Chapter 232: Chapter 226: Golem Projection Spell
"Jarvis, activate ’Sentinel Mode’."
"Command confirmed. ’Demon Eye Type-III’ has taken over all territorial air defense and production. The subterranean shield machine is excavating along the planned route, and the Crystalized Vein Research Laboratory has entered a fully sealed state. All operations are expected to proceed normally during the commander’s absence."
This was just a short trip, planned to last two days. With the underground tunnel project underway, he had to use this window of opportunity to go to the fortress and learn his final Witchcraft.
The engines of the Odyssey roared to life with a deep hum as the massive vessel lifted off the ground. Twelve Storm Falcons and two Freedom Gundams followed like shadows, escorting the Floating Ship as it soared into the clouds.
Destination: Forged Fire Fortress.
...
On the top floor of the fortress, the same river of data-stars flowed.
Master Mercer stood in his eternally unchanging posture, as if he were one with the entire fortress. Allen’s arrival caused not a single ripple; he simply stood quietly to the side, waiting patiently.
"Your Spiritual Power fluctuations are more condensed than last time."
The curtain of data silently receded. Mercer turned, his deep blue crystalline eyes seeming to pierce through Allen’s soul. "But your matrix construction is still far from complete."
A chill went down Allen’s spine. He bowed respectfully. "Yes, Master. I am using all my spare time to cultivate, preparing to inscribe the third Core Witchcraft."
Mercer said nothing more.
He condensed a shimmering silver inheritance chip at his fingertip. "This is your third Core Witchcraft, [Golem Projection Formula]."
The chip fell into Allen’s palm, and he extended his Spiritual Power to perceive its contents.
It was a purely strategic-level spatial Witchcraft. The principle was extremely hardcore: within the current plane, it tore through the spatial barrier to establish a one-way material transport channel.
"It requires two nodes," Mercer’s explanation began. "You preset a fixed ’primary anchor’ at your workshop or Golem assembly point. Then, when you’re on the battlefield, you use your Spiritual Power to construct a ’temporary secondary anchor’ in real-time."
"What are the limitations?" Allen quickly grasped the key point.
"First, distance. With your current Spiritual Power as a First-level Wizard, the teleportation radius cannot exceed fifty kilometers."
"Second, scale. The portal’s cross-sectional area and duration are directly proportional to the Magic Power you inject." Mercer looked at Allen. "A standard First-level Wizard, after draining all their Magic Power, can at most maintain a one-hundred-square-meter portal for three minutes."
One hundred square meters, three minutes.
Allen quickly ran a model in his head.
’That should be enough for one of my Golem Legions to pass through, but...’
"Master..." Allen looked up, his eyes shining with a frightening intensity. "The [Energy Dominion Formula] you taught me before allows me to remotely draw energy from the workshop’s Magic Power furnace."
"What if I max out the workshop’s Magic Power furnace and channel all of it into this projection formula?"
Mercer nodded slightly.
"As long as your Spiritual Power can stabilize the structure of the spatial channel," Mercer paused, "you can forcibly open a portal large enough for a giant Mechanical Body to pass through. The duration and size will depend on your total Magic Power output."
Allen took a deep breath.
’Spatial teleportation? Troop deployment?’
’This is a god-tier military technique!’
With this, the complex supply lines of large-scale warfare would become a thing of the past. He would no longer need to lead his vast legions on slow marches!
If he encountered any enemy within a fifty-kilometer radius, all he’d have to do is snap his fingers and open a gaping hole right in front of their formation.
Then, he could drop the lava-bathing Balrogs, the Freedom Gundams shouldering the Titan’s Roar, and even several Golem Legions armed to the teeth, right on top of their faces!
This was an unreasonable deus ex machina!
"Don’t get too excited." Mercer ruthlessly interrupted his tactical simulations. "Get back to your cultivation."
Allen calmed down and pulled up his cultivation panel.
[Third Core Matrix (Wizard Stage): 36/36 (Completed)]
[Fourth Core Matrix: 1/72]
The further he progressed, the complexity of soul-inscribing increased exponentially. According to Jarvis’s calculations, to fully inscribe the fourth and fifth matrices in his soul and reach the threshold for the third Core Witchcraft, it would take a full ten years, even if he worked nonstop.
Ten years of bitter cultivation.
He could only stare helplessly at this tantalizing, god-tier strategy.
"A Wizard’s evolution is a slow grind," Mercer said with a wave of his hand. "Go to the logistics department and pay your tuition. Then go buy what you need."
"Yes, Master." Allen bowed helplessly and withdrew.
「Trade Warehouse No. 3.」
Allen navigated with ease to the window for specialized material acquisitions. He took out the preserved materials from the Dream-Weaving Demon Spider one by one—the poison sacs, silk, carapace, and the valuable carcass of the Demon Spider Matriarch—piling them into a small mountain.
This time, the appraiser behind the window was an Elder Wizard. He inspected each item methodically, letting out a gasp of admiration from time to time.
"The materials are in excellent condition. Young man, your methods are quite impressive."
"Total price: three hundred forty thousand Low-Level Magic Stones."
That was twenty thousand higher than Allen’s estimate. It seemed the fortress had a high demand for such high-quality biological materials.
Allen nodded, his mood lifting as he watched the balance on his Magic Stone account jump.
Afterward, using the clearance his master had given him, he went directly to the internal supply procurement area.
Basic living supplies, cultivation items, materials for High-Level Golems, and the equipment and materials for a new volcanic Magic Power furnace and a sealed laboratory...
Allen went on a shopping spree.
"These, these, and that whole row over there. I’ll take them all."
Finally, the bill came.
"Total: two hundred fifty-eight thousand, six hundred Low-Level Magic Stones."
As he prepared to return to the Odyssey, his Alchemy Bracelet filled with supplies, he pulled up his financial panel.
[Current Liquid Capital: 1,518,100 Low-Level Magic Stones (15,181 Mid-Level Magic Stones)]
He still had over one and a half million, but Allen knew it wouldn’t last.
This money would soon be converted into the steel and iron of the underground tunnel, into R&D funds to combat the crystallization effect, and into more Golems.
The journey back was uneventful.
The Odyssey landed smoothly on the landing pad of the initial workshop.
The hatch opened, and Allen strode down the gangway.
"Commander, welcome back," Jarvis’s enthusiastic voice sounded in his ear.
"Anything unusual at the base? Any news from Victor?" Allen asked as he walked toward the underground laboratory, thinking of his junior.
"War Zone 19 is still in a state of rapid expansion," Jarvis reported.
Allen had been keeping an eye on Victor. After all, he was a potential rival, and it seemed his development was progressing fiercely.
His attention returned to the holographic projection in front of him, which was displaying the excavation progress of the Pioneer shield machine.
A blue line representing the underground tunnel had quietly extended for thirty kilometers, pointing directly toward the depths beneath the Crystalized Forest.
"Commander, the first batch of specialized Mining Golems has been assembled. They are awaiting your personal engraving of the AT Field Rune Array," Jarvis’s voice echoed in the control room.
"We’ll start in half an hour. Have the Pioneer return for its Rune inscription as well."
"Order received. Allocating equipment and space for your production task."
Allen’s gaze shifted from the progress map to a special alchemy cabinet.
Inside the cabinet, a miniature AT Field emitted a faint halo, firmly containing the "Seeds of Crystallization" samples he had brought back from the Crystalized Forest.
They floated silently, the colorful mist within them swirling slowly, as if they held some power that could subvert the laws of matter.
’Now that I have the lab and the equipment, I’ll be uncovering your secrets soon.’
