Chapter 535: Mechanical Dread Dragon

Chapter 535: Mechanical Dread Dragon

"Since that's the case, I'll strike while the iron is hot. I already learned most of it at Lava Lake, so the rest shouldn't take too much time."

Rayne quickly decided to complete the advanced goblin engineering knowledge from the second Memory Crystal.

After completing the class change, he would head to the Imperial Capital.

Half a day later.

[Ding! Host has mastered advanced goblin engineering knowledge, triggering the subsequent class change to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic)!]

[Requirements for advancing to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic): 1. Goblin Engineer (Legendary) Level 5 or above; 2. Strength 20 or above, Constitution 20 or above, Dexterity 20 or above, Spirit 40 or above; 3. Mastery of advanced goblin engineering knowledge; 4. Independently create five qualified advanced goblin engineering constructs. Current conditions met! Do you wish to change class to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic)?]

[Note: After changing class to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic), the original Goblin Engineer (Legendary) class panel will be integrated into the Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic) class panel.]

Without a moment's hesitation, Rayne immediately chose "Yes"!

[Class change beginning.]

[Ding! Class change to Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic) successful! Strength +3, Dexterity +3, Constitution +5, Spirit +10!]

[Obtained core skill of Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic): Rapid Repair (Active)]

On the system panel, the original Goblin Engineer (Legendary) class panel had vanished, replaced by the eye-catching purple panel of Goblin Engineering Expert (Epic).

The intensity of the purple color was comparable to that of Rayne's first Epic-level class, King of Thousand Blades, suggesting that the Goblin Engineering Expert had reached a similar pinnacle in the field of mechanical engineering as the King of Thousand Blades had in melee combat.

This filled Rayne with a sense of pleasant surprise.

After all, even classes at the same level could vary in power, and he naturally preferred a more potent class panel.

When his attention turned to the new core skill, Rayne couldn't help but exclaim softly:

"Rapid Repair?"

He quickly focused on the detailed description of the new core skill:

[Core Skill: Rapid Repair (Active)]

[Rapid Repair (Active) Effect: In intense combat situations, mechanical devices may malfunction or be damaged. When this skill is activated, the Goblin Engineering Expert can quickly diagnose the problem and repair it in a short amount of time.]

(Note: The psi energy consumption of Rapid Repair is related to the severity of the malfunction or damage and the complexity of the device. The more psi energy consumed, the faster the repair.)

"Back when I was a Goblin Engineer, my core skill was Emergency Modification. Now, as a Goblin Engineering Expert, it's Rapid Repair. Both are highly practical core skills in combat."

"This is quite different from the Tailor and Leatherworker, which only reached the Extraordinary level. No wonder the Goblin Engineering Expert class panel is at the Epic level", Rayne thought to himself.

A few minutes later.

Just as he was about to leave, Rayne noticed the familiar Destroyer Golem placed in the center of the construct hall.

This was the one he had asked the guild leader Moria to bring over, so that there would still be an Epic-level combatant in Nelheim after he left the Cyrodiil Plateau.

While Crystal Apex Mages couldn't fully unleash the Destroyer's combat potential, they were sufficient for defense.

"Having changed to a Goblin Engineering Expert, I can finally create a super-giant construct on par with the Destroyer."

Several images of advanced goblin engineering blueprints quickly flashed through Rayne's mind.

"Large Golem-tier Mechanical Whip-Tail Dragon."

"Super Colossal Metal Golem-tier Mechanical Dread Dragon."

"This is it!"

Rayne's mind quickly settled on a super-giant goblin engineering construct that was at least as tall as the Destroyer—the Mechanical Dread Dragon.

The Mechanical Dread Dragon can be seen as a super-enhanced version of the Velociraptor.

In addition to its razor-sharp scythe claws, it also has a multi-segmented alloy tail capable of performing a 'Death Sweep,' making it a powerful area-of-effect weapon.

Furthermore, its two eye sockets are equipped with high-energy beam emitters, allowing it to release 'Energy Beams' and compensate for its lack of ranged attack capabilities.

These devices are almost flawless, making the mechanical dread dragons nearly without any significant weaknesses.

In the ancient goblin empire, the elite forces of a mechanical legion were primarily composed of these massive mechanical dread dragons, which could reach heights of thirty to forty meters.

However, due to their complex construction and high cost, and the fact that a controller typically needed to be at the Dawn Wizard level to fully unleash their power, even with some functions disabled, they still required Crystal Apex Mages. Therefore, the number of these mechanical dread dragons within a mechanical legion was relatively limited.

Of course, it wasn't that Rayne didn't want to create more powerful metal golems. Even in the two Memory Crystals that contained advanced goblin engineering knowledge, the methods for creating some key components of higher-tier golems were missing.

For example, there was a blueprint for a super-giant golem, known as the 'Legion Commander' by ancient goblins and 'Titan' by human wizards, referred to as the 'King of Mechanical Dread Dragons.'

However, the method for creating the power core, the 'crystal energy matrix,' was missing, making it impossible to construct at the moment.

But after a moment's thought, Rayne found this reasonable. After all, even in the ancient goblin empire, the 'crystal energy matrix' would have been a closely guarded secret.

Perhaps, the next time he explores the Sky City, he might have a chance to obtain the relevant blueprints or information.

"Fortunately, the Isodrial Academy has a spare large furnace core. With this, I can complete the construction of this mechanical dread dragon without much delay."

"The competition with Pantoskoc is scheduled for three days from now."

"I can bring the materials along and head to the school to assemble it once I reach the Imperial Capital."

With his mind made up, Rayne left the construction hall where he had been meditating for several days.

However, as soon as he stepped out, he noticed a stone platform at the entrance of the hall, displaying a terrain model of the Cyrodiil Plateau. Moria and a few others were gathered around, discussing something.

"Lord Rayne!" The two elders from the Isodrial Academy immediately spotted Rayne as he emerged from the construction hall and bowed.

"Lord Rayne, wonderful, you're finally out." Moria exclaimed with surprise.

"Headmaster, is there something you need?"

"Two things. First, the Mechanical Land Birds you created have been very effective. Our wizards from both academies have already destroyed over a dozen Aberrant Spider Swarm nests around Nelheim with minimal casualties." Moria said, pointing to the stone platform.

"However, the Aberrant Spider Swarms are adapting. We've noticed that they are now combining multiple nests and have started to produce more powerful aberrant spiders. The Mechanical Land Birds seem to be insufficient in dealing with this threat."

"Lord Rayne, you mentioned a more advanced version earlier?" Moria asked, her face filled with anticipation.

"Headmaster, I think you'll understand once you open the gate." Rayne smiled and gestured back to the construction hall.

As the gate to the construction hall fully opened, several dozen mechanical Scytheclaw Raptors and Screamer Raptors, each about four meters tall, appeared before everyone.

"Whoa—"

The crowd around them drew in sharp breaths in rapid succession!

"This—this is incredible!"

"You made all these in just four days?"

Moria and the other Crystalized Wizards were utterly amazed!

After Rayne finished explaining the improved functions of the two types of Mechanical Raptors, the crowd was even more thrilled, agreeing that with such powerful tools, there was no worry about the Aberrant Spider Swarms.

"By the way, Headmaster, what's the second thing?"

"Oh, right. I forgot to mention, our academy's promotion to a large wizard academy will also be evaluated in three days, and the location is the Imperial Capital. I was thinking, since you have a competition, should we discuss postponing it with the empire wizard school federation?"

"No need, I'll take care of it." Rayne shook his head.

"Alright, as you wish." If it were anyone else, Moria might have said more. But with Rayne, she felt an inexplicable confidence.

Half an hour later, an empire dirigible, loaded with a large furnace and a variety of rare minerals, set off for the Imperial Capital Temeril.

Meanwhile, the news that the empire's rising star, Rayne, was to compete against the imperial guardian Pantoskoc, known as 'Storm Cloud,' spread like wildfire among the top nobles in the Imperial Capital Temeril.

A few days earlier, Elder Ivan and Marshal Alfred had returned to the Imperial Capital and informed the royal family and the Senate of this matter.

While duels between nobles that could not be resolved through other means were not prohibited, such as when Rayne had dueled Baron Norman in Mayest County.

But Rayne and Pantoskoc are different. Although the duel is officially just a friendly match, everyone knows that a battle between two Epic-Level Warriors can easily result in severe injuries or even death if one isn't careful.

After all, when legendary-level experts compete, they can find an Epic-Level Warrior to serve as a judge and intervene at critical moments. However, at Rayne and Pantoskoc's level, almost no one can immediately stop them.

So, while this is officially a friendly match, the danger is no less than a real duel.

Inner Ring of the Imperial Capital Temeril.

In the study of the Drum Family Manor.

"Ancestor, are you really confident you can defeat that Rayne?" Duke Drum couldn't help but worry.

He wasn't doubting his ancestor's strength, but Rayne's rapid improvement was truly astonishing.

Another factor was his concern for his ancestor.

In Duke Drum's heart, Pantoskoc, the Stormcloud, was the pillar of the Drum Family and the fundamental guarantee that the Drum Family could stand at the pinnacle of the empire's nobility as a guardian family.

If his ancestor were severely injured, or even worse, Duke Drum didn't dare to imagine the consequences.

"Don't worry. Half a month ago, Hazas advanced to the ancient dragon stage, significantly boosting his strength. The power of his acid breath has increased by fifty percent", Pantoskoc reassured him.

"Moreover, what surprised me the most was that Hazas's innate ability, 'sleeping poison cloud,' has also become much more powerful. I've tested it, and even a Dawn Wizard would fall into a brief slumber if sprayed."

"Really?" Duke Drum's face was filled with surprise!

If that were the case, his ancestor's strength would certainly rank among the top tier of the empire's guardians.

However, Duke Drum's brow furrowed as he pondered.

Since Hazas was his ancestor's dragon companion, and he hadn't been mistaken, it should have taken at least a few hundred years of slow growth to reach the ancient dragon stage. How did it happen so suddenly?

Pantoskoc smiled. "Are you confused?"

"Yes, Ancestor. According to what I know", Duke Drum nodded.

"You don't need to worry about the specifics. Very few people know that Hazas has advanced to the ancient dragon stage. I haven't even told anyone in the empire, but I will inform the royal family before the match."

"I see. That's why you had me spread the news about your match with Rayne among the nobles of the Imperial Capital, to prevent Princess Menya from trying to stop it."

After a moment's thought, Duke Drum was once again impressed by his ancestor's wisdom, considering every aspect.

Now, this match had become a confrontation between the conservative faction and the reformist faction. With such a large-scale event, even Princess Menya, the 'Red Queen' who had once been saved by Rayne, couldn't forcefully stop it.

Pantoskoc smiled and nodded.

After arriving in the Imperial Capital, Rayne first went home and had dinner with his family, including Jennifer and Lagrelle. Then, he headed to the Bishu Construct Guild to start making the 'mechanical tyrannosaurus.'

This was because Rayne didn't want to reveal his true strength, which had recently reached the late Dawn stage. Additionally, Menya had warned him not to display his multi-headed ability in front of others, especially the imperial royal family.

Given these conditions, it wouldn't be easy to decisively defeat Pantoskoc.

After all, from the confident look on Pantoskoc's face when he left, it was clear that he had some kind of ace up his sleeve.

Luther and Hallowen had also heard about the match and wanted to meet Rayne, but they missed him.

Two days later, the time arrived.

The Royal Arena was located on the south side of the imperial palace.

Due to its location, only high-ranking nobles of the empire, such as counts and above, were allowed to attend. Although the number of attendees wasn't large, they were all dressed in fine attire, and the ladies were particularly well-groomed.

Technically, the beautiful matron Jennifer, the barbarian girl Lagrelle, and even Claire, who hadn't yet inherited her count title, didn't have the right to attend. However, since one of the combatants was Rayne, they were seated in the front row.

Whispers from the high-ranking nobles behind them filled the air, mostly about the strength gap between the two and the likelihood of each winning.

"Duke Davison, from what I understand, this Lord Rayne, although he defeated 'Carver' Harold, is still far from the strength of the imperial guardian 'Storm Cloud' Pantoskoc, right?"

A middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle, dressed in a formal noble suit, bowed slightly to an elderly man holding a golden, diamond-encrusted cane.

"On the contrary, I have a better opinion of Lord Rayne", the elderly Duke Davison said with a smile.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end