Volume 2

Chapter 19 : The Devil’s Companion (3)

“War, huh…”

The Empress, high on her throne, gazed at the screen showing two steel torrents clashing, chuckling softly.

“On a battlefield ruled by extraordinary power, mortals must charge forth with their feeble strength, slaughtering each other… My daughter, I’m starting to understand your childish little hobby.”

Her fingers tapped the armrest lightly.

“If this play were just extraordinary beings clashing, spells and curses blasting, it’d be too dull.”

“Only when all beings are thrown into this vast furnace…”

Madness glinted in the aging Empress’s eyes, chilling to behold.

“Can a masterpiece… satisfy me!”

The ministers remained silent, their minds no longer on the war.

Undoubtedly, Ephithand’s behavior signaled she was nearing the end of her life.

She could no longer control herself or resist the chaos consuming her soul.

The curse of power was nearly dominating her completely; her presence now… might be her final madness.

On one hand, no one dared provoke her in the slightest; on the other, they needed to curry favor with the Grand Princess quickly.

Only fools would base their stance toward Ivora on this war’s outcome.

Everyone knew the tyrannical Empress would win—too much data on the Black Knight had been generously shared by the Ether Academy, not just out of confidence but as a show of strength.

Though the Black Knight differed from a true fifth-tier, useless outside combat and unable to match the versatile minds and experience of most fifth-tier extraordinary beings, power was power.

Despite its flaws, its raw output reached the standard of “highly mastering an element,” earning the Crown.

The Ether Academy likely sensed the Empress’s abnormality, hence their bold display of this achievement.

Though the Black Knight’s power came from piling materials with the Empress’s limitless resources, anyone with alchemical knowledge would be awed by the… era-defying design of this mechanized armor.

To wield extraordinary power, one needed the innate or artificially acquired capacity to bear it.

Alchemical items granted ordinary materials or objects this capacity through Ether circuits, designed and structured to imbue them with extraordinary qualities via elemental infusion.

The mechanized armor’s intricate and complex construction alone deterred countless mediocrities from the genius domain of alchemy.

Not to mention the terrifyingly intricate Ether circuits only a true monster could design.

No one knew how Grand Duke Sainthue created it—a fifth-tier crowned through light elements; where did he get such alchemical genius?

The Black Knight’s power was undeniable. A fifth-tier combatant in a battlefield where the highest were barely fourth-tier was pure slaughter.

Thus, the steel monster hadn’t yet appeared.

***

Through Hendrik’s flight spell, Mingfuluo hovered high above, overlooking the battlefield with a cold expression.

“No Black Knight yet? Hmph, they’re really putting on a show.”

A war between two major territories unfolded like a play.

The high-tier extraordinary beings, who could decide the battlefield, held back, letting well-armed, imposing mortals and first- or second-tier ordinary extraordinaries charge in legions, slaughtering each other.

Furious roars and anguished screams pierced the sky.

Blood sprayed, limbs scattered across the ground.

From above, the vast plain spread with deep red seeping into the earth from the battle’s center.

The tyrannical Empress cast her gaze somewhere in the Empire, and that land bore an indelible bloodstain.

Even Hendrik faintly smelled the inescapable blood.

Yet Mingfuluo gazed indifferently at the broken blades, shattered armor, and corpses below, as if it were all natural.

The death and despair pervading the land seemed merely routine.

As the sun rises and sets, how could war not have casualties?

What was there to be moved by?

She knew this war stemmed from her and because of that, she found pity or regret laughably hypocritical and meaningless.

Thus, she wasn’t hypocritical but chillingly, almost inhumanly cold.

“The first phase is nearly over,” Mingfuluo murmured.

“When the mortal legions are heavily battered, the extraordinary will take over.”

Soon, as she predicted, the battle shifted.

“Time for the extraordinary to enter?”

The Empress, growing bored of mortal slaughter, brightened. “Don’t disappoint me.”

On the screen, Mirror Lake Territory set up a sorcerer formation.

As the Ether field expanded, sorcerers began channeling Ether, casting buffs on warriors charging the battlefield, while destruction-focused sorcerers chanted high-tier, devastating spells.

Though large-scale wars were rare, this basic coordination posed no issue.

“Everyone!” Robaire Mirror Lake shouted from the front. “Win this war, and we can move to the equally prosperous Watson Territory! We’ll have a future again!”

The Grand Duke Source Tree’s experiment had a far greater impact on Mirror Lake than he let on.

The Ether vein was critical to a region’s ecology and extraordinary environment.

Robaire knew that without a solution, the Grand Duke’s “aid” was a drop in the bucket.

Now, Anselm had given him a golden opportunity.

One he couldn’t miss, yet one with immense risk.

Armored extraordinary warriors roared, gripping swords, hammers, and axes, charging onto the battlefield.

Though fewer than a hundred, this small group shook the earth with their thundering steps!

“Watson Territory has far fewer sorcerers,” the leading fourth-tier sorcerer in Mirror Lake’s formation said confidently. Not a combat specialist, he wielded a variety of spells.

Waving his staff, dark clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, and plasma surged, amassing devastating power.

“Second phase,” Mingfuluo said softly.

“Both sides are evenly matched, but Count Watson has a unique advantage over Count Mirror Lake and should gain the upper hand. Then it’s—”

Bang.

The fourth-tier sorcerer’s head exploded.

Scarlet and white fluids, mixed with shattered bone and flesh, splattered the faces of nearby sorcerers.

As they froze, another head banged apart.

Only then did someone scream, “Ether-driven firearm!!”

“……”

Mingfuluo’s gaze fell on a sniper in the Watson Territory’s frontline, clearly aware of this individual’s existence.

The sniper wasn’t holding a firearm manufactured by Babel Tower, but an improved version crafted by other alchemists after Babel Tower shared the firearm’s design principles with the Alchemical Association.

Naturally, it was part of Count Watson’s personal collection, not aid provided by Babel Tower.

“Second phase.”

She turned to look at Hendrik: “If everyone else had chosen to improve and upgrade ether firearms instead of wasting time on meaningless creative attempts, we could have produced something far more lethal by now.”

At that meeting, Mingfuluo couldn’t comprehend why Hendrik and the others believed the potential of ether firearms would limit their power.

Yes, it was nearly impossible for anyone to create an ether firearm capable of threatening a fifth-tier transcendent, but in this world… How many fifth-tier transcendents were there?

After Babel Tower handed firearm technology to the Alchemical Association, the extent to which this weapon had evolved under the modifications of alchemists across the Empire was something even Mingfuluo herself didn’t know.

If it was merely about “killing life”—

Firearms were the most efficient weapon, without exception.

“Ether… firearms.” Hendrik’s mind went blank. “When… did they become this lethal?”

“They always had this potential.”

Mingfuluo answered calmly, her purple eyes reflecting the grim battlefield: “Because they don’t need any additional effects or functions, only focusing on lethality, absolutely pure.”

Firearms might not be versatile or overwhelmingly powerful, but they were undeniably efficient… at killing.

“So I find it strange why you didn’t focus on modifying or upgrading specialized firearms, instead wasting time creating new weapons from scratch.”

“Because we’re not executioners, Mingfuluo. Something that exists solely for slaughter… shouldn’t exist.”

Hendrik’s eyes were filled with helplessness and sorrow; he wanted his tone to be angry, firm, but he knew… no matter how furious he was, it wouldn’t change anything.

“But weapons are made for killing, and on the battlefield, killing is all that matters—nothing else is needed.”

Mingfuluo glanced at Hendrik, her tone unwavering:

“Or do you think I’m an executioner? That I created firearms for the joy of slaughter?”

She only invented firearms to ensure Babel Tower held enough value in the Grand Princess’s eyes.

As for how firearms had developed so rapidly in such a short time, becoming even more terrifying and threatening…

What did that have to do with her?

Was she the one making choices, escalating violence, or pursuing slaughter?

Thus, Mingfuluo’s rationality kept her unshaken by the brutality and violence before her.

Her humanity, too, had gradually eroded over these three years, through countless similar moments, until it was nearly extinguished.

“Is this an ether firearm?” The Empress observed the massive sniper rifle magnified by Anselm with interest.

“Fascinating… truly a pure weapon.”

In the transcendent world, weapons were often imbued with greater meaning and value; the more powerful the weapon, the more it leaned toward being a “tool” with special effects or abilities.

But a weapon like the firearm, with no special enhancements, or rather, all enhancements solely for killing, was indeed the purest of weapons.

The booming echoes on the battlefield threatened the sorcerers in distant positions, and whenever a sorcerer scrambled for cover, the barrel turned toward the transcendent warriors at the front.

They clearly had experience countering firearms—some barely dodged, but those who didn’t… were reduced to shattered corpses with a single shot.

Count Watson was evidently well-prepared; not only was this firearm’s lethality astonishing, but the bullets he provided the sniper were undoubtedly costly, faintly dominating the battlefield.

This indirectly proved the power of firearms in combat and Ivora, whose expression had been grim, looked slightly relieved.

“Heh heh heh…” Ephithand chuckled, resting her face on her hand. “It seems Ivora has made some interesting little toys.”

On the light screen, the transcendent group from Mirror Lake Territory was showing signs of faltering.

No one knew where Count Watson had acquired this terrifying weapon, but pondering that now was pointless.

If the transcendents were completely defeated, the war’s outcome was sealed.

At the rear of Mirror Lake Territory’s frontline, Conrad Sainthue swirled his wine glass, chuckling softly: “Quite a spirited last struggle.”

If Watson Territory could use firearms, Mirror Lake Territory naturally could too.

Count Mirror Lake had initially planned something more ruthless—gathering as many ether firearms as possible to overwhelm Watson Territory with firepower—but this idea was vetoed by Conrad, representing the Ether Academy.

How could they, in a war deciding victory or defeat, use their opponent’s weapons?

Besides, it wasn’t necessary.

In the face of true power, true “transcendence,” these so-called firearms were nothing but ants.

“The plot has been dramatic enough; Her Majesty must be anticipating the final climax.”

He turned to look further back, toward Mirror Lake Territory, raising his glass from afar:

“It’s your turn to take the stage.”

“‘Black’ Knight.”

Thus, a glimmer of light began to flicker at the other end of the horizon.

Mingfuluo and Hendrik, in midair, simultaneously looked toward Mirror Lake Territory, where an immense ether fluctuation was impossible to ignore.

“Final phase.”

Mingfuluo stared at the streams of light surging from the ground to the sky.

“Time to decide the victor.”

At that moment, all the transcendents slaughtering each other on the battlefield halted almost simultaneously.

They instinctively looked up, and then they saw… two streams of light tearing through the sky.

The steel knight, charging from the horizon, grew larger and larger in everyone’s view.

Its pitch-black, cold armor unfolded at the shoulders, spewing dazzling, fiery light like dragon’s breath.

As it slowly descended to the battlefield, under everyone’s stunned gazes, this sixty-meter-tall steel monster stood at the center of the field.

Its helmet was ferocious, like a dragon’s head; its heavy, intricate armor protected its already impenetrable form flawlessly.

Its left arm bore a shield, its right hand gripped a longsword etched with complex patterns.

All transcendents before it seemed as insignificant as dust.

It wasn’t just its size but its overwhelming presence that dominated.

“This Robaire… he does understand my intentions.”

The Empress’s lips curved slightly: “A knight, of course, should be the one to turn the tide, performing a worthy hero’s rescue.”

She tilted her head toward Ivora below the throne, her aged, raspy voice carrying a touch of warmth: “My dear daughter, where is your weapon?”

“…You’ll see it soon enough,” Ivora sneered.

“And I’m curious—what will you do if this thing loses?”

“Don’t speak of impossibilities, Ivora,” the Empress said leisurely. “It’s meaningless and makes you seem foolish.”

On the light screen, the steel giant gripped its sword with both hands, slowly plunging the wall-like blade into the ground. Instead of attacking, it stood like a statue upon the earth.

“Hahaha, the knight’s noble pride and code!”

Ephithand laughed delightedly: “Perfect! This is dramatic—a haughty knight letting feeble ants make their insignificant attacks… I love this idea!”

Bang!

A gunshot rang out in the silent battlefield, but… nothing seemed to happen.

The sniper from Watson Territory froze for two seconds, then peered through the scope at the spot he’d hit.

The Black Knight’s armor didn’t even have a dent… not a single mark!

“Ah!!!”

A transcendent warrior from Watson Territory roared, raising a warhammer and charging at the steel knight.

From Mingfuluo’s perspective, he looked like an ant rushing toward a mountain.

Then, a blinding, radiant white light flashed from the Black Knight’s shield, shooting out and instantly evaporating the warrior’s entire head!

The headless body ran two more steps before collapsing with a thud, while the steel knight, standing on the earth, made no further moves, simply remaining there.

Count Watson looked up at the towering steel monster, then at the small bracelet on his wrist, his body trembling.

He wanted to grab Mingfuluo’s collar and demand what was happening, to shoot the deceitful Count Mirror Lake, or even to hack off the head of the madwoman on the throne… He wanted to lose control, was already on the verge of it, but forced himself to stay calm.

“…There’s still a chance, there’s still a chance.”

Mingfuluo’s plan surfaced in his mind, and he finally understood what she meant by “sacrifice.”

A resolve mixed with ruthlessness flashed in the young lord’s eyes. He grabbed the necklace at his neck, his tone icy:

“All of you, charge!”

At that moment, all the transcendents on Watson’s side froze.

“Count, Your Excellency,” some who could communicate with Watson stammered, “Against this monster… we have no chance!”

“I said, forward.”

Watson’s voice, filled with killing intent, echoed in every transcendent’s heart: “You have two choices: first, go forward and die challenging this monster; second, die by my hand, now!”

“Damn it!”

Watson Territory’s side was already chaotic.

Some transcendents weren’t loyal to Watson; they’d joined to fish in troubled waters, hoping to gain merit.

In such a war, transcendents didn’t die easily. With some strength and a focus on survival, it wasn’t hard to stay alive in this chaotic battlefield.

These people, especially the stronger ones, had no intention of obeying Watson. One scoffed: “Idiot kid, play your own game! I’ll head to East Port. Who’s going to die with you, you fool—”

His voice cut off abruptly.

The transcendent beside him watched in horror as countless black threads spread from the man’s chest in all directions. Then, his entire body began to disintegrate, like rapidly rotting flesh. Bones, flesh, even the ether flowing within him collapsed, self-destructing!

His companion watched as he went from a whole person to losing human form, his bones and flesh melting away, until… he became a puddle of blood.

The black threads, now a faint black mist in the air, seemed to… stare at the companion.

Terrified by his comrade’s gruesome fate, he screamed and charged at the unmoving steel knight, only to be instantly killed by a beam from the shield.

But compared to that horrific death, this was far better.

“…Hm?”

The Empress noticed the anomaly immediately, narrowing her eyes at the scene on the light screen: “This thing…”

“I’ll say it again!”

Watson’s tone carried a frenzied brutality: “Die by that monster, or die by my hand in a worse way!”

As he spoke, he used Nidhogg to kill several more transcendents.

Their flesh tore apart, bodies disintegrated, turning to blood, leaving Watson’s transcendents with no choice.

They didn’t know where Watson got this sinister power, but none dared face such a fate.

Thus… the most absurd, cruel scene of the war unfolded.

Over two hundred transcendents from Watson Territory—some resolute, some frenzied, some despairing—charged at the steel knight. The Black Knight merely stood there, doing nothing, effortlessly killing one after another with flashes from its shield.

These “strong” beings, usually treated with reverence and respect, now died without meaning or value, falling like harvested wheat.

Hendrik sighed, unable to watch the battlefield any longer, while Mingfuluo took it all in expressionlessly, light flickering in her lenses.

“Nidhogg integrity at ninety-six percent, ninety-three percent, ninety-two percent…”

As she murmured these cryptic words, on the brutal battlefield, imperceptible black specks rose from the fallen transcendent corpses, swiftly merging into the next body, then rising again, moving toward corpses closer to the Black Knight.

Originally, Mingfuluo had been certain of victory.

If this war had involved the entire territories, Nidhogg’s stealth advantage would have been perfect.

With someone wearing the controller and linking with Nidhogg, they could infiltrate Mirror Lake Territory and slaughter key forces in a single night.

She knew the Ether Academy and the Empress too well—those sycophants currying favor would never let the Black Knight descend on Watson Territory immediately.

They’d ensure the “drama” was exciting enough to please the Empress, just like this pretense now.

In other words, the Black Knight would likely remain on standby early in the war, giving her the perfect opportunity.

If Nidhogg could infiltrate the Black Knight, it could disable this seemingly flawless but deeply flawed first-generation mechanized armor, quickly discarded by Anselm.

But for some reason, the opponent proposed a direct confrontation to decide the outcome, and Count Watson foolishly agreed, drastically lowering their chances.

Even so, Mingfuluo quickly found the best option.

Sacrifice.

She couldn’t gamble on how many spells the activated Black Knight had, or whether it could detect Nidhogg.

Attacking it directly without cover was reckless, and splitting Nidhogg’s swarm to control each insect individually was impossible, as Watson lacked that ability.

So, she let Nidhogg’s swarm split to Watson’s control limit, hiding in the transcendents’ bodies, using their corpses as stepping stones to approach the Black Knight step by step for a final counterattack!

This was still a gamble.

If the Black Knight’s attacks completely destroyed the transcendents, or if it hadn’t been posturing for dramatic effect, Watson would have no chance.

But now, Mingfuluo and Watson had no other choice.

Their only option was to let these transcendents die one by one.

Mingfuluo watched their gruesome deaths—hearts pierced, heads exploded, bodies half-evaporated, or bisected by beams.

At first, it stirred something in her, but as time passed, she felt nothing.

This was a necessary sacrifice, and it had value, bringing them closer to victory.

“…Eighty-four percent, still within acceptable range, last fifteen meters.”

The Black Knight continued its performance, no longer using beams but switching spells to kill the ants daring to challenge a mountain.

For it and the Ether Academy, this was a chance to showcase strength.

Destroy Watson’s army with one sword?

Wipe out all transcendents with a high-tier spell?

Too boring, too wasteful.

They’d spent so much of Her Majesty’s resources and manpower on this alchemical milestone—how could they not display it properly?

This arrogance was the key to Mingfuluo’s path to victory.

“Eighty-two percent, last eight meters… six meters…”

Mingfuluo’s breathing quickened, sensing Nidhogg’s trajectory.

For the first time in days, her cold purple eyes flickered with fervent light.

Babel Tower must not be disbanded and I… will never lose to the mediocre, vile scum of the Ether Academy, who corrode and shackle this world!

When the last transcendent fell at the Black Knight’s feet, Mingfuluo let out a low growl:

“Destroy it!”

In an instant, countless black particles ceased hiding, suddenly emerging on the backs of corpses’ hands.

Fine black threads, like snakes, surged along fingers toward the steel knight’s armor, then vanished into it in a flash.

“…It’s over.”

The Black Knight’s armor was nothing before Nidhogg—not because it “broke through” but because it silently “seeped” into the steel frame.

No matter how thick the armor or how many protective spells coated its exterior, nothing could stop Nidhogg’s infiltration.

“Next, as long as it devours and destroys the Black Knight’s ether circuits, it can—”

Crack—

The Black Knight, standing on the earth, suddenly developed a crack.

Then, amid increasingly sharp fracturing sounds, the crack rapidly spread across the massive machine’s body.

Count Watson, blood streaming from his eyes and nose, skin cracked and shattered, looked up at the fracturing Black Knight, laughing maniacally:

“I won! I won! I—”

Crack—

His laughter stopped abruptly as the cracked black armor completely shattered.

Because… he saw light.

From the fractured seams, a dazzling light burst forth.

When the black armor fully peeled away, the Black Knight didn’t collapse.

Instead, it revealed a sleeker, more refined, more elegant… pure white machine!

“…No, no… this can’t be.”

Mingfuluo’s pupils trembled violently, her fingertips shaking.

Her usually cold, emotionless voice wavered sharply: “An external independent circuit armor… a decoy shell to deceive Nidhogg?!”

“Good morning, Miss Zege.”

Conrad Sainthue’s figure appeared on the “Black” Knight’s shoulder.

He patted the pristine, flawless mechanized armor, smiling brightly:

“Nidhogg… truly an impressive, awe-inspiring design.”

“Bypassing the alchemical device’s exterior to directly destroy its internal ether circuits, achieving fundamental destruction. It can even affect transcendents themselves, devouring flesh, ether, and even souls… You’re a genius in ‘destruction,’ Miss Zege. From firearms to floating cannons, from floating cannons to Nidhogg—oh, and you were involved in designing some special firearms too, weren’t you? Tsk tsk tsk…”

He sighed: “I can’t imagine what kind of cruel, brutal mind could create these increasingly terrifying things.”

“But unfortunately,” the Ether Academy’s prodigy tapped his temple regretfully, “being too inhumane isn’t a good thing.”

“Do you remember those Babel Tower members you expelled from the alchemical workshop?”

He looked up, smiling brightly at Mingfuluo in the sky.

“Though they knew little, just fragments, it was enough for us to deduce what you were designing. Besides…”

The colossal entity entrenched in the Empire for centuries bared its purest malice:

“Even if you caught one of us by bad luck, do you think… we’d leave just one person in Babel Tower?”

So… that’s how it was.

Mingfuluo, her eyes dimming, whispered in her heart.

Betrayers… always betrayers.

Just like Grandfather.

Those few who Anselm had guided on Nidhogg’s prototype leaked the information to the Ether Academy.

They didn’t dare offend Hydra, so they wouldn’t reveal anything about Hydra.

But the Ether Academy wasn’t foolish—they couldn’t design Nidhogg, but deducing its purpose was hardly difficult.

So, from the start, they prepared—fitting the so-called “Black” Knight with an external independent ether circuit armor.

The circuits Nidhogg eroded weren’t the Black Knight’s core, just… a useless shell!

Conrad’s words reached the Empress clearly through the light screen.

“Hahahahaha—”

Ephithand didn’t hide her delight, laughing heartily: “Fascinating… fascinating! Even without knowing the specifics, this desperate counterattack, only to be utterly outplayed, is so satisfying!”

“Useless… Babel Tower’s bunch of useless fools!”

Unlike her mother’s joy, Ivora’s eyes burned with tangible fury, her words seething with rage that seemed to scorch the air:

“None of you… will escape!”

Everyone saw the Grand Princess’s near-mad fury, ready to immediately distance themselves from Babel Tower.

It was clear Babel Tower was finished, with no chance left.

The Empress, her smile chilling, stood up: “This was a performance I’m thoroughly satisfied with… Anselm, you—”

“Wait, Your Majesty.”

The young Hydra, who had remained quiet, still gazed at the light screen.

Blinking, he spoke in a surprised tone:

“It seems… things aren’t quite as Conrad described.”

As Anselm spoke, the white giant on the battlefield suddenly took a step.

Conrad, standing on the mechanized armor’s shoulder, froze, then looked down at the Black Knight, frowning: “Lunkef, what are you doing?”

The pilot, of course, could only be from Mirror Lake Territory—their strongest fourth-tier warrior, perfectly suited to maximize the armor’s potential.

But now, it seemed…

“Conrad, Your Excellency, I don’t know!”

Lunkef cried in panic: “It—it’s not under my control! Wait… no! No!”

The pure white knight gripped the sword embedded in the ground, slowly pulling it out.

Then, it turned, raising the wall-like blade high…

Boom!!!

A shockwave stretching at least a kilometer surged into the sky.

Mirror Lake’s remaining forces were nearly obliterated by the swing, even Count Mirror Lake’s fate uncertain and it didn’t stop—the knight raised its sword again, slashing horizontally through the air.

The terrifying shockwave tore the ground apart, sending a tidal wave of earth and stone that buried Mirror Lake’s remnants.

Under the stunned or shocked gazes of everyone, including those in the palace hall, the mechanized armor went berserk, unleashing its violence on a battlefield with few survivors.

The Grand Duke Sainthue’s signature [Celestial Cascade Light] bombarded everything indiscriminately.

The massive spell array in the sky poured down a rain of destruction, triggering endless explosions. Conrad, forced to flee, knew the spell’s power better than anyone and shouted in rage:

“Mingfuluo Zege! What did you do? Are you insane? Are you trying to kill me too?!”

Hendrik was stunned.

From hope to despair, from despair to numbness, and now this uncontrollable chaos—he grabbed Mingfuluo’s shoulders, leaping through space, then shook her urgently:

“Mingfuluo, what did you do? Is this Nidhogg’s fault? Why is the Black Knight acting like this?”

“…No, it’s not…”

Mingfuluo, her eyes lifeless, murmured: “Nidhogg is exhausted; it didn’t infiltrate the Black Knight’s core.”

“Then why… why is it like this?!”

“…I don’t know.”

Even if Nidhogg had infiltrated the Black Knight’s ether circuits, it only had basic destructive functions.

Mingfuluo saw the potential of this grand design but lacked time for deeper research.

Theoretically, Nidhogg could do this—replace and override ether circuits, allowing the controller to manipulate it at will…

Nidhogg could do it. But overriding an alchemical device’s control wasn’t exclusive to Nidhogg.

Yet the Black Knight’s change, this loss of control… didn’t seem related to other methods.

In this context, Nidhogg was the only connection.

Who else in this world knew Nidhogg, a more powerful, comprehensive Nidhogg’s creation method?

Who else among alchemists could turn such an era-defying concept into reality?

At that moment, a chilled Mingfuluo…

Saw the devil smiling at her.

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