, I am. But before that can happen, I need to establish proper trade agreements. Once those are in place, expansion will follow."
The Elf Queen leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Then let us discuss trade. If you can provide my people with a steady supply of these delicacies, I will ensure that elven magic scripts are integrated into your Ether-tech development."
A deal was struck. With every step, Ryo was ensuring that Eldoria would grow into a thriving and self-sustaining nation. But he knew that greater challenges awaited him in the future.
For now, however, he allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction.
Eldoria was taking shape—one alliance at a time.