Chapter 128: Magic Energy Puppet
Although the materials for each component of the Light Crossbows were ready, it would still take some time to assemble them completely.
Two hours later, as Duane fitted the trigger on the third Light Crossbow, his Basic Manufacturing Skill Level officially reached Perfection.
A gratifying notification appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations, your Basic Manufacturing Skill Level has reached Perfection]
[Attribute Points +0.5]
[Your Perfection Level in Basic Manufacturing has granted you an Enlightenment. You have obtained the manufacturing method for ’Magic Energy Puppet.’ Attribute Points +3.]
"Hmm?"
Duane was stunned.
’Doesn’t an Enlightenment from perfecting a Basic Skill usually grant only 1 attribute point? Why did I get 3 this time?’
He quickly opened his attribute panel to check carefully.
First, a new [Manufacturing] category had appeared on his attribute panel, with a new Skill below it:
Magic Energy Puppet (Initial 3/100)
From the information in his mind, Duane knew this was a type of puppet that possessed its own will after being created, yet remained under its master’s control.
There were three key aspects to its creation:
First was the puppet’s body, which included a Soul Vessel, a physical structure, a Power System, and a Will Transmission Line;
Second was Soul Stripping, a spell capable of stripping the souls of small animals from their bodies; Duane now knew its Spell Model;
Third was Will Infusion, also a soul-related spell, its purpose being to infuse the caster’s will into the stripped soul.
’In other words, you build a puppet body, then use a soul infused with will, in conjunction with the power system, to drive the puppet’s movements.’
Duane drew a sharp breath. ’Isn’t this just a robot?’
No, this was even more advanced than the robots he knew about before he transmigrated.
’So, the question is, how do I actually create such a Magic Energy Puppet?’
The two crucial points were the spells Soul Stripping and Will Infusion.
Duane looked at another new category, [Magic], which had two Skills listed under it:
Soul Stripping (Initial 3/100), Will Infusion (Initial 3/100)
Duane frowned as he read the information on these two Skills. He also knew that it would be impossible for him to create a Magic Energy Puppet anytime soon.
Because only a Level 9 Grand Mage was qualified to master these two spells!
Mages could only begin to venture into the domain of souls once they reached the Level of a Grand Mage.
Duane was at once both delighted and worried.
He was delighted to have obtained something so rare and precious.
’The Spell Model for a Level 9 Magic... This is likely a strategic-level asset that money can’t even buy.’
But he was worried because, for now, all he could do was look.
’Looks like I need to start thinking about when to switch over to Magic.’
Duane had chosen to prioritize his Warrior Level to quickly increase his combat power and deal with the complex situation.
However, in terms of development and potential, being a Mage was more valuable.
According to his previous plan, he would at least wait until his Warrior Level reached the Celestial Tier before making the switch.
Because whether in the Pruck Kingdom or the other four kingdoms, a Celestial Tier Warrior was already a top-tier expert.
Although there were Shooting Star Level and Silver Moon Level warriors above that, they were few in number.
’I’ll get to Celestial Tier first, then we’ll see!’
Duane turned his attention back to the Magic Energy Puppet.
Although he couldn’t build one right now, he could still make use of the knowledge involved in its creation.
For example, the Power System. Its principle, in short, was to draw energy from Magic Crystal Stones and Demon Beast Crystal Cores to trigger an Arcane Closed Loop, generating a Magic Flow.
Under the effect of a Rune Coil, the Magic Flow would react with the Magic Net to form a Magic Net Energy Field, which in turn would push a Rotor Module to rotate.
Duane couldn’t help but rub his temples. ’Why is my head already throbbing just from trying to digest a few short lines of text?’
He suddenly felt he might need to invest in his intelligence.
In short, although the Enlightenment from perfecting Basic Manufacturing was about creating a Magic Energy Puppet, the knowledge it imparted was split into three major sections.
Duane guessed that this was likely the reason why this Enlightenment had directly granted him 3 attribute points.
’I have 3.5 attribute points now. That should be enough to break through.’
He eagerly began allocating his points.
He spent 0.6 on the Strength Attribute and 0.8 on the Spirit Attribute, raising them to 25.0 and 4.0, respectively.
This was Duane’s minimum attribute threshold for the Human Tier.
As he broke through, the Qi Sea in his abdomen finished forming. The Fighting Qi pumped from the Fighting Qi Seed near his heart now flowed into and connected with this Qi Sea.
From now on, Duane could store a certain amount of Fighting Qi in his body, instead of relying solely on the Fighting Qi Seed to convert it on the fly.
He stood up and threw a punch, the force of it whistling through the air. With a casual leap, he covered several meters.
A Human Tier Warrior possessed over ten thousand jin of strength without even needing to use Combat Techniques. A single punch could shatter solid rock, and their formidable stamina allowed them to run forty to fifty li with ease.
"This feels great!"
Duane felt refreshed and invigorated.
He looked at his attribute panel. The level breakthrough had increased his Spirit by 0.5. His current Attributes were:
[Strength]: 25.0
[Spirit]: 4.5
[Attribute Points]: 2.1
’I’ll keep adding to Strength to secure my combat power for now.’
Duane added all his remaining attribute points to his Strength Attribute. At that moment, he felt his physique strengthen once again.
At the same time, a meridian of Fighting Qi began to emerge within his body, extending outward from his Qi Sea.
A Human Tier Warrior needed to form a network of Fighting Qi meridians that covered their entire body, connecting even the finest pathways. This would prevent them from wasting sixty to seventy percent of their Fighting Qi, unlike a Middle Level Warrior.
Experience showed that a Human Tier Warrior’s Fighting Qi utilization rate reached 80% to 90%.
Only after the Fighting Qi meridians permeated the entire body and they broke through to become an Earth Tier Warrior could they perfectly control their Fighting Qi. At that stage, their utilization rate approached 100%.
Only an Earth Tier Warrior could perfectly unleash the full power of a Combat Technique.
This was also why Garrot was able to shatter Duane’s Mastery Level Shield of Defense with just a crippled technique.
’Now that I’m at the Human Tier, I can learn ’Holy Shield Barrier.’’
This was a defensive Combat Technique, more effective than the Shield of Defense.
Furthermore, if multiple people touched their shields together while using this Combat Technique, the Holy Shield Barrier could form a phantom city wall two to three meters high, providing even greater defense!
The more people who used it, the higher the wall and the larger the defensive area.
Duane planned to pass this Combat Technique on to his subordinates as a form of "reward."
Someone like Hardy, who had distinguished himself in the recent battle, would be eligible to learn it.
Moreover, once he had more Human Tier Warriors under his command in the future, they could form a joint defensive mechanism.
Duane walked back to the stone table and picked up the last of the assembled Light Crossbows.
He placed a prepared Crossbow Arrow into the groove, drew the Crossbow String taut and locked it, then aimed at a wooden post in front of him.
Aiming a crossbow was already simpler than aiming a bow, not to mention Duane’s Basic Archery Skill Level had already reached the Master Level. Firing multiple shots in quick succession was no problem for him.
Under these circumstances, his accuracy with a crossbow was extremely high.
He took a moment to aim, then pulled the trigger.
THWACK!
The Crossbow Arrow shot out and accurately hit the wooden post, its fletching vibrating with a final hum.
"Not bad. All three Light Crossbows pass muster!"
The Light Crossbows, with strings made from Frog Fish Monster sinew, had an estimated effective range of about a hundred meters. It might seem short, but they were a great asset in facing cavalry, city defense, or ambushes.
"Take these three crossbows and the Crossbow Arrows to the armory."
Duane gave the order, then walked toward the living room.
It was time for him to see Selena.