Chapter 534: Challenge

Chapter 534: Challenge

"Currently, there is no evidence to prove that it was an Avatar of a Demon. Even I am not confident in defeating an Avatar of a Demon, let alone two. Therefore, I believe it is most likely a Projection of the Malevolent Deity."

"Even if it is a Projection of the Malevolent Deity, while it is commendable, it is not enough to exempt you from the probationary period", Pantoskoc said confidently.

"Lord Pantoskoc, just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't", Rayne glanced at him and said coolly.

"Oh? Lord Rayne, are you saying that your strength surpasses mine? Excellent!" Pantoskoc didn't get angry; in fact, he had been waiting for Rayne to say this.

"In a week, at the Imperial Arena, how about we have a match? According to your words just now, you wouldn't dare to refuse, right?"

"A match?" Rayne looked at Pantoskoc with a strange expression.

The other party was only at the Mid-Dawnbreak stage. He wondered where this confidence came from. Was it because he was poisoned by Donok's Poison, leading to a misjudgment of his strength?

Another consideration was whether to defeat this 'Storm Cloud' right here and now, or wait a week to do so in the Imperial Arena, in front of a large audience.

Although he was poisoned by Donok's Poison, it would take no more than a minute to deal with the other party.

After some thought, Rayne was very curious about what tricks Pantoskoc had up his sleeve. Could he really be so confident just because he was at the Mid-Dawnbreak stage?

Most importantly, Rayne planned to thoroughly defeat Pantoskoc in front of the empire's higher-ups and hold the Drum Family accountable for their underhanded dealings. This would also serve as a warning to the conservative faction.

However, Rayne's 'hesitation' made Pantoskoc mistakenly believe he was afraid.

Rayne's next words only reinforced Pantoskoc's belief.

After a moment of consideration, Rayne shook his head and said, "If a match is needed just to prove myself, that wouldn't be fair."

"Oh? What does Lord Rayne consider fair?"

"Simple. If I lose, I will accept Lord Pantoskoc's conclusion. But if I win, Lord Pantoskoc must pay the appropriate price."

"I heard the Drum Family owns a thirty percent stake in the Axeon Auction House?"

"Fine! I accept your terms!" Pantoskoc had never thought he would lose, so he immediately agreed.

Elder Ivan wanted to dissuade him but, seeing Rayne's expression and Alfred's confidence in Rayne, he remained silent.

"Lord Ivan, since Lord Rayne has agreed to the match, I will take my leave now", Pantoskoc bowed slightly to Elder Ivan.

"Lord Storm Cloud, I will accompany you", Marshal Meyer also decided to leave with Pantoskoc.

After all, staying here now had little meaning; everything would be decided after the match.

"Alright, we are all colleagues in the empire, no need to be so serious", Elder Ivan sighed as he watched the two leave.

Night.

Bishu Construct Guild.

Moria, who had been discouraged from advancing to Dawn, was now in the guild's meeting room, discussing the guild's promotion with Deputy Leader Bradley and Rayne's mentor, Makar.

"So, because Lord Rayne returned safely, Isodrial Academy no longer dares to obstruct us and has agreed to the promotion?" Moria asked, surprised.

"According to reliable information, that is correct", Bradley smiled and nodded.

"What a bunch of opportunists, bullying the weak and fearing the strong", Moria laughed in frustration.

Hearing this, Makar stroked his red beard with a smile, almost taking pride in it.

For him, Rayne's safe return was the best news, and even better, their guild had successfully passed the promotion review thanks to their talented disciple's reputation.

"Has the promotion examination time been set?" Moria asked.

"Confirmed, in one week."

"So soon? Makar, it seems we should contact Lord Rayne." Moria said with a smile to Makar.

Before Makar could respond, a slightly hurried knocking sounded at the door!

"Knock, knock, knock!"

This immediately put Moria in a foul mood. He had explicitly instructed his subordinates not to disturb the meeting, but since they were already interrupted, he had no choice but to let the person in.

"Come in!"

The person who entered was Audrey. Her face was slightly flushed, and she looked quite agitated as she said:

"Head of the Guild, Lord Bradley, Mentor, Lord Rayne has sent an urgent message. He hopes that you, Head of the Guild, will immediately lead a team to the Cyrodiil Plateau. He says that Isodrial Academy will join the Construct Association led by our school. By the way, Lord Rayne also wants you to bring the Destroyer Golem."

Audrey's words left the three people in the meeting room staring at each other in disbelief!

Moria felt like he must have heard wrong. Did he just hear Isodrial Academy and something about a Construct Association?

However, when he looked at Bradley and Makar, he was sure he hadn't misheard. Both of them had their mouths slightly open, looking equally incredulous.

"Audrey, could you repeat what you just said? I need to make sure I heard correctly", Moria tried to maintain his composure as the head of the guild, speaking kindly to Audrey.

"Of course, Head of the Guild." After Audrey repeated her message, the three of them remained silent, still struggling to process the information.

Once Audrey left, Moria took a moment to digest the news before turning to the others with a puzzled look. "Bradley, Makar, has our school ever established a Construct Association?"

"Um, I don't think so", Bradley said after a moment of thought, though he didn't sound entirely certain.

"I'm quite sure we haven't", Makar shook his head confidently.

"Lord Rayne seems to have done something incredible again. From what I know, Stuttgart from Isodrial Academy is not easy to work with. I wonder how Lord Rayne managed to convince him", Moria shook his head, marveling.

"As for an Empire Construct Association?" Moria's face lit up with anticipation.

An association prefixed with 'Empire'—since becoming the head of the Bishu Construct Guild, he had never even dared to dream of establishing such an organization.

"Head of the Guild, since Lord Rayne has invited us, why don't we just go to the Cyrodiil Plateau and find out everything? There's no point in speculating here", Makar couldn't help but interject.

"Right! Let's go! All of us!" Moria decided on the spot.

"Oh, and Makar, have someone load the newly repaired Destroyer onto the dirigible."

The three of them immediately sprang into action. By that evening, a dirigible from the Bishu Construct Guild was already en route to Nelheim on the Cyrodiil Plateau.

---

Cyrodiil Plateau.

In the dirigible cabin above the Isodrial Academy's compound.

Due to the severe damage to the academy, the meeting had to be held on the dirigible.

After hearing the accounts from several wizards of the Isodrial Academy, Elder Ivan and Marshal Alfred had a good understanding of the situation.

"Elder Ivan, I apologize for troubling you to make this trip", Rayne said with a hint of regret.

"Lord Rayne, if a single trip of mine can help thwart a cult's plot, I'm willing to travel the entire empire", Elder Ivan replied with a wry smile.

Elder Ivan's words elicited laughter from everyone present.

"By the way, Lord Rayne, is there anything you need us to do before we return?"

"I plan to establish a Construct Association. Anyone interested in the field of construct creation can apply to join. My initial plan is to use constructs to combat the Aberrant Spider Swarm that has spread across the Cyrodiil Plateau."

"Oh? That's a very good idea", Elder Ivan's eyes narrowed, a glint of approval in them.

Faced with these aberrant spiders that burrowed underground and had extensive tunnel networks, even he had no effective strategy. Dragons, though powerful, were ill-suited to dealing with such a widespread and elusive enemy.

Rayne's method seemed highly feasible.

"Additionally, Marshal, I hope we can officially establish the Swordsmen Division in the Cyrodiil Plateau. I believe that the more we strengthen control in these border regions of the Empire, the better."

"Of course, I understand the current shortage of personnel in the Bladesworn, but we can start by setting up the framework. I have a few team members from Minter Province who are quite capable."

Rayne's two suggestions were both adopted by Elder Ivan and Marshal Alfred during the meeting.

The next noon, the Senate dirigible set off again, returning to the Empire to discuss and deliberate on the threat posed by the eldritch deity, Nayubrekkan.

Not long after.

When Moria and the others, who had rushed through the night, arrived at the Isodrial Academy's base, they were first stunned by the scene that resembled a meteor bombardment. They were then respectfully led to the underground construct hall.

Meeting the courteous wizards of the Isodrial Academy, both Moria and Bradley felt a sense of vindication and satisfaction.

At that moment, Rayne and two elder wizards from the Isodrial Academy were already waiting for them.

"Master, Head of the School." Rayne smiled and nodded slightly.

Rayne naturally didn't have the time to devote to the Construct Association, so he had called for Moria from the school. As the head of the Bishu Construct Guild and a master of constructs, Moria had the necessary management experience and capability to handle this task.

After some pleasantries, Rayne said, "Since everyone is here, I'll briefly explain the situation."

"I have knowledge from the ancient Goblin Empire in the field of mechanical constructs. The ancient goblins were far more advanced in this area than we are, and I think we can learn a lot from their achievements."

As Rayne spoke, he revealed some basic principles of gnome engineering.

He then immediately demonstrated his skills. With the assistance of his Dawn Wizard-level psi energy, Superior Metal Elemental Affinity, and metal shaping, it took only about fifteen minutes for a mechanical land bird, nearly three meters tall, to appear before everyone.

Of course, the speed was partly due to the Isodrial Academy's stock of small energy furnaces, which further simplified the production process.

"Whoosh!"

The powerful peck of the mechanical land bird instantly created a large hole in an ironwood dummy. The hydraulic legs, with a single stomp, shattered another ironwood dummy into pieces.

This display left the two Crystalization Peak elder wizards of the Isodrial Academy speechless!

"His Majesty Rayne, your research in mechanical constructs is unparalleled. If you say you are second, no one in the Empire would dare to claim first." The elderly man with a mustache was so astonished that he nearly pulled half of his prized mustache out.

From the power it displayed, this mechanical land bird was equivalent to a Liquefaction Wizard in combat strength, yet Rayne had completed it in less than fifteen minutes.

This was truly astonishing!

From that moment on, Rayne had thoroughly impressed the two wizards.

"The Construct Association will operate on a Contribution Points system. Members can take out loans to purchase mechanical constructs for clearing out Aberrant Spider Swarms. By successfully eliminating the Aberrant Spider Swarms and the personnel from the Tuttesh Academy and other cults, members can earn Contribution Points."

"The specific details for Contribution Points recognition and loan limits will be left to you."

Naturally, Rayne had special considerations for the Bishu Construct Guild. The school's Contribution Points could be seamlessly converted into the association's Contribution Points, with the exact conversion ratio to be determined by Moria and his team.

After settling these matters, Rayne began to rely on the rare mineral reserves of Isodrial Academy to advance his career as a goblin engineer.

On one hand, this would allow the newly established Construct Association to produce a sufficient number of mechanical constructs as a foundation. On the other hand, it would also help him improve his professional level, making it a win-win situation.

After some thought, Rayne decided to create some mid-to-high-end mechanical constructs for wizards at the Crystallization stage.

After all, the Mechanical Land Birds he had demonstrated were mainly designed for wizards at the Vaporization and Liquefaction stages. For Crystallized Wizards, at least the Mechanical Raptor level would be required to offer significant enhancement.

For this project, Rayne chose to create two improved versions of the Mechanical Raptor. The first was the Scytheclaw Raptor, which had sharper, scythe-shaped claws on its forelimbs.

The second was the Screamer Raptor, which featured an ultrasonic attack device installed inside its mouth, based on the ordinary Mechanical Raptor.

Rayne chose these two models because some Aberrant Spider Swarms, though small in size, were numerous and highly toxic, capable of spraying webs, making them quite troublesome. Therefore, a ranged sonic attack might be particularly effective.

Especially when these two improved raptors were used together, their combined effect would be greater than the sum of their parts.

With the mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor and Screamer Raptor at their disposal, a Crystallized Wizard would have a significant advantage. Unless they encountered a Dawn Wizard-level opponent, they would at least be able to escape if they couldn't win the fight.

Soon, as Rayne began his work, system prompts continuously sounded:

[You have created a mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor. Relevant insights have increased!]

[You have learned a new skill: Mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor Creation]

[Your skill Mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor Creation has improved. Experience +45]

[You have focused on Mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor Creation. Your Goblin Engineer (Legendary) experience +105]

[You have created a mechanical Screamer Raptor. Relevant insights have increased!]

[You have learned a new skill: Mechanical Screamer Raptor Creation]

[Your skill Mechanical Screamer Raptor Creation has improved. Experience +48]

[You have focused on Mechanical Screamer Raptor Creation. Your Goblin Engineer (Legendary) experience +110]

Over the course of several days, Rayne's Goblin Engineer (Legendary) profession level smoothly reached level 10. As a result, the legendary Goblin Engineer profession once again contributed 3 attribute points and 3 skill points to Rayne.

Now, the attribute panel showed that he had 10 remaining attribute points, 22 remaining skill points, and 763 Golden Skill Points, reaching an all-time high.

"The mechanical Scytheclaw Raptor and mechanical Screamer Raptor are both considered advanced goblin engineering constructs. This means that the fourth condition for advancing to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic) — 'independently creating five qualified advanced goblin engineering constructs' — has been completed", Rayne mused to himself.

"The only remaining condition is the third one — 'mastering advanced goblin engineering knowledge.' Once I achieve that, I can advance at any time."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end