Chapter 32: Finding Boosted Gear (2)

That was until the screen went dark and then restarted itself.

This time, the screen displayed the words Aurora Borealis in glowing letters. Moments later, the phrase shifted, forming new text: Aurora Terminal v1.0.

The lights on the screen faded out, replaced by a sleek, futuristic interface. To Rias, it looked like something ripped straight out of an anime or a video game.

She stared, transfixed, as the terminal displayed readings from the Diamond Core Heart. The information appeared in complex numerical values and spinning icons that danced across the screen. Rias quickly realized it was way over her head.

After a few keystrokes, Marcus turned to face them.

"Place your hand on the screen," he instructed. "It will register and link you to the barrier." Stepping aside, he made room for them.

Both Rias and Sona nodded, their expressions serious. To them, it felt like a monumental task. Marcus, however, couldn't help but roll his eyes internally at their dramatics.

Sona stepped up first, examining the screen. A prompt appeared: [Register New User], accompanied by an image of a palm. She deduced that placing her hand on the indicated area was the next step.

Wasting no time, Sona pressed her hand to the screen. Instantly, she felt a slight drain on her magic. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

"This… this is a seamless magical machine," she murmured in awe.

The distinction between magic and technology was so fluid that she couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.

Moments later, her 3D profile materialized on the screen, stunning her further. Every detail about her appeared, down to her occupation.

[User Number: 01]

[User Name: Sona Sitri]

[User Species: Pureblood Devil From 72 Pillars]

[User Occupation: City Overseer]

[User Clearance: Barrier User]

"It did all that from just taking a bit of my magic?" Sona asked, sweat forming on her brow.

"Indeed. It analyzed your magical signature. Now, Gremory, you're up next," Marcus replied.

Sona stepped back, making space for Rias. Marcus quickly reset the terminal for a new registration.

Rias approached, following the same process. Unlike Sona, she didn't linger, though she was visibly impressed by the flawless 3D rendering of herself.

[User Number: 02]

[User Name: Rias Gremory]

[User Species: Pureblood Devil From 72 Pillars]

[User Occupation: City Overseer]

[User Clearance: Barrier User]

"Now that you're both connected, let's test the system," Marcus said before turning to Serafall.

"Sera, make your presence known," he instructed.

Serafall smirked and called forth her magic.

At that moment, both Sona and Rias experienced a sudden, vivid vision. They saw Serafall channeling her magic near the Diamond Core Heart in the basement.

"This is incredible," Sona muttered, steadying her glasses. "Will we be able to sense anyone in the town like this?"

Marcus nodded. "Precisely. Whenever someone raises their power beyond a set threshold, the system reacts. This feature is especially effective against non-devil magic users. You'll be notified the moment an angel or fallen angel enters the city."

The gravity of his words sank in, leaving Sona wide-eyed. "It's like a system of magical barriers," she murmured.

Serafall smiled approvingly at her sister's realization. If only Sona knew the system was loosely based on Heaven's surveillance network, she might faint.

"You can see even more if you inspect the Diamond Core closely," Marcus added.

Sona hurried over to examine it. Seconds later, she gasped. "It's like… a complete magical ecosystem!"

Intrigued, Rias joined her. "It's beautiful…"

"And intricate," Sona added. "This is pure magic integrated into technology! It's like technology itself was made with magic!" Her eyes sparkled as she turned to Marcus. "How did you get different magical systems from multiple pantheons to work together so seamlessly? This is simply incredible!"

Marcus shrugged nonchalantly. "It's like solving a puzzle. The key is recognizing the patterns and figuring out where each piece fits."

"But… that would take centuries of study!"

"Or someone smarter than average finds the patterns faster," he said, smirking.

Sona's brow twitched. A little smarter than average? She resisted the urge to punch him.

"Indeed, this is nothing compared to what I've built at my place," Marcus added casually.

Sona gulped. If this was "little," what was "big"? Her thoughts spiraled, recalling Serafall's mention of Marcus having Pantheon-worthy protection. Did she mean that literally?

Her face turned pale as she realized just how valuable he was. No wonder Serafall had been so protective during their first meeting.

"Now, for the next step," Marcus said, pulling out two sleek briefcases from thin air. He handed one to each of them.

"Inside, you'll find markers and instructions. Your peerages will need to place these at the city's borders to establish the barrier's limits. Think of this as your first mission as my contractors."

Sona adjusted her glasses, her determination evident. "Understood. We'll handle it."

Rias nodded in agreement, just as resolute.

"Good," Marcus said with a rare smile. "Let's get to work."

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