Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 93: The Royal Herald’s Arrival

Kael’s eyes narrowed as the Nexus’s data stream flooded his mind. ’Spirit energy disruption?’

"Explain," he commanded through their mental link.

The Nexus’s voice resonated in his thoughts, calm and precise.

"Spirit energy is the fundamental force behind magic—what your kind calls ’mana.’ These creatures are sustained by corrupted spirit energy. Disrupt it, and they unravel."

Kael’s grip tightened around the gauntlet, his mind racing as he processed the Nexus’s analysis. Its precision was astounding.

"So, if we sever their mana supply..." He exhaled sharply. "They won’t survive."

"Correct," the Nexus replied. "Their physical forms are bound by it. Sever the connection, and they cease to exist."

Ahead, the twisted creatures shrieked, their jagged limbs twitching with unnatural hunger.

"Then let’s sever it," Kael said.

The Nexus responded instantly. "Acknowledged. Activating Energy Cannon: Disruption Protocol."

A ripple passed through the gauntlet as trillions of golden nanites surged from its core, swarming over Kael’s arm like liquid metal.

They assembled at blinding speed, interlocking into hexagonal plates that formed a sleek, barrel-like extension. Glowing conduits webbed between the segments, humming as spirit energy channeled into the weapon’s heart.

The transformation took less than a second—a flash of silver, a pulse of light—and then the cannon was ready.

"By the bloody forge—!" Durnek gasped, his eyes widening as he stared past Kael, disbelief etched across his rugged face.

Kael pulled the trigger.

A blast of pure, concentrated spirit energy erupted from the barrel, tearing through the air with a deafening crack. The beam struck the lead creature dead-center, and for a split second, the monster distorted, its form flickering like a disrupted illusion.

Then it erupted.

The energy didn’t just destroy—it unraveled the creature, dissolving its corrupted mana bonds. The monster didn’t just die—it ceased to exist, its body disintegrating into motes of fading light.

The beam continued, carving through the horde, obliterating everything in its path.

When the light faded, only a handful of monsters remained, their twisted forms hesitating for the first time.

Kael exhaled as the cannon disassembled itself, the nanites retreating like a tide of quicksilver. The hexagonal plates split apart, dissolving into microscopic particles that streamed back into the gauntlet’s core, leaving his arm bare once more.

"Impressive," Kael murmured, flexing his fingers. The Nexus’s weaponry was more powerful than his own Proton Cannon spell—more refined, more precise.

"What else can you do?" he asked through their mental link.

The response was immediate.

<<SPELL DATABASE ACCESSED>>

<<AVAILABLE PROTOCOLS: 508>>

<<RECOMMENDED FOR CURRENT THREAT: SPIRIT-SEVER>>

Astra stepped forward, his crimson eyes locked onto the remaining creatures.

"They’re regrouping. The disruption unsettled them, but it’s not enough to make them retreat."

Kael’s jaw set. "Leave this to me."

The Nexus answered with another surge of motion. Nanites erupted from the gauntlet again, but this time they spread like a living wave, racing up Kael’s arm and across his torso.

Plates of armored alloy formed along his limbs, interlocking with seamless precision. A segmented exoskeleton encased his body, lightweight yet impossibly durable, its surface etched with glowing spirit runes. The final piece was the blade—a curved katana that coalesced in his grip, its razor-sharp edge gleaming with disruptive energy, whispering of lethal precision.

"Spirit-Sever Protocol engaged," the Nexus announced. "Direct contact required."

Kael didn’t hesitate.

He activated Ascendant Veil.

His body surged with power, his muscles tightening as mana flooded his system. Speed increased by 500%, strength amplified by 1000%. The world around him slowed to a crawl.

He moved.

One moment, he stood beside the others. The next, he was amidst the remaining creatures, his blade flashing in a lethal arc.

The first monster didn’t even have time to react—the moment the blade touched its flesh, the runes flared, and the creature screamed as its spirit energy was forcibly severed from its body. It collapsed, lifeless.

Kael didn’t stop.

He blurred through the battlefield, his blade carving through the abominations with surgical precision. Each strike was fatal—not just to the body, but to the corrupted mana sustaining them.

The last creature lunged, its maw gaping wide—

Kael spun, driving the blade straight through its skull.

The runes ignited.

The monster imploded, its form collapsing inward before dissolving into nothingness.

Silence.

Kael exhaled, releasing Ascendant Veil. The fatigue should have hit him—but the Nexus pulsed, its Aetherium Core cycling mana back into his system, nullifying the spell’s aftereffects. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Around him, the exoskeleton disassembled, the nanites retreating like a swarm of metallic insects. The plates unlocked, fracturing into shimmering dust before vanishing into the gauntlet’s recesses.

Durnek let out a low whistle. "Lad, I’ve seen some things in my time, but that... that was somethin’ else."

"Truly fascinating, my Lord," Lucien remarked, adjusting his glasses. His sharp, analytical gaze remained fixed on Kael’s gauntlet, brimming with curiosity.

Isolde’s violet eyes narrowed, her voice hushed with quiet concern. "My Lord... are you certain you are in control?"

The words hung between them, unspoken tension weaving through the air.

Kael flexed his fingers, feeling the steady hum of the Nexus beneath his skin.

"I have control," he declared, his voice firm, unwavering.

The artifact responded, attuning to his will—silent, obedient, waiting.

Astra’s crimson eyes flickered. "The Breachspawn were merely the first wave. The facility’s defenses have been dormant for millennia. Now that they are active, more will come."

Alice stepped forward, her gray eyes scanning the horizon. "Master, I detect multiple energy signatures converging on our location."

Kael’s jaw tightened. "It’s time to leave."

The Nexus pulsed in agreement.

It remembered the past.

And it was ready for the battles to come.

---

Meanwhile, in Bryndis territory, The Royal Herald, Sir Edric of House Veyne had arrived. He had imagined a quiet, unassuming barony—winding dirt roads, rustic thatched cottages, and weary peasants toiling under the relentless midday sun.

Instead, as he crested the hill overlooking Bryndis, his horse came to an abrupt halt, as stunned as its rider.

Before him lay a city—no, a vision—of progress that defied everything he knew about the world.

"By the gods..." Edric muttered, his grip tightening on the reins.

Baron Kael Bryndis—once a robotics engineer from Earth named Ivan Mendoza—had not arrived in this world empty-handed. He carried something far more valuable than gold or weapons: knowledge.

The moment he had taken control of Bryndis, he had begun implementing ideas that would have been impossible for any native noble to conceive.

The Roads – Instead of mud or uneven cobblestones, Bryndis had smooth, interlocking stone pavements.

Kael had introduced the concept of Roman concrete to his masons, mixing volcanic ash, lime, and crushed stone to create a durable, weather-resistant surface. The result? Roads that never turned to sludge in the rain.

The Buildings – Gone were the cramped, timber-framed houses. In their place stood structures with reinforced foundations, glass windows (a luxury even nobles struggled to afford elsewhere), and proper ventilation.

Kael had introduced basic engineering principles—load-bearing walls, sloped roofs for drainage, and even rudimentary plumbing.

The Shoes – The peasants here didn’t wear straw-stuffed sacks on their feet. They wore leather shoes with rubber soles—an idea Kael had adapted after explaining vulcanization to his baffled craftsmen.

The cobbler’s guild had initially protested, but when they saw how much more durable and comfortable these "Bryndis-walkers" were, they became one of the territory’s most sought-after exports.

The Lighting – No flickering torches or expensive candles here. Kael had designed mana-infused lanterns—glass orbs filled with a phosphorescent alchemical solution that glowed when activated by a simple rune.

At their core, each lantern housed a mana crystal, its energy radiating through the solution, ensuring a steady, unwavering light that required no maintenance beyond occasional recharging.

They lasted for years before needing recharging, and unlike firelight, they didn’t smoke or burn out in the wind.

The Sewers – The most revolutionary (and least glamorous) of Kael’s innovations. He had overseen the construction of an underground drainage system, ensuring waste didn’t fester in the streets.

The result? Bryndis didn’t stink. To a noble like Edric, who was used to holding perfumed handkerchiefs to his nose in every other town, this was nothing short of sorcery.

Edric’s horse snorted as they passed through the gates, its hooves clacking against the unnervingly smooth road. The guards at the entrance wore armor that looked both lighter and stronger than standard plate—another of the Baron’s "improvements."

"You there!" Edric barked at one of the guards. "Take me to Baron Bryndis at once. I bear a royal summons."

The guard—a veteran with a scar running down his cheek—merely inclined his head.

"Apologies, my lord. The Baron is away on urgent business. His steward can attend to you in his absence."

Edric’s face reddened. "Away? Do you have any idea who I—" His tirade was cut short as his gaze landed on a group of children running past.

They were laughing, their feet clad in those strange leather shoes, their clothes clean and well-fitted. One of them held a wooden toy—a wind-up cart that moved on its own.

What kind of noble wastes time making toys for peasants?!

"How long until he returns?" Edric demanded.

"Unknown, my lord," the guard replied. "But you’re welcome to wait in the guest manor."

Edric scowled but nodded. As he was led through the streets, he couldn’t help but notice the way the townspeople looked at him—not with fear or groveling respect, but with mild curiosity.

As if a royal herald in full regalia was just another oddity in their already bizarre lives.

A young woman walked past, holding one of those strange portrait devices—a small box that emitted a flash of light. She pointed it at him, and before he could protest, she grinned and hurried off.

It was one of the artifacts crafted by Kael himself.

"What in the Seven Hells was that?!"

"Just a Bryndis sketch-box, my lord," the guard explained. "Captures images for record-keeping. The Baron says it helps with census work."

Edric’s eye twitched.

This wasn’t just some eccentric noble dabbling in crafts. This was something far more dangerous.

Kael Bryndis wasn’t merely enhancing his domain—he was reshaping its very foundation. If a once-overlooked barony could undergo such a transformation in just half a year, what ripple effect would it create when other lords took notice?

If peasants elsewhere began demanding shoes that didn’t rot, roads that didn’t drown them in mud, houses that didn’t collapse in a stiff breeze?

The king had sent Edric to summon the Baron as a formality. But now, seeing Bryndis firsthand, Edric understood the real reason behind the royal command.

This man is a threat.

And the Crown knew it.

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