Splitting one magitech core into dozens of relatively independent yet mutually interfering sections. The very center piece would house a single standard magi-spirit as the main spirit, while the remaining ninety-nine parts would each hold weaker magi-spirits serving as sub-spirits.
Of course, to be more precise, only that main spirit was truly fused with the magitech core itself. The other sub-spirits were merely accessories lodged in the added components, used solely to condense authority.
It was precisely for this reason that, when a pilot drove a Throne Knight, only the one main spirit was under complete control. The other ninety-nine sub-spirits had to be commanded and mastered through the pilot’s own will.
Thanks to the principles that a Magitech Knight’s startup connected its soul directly to the pilot’s—projecting the soul onto the machine so the steel body replaced flesh—and that any symbiotic magi-spirit inside the core would link with the pilot’s soul to assist, the moment the pilot activated the core, their soul would instantly connect with the main spirit.
At the same time, the system modeled after the Night God Throne inside the core would begin commanding the power of the other magi-spirits to condense authority.
The difference between the Throne System and the Divine Throne System was this: the Divine Throne System existed as only one, and its essence was Ye Xu’s own soul. The power of the Eternal Night Knights that used the Divine Throne System came from within the Night God Throne itself. The divine-emissary-level magi-spirit inside each machine served merely as an authorized port. The entire machine was one unified whole.
Whenever the pilot needed it, an Eternal Night Knight could instantly use its authority to twist laws, converting them into mana that was transmitted to the pilot’s side and reconstructed. Power obtained by creating magi-spirits and guiding them—this was the Divine Throne.
Anyone recognized by the divine-emissary-level magi-spirit inside an Eternal Night Knight could pilot it unconditionally and wield the authority of the Night God Throne. At the very least, they would possess the might to fight a hundred alone.
The Throne System was different. Multiple units could exist, yet piloting a Throne Knight and drawing out its full power came with strict conditions. Its power originated from within itself; the pilot had to command the magi-spirits inside the core and dominate their collective might—this was the Throne.
If left unmanned, no one would command the magi-spirits or condense authority; only the main spirit would be willing to work. In that state, it would be no different from ordinary Radiant Sun Type-14s or Night Guard-types that used Machine Soul Cores.
Remote law manipulation or summoning effects to the pilot’s side would also be impossible.
But if the pilot failed to earn the recognition of every magi-spirit inside, authority still could not form. Although there would be some extra boost, the difference from ordinary models would not be huge.
Just like their names suggested.
Eternal Night Knights were the knights of the Night God Throne. Their cores were the twelve divine-emissary magi-spirits that held administrative rights within the system—servants and knights of a god. As long as one possessed sufficient talent and guaranteed loyalty, they could pilot one.
The machines that used the Throne System, however, Ye Xu called Throne Knights.
Though their strength was inferior to Eternal Night Knights, their power came entirely from within and would never be controlled or restricted by the Night God Throne System.
One main spirit and ninety-nine sub-spirits—altogether one hundred magi-spirits—would combine according to the nature of the pilot’s soul and mana, along with the machine’s own traits and those of the ninety-nine sub-spirits, forming a wide variety of highly personal, completely unique authorities.
Yet the same rule applied: merely having talent and strength was not enough to pilot a Throne Knight. Only those who could truly command all the magi-spirits and condense authority while driving the machine would qualify. To call them mere servants, attendants, or knights would be an understatement. It would not be exaggerated to say they possessed the potential to become kings.
This was Ye Xu’s test for Anlor. If one day in the future she could completely master this machine and condense its authority, then she would be worthy of his nurturing. If she lacked the talent, the machine’s special nature would forever remain hidden from her. In that case, he would simply have given her an ordinary Night Guard-type, and he would consider it his own misjudgment.
He remembered the time when he had first designed the Throne Knights. It had been the final stage of the rebellion war, when the dawn of victory was already visible on the horizon.
Inside the rebel base, he, the Eternal Night Knights, and the rebel army’s upper echelons had spoken freely about their vision for the future, discussing their hopes for the nation that was about to be born.
Ye Xu had viewed the Throne Knights as the kingdom’s guardian artifacts.
In the original plan, the nation would adopt a system of Sage Kings and a parliament. Ye Xu would serve as the first—and only—centralized Sage King for roughly ten to thirty years. Once the country was fully stable and began steady development, he would voluntarily step down.
Together with the Eternal Night Knight Order, he would retire to the shadows, supervising and protecting the nation’s growth.
At that time, the seven Throne Knights built at great cost, along with their accompanying knight order, would be brought to the forefront by him.
Anyone capable of fully piloting a Throne Knight and wielding its authority would qualify to become one of the seven Sage Kings who held the parliament’s highest power.
Only…
The ideal that had once been within reach had now turned to ashes, nothing more than a beautiful dream.
Back then, even Ye Xu himself could never have imagined that the very first Throne Knight would be born at a time like this, in a place like this…
“Heh.”
A faintly sarcastic chuckle escaped his lips, and Ye Xu’s hands paused for a moment.
Staring at his own palms, the scenes from that dungeon seemed to rise before his eyes once more.
During the bloodline purification ritual, assisted by alchemical potions and the purification array, the substance was slowly poured into his body. In that long, agonizing period, he had gradually transformed into a form he no longer recognized—one he utterly loathed.
If only he had been a little steadier back then, or a little more ruthless, if he had gritted his teeth and built two more Eternal Night Knights, or if he had left Navila or one of the others to guard him…
With the twelfth-generation’s thinned bloodline, as long as the emperor himself did not make direct contact, he could never have been fully controlled. The Night God Throne System would have reacted in time.
But…
In the end, he had still lost.
Whoosh~
The evening wind howled. Ye Xu suddenly snapped back to the present.
When he turned his head and layered a perspective magic over his eyes, he saw that the hangar was already empty. A crescent moon hung high in the sky.
Clang
Because of his movement, a nearby component shifted and nearly fell from the rack onto the floor below.
Ye Xu quickly caught it, then patted his own face.
Lady Nal’s and Simar’s faces rose in his mind once more.
“Yes… everything has already passed. It’s time to start a new life…”
As the guardian artifact of the nation he had once dreamed of—the ideal born from his suffering and struggle, the heavy weapon he had placed so many hopes upon—the Throne Knight carried too much of Ye Xu’s passion and expectation.
It was the symbol of the people advancing toward the future on their own strength, without relying on outside forces—including him—grasping laws and wielding authority.
That was why, now that he was truly creating it, he had become overly sentimental.
He was not supposed to be the kind of person who lingered in the past with such melancholy.
“Gotta hurry, or I’ll be nodding off in class tomorrow.”
Ye Xu pressed his temples, removed his gloves, and rubbed his eyes. Then he slapped his cheeks, scattering the unpleasant thoughts.
He had already overcome so many hardships. What was one more? The fact that he was willing to revive this Throne Knight technology—which he had once decided to seal away forever—wasn’t that proof of his resolve?
The calm and composure born of tenacity grew even stronger in his eyes. Ye Xu resumed his work.
“Components modified… done.”
“Next, insert the magi-spirits into the main-spirit and sub-spirit parts… hiss, these little things are still misbehaving. Are they really that reluctant to leave the Night God Throne?”
“Hiss~ Little brats, let go! If you know what’s happening, it’s just moving to a new nest. Anyone who doesn’t would think I was about to slaughter you!”
“…”
“Mm, finally all inside. Now recombine them…”
“Success. Run a test. If there are no problems, all that’s left is to customize some armaments and modification parts to boost this machine’s performance.”
With that, Ye Xu opened the cockpit of the newly reborn “Infernal Prison”—now the first Throne Knight—and slipped inside.
The next instant, accompanied by the roar of mana, a blazing night-purple flame illuminated the midnight hangar.
No one knew that the Throne that should have vanished in the river of time had, at this very moment, descended upon the small Magic Academy.