Age of Adepts c1-1513
Page 557
Even so, there were still swarms of goblins volunteering themselves for the task due to their passion for magical energy and their hopes for the rise of goblins.
With Gonga’s order, a young goblin wearing a special quarantine suit in the core energy cabin passionately connected the pipes and slowly pushed the energy valve to where the number three had been etched.
A small gap opened up in the energy pipes, which were forged from special magical alloy. The wild, magical energy that had been gathering in the magic generator furnace rapidly surged into the pipes as if it had found an outlet. The surge of energy recklessly charged outward.
The mysterious runes carved along the pipes quickly lit up and slowly extended through each part of the golem dragon along the complicated pipes.
The strange creaking sound of energy channels under pressure immediately started ringing out in the corridors inside the dragon. Several monitoring sites spread throughout the golem dragon quickly started giving their reports.
“Monitoring Site JYN037 has detected energy information. All facilities operation normal.”
“Left Ventricle Monitoring Site facilities have started operating. Current condition: Excellent.”
“Distributed Energy Storage Center 5 has started operating. Currently monitoring status.”
“Turret 97 has started charging, all operations normal.”
“……”
Of course, it wasn’t impossible for flaws or problems to occur in such a sizeable magical machine. While Gonga and the advanced engineers awaited for condition reports anxiously, an urgent call came from the intercom.
“Calling headquarters; slight energy leaks detected at Monitoring Site 129. The rescue team has started emergency repairs. Requesting for all higher-order energy circuits to be cut off.”
After so many tests and simulations, Gonga already had the thousands of energy pipeline diagrams and energy monitoring sites committed to heart. He could instantly give the goblin stationed near the higher-order nodes of the energy pipelines the order the shut the valve based on the location of the leak.
Soon, the energy leak was under control, and the goblins had barely suffered any losses.
The 3% energy supply quickly filled all the pipelines of the golem dragon and activated some of the basic runic arrays. The giant, brown golem dragon looked as if it had gained life. It now looked much more active and filled with vigor.
However, 3% of energy was not enough to power such a vast magical machine. Gonga immediately gave Gagamu the order to increase the energy supply after all conditions had stabilized.
Soon, the energy valve was raised from the 3% point to the 6% point.
The roaring magical energy thrashed through the metal pipes, the majority of which raced towards its destination, while the magical alloy absorbed small portions of it. This share of magical energy caused the metallic muscles of the golem dragon to swell and grow in size, one by one.
The metal pipes filled with magical energy were like dirt soaked with water. They possessed some degree of ability to resist the corrosion of the magical power now. As the energy valve was slowly raised, this one hundred meters tall and three hundred meters long golem dragon finally came to life!
The fierce magical energy surging throughout its body formed a strange energy resonance effect. It engulfed all the metallic muscles and construct components in a violent yet orderly energy field. Part of the energy even spilled out of the golem dragon, forming a barrier similar to an energy forcefield.
Most of the goblins were scratching their heads in confusion at this strange turn of events. Only the adepts stationed at the lab betrayed expressions of extreme joy when they investigated the forcefield with their spells.
An anti-magic forcefield!
It was a variant of high-grade energy fields. It could effectively isolate or weaken the intensity of magical energy, even destroying spell constructions that had yet to be fully formed.
The golem dragon possessed a layer of an anti-magic barrier, so trying to exterminate it with magical power was going to be exceedingly tricky. The most effective way of dealing with the magical machine golem dragon would be through physical attacks!
However, would a one hundred meters tall, three hundred meters long magical machine construct made entirely out of metal fear physical attacks? It was the coldest joke in the entire world!
The very thought of the enemy being unable to faze the magical machine dragon with their spells, while the dragon could bombard its enemy with all the magic energy cannons on its body; how amazingly awesome would that be!?
With this Fourth Grade magical machine dragon, they could easily siege any enemy headquarters or adept’s tower. Of course, it still wouldn’t be much use against those Fourth Grade monsters. Meanwhile, the protection of the Fourth Grade magical golem dragon meant that the Crimson Clan now could negotiate and gain leverage against Fourth Grade adepts.
Nightfall.
As the stationed adept of the Goblin Plane, Wind Adept Deserra–who had witnessed the entire activation process of the Fourth Grade dragon–immediately wrote a detailed and comprehensive inspection report for clan headquarters.
Moreover, he subtly submitted a report at the end of the document as well: “With Regards to the Possibility of the Evolution of Magical Goblins!”
As the highest-ranking adept of the Crimson Clan in the Goblin Plane, Deserra had sensitively noticed the fact that some goblins participating in the construction of the golem dragon were showing signs of magic-infusion.
Their bodies were stronger, their strength greater, and their personalities more impatient and intense. However, their bodies had decent compatibility with the violent magical energy surging out of the magic generator furnace.
Of course, such a change was not apparent at the current moment. It was so slight that an ordinary adept would not pick up on the difference unless they were at Deserra’s level.
However, with the activation of the golem dragon, the goblin engineers and technicians that would accompany the machine were very likely to be polluted by the excessively rich magical energy and mutate in some degree and manner.
It was undoubtedly an issue that fascinated the adepts immensely!
…………
Lance, the Capital of Eternity.
The core hall in the steel tower.
The brain took up half the space in the hall, squirming about while Gru stood in front of the glass vat and communicated with it.
“We just got the news that the golem dragon in the Goblin Plane has been successfully activated!”
“Hmph! What does their magical machine golem dragon count for? All its attributes are shockingly low. It is no more than intermediate Fourth Grade trash despite having such a powerful magic generator furnace. Hmph! If those resources were in my hands, I would have created a peak Fourth Grade masterpiece!”
“Is there any point in saying this? Greem is always cautious of us. He would never invest large amounts of resources in our Capital of Eternity. If it weren’t for wanting to borrow our technique of creating large magical machines, he would never even have handed over the Motherships for us to create.”
“That’s right! How far is the progress on the six Motherships? When will the six magic generator furnaces he promised arrive?”
“The six Motherships are off the production line. They are now being outfitted with magic energy weapons in the assembly workshops. The construction should be completely done in another two days. When that happens, I will personally go and insist on the magic generator furnaces.”
“Do you think that Greem will allow us to forge the Iron Titan?”
“Don’t even think about it! Permitting us to build the Motherships was already Greem’s bottom line. After all, the Motherships are no more than auxiliary combat magical machines. However, the Iron Titan…I doubt whether he has enough Queyras metal on hand to support such an enormous project. If we were the ones to build the Titan, we would not have enough metal w
ith the amount we are secretly excavating from Lance. Do you think he would provide us with large amounts of magical alloys from the Goblin Plane?”
Cough!
The hall once again returned to silence after a drawn-out sigh.
Chapter 903 - Mary Advances
Even as laid back as he was, Greem was the leader of the Crimson Clan and had to take a long time to deal with all the reports coming from various places.
There were requests for resources, research proposals, applications for leave, routine task reports, job duty summaries…
In just two or three days, a thick stack of documents from the clan headquarters and its various outposts had been placed on Greem’s wide wooden table. Given the thickness and height of this stack of papers, Greem was worried they would kill him when they collapsed onto him.
Gargamel and Meryl had managed most of this stuff in the past.
Now, Eva had dragged Gargamel away by the ear as the two of them worried over Emelia’s mutation. He had set the internal matters of Fire Throne aside for the moment. Meryl seemed to sense tremendous pressure from within the clan as well. It appeared many were dissatisfied with her remaining an intermediate First Grade adept despite having advanced several decades ago.
Thus, she tossed the clan matters to Greem and ran into the Black Forest for some training.
With his two most essential subordinates on leave, Greem was buried in work.
If it weren’t for the Chip’s help, he would have been driven mad by these two weeks of ‘diligent work.’ It was a good thing he only needed to repeat the words that the Chip had come up with onto the documents and put on his stamp after it was done.
Fortunately, Meryl had left the excellent assistant Vanlier before she left, or Greem might actually have gone insane.
The successful activation of the Fourth Grade magical machine golem dragon was undoubtedly excellent news. Vanlier immediately presented it to Greem. Greem couldn’t help but narrow his eyes and think for a moment after taking a good look at Deserra’s report.
The appearance of the Fourth Grade golem dragon was very timely, making up for the fatal weakness of the Crimson Clan– their lack of a top-tier fighting force. However, the actual deployment of the dragon also required extremely high political finesse and strategy.
Apart from this, Gazlowe also submitted a report, pushing for the six promised magic generator furnaces. Though Greem had already pledged to provide Gazlowe with the generator furnaces, how it was done and when were all matters of consideration.
Gazlowe was not a trustworthy individual. Greem was concerned that Gazlowe would take over Lance and cast the Crimson Clan aside if he managed to strengthen the power he held beyond a certain degree. It was these concerns that kept Greem from ever permitting Gazlowe to lay his hands on the golem dragon and the Iron Titan.
On the other hand, Thunder Dragon Arms, Emerald Dragon Iritina, and their flight of green dragons were an additional force he used to intimidate the brain monster and keep his ambitions in check. As long as Gazlowe didn’t put on the flag of rebellion and cut off the Crimson Clan’s connection to Lance, Greem would allow him independence.
However, if he hoped for more and reached beyond what he was given, Greem didn’t mind giving him a small lesson!
If this had been in the past when Greem had yet to advance to Third Grade, he could only try his best to console the brain monster and keep him on his side. However, now that he had the power of a Third Grade, he possessed the ability to punish Gazlowe at certain key moments.
That was why Greem’s attitude toward Gazlowe was in a very delicate balance now.
That said, Greem was not focused today and was somewhat dismissive of all the crucial matters of the clan. Instead, his attention was focused on a particular spot in the higher levels of Fire Throne.
Mary had not emerged from her room for many days. She had even activated her room’s defensive arrays and isolated herself from all outside information. Even Greem, with his tower authority, could only barely sense her soul flux remaining active, though it fluctuated with severe intensity.
Mary had already reached the peak of Second Grade half a year ago. Moreover, the experience from the battle at the Tower of Fate had provided her with plenty of insight. She had shut herself in her room upon returning.
According to Greem’s estimations, she wouldn’t be as foolish as to attempt advancement now.
After all, advancing to Third Grade was a significant step for adepts.
Those below Third Grade could only be considered of lower and intermediate grades. You were only a high-grade adept once you were Third Grade and beyond. The changes to an adept’s soul origin from this process was shockingly immense.
Greem had already made a series of preparations for Mary, including sealing a Third Grade vampire and putting it in Mary’s hands. Still, this stupid woman should at least have told him before she attempted advancement to give him time to prepare himself mentally!
Greem could only shake his head regretfully when he thought of Mary’s personality.
Impulsive, brash, impatient, and prone to anger; these were the most distinctive traits of Mary’s personality!
Though Mary appeared to be extremely happy over Greem’s advancement to Third Grade, the stubborn will and pride deep in her heart were clear to see.
It was obvious from how passionate and explosive she was in bed!
Right now, she also had the chance to advance to Third Grade. The fact that she had suppressed her impatience and stalled her advancement until now was already praiseworthy.
That was why Greem did not take a single step out of Fire Throne, even when such tremendous changes had occurred in the Goblin Plane. He wanted to stay within Fire Throne, guarding the tower, guarding the room, and keeping the outside world from disturbing Mary’s advancement.
He counted with his fingers. It was almost about time that something came out of Mary’s advancement!
…………
Inside the secret room.
The chamber had now turned into a crimson sea.
Pungent blood bubbled from the massive blood pool in the center of the room, filling every corner. When the crimson mist washed against the walls, it would be pushed back by a shimmering magical barrier.
The blood in the pool bubbled, pungent and viscous, while the energy aura within was so speechlessly dense. Several dragon souls bound by the magical arrays would occasionally manifest in the forms of dragons, rearing their necks and letting out tragic cries of anger.
Unfortunately, they could not escape the pool of blood or their tragic fates of having the essence of their blood slowly absorbed into the enemy’s body, regardless of how they struggled or roared.
An elderly noble in fancy clothes was bound above the pool with five silver chains. The coarse chains pierced through his collarbone, ribs, shoulder blades, and ankles, chafing against his skin and flesh. The wounds would never be able to heal.
Drops of sticky, dark red blood dripped down into the pool beneath him. Every drop of blood would cause a terrifying blood storm to ravage the pool.
A figure could be vaguely seen lying at the bottom of the deep pool, silently absorbing the overwhelmingly charged blood energy.
The leap from Second Grade to Third Grade was a leap in one’s very essence; a massive reconstruction of the essence!
If First Grade adepts were only cannon fodder in a plane war, then Second Grades were powerhouses amongst the cannon fodder. Meanwhile, Third Grades were fully-fledged soldiers of a planar invasion.
Though they were still far from being the ones to issue commands, they were no longer cannon fodder that could be cast aside!
Moreover, the vampire bloodline that Mary possessed was known for its speed of advancement, only restricted by the limits of the bloodline shackles. Without Greem having captured Haines Vik, Mary would have had almost no chance of advancing to Third Grade.
What Mary needed now was to drain Haines of all his b
lood, using it to purify and cleanse her own bloodline to break the bloodline shackles and allow her to advance to Third Grade.
If she were to absorb all the blood directly, the power contained within a Third Grade vampire’s blood was very likely to turn the tables and devour her instead. That was why Mary needed this high-quality blood pool to purify and cleanse Haines’ essence blood of all traces of his soul. It was only then that she could gradually absorb and assimilate all that belonged to him.
The blood coffin that Greem had carefully made for her was also prepared in the corner of the secret room.
Once she had absorbed everything from the old vampire, as well as all the blood energy within the pool, she would get into the blood coffin and fall into a prolonged sleep. With the aid of the mysterious and profound magical arrays on the coffin, Mary could successfully go through with her advancement in her sleep.
This process of advancement was something that Greem had personally customized for her. It was entirely different from other vampires.
Greem had used his understanding of Mary and the old vampire to design this nearly idiot-proof advancement process that eliminated all possibilities of human error.
As long as Mary’s innate talent wasn’t absolute trash, her chances of a successful advancement through this process was as high as 89%.
However, when Mary would emerge from the coffin was still an unknown. Greem could only silently keep guard over Fire Throne, waiting for her good news.
This wait lasted for seven years.
…………
Seven years later.
Inside the secret room.
The blood mist in the secret room had entirely dispersed.
The blood pool on the ground had already dried up. No blood could be seen anymore. There was only a thick layer of black dust at the bottom of the pool.
The old vampire bound by the silver chains was long dead. All the flesh was gone from his body, leaving only a broken set of bones and a torn robe hanging in midair, unmoving.