Chapter 777: Orvik Vs Niri

Chapter 777: Orvik Vs Niri

"What did you find?"

Leo could tell Orvik was unusually excited, which meant he had found something good.

"It’s a conscious core!" Orvik explained.

"Originally, we had planned to install a Cogmind Intelligence Core Rune and program it with some simple action commands. These commands would then be connected to perception tools distributed across its body, allowing the Golem to function properly." Orvik paused to catch his breath.

"However, that would have increased the cost and been time-consuming, as we’d have to precisely program all the commands."

Orvik explained that they had found a fist-sized, round lump inside the Golem’s abdomen while making space for the Heartcore. They soon realised that it was a kind of conscious core that could learn through experience as long as the Golem remained active and received a power supply.

The Golem didn’t need eyes to perceive its surroundings; an omnidirectional perception node in the same conscious core kept it aware of everything around it. Apparently, with this conscious core, the Golem could also repair itself to a great degree.

"Though we’ll still need to properly reassemble its weapons."

Hmm? Did they confuse Howl’s repairs with the Golem’s own ability? Leo wondered.

Although he agreed that Golems could develop consciousness through experience, they couldn’t repair themselves. For that, they would probably need to possess Earth Element control.

Leo quickly relayed this information to the Gnomes, knowing that hiding things from researchers would only delay the product’s development.

However, he kept Howl’s existence a secret, telling them only that a hidden beast could generate, control, and repair the Golems.

"Huh?" Orvik remained dazed for a while before suddenly clapping his hands, his mouth hanging open as he realised something.

"No wonder I didn’t feel the Heartstone’s energy depleting! So, its conscious core is connected to another Noble Beast of Lord Leo’s..."

Leaving the Gnomes to their thoughts, Leo turned his attention to the Golem’s frame.

"Is it ready to fight? I’d like to test its combat abilities."

"Yes! It can fight!"

"Good."

Leo quickly contacted Niri telepathically, and she stopped playing with the elves and rushed toward him.

"Papa!"

They soon relocated to the training ground, with the Golem following behind them with heavy steps.

"Niri, summon your strongest Treant."

"Mmh!"

She nodded excitedly and did as instructed.

Soon after, a 6-meter-tall Low 3-Star Wood Treant was summoned.

Wood Treant (Low 3-Star) — Summon

It differed from a Cedar Treant, being shorter and having less physical power at the same strength level.

For now, Niri could summon 5 of these at once, all of them at Low 3-Star.

But only 1 was required for this test.

Leo turned towards Orvik and instructed him to command the Golem to fight the Treant with all its might. Since it was a summon, killing it wouldn’t kill it permanently, and Niri could simply summon it again.

Hmmm~

A low hum of energy emanated from the Golem’s body as it quickly raised its left arm, equipped with an energy gun, and aimed it at the charging Treant.

Thum!

A bolt of energy struck the Treant squarely in the chest, pushing it backwards. The Treant grew wary and slammed its hand into the ground, generating roots and vines in front of it to block the incoming energy shots.

"PGM1, increase the energy output by 50%!" Orvik shouted the command, and the energy gun’s white glow immediately intensified.

It seemed Orvik had shortened ’Prototype Golem Mark 1’ to PGM1.

"Treant Number 1! Reinforce the root-and-vine wall—double its thickness!" Niri shouted back, and the Treant obeyed, doubling the wall’s thickness instantly.

The damage to its chest had already healed.

Thhuuumm!

The root-and-vine wall shattered instantly, but it successfully blocked the energy shot.

"PGM1! Increase it by another 50%!"

"Trea—TN1, d-double it again!" Niri copied Orvik’s way of giving commands, unwilling to be outdone.

However, the Treant was a tad too late. The energy shot passed through the still-forming wall and struck the Treant squarely in the head, instantly blowing it apart.

"TN1!!" Niri shouted, aggrieved by the loss.

"Niri, summon 2 more," Leo calmly instructed.

He knew she was just playing around with her exaggerated reactions.

"OH!" Niri grew excited once again.

"TN2, TN3! Now!"

Two Treants formed and immediately rushed forward.

Thum!

An energy shot struck one of the Treants, slowing it down. Somehow, these Treants were sturdier and didn’t blow apart from a single shot.

The second one closed in, ready to hammer the Golem with its broad arm.

At that moment, PGM1’s hammer glowed brightly as it swung at the Treant from the side.

The Treant also struck the Golem beside the Heartstone, but the blow didn’t stop the Golem’s momentum. Its body bent backwards before it swung its hammer.

DHOOM!

A burst of white energy instantly obliterated the Treant’s body, eliminating it.

Niri gritted her teeth in frustration.

"TN3! Weak idiot!!"

She quickly covered her mouth, afraid Leo might scold her for cursing. Thankfully, he was fully immersed in the fight unfolding before him.

After a few more bouts, the Golem still emerged victorious. It used its blades to free itself from the vines whenever it became entangled, while its hammer and energy gun dealt with the Treants.

However, the energy gun, which had been charged to a higher output, had become so hot that the metallic materials inside had softened and deformed.

"The ice melted..." Orvik realised.

"Hmm, Zelut is still a Peak 2-Star beast," Leo muttered, realising that Mid- to High-3-Star energy shots could quickly melt the ice.

"You’d better ask Miho to produce ice blocks for you. Hers will last longer," he suggested, knowing that Miho was already approaching Peak 3-Star.

He could also have provided them with stronger, heat-resistant metals, but the Gnomes simply weren’t strong enough to work with them. Even when heated, hammering sturdy metal required adequate strength.

Orvik nodded vigorously.

"I’ll approach Miss Miho when we need it."

With that settled, Leo instructed them to continue working on the project. By the end of 3 months, he wanted a squad of these Golems.

Orvik readily agreed, then returned to work.

"Hmm, I need to set up a proper reward system..." Leo muttered.

"Well, Lily should have almost completed it."

Just then, Howl’s avatar arrived and walked calmly toward them. Bigfoot proudly trailed behind him like a servant and took pride in the role.

However, Niri also turned towards them, and their gazes met.

"Huge Brother Howl..." Niri murmured in recognition.

Both towering figures froze at the sight of Niri. The next moment, they turned around simultaneously and started running.

"Heheheh." Niri giggled before running—or rather, floating—after them.

Leo shook his head helplessly. Niri had quite a reputation, and these two clearly weren’t fans. And how could they be when they were the prime victims of her handicrafts?

It was quite a funny sight, seeing two inhumanly tall beings running in fear from a girl who was only 5’1" tall.

Thankfully, the area had expanded considerably, giving them plenty of space to ’play around’.

Just then, someone approached Leo from the side. Their presence alone made the surrounding area grow cooler.

It was Zelut.

However, two other plump, chubby mice followed closely behind him, with many smaller mice walking between them.