Rlyis continued her introductions as she turned to gesture towards Lassim, "Eno, this is the disciple they sent over, though… I don’t think you said your name?" Rlyis introduced, her tone more casual with him than it had been with Lassim.
"It’s Lassim, Elder Rlyis." Lassim replied.
"Ah, Lassim then, nice to have you on the team. Anyways, Eno here has been my right hand man, working with me on constructs, for quite a long time now. A thousand or so years?"
Eno stepped forward, giving a nod of confirmation before he focused his gaze, assessing as he looked over Lassim, but he didn’t offer his hand or bow.
Instead, he inclined his head briefly in acknowledgment, "A pleasure," he said simply, though his tone was less than warm. His sharp eyes instantly shifted to the workbench, where Rlyis had set up several smaller constructs for testing and fine-tuning.
"Eno’s been with me since this whole operation started for the Lightning Sect under the Sect Master’s directions," Rlyis explained, turning back to Lassim. "The Sect Master supported my initial ideas to standardize the constructs within the sect and we developed these constructs as a team. I handle the lightning infusions, arrays and control systems, and he handles everything to do with structural integrity, materials, and the practical design that keeps these things standing."
Eno picked up a small metallic piece from the bench—a component Lassim didn’t recognize—and examined it with a critical eye. He seemed to notice a small indent in the side that he ran his thumb over before looking towards the ground near Lassim and seeing the shards of the former Spirit Growth stage construct core that had been overloaded.
"Hmm, curious. What happened here?" he asked, his tone straightforward, though his gaze flicked over to Lassim.
Rlyis explained, "Well, the sect sent us over a freak of nature is what they did. His mana overloaded and shattered two of the lower tier cores almost immediately just by trying to power them on."
Lassim nodded with an embarrassed hand rubbing the back of his head, "Sorry about that…"
Rlyis motioned to Lassim. "Given the strength of his lightning," she began, carefully choosing her words, "I was about to suggest we start him on one of the higher-tier constructs instead. The lower tier model struggled with your energy, but Eno and I put the finishing touches on this one just yesterday."
She walked over to another work bench, three tables over, "It’s the same thick-body model with the issue I was having in the circuits but this one is designed to operate at the level of cultivators at Spirit Ascension stage."
Eno nodded, agreeing with Rlyis’ suggestion, setting down the metallic piece and moving to her side near the larger construct.
From Lassim’s studying, this one was obviously quite sturdier than the first, its frame reinforced with a series of interlocking panels that lent it an almost regal appearance. Lightning runes were etched across its surface. The panels looked more like plated armor and gave it the appearance more like a sentinel than just a standard construct mostly made of Lightning energy.
"Go ahead," Eno said, placing a hand on the construct’s metallic arm. "These higher-tier models are made from alloys I’ve refined to maximize durability while remaining reactive to lightning energy. It’s a special balance I personally developed to keep the material dense enough to channel energy but light enough that it won’t become brittle under repeated exposure."
Rlyis moved to a panel on the construct’s chest and opened it, revealing a complex network of circuits that reminded Lassim of the channels she’d shown him earlier, but with a key difference.
Where before he’d seen a straightforward path for energy on the smaller cores, here the channels seemed to be designed in a networked pattern, branching into numerous large, interconnected nodes.
"Ah, so you’ve noticed the upgrades we did. These are the Control Nodes," Rlyis said, gesturing to the points in the circuitry. "The nodes function as energy distribution centers. Instead of you forcing energy down narrow channels, the nodes redirect and regulate the flow, allowing your energy to pass through without overwhelming the system."
Lassim listened to her explanation, "I’ll admit, I don’t fully understand since I’ve never taken any array classes, but you’re saying each of these nodes acts like a—mini-heart world, like how I move my mana around?" he ventured.
"Exactly," Rlyis replied, clearly pleased with his understanding. "It’s exactly similar to the way a spirit warrior’s inner pathways can store and release energy, adapting as needed. These nodes mimic that concept, storing the mana and releasing it in controlled bursts to prevent the construct from overloading when it’s being pushed to its limits."
He nodded, impressed with the sophistication of the design. This was far more intricate than anything he’d seen at the headquarters. Those were mainly just solid lightning constructs held together in ways he didn’t fully understand, but still had more of an elemental appearance than this combined metal and lightning structure.
"Try channeling your energy into it," Eno suggested, stepping back. "I haven’t seen your mana yet, but try not to overload it like you did the other cores; just a little at a time. All you’re trying to do is turn it on. Let the construct handle most of the work; the nodes will assist you on their own if you don’t push too hard."
Lassim extended his hand, drawing on his mana reserves, feeling the familiar surge of lightning crackling through him. He let it flow toward the construct, steadying his focus as he aimed for sending it down the internal line to the first Control Node.
As his energy entered, he felt the pull of the first node and the subsequent ones down the lines activate, each one drawing in his energy and redirecting it along the circuits through its programmed array system, distributing it evenly.
To his surprise, the energy settled into the construct smoothly. The lightning flickered through the channels in steady pulses, each node holding and releasing the energy in a controlled manner. It was a very different feeling compared to the lower tier construct’s construction where he’d felt his mana being handled in a way that didn’t push the barriers erratically or go out of control.
Rlyis watched him with a critical eye. "Interesting," she said, a note of approval in her voice. "It’s nearly fully powered up, already reaching 43% of a full charge, but… it’s only been about 30 seconds. That’s crazy…"
As he continued channeling his lightning into the construct, Lassim couldn’t help but have his mind wander and immediately reflect on the experience. An idea began to form in his mind at this moment.
Perhaps his struggles with the previous techniques he’d tried from the other elders, like Vaela and the others that hadn’t gone well, those where his mana just didn’t want to cooperate for whatever reason… What if those techniques had failed that way due to this very quality—the divine nature of his mana wasn’t suited to restrictions or lower tiered techniques.
Sure, those elders were qualified Spirit Ascension or Spirit Transcendent stage Spirit Warriors, some even at their peaks, but what if their techniques were designed to accommodate even lower levels instead of being designed fully for where his current level was?
Lassim’s mana thrived when it had room to expand and adapt with this high-tier Lightning Construct specifically designed for mana at the higher levels with adaptations to even accommodate bursts for overuse in stressed scenarios. Perhaps even techniques were similar to the lower-tier construct and acted like a cage his mana wanted to break out of, causing those issues.
He instantly made a mental note that, possibly, the biggest factor in the creation of his own fighting style may lay in embracing this characteristic rather than fighting against it. Perhaps because his own was of a different quality altogether, divine and vast, maybe it required a different plan for the foundation.
Lost in thought after just a minute, he barely noticed that the construct was fully powered and Rlyis had to nudge him to stop before he overloaded it.
Taking a look at his work, its entire frame humming with a steady, violet-tinged glow. The circuits pulsed in rhythm with his mana, each node holding and releasing the energy in perfect sync, creating a calm and harmonious circular motion through all the connected lines.
"Great for your first try at the more expensive model," Eno commented, his tone almost approving. "You’ve managed to activate it without frying anything."
Lassim allowed himself a small smile. "Thanks," he replied. "This design is… impressive. It was like the construct is working with me rather than against me, compared to the other cores."
Rlyis nodded with a wide grin, showing off her pearl-white teeth. "It’s taken us years to get the system to this point," she admitted. "When I first started working on these constructs, I was frustrated with how much energy they could actually hold. But with Eno’s help refining the materials, we’ve been able to make something that’s not just functional but adaptable. They have a lot of additional features on this level of construct that make them considerably more valuable to the sect. It’s like having a Spirit Ascension guard on standby. Their only downsides are the circuit issue and that this model can’t fly."
As that last word left her lips, she suddenly exchanged a look with Eno, a brief but significant glance that spoke volumes. They locked eyes silently, as if having an incredibly important conversation, but no words were said.
After a few, long, seconds, she opened with, "Now," Rlyis said, an idea clearly sparking in her eyes, "there’s something else I’d like to show you. Something we’ve been working on, though it’s not quite ready for standard production."
Eno gave a slight nod, as if giving her permission. Eno clearly saw her vision and plan for what was about to happen.
"Come with us," Rlyis continued, gesturing for Lassim to follow. "I think you’ll find this next part interesting."
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They led him to the back of the workshop, past rows of constructs in various stages of completion, to a door that opened onto a staircase leading downward.
Rlyis descended first, her movements sure and steady, with Eno following just behind. Lassim took a moment to gather his thoughts as he saw Rlyis repeatedly touch and activate and deactivate a series of panels and runes along the path before them, intrigued by the prospect of what lay in the room below.