Chapter 64: Mana-facturing Consent

Chapter 64: Mana-facturing Consent A week later, the industrial floor was loud with the sound of hammers and the hum of mana. The air was thick with the scent of hot metal and ozone. Karl stood on an elevated platform, his skeletal form a silhouette against his new creation: the Elemental-Integrated Foundry. The facility was a mix of steel and magic, a complex network of furnaces, crucibles, and molds. Karl’s empty eye sockets were fixed on an Arcstone control panel, which pulsed with a soft, steady glow. This control panel was the heart of the operation, a conduit for his will, allowing him to precisely modulate the mana flow to each individual workstation. They could fine-tune the heat of a furnace, the rotational speed of a grinder, or the pressure in a mold with a simple press pull of the lever. He watched as each forge, a closed crucible of fire-resistant clay, was controlled by Fire and Windstone mana. The furnaces, superheated by this energy, quickly melted crushed iron ore. This process was faster and more efficient than traditional methods. The intense mana heat broke down the ore in minutes, leaving only the purest metal behind. As the dense impurities, called slags, floated to the top, a skeleton blacksmith opened a small valve. The slag flowed into molds, where it solidified into heavy tiles to be crushed and turned into road aggregate. This waste material, usually discarded, was now a valuable byproduct, contributing to the dungeon’s infrastructure. With the impurities gone, the molten steel was poured into different molds, usually into simple ingots. When making elemental steels, the process was more complex. The refined iron ingots were reheated in a crucible, and specific elemental stones were added. The stones dissolved and mana into the steel, creating an exclusive elemental steel with mana pathways. These new materials would automatically absorb their exclusive elemental mana, powering everything from weapons to tools without the need for constant manual input. Across the foundry, another team of skeleton blacksmiths worked tirelessly. Their movements were precise, a result of the enhanced reflexes given by their master. They tempered and shaped the new metals. As he watched, Karl felt satisfied. It wasn’t his final vision for a fully automated industrial zone, but it was a strong first step. He knew that this foundation would enable him to achieve his larger goals. Just then, the master blacksmith, a skeleton with a sturdy frame, approached and handed a small, hollow cylinder—a barrel—to Karl. "My lord," the blacksmith said, "the fire steel worked exactly as expected." Karl took the cylinder, feeling the smooth, cold surface. "Our evaluation suggests," the blacksmith continued, "that the fire steel used to forge this barrel can withstand up to 4500 degrees—triple the melting point of common steel." Karl was slightly surprised. "Won’t fire steel be harder to forge, then?" he asked. The master blacksmith seemed to grin. "Yes, my lord, but only if you use natural fire. Mana fire, however, softens it much faster, at a melting point of almost half that of steel." This unique property meant they could manipulate the material with mana-based heat, allowing for intricate forging and rapid production. Karl pondered this. "What about a mana fire projectile? Won’t these barrels just melt as easily?" "Not if we add earth steel," the blacksmith smirked. "Go on," Karl said, his interest piqued. The blacksmith continued, "We experimented with different elemental steels and casted a combination of earth and fire steel. We were surprised by the strength of this hybrid. Its properties give it a high resistance to mana fire, so its melting point is also tripled." The inclusion of Earth mana created a stable crystalline structure within the steel that was highly resistant to magical heat and kinetic forces. "So, 2250 degrees for mana fire?" Karl said. The blacksmith nodded. "This also applies to natural heat. The boiling point of such a steel is 6750 degrees." This new hybrid was not only resistant to mana, but to all forms of thermal energy. Its properties were beyond anything found in nature or through conventional forging. Karl was genuinely taken aback. "That’s freaky. But how strong is it, really? Does the pressure apply?" "Yes, my lord. Pressure generates heat, and with the hybrid steel’s unique magical properties, it is strong against attacks and has a strong resistance to pressure points." The blacksmith explained that the material was exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding the kind of extreme kinetic force that could shatter regular steel. This made it ideal for defensive armor or high-impact weaponry. "Then you’re going to have a hard time reforging it?" Karl asked, the practical concerns of production at the forefront of his mind. "Well... you are right, my lord," the blacksmith admitted. "But we are exploring alternatives and methods. If you’re worried about the lifespan of such steel, don’t be. This steel will not erode or rust, though one might have to continually use it and feed it with its mana." It was a self-sustaining material, a true marvel of magical industry. "That’s fine," Karl said. "We’re still in the early stages. I planned to make elemental-powered rifles, but that might change. I can make them for emergency defense. I want you to work with the research team and come up with a weapon concept that fires metal slugs powered by electromagnets. Using the Shock Steel." Karl elaborated, "The mana pathways in Shock Steel are incredibly efficient at channeling and amplifying kinetic force. Imagine a weapon where a metal projectile is propelled not by a combustion of powders, but by a precise, focused surge of electricity. This will allow for incredible velocity and armor-piercing capability at a range far beyond what traditional ballista or arrows can achieve. This kind of technology could shift the balance of power in any conflict." Karl smiled. "But all in all, I am very satisfied with you and your department’s efforts." The skeletons around them seemed to brighten, glowing with pride. The master blacksmith blushed, his skull rattling slightly. "Thank you, for such compliments, my lord." Karl accepted their devotion and loyalty. "Look ahead," he said. "Your department is the most crucial for my plans. I may expand the floors and have an entire floor for you. For now, work with the researchers and make a concept for the weapon and an engine design with the new hybrid steel. Take all the time you need on the engine, but I’d rather you come up with a ranged weapon that is capable of long-range and can pierce through armor fast. I just feel like there’s trouble coming, and it’s unavoidable. We need to be prepared quickly." The blacksmith bowed slightly and said, "We will not fail your expectations, my lord. You can count on us." Suddenly, the door to the foundry opened. The manager appeared, his voice cutting through the noise. "My lord?" he called out. Karl turned. "Manager, you’re here," he said. He paused, looking at the manager’s serious expression. "I assume our visitors have arrived?" "Yes, my lord," the manager replied. "We have Commander Urma and his wife, Captain Luma, and a prominent merchant from Stonehorn Crossing, Bjorn Vulle’nun of the Rogina Merchant Company." "I personally really hate politics and negotiations. I’d rather build weapons, but in not doing so, I won’t have leverage and connections, I can use to acquire a land with rare elements I can find." Karl said with a hint of annoyance. The Commander and his wife were here for the custom order, but also had other matters to discuss. The merchant Bjorn, on the other hand, was seeking a separate meeting entirely. The prospect of dealing with two demanding parties at once was irritating. Karl sighed inwardly, knowing that opportunistic merchants like Bjorn would negotiate for every last coin, making this a tiresome process. "Shall I guide them to the guest room?" the manager asked. "No need," Karl sighed and replied. "I’ll be the one entertaining them. Go on ahead. I’ll follow you." The manager walked out, and Karl turned back to the master blacksmith. "I have another request for you and your department," he said, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone. "This is a wide industrial research project, and it is a top priority. We need a weapon that can be manufactured efficiently and deployed on a massive scale. Forget the electromagnetic weapon for now; it’s too complex and requires rare materials. This new weapon must be simple, elegant, and devastatingly effective." The blacksmith’s skull tilted, a faint blue spark in his empty eye sockets. "A simpler weapon, my lord? But you mentioned the electromagnetic slugs would shift the balance of power." "They will," Karl affirmed, "but they are a long-term goal, a trump card. What I need now is a weapon for a coming storm. I want you to work with the researchers and the elemental artisans to come up with a chamber-based explosion spell or elemental stone. The concept is a chambered chain-reaction that pushes a projectile out of a barrel. You get the gist of it." The blacksmith paused, processing the new information. "A chambered chain-reaction... my lord, are you suggesting we weaponize a contained, magical explosion? Like a miniature mana blast, but directed?" "Precisely," Karl said, his voice a dry, eager whisper. "Think of it this way: instead of a single, powerful spell that takes time and mana to cast, you have a material that holds the potential for a small, instantaneous burst. The chamber of the barrel contains that explosion, focusing its force to propel a projectile at extreme velocity." "And the projectile?" the blacksmith asked, his voice filled with fascination. "A standard metal slug?" "Not exactly," Karl replied. "We can start with that, but the true potential lies in an elemental slug. Imagine an Earth steel slug for armor-piercing, a Water steel slug for penetrating and dissolving defenses, or a Fire steel slug for explosive impact. The core of the design is a trigger stone. A small, simple element that can be ignited with a precise mana impulse. This ignition causes a chain reaction within the chamber, launching the projectile." The blacksmith’s glowing eyes widened with understanding. "It would be far simpler to manufacture than the electromagnetic weapon. No complex circuitry, no precise mana channeling required for each shot. Just a simple firing mechanism and a stock of these trigger stones and elemental slugs. The speed of production would be... exponential." "Exactly," Karl said. "This is a weapon that can be mass-produced and put into the hands of my entire army. The coming future conflict will not be decided by one or two powerful weapons, but by an overwhelming force. We will have both." Karl’s voice held an unshakeable confidence that made the blacksmith feel both exhilarated and slightly unnerved. He had never witnessed such a cold, calculating mind. The blacksmith bowed once more, the weight of the new responsibility settling on his shoulders with pride. "We will start immediately, my lord. We will have a prototype ready as soon as possible." "Do not rush perfection," Karl advised. "Take your time, but know that this is a race against time. The more powerful we become, the more others will seek to challenge us. But they will not find a primitive dungeon lord in their path. They will find an industrial powerhouse, a force of progress they cannot hope to stop." As Karl left, he added, "I’ll be seeing you soon for the elemental sword evaluation after the meeting." The master blacksmith just bowed, the huge responsibility they now shouldered with pride, made them ignite with fire, their resolve to complete such a task was brimming.