Chapter 454: The Destroyer

Chapter 454: The Destroyer

"Be careful, Ren!" Moriah shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

But before she could finish her warning, a massive steel fist, several times larger than a millstone and colored a dull gray, descended with lightning speed.

"Boom!!!"

In an instant, the hard marble floor was smashed, creating a crater several meters wide, and the scattered debris flew in all directions like bullets.

"Ding, ding, dang, dang!"

The shards struck the metal layers covering Ren and Moriah's bodies, emitting an ear-piercing clanging sound.

If it weren't for the fact that both Ren and Moriah were Peak Crystallized Metal Mages, the splash damage from the impact alone would have been enough to pierce through ordinary second-tier defensive spells.

Not to mention the direct attack from the giant steel fist.

What surprised Ren even more was the speed of the attack.

Logically, such an enormous metal golem should have had relatively clumsy movements, but the speed of its previous punch was incredibly fast.

If it weren't for his top-tier Ultimate Technique, Shadow Step, which granted him incredible speed, he might not have been able to dodge it.

A typical Crystallized Mage would have struggled to evade the attack, and if they chose to withstand the blow, they would likely have been reduced to paper-thin by the impact of the train-like iron fist.

The chances of surviving such a strike were slim.

Directly perishing!

Ren narrowed his eyes, noticing something peculiar about the giant golem's smaller forearm, near the elbow joint. Two smaller cylindrical exhaust pipes were emitting a hissing sound, releasing white gas.

This indicated that the golem's previous punch had been enhanced by some sort of turbocharging mechanism.

No wonder the giant iron fist had been so devastatingly fast!

"Retreat!"

Moriah pulled Ren, intending to evacuate first.

Given the choice, no one would willingly engage in a head-on confrontation with the colossal being before them.

Naturally, both of them wanted to exit the hall and return to the corridor they had just passed through.

Judging by the golem's size, it was impossible for it to pursue them in the relatively narrow corridor.

However, as Moriah turned around, she was horrified to discover that the iron gate they had entered through had vanished, replaced by the sound of 'clattering' gears and the movement of multi-faceted metal walls.

Apparently, when the giant golem had activated, the gate and walls behind them had also transformed in sync.

This was a comprehensive defense mechanism.

Upon detecting intruders, the Colossal Golem would be activated, and the escape route would be blocked.

During their brief hesitation, the golem had already taken a step towards them, its thunderous roar echoing through the hall.

The next punch was clearly on its way.

In the blink of an eye!

Ren spun back around, facing the colossal creature head-on. His body suddenly expanded and grew taller, surpassing twenty meters in height, and a series of dark gray energy rings emanated from his form.

This time, Ren didn't hold back; instead, he took a direct step into his fourth form, the strongest transformation he could currently achieve—the Dragon Beast Form.

A surging and oppressive aura immediately forced the Patriarch, Moriah, to retreat several steps.

Moriah's heart raced with excitement, astonishment, joy, and deep concern as she witnessed the Dragon Vein Transformation, which now exuded even more power than its previous form.

Even though Ren's aura had already far surpassed that of a typical Epic-level powerhouse and perhaps reached the level of a Senior Epic, Moriah still lacked confidence.

The size difference was evident; Ren, standing over twenty meters tall, was dwarfed by the thirty-meter-high Colossal Golem charging towards him.

If the golem were a heavy-duty truck, Ren would be a small van.

If the golem were a full-grown man, Ren would be a child of eight or nine.

"Ren, don't try to withstand it!"

"That's an ancient top-tier metal golem, the Destroyer! It's a formidable golem capable of tearing apart dragons with its bare hands!" Moriah shouted from the side.

However, what Moriah didn't know was that Ren, being bold enough to face the golem head-on, must have had some tricks up his sleeve.

This time, Ren's Dragon Beast Form was different from before.

A new addition seemed to have grown on his neck—a semi-transparent dragon skull.

It was the unique ability 'Dual Heads' that Ren had gained after defeating and absorbing the essence of the Void Dragon bloodline.

"Bang!"

The Destroyer's massive metal fist descended with a thunderous roar, rippling the air as it struck Ren's head. But to everyone's surprise, Ren's pair of claws clenched tightly, firmly grasping the fist.

The thirty-meter-tall Destroyer golem's attack was unlike anything Ren had faced before.

The sheer force of its train-like iron fist was overwhelming, and Ren struggled to withstand it.

His thick legs were taut, and the dragon scales on his skin were on the verge of bursting.

The marble floor, reinforced by Solidification Magic Arrays, was reduced to mush beneath Ren's feet, and a nearly one-meter-deep footprint was left in its wake.

"He blocked it?!"

Moriah was left speechless by the explosive scene, witnessing Ren's successful defense against the Destroyer's attack.

But as soon as she regained her composure, she immediately cast spells to attack the golem's head, attempting to disrupt its assault on Ren.

Over a dozen sharp metal spikes struck the golem's head and neck, but to little effect.

Although there were slight indentations, they quickly vanished as a grayish-colored energy flashed across the golem's surface.

Ren observed this, his expression growing more somber.

The sorcery Moriah had just unleashed was among the most powerful third-tier spells, yet it had almost no impact.

It was clear that the Destroyer golem before them possessed an incredibly formidable defense. With unparalleled offensive power and an exceptionally sturdy defense, it was no wonder that it could tear apart a dragon with its bare hands!

It seemed that exploring the ruins of an ancient wizard academy was not going to be as easy as they thought.

As if realizing that the enemy before them couldn't be defeated with a single punch, the Destroyer raised its other giant steel fist and slammed it down on Ren in his Dragon Beast Form once more.

"Haa!"

Ren roared, his initially closed claws now opening one to strike back. With lightning speed, he grabbed the Destroyer's incoming left fist!

"Boom!!!"

Ren's dragon claws were nearly torn and bleeding, but his muscles bulged as he held the Destroyer's fists in a stalemate.

At the same time, his lower body sank deep into the incredibly hard marble floor, up to his knees! But he managed to withstand the blow once more.

Moriah's heart pounded as she witnessed this breathtaking display of resilience.

It wasn't just Ren's astonishing power that left an impression on Moriah, but also his unwavering fighting spirit, which only grew stronger in her mind.

Suddenly, as the Destroyer found its iron fists grasped, its eyes glowed with red light, and the mechanical voice sounded again:

"Threat level increased! (Arcadian)"

"Initiating full-load operation!"

"Overclocking strike, activated!"

Hearing this, Ren couldn't help but smile wryly.

It seemed like he would have to go all out.

He had already given it his all, but he could barely withstand the Destroyer's two punches.

Now, with the Destroyer operating at full capacity:

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"

Countless giant fists, the size of carriage compartments, rained down on Ren in his Dragon Beast Form, their speed increased by the elbow turbines, creating a dense barrage of attacks.

The sheer ferocity of the attack was evident, as the massive fists left afterimages in the air.

A direct hit would likely turn anyone into a pulp.

Moriah's anxiety reached its peak, like an ant on a hot stove, her heart pounding in her throat.

Every idea she could think of seemed useless against this ancient, colossal metal golem, the Destroyer.

From another perspective, if a Third-Rank Peak Crystalized Wizard could cause significant trouble for the Destroyer, how could it possibly engage in a deadly battle with a dragon? It was a paradox.

"Etherealization!"

With a loud roar, Ren's Dragon Beast Form became semi-transparent, as if his body no longer existed in this world.

If asked about his current state, Ren would say that this was his first time using the dual-head ability in the fourth form, and the mental energy consumption felt like a flood.

However, the effect was remarkable! The countless attacks, akin to hundreds of heavy locomotives, seemed to mostly hit the air, as if they were conducted into subspace.

But even with Etherealization, Ren still felt a stinging pain in his arms.

After all, Etherealization didn't provide complete immunity to damage; it only reduced physical damage by ninety percent. Even a ten percent physical damage from the Destroyer's relentless assault was significant.

"Not good, my mental energy is almost depleted," Ren thought as he prepared to add more skill points.

Suddenly, he noticed that the Destroyer's punching speed had significantly slowed down.

"Huh?"

It was indeed slower! Ren was certain.

Within a second, the Destroyer's punching speed had gone from the peak of a young, powerful boxer to that of a seventy-year-old man.

"Recharge! Recharge!"

The Destroyer began emitting mechanical sounds, its movements becoming increasingly clumsy. On the ground, large energy conduction patterns lit up, indicating a recharge enchantment array.

Ren's heart tightened as he added another point to his mental attribute.

Suddenly, the energy conduction patterns on the ground dimmed, as if a malfunction prevented the energy from reaching them.

This dramatic turn of events caused Ren and Moriah's tense hearts to relax.

"Energy malfunction, entering sleep mode!"

After a few seconds, the Destroyer's movements came to a complete halt.

Ren, after repeatedly observing the Destroyer and confirming its energy depletion, finally released his Dragon Beast transformation.

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Returning to his human form, Ren let out a long sigh of relief.

This was the most perilous situation he had encountered since mastering the Dragon Beast transformation.

Moriah quickly bowed her head to examine the hidden patterns on the ground, swiftly casting spells to destroy several nodes, and explained:

"It seems our luck held. The energy reservoir used for recharging is likely the same one as the experimental zone, which was probably damaged during the explosion."

"Otherwise, this Destroyer golem, without a large furnace core installed, could have caused us significant trouble."

"Now that I've destroyed the critical nodes of the conduction enchantment array, we should be safe!"

"Phew~" Moriah finally breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"This...Destroyer golem, Patriarch, could you briefly introduce it?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.

The colossal metal golem before them had left a deep impression on Ren.

This was the first time he had been so overwhelmed in his fourth form.

"Of course. This is one of the most advanced ancient metal golems, the Destroyer. According to ancient records, these colossal golems have a history of engaging in hand-to-hand combat and killing adult dragons."

"That's intense!" Ren couldn't help but gasp.

But after a moment's thought, Ren nodded in agreement.

Without his Etherealization skill, the lightning-fast steel fist combo would have directly inflicted severe damage.

Before them stood the Destroyer Golem, and Ren believed that with sufficient energy, it could indeed engage in a deadly battle with an adult dragon.

"However, typically, the Destroyer Golem should be powered by a large furnace core, but this one seems to be using some sort of energy device instead," Ren observed.

"I suspect the reason is that a large furnace core cannot be started and stopped promptly, and its loud operation would be unsuitable for a warehouse environment," Moriah explained.

"So, the Varzige wizards at the time came up with a compromise. Once the Destroyer runs low on energy, the energy conduction array in this area can instantly transmit energy from the school's energy reservoir to the golem."

"But unexpectedly, the energy reservoir was destroyed by the explosion first."

Following Moriah's gaze, Ren noticed that the Destroyer Golem's abdomen indeed had an empty space, as if it was designed to hold a cylindrical object.

"This is good news; it proves that the warehouse wasn't severely damaged by the explosion."

"Just this Destroyer Golem alone is of immense value!" Moriah exclaimed with excitement.

"Oh? Patriarch, can we control this Destroyer Golem?" Ren raised his eyebrows, equally surprised and delighted.

If they could control this, he wouldn't mind giving up on the dragon.

"In principle, it's possible, but we'll need to readjust the settings. Also, if you want to control the Destroyer outdoors, we'll have to reinstall the large energy furnace device."

"It will take some time, but it's definitely achievable!" Moriah assured, nodding confidently.

"By the way, Ren, if you agree to what I mentioned earlier, I'll grant you the right to use this Destroyer Golem."

"Huh? Well..." Ren realized he wanted to refuse.

But as he gazed at the towering thirty-meter-tall Destroyer before him, he couldn't find the words to decline. After all, this was a mecha in this world!

And what man wouldn't want to pilot a mecha? Especially since he was the most suitable metal mage.

"Alright, I agree, but let's make one thing clear, Patriarch. I won't manage the sect, but I can be an honorary patriarch." Ren thought for a moment before responding.

"Haha, no problem! We'll make a verbal agreement for now, and when we return, we'll go through the necessary contractual procedures," Moriah said, his face lighting up with joy.

"Okay, Patriarch, shouldn't we start searching for items quickly?" Ren reminded him.

"Yes, yes!" Moriah snapped back to attention.

However, a few minutes later...

After a quick search of the warehouse, Ren's expression became uncertain.

Although most of the rare materials were still there, many had lost their effectiveness due to radiation and the passage of time.

Only the rare metals seemed to have been preserved.

Unfortunately, the Advanced Steel Heart Meditation Technique, which Ren was most interested in, was not among them.

It would be a lie for Ren to say he wasn't disappointed.

His purpose for coming here was to find the fourth level of the Advanced Steel Heart Meditation Technique, but the current situation indicated that this hope was likely dashed.

"Let's go, Ren. We'll check the administrative area; perhaps we'll find something there." Moriah noticed Ren's disappointment and consoled him.

"High-level wizards like us usually keep important manuscripts and documents in the safes of their offices."

"Oh?" Ren turned to look at Moriah.

Since this was his first ancient ruin exploration, he was unaware of such details. Hearing the Patriarch's words, his mood improved.

Ren trusted the words of Moriah, a seasoned Crystalized Wizard.

After all, Moriah's exploration experience far surpassed his own as a novice.

Five minutes later...

The two returned to the entrance and decided to explore the corridor on the right side of the entrance, the administrative area.

This area was likely where the school's higher-ups and senior wizards had their offices.

As Ren was about to open the first office door in order, Moriah stopped him, shaking his head.

"Ren, typically, the deeper you go, the more likely it is to be the office of a high-ranking wizard of the school."

"So, let's change our approach and search from the innermost office outward."

"Mmm." Ren pondered for a moment and agreed that Moriah's suggestion made sense.

If any wizard had the Advanced Steel Heart Meditation Technique, it would likely be a Dawn Wizard.

Or perhaps it was in the office of a deputy patriarch, or even the patriarch, of the Varzige School.

So, the two headed towards the deepest part of the right corridor.

".

"Experiment Zone Supervisor."

"Warehouse Zone Supervisor."

"Deputy Patriarch's Office."

"Patriarch's Office."

As they walked, they noticed several rooms with half-open doors, their interiors in disarray with papers and furniture scattered.

Evidently, after the explosion, some surviving wizards had immediately retreated, leaving their doors ajar.

But after being exposed to radiation for thousands of years, the documents in these rooms were now unreadable.

Only in rooms with intact doors was there a chance that something valuable had been preserved.

"This is the one."

Moriah and Ren followed the room numbers, arriving at the innermost room at the end of the corridor.

The door was tightly shut, and Moriah once again took out the antique brass key and inserted it into the keyhole.

With a 'click', the door opened.

Suddenly, Ren's pupils constricted as he caught a glimpse of a shadow fleetingly passing through the door crack!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end