‘thinking’
“Talking”
[Attack]
Act 5 (Part 3) — The Celestial Forge and the Watching Butterfly
[ Location: Yagami Star System — Kiana’s Laboratory ]
[ POV: Kiana Kaslana ]
With the Magical Girl core framework finalized, my immediate priority shifted to setting up an automated manufacturing pipeline.
I pulled up a blank CAD terminal and began drafting the assembly hardware from scratch.
Once the mechanical schematics passed system validation, I created a dedicated artificial intelligence to oversee factory operations designating her Madoka.
I programmed her core directive with an extra layer of security: continuous real-time monitoring of Kyubey to ensure neither the Warp nor the biological terminal could be subverted or corrupted by an Aeon.
In a universe this volatile, paranoia was simply good engineering.
Once the blueprint rendering was locked, I pulled out my phone and dialed Mei’s private frequency.
She picked up on the second ring.
“Hello, Mei.
I hope I’m not interrupting your research.”
“Not at all,” Mei’s composed voice came through the speaker.
“I was just taking a brief intermission.
What do you need, Kiana?”
I smiled, unable to hide the pride in my voice.
“I need clearance to set up an off-site production line for my latest project.”
Mei’s interest was piqued immediately.
“A new project?
What is the core mechanism?”
“You’re familiar with the concept of a ‘magical girl,’ right?” I teased.
Mei replied calmly, “I am aware of the narrative archetype.
Every young girl dreams of such things at some point during childhood.”
“Even you?” I teased playfully.
“Yes,” Mei answered without a hint of embarrassment.
“Though my interest was never in the aesthetic itself, but rather the underlying power conversion technology within the transformation device and its biological feedback on the wielder.
How does your new device connect to magical girls?”
She added in a flat, deadpan tone before I could answer, “Please tell me you aren’t planning to dress and act like Herta.
Managing one magical girl personality in our circle is already exhausting.
Please don’t become another.”
I blinked, momentarily stunned by her bluntness.
‘Classic Ruan Mei response…’
“It’s an amplifier for a Pathstrider’s energy,” I explained quickly, defending my honor.
“The combat transformation mode just happens to look like one.
I don’t have a magical girl fetish!
Wait…
does Herta actually want to be a magical girl?”
“I won’t elaborate on Herta’s personal quirks,” Mei replied flatly.
“Ask her yourself.
What is the amplification ratio?”
“It boosts the wielder’s Path output by twenty-five to thirty percent,” I pouted slightly.
“I have a working prototype if you want to test it.”
“Once your setup is finished, let me know,” Mei said, satisfaction lacing her tone.
“I would gladly serve as a test subject.
You have full clearance to build your assembly line wherever you see fit ground, underwater, atmospheric, or orbital.
The entire star system operates under my personal research authority.”
“I’ll set it up in orbit as a cloaked mobile station for extra security,” I said, excited.
Mei agreed without hesitation.
“A logical choice.”
With the logistics cleared, we wrapped up the call and disconnected.
I set Kyubey down on the lab bench, giving it a firm look.
“Stay here and behave.”
I instructed Void Archives to lock down the local containment fields, encrypted my local research logs, and stepped back into the center of the room.
Channeling [ Void ], I folded the spatial coordinates and teleported into the high orbit of the primary planet, solidifying a temporary platform beneath my feet with Honkai energy.
Looking down, I scanned the celestial body below a pristine world roughly the exact size of Earth.
Raising my hand, I invoked [ Truth ].
In the cold vacuum of space, reality bent.
Strands of pure light stitched together to forge a massive, asteroid-class Mothership stretching fifteen kilometers in length, complete with a fully operational internal ecosystem:
Exterior Shell: Integrated hollow cloaking array that disguised the vessel as a dense, mineral-rich asteroid.
Production Core: Automated heavy manufacturing loops for Soul Gem fabrication.
Quantum Core Bay: High-density computational hub hosting the main processing matrix for Madoka.
Mobile Suit Hangar: Specialized storage bays equipped to dock and maintain 18 heavy combat units.
Corridor Alpha: Primary personnel access way.
Corridor Beta: Heavy freight and automated cargo transport vector.
Residential Sector: Secure quarters for visiting researchers or guests.
Fleet Dock: Deep-space external berth capable of docking multiple escort warships.
Central Command Bridge: Main communication, navigation, and administrative hub.
Strategic Ordnance Bay: Storage and arming racks for tactical Honkai-Fission warheads.
Colony Laser Array: Planetary-grade Honkai energy lance designed for extreme long-range suppression.
The Selene: An Anti-Finality energy cannon capable of holding back an Aeon for 30 minutes.
With the mothership constructed, I linked Madoka’s neural network directly into the station’s Quantum computer.
A cheerful, shimmering avatar materialized on the bridge terminal screen.
“Hello, Creator!
I am Madoka.
I will ensure the manufacturing line operates at absolute efficiency.”
“Welcome online, Madoka,” I greeted her.
“Keep a close eye on Kyubey as well.”
Madoka’s expression turned serious.
“Understood.
If any anomalies manifest within the Warp or the Kyubey, you will be notified instantly.”
I nodded in approval.
Now for station defense.
Activating [ Truth ] once more, I began synthesizing an armada of heavy Mobile Suits, drawing directly from my stored records of legendary machine frames:
-> GN-001 Gundam Exia — Close-Quarters Combat (Seven Swords System)
-> GN-002 Gundam Dynames — Long-Range Precision Sniping
-> GN-003 Gundam Kyrios — High-Speed Tactical Transformation
-> GN-005 Gundam Virtue — Heavy Particle Artillery & GN-Field Generator
-> GN-004 Gundam Nadleeh — Trial System Override Unit
-> GN-0000 00 Raiser — Twin Drive System (Paired with GNR-010 0 Raiser)
-> GN-006 Cherudim Gundam — Shield Bit & Medium/Long Range Interception
-> GN-007 Arios Gundam — Variable Flight Combat Unit
-> GN-008 Seravee Gundam — Heavy Particle Artillery
-> GN-009 Seraphim Gundam — Unarmored Backpack Unit (Trial System)
-> GNT-0000 00 Qan[T] — Quantum System & High-Output Dialogue Unit
-> GN-010 Gundam Zabanya — Omni-Directional Missile & Rifle Bit Array
-> GN-011 Gundam Harute — High-Maneuverability Dual-Pilot Frame
-> CB-002 Raphael Gundam — Remote Cannon & Heavy Shield Unit
-> GN-008RE Seravee Gundam II — Heavy Support Unit
-> RX-0 Unicorn Gundam — NT-D System Frame
-> RX-0[N] Unicorn Gundam Unit 02 Banshee Norn — Armed Armor DE/XC System
-> RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Unit 03 Phenex — Psychoframe High-Speed Array
Every single unit was retrofitted to run on Honkai energy as its primary fuel source, powered by internal high-density Honkai reactors.
With the automated orbital factory secure and garrisoned, I prepared to schedule business negotiations with the IPC.
But first, I wanted to rejoin Mei and take a well-deserved break.
Tapping into [ Void ], I folded space and vanished, teleporting directly back down to the surface laboratory.
[ Location: Unknown Cosmic Domain ]
[ POV: Unknown ]
In a realm detached from conventional spacetime, a young woman sat quietly upon an ornate dark throne.
Her skin was pale as alabaster, framed by long, flowing silver-white hair adorned with dark purple butterfly accessories.
She wore an intricate gothic dress, her deep magenta-purple eyes radiating a distant, calm, and ancient presence.
She gazed at a floating bubble world reflecting the universe where Kiana currently resided, a look of genuine intrigue softening her features.
“It appears little Finality has finally awakened from her long slumber…” she murmured softly, her voice echoing like crystal chimes.
“Yet Origin has not yet stirred.
What an exceedingly curious turn of events.”
She shifted her gaze upward, looking directly past the dimensional boundary, her eyes locking onto the reader.
“You will learn my identity soon enough…”
She brought a slender finger to her lips, offering a subtle, enchanting smile.
“Don’t spoil the fun for me and our dear watchers, Author.”
From beyond the veil of unknown spatial dimension, the Author looked upon her with an amused smile.
“Hey, this is actually a reasonable development.”