Chapter 509: Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 509: Pride and Prejudice

In the faint mist, a series of rapid thuds and increasingly heavy booms echoed.

The enemy matched Gutierrez's assessment: it was a Mechanical Octopus that Rayne and the others had encountered before, along with a Prototype and several squads of Mechanical Land Birds on patrol.

Thanks to the information provided by Helm, and with the team well-prepared, Gutierrez and Alvin combined their most powerful attacks to strike the most threatening Mechanical Octopus. Garrett released an electrical shock, rendering most of the Mechanical Land Birds into a state of paralysis.

Within less than two minutes, the team successfully defeated the incoming enemies.

Seeing how easily they had taken down the Mechanical Octopus, Alvin's lips curled into a smile, and he raised his chin slightly. "Helm reported that this Mechanical Octopus was extremely difficult to deal with. It seems they were just too weak."

"True, but it's not that they are weak. Our combination is just more effective against them", Garrett nodded in agreement.

In Garrett's view, the mechanical constructs before them were particularly vulnerable to lightning-based magic, making it relatively easy for him to handle them. Therefore, he found Alvin's statement quite reasonable.

"It seems the difficulty of the Sky City Ruins might not be as high as Helm reported. We might have a lot to gain this time", Alvin said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I agree with your assessment. However, the problem now is, if we can't find the entrance from last time, how do we get down?" Garrett smiled and pointed at the ground.

Although the researchers had been subjected to a Deafening Spell, they quickly understood from Garrett's gestures and expression that the team was discussing how to proceed.

They exchanged glances, each deep in thought.

They wanted to make a good impression to secure a share of the exploration, at least to be mentioned in the subsequent exploration reports.

If Dean Helm successfully advances to the rank of Dawn Wizard, their performance in the Sky City Ruins could help them advance further.

Suddenly, one of the researchers' eyes lit up, as if he had an idea. He quickly bent down and touched the ground with his hand, which glowed with a faint silvery metallic sheen, as if sensing something.

Soon, he looked up and said, "My lords, I think I know the reason."

"Back then, Sword Saint Tirion did not use his Sword Technique to cut through this metal floor, and there must have been a reason."

"Hmm?" Hearing this, the expression on Sword Saint Gutierrez's face relaxed slightly.

Although he had quickly defeated the Mechanical Octopus, his physical energy had been significantly drained. Additionally, the failure to cut through the metal floor had been a source of frustration.

However, learning that Sword Saint Tirion had also refrained from trying to cut through the metal floor improved his mood considerably.

"Get to the point, or the Mechanical Monsters will be back soon", Alvin said, disliking this kind of suspenseful speaking style.

Unfortunately, Alvin forgot that the researchers were under the effect of the Deafening Spell. So, the researcher continued to explain at length.

"The metal floor, besides being eternally solidified, likely has a unique inter-particle force, similar to stress."

"That's why none of the lords used their attacks. Instead, Rayne, a metal-affinity Dawn Wizard, used a specific metallic magic to gradually 'corrode' the metal floor."

This explanation was immediately accepted by Alvin and the others.

No wonder they couldn't cut through it!

That makes sense.

"What's the solution?" Garrett couldn't help but ask, but he quickly realized the researchers were under the Deafening Spell and gestured again.

"Oh, my lord, we brought a Metal Particle Generator. It should be able to counteract this stress in a certain area. Then, we should be able to cut through it", the researcher understood the gesture and replied.

"What are you waiting for? Get moving." Alvin couldn't help but feel frustrated. They had a plan, yet they were still dilly-dallying. Were they waiting for a second wave of Mechanical Octopuses?

Soon, several researchers took out disk-like devices from their bags and placed them at the four corners of a square.

Then, Gutierrez leaped high into the air and unleashed his Sword Technique.

This time, as four black sword beams cut through, the metal floor didn't need to be smashed with his fists. The square section of the floor began to slowly descend.

"Exactly as I thought!"

"I told you, that young Dawn Wizard named Rayne couldn't be that powerful. If Gutierrez couldn't cut through it, how could the other person open it?"

"Hmph, turns out they were just taking a shortcut." Alvin couldn't help but lift his chin slightly with a hint of arrogance and huffed.

Seeing the ground successfully cut open, the others naturally broke into smiles.

Even Gutierrez's usually stern face showed a hint of a smile.

"Do we need to leave someone behind to guard?"

"This floor can't be left unattended. My follower tried the Stealth Technique and found that they would still be detected." Alvin pointed to the small, leather-armored woman standing beside him, her face mostly hidden except for her eyes.

"Lords, don't worry. We have plenty of particle generators."

A few minutes later.

As the team entered the first basement level, Alvin couldn't help but reveal a greedy glint in his eyes, looking at the vast space filled with gears and mechanical devices operating automatically.

If he could fully control this Sky City, how wonderful it would be!

He would likely become the most powerful wizard in the entire Federation.

However, Alvin quickly suppressed his desires and said in a serious tone, "From Helm's report, this level mainly controls the movement and protection of the ground floor. To find anything valuable, we need to reach the B2 level."

"Agreed. Let's head straight to the B2 level", Garrett concurred.

Soon, using the particle generators to isolate the metal stress, Sword Saint Gutierrez successfully cut through the metal floor, and the entire team entered the B2 level.

"Helm's report mentioned that a violent explosion occurred in the workshop area on the B2 level. Apart from the Prison, there shouldn't be any Mechanical Monsters on this floor."

"But this level has already been searched by Tyrion's team. Should we, Gutierrez and Garrett, go to the next level?" Alvin asked.

Though his face remained calm, his heart was already eagerly anticipating the findings on the third level.

"Sure, we can."

"However, the report also says that the Empire's Rayne didn't fully explore the Prison. Should we check it out first?" Garrett pondered for a moment.

He had his own special reasons for joining this exploration.

Although he had seen the Prison Zone marked as highly dangerous in Helm's report, it was better to be cautious and test the waters there first.

"What do you think, Gutierrez?" Alvin furrowed his brow.

"Let's check the Prison first. It's safer to proceed step by step."

"Since both of you agree, let's head to the Prison first", Alvin said, though he felt a bit disappointed. The thought of finding ancient prisoner remains in the Prison brought some comfort, and he decided not to insist.

A few minutes later.

"Wait, there's movement. Something is quickly approaching from the front and the right." Gutierrez suddenly stopped, pointing forward and to the right, his face serious.

"Probably a Mechanical Land Bird patrol?"

"No, at least from the sound, it's definitely not." Gutierrez shook his head.

Soon, there was no need to guess. A completely new type of Mechanical Monster appeared.

"Huh, are these... Mechanical Raptors?" Garrett looked surprised.

"But Helm's report didn't mention any of these on this level", Alvin said, slightly taken aback as he looked at the Mechanical Raptors.

The researchers, who had never been to the B2 level, wore puzzled expressions.

On their left and in front of them, two groups of raptors appeared, each consisting of over a dozen, standing about three meters tall, controlled by Goblin Corpses. The lead raptor in each group was notably larger, standing around four and a half meters tall.

The raptors' curved claws, measuring several dozen centimeters, gleamed with a metallic sheen, clearly indicating their exceptional sharpness. Their lower limbs, disproportionately thick compared to their bodies, were exposed, revealing hydraulic and gear mechanisms.

If Helm were present, he would have immediately recognized that the construction of these creatures indicated extreme speed.

The battle commenced without delay!

Due to the lack of information, the speed and agility displayed by the Mechanical Raptors took everyone by surprise upon their first encounter.

Compared to the Mechanical Land Birds, the difference between the two was like comparing a security patrol to a fully armed military unit.

Several minutes later, although the team quickly cleared out the two groups of raptors, they suffered their first casualties: one follower each of Alvin and Garrett perished.

"Indeed, they are troublesome. No wonder that Empire's Rayne left after exploring for a while. However, for our team, this isn't a major issue", Alvin said, his chin slightly raised, maintaining a slightly arrogant expression.

"If their numbers were greater, even we would need to be cautious."

"Wait! There's a buzzing sound, like something being cut, and it's getting louder", Gutierrez, who was at the front of the group, suddenly stopped and said.

At that moment, others in the team pointed in various directions.

"Look, Mechanical Raptors!"

"Over here too!"

"Behind us as well!" the female archer at the back of the group exclaimed.

In terms of numbers, there were more than fifty, no, over a hundred!

These Mechanical Raptors seemed to be capable of organized large-scale hunting, just like real raptors.

"Don't panic, defend in place!" Alvin commanded in a deep voice.

In his view, these raptors might pose a threat to his followers, but to a powerful Dawn Wizard like himself, they were not a fatal threat, merely a challenge.

His two heavily armored knights, upon hearing the order, stepped forward and raised their tower shields to protect Alvin.

Suddenly, the buzzing sound grew louder, and a large, rapidly spinning cutting disc, with a radius of over three meters, emerged from the ground, instantly slicing the two knights holding the tower shields in half.

In the next instant, the disc flashed and cut through Alvin, who was performing the Dawnfire Killing Technique, splitting him in two!

The speed was so fast, it was almost instantaneous!

"What!" Sword Saint Gutierrez and Garrett were stunned!

Alvin was dead?

A 4th-level Dawn Mage was just killed like that?

There was a bit of coincidence involved. Since Alvin was performing the Dawnfire Killing Technique, which took longer to cast, he never expected an attack to come from beneath the metal floor.

Moreover, he placed too much trust in the combat capabilities of his two heavily armored knights, who failed to block the attack even for a moment, leaving no time for Alvin to dodge.

This led to the nearly instant kill.

At that moment, the sound of massive metal sheets twisting and groaning began to come from below.

As the metal floor split open, a large, glowing red Metallic Dinosaur Skull emerged from the thick metal layer beneath.

The size of just this metal skull was comparable to a steam locomotive.

Zetaya.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Delegation's half-day inspection of Zetaya, the last stop in the Federation, had concluded smoothly.

Vice Speaker Bertrand and his team of Federation officials were at the Zetaya dirigible docking point, bidding farewell to 'Red Queen' Menya, Rayne, and Reginald.

"Thank you, Vice Speaker, for your meticulous arrangements and warm hospitality", Menya smiled.

"It is my honor, Princess Menya. I look forward to our next meeting", Bertrand bowed slightly.

However, just as Bertrand finished his last sentence and Menya began to turn and board the dirigible, a servant with a serious expression approached Bertrand and whispered a few words to him.

Although Bertrand merely nodded without saying anything, Rayne noticed that he swayed slightly, and the smile on his face instantly turned stiff.

Clearly, something significant must have happened.

Once Menya and Rayne, along with the other members of the Imperial Delegation, had fully boarded the dirigible, Bertrand’s expression immediately fell, and he sternly instructed the servant behind him:

"Immediately inform Councilor Nelson and Admiral Randall to convene a meeting!"

"Also, check if Helm has left. If he hasn't, notify him to attend as well."

Beside him, the beautiful female senator Trina, upon hearing Bertrand’s words, couldn’t help but furrow her brows and softly asked, "Vice Speaker, what has happened?"

Bertrand waved his hand, signaling the servants and officials to leave, then sighed and said:

"Senator Trina, just now, during the exploration of the Sky City Ruins led by the Military Department, His Highness Alvin was killed on the spot, and Sword Saint Gutierrez died from severe injuries upon returning to camp. Currently, only His Highness Garrett and a few others have survived."

"What!" Trina covered her mouth in shock.

It had been a very long time since the Federation had suffered the loss of two Epic-Level Warriors in a single incident.

Half an hour later, a high-level secret meeting was held in a special conference room at the Zetaya Administrative Hall.

After the situation was reported, the room fell into complete silence!

After a while, Trina spoke up first, "I am deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the two Highnesses' sacrifices!"

"However, I would like to know why the Military Department's exploration mission was carried out so quickly, just the day after our last meeting. Admiral Randall, was the mission thoroughly investigated and prepared?"

"The three Federation powerhouses have extensive combat experience, and they also reviewed Helm's report before formally entering the Sky City Ruins. So, although it was quick, I don’t see any problem with entering the next day."

"But with such an incident occurring, we have reason to believe that the Empire's Sir Rayne might have tampered with something on Level B2." Admiral Randall's face was grim.

The death of two Federation Epic-Level Warriors with military backgrounds was a significant loss for the military faction.

This situation was entirely unexpected by him.

"That's impossible!"

Helm, seated at the end of the table, couldn’t help but speak up.

In such a high-level meeting, he should not have spoken out of turn, but he couldn’t hold back.

"Sir Rayne clearly stated not to enter the Prison lightly. I mentioned this in my report and even highlighted it."

At this moment, Nelson tapped his pipe and interrupted Helm, narrowing his eyes and saying:

"That's the clever part of Sir Rayne. He deliberately reminded us of this because he knew our Federation powerhouses would eventually go in to explore. So, he set a trap for us to fall into."

"I completely disagree!" a mature female voice chimed in.

"Then, Councilor Nelson, if Sir Rayne hadn’t reminded us, would he be accused of deliberate concealment?"

"Wouldn’t it then be that Sir Rayne is wrong whether he reminds us or not?"

Trina’s words left Nelson momentarily at a loss for a response.

"Clearly, this is a problem caused by the Military Department's impatience, and to blame someone else’s well-intentioned warning is simply despicable." Helm stood up, his face flushed with anger.

"In the eyes of those with prejudice, everything is seen through a biased lens!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse me. I need to return to Antuhol to prepare for my advancement. Goodbye!" Helm immediately turned and left.

Admiral Randall’s face turned green with anger, ready to rebuke Helm, but upon hearing the phrase 'advancement,' his lips moved, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Everyone present, except Bertrand who had known two days ago, looked at the departing Dean of the Federation Mechanical Institute with surprise.

No faction or group wanted to offend a Dawn Wizard on the verge of advancement.

Especially one who was a renowned leader in the Federation’s scientific community.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end