The tank-type robot's eyes beeped and flashed red once more. Having seemingly completed its diagnostic, it began to react according to its programming.
Immediately after, thick, broad blades rapidly slid out from its two arms.
As it crossed its arms, a layer of white energy quickly enveloped the blades.
This was the signature skill of a Warrior Apprentice.
【Blade Ward】
But that wasn't all. Bai Xiaodu noticed a compartment rapidly opening on its back, from which a second, identical pair of mechanical arms popped out.
Performing the exact same motion, a second layer of white energy instantly materialized.
In such a short span of time, it had successfully cast 【Blade Ward】 twice in a row!
No wonder it was specifically labeled as a Tank-type robot. It had probably foregone offensive skills entirely to max out its defensive capabilities.
Bai Xiaodu couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Consuming four times his usual mana in one go had left him feeling slightly drained.
It wouldn't be any fun if he ended up getting killed by a robot during a simple test.
In the blink of an eye, the six-colored rays of light had reached the robot's face.
Bai Xiaodu shifted his stance, ready to bolt at any moment, while keeping a close eye on the 【Blade Ward】 under direct bombardment.
The robot maintained a crouching posture to maximize its defensive stability.
Boom!!!
A sudden explosion roared. Before even half a second of the initial blast had passed, the crisp, shattering sound of breaking glass echoed through the room.
The two layers of 【Blade Ward】 couldn't even withstand a single second before shattering. The terrifying impact of the rays barely decayed as they blew off all four mechanical arms and blasted the robot's main body straight into the wall!
The tank-like body slammed violently against the wall, producing a dull, incredibly heavy thud.
Only after the residual shockwaves dissipated did it slide limply down the wall, collapsing face-first onto the floor.
Sparks and electric currents sizzled from its joints, and its outer plating was riddled with shocking holes from corrosion and burn marks.
The red light in its eye sockets gradually flickered out, growing dark.
An instant kill.
There was absolutely no suspense. Even a robot completely unaffected by emotion and strictly following commands, and even one that had executed a double-layered defense in the shortest possible time, stood no chance.
Bai Xiaodu stood frozen in place, his foot poised to turn but completely paralyzed.
His chest heaved, and his expression was a mix of shock and disbelief.
Was...
Was this spell really cast by him?
This was practically a grenade, wasn't it?
No, a grenade wasn't even this powerful. It was more like a miniature missile, one that came with lingering magical damage to boot.
Stepping forward slowly, Bai Xiaodu squatted down to examine the robot's pathetic state.
All four mechanical arms were completely destroyed. A massive hole had been blasted through its torso, exposing its half-pulverized internal components. Debris was scattered everywhere.
If the staff came in, they'd probably have to spend half a day piecing it back together.
What drew Bai Xiaodu's attention most were the unique wounds on the robot.
All six elements were represented, but the most devastating effects clearly came from the fire and darkness elements.
The edges of the melted, scorched holes glowed with a piercing red light, radiating an intense heat wave.
The corrosion in another area was even more terrifying. It had softened the metal parts into a pool of black sludge that dripped down with a sizzling sound, releasing a pungent odor.
If this hit a human body...
The scene would be too gruesome to imagine.
Clenching his empty hand, Bai Xiaodu finally gained a clear understanding of his current strength for the first time.
Standing up, he rubbed his temples, which throbbed slightly from the excessive use of magic.
Leaving the mess behind, Bai Xiaodu departed in high spirits.
The power of 【Multi-Ray】 was incredibly formidable, far exceeding his expectations.
If he returned to the Ashes Library now, with the help of game mechanics like chugging mana potions, he might actually be able to go toe-to-toe with that dragon to see who was the true darling of the elements.
Still, this was also the reason why the gap between the three sub-ranks below transcendent wasn't very large.
Up until now, Bai Xiaodu had never seen a true transcendent unleash their full power.
The only memory he had was his first meeting with Lingxin, though he didn't know what method she had used.
Without activating any buffs or assistance, she had torn apart a Rank 0.3 mechanical giant bear using sheer physical strength.
Was that kind of feat really something a Mage could pull off?
Reining in his restless thoughts, Bai Xiaodu grew even more eager to advance his rank.
Previously, he had felt quite insecure when facing the death threat from that Skyborne mechanical being named Awuna.
But now, looking at the current situation, as long as his opponent wasn't a transcendent, absolutely no one could withstand a full-powered blast of his Multi-Ray.
Even a Rank 0.9 Warrior Apprentice would have their alarms ringing!
Copying an exclusive skill from the next major rank and using it now was practically a cheat code among peers, wasn't it?
But that wasn't a problem for Bai Xiaodu to worry about; it was a problem for his peers!
Arriving at the exit, Bai Xiaodu didn't rush to hail a cab home.
He took out his phone and dialed the Explorers Association's 24-hour hotline.
Now that his mana consumption had spiked, he needed to stock up on some potions.
It was also time to put his plans for a third spell into motion.
He was already thoroughly familiar with the application of 【Gust】. He estimated that with one more night of practice, he would reach the Proficient rank.
Once he reached Rank 0.9, he would just quietly wait for Awuna to prepare the ascension ceremony for him.
As for hijacking someone else's hard work, Bai Xiaodu didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt.
The guy was a heretic. He deserved to be thoroughly crushed by human civilization.
They treated humans as cheap, disposable materials, so humans obviously wouldn't coddle these heretics either.
Whenever he recalled the state of that gold dragon beast in the Ashes Library, any trace of sympathy in Bai Xiaodu's heart vanished instantly.
The Mage Emperor was right.
“You filthy heretics still dare to breathe our fresh air? Go to hell!”
...
The Explorers Association had a dedicated marketplace open only to its members.
The variety was far greater than what was available outside, and one could buy spellbook pages directly with money.
As for what his third spell should be, Bai Xiaodu had already given it plenty of thought.
With 【Multi-Ray】, he had no shortage of offensive means, and the mobility provided by 【Gust】 was sufficient.
What he lacked now was defense or crowd control.
However, it was an old story—a magic apprentice without spell slots couldn't learn defensive magic.
And he couldn't possibly resort to playing around with 【Blade Ward】 like some meathead Warrior.
Thus, Bai Xiaodu's final choice was 【Mage Hand】.
【Mage Hand】
A spectral, floating hand appears at a point you choose within range.
The hand continuously consumes mana until the spell ends. Before then, you can dismiss it as an action.
The hand vanishes if it is ever more than ten meters away from you or if you cast this spell again.
...
Unlike in games where it could only be used to pick up small objects, open doors, or pour water.
In reality, 【Mage Hand】 was an incredibly versatile and powerful skill.
Not only could it mimic a human hand to wield weapons and attack, but once proficient, it could even condense spell runes to cast spells from a distance.
Though there was some damage decay compared to casting with one's own body, this drawback was entirely acceptable given its immense utility.
Some high-level physical combat classes would even specifically learn it to act as an extra weapon slot, equipping it with poisoned weapons specifically to harass their opponents.
To obtain it as quickly as possible, Bai Xiaodu directly contacted a dispatcher.
Beep, beep, beep. The call went through.
“Here is Pingshan District Dispatcher 9527 of the Federal Explorers Association. It's a pleasure to assist you, Member Bai Xiaodu. How may I help you today?”
“As it is very late, there may be a delivery delay of five to six hours. Please wait patiently and refrain from calling back repeatedly. Thank you for your cooperation.”
A lifeless, exhausted voice drifted through the line, sounding half-dead.
Bai Xiaodu frowned slightly. Finding the dispatcher on the Explorers Association app, he sent over a 200-credit tip.
“Thank you for working the night shift. I'll send over my request in a moment. You can just look at the list and ship it directly to the security booth at Qingjuwan Estate. Use that extra money to grab a drink.”
Silence fell over the other end of the line for a brief second. Then, a wave of passionate enthusiasm and joy practically burst through the receiver!
“It is my absolute honor to serve you, Mr. Bai!”
“I will notify the warehouse to prepare your items immediately. I'll try my best to have them delivered to you within the hour!”
“I just looked at your personal profile registered with the association. You are truly young and promising! Serving a future pillar of the Federation like yourself is precisely the duty of us Explorers Association dispatchers!”
“Praise the Emperor and the Mage Emperor. Have a wonderful night!”
Bai Xiaodu chuckled, looking at his phone screen.
See? When you spend money, the attitude changes instantly.
Ah, usually it was others paying him to serve them with this kind of attitude. Today, it was finally his turn to enjoy the luxury.
It felt good.
Rate on N.U.
