Age of Adepts c1-1513
Page 451
"Take these. Remember, you have to find a way to mix these into the new ruler's food. One pill a day for an entire month," Gargamel took out a vial and tossed it to one of his subordinates who was dressed like a rogue. When he saw his subordinates hesitant expression, Gargamel quickly consoled them, "Don't worry, that isn't poison. Even the two adepts can't find anything once it's mixed in the food."
Gargamel didn't explain anything more to his subordinates.
Emelia sniffed with her nose and quickly analyzed the function of this drug based on the smell left in the air.
Heartlost Drug!
It was a type of medicine refined from Psychedelic Grass. It wouldn't harm the human body if ingested once or twice. In fact, it would even provide the user with a sense of relaxation. However, excessive consumption would cause dependence and addiction.
Of course, such 'minor' side-effects were nothing to adepts. However, they were terrifying for humans, who had weaker control over their Spirits!
If it weren't for this matter today, Gargamel would never have made a medicine like this for a mortal, especially with his identity as a potions master. Only a drug like this could pass the Poison Sense of the adepts and successfully be sent into the mouth of that Baron Willems.
After quickly and efficiently dealing with the matter of the new lord, the subordinates started reporting on the latest situation of the Black Forest north of Fire Throne.
According to the feedback of traveling mercenaries and adventurers, a group of evileyes had appeared near Mist Mountain. They numbered over two hundred and had taken up an underground cave, frequently emerging to harass enemies.
Some crystal mines of decent quality had also been found in Crystal Valley. However, a group of harpies had gathered there. There weren't too many of them–only about a hundred–but they were still more than enough to deal with common adventurer groups.
The wyverns and the wyvern king that had initially been settled near Fire Throne had no choice but to move deeper into the Black Forest after realizing how helpless they were before the adepts. After a few years of searching and exploration, adventurers had found the new den of the wyverns.
……
As the majordomo of the Crimson Clan, all these things, as menial and insignificant as they were, had to be dealt with by Gargamel. There was no helping it. Almost the entirety of the Crimson Clan was composed of combat adepts. All the clan adepts were either hiding in their rooms and their labs or they were running around searching for the knowledge and resources they needed.
In all seriousness, there weren't very many adepts in this world who could so diligently dedicate themselves to worldly tasks as Gargamel could.
It was because they understood the importance and irreplaceable nature of Gargamel's position that even clan adepts of higher grade were respectful toward him.
Greem also knew very well the significance of Gargamel's existence. That was why he had specifically sent a squad of thirty magical machines to protect him. Gargamel was surrounded by magical machines whenever he went out to manage problems. It was an astounding and impressive sight.
Gargamel knew his worth as well, and thus, became even more diligent and hardworking in his business for the clan!
Chapter 724 Fire Throne
Fire Throne, Fourth Level.
Greem was leaning over his worktable, seriously and silently drawing something on a piece of parchment.
After this interplanar war, Greem had once again recognized his lack of magical equipment.
He had been busy with all sorts of matters since becoming a Second Grade adept and hadn't had the spare time to go collecting fire-type equipment that was suited for him. That indirectly reduced his combat power!
It was important to note that an elementium adept who wished to increase their grade had to undergo a long period of knowledge accumulation and spiritual refinement to synchronize their Spirit with their body. It was the only way to maximize one's combat power.
However, the time required to do this was unbelievably long. Consequently, many adepts could only look toward the collection of suitable magical equipment to quickly increase their power by a significant amount.
Suitable magical equipment could often increase an adept's combat power by several times!
Many combat adepts even adjusted their techniques to increase their compatibility with their magical equipment, all so that they could further unleash the power of the gear.
Greem's opponents in the past had mostly been otherworld natives. As such, he hadn't truly felt the effects of having insufficient magical equipment. However, once the focus of the clan was back on the World of Adepts, Greem would have a much harder time trying to obtain an advantage against adepts of the same grade, given the level of his current equipment.
While they were still First Grade adepts, their Spirits had not been sufficient to sustain a reckless and all-out battle between adepts. Thus, the weight of external forces in a fight became even more significant. Back then, Greem had been aided by his magical golems and could even fight off numerous enemies. He'd had the absolute advantage in battles against adepts of the same grade.
However, ever since he'd become a Second Grade adept, the frequency of battling an opponent of the same level had been reduced tremendously.
After all, Second Grade adepts were the main fighting force in all clans and organizations. Any fight that broke out between two such adepts would have an immense effect on themselves, the environment, and the forces behind them. That was why, unless necessary, the chances of a fight breaking out between Second Grade adepts was much lower.
Take for example Greem helping Mary deal with a Second Grade from the vampire clan. His action had caused them to become mortal enemies with the vampire clan. Even now, the adepts of the Crimson Clan had to be cautious when going out on distant expeditions. They were fearful that a leak of information would cause them to be the target of that vampire clan.
These days, Greem had started studying the combat power of Second Grade adepts in the World of Adepts through more indirect means. He was shocked to find that his power, even when combined with that of the Flame Fiend of Terror, was only slightly below average. That had to do with his lack of knowledge and resource accumulation, but even more to do with the fact that he had neglected to convert his knowledge and resources into power.
That was why Greem took this rare free time to sit back and systematically study the data that the Chip had collected and organized. He also started thinking about the most optimal way of allocating his resources and turning them into active combat power.
After some thought, Greem realized that he should delve deeper into his usage of elementium golems.
The elementium golems in the past had mostly functioned as portable combat golems.
He was able to summon them during combat, give them some commands, and leave them be. Their moves in battle relied entirely on the Chip's remote commands.
Now that Greem had the runic knowledge collected from the Knight's Plane and the magical machinery knowledge from the Goblin Plane, he had an impulse and instinct that made him want to combine the two of them.
Greem had once thought of creating unique constructs that combined the strengths of elementium golems and metallic magical machines– the metal golems. However, he couldn't complete the project due to limitations in the magical alloy. He'd had no choice but to walk down an alternative path to create an external magical machine armor.
In his two lives, the unique mechanical Gundam suits of Earth had left the most profound impression on him!
He had become a powerful adept with mastery over destructive powers. Some things that remained only in the imagination in the past had some chance of being realized now.
What were Gundams?
No more than external compound armor!
It didn't matter whether it was the defensive forcefields, the strong alloy armor, or the transforming weapons. These things were no longer unattainable fantasies, but
small 'obstacles' that could be solved through complex alchemy and advanced smithing technique.
The pilots of the Gundams in the past had been weak humans. That was why they required such strong defenses.
However, Greem was a powerful elementium adept himself. Greem didn't need to expend so much effort to protect himself. If he truly intended to build similar external armor, the crucial point of consideration would be how to maximize the user's elementium power output.
After reading up on most of the related material, Greem finally gave the Chip his order to research an otherworldly version of the Gundam.
[Beep. Received host's latest command. Commence research on information related to 'Combat Support Compound Exoskeleton Equipment.'
[Beep. Data library demonstrates that such a 'Combat Support Compound Exoskeleton Equipment' would have these basic functions and abilities. Please add or subtract functions as required by the host's needs.
[Beep. Life system circulatory system. Construct a complete life system circulatory system within the equipment, with the host's human race as the template, with the purpose of supporting the host's survival ability in harsh planar environments.
[Beep. Battlefield reconnaissance system. Allows equipment to possess the primary function of gathering and collecting necessary information on the battlefield.
[Beep. Battlefield operational command platform. The host can use this platform to complete operational command over the entire battlefield.
[Beep. Body sub-function enhancement system. Enhance the attributes of a specific part of the body with an exoskeleton made with magical machinery and an energy circulatory system constructed with runic energy.
[Beep. Otherworldly energy amplification system. Amplifies the level of otherworldly energy manipulated by the host through magical energy, improving the host's offensive strength.]
[……]
[……]
A series of beeps went off in Greem's mind.
Greem repeatedly mulled over his original intentions and the knowledge and resources he currently held, trying his best to weigh the possible effects of every option listed by the Chip on the final product.
To summarize: the more functions he added to this Combat Support System, the more coordination was required between each sub-system. The knowledge and resources demanded of him would also become exponentially terrifying.
Trying to pursue all of them in Greem's current situation was a dead-end!
The Chip could indeed design a powerful assistive battle armor by adding in all the available functions. However, much of the knowledge and resources required were not currently available to him. Just gathering these things would probably expend a hundred years of his time.
After some careful consideration, Greem believed that it was best to start with a simplified version.
"Chip, remove all unnecessary functions and leave only the most fundamental Body Enhancement and Otherworldly Energy Amplification system. Give me some practical sample models."
[Beep. Order received. Starting speculation on basic assistive armor model based on current data.]
Greem closed his eyes and emptied his mind, injected all of his Spirit into the Chip, and used all he had to support the data calculation and model construction.
Seven hours, twenty-four minutes, and fifty-one seconds later, the Chip projected a strange model in Greem's mind.
[Beep. According to the data, there are approximately seven hundred and nineteen pieces of equipment that fit the host's requirements.
[Excluding those with excessive grade requirements, five hundred and eighty-six are left.
[Excluding those that require unavailable knowledge and resources, seventeen are left.
[Excluding unnecessary function options, two are left.]
As the Chip filtered out the models based on Greem's demands, the exotic armors in Greem's mind slowly started fading away. In the end, only two odd objects remained, slowly spinning in his mind.
Greem's attention was first drawn to the equipment on the left.
As he turned his attention to it, a bright beam of light illuminated the equipment from above, allowing Greem to see its every detail clearly.
It was strange equipment that resembled metal armor. Tiny magical machinery was placed inside the golden chestplate, and runic energy was used to connect the different devices.
Every time Greem's eyes fell upon a particular part of the armor, an exploded view of the components and its energy circulation would appear before him, allowing him to understand its construct perfectly.
This whole armor would increase all his physical attributes by three points and possessed the terrifying ability to amplify all fire magic damage by forty five percent. However, to achieve this level, the magical alloy used to forge this armor would have to be the Queyras Alloy that Greem had obtained from the Goblin Plane.
Judging from the size of the armor, he would probably have to exhaust all the remaining Queyras Alloy to have a chance at completing it. That also meant that Greem would not be able to forge any more magic generator furnaces or space furnaces before he found a replacement alloy!
Greem's passionate gaze lingered on this armor for a long, long time before he reluctantly looked away.
As Greem's eyes moved on, the second armor set was also lit up with a pillar of light.
It…was not complete magical armor. Instead, it was an odd set of magical equipment comprised of multiple smaller set pieces.
Greem could see five subordinate components– a crown, an armband, a belt, a pendant, and a pair of boots. Each element had its own unique attributes and magical effects. When put together, they would form a complete magical set system.
The setpiece name that the Chip had given to them was– Fire Throne!
Chapter 725 Second Grade Magical Equipment Se
t
Burning Suncrown. Second Grade magical equipment. Magical crown. Increases magic resistance by 10 points and fire resistance by 20 points. The wearer will be enchanted with Ring of Fire, capable of dealing 40 points of fire damage/per second.
Emblem of Fire. Second Grade magical equipment. Magical armband. Increases magic resistance by 5 points and fire resistance by 10 points. The wearer will possess the Fire Molding ability and can mold elementium flames into weapons of any shape.
The Fearless. Second Grade magical equipment. Magical belt. Increases magic resistance by 5 points and fire resistance by 10 points. The wearer will possess the Fire Summoning ability and can summon a certain number of fire elementals from the Fire Elementium plane.
Ash. Second Grade magical equipment. Magical boots. Increases magic resistance by 5 points and fire resistance by 10 points. The wearer will possess the Fire Regeneration ability: health regeneration will be doubled while the wearer is standing within magical flames.
Fire Dragon's Breath. Second Grade magical equipment. Magical accessory. Increases magic resistance by 5 points and fire resistance by 10 points. The wearer can concentrate the fire energy in the pendant and release it in a single breath, forming a fan-shaped flame shockwave in front of the wearer.
The Fire Throne set was made from five loose pieces. Each of them was Second Grade at the very minimum and possessed their own magical abilities. When combined, they exhibited some strange set abilities.
Two set pieces: Immune to fire damage.
Three set pieces: Fire magic exhausts half as much Spirit.
Four set pieces: All of the wearer's fire magic is enhanced with one Second Grade magical effect (Spell Penetration, Critical Spell Strike, or Extended Spell Range).
Five set pieces: Once all set pieces are equipped, a Burning Domain will automatically form around the wearer, restricting all non-fire spells in a five-meter radius around the wearer. Anyone that casts a spell within the Burning Domain will temporarily forget that spell after a successful cast. All units moving within the Burning Domain will have to endure a burning effect.
……
……
This Second Grade magical equipment might not be all that powerful individually, but when put together into a set, their odd magical abilities made Greem drool.
This set was the most optimal solution that the Chip had given Greem after summarizing all the data.
The knowledge required to forge this Second Grade magical equipment was already available. The necessary resources were also things that Greem could easily gather with his current strength. That was why Greem couldn't help but hold his breath again when he turned his eyes from the equipment to the lengthy list of resources behind them.
What a long resource list!
Greem saw the names of countless rare resources on it. Moreover, the required amount and unit price listed behind the resources caused the oxygen to surge out of his brain. Greem felt dizzy and was having difficulty breathing.
He endured the trembling of his Spirit and braved reading through the resource list. He finally saw the total cost of production given by the Chip– 1,350,000 magical crystals!
The base price of forging such a Second Grade magical equipment set was already 1,350,000 magical crystals. That didn't even include the cost of the associated magical knowledge or the losses from failed attempts.
For the first time, Greem started to understand the significance and importance of knowledge and resources to an adept!
Even an extraordinarily talented genius adept would have no choice but to spend day after day toiling slowly to raise his Spirit if he didn't possess sufficient influence and resources. Moreover, the power they obtained through their hard work would be insignificant to that of adepts who easily obtained powerful magical equipment through their clan.
Even the most intense of hard work, the most extraordinary of talents, would be crushed to pieces under a sea of resources and the thousand-year accumulation of a massive clan, turning into no more than footnotes for the defeated.
It was at this moment and this instant that Greem once again understood how convenient it was to control a mature adept organization with his hands. It made collecting knowledge and resources so much easier. Otherwise, he could only do like most other adepts did and join an adept clan reluctantly, offering his magic abilities in exchange for magical crystal rewards and some essential resources.