Reincarnated In A World Of Mana As A Mechanic-Chapter 33: Valor City

The first glimpse of Valor City struck Ezekiel—who stood above a cliff that overlooked the city—with an overwhelming sense of grandeur that made even his memories of advanced civilizations pale in comparison. There seemed to be a sense of greatness witnessing the beauty of the city, composed of physics defying concepts that ran purely on mana and not the machines he was used to.

There might have been no maglev vehicles, no fusion reactors, no gravity belts, no sky reaching skyscrapers and such. But the might of this city tinged with a great aura of ancientness was not less magnificent than the sights he was used to on Earth.

Massive stone walls, reinforced with gleaming metal inlays that pulsed with contained mana, encircled the entire designated land that made up the city in concentric rings, creating distinct districts that served different purposes within this neutral territory.

At the city’s center stood the Star and Cross Institute, a colossal structure standing proudly at the heart of the majestic city. Seven towering spires—all being Mage towers, inlaid with different purposes—twisted skyward, each one carved from a different type of enchanted stone that caught and reflected light in mesmerizing patterns.

Of course, Ezekiel wasn’t a fool to assume that the only function such Mage towers possessed was to glitter and shine. He was sure that the seven towers possessed the capabilities of easily ending the life of a B rank Awakened once attacking together.

"By the gods," Vera breathed, her usual composure cracking as she took in the sight. "I’ve heard tales, but seeing it in person..."

Even a powerful Mage such as herself felt insignificant before such a city, the walls alone instilled her with a deep sense of dread, knowing that even if she attacked with all her might, she wouldn’t be able to cause even the slightest dent.

The Institute’s main building sprawled between the spires, a masterwork of engineering that incorporated floating platforms, gravity-defying platforms, and gardens suspended in mid-air through pure magical force. It seemed to be a fortress enhanced by the wonders of mana.

But the Institute, magnificent as it was, represented only the crown jewel of Valor City. The metropolis itself was a testament to what could be achieved when politics, petty squabbles and the ego of the strong were set aside in favor of progress and trade. As a neutral territory, Valor City served as the crossroads of the kingdom portraying itself as a land where merchants from every duchy, city and estate could conduct business without fear of political interference or military conflict.

The outer ring housed the massive merchant district, where warehouses the size of castles stored goods from across the kingdom. Caravans constantly moved through the wide gates, their wagons laden with exotic materials, rare artifacts, and precious items that would make any country bumpkin salivate with greed.

Nobody would dare cause any trouble in the city though. This was because neutrality was enforced not by any single power, but by a collective agreement among all the major nations—an agreement backed by the Institute itself, whose graduates held positions of influence in courts and guilds across the continent.

Having yourself wanted by the Star and Cross Institute meant having yourself wanted by the entire kingdom.

"Look at those walls," Anna whispered in amazement, pointing to the defensive structures that separated each district. "I reckon no C rank would be able to easily get past any one of them."

She was right. Mana-infused crystals embedded in the stone provided both illumination and defensive capabilities, creating a barrier that was as beautiful as it was impregnable. Not to mention that the base structure was already probably as durable as the tree bark from their escape.

The second ring contained the artisan quarters, where master craftsmen worked alongside awakened individuals to create items that combined mundane skill with magical enhancement. Students of the institutes and graduates who were Forgers would bury themselves in their crafts free of any concern that could befall them.

Smoke rose from countless forges where weapons were being tempered with elemental fires unique to each Forger, while alchemical workshops produced potions and elixirs. The very air in this district seemed to thrum with creative energy.

Ezekiel couldn’t begin to imagine how much the city gained from such a large and united factory of workers. "Fuck. How rich."

The mechanic sighed, his voice laced with hidden pain. Just a single workshop in such a district could net him a huge ton of money, yet he didn’t dare to even think of hatching any such plan – he still preferred to keep his life after all.

Vahn paused before giving his friend an aggrieved glare, as if warning him with his eyes not to try anything stupid. Ezekiel, showed off his thick skin once more, and ignored the hair raising glare while forcing his eyes off the district with a pained expression.

Moving inward, the third ring contained specialized research facilities that served as extensions of the Institute itself. Here, advanced students and graduates worked on projects that focused on the boundaries of magical theory and its practical application.

Ezekiel’s eyes lit up as he focused on the compound of one of such facilities, his eyes trained on the large metal golem that moved about, a bright azure glow emanating from the crystal embedded into its chest.

Its movements were quite slow, but every swing contained an unquestionable amount of power. Its other, more significant drawback was that it drained power too quickly.

The mechanic, feeling as though such a subject would help with his technological studies, wished to learn more. But he was too far to glean into the intricacies of such an experiment, not to mention that he wouldn’t be able to understand the golem just by looking at it – he would need the blueprint.

(I didn’t think they’d start trying to incorporate mechanical principles with mana manipulation. And it seems to be at quite an okay level too.) Laura’s voice contained a hint of surprise while she shared Ezekiel’s vision.

The latter was more concerned on how to integrate himself into one of such research facilities though. That would have to wait until after he got admitted. "I would be able to more efficiently perfect Vahn’s and Yuri’s Battlesuits if I could learn how to properly optimize mana flow with the mechanical systems with proper magical theory. It would help with my Battlesuits as well."

Yuri turned to face him in surprise. "Really? It won’t be easy to get everything we need though. I’m sure such knowledge isn’t easily accessible even within the institute."

Anna smiled and reassured her with excitement laced in her voice. "It won’t be easy to get it, yes. But that’s if our strengths remain the same. I’m sure we’ll be able to easily get whatever we aim for as long as our strengths are acknowledged.

The fourth and innermost ring housed the residential areas for students, faculty, and researchers. Unlike the grand mansions one might expect, these buildings were designed with functionality in mind, large enough for privacy, yet not too lavish as well. Each structure incorporated training facilities, private workshops, and study spaces where residents could pursue their individual interests while having access to shared resources.

"State your business in Valor City," called out the gate captain, a stern-faced man whose awakened aura marked him as at least C-rank. His eyes swept over their travel-worn group with practiced efficiency, taking note of their various equipment and the clear signs of recent hardship.

Through this observation, the entire group could easily gauge the bloodlust brimming within the man’s eyes, as though he were ready to cut them down the moment he sensed anything wrong.

"We’re here for the Institute’s entrance examinations," Vera replied, producing documentation that proved their legitimate purpose. "Our young miss and her friends are registered candidates for the Institute’s upcoming exams and we served as their escort."

The man’s expression softened upon hearing this, before speaking in a surprised tone. "I’m surprised you all made it in one piece. Judging from your direction, it seems a mana storm recently ravaged the lands you passed through."

Vera smiled lightly and downplayed the events that happened to them with a simple comment. "We were lucky."

The guard nodded, not wishing to delve more into the matter and commented further. "You lots are cutting it close—examinations begin in just five days. You’ll want to head straight to the Institute’s administrative building to confirm your registration. Fair warning though—finding accommodations this close to exam time won’t be easy. Half the kingdom sends their promising youngsters here."

Vera nodded before leading the group forward. Ezekiel and his companions walked past the gates and into the majestic city with hints of excitement and anticipation in their eyes.

They wished more than anything to see if they could handle whatever the city threw at them. The Institute’s entrance examinations would determine whether they had what it took to earn a place in this remarkable haven of education. But first, they needed to find lodging, register their participation, and prepare for what would undoubtedly be the most challenging—and potentially rewarding—tests of their young life.