Star Forge Titan

"Even if she is unhappy, I have to investigate. What if she is a spy with bad intentions? Damn it, they have been living together for almost half a month. Damn it, I am not prepared to be a grandfather so early!" Gustav threw off the quilt and jumped off the bed.

He walked around the house with his hands behind his back, and did not look as seriously injured or dying as rumored.

Obviously, after the eldest princess was stabbed, His Majesty the Demon King also had the idea of ​​a sting operation.

"Cough cough." Gustav coughed a few times, then sat down on the edge of the bed a little tiredly.

"I really hope I can help the kids clear all the obstacles before I leave."

"Shut up, what are you talking about?" Ashram glared at him unhappily.

"If Annie knew you dared to sneak away, I believe that female Tyrannosaurus would rush into the underworld and cause a big commotion."

"At that time, I can only ask you to stop her." Gustav smiled bitterly and shook his head.

As Ashram said, "Don't embarrass an honest man," he turned his gaze to the large portrait hanging in his bedroom. The family of three in the painting all had sweet smiles on their faces.

Gustav's gaze finally fell on the queen with her peculiar wheat-colored skin and brilliant golden hair, and he couldn't help but smile in reminiscence of the past.

At this moment, the news that the eldest princess had returned safely to Avonmore finally reached Lucius's ears.

"It looks like I'm going to be exposed... Haha, but it doesn't matter anymore." The fourth-level great wizard raised his head with a sneer.

In front of him, a large number of awakened skeleton laborers were working hard. The ancient remains, which originally only had a spine and some ribs left, were being filled and repaired by the skeleton laborers using the sub-dragon bones strengthened by spells, and gradually took on the shape of a complete human skeleton.

Not far away, a massive alchemical cauldron, absorbing vast quantities of magical energy, continuously gushed out streams of molten iron. The molten iron flowed into a massive mold, cooling and solidifying into wide pieces of armor.

"Although it's not the most ideal result, the remains of a second-generation ancient giant are almost enough. This time, I will definitely refuse death completely!" Lucius whispered to himself.

Then, a sharp laughter like the howl of a night owl echoed in the unknown underground space.

Chapter 33: Meeting with the Demon King (Part 1)

A ray of dark golden light flashed in Ivan's hand, and the originally solid elemental gem immediately changed.

The experimental results were as he expected. Even the incomplete earth realm also included the manipulation of gem crystals.

This suggests the potential of the [Core: Reshape the World] talent is even greater than anticipated. However, reshaping gems consumes more mana than metal. With Ivan's current mana of 1200, he can only reshape gems within a certain size and mass range.

This is not the biggest problem. The real limitation is not magic power but the total number of gold coins in his wallet.

Even the largest gem that Alvin could afford now was still a long way from the upper limit of his magic power in terms of size and quality.

This is so joyful! This is so joyful! A bitter feeling welled up in my heart, and I can't stop crying...

It has been decided that in order to deal with the major events on Elrond's side, we must clear out all the bandit dens and monster nests along the way. We will not leave the mountain until we have accumulated the first pot of gold!

Then, he would go to the Genoa Commercial Confederation and make a lot of money. Relying on his talent of [Reshaping the World], let alone filling the dice with lead, he could even directly change the mass distribution without affecting the material of the dice!

By increasing the mastery of talents, suppressing the fluctuation of magic power to release talents can be said to be one of the most basic operations. Unless there is a high-level wizard of level three or above sitting opposite as a dealer, there is basically no need to worry about the possibility of being discovered.

With the extreme thought of bringing shame to the Titan ancestors in his mind, Alvin completed the final step of the reconstruction in his hand.

He opened his clenched fingers, and the dark golden light faded, revealing a special alchemical bullet made of corrosive iron with tiny elemental gem fragments inlaid on the bottom and tip.

Self-propelled gem bombs, also known as gold bombs or crystal bombs, are krypton gold ammunition widely used by players in the Lind camp in the mid-game.

The propellant is a gemstone corroded by the power of the fire element. The explosive warhead is also made of a gemstone of the same material, while the body of the warhead is made of an inert, magic-averse metal with poor magic conductivity but sufficient stability to block the mutual influence between the front and back parts.

After being stimulated by magic, the end gem fragment will be converted into the force to propel the projectile forward by consuming the internal fire element magic. The warhead part is an unstable element gem that has been deliberately stimulated by magic. It will quickly lose balance and explode at the moment of collision, causing kinetic damage to the projectile and triggering secondary explosion damage.

Something with such a strong sense of déjà vu was also made by a group of guys in the guild who called themselves the Chain Hammer Technology Restoration Club.

In terms of damage alone, self-propelled gem bombs far exceed ordinary lead bullets. Only those expensive enchanted bullets can compete with them. Moreover, different types of elemental gems installed in the warhead can also cause different types of elemental damage, which can be targeted against specific targets.

During the Skeleton Tide update, Ivan used the Hallelujah Bomb, which was made of Heavenly Gold Diamond. If the Paladin officials hadn't banned it, they would have named this explosive bomb, which contained divine power and exploded, the LL Bomb...

He shook his head to get rid of some dangerous thoughts.

As for the price, if compared with enchanted bullets, self-propelled gem bombs are naturally cheaper, but this thing still uses elemental gems as materials, which means that it is actually not that cheap.

However, Alvin can now rub it by hand and use it immediately, which saves labor costs. If everything goes well after the war, he can even recycle some of the materials.

Moreover, self-propelled gem bombs can be made using broken and cracked low-quality magic gems. At most, the power will be slightly reduced, so the price can basically be kept within an acceptable range.

After a battle, at most your wallet will be empty, but you won’t become a huge debtor if you win the battle but lose the money.

Looking at the self-propelled gem bomb made of corrosive iron and inlaid with elemental gems at the front and back ends, Alvin was also thinking about how to develop his own talents.

Before his magic operation speed and weight are improved, he can only use this talent in logistics and assistance.

If you want to use the core talent [Reshape the World] more flexibly and fully in battle, you must complete the talent upgrade, and the second-level profession you choose should also be those that increase the total amount of magic power and have magic control talents and characteristics.

Considering that Ivan's current attributes are very comprehensive, if he chooses a spellcasting profession at the second level, not to mention that it will not match the first-level barbarian profession, it will cause a huge waste in terms of attributes. He is not a mage in the game, which is not his forte.

Therefore, from the perspective of combat power composition, special professions or hidden professions that enhance both spellcasting ability and warrior characteristics are more suitable for Alvin's current situation.

The profession on the Elrond side that best meets these conditions is the Black Knight of Elrond. It is not only an enhanced secret ritual, but also has a corresponding profession sequence with the same name.

A third-level black knight not only has amazing physical fitness, but also masters a professional skill called Spell Thunder Blade. He can release spell-like abilities constructed with lightning to attack enemies from a distance, or condense lightning on weapons to increase the lethality, or use thunder to entangle himself so that the enemy who attacks him will be hurt first.

The name of the Black Knight comes from this. The lightning that entangles him burns the enemies into charred carbon ash, which clings to the originally silver armor, turning the bright and beautiful Silver Knight into a silent and dim Black Knight who is full of the honor of killing.

But the Black Knight is a third-tier profession, and his lower-tier profession, the second-tier Silver Knight, is really just a knight. He does not have much enhancement in spellcasting ability. He mainly relies on the physical fitness improved by the secret ritual to wear heavy armor, and then use weapons that are difficult for ordinary people to use, such as super-large heavy crossbows and extra-large swords to increase combat effectiveness.

The fourth level of this career path is called the Cursed Knight, who uses curses and oaths to restrain himself while greatly enhancing his strength. He also has the ability to fly and release cursed piercing, instant-death attacks.

To be more specific, this series of professions is very powerful but does not meet Alvin's needs.

The Engineering Knight route he chose in the game mainly uses a series of special weapons developed by Lind after completing the Magic Revolution, allowing humans who have not undergone spell transformation to have powerful strength, agility and defense.

Therefore, while this path offers a complete sequence of fifth-tier professions, it primarily improves reaction speed and physical endurance. Like spellcasting professions, it can't fully utilize one's current physical attributes; at best, it can be used as a guide for equipment and skill selection when building a combat system.

"This is really distressing." Alvin thought about several hidden professions that he was more familiar with, and preliminarily identified a few with higher adaptability.

However, which one to choose depends on which one is more convenient to get at the time.

If all else fails, the Elrond Knight route is also a good choice. Although it stops at the fourth level, it can at least further enhance the attributes, and several professional skills and characteristics are simple, crude and practical enough.

As for the fifth level, it is not impossible to create one yourself when the time comes. There is a setting for this in the game.

Before that, Ivan planned to focus on developing his first-tier profession. Although his physical attributes had been improved to a level that would make an average third-tier profession want to curse, his career development at this stage was still at a medium level.

The Barbarian class is admittedly a common one, but being common also means that the most people play it, so naturally, all kinds of cool operations pop up in the game forums, such as the high-tech barbarian with dual guns and cannons, the barbarian swordsman, the miracle of great strength, and the three times stronger rage.

As I was thinking, there was a rhythmic knock on the door.

"Come in." Alvin said as he put his five fingers together.

As the dark golden light flowed, the self-propelled gem bomb turned back into a piece of corroded iron and an elemental gem.

A mature woman in a maid's dress walked into the room. She bowed slightly to Ivan with a polite smile on her face.

"Sir, I am Maria, the head maid of Schönbrunn Palace." The maid who called herself Maria introduced herself very politely.

"The ruler of Elrond, His Majesty Gusmis, invites you to dinner. However, considering the tiring journey, please take a bath and rest for a while in the afternoon." Then, she indirectly pointed out in a very obscure way that Ivan's current attire was not suitable for attending the dinner.

"I understand." His eyes lingered on the maid's outfit and the other's arm muscles for a moment, and then Ivan nodded in agreement.

Although his sweat glands had been specially modified during the incantation ritual, and could keep his body surface clean and sterilize to a certain extent, a good bath after a long journey could indeed relax his mind.

He had been considering career choices and the construction of a combat system, but ended up finding a ton of problems. He just hoped that taking a bath could bring him some inspiration.

Moreover, bathing is on the one hand to tidy up one's appearance, and on the other hand to show that one is not carrying any dangerous weapons or equipment. This is a very necessary step before meeting the ruler of Elrond.

Maria first measured Alvin's height and measurements, and said that she would prepare a formal dress of the right size later.

This was also fortunately due to the fact that Elrond was home to many demons with unusual body shapes after undergoing magical rituals. If it were Linde, wanting to find a formal suit for Ivan, who was now two meters three inches tall, he would probably have to have a tailor cut the fabric on the spot and make it custom-made.

Then, the head maid, who always had a smile on her face, led Alvin through the Corridor of Mirrors and came to Schönbrunn Palace, which served as the Demon King's bedroom.

Compared to the Iron Palace, which looks more like a castle, Schönbrunn Palace is more suitable for living. Not only is it elegantly decorated, but its overall style is also closer to a high-end residence than a fortress.

There are large bathrooms in Schönbrunn Palace for visiting guests, and even the largest demons can find a bathtub of the right size.

The bathroom that Alvin walked into now was a very spacious one. The floor was paved with smooth white long stones and marble columns stood around it. The rectangular bathtub in the middle was filled with hot water, and the pure silver spout from which the hot water flowed out was carved into an exquisite lion head shape.

"Sir, do you have any requests?" asked the head maid Maria with a faint smile.

"That's enough." Alvin nodded, and just as he raised his hand to unbutton a button, he suddenly stopped where he was.

"Guest?" Maria tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

Why are you still here?

Ivan didn't ask this question, but his eyes said it all.

"This is a maid's duty." Maria continued to smile.

"I didn't know the Gusmith family was so powerful that they could have a third-level professional serve as a maid." Ivan simply sat by the bathtub and stretched out his hand to disturb the water surface, while speaking without raising his head.

At the moment they met, he recognized that this head maid was no ordinary person. Whether it was the way she walked or the way she stood, she showed signs of strict training everywhere.

Moreover, those were not signs of combat training, but rather traces left behind after special training to cover up such signs.

Fortunately, after being transformed by the spell, Ivan's sensory insight was amazing, and coupled with his rich mission experience in the game, he was able to see the slightest flaw. If it were someone else, it would be difficult to discover the truth about the other party's hidden strength.

"Are you really the head maid of Schönbrunn Palace?" Alvin continued to ask calmly.

The position of head maid can actually be called housekeeper. They are mainly responsible for hiring and supervising other maids. They are also required to purchase food and manage the storage of food, high-end fabrics and porcelain, as well as assisting the mistress with her daily needs.

As the highest-ranking maid in an aristocratic household, she commanded most of the other servants. Therefore, she was required to master a wide range of maid etiquette, knowledge, and experience. Most head maids, or housekeepers, came from well-off families. If another maid displeased their master, the housekeeper would be held accountable and personally taught new maids various skills.

But even such a high-ranking position cannot be held by a third-level professional. That is not only a luxury but also absurd.

"Ah, I've been discovered." Maria's smile remained unchanged, but the gentle aura in her face suddenly became cold.

"In that case, I won't disturb the guests' rest." As she said this, the mature woman in a maid outfit performed a court salute, slightly lifting the hem of her skirt.

This allowed Alvin to see the scabbard hidden under the long skirt, which consisted of two short swords worn close to the thighs.

Then, Maria, who claimed to be the head maid, left the bathroom.

“…” After confirming that the other party had left, Alvin took off his clothes and slowly sat in the bathtub.

"So, nobles can be really troublesome sometimes..." He shrugged helplessly, submerged his head in the water and spit out a string of bubbles.

Maria walked out of the bathroom and saw the black knight Ashram leaning against the wall waiting for her.

"Dear Captain, please don't bother me with this kind of thing next time, okay?" Maria said coquettishly and wanted to pounce on him, but the other party suddenly floated in the air and dodged her hug.

"Those who are capable should do more work, my hardworking deputy captain." Ashram said with a smile, tapping the ground with his toes.

"Tsk." Maria pulled off the maid's headband on her head and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"So what? What kind of guy is little Frey interested in?" The black knight Ashram continued to ask while leaning lazily against the wall on the other side.

"What kind of person? A very alert young man, with sharp observation skills and steady mind, unlike a young man. Maybe he is not lustful? Or he has a lot of self-control and knows what to do and when." Maria said carefully.

"Oh, the real ice barbarians don't know what self-control is. It's a pity that the messenger gulls sent to the north have not returned yet. I wonder what kind of information they will find out." Ashram laughed softly and looked at the closed bathroom door in the distance.

"Besides, I didn't seem to ask you to seduce that young man?" Ashram said casually.

"It's just a coincidence. Is the captain jealous?" Maria walked around to Ashram with a smile, but did not see any joking expression.

"Okay, I won't do it next time." The deputy leader raised his hand to indicate that he would do it again next time.

Then Maria showed a hesitant look again.

"Oh right, I don't know if it's an illusion."

"What do you mean?" Ashram's eyes moved slightly.

"I feel like he's... dangerous," Maria said uncertainly.

"Interesting. The detection array indicates that the opponent is only level one, but he can still feel dangerous to a level three shadow knight like you." Ashram's eyes became more intriguing.

"Thank you for your hard work. Let me take care of the rest." said the Black Knight.

"Captain, are you planning to take action yourself?" Maria looked at the other party in surprise. This man was a true fourth-level cultivator. It would be too much for him to deal with a young man who was only first-level.

"That's not the case. At most, it will let my brothers and sisters make a little trouble." Ashram whistled.

Then, several giant wolves with silver-white fur walked out slowly from the shadow of the palace. The one leading the team was nearly five meters tall, almost level with the roof of the palace.

These gray wolves that have been transformed by magic not only look very different from ordinary wild wolves, but their powers in all aspects are also completely different. They even possess some spell-like abilities. Even though they are huge in size, they make no sound when they walk.

"Shira, please play with that young man." Ashram raised his hand and scratched the giant wolf's chin. The latter stuck out its scarlet tongue, and there was an expression of interest on its furry face.

Not long after, Alvin changed into the dress Maria left in the dressing room and walked out the door.

I saw a giant wolf nearly five meters tall squatting quietly at the door, staring at me silently with a look similar to that of a husky seeing a new toy.

“…” Alvin stopped.

"Where did the dog come from?"