Yakou's Harem Card: Keira Clark
Name: Keira Clark
Title: Blazer General, War Maniac, Warmonger, Mage-Knight General
Age: 32
Race: Human
Hair: Short Dark Black
Eyes:Grey
Body: Medium-sized Breasts, Toned, Slim-Fit, Young Adult, Young Appearance
Family: Edward Clark (Uncle - Deceased)
Role: Mage, Sexually Dominant, Knight of the Round Table
Affiliation: United States of Federal Americas, U.S. Army, Tsuchimikado Clan, Illuminati Society, Knights of the Round Table
Occupation: 3rd Seat of the Knights of the Round Table of the Illuminati Society, General of the Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment
*
Description: Keira Clark was born into the Clark Family, which had a long-standing tradition of joining the U.S. Military. All members of the Clark Family acorss several generations. This tradition was so strict that the number of Clark Family members who didn't die in active service could be counted on one hand. Most members of the Clark Family either died on mission or, a few lucky ones, from old age, but still holding office and wearing uniform.
Keira Clark was groomed to join the U.S. Military from an early age, mostly because she managed to awaken Magic at an early age due to an accident, and her innate talent for Magic was actually much higher than one would have expected from someone outside of the Magic Bloodline Lineage.
She graduated from West Point and was shortly thereafter admitted into the 75th Ranger Regiment under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. After three years of service, she moved to the classified CIA Paramilitary Group that operated off-the-record for the CIA, where she spent another four years. Later on, at the age of 28, she was promoted to the rank of Colonel and was given command over the Paranormal Combat Department under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The Paranormal Combat Department was the predecessor to the Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment and was tasked with the development of the Paranormal Combat Department into a full-fledged military unit.
It took her several years, but the efforts were successful, and at the age of 30, she was promoted to the Military Rank of General with full control over the Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment, which became the world's Magic-based Military United of any nation in the world.
Not long afterward, she was named as one of the Knights of the Round Table, assuming the 5th Seat of the Round Table and overseeing the Department of Sealing Designation Enforcers when her personal power reached the standards of the Grand Knight. Within the Illuminati Society, the Department of the Sealing Designation Enforcers was the strongest Department because it controlled the Enforcers.
The Sealing Designation Enforcers were specifically cultivated Mages from a very young age, and their sole task was to act as the sword and shield for the Illuminati Society.
Keira Clark took control of the Department of the Sealing Designation Enforcers and heavily militarized the entire Department and deepened cooperation between the Department of the Sealing Designation Enforcers and Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment.
*
Personality: Keira Clark is often described as an authoritative, unbending, and cunning person who would do everything she can to achieve her goals. She is a highly intelligent and extremely competitive person who is obsessed with fighting powerful opponents. Keira Clark is someone who despises weakness and anyone whom she deems to be weak.
One of the things that she hated the most was the mindset of people who accepted that they were weak and didn't improve their strength. On the battlefield, these personality traits gave rise to her infamy across the world, as she was known as one of the most ruthless and bloodthirsty generals in modern history.
*
Hobbies: Aside from training her Battle Magic and Sword Art, which she considers to be her hobby, her major hobby is the study of military history, war strategies, and battle tactics. Even her hobbies are things that are set to make her a better commander on the battlefield, and even a more fearsome person than she already is.
In her free time, she is also often reading books about famous battles and wars in the history of Terra, which is her favorite relaxation activity when she wants to relax.
*
Favorite Sexual Activities: Hardcore Sex, Punishment Sex, Anal Sex, Vaginal Sex, Heavy Sexual Sadism (Engages In), Cunnilingus, Creampie, Orgy, Group Sex of One Male and Several Females, Lesbian Sex, Sexual Domination, Objectification Fetish (Subject Of)
- Keira Clark is sexually dominant, and during intercourse, she often takes the leading and dominant role. She doesn't enjoy slow sex or intercourse where she is forced to take a submissive role.
- Even though she is not a fan of the submissive role during intercourse, from time to time, she lets Yakou take her and treat her like an object to vent his lust. It's one of the contradictions that Keira Clark has.
*
Classification: Mage, Knight, Relic User, Heirloom User
Path of Power: In regard to her Path of Power, her innate talent for Magic could be considered as wondrous and miraculous in some way. She came originally from a family line that had little to do with the elements of the supernatural; her talent was really odd from any possible point of view.
Obviously, someone like her didn't have time or aptitude for the arduous study of the Magic Lore; she devoted herself to honing her Battle Magic Skills, which have reached an almost unprecedented degree for a Magic of common origins and not someone from a well-established long Magic Lineage.
She is a master at using Battle Magic for destruction and Enhancement Magic to temporarily boost her combat prowess to a higher level. Her combat style is then complemented by her mastery over the Sword, which she is using together with the Spell and Magic.
Magic Specialization: Battle Magic, Close Combat Magic, Enhancement Magic, Hermetic Magic
Keira Clark is also a very proficient Relic User, focusing on the offensive Relic and the objects that could further increase her combat prowess on the battlefield.
***
United States of Federal America, Virginia, Charlottesville, Numengard Estate, New Year's Eve
On New Year's Eve, the atmosphere in the Numengard Estate wasn't that much different from the other day, but at the same time, they were preparing for the New Year's Party, which was being organized by Eve and Kirari together.
Yakou was mostly nonchalant about the entire thing, and he didn't want to do anything, aside from lazing around, drinking, eating, and spending time with his lover. But Eve and Kirari wanted to take this occasion to host a party and invite various important figures from across the United States of Federal Americas to meet with the Campione.
It was all about establishing a deeper connection and showing power. Meanwhile, Kirari wanted to show her son to the public, mainly to increase her own prestige and power...
When Yakou heard about that, he immediately thought that this was obviously something Kirari would come up with, and in Eve Rockefeller, she found someone who greatly enjoyed these political power plays.
What was even worse, Marie joined in for fun, because she wanted to scare people and enjoy their bad luck?
Or how exactly did she call that?
He didn't really understand and didn't want to know it.
In the end, he just went along with it, because it kept his women occupied and happy.
Which was the priority.
Yakou retreated to the training grounds of the Numengard Estate because Eve told him that he wasn't needed right now in the Estate, and he was hindering their efforts to prepare for the party.
Thus, he went to train in the training grounds as he practiced his spear arts. Over the past months, he ordered the Illuminati Society to gather as many spear training manuals and instruction sets as possible.
Some of them were even exchanged by him personally with Luo Hao because her Holy Cult of the Five Mountains had the most extensive collection of the Weapon Art Manuals.
At the same time, some were given to him by the Kure Clan and Kengan Association, who also had a good number of such things.
Nevertheless, Yakou was working very hard on mastering the spear because Gungnir was his main armament when he was fighting against anyone. The Divine Authority of the Gungnir: The Spear of Heaven was a simple yet very powerful and versatile Divine Authority.
It allowed him to wield an overpowered Divine Weapon, and it even had the Great Declaration of God - One Sure Hit Kill, an ability that was almost impossible to defend against.
To achieve an even greater level of power, Yakou needed to become a spearman whose spearmanship was unparalleled, so he could fully unleash the power of the Gungnir.
Otherwise, he would never be able to utilize the Spear of Heaven to its full potential, like he would if he were someone on the level of Scáthach in the art of spear.
Yakou would have even preferred to find a Heretic God with Divine Authority related to spears and usurp his Divine Authority, because it would make him far more formidable than he was right now.
Currently, he was relying mostly on the Divine Authority of the Mímir's Well to enhance his comprehension and learn as much as possible within the one-hour period during which Mímir's Well was active.
Of course, during this time, he wasn't alone, but he was training together with Keira, who was also spending the last few weeks in the Numengarrd Estate.
It has been found that, even though she was General of the Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment, 5th Seat of the Knights of the Round Table and Head of the Department of Sealing Designation Enforcers, it wasn't like she had a full schedule.
In fact, she had a lot of free time because most administrative duties and other tasks were handled by her subordinates, while she focused on the most important matters or those that required her personal oversight.
And there were not many of those.
"Dammit! You have gotten so much better that I need to actively defend..."
Keira, visibly grumbling, noted that Yakou had progressed so much over the past few months that she was now on the defensive side. Though... simultaneously, she was also becoming incredibly horny, because showing power was a huge turn-on for her.
They were currently sparring using only their skills in their respective weapons of choice, and Yakou actively suppressed his physical attributes to match those of Keira's. Otherwise, this would be far from being an equal fight if he could use all the physical dimensions of the Campione that were incomparably higher than hers.
What can I say? I am the most talented genius under the 33 Heavens."
Yakou said with a grin as he struck out Keira's sword from her hand, effectively ending the match, as she fell on the ground. Obviously, they were using only training weapons and not the real ones, for safety reasons.
"Most likely the biggest cheater under the 33 Heavens."
She returned as she took his extended hand and stood up, while dusting herself off the dirt.
"Potato potato."
Yakou said because, in his opinion, there wasn't much distinction between being a cheater and a genius... he was just a genius who wasn't natural but depended on the Divine Authority of the Mímir's Well.
He understood very well that if not for the Divine Authority of the Mímir's Well, he wouldn't be able to progress so fast in the arts of Onmyōdō or Hermetic Magic. Nor would he be able to master the Innate Onmyōdō Technique: Gram Demolition to such a high degree as right now.
"Of course you would say something like that..."
Keira finished cleaning the dirt from her clothes as both of them sat down behind the table, and servants brought them some refreshments and food after the training. Keira and Yakou often trained together because, among his lovers, she was the only one who specialized in close combat.
And frankly, there were not actually that many people who dared to spar with Campione, even if Yakou suppressed his power to their level. The only ones who dared to do so were the other two people.
Thomas Andre and George Holton.
Andre was always a bit of a nutjob who had a few screws loose in his head, because he even wanted to top fight Campione in his full power. Yakou thought that he was probably the only person in the entire world who dared to say something like that.
The 6th Seat of the Knights of the Round Table and Head of the Department was probably even more battle-maniac than Keira, who was now happily eating the steak that was served to them.
And George Holton, the 4th Seat of the Knights of the Round Table and Head of the Department of Judgment, wasn't much better, but by only a small bit.
Aside from the two of them, with whom Yakou cultivated some degree of friendship, because both Andre and Holton never really cared about societal norms or proper behavior in general, they were able to be far more casual with Campione.
"Keira, I wanted to ask you something. Are you nearing the level of the Magic Saints? While we were sparring today, I felt that your Mana is far higher than that of an average Grand Knight or Magister of Magic."
Yakou stated, looking at his lover, because he felt that Keira should be very close to reaching the Level of the Magic Saints. Yet, at the same time, the Mana in her body was... different from what he had felt from other Magic Saints and something seemed to be blocking her further progress in this area.
"Yeah... but it seems that until you have good results from the HIVE about the Project Genesis, then I would be stuck at this level. According to the preliminary tests and their results, I have hit the wall of The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas."
Keira said with a sad sigh, because like many others within the ranks of the Illuminati Society, their greatest obstacle was The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas. Many people in the United States of Federal Americas didn't have that strong concentration of the Magic Blood.
Or rather, they didn't have a strong enough concentration of Magic Blood to reach Magic Saint Level... and for many, reaching even the Level of the Magister or Grand Knight was a hassle...
The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas was the greatest obstacle that many Mages and Knights in the USFA and Illuminati Society were facing, and the research conducted in the HIVE, while yielding results, was also rather slow.
Otherwise, with her own aptitude and hard work, she would have reached the Magic Saint Level some time ago. And Keira was also unlucky in one regard, that she didn't have a Heirloom.
Finding a suitable heirloom for someone like her was very troublesome because it needed to be an heirloom capable of growth and would accompany her for a very long time.
"Well, if you want... I can help you reach the Magic Saint Level through a ritual that I have been researching for some time, which is based on the Ritual of the First Manas."
Yakou said after some time of thought, because he knew that Keira must be pretty annoyed that she couldn't reach the Magic Saint Level, and what was holding her back was The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas.
His lover instantly perked up when she heard that there might be a possibility of reaching the Magic Saint Level without a lengthy wait for the Project Genesis to yield tangible results that could be used in real life.
"Really?! Then we should go right now and not waste any more time!"
Keira was so excited that she wanted to go immediately to conduct the ritual that Yakou was speaking about. The prospect of reaching the Magic Saint Level was something she earned throughout her life, because it meant being one of the strongest people in the world.
Aside from the Campiones, Heretic Gods, Divine Ancestors, and powerful Divine Beasts.
If those were not included in the rankings, then the Saint-Level Mages and Martial Arts were indeed the strongest people in the world. And she would also be one of the very few Magic Saints that were ever born on the American continent, and one of the first ones in the new era of the Illuminati Society.
Either way, it would be a considerable achievement for her.
"Wait for a bit... we cannot go anywhere because the ritual that I am talking about requires quite a few things that need to be prepared for the ritual to be successful, and I need to find a suitable place."
The Ritual that Yakou was speaking about was derived from the Ritual of the First Manas and was used to break through the barriers between the Levels. Yakou specifically started creating this Ritual to help some of the older generation of Mages of the Illuminati Society reach higher Levels.
For them, the effects of the Project Genesis could not be sufficient... especially if the said Mage has already depleted their potential and is behind their prime time. Such a situation needed a vastly different approach than using the results of the Project Genesis.
"Then, when can it be prepared?"
She asked almost immediately after her efforts were shut down by Yakou.
"Give me a few days, and it will be ready."
Yakou would have prepared everything in the upcoming few days, and they could start the ritual for Keira to ascend as a Magic Saint. Then the Illuminati Society would welcome another Magic Saint within their ranks, which would be an undoubted great boon to their forces.
"Also, are you eager for the evening's ball?"
He then added with a grin, because he knew that the last thing that Keira would be eager about would be a formal occasion like the New Year's Eve Party and Grand Ball that Kirari and Eve were preparing.
And the worst thing for the General of the Federal Military was that she was expected to go, and she couldn't wear her uniform.
So Yakou was looking forward to it, because he would see her in a dress.
It would be a really funny thing to see.
"Shut the fuck up."
Keira scowled almost instantly when she heard those dreaded words, because it meant she would be forced to wear formal dresses and all those other things. Which she absolutely hated because it was impractical and would make her look like a fool.
"What? Maybe it would look good on you..."
He seriously pondered, but Keira was actually a very good-looking woman, and he really believed that she would look good in a dress. However, it was also more than evident that she had never worn clothes like that in her entire life.
"I never wore anything like that in my whole life.... and now you are forcing me to parade myself like a clown in the circus."
For him, it was really funny how such a small thing could provoke such a strong reaction from her.
"I am sure that Eve would select something for you in which you would feel good and comfortable... not to mention, with your status, nobody will dare to mention even slighterst remakr nd if they do, then just give them a good punch."
Yakou said with a chuckle, because he knew that deep inside, even Keira was a woman and cared about how she appeared in public. Even though she spent her entire life in the military and was a soldier to the bone, she always wore her uniform flawlessly without any deformities or anything and looked perfect.
"Ts... if you say so..."
In the end, she showed a small smile as she agreed to the proposal.
***
Numengard Estate, Several Hours Later - Evening
When it came to the New Year's Eve Ball that was hosted by the Campione directly, it was clear that this was a societal event of the highest order, and everyone who meant something in the Federation and Illuminati Society wanted to get an invitation.
Since the establishment of the United States of Federal Americas, more and more people became aware of the Supernatural Side of the World and what might be hiding in there... and what Campione represented.
Those with good political or business acumen were aware that getting closer to the Campione or people who were close to the Campione, meaning climbing the social ladder.
Obviously, nobody could just go and try to get the initiation from the Campione himself, but his acknowledged lovers and fiancées, like Eve Rockefeller and Kirari Momobami, were options that could not be ignored.
Some even tried contacting Keira Clark, but most of them didn't have a good result, because the General of the Mage-Knight Blazet Corps Regiment just told them to get lost, or even worse.
Only a small number of people who were fellows from the Military succeeded, and even that was mainly attributed to the accident.
Yakou was currently preparing his clothes for the ball, or rather, Marie was finishing up the last details on his kimono. Today, he was wearing a black Habutae kimono with the Tsuchimikado Clan's crest on the kimono, as he was also the Patriarch of the Tsuchimikado Clan.
With the birth of Tsuchimikado Satoru, it could be said that the Tsuchimikado Clan has been officially revived and is once again functioning as a clan. Remnants of the Clan have been reabsorbed into its structures, and there were a few tens of people...
Mostly the ones from the collateral branches and distant relatives, but nevertheless... even that was something, and their numbers would increase as time went on.
Yakou would normally wear his uniform, the one he always wore, because it was formal enough and also provided protection and boosted his battle performance, as it was heavily engraved with Runes and Fūinjutsu.
But upon Marie's and Kirari's advice, he had settled for a Kimono... even Kirari was wearing one, that was very similar to Yakou's and bore the Crests of the Tsuchimikado Clan and Momobami Clan, showing their close relationship.
Meanwhile, the mother-daughter duo of Mamiya Marie and Mamiya Marika wore Western-style formal dresses because they felt more comfortable in them. Not to mention, compared to the Tsuchimikado Clan or even the Momombai Clan, the Mamiya Family didn't have any deep roots or heritage.
They were just a very rich family that was lucky to make a business during World War II and get rich very quickly.
Far from an established noble Clan that could trace its roots to the Yaoi Period, in the case of the Tsuchimikado Clan, and the Momobami Clan's roots were just a few centuries younger than that of Yakou's.
"Let's go... I want for this to be already over with..."
He complained as he prepared to go into the main Ballroom where the guests were gathered... yeah, the Numengard Estate had a Ballroom and one that could accommodate more than five hundred people rather easily...
This was also the first time that it was being used.
"Hush... don't complain... this is a wonderful evening, so don't destroy it with your grumbling."
Compared to him, Marie was in high spirits as she adjusted her dress together with Marika as the three of them were headed to the Ballroom together. Kirair and Eve were already present for some time, because they were welcoming the guests, and Kirair was together with them, much to her dismay.
"Yeah, wonder for who... I bet that you made a killing with the favors gathered for the people who wanted to obtain an invitation to the ball."
He retorted because he knew why Marie was in such a good mood. She was one of the main recipients of the benefits because many people saw her as much more approachable compared to Kirari or Eve.
Kirari Momobami was not only the mother of the Yakou's child, which was widely known, but also the Clan Head of the Momobami Clan. Everyone knew what the Momobami Clan was and what their line of work was, so many "respectable" businessmen and politicians refrained from contact with her.
Not to mention, in certain circles, it was widely known that she was a psychotic and extremely dangerous person.
Meanwhile, Eve Rockefeller was extremely intimidating just by hearing her last name. Her family was virtually the most powerful and richest in the entire USFA and ranked top in the world...
Aside from that, she herself was famous for being a prodigy in Magic, CEO of the Rockefeller Bank, Heir Apparent of the Rockefeller Family, and 3rd Seat of the Knights of the Round Table, among many other things.
Overall, she belonged to the category of people whom you don't want to be dependent on.
Meanwhile, Mamiya Marie was relatively unknown in the high circles of society in the United States of Federal America, and not many knew her. She was known for being very rich, head of the Mamiya Conglomerate, and the lover of Campione, on whom apparently the 7th Campione doted a lot.
Though what was most important was that she was apparently a very pleasant person and seemed very approachable.
"For that, we already have Keira..."
He muttered as he took a look at Marika and noticed that the green-haired Mamiya was already finished with her things, and they could go. As they walked through the halls of the Estate, passing by servants who were very busy with the entire event, Yakou was deeply glad that all of his lovers were getting along to a certain degree.
While they were also competing with each other and were also rivals in some things, it was all within bounds. Most of them were competing with each other, not even that much for his affection, but for the sake of their own egos and pride to show that they were the best...
Well, that was given when every single one of his lovers was exceptional and talented in some area... not to mention, Eve and Kirari were extremely competitive in almost everything, and they were huge perfectionists.
Keira, on the other hand, was only competitive when it came to power because she wanted to be the strong Mage Knight, and Marie and Eve often competed about who could make more money and gather more wealth.
***
Numengard Estate, West Wing Ballroom
The West Wing Ballroom within the Numengard Estate was a breathtaking display of imperial luxury and aristocratic grandeur that was typical only for the Royal Families and Imperial Houses in the old continent.
Towering gilded columns rose toward an immense vaulted ceiling adorned with elaborate gold filigree, painted frescoes, and intricate geometric patterns, radiating opulence from every surface.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung like glowing constellations, bathing the hall in warm golden light that reflected across the polished marble floor like liquid fire. Deep crimson drapes framed the tall arched windows, adding a regal contrast to the gold and ivory architecture.
Ornate red velvet chairs and delicate gilded tables lined the edges of the chamber, giving the vast, open floor an atmosphere suited to royal ceremonies, grand waltzes, or diplomatic galas.
The entire space felt almost unreal in its perfection... like a palace hall designed not merely for entertainment, but to overwhelm visitors with the wealth, power, and magnificence of the Illuminati Society and the power of the USFA.
Every single time that Yakou looked at it, he was shcoked, impressed, and also thought that it was a huge waste. He wasn't really a fan of the grand and opulent buildings like this one at all, because he considered it a waste of resources.
Though the same cannot be said about most of his lovers, who were, on the other hand, enjoyed by the facilities within the Estate, and Yakou heard that they wanted to make it even bigger with some renovations and extensions.
"So, have you already seen anyone interesting?"
Yakou asked as he tried to be as invisible as possible, so he stood together with Marie in the back of the Ballroom. In the end, a little bit of concealment magic did wonders for them, as they could talk for the time being.
"A few targets, truth to be told... some of them I know from the past and I can now go and gloat."
Marie said because she was going to annoy people and make them uncomfortable, which was one of her favorite hobbies. She looked across the guests of the place as she searched for suitable targets, or people with whom she had conflicts in the past.
She was an extremely vengeful woman... far more than anyone Yakou actually knew, because she could hold a grudge for a very long time, and she was far more cruel than she should have been when plotting her revenge and punishment.
"Keep it moderate... we don't need a scandal or someone fainting in the middle of the event."
Yakou commented lightly because he wasn't really going to forbid her from doing what she wanted, but he only reminded her to keep it contained. The last thing that they needed here was some kind of scandal...
Considering the number of people present and that all people attending the ball were the most powerful people in the entire United States of Federal Americas. Yakou observed the entire gathering for some time until he found the CEO of Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech, which was the USFA's largest corporation specializing in weapons manufacturing.
Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech was one of the world's largest manufacturers of weapons and military vehicles, with facilities on every continent. Yakou's own Militech Corporation owned a significant amount of Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech's stock.
"Well, if you excuse me, I have some things that I need to handle."
Yakou said to Marie as he headed toward the place where Donald Lundee was speaking with some Senators about the latest situation in the world.
Donald Lundee was a former United States Marine Corps general who resigned his post to join the small arms company Armatech-Luccessi. He took up the position of CEO and renamed the company Armatech-Lazarus Group after partnering with another retired general, Emile Lazarus.
Over the years, it grew to an enormous private military contractor and merged with the Lockheed Corporation in 1995, renamed Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech. Just a few years later, it took over Martin Marietta Corporation, officially becoming one of the largest megacorporations in the USA.
Yakou had something to discuss with Lundee because Militech was preparing for the mass production of the CADs and other Magic-based weapons.
Mainly because the research was already completed on thema nd aslo beucase of the results of the "Report on the Increasing Density of Magic and Code: Resurgence around the Terra and its comprehensive analysis with the possible effects on the landscape of Terra".
It was a report created by the Special Magic Resurgence Group of the Magic Association Council, with the primary contributors being the Greenwich Association, Witenagemot, the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains, the Illuminati Society, the Azuresnow Shrine, and the now destroyed History Compilation Committee.
According to the report, it was clear that in a few years, the entire Magic Side of the World would be revealed, and by the collective decision of the Illuminati Society, USFA would already be preparing for it.
One of the major aspects of this preparation was the mass production of the CADs and development of the Magic Weapons that could also be also used by the No-Majs, which was now of strategic importance to the USFA.
Obviously, the Militech didn't have the industrial capacity to start full-scale manufacturing of the CADs for the No-Maj use, but if this responsibility was handled by the corporations that had it, then it would be an entirely different story.
Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech was an enormous hegemon that supplied arms not only to the entire military of the USFA but also to many other countries that were in one way or another allied with the United States of Federal Americas.
And then there were also countless other private contractors to the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech that were not countries or nations. Its power within the USFA was pretty hard to calculate, because if the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech collapses, then it would also destroy the entire federal military-industrial complex.
"Gentlemen."
Yakou went to Donald Lundee, who was an elderly man in his sixties or so, with blonde hair and a shaven beard, talking to another of Yakou's acquaintances, Chief of Staff of the Federal Armed Forces Michael Connor, and Director of the FBI Morgan Lansdale.
After merging with the former territories of Canada and Mexico, the FBI became even more important in quelling the dissent, capturing the dissidents, deserters, and criminal elements that were deemed to be a threat to the national order.
Thus, Lansdale became one of the most powerful people within the USFA.
"Your Majesty."
Among the people who were present at the New Year's Eve Ball at the Numengard Estate, everyone was aware of the existence of Supernatural and Yakou's status as the Campione.
For these politicians of the USA, there was nothing better than to have a Campione who willingly supported their nation, because that way, they could claim to be the global superpower in the Mundane Side of the World and also the Reverse Side of the World.
Previously, the 5th Campione, Titled: Hero, John Pluto Smith was only interested in fighting against crime in Los Angeles and didn't want to have anything to do with either the Illuminati Society or the government of the USA.
Not like the two factions didn't try to win over the 5th Camione, but John Pluto Smith was too obsessed with fighting crime, and like many other Campuiones before him, he was utterly disinterested in the matters of the ordinary mortal.
But Tsuchimikado Yakou was a different breed of Campione.
"What has brought the mighty Campione to our little corner of schemes?"
It was Morgan Lansdale who spoke, because compared to Connors, who met the 7th Campione only a few times in his life, and Lundee, who only heard about Ten'nō no Onmyōji, the older Director of the FBI knew him from the time before he was Campione.
So their relationship was closer, and Yakou was never strict on formalities with people that he knew and had a good relationship with. That could be seen even with his relationship with Katahara Metsudō or Kure Erioh.
Though, then again, there were always some exceptions, like Kure Raian, who disregarded any social protocols and even challenged Yakou to spar. Mostly because he wanted to see the might of Campione, and he never really believed that Yakou became Campione, until he was set flying with one casual strike.
"What else, Mr. Lansdale? Scheming... of course."
Yakou said with a small grin.
Obviously, Yakou came here to scheme; otherwise, he wouldn't go and seek out someone like Lansdale.
"But more concretely, I have some business with Mr. Lundee here that involves mass production of the CADs for our troops and also the ones for No-Maj use, which are currently in development by Militech."
Even though Militech wasn't producing anything, it was still researching new technologies that would reshape the world. Right now, it could be said that Militech served as the primary research center for the Illuminati Society in terms of Magic-based weapons for the new Era.
Some of these projects were personally overseen by Yakou, while others were overseen only by the contracted scientists or the Magic Engineers, as they were called. Magic Engineer was a relatively new profession that rose within the ranks of the Illuminati Society over the decades.
Though only right now, they were getting far more resources and investments than before.
"This is also the first time that we are meeting, Your Majesty. Donald Lundee, CEO and one of the Founders and Owners of the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech. It's my honor to meet you."
Donald Lundee bowed slightly toward Yakou, as everyone who was attending the New Year's Eve Ball at the Numengard Estate knew the social protocol when meeting with Campione.
Even though the structure of the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech has changed and evolved over the years, Donald Lundee and Emile Lazarus still owned around 10% of the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech each.
Not to mention, when it came to the voting rights, despite the fact that they collectively held only something between 20% to 22% of the corporation's shares, they held majority voting rights in their hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Lundee... Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech is one of the pillars of our Federation, and in the future, it will become the key element in holding the might of the entire Federal Military, and for that, I have come seeking your cooperation on a certain matter."
Yakou said with a rather courteous tone, much to Lundee's surprise, because this fit well with the general image of the Campiones in the world. Yet again, Tsuchimikado Yakou was always outside of the stars of the Campione's in the world.
"Really? If it's about manufacturing weapons, then our Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech is second to none."
Donald Lundee said that because he knew that when it came to manufacturing weapons and armaments, his Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech was second to none. At the same time, he was aware that Militech International was one of the biggest shareholders in Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech.
Holding more than 20%.
And in turn, the entire Militech International was a private company owned by the Tsuchimikado Clan with Tsuchimikado Yakou as the Clan's Patriarch.
Cooperation between Militech and Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech would increase the power and reach of Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech by a huge degree, as they would have direct access to one of the most powerful people in the world.
"Militech is soon planning to launch mass production of the CADs, short for the Casting Assistant Devices for the Magic Users, and also ones that would be specialized and created for the No-Majs."
What Yakou said wasn't anything new, even for the Lundee, because several weeks ago, he was approached by the Pentagon and the Department of War about the possible mass production of the CADs and various projects that required direct participation of the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech.
Though... even he was surprised by the revelation that Militech was researching and developing the CADs for the No-Majs. This was a huge thing even for the Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech, because that would require tremendous investments and an increase in production.
Currently, within the entire Federal Military-Industrial Complex, only Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech could meet the massive requirements for the project Militech was developing.
"That would be a project of colossal proportions and something that the world has never seen before..."
Donald Lundee, as someone who had rather extensive knowledge in the area of modern technologies and engineering, despite lacking any formalized education, knew what the prospect of the CADs for the No-Majs represented.
Though calling them CADs for the No-Majs was only a working name and not anything definitive. It would be more prudent to call such devices Magic Tools... even the components of the Casting Assistant Devices and Blazer Devices belong to the category of Magic Tools.
Albeit far more advanced and sophisticated Magic Tools than anyone could imagine.
"Yes, it would... but the highest leadership of the Society and Federal Council has decided that it is of strategic importance for the continual survival and prosperity of the Federation."
The Federal Council was a newly established organ, established a few weeks after the establishment of the USFA itself. It consisted of the highest leadership of the entire Federation, not only from the Congress but also from the White House, the Pentagon, and other special branches.
It was slowly taking over some competencies of the various branches of the Federal Government and member states...
It was also predicted that in the next ten years, the entire Federal Government would shrink by at least half, mostly to prevent the entire Federal Government from becoming too big to manage.
"Has it?"
Lundee asked because this wasn't something that he was aware of as he looked at Michael Connor and Morgan Lansdale, as both of them nodded to the words of Campione. Connor, as Chief of Staff of the Federal Military, and Lansdale, as Director of the FBI, both held seats at the Federal Council.
"Once a notion passes through the Federal Council, you will be too informed about certain assumptions and information that was previously classified. In the end, right now, only Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech has the capacities ot start the mass production of the CADs. My proposal is that Lockheed-Lazarus Armatech would handle the production of the General CADs, which are more uniform and generalized, while Militech would handle the production of the high-end and personalized CADs."
Yakou said this because, in his view, Militech International was never supposed to handle the production of the General-Class Casting Assistant Devices. Nor did they have the capacity to produce the General-Class Casting Assistant Devices, nor did he want Militech to keep producing them.
The General-Class Casting Assistant Devices were the most basic of the CADs and they were nothing special. For that reason, they were named as "General-Class" because they were for a much wider use.
"And the division of the profit?"
As Lundee asked this, Yakou just shook his head because he never really planned to delve into this aspect.
"About that, you will need to speak with Eve... she is handling the business side of this, and in this case, I am just a messenger of goodwill..."
Yakou wasn't a businessman or someone who knew how to make money aside from carrying out assassinations. It wasn't his strong suit; the management in general wasn't his strong suit, so he left everything in Eve's capable hands, who was far more apt in this area than he was.
After speaking with Donald Lundee a bit, Yakou went to find Eve and Kirari across the West Wing Ballroom as he counted till the end of this entire thing. The one that caught his attention the most was Keira Clark in a dress, which was a sight to behold.
She was wearing a rather beautiful purple dress, which matched her eyes, with grey-golden patterns and ornamental emblems, and judging based on her expression, she was as uncomfortable as it could get.
Fortunately enough, she maintained a rather neutral expression, or else her glare would be enough to kill a more weak-willed person.
***
Several Days Later, Ritual Room of the Numengard Estate
Several days after the New Year's Eve Ball at the Numengard Estate, Yakou was finishing the last preparation for the Ritual of the First Manas.
Or rather, it was sub-ritual that Yakou derived from it through the Divine Authority of the Mímir's Well, which he created specifically to help people stuck with the C-Rank Mana parameter break through to the B-Rank Parameter.
Which was essentially the ascension from the Magister of Magic / Grand Knight Level to the Magic Saint Level. With this ritual, it would bypass The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas and allow the one undertaking the Ritual to reach the Magic Saint Level.
For the best results, Yakou delved into one of the Tombs that was located in the territory of the USFA, where the Magical Beasts were still active.
The most basic and populous of the Phantasmal Beasts are the Magical Beasts. Overall, the Magical Beasts are species of animals and insects that were influenced by high levels of Mana, evolving them into an entirely new race capable of using Magic.
In the modern age, the Magical Beasts were exceedingly rare, and there were not many of them in the first place. In the current age, they could be found only in some Tombs or in some hidden places across Earth.
Yakou knew that among the current factions, only the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains had access to most Magical Beasts, because they were actually breeding them within the Kunlun Mountains, where the Holy Cult was located.
"Now listen carefully, as I will be describing the process only once."
Yakou said to Keira, who was also doing her own preparations for the Ritual that Yakou devised for her.
"The Ritual that I have created for you is mostly based on the Ritual of the First Manas that will target The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas and sacrifice this Magical Beast that I managed to find in the Tomb within the Canada State. The density of Magic within this Three-Eyed Magic Wolf should be enough to raise the amount of the Magic Blood within your body to the level where The 3rd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Blood of Manas won't be obstructing your advancement."
He explained as he then pointed to the ground of the secret ritual room within the Numengard Estate, which was bound by the Fūinjutsu Seals. The Three-Eyed Magic Wolf looked like a wolf, but it was much bigger than normal wolves.
Aside from its brilliant dark purple fur, its most notable feature was its third eye on the forehead... It was also this specific reason why Yakou chose the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf for his lover to use within the Ritual.
"The most basic feature of the Ritual of the First Manas is to sacrifice the Source of Magic, which in this case is a Magical Beast, so the person who is subject to the ritual would receive all the benefits of the Sacrifice. This Three-Eyed Wolf's concentration of the Magic Blood is very strong, and it also possesses Innate Magic in the form of its Third Eye, which greatly affects The 1st Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Eidos Intervention and The 2nd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Magic Calculation. According to my calculations, if you completely assimilate the foundation of this Three-Eyed Magic Wolf, you will reach the top-tier among the Magic Saints, no less than 1st Seat Faust."
Both The 1st Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Eidos Intervention and The 2nd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Magic Calculation were essentially important for Mages and were the basis of Magic Casting and Casting Spells of any kind.
The 1st Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Eidos Intervention - One needed to have sufficient ability to intervene with Eidos, the information body of a phenomenon. The use of Modern Magic involves altering a target's phenomena by altering its Eidos, thereby producing the desired results. The Magic Sequence targets the Eidos, overwriting the information of the target. Information is associated with events, and when the information is overwritten, the event is overwritten as well. This leads to physical changes in the real world itself.
The 2nd Grand Cardinal Code: Principle of Magic Calculation - One needs to have sufficient power in the Magic Calculation Area. Also known as the Magic Processor, it is the part of the subconscious mind responsible for the use of Magic. The Magic Calculation Area's transforms the imagined reality into data and produces a Magic Sequence for the desired spell. Generally speaking, target coordinates, strength, and ending requirements are all set as variables to be executed by the Magic Calculation Area; all other essentials are incorporated into the Activation Sequence, which is then sent to the Magic Calculation Area and translated into a Magic Sequence.
The Illuminati Society had only one geniue Magic Saint.
The 1st Seat of the Knights of the Round Table and Head of the Department of Alchemy of the Illuminati Society, Johann Georg Faust.
Who advanced only a few weeks ago.
"Alright... you can start."
Keira said after digesting the information, already pretty eager for the huge power-up that was coming her way as she went to the place that Yakou had pointed out. It was one of the two centers of the Ritual, the place for the person who was receiving the effects of the Ritual.
She would be the first person undergoing the Ritual, and if he wasn't 100% cofnident in the success, he would have never allowed her to undergo the Ritual and instead chose someone else.
But with the help of the Divine Authority of the Mímir's Well and his own insights into the Ritual of the First Manas, there was nothing to worry about. On top of that, Yakou also used some of his Blood as a catalyst for the Ritual, hoping to incorporate the effects of the Campione's Divine Blood into the procedure.
If not for this confidence, he would have chosen someone like Thomas Andre, who was also a candidate for the spot.
Even though Andre was a Magic Saint, he was only at best a Pseudo Magic Saint, because the methods which he used were inherently flawed, and his Magic Saint status was unstable, and his combat prowess wasn't up to par.
In the near future, he would also be undergoing the same ritual as Keira to become geniue Magic Saint.
"As you wish... I am activating the Ritual."
The moment he finished saying that, the vast Divine Mana of the Campione was released by Yakou and resonated with the various Wardstones that were creating the Heart of the Formation.
In a split second, the entire Ritual Formation glowed in azure blue light, especially the parts that were bound by the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf and the floating Divine Blood of Campione, as the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf started fiercely struggling.
In the end, the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf that Yakou captured in the Tomb that was located in Canada, was still a B-Ranked Magical Beast. In terms of power, it was even more dangerous than the Magic Saints of humanity, because this Three-Eyed Magic Wolf had all of its Parameters around the B-Rank.
Something that Yakou personally confirmed when he used the All-Seeing Eyes of God and Crow's Interference when he checked the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf's life status.
He wanted only the best for Keira, so he needed to capture the Magical Beast with sufficient potential for the Sacrificial Ritual that he was conducting right now.
Meanwhile, the target of the ritual was now sitting calmly in the center of the Ritual Formation, as he was soon overwhelmed by waves of Mana. Soon enough, another form of Energy joined the Mana that was washing over Keira, or rather, it was slowly entering her body.
Blood Essence of the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf.
The Blood Essence was a special form of Energy and could be said to be a crystallization of the Magic Blood in the Energy Form within one's body. This Energy existed in all individuals, and most people naturally possess similar baseline levels. However, the Blood Essence of 99% is so weak that it's almost non-existent.
Even among the Mages, only those with a very powerful concentration of Magic Blood could condense the Blood Essence and use it to improve themselves. When Yakou saw this, he nodded his head in satisfaction as he continued to control the Ritual Formation.
With the All-Seeing Eyes of God, he could clearly see how the Blood Essence of the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf was under the guise of the Ritual Formation and an enormous amount of Mana, entering Keira's body and tremendously increasing her concentration of Magic Blood.
And this was just the first phase of the Ritual.
Because this was created for his loved one whom Yakou loved very deeply, he planned to use the Divine Blood of the Campione to condense her a Blood Essence Core and Magic Core from the Divine Mana.
As he got his hands on the corpses of the Magic Saints of the History Compilation Committee, after dissecting them and analyzing their bodies, he discovered what the most notable separating factor between the Magic Saint and other Mages was.
When one reached the Magic Saint Level, they would condense the Magic Core, based on their Elemental Attribute or other aspect of their Magic. Yakou didn't have one, because he became Champion when he was still just a rather weak Mage.
And during the process of becoming Campione through the Great Circle Of Usurpation, one could say he skipped these steps, and his Mana was raised directly to S-Rank, which was the standart for the Campione.
At the same time, for him to create a Magic Core would be incomparably harder because of the strength of his Mana, but it wasn't something that he gave up on.
A Magic Core is a metaphysical condensed energy crystallization of Mana that indicates one's evolution to a higher life stage. Depending on the source from which a Magic Core is condensed, the possessor's potential is permanently amplified on the path of that source, and their affinity to that source is increased.
This was also the reason why Thomas Andre was much weaker than Faust, as Andre never condensed Magic Core and Johan Faust did... among the other factors.
'Creation of the Magic Core in my body should be another way to raise my strength to a new level and bypass the severe restrictions of the Campiones... if I can condense a powerful Magic Core, then my Mana could rise by another whole level up and I won't be weaker than Voban in terms of raw power.'
When he observed Voban fighting against Sun Wukong, he noticed two spots in Voban's body that had a tremendous concentration of Mana within them, and they were also helping him regenerate his Mana at a much faster pace.
'Luo Hao should be the same... that woman had much more Divine Mana than me, and it was even far purer... these old timers who spent centuries being Campiones for sure explored every way of how to increase their power.'
Yakou thought as he guided the formation to start refining the floating drops of the Divine Blood of Campione and guiding the Blood Essence from it towards Keira, who was already in the process of Magic Core Formation in her body.
After the destruction of the History Compilation Committee, Dairenji Shidou, who was in charge of the Department of Lore, dug out their texts and manuals on the Magic Saints, which described the process.
On top of that, Yakou had the knowledge of the successive generation of the Tsuchimikado Clan's Mages on this topic. Obviously, this was his Clan's Secret Knowledge, so the only people with whom he had shared it were his lover, who would sooner or later advance into this stage.
With all necessary knowledge, Keira's advancement was rather smooth, yet at the same time, she was also feeling tremendous pain from the overhelming amount of Blood Essence from the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf and Divine Blood of Campione, which was taking root in her body.
At the same time, the amount of Mana that she was absorbing was equally alarming and was far more than an average Magic Saint would have. Normally, this would be a huge problem, but with someone like Campione, who was personally controlling the formation and even using his divine might to prevent anything from going wrong, Keira soon finished the entire process.
After the ritual ended, Yakou's Divine Blood was completely assimilated by Keira's body, and the Three-Eyed Magic Wolf became only an empty husk. Yakou noticed that fluctuations of Mana around Keira were far stronger than Faust's, and she could be said to be the second strongest person in the entire Illuminati Society.
"How are you feeling?"
He asked as he used the All-Seeing Eyes of God to see her state through the Interference of his Heirloom Crow.
[Name: Keira Clark
Title: General, Warmonger
Classification: Mage / Knight
Age: 31
Race: Human (Mage)
*
Parameters:
Strength - B+
Vitality - B++
Endurance - B++
Agility - B+
Mana - B++
Luck - B++
Magic Core: God's Mana Core
*
Class: B-Rank Magic Saint
Affiliation: Tsuchimikado Clan, Illuminati Society, Knights of the Round Table, United States of Federal America, USFA Military, Mage-Knight Blazer Corps Regiment
Armaments: Flame Spirit Sword (Blazer Device)
Heirloom: TBA
Relics: TBA
Magic: Hermetic Magic,
Uniqueness: Spiritual Eye (Dormant)
Skills: Master Strategist, Master Tactician, Master Combatant, Master Shooter
Abilities: N/A]
When he checked her condition through the All-Seeing Eyes of God, even he was surprised by the effects of the Ritual and the use of his Divine Blood.
[God's Mana Core - Mana Core of Magic Saint condensed through Essence of Divine Being, which leads to Divine Mana Properties of the Mana. This type of Magic Core is far stronger than an average Magic Core, as it contains the essence of the Divine.]
Almost always, when the Mages created their Magic Core, the first one that they created was a Mana Core, which was basically a Magic Core condensed from the purest Mana and was the most traditional Magic Core that is or was created.
According to the records, only later, in ancient times, when Magic Saints wanted to reach the Magic Lord Level, they would condense a second Magic Core that would be more aligned to their Magic.
Like, for example, an Elemental Magic Core that was condensed with the power of Elements and Mana together.
But such a thing didn't happen in the history of Terra for more than a millennium.
"Stronger than ever before... and like something that was chaining me has disappeared forever."
Keira answered because after the end of the ritual, she felt reinvigorated and stronger than ever, as Yakou just chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"That's only given... after this ritual, you can say that your talent in Magic has reached the pinnacle of humanity without crossing the Heavenly Boundary... if you train properly and utilize the available resources, reaching the Magic Lord Level is only a matter of time."
When Yakou said that, he truly meant that, because the effects of the Ritual of the First Manas were something beyond anyone's expectations. When Athena gave him this method, she gave him the full version, one could say...
Which means that there were also some insights into crossing the Heavenly Boundary.
"Really?"
Keira asked with a rather uncertain voice as she looked at her lover, because it sounded too outlandish.
"Really, really."
Yakou just nodded, because even Keira wasn't aware of the Divine Blood he used during the Ritual, as that was something he withheld from her. He didn't want for her to be under the pressure of the Divine Blood of Campione that was being used in the ritual.
Such a mindset could easily lead to fatal mistakes.
In the end, everything went well, and the results even exceeded Yakou's expectations.
"You know... during the ritual, I even used some of my Divine Blood... so technically speaking, the Magic Core that you condensed should be called God's Mana Core as it contains some Divine Attributes. Which in turn means that your Mana would be far stronger, purer, and denser than the Mana of the other Magic Saints."
Yakou explained what exactly had happened during the ritual and why Keira was actually feeling so powerful. When she heard that, she was actually shocked, but at the same time, she was immensely grateful, because the Divine Blood of Campione wasn't just some random drops of blood.
He, in fact, needed to extract a lot of blood from his body and refine it through several Magic Spells that would continuously purify the Divine Blood. He even used the Divine Authority ofKhvarenah: Halo of the Supreme Ruler, as the World Ending Flames were the most effective tool for it.
Yakou actually bled a lot for it and invested a lot of time to prepare the Divine Blood of Campione for the ritual.
"Then it seems that I need to prepare some kind of reward for you later on..."
Keira said, understanding that Yakou had invested a lot in his efforts to help her reach the Magic Saint Level. For her, reaching the Magic Saint Level was already something that was bordering on a sheer miracle, but in the end, it happened.
And in the future, she would have the potential to reach the Magic Lord Level as long as she remained alive.