"Is it really completed already? How did it happen so quickly?" Li Lin couldn't help but be surprised. "AI, according to the expected production rate, wasn't it supposed to take over two weeks?"
[Master, we have recently activated more than ten new production lines that were previously invested in. I've logged this information, but you haven't reviewed it yet.]
"I see..."
Having accepted Jarvan IV's invitation, Li Lin was preparing to travel to Demacia's capital to meet with King Jarvan III.
Barrett Buvelle had already arrived with a new elite force and was currently dealing with the Noxian prisoners of war.
With the border secured, they would set out to return to the capital in three days.
Sitting in his room, Li Lin took a moment to consider before opening his system panel to check the notifications about his career advancement and new skills.
[Your "Mechanical Heart" profession has advanced to: Mechanical Warlord!]
[Due to this career change, some of your skills have also advanced.]
[You have unlocked new system functions.]
[You have unlocked new skills.]
[You have unlocked space-based weapon technology.]
"!!!"
Noticing a prompt in his mind, Li Lin's breath caught for a moment, and he was instantly filled with excitement.
The term "space-based weapons" was familiar to him. Before his transmigration, he had encountered similar concepts in many science fiction works.
Space-based weapons are a new class of weaponry, launched from planetary orbit platforms to deliver comprehensive, all-angle strikes or ultra-long-range precision support to the surface.
Typically, such weapons are mounted on artificial satellites but can also be deployed on lunar bases or specialized space battleships.
If their power reaches a sufficient level, they can even easily destroy an entire planet.
For instance, in the world view of Arad Continent, he was familiar with the satellite beams used by the Celestial Gunner, and the Star Destroyer-class superweapon Titan from the game "Stars."
Excited, he temporarily ignored other advancement skill notifications and immediately checked the panel description for space-based weapon technology.
[Orbital Satellite Laser: Unlocks a special artificial satellite—space-based laser satellite, capable of firing a movable, annihilating spinning laser beam at specified coordinates. Duration and cooldown time depend on the type of laser fired.]
[Prerequisites: Mechanical Warlord profession, Level 60, Matter Disintegration Cannon, Energy Particle Laser Spear.]
...
[Orbital Gigaton Cannon: Unlocks a special artificial satellite—space-based kinetic projection satellite, capable of firing a gigaton-level annihilating cannonball at specified coordinates after 10 minutes of charging. More powerful than the Gigaton Cannon (Cooldown: 30 minutes).]
[Prerequisites: Mechanical Warlord profession, Level 60, Gigaton Cannon.]
From the brief descriptions and his existing knowledge, Li Lin realized that each space-based weapon had its advantages and drawbacks.
The space-based laser satellite does not require charging and can quickly strike moving targets. However, the laser emission device requires a lengthy cooldown, and the recharge time can be quite long.
For instance, using the Energy Particle Laser Spear requires a full 12 hours before the satellite can be reused.
If using the more powerful Matter Disintegration Laser, the time between shots can be as long as 3 days!
On the other hand, the space-based kinetic projection satellite is limited by its charging speed and delivery method, making it suitable only for pinpoint strikes, not for targeting moving objects.
However, it boasts a very short cooldown time, needing only about 30 minutes before it can be used again, provided the satellite is equipped with sufficient specialized ammunition.
If Li Lin wished, he could even install a fusion strategic missile on this space-based satellite.
With these two satellites, Li Lin could easily obliterate entire nations, including Shurima, with the exception of the Sun Disc.
Of course, Mount Targon does not count as a nation; it serves as a conduit between Runeterra and the Celestial Realm, guarded by the sentinels dispatched to the peak.
Li Lin was not arrogant enough to believe he could challenge such a place, watched over and assembled by numerous deities.
Moreover, weapons charged and fired from outer space would be perceived by those nations as "divine punishment."
Learning these two new technologies did not require spending skill points, but each skill did cost 1,000 orange essence.
Li Lin had exactly 2,000 orange essence available and, with no immediate need elsewhere, he unlocked both space-based weapons without hesitation.
Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he then turned his attention to other skills.
With his career advancement to "Mechanical Warlord," Li Lin found that many of his skills had advanced, and he had also unlocked new skills that were previously unavailable.
In addition to learning the "Targeted Evolution" technology for enhancing non-human species through gene elevation, new schematics were added to his invention and combat skill sets:
[Mini Floating Mechanical Assistant: Creates mechanical constructs using 3D printing technology, with the quality of the production device related to the "Refined Manufacturing" skill.]
[Unmanned Floating Carrier: An aerospace carrier that can accommodate 100 combat drones and store materials to produce drones on demand (current production efficiency: 47 seconds per unit).]
Li Lin currently had 27 skill points, and these three new skills required a total of 6 points.
After learning the new skills, he began to review the skills that accompanied his career advancement.
[Grandmaster Craftsman (formerly Master Craftsman): Increases personal mechanical crafting speed by 300%, and raises the chance of producing epic quality items by 30%.]
[Mechanical Mastery lv13 (formerly Mechanical Proficiency): Enhances learning speed for mechanical knowledge by 510%, with a 13% chance to acquire epic quality blueprints.]
[Creator lv13 (formerly Mechanical Affinity): Increases affinity for mechanical constructs (boosting their damage), and enhances mechanical crafting speed by 460%.]
[Mechanical Precision lv20 (formerly Mechanical Refinement): Consumes mana and mechanical materials to upgrade mechanical devices, guaranteeing the creation of divine quality constructs.]
Besides the neural network connection, Li Lin had only learned Level 1 of "Human-Machine Integration" in the mechanical modification branch. This ability allows him to temporarily merge his personal life with mechanical constructs, with 15% of any damage to his physical body transferred to the mechanical constructs first.
However, due to limited skill points and Li Lin's lack of threats, he had never used this skill.
Even now, he did not wish to spend skill points on skills that were of little use to him.
Next, he checked the final prompt on the system panel, a new feature that hadn't been unlocked for quite some time!
[Equipment Enchantment: Allows you to spend corresponding orange essences to enchant mechanical constructs with effects from the "Essence Shop" based on their quality.]
[Refined Quality 1 Item (200 orange essences), Rare Quality 2 Items (500 orange essences each), Legendary Quality 3 Items (800 orange essences each), Epic Quality 4 Items (1500 orange essences each).]
Seeing this, Li Lin was left speechless.
This new system feature was akin to a game mechanic where "heroes" could enhance their equipment with attributes without displaying the equipment's "appearance."
In "League of Legends," such a feature was constrained by technical and game design limits and couldn't be realized.
But in reality, this was a definite "benefit" feature!
In the [Essence Shop], Li Lin had numerous coveted but unused pieces of equipment.
With this new system feature, particularly with expensive epic quality gear with special attributes, he could imbue these effects into mechanical constructs.
In this way, his armor would showcase the effects of those items with the system's support!
However, the cost of this enchantment was currently beyond Li Lin's means...
After reviewing the changes in skills and the new system feature, Li Lin closed the system panel and refocused his attention on the matter at hand.
"Bring me the latest production line logs."
[As you wish, Master.]
Moments later, the logs recorded by the AI projected before Li Lin.
He glanced through them briefly and soon determined the next steps for his mechanical factory.
With his career now advanced to Mechanical War God, the demand for battlefield mechs was no longer as high as before. However, due to the looming threat of the Void Empress Bel'veth in a year, production in related military fields must continue.
Li Lin instructed the AI-adjusted production lines to resume normal operation and agreed to sign a new contract to sell a portion of outdated mechanical constructs to ensure the smooth operation of the funding chain.
This process was intricate and complex, with any misstep potentially resulting in significant losses.
While the AI arranged and researched based on simulated data, Li Lin still needed to oversee the details to avoid discrepancies between the AI's mechanical logic and human logic that could lead to specific errors.
After spending several hours on these fundamental tasks, just as he was about to relax, a knock echoed on the door. Outside, Albrecht's familiar voice rang out:
"Lord Li, His Highness the Prince and Lord Buvelle wish to see you."
(End of Chapter)
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