Reon stood on the quiet stretch of road as the afternoon light bled into deep orange. Seryth lay unconscious in his arms, her pink hair spilling across his chest like spilled silk. Shizu walked beside him, silver-blue ponytail messy and wild, her teal crop top still stained with his dried blood from the guild fight. The air smelled of grass and distant rain.
The system's voice suddenly chimed straight into his head — light, girly, and already dripping with that new cheeky older-sister attitude.
"Master~ Hey, little boy Master, listen up. You're forgetting something big time. That Void Binding skill of yours just got upgraded, remember? It's not just for making swords or punching people anymore. You can create anything more complex now. Engineered vehicles. Advanced weapons. Armor. The whole works. But here's the catch, dummy — you have to use your head. Visualize the entire architecture, the full model, every single detail in your mind. Then you can actually make it. Unfortunately, this new level-2 creation costs way more Anium than before."
Reon stopped walking. He gently laid Seryth down on a soft patch of grass beside the road and stared into the empty air in front of him like it owed him money.
"Show me my status."
The golden panel unfolded instantly, glowing soft and private.
[REAL-TIME ANIUM TRACKER – LIVE]
Current Anium: 62,425 units
Regen Rate: +40 units every 30 seconds (idle)
[LEVEL 2 – Reon Fairmont]
XP: 1,410 / 2,400
The system kept going, sounding way too amused for his liking.
"You've got a decent amount right now — not a hundred thousand, but close enough if you keep farming. But the Vossara Clan is underground and far to the north. We need something that can move fast on the ground and also dig deep. A vehicle. A machine. That's what you have to make now."
Reon rubbed his face, exhausted.
"This is a fantasy world… I don't know shit about advanced vehicles. I'm not an engineer."
The system giggled.
"Exactly, sweet boy. That's why you have to visualize it. Think of the whole thing in your mind — every part, every function. You can't make living creatures yet because they need a soul. But machinery? That's all you. And it can run on magic or Anium. Since Anium is expensive, magic would be better. And guess who has tons of mana?"
Shizu, who had been watching him gesture at nothing for the last minute, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Reon? You're talking to the system again, aren't you? What's it saying this time? And why are you making that face like you just stepped in something nasty?"
Reon sighed.
"It wants me to build a vehicle. Something that can drive on land and dig underground to reach Seryth's clan. But I have no idea how to even start imagining something like that."
Shizu blinked.
"A… vehicle? Like a carriage but… better?"
The system laughed in his head.
"Tell her she's going to be the power source, Master. She's a healer — she has tons of mana. We can use her to run it."
Reon relayed the message.
Shizu's eyes widened, then narrowed into that familiar tomboy glare.
"Wait, me? You want me to power some crazy machine you're going to make out of thin air? No way. I'm not a battery!"
The system sighed dramatically.
"Tell the little miss she doesn't have to give everything. Just some mana. And if she wants, she can buy tonics from me. I have plenty."
Reon repeated it.
Shizu put her hands on her hips, suddenly sounding like a full businesswoman who had been waiting for this exact moment her whole life.
"Oh? Tonics? I have my own tonics, thank you very much. Mana potions, healing potions — I'm the one who makes them. If you want my mana, you're going to have to pay for it properly. I'm not giving it away for free."
Reon stared at her.
"You're… going full business mode right now?"
Shizu shrugged, a small smirk on her lips.
"If I want to survive in this world, I need money. I learned that the hard way after getting kicked out of the guild. No one pays you if you don't work for it."
The system spoke again, loud enough in tone that Shizu could almost feel the sass.
"Fine, little miss CEO. We'll talk business later. Right now, Master needs to visualize the vehicle. Start simple. A box. It needs to move. So wheels. Two wheels? Too unstable. Three? Still wobbly. Four wheels — now it's stable. It can go forward, reverse. But how does it turn left and right?"
Reon closed his eyes and tried to picture it.
"Okay… four wheels. Steering for the front two wheels so it can turn…"
Nothing happened.
He tried again. A tiny box the size of a footstool appeared in front of him, wobbling on four tiny wheels like a drunk toddler. It rolled two inches, tipped, and fell over with a pathetic *clunk*.
Shizu stared.
"…That's a toy carriage."
The system burst out laughing in Reon's head.
"See? Even she knows it's trash. Bigger, you idiot. Think of something that can fit three people."
Reon focused harder.
This time the box grew — but the wheels were all on one side. It immediately tipped over and rolled down the road like a runaway barrel, spinning wildly before crashing into a bush.
Shizu snorted, trying not to laugh.
"You're really bad at this."
The system was wheezing.
"Oh my gods, Master, you almost killed us with a death-box. Try again. Engine in the back this time. And make the front two wheels turn."
Reon tried again.
Another box appeared — bigger, four wheels, engine in the back. It looked almost normal… until the front wheels locked and it started spinning in circles like a broken top, faster and faster, kicking up dirt and grass.
Shizu covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
The system was dying.
"Stop! Stop! You're going to give me a system error. We're doing this the long way. Sit down. We're having a two-hour engineering lesson."
Reon sat on the grass, exhausted. Shizu eventually fell asleep again, snoring softly.
For the next two hours, as the sky turned from orange to deep purple and finally to night, the system became his personal instructor. It walked him through every step like a patient but extremely cheeky teacher.
"Try a basic box again," the system said. "Smaller. Four wheels. Engine in the back."
Reon visualized it.
The system sighed.
"Weight distribution is off. The engine is too heavy in the back. It'll flip. Move it forward a bit."
Another attempt. The box appeared, wobbled, then flipped upside down and stayed there like a dead turtle.
Shizu woke up halfway through, rubbed her eyes, and watched the latest failure roll past her.
"You know… if you keep making these, we're going to have the world's most expensive scrap pile."
The system laughed.
"She's not wrong. Try visualizing the function first, not the parts. You want it to move forward, turn, and dig. Let the skill fill in the blanks."
Reon kept going. Each failure was met with system scolding mixed with giggles.
"No, not like that — that's a bulldozer again. You're thinking too big. Smaller steps, dummy."
By the time the stars were out, Reon's head was pounding, but he finally had it.
He raised his hands.
Void Binding activated.
Red-black energy swirled in front of him. Metal, magic, and pure will fused together. The vehicle materialized — sleek, polished, with smooth curved lines mixed with sturdy square framing. Four large wheels. A flexible drill mounted on the front. Reinforced cutters along the sides. Spikes that could extend from the tires for rough terrain. A silent engine in the back. A small machine-gun turret on top for air defense.
The whole thing gleamed under the moonlight like a black diamond. You could almost see your reflection in its surface.
[Anium: 62,425 units → 12,425 units]
Cost: 50,000 units (advanced creation)
Reon stared at it, exhausted but proud.
The system whistled.
"Not bad, Master. Not bad at all. Now wake up the little miss. She's the power source."
Reon gently shook Shizu's shoulder.
"Shizu… wake up. We have a ride."
Shizu blinked awake, rubbing her eyes.
"What… happened? Did you pass out from all the teaching stuff?"
The system laughed in Reon's head.
"Tell her to get inside. She needs to place her hand on the energy core and give mana slowly."
Shizu opened the door of the four-seater vehicle. The interior was surprisingly comfortable — padded seats, soft leather-like material that felt warm to the touch. Reon carefully lifted Seryth and slid her into the back seat. He used a quick thread of Void Binding to create soft, flexible straps that wrapped around her body like gentle seatbelts, holding her securely without pressing on any wounds. A thin cushion of red-black energy formed under her head and along her sides, keeping her stable even if the ride got rough.
"There," Reon muttered. "She'll be safe back there. No bouncing around like cargo."
Shizu climbed into the front passenger seat and placed her hand on the glowing energy panel in the center console. She started feeding mana into it slowly, her palm glowing soft blue.
The vehicle hummed to life with a deep, satisfying growl — not loud like a normal engine, but cool and powerful, like something from another world.
Reon climbed into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel.
Shizu looked at him, tired but smiling.
"You actually made this… with your mind?"
Reon nodded.
"Yeah. And you're powering it. Ready?"
Shizu gave a small nod.
"Ready."
Reon pressed the transformation button the system had shown him.
The vehicle shifted with a low mechanical whine. The tires grew larger, steel spikes extending from them with a metallic click-click-click. Cutters and the front drill powered up, glowing faintly. It was now a full off-road monster — ready for ground, mud, jungle, or underground digging.
Reon looked out at the dark jungle ahead. There were no proper roads — just narrow dirt paths, thick roots, muddy patches, and dense trees that would stop any normal carriage dead in its tracks. The Vossara Clan was buried deep underground far to the north; they would have to carve their own path through the wilderness.
"That's why we transform it," he said quietly. "No roads out there. Just jungle. We need something that can chew through it, not get stuck like a fancy noble carriage."
Shizu leaned back, one hand still feeding mana.
"Smart. I was wondering why you made it look like a war machine."
Reon gripped the wheel tighter.
"Let's go save your clan, Seryth."
The sleek machine roared to life and shot forward into the night, heading north toward the hidden Vossara Clan.
The real journey had finally begun.
See you in Next Chapter.....