Project Mage

The blizzard that had enveloped the battlefield momentarily abated, allowing everyone to see the source of the gunshot. Dr. Kintovar stood there, a massive yet handheld high-tech weapon labeled “BG-356” in her grip. Her orange hair cascaded down her back, contrasting boldly with her pigtails that swayed with her every step. Her lab coat, impeccably white, draped over her curvaceous figure, and underneath it, a red shirt hinted at her fiery nature. Black pants clung to her legs, exuding an aura of professionalism. She always wore her pink headphones and sunglasses, a trademark look that made her stand out.

Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle stared at Dr. Kintovar in disbelief. Her appearance in the midst of the blizzard was unexpected, and the powerful weapon in her hands left them momentarily speechless.

Dr. Kintovar’s gaze shifted from her creations to Aliana, her face unreadable behind her sunglasses. With deliberate steps, she approached Aliana, her weapon still trained on her target. The blizzard’s fury seemed to bend and dissipate around her, as if even nature itself recognized her authority.

Aliana, weakened from her use of the “Absolute Glacial Embrace” technique, could only watch as Dr. Kintovar closed the distance between them.

Stunned and filled with fear, Aliana stammered as she tried to speak Dr. Kintovar’s name.

“Dr... Dr. Kintovar?” She managed to utter, her eyes locked onto the imposing figure before her.

Dr. Kintovar remained silent as her high-tech weapon charged for the next devastating shot. Without warning, it fired with a deafening roar, and the projectile struck Aliana with searing intensity. Pain coursed through her body, and she screamed in agony as the powerful attack overwhelmed her.

The attack subsided. Aliana’s silver hair returned to its natural blue color, and she was left lying on the ground, weakened and defenseless. Her sword lost it’s power and the forest returned back to normal.

Dr. Kintovar finally spoke and she carried a cold and calculating tone. She looked down at the fallen Aliana. “Does it hurt, Aliana?” she inquired, “I want you to remember something. Remember all those scientists who died at the hands of your precious academy.”

Her orange hair framed her face as she continued, “They were brilliant minds, each one of them. And yet, they were destroyed by the very institution they served. Blamed for crimes they didn’t commit, and every little problem that occurred involving something they didn’t understand. I was the only survivor. Do you want to know why?”

Aliana lay on the ground, pain coursing through her body as she listened to Dr. Kintovar’s cold and taunting words. She struggled to respond. She was weak and trembling. “Why...” she managed to croak, her eyes locked onto Dr. Kintovar.

Dr. Kintovar’s lips curled into a sinister smile as she leaned closer to Aliana. “Because, my dear Aliana,” she hissed, “I am the true genius among them. I am the one who unlocked the secrets they couldn’t fathom. Take for instance this weapon. The BG-356. It’s my 356th gun.”

Dr. Kintovar’s gloating continued as she explained the capabilities of her weapon, the BG-356. Her eyes gleamed with a twisted pride as she revealed its secrets.

“You see, Aliana,” she began, “the BG-356 isn’t just any weapon. It’s a marvel of technology, a fusion of magic and machinery. With it, I can stand toe to toe with the most formidable students of the Magic Academy, despite my lack of magical abilities.”

She gestured to the weapon in her hands, its sleek design and high-tech components evident. “This weapon harnesses the very magic that flows through this island,” she continued. “It absorbs the mana, amplifies it, and converts it into devastating energy. With the BG-356, I can match the power of the most skilled mages, and even surpass them.”

Dr. Kintovar’s orange hair glinted. She paced around Aliana. “While your academy relies on archaic magic, I have embraced the future. This world doesen’t belong in the hands of mages. You see, only a genius is capable of ruling the world. I will purge you... all of you that stand in my way. ”

Aliana, despite her weakened state, summoned her remaining strength to respond to Dr. Kintovar. “You’re insane, Kintovar,” she spat out, her breath labored. “Your thirst for power has consumed you. Using technology to manipulate magic, causing destruction, and taking innocent lives... It’s madness!”

Dr. Kintovar’s twisted smile didn’t waver as she responded to Aliana’s accusation. “Madness?” she retorted, “What’s truly mad is clinging to outdated notions of magic when technology can achieve so much more. You and your precious Magic Academy have been draining the life force of this island, siphoning mana from the Mystic Forest with your Mana Extractors.”

She pointed an accusatory finger at Aliana. “So, tell me, Aliana, who is truly in the right here? Is it the academy that has been leeching the lifeblood of this island, or is it the one who seeks to harness its power and reshape the world for the better?”

Dr. Kintovar’s cold, analytical tone continued as she delved deeper. “Have you ever considered, Aliana,” she asked, “that by allowing the academy to continue draining the mana from this island, you’re inadvertently leading it to its demise? The Mystic Forest is a source of life for this place, and its magic sustains everything.”

Aliana’s eyes widened at the realization. “But….there must be another way,” she protested weakly. “We can’t simply let technology take over and destroy the balance of this world!”

Dr. Kintovar chuckled darkly, her orange hair cascading over her shoulders. “Ah, but you see, Aliana,” she replied, “The academy’s actions and your own deeds have pushed this world to the brink of chaos. The incident with the robotic creature was the catalyst for change. The academy’s brutality in dealing with the scientists only fueled my resolve.”

Dr. Kintovar’s remained cold and calculating. “Aliana, who was it that ordered the execution of all the scientists who were involved in the creation of that robotic creature?”

She let the question hang in the air for a moment before pressing on. “And who ordered the capture and execution of all individuals in the Mystic Forest who possessed no magic at all? Wasn’t it the Headmaster of your precious Magic Academy?”

Dr. Kintovar’s questions were relentless, each one driving home her point. “Tell me, Aliana,” she continued, “did you believe in these orders? Did you obey them without question, even when they went against your sense of morality? Or let me guess, you don’t have any, do you? You are as they say ‘cold’.”

Aliana’s resolve began to crumble under the weight of Dr. Kintovar’s accusations. She was broken shen she came to realize...

'Kintovar is right!'

She stammered, her eyes filled with a fear. She began to realized her faults. “I... I... I didn’t...” She struggled to find the words to even speak.

Tears welled up in Aliana’s eyes. She continued to stammer, “I... I didn’t question... I... I just followed orders... I didn’t think... I didn’t... I...why...did I..just...”

Dr. Kintovar shook her head with a look that was full of of sorrow, yet determined “The sense of morality has all but disappeared,” she said. “Your precious academy, the very institution you once served, executed some of my friends and fellow scientists without mercy. They even turned on those who were innocent, those who had no magic powers. Can you understand the depth of the cruelty, Aliana?”

Kintovar’s words hung heavily in the air, and Aliana could feel the truth of her words pressing down on her.

"You should understand now why I won’t hesitate to finish you,” she declared. “You represent everything that’s wrong with the world, Aliana. Blind obedience to authority, a disregard for the lives of others. I have no sympathy left for your kind.”

Dr. Kintovar raised the BG-356, her weapon charged with deadly energy, she locked eyes with Aliana one final time. “Goodbye, Aliana,” she said with sadness in her tone.

The lethal energy blasted out towards towards Aliana. Time seemed to stretch, and despair threatened to consume her. But just before the deadly strike could reach its target, Gaiza stepped in with incredible speed and agility. With a powerful surge of her dual affinities—water and wind—she managed to grab hold of Aliana, shielding her from the impending doom.

Dr. Kintovar’s orange hair cascaded around her, unyielding as her weapon’s destructive energy crackled in the air. She didn’t show any remorse or hesitation in that moment.

Gaiza held Aliana protectively. “How dare you, Dr.Kintovar,” she shouted, her blue hair whipping in the wind. “You have no right to harm Princess Aliana!”

“Princess Aliana?” She narrowed her eyes at Gaiza and Aliana. “You’re still clinging to that title and identity for her, are you?”

“She is Princess Aliana, and she will always be my Princess. You can’t erase who she is!”

Dr. Kintovar’s eyes bore into Gaiza. “Next time,” she hissed, “I won’t miss.”

With a swift motion, she activated the BG-356′s lock-on mode, and the weapon began to transform before their eyes. It shifted and reconfigured, taking on a more menacing appearance. The air around it surged with energy as it prepared for another devastating attack.

Gaiza gently lowered Aliana to the ground, her eyes filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Princess Aliana,” she whispered, “I have to do this to keep you safe. Please forgive me.”

With a swift and fluid motion, Gaiza summoned a massive torrent of water with her Aqua Blade re-appearing in her hands, the very essence of her dual affinities—water and wind. The water surged forth, creating an overwhelming wave that cascaded toward Dr. Kintovar and her menacing weapon.

The torrent of water crashed into the area, creating chaos and obscuring visibility with its sheer force. It served as a powerful distraction, allowing Gaiza to grab Aliana and make a hasty escape from the battlefield.

As they retreated from the battlefield and the looming threat of Dr. Kintovar, Gaiza whispered to Aliana, “We need to get you somewhere safe, Princess. Somewhere far away from Kintovar...I doubt the magic academy will be safe, but…”

Dr. Kintovar watched frustration as Gaiza and Aliana made their escape through the chaotic torrent of water. She knew that pursuing them in this situation would be futile, and her BG-356, now transformed into a menacing weapon, was no longer needed.

With an exasperated sigh, she began to disassemble the weapon with calculated precision. Piece by piece, it reverted to its original form, which she secured safely in a compact case. Despite her apparent comical appearance as she packed up her weapon, her resolve remained unshaken.

“So what if you escaped this time,” she muttered to herself, her orange hair framing her face.

As the torrent of water gradually subsided and the battlefield began to clear, Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle cautiously approached Dr. Kintovar.

Dr. Kintovar turned to face them, her orange hair flowing behind her. She places her hands on her hips and smiles while turning to her creations “Well, well, It seems you three have been quite busy.”

Risebelle spoke first. “Kintovar,” she began cautiously, “I didn’t expect to see you on the battlefield like this...”

Dr. Kintovar’s lips curled into a smile as she regarded her creations. “Yes, Risebelle, you see, sometimes, in order to win the game, you must change the rules. Aliana is no ordinary mage. She’s a Sword God, and she possesses a power that I find... intriguing. Her final ability was unexpected to see on my way here.”

Runebelle, who had been silently observing the conversation, finally spoke up, with concern. “Doctor, we got into some problems” she said her blue and pink hair swaying as she spoke. “Roselle and Risebelle are injured. We managed to disable two of the mana extractors, but there are still five more to deal with.”

Dr. Kintovar’s gaze shifted to her creations in thought.

“Injured, you say?” she mused, her orange hair cascading down her back. “Well, that won’t do. We can’t have you all in such a state.”

With practiced efficiency, Dr. Kintovar retrieved the medical box from a mini-bag attached to her side.

“As for the remaining mana extractors,” she began, “we will deal with them in due time. For now, it’s important that you all recover and regroup. We have much work ahead of us. Aliana was only the beginning.”