Zeri's situation truly surprised Li Lin.
After conducting a series of physical examinations, Li Lin was astonished to discover that Zeri's abilities were not purely magical.
In fact, there was a genetic aspect to her powers, somewhat akin to the "Iron Body" Li Lin gained from injecting the "Activating Enhancer."
Even highly gifted mages find it challenging to directly draw magical elements from the air, let alone someone like Zeri, who, despite struggling to control her own talents, can emit large amounts of electrical energy.
According to Zeri, when her abilities occasionally went out of control, she would expend a significant amount of physical energy and need to consume a large quantity of high-calorie food.
Combining this with Li Lin's knowledge of individual enhancement and genetics, it was clear that her "control of electrical energy" was a blend of magic and superpower.
After discussing with Heimerdinger, they decided to approach the problem from the magical perspective first, sending Zeri to a magic academy to learn how to master her abilities.
Drawing from Li Lin's experiences with movies and novels from before his journey, he believed that her abilities might also be activated through some kind of medium, making them easier to control.
Heimerdinger agreed with this not entirely novel idea.
After all, apprentices and even many mages use wands as a medium for casting spells.
In reality, mages do not need wands to cast spells; they merely use them for more precise control.
It took them nearly the entire afternoon to deal with Zeri's situation.
Since she had not yet fully mastered her abilities, they skipped the tests for the extent of her control over electrical energy, which would have taken even more time.
Powder, Ekko, and Milo had no classes that afternoon, but they stayed with Li Lin and Heimerdinger, observing Zeri's physical data in the lab's safe room.
The process was so monotonous that Powder eventually fell asleep on a bench.
As the sun dipped below the western horizon at dusk, Li Lin woke her up and brought her to the academy's entrance, where they met Vi and Claggor, who had just finished their training.
Ekko had some key courses to attend and had been staying at the Kiramman household lately.
Li Lin then took Powder, Vi, Zeri, Claggor, and Milo back to the Last Drop Tavern via the lift, had a chat with the enthusiastic Vander, and returned to his workshop.
Just in time, Li Lin had reached level 70, unlocking new skills, so Li Lin wasn't in a hurry to build the Battle Mech—Urgot.
While Urgot's range was not as great as Kog'Maw's, it was still a formidable weapon for mid-range combat.
However, despite its strength, Li Lin found little use for such a large machine at the moment, and it occupied too much space.
Unless faced with a world crisis or lacking skill points, he had no intention of constructing the mech just yet.
Back at the Kiramman household, Li Lin had dinner with Caitlyn, Kai'Sa, and Ekko.
Zoe was nowhere to be found, so he decided not to pursue her any further.
After dinner, Li Lin spent some time with Caitlyn on her room's balcony, sharing tales of his adventures slaying dragons in Demacia and battling Noxian vampires.
Of course, to make the stories more dramatic and engaging, he added a few embellishments.
For instance, he described an epic battle with the dragon, using Gaboga, and fighting alongside the Demacian prince to eradicate the bloodthirsty creatures.
Caitlyn was fascinated by the stories, lying half-reclined in his arms with a smile, frequently asking questions about dragons and vampires.
When it was nearly bedtime, Li Lin accompanied Caitlyn into her dreams before quietly returning to his workshop.
Though he cherished these tender moments, it was not a time for rest.
"AI, how are things with Jarvan IV?" Li Lin asked as he transformed his clothing into protective gear.
[Under the escort of the Storm Squadron of the Air Combat Mechs, the Shield Prince and his remaining troops have safely arrived at the Argent Mountains in the western part of the Silent Lake Plain.]
"And what about the Noxian battalion's movements?"
[One Noxian battalion, consisting of two thousand troops, suffered over a thousand casualties due to the intervention of Miss Zoe and Miss Morgana.]
[Moreover, with the complete destruction of the Dusk Legion, and according to drone reports, the remaining Noxian forces on the front line have retreated under the cover of night.]
[You need not worry about the safety of the Shield Prince.]
The AI provided a clear explanation of all Li Lin's concerns, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good. Let me know when Jarvan IV arrives in Wrenwall."
[As you wish.]
After finishing the conversation with the AI, Li Lin turned his attention to the system panel in his mind.
With his level increased to 70, he unlocked several new technologies.
[Nano-Machine Principles: Master more comprehensive nano-machine technology.]
[Quantum Theory: Explore the mechanisms of fundamental forces through subatomic particles.]
[Gene Editing: Precisely modify specific target genes within the genome of organisms.]
[Directed Gene Expression: Refine the basic genetic structure of organisms within a certain range based on gene editing.]
[Directed Evolution (Mechanical Warlord): Natural evolution has always been described as a blunt failure. But now, we will define success!]
In addition to the exciting new technologies in the individual enhancement route, the inventor's lineage also offered advanced "Nano-Machine Principles" and preliminary "Quantum Theory," significantly elevating his current technological tree.
However, the "Directed Evolution" technology must be learned after advancing to the "Mechanical Warlord" class, which left him a bit disappointed.
Mastering this ability would allow Li Lin to propel a species through tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of years of evolution, directly advancing it to the next stage.
Moreover, this process would be controllable, transforming according to his will.
Although this technology currently only applies to non-human organisms, once he reaches level 75 and unlocks "Evolution Secrets," he would gain the ability to facilitate human evolution as well, marking a small-scale "genetic ascension."
Additionally, in the combat category, Li Lin could learn new technologies: "Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials," "Battle Mech—Xerath," and "Dominion Mech—Aatrox."
[Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials: By altering certain base materials through a special process, they are compressed and fused into a new type of material that is currently the most durable, energy-conductive, and lightweight.]
Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials are not nanomaterials, but if Li Lin desired, he could use "Nano-Machine Principles" to produce them as nanomaterials, applying them to his Nano Infinite Armor.
In terms of defense, new-generation Infinite Armor using Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials would be several times more effective than the current basic nanotech armor, with significantly improved energy efficiency.
It could even withstand the immense pressure from nuclear fusion reactions.
Thus, Li Lin would not need to rely on the scarce magical materials outside Piltover for nuclear fusion technology.
Moreover, Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials are composed of common base materials with altered properties and compressed synthesis.
Despite its superior qualities, its cost is not exorbitant.
However, Li Lin found himself troubled by the blueprints for "Battle Mech—Xerath" and "Dominion Mech—Aatrox."
The Battle Mech—Xerath required 1,000 orange essences and 10 skill points.
The Dominion Mech—Yasuo was even more demanding, requiring 1,500 orange essences and 15 skill points.
Additionally, unlocking these mechs came with a rigorous prerequisite:
Defeating the "Ascendant Xerath" and the "Darkin Aatrox."
"What the hell! Not only do they cost a fortune and a lot of skill points, but I also have to defeat gods to unlock them?"
Li Lin was stunned.
Defeating Aatrox might be manageable; he had been trapped in his weapon by the previous Pantheon and Twilight Starling, Mi'Sha, at the end of the Darkin War.
In other words, his physical form was merely a sword; severing the connection between his blood magic-reformed body and the giant sword would return him to his sealed state.
The sealed Darkin Aatrox was far less powerful than he was in his prime as an Ascendant.
Moreover, being a melee fighter, if Li Lin could locate him, he could use a "Gigaton Cannon" to strike from a long distance.
If that failed, he could create a fusion missile and throw it directly at Aatrox, likely sending him back into the sword.
However, he had no clue about the ancient sorcerer Xerath.
Despite not receiving the approval of the Sun Disk, Xerath was an unyielding divine warrior and one of the peak Ascendants.
Thousands of years ago, even the peak Shuriman brothers Nasus and Renekton could not kill him and could only barely seal him, at the cost of Renekton.
Furthermore, his power had only grown during his long imprisonment in the Imperial Tomb.
The last time he was heavily injured and repelled was outside the city of Vekaura, when the God Emperor Azir and the severely wounded Nasus fought him off.
Li Lin was not present then and had no idea how severely Xerath was injured or the scale of his power.
If he had to battle and even defeat Xerath, Li Lin anticipated he would need to construct the Dominion Mech—Behemoth or even the Dominion Mech—Aatrox and team up with Azir to succeed.
But before that, he must advance to the "Mechanical Warlord" class.
"Ah... the road ahead is long and arduous."
(End of Chapter)
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