As a soft ‘ding’ echoed, the elevator shuddered one last time before its doors slid open.
Rows of tall, black server racks came into Lucas’s view, arranged neatly to form hallway-like paths. He stepped into the server room, and the moment he did, the elevator behind him suddenly plummeted, crashing down with an ear-splitting metallic boom.
Flinching slightly, he ignored the elevator and examined the room.
Despite the initial impression of order, the room was in disarray upon closer inspection. Server racks lay toppled and scattered across the floor, their frames leaning at awkward angles. Cables snaked chaotically over the ground, some with visible cracks and frayed insulation. The flickering lights overhead cast the room into a stuttering dance of brightness and shadow.
“Hmm, looks like something straight out of a movie,” he mumbled as he hopped off Phillip.
However, his eyes widened when he saw a massive black monitor standing at the far end of the room. Below it was a mechanical keyboard resting on a metal console-like frame.
“Now that’s definitely something straight out of a movie,” he exclaimed as he approached the sci-fi-looking monitor.
Studying the monitor, he found that it was cracked, and several components were either damaged or fried. Still, he grinned at the sight. “Looks pretty decent. It’s a fixable job for your friendly neighborhood Mechanicman.”
Numerous streaks of indigo Psionical Energy emerged from his body, each of them beelining straight for the server racks scattered across the floor. As the server racks were returned to their intended spots, Lucas channeled his Psionical Energy into the monitor.
Soon, the monitor began to light up.
A door-like icon began opening and shutting as the screen started loading. Staring at the icon, Lucas scratched his head. “A megacorporation that was probably carrying out illegal experiments is using Doors OS? Is Macrostiff’s OS that powerful? No wonder Cash Windows is the richest man alive. Or was? I don’t know. Maybe he uses the power of cash to slap his enemies or something. Sounds like a decent novel plot. Wasn’t there already a couple of similar novels?”
Lucas’s rampant thoughts stopped when the screen finished loading.
Flexing his fingers, he began tapping the keyboard and navigating through the database within.
“Hmm, some research data and studies on biotechnology, virology, mechatronics… Oh! Even those golems and mutant-zombie things, but just some unfinished drafts. Hmm, the System probably used these as bases for forming the monsters,” Lucas muttered as his eyes scanned through every file.
Licking his lips, he was thrilled by all of this data. Just imagining using it sent a shiver down his spine.
As he navigated the database, he came across something rather special. “Project M? What’s this?”
When he attempted to enter the file, he failed. “Encrypted, huh?” He snickered. “Time to put my two semesters' worth of programming to work. But nothing is stopping this Mechanicman from becoming a Hackerman!”
Soon, Lucas managed to break into the folder without alerting the self-destruction program. “Another win for the Mechanicman,” he smirked as he started browsing through the file.
However, as he went through the file, his playful demeanor was replaced by a serious expression. The more he read, the darker his face became. Eventually, he blurted out, “What the hell is this…?”
In the file, there were various research data on ‘Magitechnology’, a once fictional term used to describe technology related to magic in fantasy stories and films. ‘Magitechnology’ focused on the application of ‘Mophalite’ due to its unique, magic-like properties.
Apparently, the Hexxen Corporation had somehow discovered the existence of an undiscovered crystal in an unnamed mine when they first ventured into the mining business. They then began conducting various experiments on the crystal.
According to the file, the crystal exhibited properties such as high efficiency in energy absorption and conduction with minimal energy loss, the ability to convert stored energy into any form by resonating at a certain frequency and self-replenishing properties by harvesting surrounding ambient energy.
Therefore, the Hexxen researchers named the crystal ‘Mophalite’ after the main researcher, Harold Mopha.
Through Harold Mopha’s studies, the Hexxen Corporation was able to develop a tracking device aimed at Mophalite and numerous inventions derived from its application.
However, the real reason Harold Mopha was able to achieve such results with Mophalite was due to a book, more accurately, a codex, according to Harold Mopha.
‘Codex of Bytner Hars.’
It contained knowledge almost to the point of being too magical and fantasy-like, including a runic language, alchemy, and the application of magic theory. This was the true reason for Harold Mopha’s success and the prologue of ‘Magitechnology.’
Rubbing his temples, Lucas muttered to himself, “What kind of lore dump is this? So, this Harold guy found a magical book and a magical crystal, and somehow made magical machines with them?”
He drummed his fingers as he contemplated. “And all of this happened years ago… This Mophalite definitely sounds like something the System planted on Earth for sure. But why?”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Tsk, no point in putting on a tinfoil hat,” he clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Let’s indulge in this knowledge first.”
After some unknown time flew by, Lucas sighed as he stretched his stiff body. “Hmm, that was interesting. Tons of bits and bobs of knowledge, and even magic. They even have a map of the Raum region containing this Mophalite thing.”
“But most importantly, this Codex of Bytner Hars is stored somewhere in a safe inside Harold’s room,” Lucas grinned at the thought of such a magical book. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it.
Yawning loudly, he looked at Phillip and found it was ‘sleeping,’ with its red eyes dimmed to black.
“Phillip?” Lucas called out, and Phillip’s eyes immediately regained their usual redness. Shaking its head, Phillip approached him and nudged its head against him.
Smiling, he patted Phillip’s head before hopping up onto its back. “I wanna go to the eleventh floor.”
Snorting in acknowledgment, Phillip started trotting before transitioning to full-on galloping, leaping towards the elevator shaft and ‘wall-jumping’ to the other side until it reached the eighth floor, where it kicked the elevator doors open.
Upon entering the room, Lucas saw a spacious and glamorous living area, like those reserved for protagonists who received the best treatment to live lavishly, albeit the room was quite wrecked at the moment.
He whistled, his eyes wandering around the room. “Wow, how many lifetimes would I have to work just to get a third of a room like this?”
Shaking his head, he headed straight for a picture frame on the wall. Yanking it off the wall, a hidden safe was revealed. “Classic trick. Oldest one in the book,” Lucas sneered at the sight of the safe.
The safe looked like a traditional metal box with a password touchpad. But what caught his attention was the circle of rune-like alphabets etched around it. Lucas leaned in for a closer look. “Hmm? These look different from the rune alphabets Samantha always uses.”
However, as he hovered his hand over the safe, a faint spark tingled his fingers, and a solid dome materialized, covering the safe.
“Interesting. So it’s some kind of magical barrier, huh?” Lucas muttered, staring at the shimmering dome. Then, he smirked as a streak of Psionical Force erupted from his body, slamming into the barrier.
In an instant, the barrier melted under the overwhelming might of Psionical Force. “Why be civilized when you can just use violence to solve your problems?” Lucas chuckled as he unleashed another streak of Psionical Force onto the safe.
Beep!
The safe unlocked with a soft click.
Inside were several bottles of liquid and a rather old-looking book.
Intrigued, he took everything out and examined them more closely. The bottles contained a light blue liquid sloshing within. Picking up one and giving it a little swirl, Lucas mumbled, “Looks kinda like blue Gatorade. Maybe this is the key ingredient for creating the perfect Gatorwine?”
<>
Experimental Viral Compound MS-04 Gamma
Rank: Unknown
A serum created by Harold Mopha using Mophalite as the main ingredient. A prototype viral compound designed to enhance overall constitution and cellular regeneration.
Special Note(s): Testing incomplete. Consume at your own risk.
<>
“What is this janky, long name? Who names stuff like this?” Lucas arched an eyebrow at the system description. “Hmm, looks kinda like Super Soldier Serum. But who knows? I might sprout a third eye or an extra pair of limbs.”
Then, his attention turned to the old book. “This must be that codex? Codex of Bytner Hars?”
<>
Codex of Infinity
Rank: Unknown
A compendium of research and knowledge meticulously recorded by the Great Runemaster Bynter Hars von Granhall.
Special Note: The codex will only reveal its true nature to someone it deems worthy.
<>
He picked it up and flipped through the pages. The book was filled with incomprehensible symbols and intricate illustrations. Lucas had no clue what any of it meant, but he still recorded the book’s contents into his virtual space for future research.
“Looks like I’m not the chosen one,” he shrugged, snapping the book shut.
“I’ll get Samantha to translate it for me later. Maybe she’ll even be the special one,” Lucas muttered as he packed everything into a saddlebag on Phillip.
Dusting himself off, it was time to exit and regroup with Chloe and the others. Hauling himself onto Phillip, he thought, ‘I should salvage some materials on our way out. Still, I can’t believe those precious golem metals from the dungeon didn’t teleport out with us. Lost to the fabric of space and time. What a shame.’
***
As he exited the building, what greeted him was a rather peculiar sight. A group of men were fanning two women seated on throne-like chairs with giant palm leaves, while two robots stood behind the women, watching the men like hawks.
Some of the men were limping, while others had bandages wrapped around their bodies. One thing was certain: all of them were covered in bruises and wounds. The worst among them was the man with the giant sword, though the sword was nowhere to be seen.
He was bandaged almost head to toe, his face more battered than the others. Yet, despite his condition, he was fanning Samantha with a fawning smile plastered on his bruised face.
Baffled by the scene, Lucas couldn’t resist asking, “So, what exactly am I looking at here?”
“These idiots started acting up when you left, so we just gave them a small beating to discipline them,” Samantha chuckled as she noticed Lucas had returned.
“Hey, Lucas! You’re back!” Chloe leaped up at the sound of his voice and bolted into his arms. “So, how was it?” Her eyes darted between him and Phillip.
“Great. Went in for a quick stroll and got a map with possible dungeon locations,” Lucas chuckled, patting her head.
With Chloe still in his arms, he turned to Samantha and casually tossed the
Surprised, Samantha caught the book and gave it a quick glance. In an instant, her eyes widened. “Where the hell did you get this?!” she exclaimed.
Curious as well, Chloe slipped out of Lucas’s arms and peeked at the book in Samantha’s hands. “What’s this? A magic book?” she asked as she stared at the incomprehensible symbols on the pages.
“Yeah, more accurately, a magic reference book about Runic Language,” Samantha replied, leafing through the pages as her eyes lit up with excitement.
After a few moments, she snapped the book shut. “This is incredible! It has detailed theories on runic circles and a complete list of basic runic alphabets! With this book, I can save tons of time instead of fumbling around in the dark!” she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming.
“Thanks, man! I officially approve of your marriage to my sister! Hell, you can even fly her to the moon!” Samantha cackled as she clutched the book tightly.
“WHAT?!” Chloe screeched, her voice loud enough to surprise everyone in the vicinity.