Chapter 203: Chapter 199: The Flame Demon is Complete

Just as Allen’s workshop was running at full capacity for the PX-2, a reconnaissance report from the border interrupted his workflow.

"Commander, Demon Eye-07 in the southern region has sent back a report."

The voice of Jarvis echoed in the workshop as a video projection appeared before Allen.

The image showed the other side of the volcanic chain, the region belonging to War Zone 19.

Due to the extreme distance, coupled with interference from volcanic ash and Magic Power, the image was blurry, showing only a few indistinct shadows.

"Enhance the image and run a dynamic analysis," Allen commanded.

[Processing... Dynamic analysis complete.]

After processing, the blurry shadows sharpened slightly.

They were two Humanoid Golems, each about six meters tall and entirely crimson. They were operating at the foot of a volcano, and based on their movement patterns, they appeared to be conducting geological surveys and environmental adaptability tests.

"This is..." Allen’s pupils constricted slightly.

’If I’m not mistaken, this must be the work of my old schoolmate.’

He remembered how his "Molten Champion" had demonstrated impressive high-temperature combat capabilities during the academy tournament.

This type of Golem must be a model Victor specifically designed for high-temperature environments—that was his area of expertise, after all.

’What’s he doing? Prospecting for ore?’

[Based on an analysis of the targets’ movement trajectories and operational patterns, there is an 82% probability they are searching for a suitable location to establish a forward outpost.]

"A forward outpost..." Allen’s gaze deepened.

An entire Boiling Lava Lake and a continuous volcanic chain separated him and Victor. This vast, red restricted zone served as the natural border between War Zone 18 and War Zone 19.

It seemed his neighbor had now set his sights on this resource-rich treasure trove, just as he had.

’He wants to build a volcanic Magic Power furnace, just like me?’

The thought was fleeting. Victor was also an elite of the alchemy school, and his workshop’s starting location was near the volcanic chain. It was no surprise that he would also think to harness the concentrated Magic Power within the volcanoes to solve his energy problems.

"Jarvis, assess the impact on us if Victor builds a Magic Power furnace in this area."

[Simulating... If War Zone 19 establishes a large-scale Magic Power conversion facility on the northern side of the volcanic chain, it will conflict with our plans on the southern side. Both parties drawing Fire Elemental Magic Power from the same subterranean magma layer will cause the Magic Power output efficiency per unit of area to drop. The estimated decrease is between 8% and 30%, depending on the scale of their extraction.]

In the workshop’s command center, a massive holographic projection hung silently in the air.

Allen watched the crimson Golems moving through the volcanic ash on the display and stroked his chin.

"Interesting," he murmured.

It wasn’t so much surprise as it was the appreciation one feels when meeting a worthy opponent.

[Commander, Victor’s workshop was established much later than ours. He will need time to ramp up production capacity, so you currently retain the advantage. Based on current model projections, if both parties begin large-scale Magic Power conversion later on, it will slightly hinder our mutual development. Accelerating our construction schedule is advised.]

"No, his production scale may be small for now, but his family’s technological foundation is not to be underestimated. He could very well pull ahead later."

’Looks like my old schoolmate has a keen sense for these things,’ Allen thought, shutting off the projection, his tone perfectly calm. ’But this pie is big enough for two. There won’t be much of an impact in the short term.’

"Jarvis, halt production on the second Freedom Gundam and raise the PX-2’s priority to maximum. Divert all production capacity to manufacturing the PX-2."

[Reallocating production schedule... Warning: This will cause the First Legion’s reserve parts inventory to drop by 30%.]

"Authorize it."

Allen didn’t hesitate. "Also, suspend all exploratory operations against the Magical Beasts in the lava lake. Pull back the defensive line and switch to a static defense. We don’t go looking for trouble until the PX-2 is ready."

[Command confirmed.]

Allen rose to his feet, his gaze drifting toward the newly modified assembly area in the depths of the workshop.

"Victor... to think we’d be competing again, and in another dimension."

---

Time flew by in a symphony of steel and Magic Power.

「Two days later.」

Tons of Molten Fire Titanium Crystal Metal were teleported in, one shipment after another.

Along with it arrived several crates of rare materials, heavily sealed with Runes, which included the essential magical components needed to manufacture the core of the "Volcano Engine."

Allen’s workshop kicked into high gear.

Eight massive Craftsman’s Hands worked day and night in the dedicated assembly area. Manufacturing a Level 3 Golem was a complex process, and most of the components still required Allen’s personal touch.

By the third day, the fifteen-meter-tall frame was complete, resembling the skeleton of an ancient demon.

On the fifth day, they began laying the outer armor plating, forged from a Molten Fire Titanium Crystal alloy. The inside of each plate had been pre-etched with "Heat Conduction Runes."

On the seventh day, the massive "Titan’s Fist" powered arm-gauntlets were developed, manufactured, and moved into installation and testing.

On the fifteenth day, the core component—the "Volcano Engine Prototype"—was hoisted into the chest cavity. It was a cylinder, cruder in design than the "Singularity Engine," its surface engraved with a complex Rune Array that Allen had personally designed to convert Fire Elemental Magic Power.

On the eighteenth day, an eighteen-meter-long "High-Frequency Vibrating Piercing Spear," glinting with a cold metallic sheen, was secured to the back-mounted hardpoint.

The hangar bay doors slowly retracted, and the workshop’s spotlights converged on the red Steel Giant.

It stood there in silence.

Its entire body was coated in a dark red paint, looking as if it had been forged from cooled lava, radiating a sense of power and silent oppression.

Its frame was taller and bulkier than the "Pacifista." The shoulder armor was broad, the lines were stark and rigid, and every detail was designed for deep submersion and close-quarters combat.

It lacked the elegance and divine grace of the Freedom Gundam, looking more like a demon that had clawed its way out of the depths of Hell, reeking of a primitive, savage, and destructive aura.

Calling it a demon wasn’t far from the truth, as its Control Core was crafted from the soul of a Flamefiend—a hot commodity that had cost him 5,000 Magic Stones.

[PX-2 ’Flamefiend’ Prototype, construction complete.]

[Performing system self-diagnostic... All systems nominal.]

[Proceed with engine ignition test?]

Allen stood before the observation room’s viewport, the dark red machine reflected in his eyes. He uttered a single word.

"Ignition."

[Command received. Initiating ’Volcano Engine’ ignition sequence.]

The next second, a low roar, like an ancient beast awakening from its slumber, erupted from the engine core in the PX-2’s chest.

To the naked eye, the Runes on the mecha’s surface began to glow, lighting up layer by layer—not with an azure light, but with a searing, dark gold.

The ambient air temperature began to climb steadily.

"It’s breathing," Allen murmured.

The Volcano Engine was greedily absorbing the ambient raw Magic Power and Fire Elemental Magic Power from the environment, converting and storing it as standard Magic Power.

[Current Magic Power reserves are critically low. Engine conversion output stable at 25%. Fire Elemental Magic Power conversion efficiency is at a minimum.]

"Engage workshop fast-charge mode. Get its power to ten percent."

Allen’s gaze only grew more intense. "Its true home is the lava lake, where the concentration of fire elements is high. This is just an appetizer."

The "Fire Element Conversion Rune Array" he had designed worked faster the higher the external concentration of fire elements. Right now, it was only operating at one percent of its potential.

[Connected to workshop Magic Network. ’Flamefiend’ Prototype’s energy reserves are climbing.]