At DEM Industries’ headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Three decades ago, humanity suddenly acquired a revolutionary technology: the Realizer.
This miraculous invention, akin to magic, possessed the ability to transform abstract concepts into tangible reality.
Though never unveiled to the public, Realizers had been supplied to critical governmental sectors worldwide, including police forces and militaries.
As the sole overt supplier of Realizers, DEM Industries could justifiably be called a super-corporation, one that effectively held dominion over the world.
Isaac Ray Peram Westcott, the founder and true power behind DEM Industries, was unequivocally a man who shaped the course of global events.
Yet, this very man, impeccably dressed in a black suit, was currently sipping afternoon tea, his gaze casually drifting out the window.
Behind him, a young woman, seemingly a secretary, meticulously organized documents.
The girl, who appeared no older than eighteen, possessed waist-length pale blonde hair, violet eyes, and a perfectly proportioned figure—undeniably a rare beauty.
However, to underestimate her based solely on her appearance would be a grave mistake.
For this girl was Ellen Mira Mathers, Westcott’s direct subordinate and the formidable head of the Second Executive Division, DEM’s clandestine enforcement unit.
She was known as the Strongest Wizard.
To outsiders, envious of her rapid ascent, it seemed inconceivable that such a young woman could have reached her position through merit alone. They speculated she had first climbed into a man’s bed before climbing the corporate ladder.
Consequently, Ellen was widely regarded as Westcott’s mistress.
In truth, however, their relationship was remarkably chaste, despite years spent together as adult man and woman.
“Ike,” Ellen began, “Director Caroll Dowmack has invited you to a meeting concerning the Ashcroft Plan.”
She produced a document as she addressed Westcott by his familiar nickname.
“Dowmack?”
Westcott set down his still-warm teacup, resting his hands beneath his chin in a pensive gesture.
Caroll Dowmack, a promising young executive at DEM Industries, was an ambitious man in his prime, constantly seeking to usurp Westcott and seize control of the company. He was widely considered the leader of the anti-Westcott faction within DEM.
The Ashcroft Plan, one of his most vigorously championed initiatives, aimed to create five new Realizers using brain data extracted from Artemisia Bell Ashcroft, the world’s second strongest Wizard, surpassed only by Ellen herself.
However, the data from these five Realizers suggested they were not so much designed for combating Spirits as they were for targeting Westcott’s own Wizards: Ellen and Mana Takamiya.
“I see. So, he intends to make a display of power?”
Westcott smiled. Dowmack’s self-assured cleverness amused him greatly, though he desired even greater entertainment.
“I won’t see him. Consider that document to have never existed.”
Westcott’s words surprised Ellen, prompting her to open her mouth in gentle protest. “But Ike, Dowmack is a crucial executive for the company. Refusing to see him might have… undesirable repercussions.”
“Oh, so if I don’t heed his summons, DEM will simply go bankrupt?”
“It’s hard to say.”
Ellen couldn’t be entirely certain. With her, the Strongest Wizard, DEM would always remain a dominant force, but the absence of a capable manager like Dowmack would undoubtedly impact the company’s revenue.
Nevertheless, with Westcott’s declaration, Ellen found it difficult to press the matter further.
“In that case, let’s examine this document instead. It’s a direct appeal from Japan’s Minister of Defense, requesting DEM Industries’ support in addressing the escalating Spirit threat.”
“Japan?”
Westcott recalled the nation. Three decades prior, the First Spirit had unconsciously manifested there, causing a spatial quake disaster that the Japanese dubbed the Great Kanto Air Raid, a cataclysm second only to the Eurasian Great Air Raid.
Westcott had journeyed to Japan himself during that time. Though he failed to secure the First Spirit, he had, in passing, killed a young boy and taken in a girl.
That girl was now Mana Takamiya, DEM Industries’ second strongest Wizard.
“Princess, Hermit, Nightmare, Efreet, Berserker, Diva, Witch, and a newly detected Spirit with spiritual wave patterns, provisionally named Angel.”
Westcott enumerated each Spirit’s identification code.
“It appears every Spirit is unusually active in Japan. This likely has something to do with *her*.”
Westcott smiled. While Japan’s fate held little consequence for him, this particular request was one he intended to grant.
“Very well then! Ellen, go find Mana. Isn’t Japan her homeland? Task her specifically to return home and offer assistance.”
“Understood!”
Ellen nodded, then set aside the document and left to find Mana Takamiya.
Mana Takamiya was currently in the training room downstairs. Even for Ellen, the Strongest Wizard, descending by stairs would be an impossible feat, let alone for ordinary individuals. Thus, the elevator served this very purpose.
As the elevator descended, Ellen could already hear the intense sounds of Wizards sparring, even from a considerable distance.
“Hup, ya!”
“Ah!”
“Impressive moves!”
A red-haired girl knelt on one knee, glaring with furious eyes at the girl still standing.
This was a blue-haired girl, approximately fourteen or fifteen years old, with a neatly tied ponytail. A tear-mole beneath her left eye accentuated her intelligent and astute appearance, though a hint of childishness still lingered.
“Jessica, you’ve lost.”
“It’s not over yet, Mana.”
Jessica slowly rose, letting out a defiant roar.
“Mana Takamiya, I’m not doing this for anything else today but to humble your arrogance! Don’t you dare think you’re the strongest beneath Ellen. In a one-on-one fight, I don’t fear you. And when it comes to leading a team, I’m far superior!”
“Hmph, are you challenging me to a duel?”
Mana hadn’t anticipated such brazen words from her opponent. Jessica was clearly out of combat capability, yet she stubbornly persisted.
“Fine. The next time a Spirit appears outside, let’s each lead a team. We’ll see who returns victorious, and who is utterly annihilated.”
“You think you’re worthy?” Jessica scoffed. “You’re nothing but a stray dog the President picked up.”
“Impudent wretch, whose dog are *you*?”
Ellen’s voice arrived before her person.
At the sound of the Strongest Wizard’s voice, the Wizards who had been jeering and cheering fell silent.
“Who just called Mana a stray dog Ike picked up? Who said it?”
Ellen’s gaze swept across her subordinates as she posed the question.
“What? Bold enough to say it, but not to admit it?”
Under Ellen’s intense pressure, Jessica, drenched in sweat, stepped forward.
“Chief, it was me who said it.”
“Good, you have guts. Now tell me, what exactly are *you*?”
“I… I am a subordinate of Ellen and Lord Westcott.”
“If you are a subordinate, then why are you quarreling with Mana? I do not tolerate discord among my ranks.”
“It’s like this, Chief Ellen!” Mana interjected suddenly.
“Jessica has an issue with the current departmental rankings. She believes I shouldn’t be ahead of her, so she wants to challenge me to become second, and then further, to become the Strongest Wizard.”
“You’re lying! I never said I wanted to become the Strongest Wizard!”
Jessica retorted.
However, Ellen clearly paid no mind to Jessica’s protests.
“Oh, is that so? If you truly wish to become the Strongest Wizard, allow me to test you first.”
As Ellen spoke, she donned her personal, platinum-colored Realizer.
At that moment, all the observing Wizards, including Mana, cast sympathetic glances toward Jessica.
“Wait, that’s not what I meant!”
“Less talk, more testing. We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?”
“That’s not what I meant at all!”
And then, Jessica was thoroughly ‘tested’ by Ellen.
“Lady Ellen, I never intended to challenge you!”
Jessica lay sprawled on the ground, drenched in sweat, her tongue lolling out.
Meanwhile, Ellen looked utterly refreshed, as if she had just released a pent-up frustration.
“Oh, right, Mana. Ike has a task for you.”
“What task?”
“Return to your homeland—Japan—and assist the AST in eliminating Spirits.”