Multiverse: Library

"Orga Lux…"

Kaiser's gaze trembled slightly as he looked at the glowing blade in his hand.

In this world, traditional cold weapons and firearms had long since been rendered obsolete.

The meteors from the Invertia had brought with them an unknown element—Mana. But beyond transforming humanity and giving birth to Genestella, Mana had also crystallized naturally into a rare mineral known as Manadyte.

This mineral had revolutionized countless scientific fields, but its most notable breakthrough was the development of Mana-conversion weapons, with Manadyte as their core.

These weapons were self-sustaining, requiring zero external resources. Once activated, the Manadyte within them would materialize pre-programmed elemental constructs, transforming Mana into tangible weapons—beams, blades, arrows, bullets, and more.

These weapons were called Lux.

Lux weapons could have their output and properties adjusted, and when inactive, they remained in their compact hilt form, making them highly convenient to carry. Their practicality had made them the dominant form of weaponry, even for civilians.

From self-defense tools to children's toys, Lux weapons had become so common that they were now a part of everyday life.

Naturally, in Asterisk—a city built for combat tournaments, home to six elite academies training Festa competitors—such an essential piece of equipment was standard issue.

All students enrolled in Asterisk's six academies were entitled to request a Lux from the school's Equipment Bureau, which would even customize and modify the weapon to suit their needs.

Right now, the weapon in Kaiser's hand was one such Lux.

And yet—

"————"

Gripping the hilt tightly, an indescribable sensation washed over him.

Before this, Kaiser had never wielded a weapon in his life.

The most he'd ever held were kitchen knives and fruit-cutting blades—maybe a pair of scissors or nail clippers at most.

Under normal circumstances, this should have felt foreign to him.

He should have had no clue how to use this weapon properly.

Yet, the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he did not feel unfamiliarity.

Instead—

He felt a sense of absolute mastery.

It was as if something within him was whispering—

"This weapon is an extension of your body."

"This weapon is an extension of your senses."

"You have already mastered it completely—you know exactly how to wield it."

"It is yours to command."

"Vmm—!"

Without thinking, Kaiser moved.

His eyes shut instinctively, his body slipping into a mysterious state.

His blade danced.

The Lux in his hands felt as natural as his own limbs, and his body followed without hesitation.

Though he had zero prior training, though this new body was merely younger and stronger, his movements were perfect.

He wielded the sword as if he had spent decades mastering the art.

"Vmm!" "Vmm!" "Vmm!"

As the energy blade vibrated, his strikes grew faster—sharper.

Light flashed.

Countless sword arcs wove together, forming an intricate storm of blades and slashes, an impenetrable web of lethal precision.

"Sching!" "Sching!" "Sching!"

His strikes carved deep grooves into the ground.

The flowers and grass of the courtyard swayed violently under the force of his sword wind.

"Boom!"

In the final stroke, Kaiser slashed forward with full force.

A shockwave erupted from the tip of his blade.

The entire courtyard floor was upheaved, the turf shredded into pieces as if sliced by countless razor-sharp swords.

Dust surged.

Dirt and stones flew.

The carefully trimmed grass was scattered like confetti, each blade sliced cleanly at the stem.

"D-Did I just… do this?"

Kaiser froze.

Still in his final stance, he stared at the devastation before him, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Then—

"What was that sound?"

"That was a huge impact—!"

"Is someone fighting?"

"Let's go check it out!"

As expected, his little 'experiment' had drawn attention.

Kaiser could already see figures rapidly approaching from the distance.

Without a second thought, he deactivated his Lux, making the energy blade disappear, leaving only the hilt.

Then—he bolted.

Luckily, he was fast enough.

By the time the approaching students arrived, the scene was already empty.

All that remained was a shredded courtyard, the aftermath of an unnatural sword wind, leaving the spectators murmuring in confusion.

—

"Haa…"

Elsewhere, Kaiser had escaped to another isolated corner of the campus, finally exhaling in relief.

But then—

"Wait. Why did I run?"

He smacked his forehead.

He had completely forgotten—

This was Asterisk.

A city where duels were part of daily life.

It was completely normal for students to fight each other—whether inside the academy or out in the city.

As a result, collateral damage was expected.

Not only were students rarely held accountable for property damage, but in most cases, they weren't even required to pay compensation.

Of course—this only applied if they had a valid reason for fighting.

"I was just practicing my swordplay in an open area. That should count, right?"

Shaking his head, Kaiser let the matter drop.

Instead, he focused on what had just happened.

Once again, he activated his Lux.

"So… that wasn't a fluke. It wasn't an illusion. It was real."

Gripping the hilt, Kaiser could confirm it now.

He had absolute mastery over any weapon he wielded.

No training required.

No effort needed.

Just by holding a weapon, his body would instinctively know how to use it in the most optimal way possible—perfectly and flawlessly.

"So this is what my Authority does?"

Excitement surged within him.

"No—this isn't all it can do."

He could feel it.

His Authority wasn't limited to just wielding weapons perfectly.

There was something more.

"I… I can make this weapon recognize me as its rightful owner?"

Through sheer intuition, Kaiser sensed the truth.

Just by holding a weapon, he could imprint his mark upon it, making it his personal weapon.

And if he did—

The weapon would become bound to him, responding only to his command.

It would grow stronger alongside him, increasing in power over time.

Even if broken, it could be stored within him, gradually self-repairing over time.

If lost, he could summon it back instantly, no matter where it was.

It would be impossible for anyone else to steal or use it.

"This… this is the true power of my Authority!"

Realizing this, Kaiser's mind raced.

But—

He did not bind the Lux in his hand.

This was just a standard-issue weapon.

Even if it had been custom-modified, it was nowhere near strong enough to be worth binding.

Now that he understood his power, there was no way he'd waste it on something so ordinary.

If he wanted to grow stronger quickly—

"I need a stronger, rarer, and far more powerful weapon."

With that thought, he turned toward the school building.

His destination was set.

"Looks like I'll have to pay a visit…"

Steeling his resolve, Kaiser put away his Lux and began walking.

Toward the Equipment Bureau.