Energy.
The core of all industrial systems.
In the Pupu Tribe’s Grand Plan that Lia envisioned, whether it was for developing the Pupu community, supplying industry, or accumulating war preparations… all required a massive amount of magic.
Hunting magical beasts had the advantages of low entry, convenience, and directness, but unfortunately, it wasn’t efficient.
Otherwise, ordinary battle professionals wouldn’t be doing it.
“Demons”—this kind of pure yellow, clean biological energy—was the ideal Magic Crystal in Lia’s imagination.
Ahem… Of course, this absolutely wasn’t because she wanted to get revenge on those traitor demons.
At least, not solely for that reason.
She dismantled the Pupu Car, dispersed the Pupu, and a group of oddly shaped Pupu bounced and hopped away to drink water and play.
Lia suddenly grinned sweetly, feeling a strange sense of being a childhood leader.
Strolling along the road filled with puddles, Lia continued to ponder how to use “magic” to break through technological barriers and replicate the high-efficiency steelmaking equipment of the post-industrial era.
During the early days of the Demon King’s reign, Lia had tested many physical laws, and they mostly matched her previous world’s knowledge.
There was no awkward situation like “analyzing combustion and discovering the fire element was actually doing the work.”
Perhaps this was related to the unique “principles of magic” in this world…
Simply put, the principles of magic here weren’t about manifesting fantasies—they were about “communication.”
According to the God of Magic, all things have spirits, and all matter contains its own Spirit Power—also known as magic.
A grain of sand, a drop of water, even the air itself contains undeveloped potential energy.
These primitive energies are both the raw material of creation and the silent awareness of existence, with magic permeating every bit of matter.
The principle of magic is to use one’s own spirit to communicate with the “silent consciousness” of all things, digging out their inner Spirit Power to achieve miraculous effects.
For example.
The Domination Sequence is about forcing nature to obey commands.
“Hey, stupid sand, if you don’t behave, I’ll smack you with magic! Move it!”
The Divine Sequence is about praying to gods who control nature for help.
“O great deity, please send a high-energy divine strike to XX location! Make it powerful, I’m begging you! If not, I’ll even kowtow! (thud)”
The Resonance Sequence is about befriending nature with goodwill.
“Element bro, I got beaten up, help me out.” “Sigh, since you called me bro, say no more. Let’s go!”
The Spiritual Sequence is about communicating with your own or another’s soul.
“Please, other me!” “No, I want to give up too.”
As for the War Sequence—it’s more abstract.
It’s about communicating with your own body and forcefully digging out physical potential, like a field of magnetic strength.
“Ahhhhh, muscles, ignite for me!” “If you don’t unleash a hundred thousand horsepower today, don’t even think about sleeping!”
See.
Magic is pretty amazing, isn’t it?
Before she knew it, Lia had walked to the end of the road, and Jon’s voice drifted into her ears from afar.
She froze, suddenly feeling a bit strange.
How did she wander over to Jon’s place just by aimlessly walking?
Was it coincidence?
Or the pull of kindred magic?
Magic is Spirit Power.
If she had Jon’s magic within her, in other words… hadn’t she already been deeply injected with Jon’s soul and mentally contaminated?
Thinking this way, Lia felt a bit creeped out inside.
She lowered her head and looked at her reflection in the puddle, suddenly noticing that her features looked a bit like that dumb princess.
No, not just the princess—also the saint, and even that elf, and even a trace of a young lady…
A bizarre thought popped up in Lia’s mind—so, could it be that this face was shaped according to Jon’s preferences? Whatever he likes, that’s what I look like?
This might also explain why, as a peerless tough guy, she turned into a female form after becoming humanoid—because the Hero’s magic interfered with her.
But if that’s the case, doesn’t it mean that as she absorbs more of the Hero’s magic, she’ll gradually evolve into the “pet lover” in the Hero’s heart?
—Wouldn’t she be overwhelmed by the assault?
Lia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
On one hand, she felt the Hero couldn’t be that perverted, but on the other, her heart grew uneasy and a cold shiver ran down her back.
After all, if the Hero turned his back on the Pupu, it would be even rougher than her own people…
“Gulp~”
Just imagining the scene, Lia couldn’t help but swallow.
[Ahem, well, at least the Pupu’s flexibility is strong enough… Even if it happened, it probably wouldn’t be fatal.]
The peerless tough Demon King didn’t notice—accompanying that heart-pounding fantasy, her slender legs unconsciously pressed together, pure yet alluring as they rubbed against each other.
Moisture from the Pupu oozed from her body, mixing with the rainwater and soaking the thin camisole dress and white stockings.
Beneath the fabric, her figure, angelic and devilish, grew even more dazzlingly alluring.
Lia pressed herself against the door, eavesdropping for a while.
“Teacher, I’m sorry. I failed. No one was willing to help me, I couldn’t borrow from anyone, what should we do? I’m really a failure…”
Jon’s voice was heavy with dejection and deep self-blame.
“The Holy Army didn’t agree?”
Jonathan’s voice was grave.
“Yuna refused. She… only cares about being a Saint, not about saving people.”
Jon’s tone was filled with disappointment.
Lia thought, isn’t that obvious! If the Saint were a pure saintly woman, not constantly scheming and networking, how could she have climbed to the position of Saint?
—Wouldn’t it be easier to just be an ordinary passing nun, spreading compassion and doing the work of a female Bodhisattva to fulfill her saintly ideals?
The power structure is like a filter.
It corrupts pure warriors and, equally, kicks out any warrior unwilling to be corrupted from the decision-making circle.
“What about the Imperial Guard?”
Jonathan pressed on.
Jon grew even more despondent.
“The princess avoided me. I tried asking Teacher Kobirio, but he was conflicted and unwilling too. He just gave me a lot of money, even his wife’s dowry.”
Lia couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Bro! He even gave you money—that means he wants to help!
Otherwise, why would he feel so guilty and give you so much cash?
He was obviously worried about the political consequences of helping.
At times like this, it’s simple—just be more forceful, take responsibility off his hands, and give him a perfect excuse to pass the blame.
“What about the City Guard… ah, never mind, that’s even less likely.”
Jonathan sighed.
“Yeah, I tried at first, but the City Guard are completely fragmented now. There’s not even anyone in charge, and they run when they see me.”
Jon’s depression deepened.
Lia pouted, clutching her chest in frustration.
—Fainted from being angered by the stupid Hero.jpg.
Fragmented is perfect!
Plus, you just executed their highest commander for ‘corruption’!
When the higher-ups set an example, what officer hasn’t been corrupt?
Which level isn’t now in a state of fear?
Before meeting them, at least send a middleman to calm things down.
You went over all innocent, and they probably thought you were there for a purge!
But Jon has always been a bit “pure (dumb)”, and Lia was used to it.
Calming herself, she casually picked up a plank, scraped some charcoal fragments, and began writing.
The chaotic situation in Qianhe Territory was actually perfect for her to establish the Pupu Tribe’s base.
The rioting refugees could serve as the first batch of low-tier workers, replacing ordinary Pupu and saving on command chains.
Even without considering the Hero, for the sake of the Pupu Tribe’s Grand Plan alone, she had to do her best to prevent the situation in Qianhe Territory from worsening.
So the first step…
Was to help the stupid Hero achieve his Vanguard Savior Dream!