Chapter_5: Ironclad

Ragnar stood in bewilderment, encased in the complete Ironclad from head to toe, while Ana chuckled quietly behind Arawn as he donned his metal plates and mask once more.

"Hurt? How can this armor even hurt me?" Ragnar asked, scrutinizing the entire armor.

"It will, so you must be prepared to endure this pain. Remember, it will hurt, and it may well injure you or render you incapacitated for hours," Arawn cautioned Ragnar, further deepening his sense of perplexity.

"'incapacitated for hours'? I am already injured; why would you try to make me more injured as I already was?" Ragnar asked, his confusion evident.

"You will understand why. But first, do you want to start it now?" Arawn said in a solemn tone.

Ragnar fell silent, and the room was enveloped in a heavy stillness as both Arawn and Lady Ana awaited Ragnar's decision.

'From the looks of it, this armor is larger than I am, so it will likely attempt to crush me inside. But how can that heal me? Maybe there's another method of treating my injuries, like compressing my wounded areas. My wounds already hurt badly, so compressing them could cause even more pain.

'I have no choice but to endure the pain for the treatment of my wounds.'

The silence of the room was shattered by Ragnar's solemn voice. Ana stifled her chuckles with her miniature hands, while Arawn smiled gracefully, his smile still visible beneath his bushy beard.

"I will choose to start it now," Ragnar's voice trembled, despite its depth.

"It was your choice; don't blame me if it hurts badly." Ana's tone was filled with excitement at hearing Ragnar's decision, giving a quiet chuckle once again.

"Wait, let me prepare it, so stay still." Arawn's voice was authoritative as he kneeled upon Ragnar, meticulously readying the ironclad.

The process of preparing the ironclad was time-consuming, lasting approximately ten minutes. Ragnar stood steadfast for the entire duration, his legs trembling, while Ana's laughter reverberated louder and louder.

At last, after preparing the ironclad, Arawn stood with his face drenched in sweat.

"It's prepared, Ragnar. May I start it?" Arawn's tone was enigmatic and menacing, sending a chill down Ragnar's spine.

"Yes, you may." Ragnar's voice shook even more, unprepared for what was about to unfold.

The ironclad was no ordinary armor; it was equipped with an array of functions. Copper wires ran through the armor, connecting to a control panel for preparation. Most notably, it had an outlet to draw power from a steel core filled with electricity.

Arawn, wearing gloves, carefully plugged the plug into the outlet, smiling at Ragnar's decision.

Afterward, Arawn and Lady Ana distanced themselves from the steel core and Ragnar, who was wearing the ironclad. The sound of electricity traveling through the wires echoed in the distance.

The electricity traveled slowly, gradually reaching the ironclad. As it reached it, the electricity spread throughout the entire armor.

Ragnar felt jolts of electricity coursing through the armor, causing discomfort but not as painful as what was to come.

"Prepare and enjoy, Ragnar. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so make the most of it while you can," Ana said in a jesting tone.

As a warming resonance filled the air, Ragnar was jolted by a powerful shock.

"Ah!" His cry of pain echoed through the room.

Without any warning, a barrage of needles pierced Ragnar's skin, causing excruciating pain. Despite his agony, he was immobilized and could only scream in torment.

"Ah!" Ragnar's cry intensified, reverberating with anguish.

As she looked at Ragnar, Ana couldn't suppress her laughter at the absurdity of the situation.

"I told you it would hurt," Ana said, her voice dripping with ridicule.

The needles, filled with a specialized liquid called Regeneron, were designed to treat wounds and minimize pain. This groundbreaking treatment was developed by the renowned Dr. Victoria Lazarus of Elysium Springs fifty years ago.

Despite their minuscule size, the needles were penetrating Ragnar's body from every conceivable angle.

Ragnar's screams of pain echoed with a masculine intensity.

The piercing seemed to last only a minute, yet to Ragnar, it felt like an hour of relentless agony. Once the needles were removed, they returned to their original positions, devoid of any liquid, while the armor began to heat up around Ragnar.

Arawn swiftly deactivated the steel core, bringing an end to the searing heat within Ragnar's armor.

Arawn looked at the breathless Ragnar with a smile and remarked, "The process is complete, Ragnar."

"You can finally walk now, Ragnar. But first, you must rest here for about an hour to recover from the needle treatment," Ana said, her face filled with pride.

Ragnar didn't respond, appearing almost lifeless. His eyes were open, and he breathed heavily, but he seemed unconscious.

"Is he unconscious, Arawn?" Ana asked confidently.

"Yes, it seems so," Arawn replied.

"This effect is quite normal when using the Ironclad, as you've experienced yourself, Lady Ana," Arawn said with a smile.

Ana sat down on the couch and whispered, "Don't say it out loud, Arawn. He might have heard it, and it would be embarrassing."

Arawn approached Ragnar cautiously, scanning the surroundings for any potential danger.

"I'm certain he's unconscious, so don't worry," Arawn reassured, making his way to Ragnar.

"Even Lord Heinzen experienced the same effect after using the Ironclad. He hasn't visited us for weeks now; could you ask him to visit sometime this week?" Arawn smiled at Lady Ana.

"I will, Arawn. I'll also ask Heizen to bring Meika and Ludren with him," Lady Ana replied kindly.

Arawn carefully touched the Ironclad with both hands to ensure safety. Slowly, he unplugged the external plug and began dismantling the Ironclad, piece by piece.

Leaving only the chestplate, Arawn carefully positioned Ragnar on the couch to remove the remaining piece without causing him to fall.

After pulling out the chestplate, Arawn smiled at Ragnar's lifeless form, his face glistening with sweat.

"We're finished, Lady Ana. Should we wait here until he wakes up?" Arawn asked, looking at Lady Ana.

With a mysterious look, Lady Ana said, "You'll be the one to wait for him. I'll leave him here and attend to that colossal man."

She retrieved a folded piece of paper from her small pocket in her ivory dress and slowly unfolded it.

"Before I leave this district, make sure to give this piece of paper to Ragnar when he wakes up. It contains the items I intended to buy here, but since I have Ragnar, I'll have him purchase them instead," Ana stated as she rose, adjusting her ivory dress.

She walked towards the broken door, casting one final glance at Ragnar.

"Remember, take care of him. If he becomes a corrupt Grimiore, then kill him without mercy. And if he disobeys my orders, remind him that this is a command from a princess," Ana stated confidently, her face devoid of emotion.

Arawn swiftly kneeled before Lady Ana, expressing his determination and loyalty to her.

"I won't question, My Lady. I will carry out your orders, My Lady," Arawn affirmed in a resolute tone.

"Lady Ana, the son of Mayor Smith, you may visit this place once again, and I will welcome you eternally." As Arawn spoke, his words resonated with an unwavering determination, leaving Lady Ana with a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Rays of golden light filtered through the broken door, casting a majestic glow upon Arawn. The gentle caress of the wind tousled Lady Ana's hair, carrying with it an air of solemnity and reverence.

With a final glance at Arawn, Lady Ana stepped through the broken door, leaving behind a sense of quiet reverence that lingered in the air.