Morning sunlight filtered through the front windows of Cubic Creatures, illuminating drifting particles of dust and mana alike. The shop was quieter than usual, the sort of calm that settled over Crescent Ward before the lunchtime rush.
Eryx stood behind the counter with a bowl.
Not a mixing bowl.
A reinforced alchemical bowl.
There was a difference.
Inside it sat crushed Gemerald fragments, glittering faintly with green light, while beside them rested several pieces of deep blue crystal.
Lapis Lazuli.
Or rather—
Minecraft Lapis Lazuli.
Eryx picked up one piece carefully between two fingers.
The thing looked beautiful. Smooth, rich blue, faintly sparkling under light.
It was also absurdly fragile.
"Seriously…" Eryx muttered.
He lightly tapped it against the bowl.
Crack.
The crystal burst apart into powder instantly.
"…One two-foot drop and you explode into dust."
The Ghastling floated nearby on her favorite ceiling beam, watching intently while slurping from a snow cone. Tiny icy particles clung to the white-tipped undersides of her ribbons.
She burbled approvingly.
Eryx continued grinding the powder thoughtfully.
Lapis in Minecraft had always been weird.
Useful, yes.
But strangely specific.
Enchanting tables consumed it like fuel. Weapons and armor shimmered purple after use. Somehow, that brittle blue stone interacted directly with magical enhancement.
Now that he physically held it?
The answer felt obvious.
"Natural mana catalyst…" he murmured.
The dust itself glimmered faintly as it mixed into the Gemeralds. Not violently. Not explosively.
Smoothly.
Like the two substances had always belonged together.
Eryx leaned closer, fascinated.
"So that's why enchanted gear gets that purple film…" he muttered. "The mana layering."
He stared at the mixture.
Green and blue particles swirled together into a richer, brighter powder than ordinary Gemerald Dust.
Potent.
Dangerously potent, probably.
The Ghastling floated lower, curious.
"No," Eryx said immediately.
The Ghastling paused mid-air.
"You are absolutely not eating experimental enchantment powder."
She pouted.
He ignored her and continued mixing carefully.
His thoughts drifted.
If Lapis amplified enchantments…
And Gemeralds integrated into living creatures…
Then theoretically—
"So could I make monster armor and enchant it?"
The thought hit him hard enough that he stopped stirring entirely.
Images flashed through his mind.
Iron Golems with enchanted plating.
Beast armor infused with regeneration.
Ghastlings floating around with projectile protection.
"…That sounds stupidly overpowered."
Which meant he absolutely needed to research it later.
The bell above the shop door rang.
Eryx immediately shoved the experimental mixture under the counter.
"Welcome to Cubic Creatures!"
The customers entering were twins.
Young—probably early twenties—but carrying themselves with the confidence of people who fought for a living. Their matching dark jackets bore a guild insignia stitched onto the shoulders, though the left twin wore hers open while the right had his zipped neatly to the collar.
The girl walked slightly ahead.
The boy scanned the room carefully.
Hunters.
Mid-level, from the look of them.
The Ghastling floated down curiously, and both twins froze immediately.
"…Cute," the girl blurted.
"…Dangerous," the boy corrected at the same time.
Eryx smiled politely.
"Depends who you ask."
The twins introduced themselves quickly.
James and Jewel.
Mid C-Tier Hunters from a fairly large guild operating near Crescent Ward's outer territories.
They'd apparently heard rumors about Cubic Creatures through several channels already—foxes capable of treasure detection, unusual spirit beasts, high Beast compatibility rates…
And now they needed—
"Is that a monster?"
The question interrupted everything.
Both twins were staring past Eryx.
Toward Bronze.
The Copper Golem walked steadily from the back room carrying a tray with complete seriousness. Snow cones for the Ghastling. Lemonade for Eryx.
His oxidized joints creaked faintly with each step.
The Ghastling immediately chirped excitedly and floated over to accept her treat.
Bronze handed Eryx the lemonade with a stiff nod.
The twins looked stunned.
"Oh," Eryx said casually. "Yes. It's a Beast I procured recently."
Silence.
Then—
"Damn," James breathed.
"You must be rich," Jewel added immediately.
Eryx blinked.
"…What?"
Jewel pointed at Bronze.
"Inanimate-type Beasts are insanely expensive," she explained. "And consistently ranked among the hardest categories to defeat."
James nodded rapidly.
"They barely need feeding, don't tire normally, don't fear pain, and most of them hit like trucks."
Eryx slowly turned toward Bronze.
The Copper Golem waved politely.
"…Huh."
That was useful information.
He really needed to stop accidentally inventing luxury products.
Eryx recovered quickly though.
"You want one?" he asked.
Both twins stared.
"I mean not CJ here," Eryx clarified, patting Bronze lightly. "An actual large 2☆ Golem."
The room became very quiet.
"…How much?" James asked cautiously.
Eryx thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"How about this. Recommend me to your guild, and I'll do fifty percent off. Free Iron Ingots included too—it'll need those for repairs."
The twins visibly relaxed.
Then Eryx named the price.
"Just a measly two hundred thousand credi—"
"WHAT?!"
Eryx flinched internally.
Ah.
Too high.
He'd overdone it.
But instead of outrage—
"That cheap?!"
"…Sure, here's my card!"
Eryx stared.
Internally, his soul left his body.
I REALLY need to research prices before selling things.
Apparently he'd just massively undersold something again.
Still, there was no taking it back now.
Eryx accepted the card with practiced calm despite the screaming inside his head.
"Alrighty," he said smoothly. "Outside then. I'll summon it and transfer ownership."
The twins followed him outside immediately.
Pedestrians slowed as the group exited the shop. Crescent Ward citizens were naturally nosy, especially when Hunters looked excited.
Eryx reached into his Beast Space.
Mana rippled outward.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Then—
The Iron Golem emerged.
Nine feet and five inches tall.
Massive.
Its body was built from pale iron blocks fitted together into a humanoid frame thick enough to stop a vehicle. Vines crawled naturally across its shoulders and torso, green against dull metal.
Its eyes opened slowly.
Black pupils.
Deep red irises.
The aura it emitted wasn't explosive.
It was steady.
Unshakable.
Like a castle wall deciding to walk.
The street went silent.
Even James and Jewel stopped breathing for a second.
"…That's a 2☆?" James whispered.
Eryx coughed lightly.
"Technically."
The Iron Golem could probably tank attacks from many 3☆ damage-focused Beasts without issue. And against most 3☆ tanks?
It would win eventually through sheer force.
The Golem looked down at Eryx calmly.
Eryx handed it a rose.
Immediately, the massive construct carefully held the flower between enormous fingers.
The atmosphere softened instantly.
"It loves roses," Eryx explained seriously. "Don't destroy them or take them away. And if it offers one to you—don't reject it."
The twins nodded like this was sacred wisdom.
Eryx transferred the Beast Contract smoothly.
The connection settled instantly.
The Iron Golem turned toward James and Jewel.
Then very carefully offered the rose toward Jewel.
She accepted it with both hands.
The Golem seemed pleased.
Eryx also handed over a pouch full of Iron Ingots.
"Repairs," he explained. "Feed occasionally if damaged."
James looked ready to cry from happiness.
Later that evening—
The twins entered their guild headquarters.
Hunters bustled around massive request boards while tired staff processed reports at alarming speeds.
Behind the front desk sat a secretary who looked spiritually exhausted.
"Welcome back," she sighed. "Please tell me you didn't fail the gauntlet again."
James grinned wildly.
Jewel placed the rose carefully on the desk.
"We need to use the stadium."
The secretary blinked.
"…Again?"
"But not this time!" James declared proudly.
Behind them—
The Iron Golem ducked slightly to fit through the guild entrance.
And every Hunter in the lobby slowly turned to stare.