Chapter 690.5: High-Tier - Arcane Golem
As the evaluation stated, the Arcane Golem has immense potential for future upgrades.
From what Matthew knew, legendary Arcane Constructs included the "Arcane Conqueror" and "Arcane Annihilator."
The former had overwhelming combat strength, rivaling an almost endlessly casting Super Arcanist.
The latter boasted superb defense, capable of resisting and absorbing most energy attacks.
Of course, any legendary creation came with a staggering cost.
Many rare and special materials couldn't be bought with gold—only obtained through resource and technology exchanges.
And the manufacturing difficulty was extreme, with very low success rates.
Even Matthew himself had only made a few in the past.
However, this was a confirmed and viable research path.
The time and resources Bay Territory was investing would surely bear sweet fruit in the future.
Sometimes, choosing the right path was everything.
Even though Matthew didn't fully understand the specific crafting techniques—
He could still guide Bay Territory's system and tech development with remarkably accurate decisions.
That's exactly why he insisted on obtaining the "Arcane Crystal" crafting technology.
As for why such an arcane-themed item like the "Arcane Crystal"—
Would end up in the hands of the Cole Elf Kingdom—
It naturally tied back to their manipulations and influence over the Netheril Empire.
Otherwise, how could the Cole Elves be so familiar with Arcanists, and so confident in eliminating them?
Dark Forest.
Bay Territory Adventurer Combat Command Center.
Feili stared at the orc and troll defensive lines reforming, grumbling with frustration:
"These orcs and trolls are such cowards. I thought we could wipe them out in one push..."
Shuyou flipped through his arcane notebook, updating data, and shook his head:
"There's too many of them. Even if we break them, cleanup would be a nightmare."
"Better to let them regroup. Once the frontline adventurer squads settle in, we wipe them all out in one go."
Feili thought for a second, then nodded in agreement. While reading the incoming reports from adventurer units, she asked excitedly:
"Is the Mechanical Plane full of mechanical science and tech?"
"After we get those technologies, can we upgrade and modify our battle armors?"
"It'd be amazing to tweak the Thunder Magic Armor to lower its user requirements, hehe..."
Shuyou gave her a side glance, shook his head, and snapped:
"That goes against the territory's principles. Don't look for shortcuts."
"Even if we do have that tech, it won't be implemented right away."
"It's just a 'bait'—meant to push everyone to train harder. Sure, it's tempting."
Feili quickly shook her head, clearly yearning for it, and clenched her fist:
"But the Thunder Magic Armor is just so cool!"
Shuyou rolled his eyes. This clown was hopeless!
At that moment, a stream of battle requests came into the command center.
They weren't surprised, quickly assessing the enemy and ally positions.
They reviewed the basic plans in the battle requests—
And adjusted any unreasonable parts.
Then they swiftly approved most of the operations.
Soon, artillery booms once again thundered across the Dark Forest.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Spinning shells slammed down, piercing wooden huts and detonating amid terrified orc cries.
Shrapnel scattered wildly, tearing into orc warriors.
When the blast waves settled, most of the orcs inside were dead or wounded.
Relentless explosions blanketed the orc encampment.
Screams and roars of panic filled the air.
In the underground orc command center, the stench of blood and filth mingled thickly.
The orc leaders and commanders sat in silence—their savage pride replaced by fear and dread at the explosions.
Many of them had experienced the blast power firsthand.
The still-healing wounds on their bodies were constant reminders of the shells' brutality.
The hulking orc warlords sat together, faces blank.
The Cole Elf envoy, out of options, met their bloodthirsty gazes and said flatly:
"The 300,000 elite Bloodrage Trolls will arrive tomorrow to flank the enemy."
"When they attack, you move with them—make sure to pin down enemy forces."
With that, his body turned to mist and vanished.
The orc warlords silently turned to the biggest orc leader.
He stood like a mountain.
His gray-brown skin shimmered faintly like metal—as if coated in armor.
His rough, dark armor was riddled with gashes and slash marks.
Trophies of fangs and claws adorned him, making him look even more terrifying.
Stroking his dark-shining axe, he glanced disdainfully at the cowardly orc leaders and said:
"I'll lead one charge. After that, you're on your own."
"Win or lose, I'm going to follow Chieftain Ironhide Grigg to cleanse those fools drowned in desire!"
His deep voice echoed through the cavern.
The orc leaders, finally getting what they wanted, looked at his massive form with teary eyes.
The next morning—
Fully geared-up orcs charged out of their shattered camp, rage burning.
They didn't care for formations or order—only following their leader, driven by hate.
Warlord Marg watched the fired-up orcs and felt something odd.
These young orcs weren't bad—none feared death. So why did they always lose?
Were those shells, which barely scratched him, really that deadly?
Before Marg could think further, spinning red firelights appeared in the sky.
Narrowing his eyes, he raised his axe and charged.
With him leading, the orcs roared and ran into the shellfire.
Boom!
Boom boom boom!
Explosions and fire instantly swallowed the orc warriors.
Thousands of shells turned the area into a meat grinder in seconds.
Marg stared blankly at a shrapnel piece in his palm.
Glancing at the field of corpses, his eye twitched—but he charged on without hesitation.
Seeing Marg's fearless form, the once-frightened orcs steeled themselves and followed him through the smoke and blasts.
Who was afraid of death?
Who wanted to live?
Marg, that's who!
He dashed so fast he vanished from view.
All they could hear were roars, and they charged forward into the shellfire.
But out of their sight—
Marg had already tunneled underground, leading a massive burrowing worm, glaring at the battlefield above and cursing:
"Damn it—those are alchemical bombs?!"
"Those goblin runt weapons! Why are there so many?!"
"Damn humans mastered goblin bombs—and can launch them from afar."
"I have to report this to Lord Ironhide Grigg right away..."
Marg, master of fleeing, quietly slipped off the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the orcs, inspired by his "bravery," charged into the barrage.
Even if they died, they would die charging.
Seeing the orcs' berserk charge, the command center issued a "halt advance" order.
With artillery in position, their bombardment would be even more effective.
As the orc army got closer, stronger magic artillery would deliver devastating barrages.
The front-line chaos didn't affect command's judgment of the situation.
Wyvern Rider squads patrolled the 20-kilometer perimeter.
Soon, they spotted the Bloodrage Trolls approaching.
Nearly 300,000 of them.
Armored and armed—clearly elite troll warriors.
They moved fast with a clear goal: strike the rear flanks.
The command center broke into a cold sweat.
Thankfully, they'd been monitoring the entire battlefield.
Had those trolls gotten within a few kilometers unnoticed—
The adventurer forces would've suffered brutal ambushes.
They might have still won, but casualties would be massive.
Gatell looked up calmly and said without hesitation:
"Redirect half of the artillery from the other troll front to slow their advance."
"Pull back the main line and stretch the distance."
Newly reassigned Jifan stared eagerly at the massive troll army and said:
"Finally drew them out. Take down these elite trolls, and the rest of the war gets easier."
Several adventurer reps exchanged glances at his calm confidence.
Easy for him to say!
Even if it were 300,000 pigs, it wouldn't be easy to kill!
Let alone elite troll warriors!
As they fretted, Alice—silent till now—asked curiously:
"What about the other trolls?"
Jifan stood up, Thunder Magic Armor gleaming, and donned his combat helmet:
"Shoot the horse before the rider. Catch the thief, grab the boss."
His crisp voice made every adventurer rep freeze.
Then they watched a team of Thunder Warriors stride in.
Their massive builds, thunderous steps, and adaptive armor made eyes widen.
A few spellcasters calibrated the teleportation array and sent signals to the Wyvern Riders.
Bright teleportation light flared.
Jifan stepped in first.
The torrent of energy washed over him—enough to injure most High-tier Professionals.
But for Jifan in Thunder Magic Armor, it was nothing.
His vision suddenly brightened—the pressure vanished.
Gravity grabbed his body, pulling him into a dive.
His combat helmet scanned the enemy-filled terrain and issued a prompt:
"Accelerated fall detected. Multiple enemies below. Recommended spell: Shockwave."
Following his training, Jifan bent his knees and slammed into the ground.
Boom!
The collision hadn't even echoed fully—
The ground caved in, sending shockwaves outward.
The unprepared trolls toppled like dominoes.
A dozen towering troll generals glared at Jifan as he rose and roared:
"Stop him! Kill him!"
They drew their buzzing chain greatswords!
And unleashed crackling lightning fury!
Jifan charged straight at the troll chieftain surrounded by generals!