Above the mage

Chapter 369 First-Tier Rune Construct: [The Arrival of Winter]

Inside the room, the windows were tightly closed, blocking out the sunlight from the outside.

Instead, there was light brought by magic.

This is to ensure stable lighting.

A long table was laid out horizontally.

Standing in front of the table is Gaode.

Anna stood by the table in the corner of the room, her big eyes sparkling as she looked at the table.

On the tabletop, four structural components made of luminous bronze are neatly arranged in a row, with the edges of each component fitting together perfectly.

Four more days passed, and all four structural components that had been entrusted to the blacksmith forging were in place.

Judging by their shapes alone, these four parts resemble shoulder armor, breastplate, arm armor, and leg armor, respectively.

However, although their appearance has taken shape, they can only be considered semi-finished products before the runes are inscribed on them.

Just as the saying goes, "the finishing touch is the finishing touch," runes are far more than just the "eyes" in rune construction.

Next to the four structural components is a rune structural design diagram that Gaode created while staying up all night.

A set of Tier 1 rune constructs that he tailored for himself.

[The approach of winter].

【The Approach of Winter】The entire design and calculation process consumed a whole stack of drafts, but the final design drawing was actually just this small piece.

Overall, it looks somewhat like a mecha design from a science fiction novel, divided into four areas, each depicting one of the four components of the construct.

The four components each contain a separate, functional rune array.

To create a rune array with various powerful functions on a component that is only a piece of cloth with a limited area, requiring extremely advanced rune manufacturing technology.

This is a hard requirement, just like if you want to play football, you first need to have a leg; there's no logic to it.

This step is certainly extremely difficult, but what truly limits the number of rune constructors is the next step:

While the rune arrays of each component can operate and function independently, they also need to have the ability to work together as one.

They combine to form a large, ultimate rune array, thus providing unique construct effects for rune constructs.

This process requires a mastery of runes, a constant expansion of knowledge boundaries, brilliant ideas, and unparalleled creativity.

Especially the word "creativity".

This thing is like talent, mysterious and elusive, without any tangible form, yet it certainly exists.

Fortunately, Gaode Maps possesses this feature, and is even exceptionally outstanding in it.

Just how outstanding it is, and what its upper limit is, Gaode itself doesn't know, but it's at least to the point that would amaze He west.

However, under Hoshi's new runic system, the limitation of "creativity," which stands like a boulder in the path of runic constructs, can now be cleverly bypassed.

—As long as one has a solid grasp of rune knowledge and a thorough understanding of the six basic rules of runes, one can design a qualified rune structure design through massive calculations and trial and error.

Of course, this does not mean that "creativity" is unimportant.

On the contrary, creativity has become even more important in the new runic system.

While calculations can certainly allow ordinary runemasters to design rune constructs, such designs rely on existing rune construct designs and are essentially based on the reorganization of knowledge, much like piecing together one's own creation.

However, truly outstanding rune construction designs cannot be obtained through calculation alone; ultimately, they rely on "creativity."

To use a somewhat imperfect analogy, in the world before Gaode arrived, after artificial intelligence had developed, with its powerful computing capabilities, it could already replace a large number of low-level, entry-level artists in the design field.

But true artists are irreplaceable, and they become even more precious in the context of the rise of artificial intelligence.

Artists will not be unemployed; with the development of artificial intelligence, their status will only rise higher and higher.

The same principle applies to the field of rune construction.

After his thoughts had raced through his mind, Gao De calmed himself down and put all distracting thoughts behind him.

He took a deep breath and spread out the materials he had prepared beforehand on the simple table.

He was preparing to begin drawing "The Coming of Winter".

"I'm going to start," Gao De whispered to Anna beside him.

Anna's eyes lit up, and she nodded obediently.

Afterwards, Gao De ignored her and his internal magic flowed slightly, having already cast the [Divine Guidance Technique+] on himself.

He picked up the photolithography pen given to him by his mentor, Hosie, and poured magic ink into it.

Immediately afterwards, a golden symbol flashed in his left pupil.

The third-tier Mandora's Eye is activated.

Under the effect of the Ninja Body, Gao De entered a state of extreme concentration in the blink of an eye.

All external disturbances had disappeared; his world consisted only of the photolithography pen in his hand and the bronze component awaiting the drawing of runes.

Then, Gao De leaned forward slightly.

Put pen to paper.

The pen tip trembled slightly, and a faint light flowed out, carrying strands of refined magic, slowly transforming into lines and imprinting them on the surface of the bronze.

During this period of almost non-stop practice, Gao De used stack after stack of lacquered jade paper, which made his brushwork very skillful.

The brushstrokes were fluid, like flowing clouds and water, without the slightest hesitation, sluggishness, or error; the hand holding the pen was as steady as a mountain, without the slightest tremor.

—The runes on the construct are miniature, so even a slight tremor of the wrist, magnified on the miniature runes, would be a huge mistake.

To Anna, who was watching from the sidelines, the lines that Gao De was drawing on the bronze component were so fine that they were as thin as hair and could not be seen clearly at all.

Only by pressing your eyes very close can you barely make out what the runes are.

But in the eyes of Mandora, the situation is completely different.

Everything was magnified; the miniature runes he drew were no different from normal runes, and were even larger.

Every detail of the rune, the direction of every line, was so clear to him, which was one of the reasons why his brushstrokes were so fluent.

For rune constructors, the Eye of Mandora is like a cheat code, a powerful cheat similar to a game cheat, granting them superhuman precision and insight.

Time passed slowly, and the room was so quiet that the only sounds were the soft breathing of Gao De and Anna, and the faint ripples of the pen tip touching the bronze.

Gao De was completely immersed in the world he created.

With the triple blessing of Divine Guidance, Ninja Body, and Mandora's Eye, even though it was his first time creating a rune construct, God was able to perform like a seasoned Tier 1 rune construct master who had been immersed in the field of rune constructs for many years.

Finally, Gao De made the last stroke, completing the last rune.

Before it were four brand-new rune construct components.

Compared to before, the slightly yellow copper surface is now covered with dense and fine blue lines.

These lines intertwine to form mysterious and beautiful patterns, as if they had been painted.

Putting everything else aside, at least the appearance is much more aesthetically pleasing; it's almost like a work of art.

"Are you done?" Anna asked softly.

"Alright," Gao De nodded.

"Did it work?" Anna pressed.

"I don't know yet," Gao De replied, his tone tinged with caution and trepidation.

"Give it a try!" Anna looked at Gao De, waving her little fist. "It'll definitely work!"

"it is good."

For rune constructs, the most important thing is the actual effect.

After Gao De finished speaking, he picked up the arm armor-shaped rune component, then channeled his mana into the rune component.

As mana was channeled in, the runes on the arm armor components lit up one by one, with halos flowing between each line, and a hazy blue glow covering the entire component.

Then, a piece of information naturally flowed into Gaode's mind.

"Level 1 Spell Damage Increase (Increases the power of spells of level 1 and below by 29%)."

This is the only runic effect possessed by the runic array on this runic component.

Of course, there is no limit to the number of rune effects a single rune construct can have.

However, more functionality isn't necessarily better for rune constructs.

Because the number of runes a rune construct can hold is always limited.

Generally speaking, the more functions a rune construct has, the lower the effectiveness of each function.

Conversely, the more powerful a function is, the fewer functions it usually represents.

Between quantity and quality, it is necessary to find the most suitable balance point based on the individual circumstances and needs of the wearer of the rune construct.

But this often presents a problem:

Aside from themselves, mages can't be completely honest with others; they can only describe their needs as specifically as possible to the rune architect.

This situation will result in the final rune construct not achieving 100% compatibility.

By creating their own rune constructs, Gaode can avoid all these problems and achieve perfect matching.

This is also one of his advantages.

The rune effects on a Tier 1 rune construct are naturally all Tier 1.

However, there are also differences between levels.

Just like a level 1 spell damage-boosting rune array, depending on the rune design, materials, and techniques used, the power increase ranges from 20% to 40%.

Because this rune component only involved one function, "increased spell damage," even though Brilliant Copper is not considered a superior material, and even though this was his first time creating a rune construct, the increase in spell power still reached a mid-to-high value of 29%.

Because it is pure, it is powerful.

After setting down the shoulder armor components, Gao De picked up the remaining three rune components one by one and tested them by inputting mana.

"Level 1 Agility (increases movement speed by 1.5 m/s), Level 1 Fortitude (cannot be destroyed by spells of level 1 or lower), Level 1 Spell Damage Increase."

The rune effects of the rune arrays on these other three rune construct components.

The spell damage amplification effect is repeated.

Repetition does not mean it is useless; rather, it can be cumulative.

However, it's not additive; the two level 1 spell damage increases result in a power increase of 37%, close to the cap, rather than 58%.

The stacking of the same rune effect has a marginal effect; the higher the level, the less the value is increased. Therefore, stacking two identical rune effects is actually the most cost-effective.

The verification was successful; the rune arrays on all four rune-constructed components were able to function and grant the wearer the corresponding rune effects.

But this is not the end; the most crucial step has not yet been verified.

Gao De let out a long breath, calming his slightly tense mood, and neatly attached the four rune components together according to their edge shapes.

Then, enter mana.

All the runes had now merged into one, as if they had come to life.

A tremendous force was about to burst forth from it.

Seeing this, Gao De's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally put at ease.

He probed the runic structure with his spiritual power.

Immediately, information flooded into his mind.

[Winter's Arrival] (Tier 1 Rune Construction):

Architect: Gao De

Rune effects: Level 1 Spell Damage Increase, Level 1 Fortitude, Level 1 Agility

Construct Effect: The wearer's mana regeneration rate is increased by 15%, and mana cost is reduced by 8%.

When casting an attack spell, additional mana can be consumed to inflict a cold damage of 5-10 degrees (depending on the additional mana consumed).

The message "Constructor: God" that pops up is a small trick in rune drawing, a technique that every rune artist has mastered. It is not complicated and does not require spending extra runes. It mainly serves as a "watermark" effect.

It's somewhat like an artist signing their work after completing it.

Not only in rune construction, but most rune artists also usually use this method to "sign" their names when drawing magic circles.

This is because, compared to other professions, rune masters are more inclined to be "artists".

Their "works" are few, while other extraordinary professions are more like craftsmen, capable of producing a large number of extraordinary items.

The rune effects don't need further mention. As for the construct effects, they are based on the design of [Breath of the Wild], thus possessing the same source of increased mana regeneration speed and reduced mana consumption. Of course, the values ​​are far inferior to those of Breath of the Wild.

The difference is that Gaode did not focus on improving battery life, but instead consciously added additional features based on its own needs.

Looking at the set of "Winter's Arrival" that he had created himself, Gao De felt inexplicably dazed.

At this moment, his heart could no longer calm down; his thoughts wandered, and many memories flooded his mind.

Ultimately, all the thoughts settled on He west.

At this moment, more than two years have passed since he stepped into Gavin Tower's rune workshop.

The year he spent studying rune literature with He west had a profound impact on him.

Now, more than a year has passed since He west left, and he has finally succeeded in creating his first set of Tier 1 rune constructs by relying on the six basic rules left behind by He west.

This means that he is already a Tier 1 Rune Constructor.

This status is far beyond what a first-ring mage can compare to.

Things are rare.

In most people's minds, even a second-ring mage's status is far inferior to that of a first-tier rune constructor.

After a brief period of joy and melancholy, Gaode composed himself.

For him, it was just the beginning.

This applies to both the path of a mage and the path of a rune constructor.

The upgrade was complete, and it also came with an unexpected breakthrough.

The new spell has been mastered.

Now, the "top-tier equipment" [Winter's Arrival] is also in place.

Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared.

Everything is ready; we're just waiting for a dark and windy night to catch the thief and claim our credit!

(End of this chapter)