Returning to Piltover, Li Lin tossed down the dragon's corpse, parked Gaboga, and immediately called Heimerdinger, who had just been about to sleep, back to the academy.
The mech battle wasn't extensive, but all the weapons were used, with the AI collecting and recording combat data.
When Heimerdinger finally arrived at the Piltover Academy's workshop, his attention was instantly drawn not to the combat data as expected, but to the dragon's corpse on the ground.
"Oh my gosh! Child, you actually brought back the dragon's body! This is... incredible!"
Li Lin vividly remembered Heimerdinger's excitement, his hands waving animatedly, then calling mechanical workers to transport the body to a large research lab while muttering about "new inspirations" and "artificial dragons."
Due to Li Lin's intervention, the Hextech T-Rex was transformed into the mechanical giant Gaboga. Now, with the dragon's corpse, Heimerdinger was eager to create a Hextech dragon. It seemed Heimerdinger had a peculiar fondness for dragons...
With a sigh, Li Lin activated the teleporter and returned to the Kiramman estate, heading to his workshop.
Jarvan IV's army was still advancing on the Gates of Mourning, clearing numerous Noxian scout camps along the way, their momentum seemingly unstoppable.
A skilled hunter often appears as prey, unaware he is stepping into a carefully laid Noxian trap.
After confirming the movements of Jarvan IV's army, Li Lin instructed the AI to maintain surveillance and report any urgent situations. He then turned his attention to the system.
Level 65 unlocked eight new technologies: three in the inventor route, two in the gene enhancement branch of the individual enhancement route, and three in the combat route.
In the combat route, the War Mech Kog'Maw blueprint required 500 orange essence and 5 skill points, while the Dominator Mech Behemoth required 1000 orange essence and 10 skill points, doubling the cost.
Overall, unlocking all the new technologies required 26 skill points and 1500 orange essence.
Without hesitation, Li Lin unlocked all the new technologies at once.
A familiar wave of brain pain and dizziness washed over him as countless pieces of knowledge appeared in his memory, chaotic and overwhelming. He couldn't help but rub his temples to ease the discomfort.
After more than ten minutes, the feeling subsided as his memories sorted themselves out.
"Hiss—since enhancing my body, this is the first time I've felt this way."
Li Lin took a deep breath, recalling the scene from last year when he returned to Piltover and unlocked new technology.
"It seems that as my level increases, my physical capabilities are falling behind..."
Since starting the individual enhancement route, he had mainly focused on the "Gene Enhancement Serum" unlocked at level 15 and the advanced "Corrupt Potion" of the Shimmer.
Though he later helped Kai'Sa with her shoulder pouches using the unlocked gene and biological theories, his work in this branch was minimal.
Gene testing, gene diagnostics, and medical applications—he had only unlocked the theoretical knowledge and hadn't had time to apply them practically.
After some hesitation, Li Lin uploaded the "3D Printing," "Material Compression," and "Replication Machine" technologies to the AI database, instructing it to upgrade all factory production equipment.
He then went to the chemical and biological lab in his workshop, operating the mechanical arms to place the prepared materials on the workbench.
The fusion theory technology could perfect Rumble's "Fusion Reactor," with its main applications being "power generation" and "weapons."
However, applying these new technologies and building the Dominator Mech Behemoth required time and money, which were currently lacking.
Moreover, fusion missiles, incomparable to fission missiles in every aspect, were excessively powerful and unnecessary at the moment.
With Gaboga, the Dominator Behemoth was also unnecessary unless facing semi-divine beings.
Considering all factors, Li Lin decided to focus on the theoretical research of individual enhancement technology to further enhance his body. This might also solve Kai'Sa's void living skin problem.
With everything ready, he began researching the "Activity Enhancer," which could further strengthen the body at the genetic level.
The primary materials for this enhancer were "nano-active constructs" and other rare substances, making its creation far more challenging than the final version of the Shimmer.
By the time the clock in the Undercity rang for the first time after a night of silence, Li Lin had completed the "Activity Enhancer."
[Activity Enhancer (Injection): Where the flesh fails, let science intervene.]
[Function: Enhances the body at the genetic level with active nano constructs, with a 3% chance of beneficial genetic mutations, awakening extraordinary powers without the need for magic (3 times enhancement limit, must have used the Gene Enhancement Serum first).]
Beneficial genetic mutations wouldn't cause immediate genetic sequence collapse or death like the "Gene Decay Potion" but would instead allow individuals to awaken various superpowers based on their physical attributes and aptitudes.
These "superpowers" differed fundamentally from the magic in Runeterra. Using superpowers didn't require magical talent, only consuming the individual's energy.
Apart from consuming high-calorie foods, drinking Ionia's "Life Potion," "Magic Potion," or Piltover's "Shimmer" could replenish energy.
However, compared to magic, which could draw power from the environment, using superpowers by depleting one's energy was less advantageous.
The only benefit was granting some combat capability to those without magical talent.
When reaching level 70 and unlocking "Gene Editing" and "Directed Gene Expression," Li Lin could perform minor genetic enhancements to awaken different types of superpowers.
Seeing the system prompt in his mind, Li Lin rubbed his bald chin in thought.
"Only a 3% chance to awaken superpowers..."
He muttered, his understanding of superpowers still stuck on Marvel's mutants, "But this stuff is useless to me."
Shaking his head, he picked up the injection serum, took a deep breath, and pressed it firmly against the vein in his arm.
As the cold liquid entered his body, he frowned in confusion, "Why does my mouth taste like grass..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Lin felt a strange prickling sensation beneath his skin, followed by a wave of heat surging through his body.
The gene-enhancing potion he drank would take at least half an hour to start working, but the injected activator was different—it produced immediate effects.
[Master, according to my monitoring, your heart rate has exceeded 200 beats per minute.]
[Warning! Your body temperature has soared to 45 degrees Celsius, far beyond the normal human threshold!]
Despite shifting to regular clothing, the nano-suit still provided service, and the AI quickly alerted Li Lin to his physical anomalies.
"Huh? 45 degrees?" Li Lin touched his forehead in confusion. "But aside from feeling a bit hot, I don't feel anything else."
He furrowed his brows, pausing for a moment. "This must be the effect of the activator... AI, if my body shows any other abnormalities, notify me immediately."
[As you wish, Master.]
The activator's effects lasted far longer than Li Lin had imagined.
It took a full day and night for the first dose to finish its enhancement process.
During this time, Li Lin's temperature fluctuated wildly, peaking at nearly 50 degrees and dropping to below 30 degrees.
Yet, it didn't cause any fatal harm, only making him feel alternately hot and cold, with occasional headaches and mild internal prickling.
Once the drug was fully absorbed, Li Lin clenched his fists, experiencing a surge of strength so intense it felt like he could punch a Freljord mammoth to death.
Of course, even without the activator, if he wasn't afraid of getting hurt, he could still barehandedly fight and kill such a massive beast, even one larger than a Skallashi.
After the enhancement, Li Lin glanced at his system panel:
[Health: 25144/25144]
[Mana: 12182/12182]
[Combat Power: 90]
"Base health and mana increased by 30%, and combat power shot up to 90... That means I now have the strength to rival Nasus in his normal form?"
Li Lin pondered, rubbing his chin. Just as he was about to close the system panel, he noticed a new term in his [Skill Slot].
[Iron Body (Superpower): Due to a beneficial genetic mutation, your body is as tough as steel (this ability is automatically activated, consuming a large amount of energy, and can be temporarily turned off by will).]
"Damn it! I hit a 3% probability?" Li Lin was stunned after reading the description. "But with this chance, I'd rather upgrade my sixth-generation nano-suit to epic quality!"
(End of Chapter)]