Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 176. Astral Empress On Campus

Aurora and her party were on board a gleaming silver shuttle craft, which crossed through a mechanical, circular gate. They entered the magical dome of the Arcana Institute without any issue.

“Ryusei-sama, the flagship is in position and deploying the defensive protocol,” the voice of Admiral Lume Ember Lorne crackled through the speaker.

Beyond the horizon, Admiral Lume was stationed on the bridge of the Yamamoto battlecruiser, providing a security detail. The gargantuan vessel loomed in the high sky, its arcanite engine rumbling like a storm. Additionally, patrolling Armatus buzzed erratically in a cacophony of sound, mimicking a swarm of locusts.

“Appreciate it, Admiral,” Ryusei replied through his ring.

Looking at the greenery, they spotted an extensive forest and lush meadows, with the Administrative Pantheon standing in glory amongst the state-of-the-art residential buildings as a backdrop.

“This is an incredible view!” Cartier exclaimed, her hands pressing against the window.

Soon, the escort craft took a quick tour, hovering above the holographic lines. They had a view of the bustling streets, lined with an energetic crowd, both high and low-tier arcanists. They let out soft, pleasant chants and cheers as the craft flew past. Surely, it wasn't every day they had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Astral Empress of Osten, the very embodiment of arcane strength.

Despite not liking the fame and the media, Aurora played her part as a celebrity of sorts, rolling down her window to smile and wave at the crowds. It was one of the many necessities her mother had strictly programmed her to perform.

“The institute itself is self-contained, like a bigger version of Borealis’s castle!” she added with excitement.

“That’s exactly how it’s designed to be. Once you enter, you can practise the arcane to your heart's content. You don’t ever have to leave!” Aurelia shared happily, with Triss nodding in support.

Aurora pulled back from the vessel’s window and leaned on the cushion. “Cartier, seeing how excited you are, how about you live here?” she quipped with a deadpan expression.

“Hmm?” Cartier gasped, frowning. “Then Miss Mirai will feel lonely! I can’t leave her like that.”

“Hehehe. Fine, I was just joking,” Aurora said, brushing her hand over Cartier's flopped cat ears.

“Empress?” Ryusei choked, his lips parted in surprise. “Did you just… make a joke?” he chuckled in disbelief.

Hugging herself, Aurora wondered aloud, “Is it that much of a surprise?”

“Well… that would be the first time for me, yes…” Ryusei said sheepishly.

Silence filled the room as the empress reflected to herself, "Well, despite all those years of numbness, I’m capable of changing after all." That thought brought a faint tug of a smile to her lips. Her frozen heart had been melting all this time. All thanks to the little thing whom her absentminded gaze fell on.

After a while, the silver craft turned toward the outskirts of the campus, and massive dome structures and multiple training grounds came into view.

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As their shuttle banked towards the administrative buildings, Cartier pointed to a massive, isolated dome below. "What's happening in there? It's flashing like a lightning storm!"

***

Earlier, within a massive training dome, a hysterical grunt echoed as two vicious, warmongering arcanists clashed.

Zetius extended two fingers, and a fire beam shot out at his opponent.

“Huh?” Friederich, donned in his white arc coat, sidestepped and narrowly evaded the attack.

Clearly, Zetius had been warding off his foe from engaging in close-quarters combat with a quick, cheap shot.

“Good dodge. How about this?” Zetius fired again. Unlike his empyrion, Friederich’s Lampos-spatha would require him to physically throw his projectile. In that sense, Zetius’s intermittent fire beam had the advantage over the long-distance battle.

Friederich performed a perfect dodge yet again. “Zetius seems quite confident that I would eventually make a misstep,” He analysed.

“It’s not that easy, Zetius!” Friederich muttered under his breath.

Standing on the sidelines with the Virgo mages, Astrid wrinkled her nose at the scent of burning ash that filled the chamber. The two combatants had been gridlocked in a stalemate for over the course of an hour. One couldn’t seem to land a shot, while the other couldn’t get close. “I do hate endurance clashes such as this, she analysed quietly, but surely, at this rate, Zetius will be the first to run out of mana. He can’t match Friederich’s innate mana reservoir.”

The prime guardian pulled back, extending his hands to his sides. “Lampos-spatha ~ Cage!” he chanted, conjuring two rows of blades with their tips pointing skyward. The rows were arranged to restrict Zetius’s area of operation.

“Heh,” Astrid grunted, part amused, part intrigued.

“Nice try!” Zetius roared, accelerating forward. The thrill of the hunt glinted in his red eyes, accompanied by a wide smile.

Unfaltering, Friederich cast two blades that fell into his hands and hurled them at his foe.

The blades zipped into a trail of light, woozing past Zetius’s nimble manoeuvre. They then ricocheted off one another, redirecting their tips toward Zetius’s back.

“Nice strategy!” Zetius roared. Immediately, he struck his palms behind him, glowing red and firing. He lurched upward at the same time, his empyrion thrusters blasting the blades away.

Even Astrid gave a micro-nod to herself in acknowledgement of Zetius’s incredible spatial awareness.

“Knew it wouldn’t be that easy.” Friederich had already switched to a high stance, blades raised over and parallel to his collarbones. His blue eyes glowed and shifted into two trails of light as he lunged for an interception.

Subsequently, Zetius palmed to his side and fired, thrusting his body sideways.

Friederich’s attack missed.

In Friederich’s peripheral vision, Zetius’s boot hurled toward his side, and a red flame struck.

The victory was within his grasp. But, instead—

Friederich did the unthinkable. He chanted aloud, “Lampos!”

A blade formed in his off-hand, its tip converging on Zetius’s chest.

Without a choice, Zetius twisted his torso, sending the momentum to his other leg, essentially dodging and delivering a powerful kick simultaneously.

“Nnnn!” Friederich grunted as he blocked with his crossed arms, staggering backward. The blow lost its momentum.

But Zetius was relentless; his fire punch was already arching toward Friederich’s helm.

“Magnetos!” Friederich shouted, pushing Zetius away with a powerful magnetic force.

Magnetos!? Zetius was thrown into the air. “So, you’ve been hiding that card!” his mind raced as his opponent cast a Lampos into his hands, attempting to strike him mid-air.

Time slowed as they entered the state of the flow.

“Game’s…” Friederich yelled, his face distorted.

Lightning sparkled at the tips of Zetius's fingers, a devious smirk painted on his face. “Astra~pyion!” Zetius screamed as a bright light burst from his eye sockets.

The audience rose to their feet, exclaiming and screaming with ecstasy.