Lancelot

A fearsome red light turned on at its face, the light poured through the visor of its helmet.

It grabbed the weapon to its side, lifting it with ease. Swinging the sword downwards Akiol dodged to the side, "Is there anything you want me to test in particular?"

"Just fight it like you normally would!"

The giant mecha lifted the sword again and spun with surprising speed for its size. Akiol decided to take this as an opportunity to test his strength, it would undoubtedly be improved from both the Link with Mira and his evolution.

Clang~~

Torch was stunned, the giant mecha's swing was stopped! Akiol managed to block it and is fighting it with equal strength?!

Akiol grinned, "An excellent robot!"

He stepped onto the sword and ran up it, "You won't mind if I break it right?"

"I am prepared to rebuild it from scratch."

"Good to know!"

Akiol leapt upwards and swung towards its head vertically. A metallic ring sounded out and Stars glided across its helmet. The mecha's visor gleamed brighter and Akiol rapidly leapt sideways via mana. A massive beam shot out and melted the stone.

Torch was silently pleased, while the offensive bit of Lancelot could be improved, it excelled at defense. Even if Akiol had a lot of strength, he couldn't pierce the defenses of his mecha.

'It has lasers!' -Stars

'I could do that.' -Givale

Akiol created some distance, "Does this thing still have the magic resistance?"

"I'd say it's more everything resistance!"

"Oh that's fair!"

"Please do everything you can to beat it!"

"I can't help but think you're underestimating me!"

"I'm just that confident in my mecha!"

The mecha swung diagonally, Akiol jumped and pushed himself off the sword as it buried itself into the ground.

"Alright then, how shall we beat this everyone?"

'Crush its head!' -Givale

'Break the sword!' -Stars

'Knock it down?' -Mira

"Let's try all three!"

The defense of the mecha was no joke, so Akiol would have to put some effort to get through the armor. Destroying the weapon was a different matter, Akiol could just use its strength against it.

The mecha lifted its weapon again and swung downwards, this time Akiol did not dodge. Aura swirled around Stars as he swung to clash with the mecha.

{Origami Style: Perfect Fold}!

The weapons clashed and Stars passed through the sword with difficulty. The blade split in half as the broken part embedded itself into the ground.

Torch paused, "What?? That sword is made of the same material the mecha is made of! How did you cut through it?"

"I'm not using all of my cards!"

Akiol leapt upwards, Aura swirled around his sword and he swung downwards. The moment his sword made contact with the helmet of the mecha the metal bent inwards.

{Cataclysm Technique: Thunder}!

The mecha fell backwards, the force behind Akiol's blow was enough to knock it off balance. Falling with it Akiol planned to finish it off right away!

A red gleam shot forth. Akiol pointed Stars forward and a small blackhole formed at the tip. The laser was absorbed into the blackhole as Akiol continued to descend.

Crrcck-

Akiol stabbed into the gap in the helmet, he felt something break under the sword. Leaping back he looked at Torch, "That good enough?"

"Well you haven't killed it yet."

The mecha moved at quick speeds. Akiol dodged to the side, a giant fist appearing where he was. Retreating Akiol asked, "It got faster?"

Torch answered, "Rather, it's now at full power. Before I refrained from using any of my buffs, but you were far stronger than I thought."

The mecha swung with the broken sword. Akiol lifted his sword and blocked, the force was far stronger than before and was pushing him back!

Torch inspected the fight in awe. The truth was that he had already tested the mecha before, it's capabilities were able to contend against most Second Stages with his buffs. Yet even though Akiol had no Berserk Skill active, he was only being pushed back.

'Woah, this thing is pretty strong.' -Mira

Akiol grinned, "Torch makes some interesting stuff. But-!"

The mecha swung downwards, Akiol lifted his sword and blocked the attack head on. Aura flickered around him, "It's too simple to read!"

He pushed the mecha's sword upwards, making it stumble back. Akiol charged forward and jumped upwards, "It was a good fight!"

Aura skyrocketed and swirled into a tornado. The powerful attacks shredded the armor. Pieces of the mecha scattered across the room.

{Cataclysm Technique: Tornado}!

Torch sighed, "One of these days my machines will beat you!"

"I welcome that day gladly."

"So as part of the agreement I am to provide some robots for your disciples to train with?"

"If you would please."

"Give me some time to make a room for that then."

"That's not a problem, let me know when it's done!"

Several robots entered the room and began taking away the pieces of the Mecha. Torch jumped down and landed with a thud, "So it's a little simple?"

"It has a laser and swings a sword, it'll be more than enough in a war. But in a single battle it's simplistic and easy to read."

"Hmm, perhaps I'll add more features. But that might compromise the defensive capabilities. In which case I could probably add another weapon."

Torch trailed off mumbling his ideas. Akiol then provided, "Why not add more? You could make up for the lack of complexity with numbers."

"I'm already planning on that. Making a knights of the roundtable kind of thing. They're going to be my trump card."

"Perhaps I will have to fight them all at once.", Akiol joked.

"Maybe."

After exchanging some specific details with Torch, Akiol bade farewell. He received a message in the group chat that everyone else had made it to the house. He informed them to head to the Kingdom first, and that he would follow behind.

It was time to report to the King! They had spent so long at the other continent for that reason to begin with. Now it was time to wrap up loose ends. Within the hour all six members of Six Lights arrived at the front of the King's Palace. No guards halted their path, as if they were expected to arrive.

As they entered the Palace Kayne's voice boomed across the hall, "Welcome! I can see your trip was one of prosperity as well?"

Wrock laughed, "In a way."

"Excellent, we shall not continue chatting here. Follow me."

Kayne led them to the same room where he first told them of his request. Once everyone was seated his expression was grave, "What exactly is over there?"

Akiol recalled their experience. Explaining everything that happened in brief detail. The King listened along silently, absorbing every bit of information. Once Akiol was finished Kayne asked, "Do they pose a threat?"

"We found no hints towards a way to our continent. However there still could be a possibility, after all you only found the teleporter somewhat recently. Currently they have their own troubles to deal with, and pose no threat right now."

"The Calamity?"

"No longer an issue."

Akiol intentionally left some details out. The Calamity was dangerous, even Fourth Stars considered ending his life to put a stop to it. If he willingly told everyone that he brought such a Calamity to his home continent, he wouldn't be safe for much longer!

Kayne leaned back and sighed in relief, "This issue has been plaguing me for quite some time. It is a relief to hear that my worries were pointless. As we discussed, you shall have your reward."

He snapped and Hala appeared next to him carrying a chest. She placed it in front of the party and slowly opened it. A large tablet, slightly larger than Akiol's hand, made of Crystal sat inside it. Beside it lay a token with a house inscription. Kayne continued, "Although it was not as we originally agreed, I have left you a bit of property to transfer your home into my Kingdom if you desire. Rest assured that this land will be tax free."

Akiol slid the box to Yielya and said, "We appreciate the notion."

Kayne nodded, "Now onto the other half of the reward. I had originally prepared the First Stage items, but I can tell those will be of no use to you anymore. Therefor I shall allow you to enter the Second Stage treasury."

"Wouldn't that be an increase to our reward?"

"If anything it would be me setting it back to our original price. You are the one who reduced it in the first place."

"Then thank you for your generosity."

"My worries have been eased, I think I can rest well tonight.", A tired smile spread across Kayne's face, "Hala will lead you there, I have other matters to attend to."

Hala bowed slightly, "Please follow me."

Hala lead them to a large vault door. After several procedures the door creaked open, and a strange feeling mana leaked out. Hala gestured towards it, "I warn that you do not touch anything unless you are certain that the item is what you choose. Due to our strict security you all are cleared for one item only. If you are to touch another item it will consider it as theft and activate our systems. Please be careful."

"Thank you for the warning."

The party entered the vault and began to examine all the items. Akiol—who lacked the system interface—asked, "You guys see anything neat?"

Kan'na shook her head, "I can only say everything here is top notch. I struggle to find a single item."

"Hmm, what about you Stars?"

'It is really impressive, I've never seen so many rare items in one place. But you're pretty strict with your choice of items, so I can't recommend anything.'

"Then ignore the restrictions."

'Well I still can't really choose anything. . .'

"I'll pick at random, perhaps fate will lead me in a nice direction."

Glancing over the items he placed his eyes on one, "Someone mind telling me what this one is all about?"

Tilia looked over and glanced at the item. She quickly sent a picture through the group chat before continuing browsing.

Akiol inspected it before nodding to himself, "Fate was nice indeed."

Picking up the item he walked outside the vault, the only one following him was Wrock. For the others were still deciding.

Akiol asked him, "What did you choose?"

Wrock lifted a small ring, "Found that it has some nice effects to it. What about you?"

Akiol lifted his choice and Wrock stared at it, "That's an interesting one. What brought you to pick it?"

"I have an idea on what I want to use it for."

"Since you've already decided, can I borrow you for a minute?"

"What do you need?"

"I want to go to the Royal Blacksmith real quick."

"Oh? Alright I will follow."

Akiol followed behind Wrock too a building placed a little away from the Palace. Anyone could clearly see it was a blacksmith, but not a Royal one.

Wrock knocked on the door, "I've come to fulfill your request!"