When Tiran first stepped into the lobby of the Magitech Research Center building, the lights in the entire hall began to flicker rapidly in red. All the magic crystal screens displayed the words "evacuation" in unison. Various types of research staff scrambled towards the exits, with only occasional guards pushing against the flow towards the entrance.

"What's going on?" Chip was bewildered, narrowly avoiding being knocked over by the crowd, but his glasses were still askew.

Level one intrusion alert? Is someone really daring enough to invade the research center?

The continuous vibrations from the underground had already provided the answer, and it was definitely not an ordinary intruder.

"Just received a message from Aya. That guy Hermes is not dead yet. He should be down there causing havoc with some giant contraption," Tiran explained, pointing downwards from behind a column.

"What? Wait... Your Highness, are you saying that guy from the labyrinth is still alive?" Beinrich widened his eyes in disbelief. Damn it, if I had known, I wouldn't have returned the sword so quickly.

Besides, that huge weapon-like thing is definitely not something an ordinary human like myself can handle, right? Only those Silver War Maidens or similarly monstrous beings would have the strength to fight against it...

Beinrich regretted taking on such a job.

Chip also showed a surprised expression. "Hermes isn't dead? And there's a magical puppet too? This..."

The situation was definitely very bad. The groundbreaking Magitech weapon's formidable power in combat was beyond doubt. Chip had also witnessed the battle scenes of the magical puppet in the underground dungeon ruins through live broadcasts, and it was definitely a weapon strong enough to crush all existing Magitech weapons. And from the situation in the research facility now, perhaps the only one with the power to fight back was the experimental prototype number one still in the testing phase.

- Of course, Chip was unaware that their own superweapon had already been destroyed by someone's sword.

But... if there's a chance to observe such a legendary-level Magitech creation up close...

"Hey hey, that expression on your face definitely doesn't look like it's up to no good!" Tiran mocked with a black line on his face. Toxic, clearly it was a disastrous situation. Besides surprise, Chip, being the tech geek that he was, had a face filled with anticipation and obsession.

No hope for this child. Tech geeks really aren't normal people.

"Um, sorry," Chip quickly wiped away the expression of a lovesick girl meeting her idol, coughed twice, "But with Your Highness Tiran here, it shouldn't be difficult to defeat Hermes, right?"

"I don't mind," Tiran crossed his arms and hummed twice, pointing at the ground, "It depends on whether you guys are willing or not. After all, this is your turf. If it can't be controlled and the place gets destroyed, you guys will be the ones with the headache."

That seems to make sense... At Tiran's level of power, if the aftermath of a battle couldn't be controlled, it would harm innocent bystanders. Not to mention starting a fight in a research facility representing top Magitech technology. It could easily destroy a laboratory worth millions and millions of gold coins, along with years of research.

"Speaking of that," Shuma pointed to the area where the crowd had dispersed, now lit up in red by the lights, "It seems like we can't go that way anymore."

Under level one alert, all modes of transportation such as elevators were completely shut down, similar to when there's a fire...

Tiran covered his face and instinctively looked for the stairwell based on his experience on Earth. However, the metal door to the stairwell was also locked. It was probably designed to prevent innocent people from being involved during a level one alarm. But now, this design had inadvertently blocked the person who might actually be able to help.

Looking at the intricate Magic lock, Tiran felt a sense of disbelief. It was with this thing that he had tricked Aya before, and now it was blocking him instead.

"I... you all need to step back a bit," Tiran said.

Taking a deep breath, Tiran slowly drew his sword from his waist and pointed it at the heavy alloy security door. A cluster of ice blue flames ignited deep in his pupils.

..............

If a monster movie was being filmed in the courtyard of the research center right now, the guards of the institute would probably be playing the role of cannon fodder before Ultraman appeared, fearlessly and angrily sacrificing their lives as they piloted fighter jets.

Despite being the first-class strong army defending the country's borders on the West Continent, they were completely crushed by a magical puppet.

After the magical armor was scrapped, the guards automatically began launching magic bullets without the need for commands. However, this time Hermes was no longer passively taking hits. With its heavily reinforced body, it withstood various attacks and retaliated with more than ten large-caliber magic guns popping out all over its body.

The caliber of the magic guns mounted on the magical puppet was many times larger than the ones in the hands of the guards who were limited by individual conditions such as weight issues. Although the density of firepower couldn't compare, the energy intensity completely overwhelmed the seemingly terrifying barrage.

Especially the Empyrean Heavy Cannon on its back, every shot caused the entire courtyard to tremble.

That was the true strength of the magical puppet. It might not necessarily win in a one-on-one battle against a true powerhouse like Aya, but on the battlefield, its invincible body and indestructible magitech firepower were enough to crush any army.

"Hmm, this thing is already so abnormal. If it absorbs Chirp, who knows what kind of monster it will become..." Even Aya, who had destroyed a magical puppet before, couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

The magical power density of this thing was already comparable to that of a ninth-level Grand Magician. If it advanced even further... even if it couldn't create a god, it might still be able to touch the Holy Rank.

Lowering her head and looking at the beast-eared loli sleeping soundly in her arms, Aya swallowed her saliva. You really caused a lot of trouble, little one.

In the control room overseeing the entire situation on the top floor, chaos had already ensued.

"The third and fourth units are completely wiped out. The seventh unit requests retreat!"

"The remaining three... no, two rotating magitech turrets have been completely destroyed!" The guard in charge of controlling the high-level turrets reported the damage situation while sweating profusely.

As someone who had spent several years in this facility, Hermes was well aware of the entire defense system and knew that the guards' ordinary magitech guns couldn't damage his own body. The real threat was only the heavy magitech turrets.

But these fixed turrets were just targets to the agile and maneuverable magical puppet. So within less than three minutes of the renewed battle, all thirty turrets within range were demolished.

"More than half of the sixth unit is injured. They request retreat!"

"There's no need to report casualties anymore, I can see it!" Heffy pressed on his temple, his face distorted as he stared intently at Hermes, who was rapidly destroying all defensive forces.

The turrets... damn it. Besides those, do we have any other weapons that can threaten it? The high-energy magitech cannons in the arsenal? They can't be transported without tracks... The anti-magic series... can't be used with swords, crossbow machines... no, they haven't been produced yet.

This is probably the downside of focusing on magitech technology. Most powerful countries have one or two hidden guardians, such as Holy Rank or legendary heroes with titles. These strong individuals have a deterrent power similar to nuclear bombs, like how Tiran, after obtaining the title of Dragon Slayer, was recognized as the guardian of Milanía by various nations.

The problem is that Sainz doesn't have someone like that. That's one of the reasons why a certain playboy tried to recruit Aya after witnessing her strength. It's like a country having top-notch conventional arms and economic strength but lacking nuclear weapons. It's manageable during peacetime, but once it falls into conflict or encounters a strong invading enemy, it becomes extremely troublesome.

At this moment, the artillery fire below ceased.

The defense force was almost completely wiped out, and the scene had turned into a situation where the magitech puppets were climbing up while continuously firing. The defenders were only left with the task of rescuing the wounded.

With Hermes' ceasefire, the scene suddenly fell into an eerie silence, occasionally interrupted by the moans of the injured.

"Heffy." Hermes' voice came through the loudspeaker, with a hint of urgency, "We have somewhat worked together before, and you can consider me as your junior, so I'll give you another chance."

"A chance?" Even though Heffy knew Hermes couldn't hear his muttered words, he couldn't help but ask.

But Hermes ignored him and stood firmly on a heavy suspended rail spanning the courtyard, slowly straightening his seven-meter-tall metallic body.

"Young lady, hand over what you have."

"Tsk…" Aya finally sighed in resignation. It seems she would have to take matters into her own hands.

Although she held a grudge against Sainz because of a certain unpleasant experience, the fact that he suffered unjustly because of her made it somewhat balanced… Well, let's say she dug a hole for him. If she just walked away like this, it would be a betrayal of her conscience.

—Well, it means I'm a good dragon, much better than a certain unscrupulous princess.

Her mana hadn't fully recovered yet, but she had no choice but to charge ahead. Don't underestimate the Golden Dragon, you bastard! Even if it's bare-handed, I can still dismantle that Gundam for you to see!

"You old pervert, look this way!"

After settling Chirp in its hiding spot behind her, Aya raised her hand and threw a punch through the air without any reservations. The engulfing golden flame collided with Hermes' mana shield like a shooting star, exploding upon impact.

"You're quite resilient…"

Clenching her fist, Aya stood on the half-destroyed platform outside the hiding spot and looked down on Hermes from above.