Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart had a tradition spanning over two hundred years. As an autonomous territory in itself, the academy was effectively a fortified stronghold. Surrounded by tall walls and protected by seven squads of guards, every professor was a highly capable magus of Machinart, and the students were elite individuals handpicked from various countries.
The sheer power housed within the academy was immense—obvious to anyone who gave it a moment's thought.
And on top of that, this was the year, during which the Night Party, a quadrennial event, was being held. As a result, everything from legendary antique Automaton Dolls to the latest models produced by various workshops had gathered here. Once commanded by skilled puppeteers, the power they could unleash rivaled that of a national army of machinart magi.
Not to mention, the most powerful magus of the 19th century resided here.
With such a force, even major world powers would think twice before making any moves.
So then, who could've ever imagined—
That this very academy would fall so easily today?
"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa————!"
As this piercing sonic pressure spread out like a shockwave, enveloping the entire academy, nearly ninety percent of the Automaton Dolls lost control in an instant.
"Wait!"
"What is happening...!?"
"Stop!"
"Come back!"
"Ahhhhhhhhh...!"
In that moment, students scattered across the academy—some chatting while walking with their Automaton Dolls, others attending lessons—were all thrown into disarray. The Automaton Dolls suddenly went berserk. Some lashed out indiscriminately, others activated their Magic Circuits and began unleashing spells on those nearby, plunging the campus into chaos.
In their panic, students attempted to pour mana into their Automatons to regain control, only to have that mana absorbed and used by the Automatons to attack their own masters.
Within moments, screams and cries of pain echoed through the school buildings, and the streets outside were gripped by the same turmoil.
The berserk Automatons attacked their masters and everything around them in a frenzy. Students fell one after another, seriously injured. Those who remained on their feet were paralyzed by fear and fled, unable to put up any resistance.
The situation shocked many.
After all, something similar had happened just over two months ago in the City of Machinart.
Back then, the Black Prince Edmund had triggered a large-scale disaster using an Automaton Doll named Evangeline, which he had obtained from the genius Professor Ionela Eliade. This Automaton was equipped with Multi-Controller and Infinite Chain Reaction.
Multi-Controller—a magic that could override Eve's Heart and seize control of Automaton Dolls via song-induced manipulation.
With this magic, amplified by the theoretically limitless power of Infinite Chain Reaction, Edmund turned all the Automatons in the City of Machinart into his army and let them run rampant in Liverpool.
Now, the same scenario was happening again.
"How could this be...!?"
"Is there another Automaton equipped with Multi-Controller...!?"
"Impossible!"
One professor after another stood in stunned disbelief.
But what truly left them dumbfounded came afterward.
As the Automatons ran amok, and students fled in terror, a group of black-clad individuals suddenly emerged from all directions, accompanied by panther-like Automaton Dolls. They began their assault.
Controlled by magi, each black panther opened its jaws and fired blasts of violet plasma.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions rang out as the plasma struck buildings, electricity surging along the outer walls. The stone structures reddened like toast, bloated, and burst apart.
It was as if bombers were laying siege to the academy. One building after another was destroyed and set ablaze, turning the campus into a warzone cloaked in black smoke.
The destructive power of the plasma was immense. Each hit caused massive explosions.
That's because the spell in question wasn't Fireball or Thermal Pile—it was a far more advanced magic known as Fusion Explosion.
As its name suggests, this spell harnessed the energy produced by nuclear fusion of atomic particles, unleashing immense energy and explosions.
In magical terms, it was a magic-based bomb.
Under these magical bombs, the hallowed halls of this centuries-old bastion of Machinart were reduced to rubble with a single blow, each building destroyed one after another.
Professors, lecturers, guards, and students who witnessed this scene tried to resist—but their Automatons wouldn't respond. The panthers continued to spew plasma, and explosion after explosion tore through the academy, mixing with human screams in a hellish cacophony.
Even the black-clad assailants displayed exceptional combat skills—some drew daggers, others wielded magical tools, attacking either through close combat or magic. They cut down anyone they encountered, ruthless and unrelenting.
Before long, many puppeteers lay in pools of blood, unable to move.
And still the black-clad group rampaged, destroying everything, utterly unrestrained.
The Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart had become a battlefield engulfed in smoke and flame.
The chaos only continued to escalate.
"...This is bad."
Within the headmaster's residence, the headmaster wore a bitter expression as he watched the scene unfold.
Beside him, only his secretary Avril remained.
But Avril had already collapsed.
From a witch's attack.
"Found you, brat."
Astrid Seth laughed aloud, appearing with her lion-shaped Automaton Doll.
"...It's been a while, Lady Astrid. You really haven't changed at all," the Principal said with a hoarse chuckle.
"You're just as irritating as ever," Astrid said cheerfully. "Thirty years ago, you stole the grimoire of Lemegeton from me. Fifteen years ago, you interfered in my plans on the Dark Continent. Now, you've been hailed as the strongest of the 19th century by using the power you stole from me—and yet, even Lemegeton has been taken from you. I'm sure you knew this day would come?"
"...It is indeed saddening." The Principal sighed. "This is the most catastrophic event since the academy's founding. Well, perhaps it's my karma."
"Oh? So you do have a conscience?" Astrid sneered. "So what now? Are you going to surrender? Or resist? Without Lemegeton, do you think you can beat me?"
The Principal glanced at the lion-shaped Automaton behind Astrid and gave a bitter smile.
"If Lady Golden Rose didn't have that Automaton, I might've stood a chance. As things are... I'd better surrender obediently."
With that, the Principal raised both hands.
"Good. I like that you know your place."
Astrid smiled—and raised her hand.
Black miasma began to ripple in the air.