Aaron was alarmed by the news as he quickly opened his device to know what was happening.

He recalls that the last time Wallace did a live broadcast of their battle, it ended really well as they have prepared a lot for their ambush…

They have damaged the enemy spacesh.i.p.s while barely getting damage in return.

They have acted in a very coordinated manner and swiftly executed their Mana Spells without mana obstruction.

This created a false belief to many people that their Magic or Mana Artifacts would work really well even if the Empire descended here…

This is the reason why Owl and Raven was thinking that it is not necessary to mobilize their Lucent Force's secret weapon.

However, if the topic is about the aliens or the foreign beings outside their world, he would only trust Wallace… The man who has achieved many incredible things in just a few years. 

"I just hope that this is within Wallace's plans."

Right now, they can see that Excellence and Providence are exchanging fire against the 10 Invader Spacesh.i.p.s from the Empire. 

However, on top of them was the destroyed Omen IV that was previously acting as the flagship of their fleet…

As for the previous Black Sovereign Starship filled with Mech Frames, they are nowhere to be seen as they've detonated themselves and brought the Arians with them…

Boom! Boom!

The battle is continuing even if they've lost a crucial part of their team. 

'He's not giving up… What are you planning, Wallace? You're outnumbered…'

Aaron was trying to analyze the battle. If they have a strong Mana Spell or Mana Artifact they can use, they should've used it by now…

However, it appears that Wallace has something on his mind… 

'This is dangerous for them…'

"Owl, can we contact Veda?"

"Yes. He has given us a special device to communicate with them."

"Great, bring me the device. I need to speak with Veda."

Raven quickly called for someone to bring the device… It seems that their young master has something in his mind again.

Ever since he started playing the Alien Invasion game, he had shown impressive growth in his physical training and with his Arcane Link… He became even more fitted to be the next leader of this country's Lucent Force.

'However, if the Empire is really as strong as how Wallace pictured them, then it is probably normal to experience a setback fighting against them.'

Raven thought as he received the device from a worker in this underground base. 

Apparently, Veda has influenced their organization by a great deal… Even this base was due to Veda's suggestion "to maintain the secrecy of their untested weapons and other experiments" as per his words. 

Aside from that, the advancement of their facilities and research was also through the help of this mysterious database. So it is only normal that every worker here knows Veda. 

Of course, they were unable to speak with Veda before until the time when Aaron's father reached high-level access and got recognized by this being.

"Activate it…"

"Yes."

Aaron knows that there is nothing he can do to help Wallace in outer space. He knows that he can only watch and pray for him on the surface.

However, it would a completely different matter once the enemy descended here… His golden Mech Knight together with the Lucent Knights would create a huge impact against the Empire…

He must do whatever he can when that time comes.

[ Aaron Schmidt identied. ]

[ What business you have with me, the young master of the Lucent Force? ]

Aaron and the other two were still within the room where the golden Mech Knights are located when they opened the device to communicate with the database…

"Before that, may I know whether you're helping Wallace as well?"

[ Helping? Do you mean, right now while he's fighting against the Empire's Fleet? ] 

"Yes."

[ No. He has a good companion with him. Are you worried about him? I can help him if you want. ] 

"Eh? Really? Will you help him?"

[ Yes… However, I need a massive supply of Mana Practitioners. I preferred criminal magicians if you know some… Yes, I want people that wouldn't matter if they died. ]

Veda quickly replied as he listed the things he wanted. 

"Huh? What's with that request? What are you thinking?" 

Aaron was the one surprised after hearing this being's request. He had a bad feeling about this…

He wanted to ask whether Veda is conducting experimentation about humans but Raven pointed something out…

"Young Master, I don't think that you need to request this. If Veda is willing to help, he would already help Wallace… As you know, that man is an apprentice with the Grand Arcanist. He should have access to Veda or even if he doesn't have, Lacus, his senior apprentice would surely ask for Veda's assistance."

Raven quickly said.

[ Oh… ] 

Veda reacted. Nevertheless, he continued with his request. 

[ I know you have something to ask me and whatever it is, the price would be Mana Practitioners that doesn't have a complicated background. Someone who can just disappear in this world. ]

Veda didn't bother correcting Raven and continued with his request.

Aaron smiled wryly at this. It appears that Veda truly needed to have some Magicians he could experiment with…

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Young master, where are we getting them?"

"Don't worry about it, there are still a few magicians from the Z Company that we've captured in the previous siege…"

"Sigh~ I understand…"

[ Great! You will be a good leader for the next generation of Lucent Force. Now, go ahead and ask me anything you want. ] 

"I need to equip our Mech Knight with the 7th Generation Mana Artifact… Can you give us information on how to make it?"

[ Do you know anything about the 7th Gen? ]

"Not really. I only heard that it's powerful. I'm not even sure where the rumor came from, but I know that it is existing… So you have to tell me whatever information you have about it." Aaron replied.

He doesn't really know much so he decided to ask Veda. He also remained in this room to show the Mech Knight where he is planning to install the Mana Artifact if possible.

But if the rumor is false, he'll probably just be content with the 6th Generation that they've already arranged.

[ I understand. To tell you the truth, the lives of those Magicians that I've requested will be used to create the 7th Generation Mana Artifact. ] 

"What?!"

It is not just Aaron, even the two other members of the Lucent Force were surprised to hear such words from Veda.

What kind of Artifact Forging requires the life of magicians? Is this some kind of cult that requires human sacrifice?

[ I'm telling the truth. So you have to give me three Magicians in exchange for that information. ]

"Young master… This…"

"I know, Raven… Do not tell anyone about this… Anyway, Veda… I'll give you five magicians if you tell me how many Artifact you can make with the five life---No, with a single life… Aside from that, what's wrong with this Artifact? Why does it need human life?"

Aaron remained calm and asked the important details. 

[ It is very easy to negotiate with you.  I like it. ]

"Thanks."

[ To answer your question, one life equals three Mana Artifact so far… But future experimentation may allow us to avoid wasting them and create more than that. The name of the Artifact is Synthetic Mana Core… ]

Veda then revealed a few functionalities of the 7th Gen to Aaron and the others. The A.I. didn't mind giving this detail since Aaron will be an accomplice and Veda feared no one in the first place.

Aaron could only sigh after discovering about this… Raven was even right that Veda is already coordinating with Wallace about this.

"I guess we'll stick with the 6th Gen for now…"

He muttered as he ended his conversation with Veda and checked Ace's current situation in outer space. 

***

Wallace clenched his fist after seeing the Omen IV explode together with the Black Sovereign Spaceship. 

They've really done it… Without any care for their pilots, the Empire used the broken spaceship to crash it to Omen and used an incredible amount of explosives… Due to its number, it no longer matters whether they have a jammer or not…

Shreguc and all of the Arians inside the spaceship have perished… 

As for the pilots near the Omen, they were just blown away and had to use their Magic Nodes to survive…

Their Mech Knights were also wasted so they have to rely on their spacesuit to survive.

"Send rescue units to them… Hurry!"

Ace shouted after noticing that a detachment from the empire's fleet of Mech Frames was hurrying in the survivor's direction.