As for the Pseudo-Mage-level Earth Element Spiritual Core that I had unexpectedly received from Ruby, I didn’t dare treat it carelessly.
That object was far too precious.
— Biochip, analyze this core and tell me which golem is the most compatible.
[Beep!]
The Biochip immediately began analyzing the core.
My vision was filled with an enormous amount of information.
[Initiating deep scan...]
[Object identified: Mud Spiritual Core.]
[Primary Attribute: Earth.]
[Secondary characteristics detected: Water, moisture, and structural plasticity.]
[Estimated energy level: Pseudo-Mage.]
[State: Stable.]
[Elemental purity: 94.4%.]
[Energy storage capacity: Extremely high.]
[Compatibility with Golem construction: Excellent.]
I continued watching as the Biochip deepened its analysis.
Unlike an ordinary spiritual core, that Pseudo-Mage-level spiritual core possessed an extremely complex energy structure.
The elemental energy wasn’t simply stored inside it in the form of a spiritual soul.
It continuously circulated through small natural channels, as if the core itself possessed a circulatory system.
[Analyzing possible applications...]
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..
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[Option 1: Conventional Golem Core.]
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[Estimated efficiency: 41%.]
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[Option 2: Metal Golem Core.]
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[Estimated efficiency: 29%.]
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[Option 3: Hybrid Mud Golem Core.]
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[Estimated efficiency: 48%.]
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[Option 4: Customized Mud and Stone Golem Core.]
[Estimated efficiency: 91%.]
I raised an eyebrow.
— A customized stone and mud golem?
[Yes.]
[Beep!]
[Formulating new Golem based on information in the database...]
[Initiating calculations...]
Then a three-dimensional structure appeared in my mind.
Runes began appearing one over another.
In addition to Matrices, Circuits, Connection Points, and Energy Transmission Channels.
Everything began to fit together.
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[Primary Matrix: Mental Control.]
[Function: Establish a connection between the core and the user’s consciousness.]
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[Secondary Matrix: Mud and Stone Manipulation.]
[Function: Control the density, viscosity, and distribution of matter.]
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[Tertiary Matrix: Structural Regeneration.]
[Function: Use elemental energy to reconstruct damaged parts of the Golem.]
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[Quaternary Matrix: Compression.]
[Function: Temporarily increase the density of the body’s structure.]
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[Expansion Matrix.]
[Function: Allow the Golem’s mass to be redistributed to different regions of the body.]
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[Weaponry Matrix.]
[Function: Convert mud into temporary offensive structures.]
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I continued observing.
Then another piece of information appeared.
[Preliminary design completed.]
[Total number of recommended matrices: 12.]
[Estimated compatibility: 91%.]
I spent several minutes carefully examining each of the matrices the chip had designed.
I found it very interesting. After all, I really needed a stone golem to attack my enemies.
Besides, there was no need to hurry.
I could inscribe the matrices later.
After finishing the analysis, I carefully stored the spiritual core away.
Only then did I realize how tired I was.
I got up from the chair beside the table.
I went to the bed.
I sat down comfortably and closed my eyes.
My breathing immediately began to slow down.
Without much difficulty, I began circulating my mana.
For ordinary acolytes, increasing their own mana wasn’t a simple task.
There were pills and potions capable of greatly accelerating this process.
But there was a problem.
Price.
Most apprentices didn’t have a wealthy enough family to support the constant consumption of those resources.
Even the simplest Mana Potion was still extremely valuable.
At the Potion Hall of Kar-Dur Tower, a single bottle cost five merit points and eight Level 2 magic crystals.
For an ordinary acolyte, that was a fortune.
Despite that, its effects were excellent.
A single bottle could increase the Spirit of a Level 2 or 3 acolyte by approximately 0.1 to 0.2.
It might seem like little.
But it wasn’t.
For someone who needed to meditate for months or even years to achieve small advances, that was an enormous leap.
Ordinary meditation, without any assistance, could provide growth of approximately 0.0001 to 0.0002 for me.
It was ridiculously small.
Compared to the growth provided by a Mana Potion, the difference was enormous.
Therefore, even though it was expensive, the Mana Potion remained extremely sought after by apprentices.
Merit points were also important.
They were used to acquire most of the resources offered within Kar-Dur Tower.
The merit system had been implemented by the Lumentrix Association and could be used in different areas under its influence.
The other three major mage associations had their own systems.
Their monetary systems were independent.
Merit points from one association couldn’t simply be converted into the resources of another.
Fortunately, after risking my life during that first subterranean inspection mission, I had received five additional merit points.
After meditating for some time.
My consciousness sank deeper and deeper.
The outside world disappeared.
My breathing became steady.
My mana slowly circulated through my body.
When I finally finished...
It was already midnight, so I let my body fall backward and then fell asleep.
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The next day.
.
Built by the Lumentrix Association, Kar-Dur Mage Tower stood beside the entrance of one of the caves that provided access to the Subterranean World.
At first glance, it seemed small.
The structure had only seven floors above ground and two below, for a total of nine floors.
Compared to some of the great Mage Towers scattered across the continent, that structure was truly unimpressive in size.
Even so, as soon as I set foot inside it, I realized that size didn’t mean importance.
The architecture was familiar to me.
The structure of Kar-Dur Tower followed a model similar to that of Arcangrove Tower, where I had previously stayed. However, the similarities practically ended there.
The first, second, and third floors above ground formed the public area of the Tower.
Any authorized Acolyte could move freely through those floors.
These three floors functioned as the true heart of the Tower.
There were study rooms, training areas, small laboratories, places for trade, meeting points, and practically every type of facility an apprentice could desire during their first years of magical learning.
The fourth through seventh floors were another story.
Those floors were reserved for Official Mages.
They served as living quarters, private laboratories, and spaces intended for experiments that shouldn’t be conducted in public areas.
Entering those areas without authorization wasn’t something that could be resolved with a simple excuse.
The Tower’s defensive mechanisms would immediately attack any intruder.
I had absolutely no intention of personally discovering how effective those mechanisms were.
That morning, I walked calmly through the large public hall on the first floor.
And there was something about that place that continued to catch my attention.
Freedom.
Kar-Dur Tower, located beside the entrance to the Subterranean World, was essentially an open Tower.
Acolytes could form their own groups, choose companions, organize expeditions, and travel to different regions in search of materials and resources.
That explained why the resources available there were much more abundant than those found at Arcangrove Tower.
And when I said they could travel...
I meant really travel.
If someone wanted to cross an enormous distance and reach the other side of the continent in pursuit of a specific resource, apparently nothing would stop them, as long as they had the ability to survive the journey.
Of course, almost no one did that.
There was no need.
Near the Tower was an extremely bustling market, filled with merchants, adventurers, and Acolytes trading magical materials. In addition, there was enough freedom to explore nearby regions and obtain valuable resources without having to accept a mission or anything like that just to leave and return.
And the area surrounding the Tower was particularly privileged.
There was the cold and gloomy Subterranean World.
But above the surface, there was also Kar-Dur Forest.
A forest extremely rich in resources.
Among the steep mountains surrounding the region, countless exotic flowers and rare herbs grew healthily.
Some of them possessed medicinal properties; others were used in the production of potions; some served as ingredients for matrices or alchemical experiments.
And that was still only the safe part.
Deep within the mountains, countless powerful magical creatures remained hidden in their respective nests.
That region seemed to have been created specifically to produce Acolytes.
A beginner could simply form a small group with other apprentices and enter the forest to collect the necessary resources.
During the process, they could also practice their spells against magical beasts commonly found in the region.
A Level 2 Acolyte could go farther.
They could venture into the deeper parts of Kar-Dur Forest, leave the safety of the areas near the Tower, and train alone.
As for Level 3 Acolytes...
They could already venture into the more dangerous regions of the Subterranean World.
There, they could face giant rats, Murmuring Frogs, and an endless variety of undead creatures.
An Acolyte who grew in that manner would inevitably become more brutal, more cautious, and far more determined.
...
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