Chapter 6: Legacy of Steel

The throne room was shaking.

Mana crackled in the air, thick and heavy like a storm cloud ready to burst. Rubble covered the ground. Sword marks had carved deep scars into the stone floor. Two figures clashed in the center of it all—flashes of light, steel on steel, shadows flickering on the broken walls.

Aegis twisted to the side as the Dreadknight's massive blade came down again. The sheer force of it split the stone beneath her. She darted forward, slicing at the exposed side of his helm, but he turned just in time. The blade glanced off his shoulder plate, sparks flying.

"You move well," came the low voice from inside the helmet.

His sword glowed again, runes burning bright.

Aegis backflipped away.

Alaric stood near the edge of the battlefield, behind a fallen column, breathing heavily. His hands were scraped from earlier debris, but his eyes were focused.

That blade's getting stronger with every swing. He's reinforcing it with more mana than before.

He pulled up the SYSTEM again.

[Boss Status: Dreadknight Vargus]

Core Stability: 27%

Armor Integrity: 42%

Mana Reserves: Unknown

Aspect Usage Detected: Mana Blade, Blink Step, Warding Sigil

"His core is weakening!" Alaric called out. "Keep pressuring him!"

"Understood," Aegis answered, charging in again.

She leapt, spinning midair, her blade a silver blur. Vargus raised his sword to block—but it was too slow. Her strike cut through the left side of his chest plate, mana leaking from the damaged armor.

He didn't flinch.

Instead, he gripped his sword with both hands and swung wide. The force sent Aegis flying across the room.

She landed on one knee, skidding, metal feet grinding against stone.

"You're not human," Vargus said, voice colder now. "But you fight like one."

Aegis stood.

"I was built by someone who refused to kneel."

The knight raised his sword again.

"And I was forged to guard this place… even in death."

Alaric ducked behind cover as another shockwave tore through the room. Bits of ceiling rained down. The old iron banners finally gave way, falling like torn flags.

We need to end this fast. His attacks are getting more destructive.

"Aegis!" Alaric shouted. "Target his core directly. Aim for the chestplate crack—left side!"

Aegis moved.

She dashed in, zig-zagging between the fallen stones, dodging one strike, then another. She jumped off a broken pillar, using it for momentum, and closed the gap.

Vargus tried to Blink—he vanished—

—but she anticipated it.

Aegis turned mid-air and slashed.

Her blade connected.

A deep gash split his torso, right where the mana lines pulsed brightest.

The Dreadknight staggered.

He fell to one knee.

His sword lowered.

But he wasn't finished.

He forced himself up, bloodless but furious.

Vargus activated Warding Sigil again. A shimmering field wrapped around him.

Aegis didn't wait. She dashed in once more and attacked the shield with a flurry of rapid strikes. Sparks burst from every impact. The sigil cracked, cracked again—then shattered.

Vargus raised his sword for a final time.

"This ends now," he said.

Aegis didn't speak.

She thrust her blade straight into his chest.

Right into the core.

Vargus stopped.

Time seemed to hold its breath.

Blue mana leaked from the cracks in his armor like water from a broken vase.

Then, slowly, the Dreadknight dropped his sword. It clattered to the ground.

He looked at Aegis… and then past her. His helmet turned slightly toward Alaric.

"Your creation... is strong," he said.

His voice was softer now.

"A hundred years I waited. For someone... worthy."

Alaric stepped forward, carefully.

"You were protecting this place… even after death."

Vargus gave the faintest nod.

"I was a Swordmage once. A knight of the old court... but I failed to protect them. My soul was bound here... so I kept fighting."

His armor creaked as he fell to one knee.

"I thought I would die… angry. But now..."

He looked up one last time.

"Thank you... for setting me free."

And with that, the glow in his eyes faded.

The Dreadknight Vargus collapsed, his great armor falling still.

No more flames. No more mana. Just silence.

[System Notification]

Dungeon Boss Defeated: Dreadknight Vargus

Rare Materials Available:

– Swordmage Core (High Grade)

– Arcane-Tempered Armor (Knight-Class)

– Blade Fragment (Mana-infused)

Alaric stepped forward slowly, standing over the massive body. Aegis remained still, blade in hand.

He knelt and pressed his palm over the Dreadknight's chest.

"Inventory."

[Inventory Access – Active]

Swordmage Core – Stored

Arcane-Tempered Armor – Stored

Blade Fragment – Stored

Alaric sat there for a moment.

No words.

Just the faint hum of the SYSTEM.

Then he looked up at Aegis.

"That was your toughest fight yet."

She nodded.

"He was... skilled. Tactical. Purpose-driven."

Alaric exhaled. "A real knight."

They stood in silence.

The battlefield still felt warm from the mana that had flooded it. Cracks in the floor glowed faintly. Dust hung in the air like mist.

But the fight was over.

Alaric turned to the broken throne at the back of the room. It was made of weapons—some ancient, some rusted, some still sharp.

Vargus had been sitting there… waiting for someone to challenge him.

"Let's head back," Alaric said. "We've got what we came for."

Aegis fell in step beside him.

But Alaric stopped just before the exit.

He turned his head, one last time, toward the motionless knight.

"Rest now, Vargus."

He didn't know if the dead could hear.

But he said it anyway.

The moment they stepped out of the Ironspire Depths, the sunlight hit their faces like a blessing.

Alaric squinted, raising a hand over his eyes. "Ugh… forgot how bright it was."

"Sunlight intensity: normal," Aegis said flatly beside him.

He chuckled. "I wasn't being literal, Aegis."

They were back in the upper hills outside the dungeon ruins, high above the low forests that spread out toward the horizon. Birds called in the distance, and the wind smelled like pine and ash. They'd been underground for almost two days.

And the SYSTEM had something to say about it.

[System Notification – Experience Threshold Reached]

[Level Up Achieved]

[New Stats Applied]

[Identity: Alaric Valtair (Age: 10)]

[Race: Human]

[Class: None]

[Level: 2 → 3]

[Mana: 24]

[Strength: 6]

[Intelligence: 24]

[Dexterity: 9]

[Constitution: 6]

[Luck: 3]

"Not much of a jump," Alaric muttered as he looked over the display. "But I'll take it. It's only the beginning."

Aegis remained silent beside him. Her armor was scratched in places, still marked by the fight with Vargus.

Alaric reached up and gently tapped the side of her shoulder. "Good work back there."

She nodded. "Damage within acceptable parameters. Energy reserves low but stable."

He smiled to himself. That was her way of saying she was tired.

With their inventory full—rare materials, fragments, the Swordmage core—they had more than enough to finally proceed with the Mana Washer project.

But they had a new problem now.

Transportation.

Alaric sighed as he looked out at the long path winding down the cliffs. "Walking all the way back… three days minimum."

He looked at Aegis, then back at the road.

"You know, we could've used a car."

"I am aware," she said.

He shook his head and began walking.

"Not a priority," he muttered. "The Washer comes first. One invention at a time."

By the time they arrived back at the Valtair estate, the sun was low in the sky and their boots were caked with mud. The once-grand gates of the mansion creaked open at their push.

Liora came sprinting down the path barefoot, eyes wide.

"Big brother!!" she cried.

Alaric barely had time to drop his satchel before she slammed into him with a hug.

"You were gone forever!" she said, her face buried in his chest.

"I'm here now," he said, patting her head gently. "Sorry for worrying you."

Cedric and Seraphina followed behind her, more composed—but clearly just as relieved.

Cedric looked over his son and nodded. "You're unhurt."

Alaric gave a tired smile. "Mostly. We ran into some… advanced resistance."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "Did you…?"

"We defeated the dungeon guardian," he said. "A boss-level construct. We collected everything we needed."

Her gaze softened. "I see. Then… you truly are growing into your name."

Alaric didn't respond to that. He just looked down at his satchel, where the Swordmage core still pulsed faintly with stored mana.

Later that night, after a long meal and a warm bath, Alaric sat alone in his attic workshop.

Blueprints scattered the desk. Crystals, fragments, metal scraps—all laid out in rows. His tools were arranged with precision. Every item had a place. Every material had a purpose.

He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

We really walked for three days. And I still haven't slept.

But instead of resting, he turned back to the workbench.

He reached into the satchel and pulled out the core.

It glowed with an inner blue light—faint, but alive. Vargus's mana still lingered inside.

Alaric stared at it for a long moment.

"You thanked me in the end," he whispered. "I won't waste what you left behind."

He placed the core beside the other materials and opened the SYSTEM.

[Project Manager: Active]

Mana Washer Prototype

Status: Ready for Assembly

Components:

✔ Refined Steel Frame

✔ Mana Crystal Rotation Core

✔ Lightweight Drum Casing

✔ Water-resistant Mana Threads

✔ Drain Valve Enchantment Ring

Tools Required: Basic Enchanting Set – [Available]

Estimated Mana Cost: 17

Estimated Assembly Time: 8 hours

Caution: Once assembly begins, do not stop until completion

"Seventeen mana…" he muttered. "I'll drop to seven. That's dangerous if something goes wrong."

He tapped the edge of the table.

"I'll risk it."

He opened a drawer and pulled out his gloves—leather reinforced with mana-inscribed fabric. The gloves were still crude, but they worked as insulation.

The next drawer held a small pendant—a relic from Seraphina's side of the family. An old mana charm.

He hung it around his neck.

Finally, he pulled over the crafting terminal and activated it.

The grid appeared before his eyes again—floating lines, numbers, and geometric shapes dancing across the space above the desk.

He smiled faintly.

"Time to make life easier for everyone."

He looked at Aegis, who stood silently by the wall, waiting like a silent sentinel.

"This washer… it's just the first step."

"Confirmed," she replied.

"But if it works… we'll build more."

He moved his fingers through the grid, dragging pieces into place.

Cylinder rotation unit. Mana threads woven into the lining. Crystal regulator at the base. Enchantment ring on the outflow pipe.

It was all coming together.

A machine that used mana—not electricity—to do what no one else in this world thought possible.

Clean clothes. Saved time. Improved health.

Alaric whispered, "A better life."

He flexed his fingers.

"One last check."

[Final Assembly – Mana Washer]

All components confirmed.

Energy source ready.

Begin process?

Alaric smiled.

He reached out to touch the glowing YES prompt.

Then—

He stopped.

His hand froze in mid-air.

Wait... something's wrong.

His eyes narrowed.

He scanned the blueprint again.

His breathing slowed.

No... everything's fine. I'm just nervous.

He lowered his hand.

Then tapped the air.

"Yes."

Mana surged.

The parts lifted off the desk, suspended in light. The enchantment ring glowed. The frame clicked into place. Threads wrapped themselves into the interior drum.

Aegis watched in silence as the assembly process began.

A low hum filled the attic as the mana crystal core began to spin—slowly, then faster.

Alaric stepped back, eyes wide.

"This is it," he whispered.

My first real invention in this world.

The room pulsed with soft blue light.

And the washer—his Mana Washer—began to form.