Project Optimus

3 months later

The expansive skies above the Cyberion Imperium's capital shimmered as Zeyron's translucent wings unfurled, their crystalline structure refracting light into cascading rainbows. He ascended into the air effortlessly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the hidden base lay. This was no ordinary facility; it was a place of ambition, secrecy, and the culmination of 3 months of planning—Project Optimus.

As he approached, the massive dome of the base came into view, its surface camouflaged to blend seamlessly with the rocky terrain. Hovering above the entrance, Zeyron commanded the reinforced doors to open with a simple mental directive. Inside, the facility buzzed with activity. Machines hummed, synthetic engineers moved with precision, and the faint scent of ozone lingered in the air.

At the heart of the sprawling lab, Ramiris hovered near a glowing wall of schematics, her small form dwarfed by the towering projection. She squinted, mumbling to herself as she tried to decipher the complex design.

As Zeyron landed gracefully behind her, his presence startled her out of her trance. She spun around, hands on her hips, and blurted, "Hey! Will this thing really work? And you're sure it won't, you know… blow up the world or something?"

Zeyron smirked, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Didn't I already tell you? It will work. Besides, Veldanava himself is watching us. You think I'd risk his wrath if this were unstable?" He crossed his arms and added with a teasing tone, "And by the way, stop worrying about things still in the development stage. Let's talk about project optimus first, which is simplar than this machine."

Ramiris huffed, puffing out her chest in an exaggerated display of confidence. "For your information, this is the hardest thing I've ever created using sprite engineering. Your new body is going to be so powerful, only I could destroy it—with one punch!"

Zeyron raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "One punch, huh? Maybe I should mention this to Veldanava. He'd be thrilled to know you can obliterate the strongest material he's ever created. You know, the one that can survive pure null energy."

All color drained from Ramiris' face. "N-No! Wait! I didn't mean it like that! It's just... uh… theoretical! Hypothetical! Completely exaggerated for emphasis!"

Her panicked rambling drew a quiet chuckle from Zeyron. Shaking his head, he motioned for her to follow. "Enough nonsense. Let's see how well you and Nova brought Project Optimus to life."

Ramiris quickly floated after him, her earlier bravado replaced by nervous energy. The deeper they ventured into the base, the air grew heavier with mana and the hum of advanced machinery. Finally, they arrived at the central chamber, a cavernous space illuminated by a faint golden glow.

There it stood—his future body.

The synthetic vessel was suspended in midair, surrounded by a network of conduits that pulsed with energy. Its form was strikingly similar to Zeyron's, but enhanced in every conceivable way. Silver and gold armor plates gleamed under the artificial light, their intricate engravings radiating an otherworldly aura. Mana wires snaked across the body, connecting it to massive mana batteries. At the back of its helmeted head, a thick cable ran upward, linking to a colossal, half-constructed machine.

Zeyron's gaze followed the cable to the towering structure above. It was unmistakable—a humanoid titan with a partially built frame that dwarfed even the true dragons. Its imposing presence radiated power, and the sheer scale of it was enough to make any onlooker feel insignificant.

Ramiris fidgeted nervously beside him. "So, uh… what do you think? Pretty cool, right? It's not completely finished, but we've got the body, the core, and… well, most of the titan's systems operational."

Zeyron stepped closer to the synthetic body, placing a hand on its metallic chest. He could feel the hum of raw power coursing through it—a masterpiece of engineering, mana manipulation, and divine energy.

"It's perfect," he said, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction. "Nova and you outdid yourselves."

Ramiris beamed, her earlier nerves forgotten. "Of course we did! But just so you know, this thing is going to take a lot of energy to operate."

Zeyron chuckled. "Good thing energy isn't an issue for me." He glanced up at the towering titan again, his expression turning contemplative. "With this body and that giant, I'll have the strength to face anything—Veldanava, the mystery continent, or even forces beyond this world."

Ramiris tilted her head. "You're really serious about this, huh? What's the first thing you're going to do once you transfer into that body?"

Zeyron's smirk returned, sharper than ever. "Test it, of course. And then… conquer."

The room fell silent as his words echoed. For a moment, even Ramiris seemed awestruck by the sheer determination radiating from him.

Above them, the half-completed titan loomed, a silent guardian waiting to be awakened.