Chapter 496: Prototype Machine
Chapter 496: Prototype Machine
However, just two seconds later, Swordsaint Tillio realized that the person operating the Prototype Machine inside was not Helm, or at least, not the normal Helm.
As soon as the Prototype Machine's two thick, cannon-like arms spotted them, they immediately raised and aimed.
arms aimed at them, they immediately lifted and locked onto their targets.
Instantly, a metal storm appeared! Countless metal pellets rained down like a fierce wind and heavy rain, rushing towards the team.
"Water Serpent Cover!"
Of course, Ren's team was naturally prepared, and Hernandes raised his hand, unleashing a torrent of rapidly swirling water that resembled a transparent giant snake, enveloping everyone within.
The spherical, red-hot metal bullets struck the swiftly surging water, causing a splash, but the water quickly absorbed the kinetic energy of the bullets.
For a moment, the dense bullets seemed to be hitting thick cotton, losing their impact.
However, at this moment, Hernandes' expression changed, and he exclaimed, "Something's wrong. My water-type magic has weakened by at least thirty percent."
"I thought it was due to the influence of the lava region below, but the power difference shouldn't be this significant."
Hernandes, a Dawn Wizard highly sensitive to changes in his magic power, immediately sensed something amiss when he cast his spell.
Ren, upon hearing this, couldn't help but carefully feel the magic power he had just used in the Toothed Ring. Surprisingly, he found that the metallic energy particles here were unusually active.
His magic power had actually increased by ten percent.
The six Toothed Rings he had cast were spinning rapidly, effortlessly slicing through the dense swarm of Mechanical Striders approaching from behind, reducing them to scattered pieces on the ground.
"Lord Ren, are you unaffected?" Hernandes asked, puzzled by the astonishing power of Ren's Toothed Ring.
"I'm not affected; instead, my power has increased by about ten percent," Ren replied frankly.
"This..."
Facing the attack of the Prototype Machine, Swordsaint Tillio, as the spearhead of the team, had already launched a counterattack.
His figure flickered, leaving afterimages as he advanced in a zigzag pattern, dodging the dense bullets, what a unique sight," he muttered.
"Be careful of the energy cannon!" Hernandes shouted as a warning.
"The Prototype Machine's arm cannons fire solid bullets, but the six cannons on its body shoot some kind of energy projectiles."
"After the Prototype Machine was discovered, it caused quite a stir in the Federation. Many of us carefully studied it," Hernandes quickly explained to Ren.
Ren nodded, focusing his attention on the Prototype Machine's chest cannons.
As expected, with the surge of energy, baseball-sized energy orbs rushed towards Swordsaint Tillio like a flood.
But Tillio, having been warned, easily dodged the attack with his exceptional speed. Instead, the pressure shifted to Hernandes.
The energy orbs grazed Swordsaint Tillio and struck the Water Serpent Cover, causing a series of explosions.
Hernandes, whose magic power had noticeably weakened, immediately increased his mental output to maintain the stability of the Water Serpent Cover
The energy orbs continued to bombard the Water Serpent Cover, causing it to flicker and weaken.
Hernandes gritted his teeth, pouring more mental power into the cover, but it was like trying to hold back a flood with a fragile dam.
"Lord Ren, can you help me maintain the cover?" Hernandes asked, his voice strained.
Ren, who had just finished cutting down the third team of Mechanical Striders with his Toothed Ring, moved swiftly to Hernandes' side.
The two of them combined their magic power, barely managing to stabilize the cover.
"This Prototype Machine is too strong," Hernandes said, his voice filled with admiration and concern.
"It's not just the machine," Ren replied, his eyes narrowing. "The energy particles here are unusually active, and my magic power has increased by ten percent. It's as if this place is enhancing our abilities."
As they spoke, Swordsaint Tillio continued his relentless assault on the Prototype Machine, his silver sword beams clashing with the machine's defenses.
"Plasma Shield!" a mechanical voice shouted in the ancient goblin language.
Two pale blue plasma orbs shot out from the Prototype Machine's shoulders, quickly enveloping its massive form and forming an energy shield.
In the next instant, Tillio's silver sword beams struck the so-called Plasma Shield.
The shield only showed a slight depression, forming arcs of electricity to counter the attack, seemingly without difficulty, blocking Tillio's sword techniques.
As Ren watched, his eyes narrowed in astonishment. Even a regular attack from a Master Swordsman like Tillio could rival a Fourth-level Dawn Wizard's magic, yet this colossal golem, dubbed 'Prototype One,' effortlessly withstood its assault.
He now understood why the Federation valued this golem and named it Prototype One. It was a stark contrast to the 'Destroyer' he had encountered in the Valzig Ruins.
The Destroyer excelled in close-quarters combat, with some capacity for ranged attacks. However, this Prototype was clearly designed for long-range combat.
"Go!" Ren waved his hand, and the six toothed metal rings flew in graceful arcs, positioning themselves behind the Prototype's back, ready to strike.
The metal rings spun at high speeds, creating intense friction against the Prototype's plasma shield.
Although the rings couldn't penetrate the shield, Ren's objective was different. He aimed to create an opportunity for Master Swordsman Tillio.
The plasma shield's energy and arcs visibly concentrated towards the Prototype's rear, causing the blue shield at the front to dim significantly.
Recognizing Ren's intention, Tillio seized the moment, briefly gathering his strength before unleashing his signature 'Divine Cross Slash' towards the Prototype's weakened front shield.
A long silver sword beam instantly penetrated the weakened plasma shield, slicing the Prototype into an X-shape.
The central six-barreled Gatling gun was pulverized, and its arms were completely severed, effectively disabling the Prototype's offensive capabilities.
However, Tillio intentionally avoided the control room, considering the possibility of finding Helm, corrupted by the black bugs, and at least retrieving his remains.
Tillio's figure flickered, and he swiftly slashed the control room's shield, only to find a shriveled goblin inside.
The only difference from the goblin controlling the Mechanical Strider was the military-like insignia on its shoulder, indicating a higher rank," Tillio, stop! It's a high-ranking goblin," he exclaimed, realizing the significance of the insignia.
But like the others, this goblin's eyes were vacant, rendering communication impossible.
"Damn it!" Tillio split the goblin in two, simultaneously eliminating the black bug within.
"Helm's absence here isn't necessarily a bad thing," he remarked.
"Indeed," Ren agreed.
"Let's move, we're running out of time."
Ren noticed that Tillio's forehead glistened with sweat after executing the Divine Cross Slash.
Five minutes had passed since their last encounter, and no additional mechanical monsters had come to their formidable fighting prowess.
However, the attention now isn't this an interesting sight," Ren mused, "You two, in your matching pajamas, facing off against these formidable machines. Quite the fashion statement."
"Focus, Ren," Tillio urged, "We're not here to critique fashion choices. We need to find the survivors."
"Hmm, I recall the red signal flare being in this area, but I don't see anyone," Tillio pondered, recalling the flare's location.
"The ground here shifts, my friend," Ren reminded him, "What was once a stable location might not be so now."
"Then how do we find them? We can't just wait for another signal flare," Tillio frowned.
As if struck by inspiration, Ren suggested, "Your Majesty, Hernandes, perhaps you could attempt a divination spell?"
"I'm afraid not," Hernandes shook his head, "My divination can only predict Helm's general vicinity, but with a twenty-meter margin of error, we might end up on a different street."
"Let me try," Ren volunteered, "If I'm not mistaken, even with the shifting ground, they shouldn't be too far." He bent down, his palm glowing with a rich dusky silver light, and gently touched the ground.
Tillio and Hernandes exchanged surprised glances, knowing Ren as a Metal-type Wizard, but unaware of any Metal-type divination magic.
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In the next instant, a dusky silver metallic ripple emanated from Ren's palm, spreading like a wave in all directions.
The marble floor cracked, and beneath it, short metal protrusions abruptly sprouted.
Yes, it's a protrusion, not a spike!
This is a weakened version of the Domain-type Dawn Finishing Move, 'Steel Forest'.
Ren had suppressed the power of Steel Forest to its minimum, so the steel protrusions rising from the ground were only two to three decimeters high, extending outward like waves.
Fifty meters!
One hundred meters!
One hundred and fifty meters!
"Boom!"
About one hundred and seventy to eighty meters to the right, there were cries of surprise from humans, seemingly appearing out of thin air.
"We've found them!"
Ren's face lit up with joy, and Tillio and Hernandes naturally understood that they had located the survivors.
However, while the team outside rejoiced, those inside the jammer-covered camp were suddenly thrown into panic and confusion.
Many people witnessed the dark silver metallic ripples fleeting across the ground, followed by numerous individuals jumping as metal protrusions formed on the surface.
"Damn, did the signal flare just attract monsters?"
"We've used it so many times without any response, and now we're this unlucky!"
"It's clearly metallic energy fluctuations, covering such a large area. It must be some kind of gnome technology within this ruin."
"The signal flare might have attracted something huge this time."
Even Helm, the director of the Federal Mechanical Research Institute, couldn't help but change his expression upon seeing the steel protrusions on the ground.
Without time to marvel at the unexpected turn of events, he cleared his throat and shouted, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"We'll split up and break out in different directions later."
"As long as one of us gets out, deliver the observation report immediately."
Hearing Helm's words, everyone's expressions turned grave, but no one retreated.
They all knew that against these gnome monsters turned into dryads, surrender was meaningless; their only option was to fight to the death.
However, as soon as they rushed out of the jammer-covered camp, everyone, including Helm, came to a halt, stunned.
In their hands or before them, colorful orbs of magical energy were gathered, but as if petrified, they hesitated to release them.
"Your Majesty Tillio!"
"Your Majesty Hernandes!"
Helm was both surprised and delighted. As the director of the Federal Mechanical Research Institute and a veteran Third-tier Crystalized Mage, he was only slightly older than Hernandes, and even more so compared to the serious expressions on their faces.
"Haha, Helm, I knew you'd be fine." Tillio laughed heartily.
"Old friend, I'm glad you're safe." Hernandes smiled and nodded.
However, they soon noticed Helm's gaze, transfixed by a young man.
The tall youth was bending over, pressing a palm that emanated a rich, dark silver glow onto the ground.
Helm immediately realized that the metallic energy fluctuations that had just covered such a vast area were emanating from the young man's palm.
Such a wide range! Domain-type magic? Even I, a peak Crystalized Metal Mage, couldn't achieve this!
Could he be a Dawn Wizard? But is there such a young and powerful individual in the Federation?
"Haha, Helm, I knew you'd be fine." Tillio laughed heartily.
"Old friend, I'm glad you're safe." Hernandes smiled and nodded.
However, they soon noticed Helm's gaze, transfixed by a young man.
The tall youth was bending over, pressing a palm that emanated a rich, dark silver glow onto the ground.
Helm immediately realized that the metallic energy fluctuations that had just covered such a vast area were emanating from the young man's palm.
Such a wide range! Domain-type magic? Even I, a peak Crystalized Metal Mage, couldn't achieve this!
Could he be a Dawn Wizard? But is there such a young and powerful individual in the Federation?
"Haha, Helm, I knew you'd be fine." Tillio laughed heartily.
"Old friend, I'm glad you're safe." Hernandes smiled and nodded.
However, they soon noticed Helm's gaze, transfixed by the young man.
"This is the Imperial Lord Ren, a rare Metal-type Dawn Wizard. Look at you, at your age, and you still..." Tillio playfully slapped Helm's shoulder.
"What? Lord Ren of the Empire? But the intelligence reports said he was a Crystalized Mage..." Helm, realizing his slip, immediately fell silent.
Ren slowly stood up, unbothered by Helm's accidental words, and smiled, "It seems Lord Helm knows me well."
"My apologies, Your Majesty Ren. Your astonishing talent has reached even the Federation."
As Helm bowed slightly to Ren, offering compliments, a dull 'thud' sound began to echo from both the front and rear, rapidly approaching.
Additionally, there was a constant clicking noise.
"Not good, it's those gnome dryads and mechanical monsters!"
"Your Majesties, please follow me quickly."
Helm waved his hand, and a mirror-like portal appeared in the previously empty air, revealing a small camp within.
(End of Chapter)
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