Chapter 377: The Metal Cage

Chapter 377: The Metal Cage

Rayn quickly found the skill icon for Steel Heart in the War Hammer Wizard (Legendary) profession panel and examined the changes in its description.

The new description read:

Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique lv4 (1/1000), with the special effect 'Metal Mastery lv2'.

【Metal Mastery lv2 (Passive) Effect: Your control over metal energy particles has slightly improved.】

"The first layer corresponds to lv1~lv3, right?"

"Then, the second layer should correspond to lv4~lv6."

"And the lv2 Metal Mastery has changed from 'slight improvement' to 'slight increase' in the system's description."

Although Rayn didn't know how long it would take for other second-level Liquidation Wizards in the school to master this second level of Steel Heart Advanced Meditation, it was unlikely that they could learn it within a few hours.

"It's a shame that this joy cannot be shared with others," Rayn shook his head.

Amidst his excitement, Rayn soon focused his attention on the thickened base within his Spirit Sea.

"The thickening is due to this, and the power of Metal Sorcery has also been further enhanced."

"I can try the sorcery later to compare the increase in power."

At the same time, Rayn also noticed that the volume of the silver liquid, which was the result of the liquification of Mental Power around the Mindsea Crystal, seemed to have slightly increased, while the volume of the silver mist had decreased.

Rayn glanced at the system panel and was slightly taken aback.

The Mental Power value on the attribute panel had decreased, just like the last time he practiced the first layer.

It now showed: "Mental Power: 88 (32% Liquified)"

Previously, his Mental Power was 90 points, and after adding 3 points, it should have been 93 points, but now it was only 88 points, a decrease of 5 points.

However, the liquification progress had increased by 2%, from 30% to 32%.

"It should still be the Advanced Meditation Technique's effect of refining and eliminating impurities."

With his previous experience, Rayn wasn't too surprised this time.

After some thought, Rayn invested 2 skill points into the lv4 Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique.

As the Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique reached lv6, a flood of knowledge about the second layer of Steel Heart rushed into Rayn's mind.

In a moment, Rayn felt as if he had spent decades in a mysterious space, intensely practicing the second layer of meditation.

After a few minutes, when Rayn tried to visualize the second layer's meditation model again, he was delighted to find that the process was much smoother than before, almost three times faster!

Despite knowing that he had probably reached the limit, Rayn was still excited and wanted to try again.

As expected, a system prompt suddenly appeared:

【Skill Point Addition Failed! Current limit for Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique has been reached.】

However, Rayn wasn't discouraged, as he had anticipated this. After some contemplation, he decided to go to the Swordmaster Headquarters early the next morning.

There were two reasons for this decision. Firstly, the one-month deadline was approaching.

It wouldn't be appropriate to wait until the last day or two.

Secondly, the Exchange Hall at the Swordmaster Headquarters should have a variety of sorceries and items available for exchange.

Perhaps even rare Metal Sorceries could be obtained.

He hadn't exchanged the rewards for defeating the three leaders of the Sea God Cult in Howling Bay, and if he added the report on the projection of the Goddess of the Abyss, he should receive a substantial reward.

In other words, his Task Evaluation Medals and Merit Points should be sufficient to exchange for one or even several Metal Sorceries.

In comparison, if he wanted to exchange for sorceries at the school, he would need to accumulate a significant amount of contribution points.

This couldn't be accomplished in a short time.

Unlike the Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Technique, the exchange prices for sorceries, especially second-level sorceries, at the school were no less than several thousand contribution points.

To accumulate enough contribution points solely by crafting puppet parts would be a challenging task, even if Rayn took on all the metal-related jobs himself.

Most likely, he would have to participate in external combat or garrison missions to earn enough contribution points.

The next morning.

Rayn arrived at the Swordmaster Headquarters in a luxurious carriage belonging to the Bavaria Family.

As soon as Rayn stepped off the carriage, he was captivated by the grandeur of the headquarters' entrance.

In front of the entrance was an oval fountain with a ten-meter-tall statue of a robust male figure holding a sword, his face resolute as he gazed into the distance, seemingly alive.

Behind the statue was a grand gate, guarded by eight soldiers in full plate armor, each holding a sword and shield.

Rayn's perception clearly indicated that these guards possessed the strength of Knight Squires.

They were just one step away from reaching the Extraordinary realm, lacking only the opportunity to obtain a potion.

There were no signs or written descriptions.

"Interesting," Rayn nodded slightly and headed towards the gate.

"Sir, this is the Imperial Swordmaster Headquarters," said one of the guards politely, as he could see that Rayn had arrived in a luxurious carriage.

Although he wasn't familiar with the Bavaria Family's Constricting Shield emblem, it seemed to be the insignia of a Duke's family.

"Yes, here is my Letter of Appointment. I'm here to report," Rayn presented his appointment letter briefly.

The captain of the guards wasn't particularly concerned at first, as every one or two days, a Ferrite Rank Swordmaster would arrive from the provincial branch to report to the headquarters.

The situation was different this time.

With a quick glance, the Guard Captain saw the words "Electrum Rank Swordbearer" written in large characters, causing his heart to tremble.

The Captain's expression changed instantly, and he immediately saluted Ren.

"Lord Ren!"

Ren waved his hand and asked, "Where do I report for duty?"

"Gavin! Accompany Lord Ren to the Administrative Building's reception area immediately," the Captain shouted. Soon, a capable guard hurried over.

"Yes, Captain. Lord Ren, this way, please."

"Thank you!"

However, what Ren didn't notice was that among the eight guards at the entrance, one of them had a flash of light in their eyes upon hearing Ren's name.

Half an hour later.

At the Swordmaster Headquarters, within a Mithril Rank Swordsman's suite.

"Young Master Greenwood, our family just informed me that the young man named Ren has arrived at the headquarters," said the Mithril Rank Swordsman.

"Hmm? He's finally here!" Greenwood's face lit up with joy, as he had been waiting for Ren for many days.

"Send Mia, Nathan, and Chandler over immediately."

A quarter of an hour later.

A woman in her late twenties, dressed in a form-fitting noble hunting outfit, with a fiery figure and bright red lipstick, entered the room, chatting casually with two dashing noble men.

Most Swordbearers were casually dressed during their non-mission periods at the headquarters.

All three were part of Greenwood's circle, and the one with the lowest family status was Chandler, the second son of an Imperial City Baron.

It wasn't that Greenwood's social circle was limited to just these people.

Rather, these individuals were part of the Imperial City's noble circle and also held positions at the Swordmaster Headquarters, forming a group led by Greenwood.

Within the headquarters, there were, of course, noble heirs of even higher status, but they were beyond Greenwood's command. Instead, he would have to visit them and seek their assistance.

"That person has arrived."

"Oh? Is it the young Electrum Rank Swordbearer who injured you last time?" Mia, the only woman present, had a glint in her eyes, showing her interest in Ren, who had injured Greenwood.

"Is it the one named Ren?" Nathan asked.

"Yes."

"Then let's proceed with the plan. We'll make him understand that the Imperial City is not an easy place to navigate," said Chandler, who appeared to be a gentleman, as he shook the red Bordeaux liquid in his hand and smiled.

"Mia, you and Chandler, go and initiate contact with him first. If we can gain his trust, that would be ideal," Greenwood said.

"Hehe, no problem. He's at the reception area of the Administrative Building, right? Chandler, let's go and meet this Lord Ren," Mia giggled.

At the reception area of the Administrative Building.

Due to Ren's Electrum Rank Swordbearer status, the reception was personally handled by Director Anthony, a middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle.

"Lord Ren, due to your outstanding performance in the Marne Province, where you eliminated the Sea God Cult stronghold in Howling Wind Canyon and killed three Legendary Cultists and a Cultist Expert, you have earned three Silver Medals and sixteen thousand five hundred Merit Points," Director Anthony said, his narrow eyes suddenly widening.

The Wisdom Slate in front of him displayed the words 'Top Secret', and the lengthy content was hidden, with only the final reward amount visible.

"Additionally, you provided top-secret information, earning you a Golden Medal and ten thousand Merit Points."

"Therefore, Lord Ren, you will receive a total of one Golden Medal, three Silver Medals, and twenty-six thousand five hundred Merit Points."

"Do you have any objections to this, Lord Ren?" Director Anthony asked with a smile.

Ren's eyebrows raised slightly, and he felt a surge of joy.

He had indeed thought that the information about the Goddess of the Abyss, Hel, would be important, but he hadn't expected it to be worth so much.

In fact, it even exceeded the reward for eliminating the three leaders of the Sea God Cult.

As expected, matters concerning the gods were never trivial.

"Of course not, thank you, Director Anthony," Ren bowed slightly to express his gratitude.

At that moment, a female staff member hurried over.

She held a tray, on which a half-palm-sized golden circular emblem was placed.

Ren took the Golden Emblem from the tray and handed the Star Medal to the female staff member.

The heavy Golden Emblem depicted a knight standing with a sword, crafted from valuable electrum, as Ren's knowledge of metals confirmed.

However, compared to the honor and authority represented by the emblem, the electrum itself was insignificant.

"Do you need someone to accompany Lord Ren to familiarize him with the surroundings?" Director Anthony asked with a smile.

"No, I can explore on my own," Ren smiled and politely declined.

"Very well, Lord Ren. If you have any questions while at the headquarters, feel free to come to me."

"Thank you, and farewell, Director Anthony."

A few minutes later, Ren left the reception area.

He always felt that Director Anthony's smile was extremely hypocritical, leaving him with a bad impression.

However, perhaps this was a common trait among Imperial bureaucrats, and Ren shook his head slightly, not paying it much mind.

Soon, following the directions on the signposts, he arrived at the Exchange Hall.

After all, Ren was quite eager to explore higher-level magic and the potential Soul Crystals that could be exchanged.

Following a lengthy corridor with numerous turns, Rayn arrived at the Special Item Exchange Hall of the headquarters, a three-story building with a white marble facade.

The building's style resembled the Baroque architecture of Rayn's past life.

It featured circular columns, walls with pronounced reliefs and intricate carvings, creating a majestic and exquisite appearance.

As Rayn entered the Exchange Hall, he noticed the high-vaulted ceiling, making the hall feel spacious. The number of people inside was at least four to five times more than in the Munster Branch.

At that moment, each counter had a queue, and the black Wisdom Slate in front of the counters was larger and more luxurious compared to the branch.

It wasn't long before it was Rayn's turn.

A young female staff member stood up and smiled, "Hello, sir. How may I assist you today?"

"I'd like to inquire about all the metal sorcery available at the headquarters," Rayn said as he handed over his newly acquired Golden Emblem.

The correct version is available at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+book_bar first release.

"Of course, sir."

"Oh, a Golden Emblem!" The young staff member exclaimed, clearly surprised.

After a brief moment of surprise, she respectfully took the Golden Emblem with both hands and placed it into a specially designed slot.

"Sir, with your highest-level access, you can view all exchangeable items at the headquarters. Currently, regarding metal sorcery, I've found four items. Please refer to the Wisdom Slate." She explained.

As she finished speaking, the black slate in front of Rayn displayed densely packed small white characters:

"Sharpening Technique: Zero-level sorcery. Consumes a certain amount of mental power to activate a specific sorcery model, stimulating the surrounding metal energy particles, and increasing the sharpness of designated metal weapons for about one minute.

Exchange Price: ..."

"Metal Barrier: First-level sorcery. Consumes a certain amount of mental power to activate a specific sorcery model, manipulating metal fragments to float within a two-meter radius around the caster, blocking any attacks intended to harm the caster.

Exchange Price: ..."

Rayn quickly skipped these two as he had already mastered them.

He focused his attention on the remaining two.

"Metal Cage: Second-level sorcery. Consumes a certain amount of mental power to activate a specific sorcery model, stimulating the surrounding metal energy particles to rapidly form a metal cage around a single target.

Exchange Price: 2 Mithril Emblems and 15,000 Merit Points.

Source: Halsh Ruins."

"Thorny Iron Ball: Third-level sorcery. Consumes a certain amount of mental power to activate a specific sorcery model, stimulating the surrounding metal energy particles to form a giant thorny iron ball, crushing the target.

Exchange Price: 3 Golden Emblems and 27,000 Merit Points.

Source: Olson Fashin."

Rayn's eyes lit up as he read the above content.

Despite the scarcity of metal sorcery compared to other schools, even at the Swordmaster Headquarters, he was quite satisfied to find both second and third-level sorcery.

The second-level sorcery 'Metal Cage' was, according to the description, a rare control-oriented metal sorcery.

Moreover, he met the requirements for the necessary Task Evaluation Medals and Merit Points.

In other words, he could exchange for it at any time.

As for the third-level sorcery 'Thorny Iron Ball', there was no rush. Even if he obtained the required medals, as a Level 2 Liquidation Wizard, he couldn't learn third-level sorcery.

Rayn took another look at the description of the second-level sorcery 'Metal Cage' and nodded slightly.

Even if the enemy could break free from this move, the brief delay it provided might be enough to turn the tide of battle, given Rayn's speed.

"Please exchange the Metal Cage for me."

"Of course, sir."

"By the way, do you have Soul Crystals for exchange?"

"Yes, Lord Rayn. Soul Crystals can be exchanged for 1 Star Medal and 2,000 Merit Points."

Hmm? It requires a Medal too? As expected, the price is steep.

With his Mithril Emblems, he could exchange for 9 Star Medals, and with the remaining 2 Star Medals, he could obtain 11 Soul Crystals at once.

"Use the Mithril Emblems to exchange for 11 Soul Crystals."

"Are you sure you want to use the Mithril Emblems to exchange for lower-level medals, sir?" The female staff member reminded him.

Mithril Emblems were hard to come by, and even at the Swordmaster Headquarters, very few people chose to do so.

"Yes."

"As you wish, sir."

Soon, Rayn left the Exchange Hall, satisfied, with a scroll and a wooden box in hand.

Five minutes later, Mia and Chandler arrived at the Exchange Hall. Chandler approached and chatted with several female staff members before returning to Mia, "The tall, unfamiliar young man just left."

"So soon?" Mia was speechless. She and Chandler had just arrived from the reception area of the Administrative Building.

She couldn't believe how efficient Rayn was, leaving within ten minutes.

"Let's go! That Rayn went straight to the Exchange Hall after leaving the reception area and exchanged for something. Then he left the headquarters," Mia said angrily as she stormed out of the hall.

Half an hour later.

"I'm so frustrated! That Rayn went straight to the Exchange Hall after leaving the reception area. He exchanged for something and then left the headquarters," Mia fumed.

She had even put on an exquisite makeup look and sprayed the expensive Royal No. 5 perfume.

In the Imperial City of Tamriel, a high-quality perfume with a complex fragrance of rosemary, rose, and jasmine was a luxury that Mia usually couldn't bring herself to use.

For a powerful wizard like Ren, who possessed immense Mental Power, any mind-affecting sorcery was a taboo. The consequences of failure were unimaginable.

"It's normal. A country bumpkin like him coming to the capital and seeing all the good stuff at headquarters, how could he resist not exchanging?" Nathan said with a smile.

Despite his noble birth as the second son of a Marquis in the capital, ever since joining the Swordmaster Headquarters, the sight of the exchangeable special items had left him salivating.

Even for his Marquis family, acquiring some of the items at headquarters would be a thousand times more difficult.

"By the way, Chandler, he's new here and probably doesn't have many Merit Points. Do you know what he exchanged for?" Nathan asked out of curiosity.

Chandler, with his handsome looks and dashing demeanor, was well-acquainted with many female staff members at headquarters.

"I'm not sure about the specifics, but what he's holding seems to be a scroll, probably an Extraordinary Combat Technique or a sorcery," Chandler recalled and replied.

Chandler's response caused Nathan to furrow his brows in surprise.

"Hmm? These two things aren't cheap. Could it be that he accumulated many Task Evaluation Medals and Merit Points in his previous division?" Nathan asked, puzzled.

"But that doesn't make sense."

"Don't guess. Last time, he single-handedly eliminated the Sea God Cult's stronghold in Howling Canyon. Naturally, he wouldn't lack for medals and points," Greenwood said with a grave expression.

Hearing that Ren was exchanging for a sorcery or combat technique, a bad premonition stirred in Greenwood's heart.

This won't do!

We can't let him strengthen his abilities further. It's time to accelerate our plan.

"A stronghold? But even if he killed a Legendary Cultist, the reward shouldn't be that great, right?" Chandler asked, taken aback.

His Mithril Rank team had also worked together to kill an enemy Cultist Legend during their last mission.

"There were three Cultist Legends in the stronghold," Greenwood said, his expression growing darker as he spoke.

Not long after returning to the capital, he received news from his steward, Owen.

His first reaction was disbelief. How could this be possible? There's no way his strength could be that formidable! The last time they fought, he had lost, but he believed the gap between them wasn't that significant.

But what did it mean to kill three Cultist Legends in a single battle? Steward Owen insisted that the news was reliable, as it came directly from the Duke himself, who had heard it from a high-ranking official at the Swordmaster Headquarters during a dinner.

"What?! That strong?!" The group turned their heads, their faces filled with shock, and they suddenly understood why Greenwood was so concerned about Ren.

"This is a tricky situation. Do we know what he's good at?"

"He specializes in Metal Sorcery and is proficient in multiple Extraordinary Combat Techniques. He has no obvious weaknesses. However, his mastery of sorcery seems to surpass his close-quarters combat abilities," Greenwood said, rubbing his recently healed fingers.

It might have been an illusion, but despite his recovery, he often felt a subtle pain in his fingers, intensifying his hatred for Ren.

"A Metal Sorcerer? That's quite rare," Mia remarked, raising her eyebrows.

"But you don't need to worry about that. As long as you establish a connection with Ren and gain his trust to some extent," Greenwood waved his hand, "that's all we need."

"By the way, he hasn't recruited any team members yet. I think it won't be long before Ren starts recruiting. You guys can spread the word that Ren was promoted to the Golden Rank Swordmaster purely by luck."

"Good idea. No one at headquarters would risk their lives to join a team with a weak captain," Nathan agreed with a smile.

"Then, you can proactively join his team."

"Understood. When he goes out on a mission, we'll intentionally leak his whereabouts or information, causing him to..." Chandler's eyes lit up as he spoke.

"No, it's for the sake of the country!" Greenwood laughed.

"I'll have my family assign the specific mission. I'll choose the most challenging Golden Rank task for him. Rest assured, I'll have a family expert nearby. After Ren is dead, we'll complete the task ourselves," Greenwood assured them.

Mia's beautiful eyes narrowed into slits as she listened, finding the plan ingenious.

"Hehe, I said I'd make him understand what true aristocracy is!"

"A small-town youth like him, who thinks he has some talent but is ignorant of the world, should just stay in the countryside," Greenwood said, moving his fingers, which still lacked full flexibility, with hatred.

He had reviewed Ren's profile and knew that he had emerged from a place called Flashgold Town.

Recently, he had sent people to investigate that town, wanting to understand how Ren had developed his abilities.

However, the investigation came to nothing as the residents of Flashgold Town had almost all died or been injured in an attack by the Black Flame Cult last year.

"Wait, there's one more issue. According to the rules, Golden Rank Swordmasters can only be assigned a new mission every three months, unless they complete a mission of the same rank," Chandler suddenly frowned.

"In other words, he can delay his mission for almost three months at most?"

"From the moment he reported today, he's already fallen into our rhythm."

"Soon, he'll be going out to complete his assigned mission," Greenwood said with a confident smile.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end