Steel and Mana

Chapter 306 – Camelot’s Power

The air outside was bitter and sharp, the wind already carrying the bite of the coming winter as it kept rocking our ship. Luckily, the integrated formations copied from the Ishillian ships kept us stable and anchored in space. As we traveled, testing the Camelot’s capabilities, I watched the snow on the side of the mountains creep downward, knowing the first snowfall was getting close. At least it wasn’t going to be a sudden and prolonged winter this time around.

Putting the weather aside, I was satisfied with everything so far as the ship was performing above my expectations. The only thing I think we need to improve is implementing some kind of heating system as staying this high, this long, it tended to be freezing. My gloved hands rested firmly on the arms of my command chair, watching our surroundings through the Imaginary system; I smiled as we drifted into the designated testing area, descending from above the clouds into the clearing chosen beforehand. I made sure that no people were around this place, not at least in a five-kilometer radius. As for our targets, it was nothing really, just a hastily put-together town. A skeleton of one, really, rocks piled together in the form of houses, something my men built very quickly to be then destroyed by us.

Moving my gaze away, I looked at the fully present crew on the bridge; they were tense but focused. Today was important, and they knew it. My dear captain returned very quickly after I sent him back with my own message to Mirian. When he arrived, he didn’t leave the Camelot, not once, making his permanent stay on the ship, living in his captain’s quarters. His antics were mirrored by the key officers he had chosen and promoted after a multitude of tests. Since then, Kustov and his men had drilled the remaining crew assigned to my ship on maneuverability, responding to commands, and preparing the Camelot's systems for a live weapon test. Merlin had been working tirelessly to synchronize the newly installed weaponry with the secondary magic core, and Elena joined him in the endeavor. It turns out that she was a great team with her father as captain, soon becoming the officer responsible for the ship’s weaponry. Well… let’s see then how she fares in action, too.

“Captain,” I said calmly, my voice cutting through the hum of the bridge. “Status report.”

Kustov, standing proudly at the forward platform before me and before the main wheel, turned to address me with a salute. He was wearing a newly designed uniform, sporting Avalon’s black colors with a heavy, royal-blue accent. It was my chosen scheme for those who are going to be in our newly established Air Force. Or navy. It depends on whether we look at Camelot as a ship or a plane. I haven’t decided yet.

“All systems are online, My Sovereign. Stabilization runes are functioning as expected. We can hover indefinitely. By Master Merlin’s report, the core’s output is at seventy percent and is holding steady.”

“Weapon teams?” I turned my head slightly toward the leftmost control island, where a cluster of officers manned the systems responsible for the Camelot’s arsenal. Both magical and regular ones.

“Primary cannons are charged and ready. By report, the magicless ones are also ready to fire at will, Sovereign,” Elena’s reply came crisply. With a turn, she looked at her subordinates, all sitting before control panels, each person responsible for different parts of the ship, be it the sides, top or bottom, our back or front. “Merlin has calculated the strain the activation of the second core may put on the Camelot. He says it will rock the boat but won’t sink it. Still, he suggests that we test using the smallest volleys first. If we push too far too quickly, it could destabilize the secondary core and influence the main drive, affecting our ability to hover.”

“We will do that then,” I nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. This was getting… exciting! With a shift in my chair, I brushed above the hidden instrument within the left armrest, knowing that we would also test something else at the end. “Oh… Winter has a perfect timing, huh?” I asked, making everyone look up and see the same thing I was watching. Outside, snowflakes had begun to drift lazily in the cold air as if the world was telling me that it was time. It wasn’t going to wait for me to prepare anymore. “Let’s start this…” I whispered, keying the radio in my chair, connecting to my Prime Minister. “Merlin, you’re up.”

The radio crackled to life as Merlin’s voice responded from deep within the bowels of the ship, where he oversaw the magic cores, bringing the second to life slowly, manually. If today’s test goes well, the next time, it will be done automatically as we prepare to fire, but for today, I left it all to him.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Core synchronization is stable.” He answered, his voice calm and focused. "Systems are green across the board. You may proceed, Sovereign.”

Good enough. I raised my hand, giving a slow, deliberate wave toward Kustov.

“Let’s begin. Target the closest cluster of buildings: Primary bow cannons. Single volley. Lowest power. Fire when ready.”

“Aye, Sovereign!” Kustov relayed the command with a shout. On the weapons platform, Elena nodded sharply, asserting the appearing magic formation. Even though nobody else was a mage here, they didn’t need to understand it. They just had to know which button to press and which lever to pull for the correct mechanism to engage and slot the required rune in place, activating the firing spell within the cannons. While her subordinates were the ones shoving the fire command in place, it was their ranking officer who was responsible for deciding when, where to aim, and with how much strength to use when firing.

“Target locked,” Elena stated firmly as the ship’s magical aim confirmed it was locked on, just like in our mech's. “Ensign, fire the first volley at Level 1 strength.”

For a moment, there was silence.

Then the Camelot roared, and the whole ship shook as a blinding red light flashed at the bow of the airship.

A cluster of fireballs erupted from the forward cannons, blazing like miniature suns as they tore through the air. The bridge vibrated faintly under the force of the release, but the stabilization runes held firm, easing it out very quickly. Outside, through the Imaginary, we watched as the beams streaked across the snowfall and the valley under us, striking the target at a dead center.

The explosion was immediate. A vibrant flash consumed the collection of stone houses, which were about three kilometers from us. It was followed by a shockwave that sent a plume of earth and debris skyward, leaving a crater behind. Seconds later, a low boom rolled across the valley, vibrating through the ship’s hull like the growl of the monsters from which we took my airship’s primary cores.

“Target obliterated,” Elena reported. Her voice was professional, but there was no missing the awe in her tone.

“Main core strain increased to eighty-five percent momentarily before stabilizing.” Merlin reported at once, “No structural degradation detected. The second core’s magic seems to integrate nicely and isn’t interfering with the main one as much as we expected it to!”

“Excellent!” I chuckled, feeling that everything was going as planned. “Record the readings so we can look them over later. Let’s proceed to the next phase! Kustov,” I continued, leaning forward in my chair. “Prepare for combat maneuvers. I want to test the ship’s agility at full combat simulation. Make a right turn and then fire the broadside cannons at Second Level!”

“Understood, My Sovereign.” He saluted and stepped to the wheel, his sharp gaze flicking across the Imaginary, determining the correct course. He began issuing orders to the crew, his voice calm but firm. “Helmsman! Prepare for full-speed ascent. Engineering! Bring the main core output to ninety percent. Weapons crews, hold fire and await new targets.”

The Camelot groaned softly as the main core adjusted its output. My people changed the needed runes within the ship’s body, affecting the spells and keeping us up in the air while moving. I could feel the shift, a subtle sensation of upward momentum as the Camelot began to climb. Through the Imaginary, I watched the valley fall away beneath us quickly as we started turning. The ship was faster than I expected, but I had a hunch that an Ishillian warship was more maneuverable than ours… So be it. We were stronger.

“Bring us around, starboard! Full ninety-degree turn!” Kustov barked his next order, making sure the ship was following my demands to the letter.

The bridge tilted ever so slightly as the Camelot’s body pivoted. The world outside spun with it, the horizon tilting as the ship executed a maneuver that should have been impossible for something of its size. I subconsciously gripped the armrests of my chair, my pulse quickening with exhilaration. All of this, for a brief moment, reminded me of my old life…

“Stabilization magic is holding,” an officer reported. “Minor energy fluctuations, but within acceptable limits.”

“Good. Target two: broadside cannons. Fire at will!”

The crew worked like an oiled machine. Orders were relayed, coordinates punched in, and within moments, the Camelot’s starboard cannons thundered. This time, the shaking of the ship was much more vigorous as dozens of bolts of magic streaked through the air, arcing slightly as they flew on their perfect trajectory. The second target—a similarly distant stone structure—shattered under the onslaught, exploding into a cloud of dust and rock. It was another complete obliteration.

“Direct hit!” Elena called out. “Target annihilated!”

“Core strain nominal. The secondary core is holding steady.” Arrived Merlin’s report right after.

"Good... Let's continue." I smiled, running through all the combat scenarios I had planned for today.

The tests continued for over an hour. The Camelot climbed, dived, and rolled across the clouded sky like an apex predator testing its strength. Its cannons glowed, and their screams echoed throughout the land with every maneuver, flashes of fire blasting through the faraway targets with a precision that even I hadn’t dared hope for. The toll on the cores was monitored carefully, with Merlin barking occasional warnings through the radio when the secondary core neared its operational limits. It turns out that if we use the highest output, pushing the cannons to hit Level 4, it finally disrupts the main core's function, causing the ship to become unresponsive for multiple seconds. Which could mean life or death in a sticky situation.

On the other hand, the gunpowder-backed cannons, loaded and aimed by a regular crew at their station, had much milder results. They performed as I expected, missing most of their shots and falling short of the distance the Dragonfire Cannons were capable of. My fledgling canoneeers needed more training, and Kustov will give them that. Until then, I made sure that they knew I wasn’t angry or disappointed. We still need to refine them anyway, so all was good! But… there was one more thing.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, bathing the by-now snow-covered land in hues of orange and crimson, I called for the final test.

“Prepare the main weapon,” I said quietly, my voice carrying an edge of finality. As for what it was, most of the crew were kept in the dark. What they knew was that it was another weapon installed in the bow, facing directly forward.

Still… The bridge fell silent. Even Kustov hesitated, turning to glance at me with an unspoken question. I told him what it was on the day I finalized his rank as the captain of my flying fortress.

“Only a low-powered beam,” I clarified, my eyes fixed on the horizon. “I need to see it in action.”

“Weapons team, prepare the Sovereign’s weapon.” Kustov nodded slowly as Elena stepped forward, entirely in the know because I allowed Merlin to tell her everything. I was not about to risk my little brother's love life with secrets. Plus... This way, she is now tied to my war chariot in earnest. She saluted when I voiced my order and took over, personally arming and aiming it. Her hands moved cautiously, entering the activation sequences with an audible gulp. “Ready, Sovereign.”

I also was a bit nervous… This won’t be like Mikan’s test, as it would be powered by a monster’s inner core. A CC of the greatest proportions and with refined cosmic energy. I gripped the hidden controls in my chair, feeling a strange weight settle over my consciousness. This weapon was a no-return point in warfare.

“Target: Mountain Ridge. Fire.” I exhaled, pressing down on it.

The ship trembled as the magic surge rushed through its structure, and our death ray fired. Unlike the cannons, it was a single beam—brighter, sharper, and deafening in its silence. It was visible not to the naked eye but to the Imaginary. From the outside, it was as if nothing had happened… But I watched as it cut through the air like a sword, striking the distant ridge. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, the ridge exploded. A shockwave of force rippled outward, sending avalanches cascading down the mountainside in a fury of snow and rock. I watched as the snow on it was vaporized and turned to steam in an instant, resulting in its rapid expansion, hence the explosion. The sudden heat was followed by a low rumble, as an avalanche came down right after it, burying our testing field completely.

“Core strain… ninety-eight percent,” Merlin’s voice crackled through the radio. “Cutting power now.” As he spoke, the beam faded, and silence returned to the bridge. With a nervous smile, I exhaled slowly, and the grip that I was exerting on my armrests also relaxed.

“Crew,” I said, my voice soft but carrying across the stunned bridge. “All the tests are up to my satisfaction. Good work, everyone.”

“Yes, My Sovereign,” Kustov replied, his tone full of quiet awe.

I just nodded as I sat back in my chair, staring out at the darkening horizon. The Camelot hovered silently, the snow-covered valley below scarred by its power. Winter had come, and I was sure that just a low-level beam could finish off a monster if it hit it. But… with only a few seconds of firing and at only the lowest output… Merlin already had to cut it. Oh boy! Mikan, my dear, you created something that we can’t fully utilize… yet.