Allen eagerly opened the box.

Inside, twelve crystal-clear Soul Crystals were neatly arranged. Sealed within the center of each crystal was a miniature silhouette of a bird of prey.

Those were the souls of Rift Eagles. Even in their sealed state, one could still feel the sharp, untamable spirit that battled the skies.

"So this is what Supreme Treasure’s tears bought me." Allen clicked his tongue in amazement.

He then had Jarvis read the knowledge stored in the memory crystal.

[High-Level Alchemy Knowledge Input Detected: ’Flight Attitude Adaptive Control Rune Set’, ’Wide-Area Dynamic Perception and Lock-On Module’, ’Deflection Force Field (AT Field) Generation Rune Array’.]

[Analyzing... Analysis Progress: 10%... 30%...]

Jarvis began processing at full capacity, a massive stream of data cascading like a waterfall across the holographic screen before Allen’s eyes.

Allen didn’t stay idle. He also began studying the "AT Field" technology, his eyes growing brighter the more he read.

Catherine was truly a Second-level Alchemy Wizard. She had cleverly utilized the principles of "magnetic repulsion" and "Magic Power turbulence" to create an omnidirectional repulsive shield. It wasn’t cumbersome like a physical shield, yet it could slip past most attacks like a loach.

"A genius design."

Allen said in admiration, "Integrate this into the Storm Falcon’s Rune Circuits design."

With the Soul Core and key technologies secured, the "Storm Falcon" project, which had been stuck at a bottleneck, instantly broke through.

He also incorporated some aerodynamic knowledge from his past life on Earth, removing unnecessary structures. Every aspect of the design was dedicated to speed and slaughter.

In just one day, the first complete "Storm Falcon" lay quietly in the assembly area.

It had a seven-meter wingspan and was constructed from a lightweight, silver-gray magical material, its surface covered in inscribed Rune Circuits.

Its streamlined fuselage was a testament to industrial aesthetics. It needed no landing gear or runway; the Anti-Gravity Runes allowed it to hover like a hummingbird.

Mounted on its belly were three thick aerial bombs painted a dangerous red—they were the airdropped version of "Final Say," modified with stabilizing fins, an increased payload, and etched Runes.

Under each wing was a medium-sized "Judgement" Magic Guide ray gun, whose high rate of fire was suitable for dogfights and ground attacks.

[Project: Storm Falcon - AT Field Special Custom Model]

[Cost Analysis:]

[Rift Eagle Soul Core: Valued at 1,200 Magic Stones.]

[Lightweight Fuselage and Keel: 2,000 Magic Stones.]

[Control Core and Perception Module: 600 Magic Stones.]

[Anti-Gravity, AT Field, and other Rune Etchings: 1,000 Magic Stones]

[Weapon Systems (including special aerial bombs): 1,500 Magic Stones.]

[Power System: One high-grade Magic Stone.]

[Total Unit Cost: 16,300 Low-Level Magic Stones.]

"Sixteen thousand for one big bird." Yet Allen’s gaze was terrifyingly fervent.

"Power on, run self-diagnostics!"

BZZZT—

As Magic Power was injected, the sensor on the Storm Falcon’s nose lit up with a cold blue light. Then, all the Rune Circuits ignited as it slowly began to float into the air.

"System self-diagnostic complete. Anti-Gravity Runes operating normally. AT Field is not yet active."

Jarvis reported, "Commander, ready for takeoff at your command." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Allen immediately switched his mental link to a first-person perspective. "Open the workshop’s designated ceiling exit. Storm Falcon, launch."

WHOOSH!

There was no roaring engine, only the sharp whistle of air being instantly cleaved.

Like a silver bolt of lightning, the Storm Falcon shot out of the workshop, piercing the heavens.

Even Allen, still standing in the workshop, was startled by the terrifying acceleration.

The altitude reading jumped wildly: 500 meters... 1,000 meters... 3,000 meters...

"Testing maneuverability."

At Allen’s command, the silver fighter began its performance in the sky.

It first executed a sharp right-angle turn that defied common physics, followed by a perfect Pugachev’s Cobra without stalling. It then stopped on a dime, swiveled its nose 180 degrees, and plunged toward the ground in reverse.

These were maneuvers that only the most advanced vectored-thrust engines on Earth could perform, yet with the aid of the Anti-Gravity Runes, they were executed with effortless grace.

"Now that’s the charm of Witchcraft." Allen couldn’t help but whistle as he watched the silky-smooth trajectory on the screen.

"Next up, live-fire test."

Allen’s gaze shifted dozens of kilometers away.

On the plains of Three-way Canyon, a Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion was on patrol.

[Target locked. Distance: 43,500 meters. Altitude: 2,000 meters. Wind speed correction complete.]

[Ballistic calculation complete.]

The Storm Falcon carved an elegant arc through the sky, entering its attack vector. It didn’t dive, instead maintaining an altitude of one thousand meters above the giant scorpion.

"Bombs away."

With a soft click from the pylon under its belly, the heavy aerial bomb detached from the fuselage.

Gravity took over.

As the bomb fell, its stabilizing fins automatically deployed, and the [Muffling Rune] and [Visual Distortion Rune] on its surface simultaneously activated. It plummeted toward the earth like an invisible reaper, silent and unseen.

On the ground, the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion seemed to sense a hint of unease. It stopped, waving its pincers as it looked around in confusion.

Three seconds later.

A blinding, orange-red fireball bloomed over the Gobi.

BOOM—!!!

The muffled boom reverberated across the land, followed by a visible shockwave that swept outward, kicking up a sky-blotting cloud of sand and dust.

When the dust settled, Allen got a clear view of the scene through the Storm Falcon’s high-magnification lens.

The once-unbeatable Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion was dead.

All that remained was a ten-meter-deep crater, its bottom a pool of vitrified lava amidst still-smoking shell fragments.

Such was the power of the aerial version of "Final Say."

Pure explosion, pure heat, with no fancy techniques required.

’What’s the use of having a tough shell? If the shockwave doesn’t kill you, the fire will.’

"This is what an air force is all about."

Allen leaned back in his chair, feeling utterly pleased with himself.

"Zero contact, zero damage, a one-sided slaughter."

Previously, when dealing with a Magical Beast of this level, he would have had to worry about being killed in a counterattack. But now, all it took was dropping a bomb from a distance.

The thrill of holding life and death in his hands was more intoxicating than any drug.

However...

Allen stroked his chin as he watched the returning Storm Falcon on the screen.

’It’s powerful, yes, but it feels like something’s missing.’

The Storm Falcon was a perfect bomber and interceptor, but it lacked a certain... "romance."

And what is a man’s romance?

It’s the clash of steel, the sparks of close-quarters combat, the Giant Divine Soldier standing tall upon the earth.

’If I could combine the Storm Falcon’s high mobility with a humanoid frame...’

An image formed in Allen’s mind: a heavily armored, winged Humanoid Golem, wielding a warship cannon, battling Flying Magical Beasts in the sky, or descending from the heavens to crush an enemy’s skull with a single stomp.

That was the domain of mecha, the style of a "supreme-level" powerhouse.

"Jarvis, create a new project folder: [Freedom Gundam - Guard Aerial Combat Type]."

A glint of ambition flashed in Allen’s eyes. "Now that I have a god-tier skill like the AT Field, it would be a criminal waste not to build a flying mecha. I can add another general to my Guard series, and for now, we’ll call it the Gundam series."

"But that design will have to wait. The most urgent task right now is to take out all the scorpion scouts roaming in my direction."

He turned to face the row of Alchemy Servants standing by behind him and, with a grand wave of his hand like a commanding general, issued his orders.

"Order: Halt all production lines for the Spider Slayers."

"Bring out all the remaining Rift Eagle souls."

"Objective: Twelve Storm Falcons. Begin mass production at full speed!"