Star Forge Titan

The result of several days of fireworks in my head is this room full of drawings.

In order to make his drawing speed catch up with his thinking speed, Alvin even used his not-yet-mastered extraordinary combat skill [Elemental Shell] to create several magic-driven prosthetic limbs inside the rock shell to assist in drawing.

"..." Ka Yang opened his mouth, but found that he didn't know what to say.

"The design drawings have been roughly completed. After all, it's just copying homework." Alvin shrugged and pointed.

The magical power carrying the command flowed through the air, and several rock prosthetic limbs fixed to the ground immediately pushed aside a pile of waste paper and lifted up an exceptionally detailed blueprint. After so much training, he could already perform relatively delicate movements with these artificial limbs powered by elemental power and magic.

Seeing some familiar designs on the drawings, Khayang's eyes widened again.

The vehicle sketch drawn above is very similar in appearance to the one he had seen belonging to the Linde Alchemist Association.

They all have low bodies that are almost flat to the ground, and a streamlined structure that is narrow in the front and wide in the back, making the whole car look like an enlarged arrow.

"Are you really planning on just copying someone else's design? Wait, there seems to be something different."

The necromancer shook his head vigorously, trying to make himself more awake.

After looking carefully again, he found that the only similarity between the two cars was the outer contours. The new structure inside the car body was very different from the ordinary magic engine. It was exactly the strange engine made by Alvin that was driven by "explosion", but the specific structure seemed to be different.

"Did you notice?" Alvin smiled and controlled the remaining rock prosthesis to pick up the blueprint related to the magic engine.

"The previous one was a test model. Now that the technical verification has been completed, I simply doubled the number of cylinders. Time is limited, and many materials are..." Alvin paused and swallowed back the words "the materials have not been developed yet", which obviously carried a prophetic meaning.

"In short, this is probably the current limit."

"But I still have some confidence in its power." The black-haired boy said with a smile.

Seeing his smile, Khayon, who understood the workings of this strange engine, shuddered involuntarily. So he quickly changed the subject.

"This part of the structure seems a bit too complicated, doesn't it? Is there any reason for it?"

"Well, considering that the other players' vehicles are equipped with some less-than-decent 'dangerous' abilities, I've also prepared some precautions."

"Although it will increase the weight of the car and slow down the speed, it's better than not even being able to see the finish line, right?" Pointing to the structure that looked like multiple parts compressed and bitten together, Ivan said meaningfully:

At the same time, a hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.

"Many of the designs used here were imitated and reproduced by an old friend. He is a person who loves nostalgic classics, especially those vehicles with exquisite structures and the ability to flexibly switch between different forms in old animations from the 80s. Of course, I also like this kind of thing."

Being used to the strange words coming out of Ivan's mouth, Ka Yang did not ask much. But after realizing the possible functions of those structures, he subconsciously lowered his voice.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by nostalgic classics, but this thing seems to be possible..."

“…Wear it on your body?”

"That's about right. Actually, my thoughts are quite conflicted right now." Alvin shrugged.

"On the one hand, I hope I don't have to use all these preparations, but on the other hand, I want to see them in action. Hey, it's clearly a magic car race, so why are those guys equipping the cars with weapons? It's really embarrassing."

I don't see that you feel embarrassed at all. You clearly have an expression on your face that shows you really want to try it!

For the sake of his own safety, although Khayang was secretly complaining, he nodded vigorously on the surface with an expression of agreement.

"Yes, it's the enemy who lacks morality."

"By the way, what about this piece? The way this magic flows seems very primitive, just like..." As he spoke, the necromancer's eyes widened for the third time that day, and it was also the widest ever, just like a frog that was stepped on.

Alvin approached the drawing with great interest and pointed at a pair of olive-shaped protrusions symmetrically installed on the left and right sides of the rear of the car.

"The old man I met in the library last time gave me a lot of inspiration. These devices are used to provide additional thrust to the vehicle during straight-line acceleration."

"What the hell? This can also be used for acceleration? Do you think I don't know the conversion mechanism of magic shock waves? By the way, where did you learn this knowledge?"

"The National Library. I took some time to visit the old man yesterday. Although his current condition isn't too good, at least he doesn't use shock waves to blast away strangers. So, I asked him about the relevant knowledge, and then I learned it."

When saying these words, Ivan had a matter-of-fact expression on his face, and he didn't notice the expression on Khayang's face at all. It was as if someone had stuffed a very sour lemon into his mouth, and his facial features were completely wrinkled.

"And then... I... learned it?" After repeating the other party's words, the Necromancer slowly lowered his head, recalling the various difficulties he encountered when he first learned magic.

When he raised his head again and looked at the black-haired boy in front of him, who was a barbarian and came from a wild tribe in the north, Khayon tremblingly raised his middle finger.

"I, give in."

"...Your gestures seem to indicate that you are not convinced." Alvin curled his lips and didn't care.

Although he didn't know why the other person made a constipated expression, he had seen this expression many times when discussing issues with his schoolmates in his previous life, so he had long been accustomed to not delving into the specific reasons.

"Considering the influence of my job, I may not be able to cast this spell smoothly in complicated situations. So I have to make an enchantment path and add it to the car body. It may require some other substances as a catalyst."

"I'm not particularly good at pharmacy. Please help me with this and try to make a standard potion or tablet that is easy to carry."

"...If it's just a catalyst, it shouldn't be a big problem." Ka Yang thought about it and felt it was feasible, so he nodded in agreement.

"In that case, all that's left is to manufacture the actual thing, have Diana test drive it, and make modifications based on the results. Well, we should have enough time. I might need to go out in a couple of days to get the materials needed for the promotion, and try to complete it before the competition."

"You don't need to drive, so there's no need to rush for a promotion. It's a serious matter that needs to be treated with extreme caution." Ka Yang frowned and advised:

"No, although I'm quite confident in the power of the magic engine, I really have to be on guard against the transformation function you mentioned." Ivan said helplessly.

Knowing what aerodynamics is, he naturally knows what an insurmountable advantage a vehicle that can easily change its shape would have.

"Without high-speed alchemy technology, we can only use more troublesome methods as a substitute."

"You mean..." It was only then that Khayon noticed that the cockpit drawn on the drawing was a double-engine cockpit, one in front and one behind.

"Well, I'll be ready to play then."

Chapter 173 High-Speed ​​Collection (Part 1)

Over the next few days, flames and loud noises continued to emanate from the alchemy workshop, where no one lived nearby and there was no need to worry about disturbing others.

This unusual reaction makes people wonder whether they are building a car or something much more dangerous than the magic car.

In addition, when there was nothing to do at Marilyn's orphanage, Diana would occasionally come to help, but as the workshop's handmade car-making business became more and more prosperous, she had to reduce the number of visits to avoid the embarrassing situation of the car being built but the driver being gone.

Of course, she wasn't completely idle.

Alvin took the time to make a two-wheeled vehicle similar to a motorcycle for practice, and asked her to familiarize herself with how to drive it.

Although she didn't know the other party's purpose for doing this, and the speed of the two-wheeled vehicle used for training was quite limited, it was obviously not for racing. But Diana's intuition told her that it was not wrong to trust the other party.

So, the short-haired girl, who didn't like to talk much, threw herself into her new hobby of developing the "Wisp Girl (Speed ​​Limit Version)". Honestly, after getting used to the novel driving experience, she actually felt quite happy.

As for the three who have to stay in the workshop.

One is a tough MT, the other is quick-witted and can use a shield, and even the remaining handyman has a special skill of quickly turning into a dog and escaping through a hole.

All in all, these people are, in various senses, highly durable tools who will not easily die in experimental accidents. Oh, one of them is probably a leader-level tool who also serves as a part-time leader.

However, since the orphanage's work was mostly quiet after the children went to bed, the training vehicle Ivan had built was relatively noisy, and even with the shock absorbers it still made a strange sound similar to that of a bagpipe.

Therefore, Diana usually practices in a quieter area.

However, this led to the emergence of an urban legend called "The Knight of Elegy" in the downtown area.

The knight in that story, having lost his beloved, would ride his fiery iron horse wrapped in blue flames (due to structural problems, the small two-stroke shockwave magic furnace would emit a light blue magical mist from the exhaust port when it was running) every night when no one was around, singing mournfully as he galloped through the darkness.

When the protagonist of the story heard this, although her expression was as calm as ever, her trembling hands revealed her inner embarrassment that she could not hide... Really, she didn't even have a first love, so how could she become a tragic character who lost her lover?

In addition, in his spare time, Kayon discovered that Ivan would occasionally ask Bryant to go out and gather information.

The two people were very mysterious and said that it was related to the materials needed for the promotion ceremony, but no one knew the specific situation.

That day, as the sun gradually set, Ivan sat in the courtyard, polishing his large battle axe. Even soul-forged weapons, magical weapons that can be integrated into the soul and possess both physical and ethereal forms, still require regular maintenance.

However, as the whetstone and the axe blade sharpened each other, the soul crystal, which normally appeared amber in color, emitted a comfortable "bleating" sound.

"What the hell are you doing..." Alvin looked at the annihilation battle axe 'Nerukigate' in his hand speechlessly.

"It feels so good, don't stop, keep going!"

Calbant, in lamb form, leaped out of the soul crystal and twisted his body in mid-air in a very embarrassing manner, while continuing to make strange bleating sounds.

Alvin was a little worried. If this guy got used to yelling like that, would he be able to hear the continuous "bleating" of that ferocious battle axe with a terrifying and hideous shape and even a demon skull carved on its back when he was chopping people in the future?

Are you kidding me?! This is the grand prize graduation equipment at the top of the drop list, not some funny collaboration equipment given away during a game event!

Imagine disguising yourself as a Terror worshipper again and going to chop down Nurul worshippers or some other unfortunate creature. You'd be a terrifying Terror man wearing a full set of despair armor, but the axe in your hand would make a weird bleating sound as you chopped people down.

Shit, the other party might die of laughter before the axe kills him.

Hey, isn't that good?

What a ghost!

After completing the weapon maintenance with a gloomy face, Alvin picked up the axe and chopped it hard into the wood beside him, physically isolating himself from the screaming Karbant who continued to harass him.

On second thought, he suddenly realized there was another possibility. Maybe the guy was planning to use this method to take revenge on him for molding it into the shape of a standing and walking lamb.

"Killing a thousand enemies and losing ten thousand of your own is no big deal... As expected of a Blood God follower, you're such a headache."

Shaking his head helplessly, Alvin suddenly saw Brian in skunk form entering the courtyard through a dog hole in a hidden corner under the low wall as if he knew the way there well.

"I found out." The skunk rolled over and turned back into the druid with thick hair.

"The meteorite you mentioned, which was left over from the massive explosion in the northwestern forests in 1760, is currently in the collection of Cardinal Minister of Agriculture, Count Jim Pespal."

"That guy is an avid collector of minerals. Every now and then, a daring adventurer would come and cheat him out of his money by bringing pebbles coated with dye."

"The result?" Ivan asked casually:

"Of course the result is that after being discovered, they are put in a cage at the city gate for three days. The unlucky ones even disappear directly." Bryant curled his lips, and was very disgusted with his colleagues who were not doing their jobs and the earl who abused lynching.

"You're not attacking that guy's ideology, are you? Even though some people mock him behind his back, saying he's the Minister of Agriculture but doesn't even know how much milk sells for, and he likes to arbitrarily adjust agricultural taxes, calling him a scumbag unworthy of the position of Cardinal Minister, at the end of the day, he's also a truly powerful aristocrat."

Bryant frowned and added nervously:

"Besides, he is a member of the noble bloodline."

The so-called noble bloodline, to put it simply, refers to the ancient nobles who have inherited the same era as the Carolingian royal family and have a long history. A large number of them have the merit of supporting the Carolingian royal family to ascend the throne, and are also the earliest forces loyal to the Carolingian family.

Therefore, the few ducal families that still exist today basically belong to the noble blood lineage, and even the emperor's sister, the Duchess of Loire, is one of them.

They occupy a large portion of the seats in the Noble Council and are a major force that can influence the political direction of the entire Central Empire Linde.

"It's okay." After listening to Bryant's half-threatening and half-persuasive speech, Irving gave him a bright smile.

As he spoke, he raised another piece of equipment in his hand that he was preparing to maintain. The double-horned iron helmet with an icy skull mask made a certain hairy druid's eyelids twitch.

"What does a robbery by a Korriel believer have to do with a weak alchemist like me?"

Chapter 174: High-speed collection of materials

Falling stars.

In Ivan's gaming memory, it was a typical early material collection mission.

One of the series of tasks used to allow players to complete the promotion from level one to level two. It is relatively tedious and has many steps, but there are no surprises in the overall process.

Apart from some players' whimsical "evil" strategies, the most mainstream orthodox mission strategy process for the "Falling Star" event is roughly as follows.

First, it is accidentally discovered that a noble who collects ore may have committed serious dereliction of duty. Then, players with reputation in the Sheriff Bureau can receive investigation tasks from their superiors.

Next, the investigation and evidence-gathering phase begins, during which players battle wits and courage with the opposing team's underworld forces. Players then gradually obtain various stage-by-stage clues, and by combining these clues, they discover a key witness that all of them lead to.

In order to get the key witness to testify in court, you need to complete another side quest line and protect the witness from being silenced.

After finally completing the side quest and convincing the key witness, we learned from him that a decisive piece of evidence was hidden in the villain's private museum where he collected various minerals.

The final mission is to sneak into the museum and obtain key evidence from the secret box in the collection cabinet where the opponent's most valuable collection - a rare meteorite - is located, so as to achieve the goal of putting the villain in jail and punishing him.

A big part of the reason why this series of missions is called Falling Stars comes from this beautiful and rare meteorite.

Afterwards, this most valuable private collection of the Cardinal will be 'accidentally' stolen and become an optional reward for the player.

In addition, the final boss of the mission is actually the Cardinal himself, and players need to fight this villain personally.

In fact, although the other party was a corrupt official, as the Minister of Agriculture, he strongly opposed the new variety of wheat with extremely high yield after being improved and optimized by magic, and advocated that the Lind people should eat white bread made from traditional wheat as the healthiest.

However, he was extremely skilled in swordsmanship, even holding the reputation of "Sword Master" among the noble bloodlineages that inherited a great deal of obscure and extraordinary knowledge. Therefore, fighting this fellow was no easy task.

All in all, the entire process of this series of missions is comparable to a twelve-episode criminal investigation drama, and the final battle is also exciting, which makes players who like this type of work very excited.

However, it will take about three months of game time to complete the game normally.

However, Alvin didn't have the time to be a super errand boy, like, "General, the toilet in Village 10 is clogged again!" So, his plan became very straightforward.

In the middle of the night, put on the pseudo-despair armor and sneak into the Minister of Agriculture's residence and chop him down with an axe. Well, you can also get a stone as a reward.

This is a very reasonable approach, right?!

In the past, a young person who grew up in a society ruled by law might still hesitate whether doing so was in compliance with local laws.