A yellow magic circle rose beneath Number Zero's feet, and the outer layer of its body began to peel away bit by bit.
Then, the pile of materials heaped on the ground began to merge into Number Zero's body, gradually replacing its original components.
“Let's see if this technique is actually effective.”
Li Xiuman took out the fire lizardman king's magic stone and stuffed it into Number Zero's chest.
“Golem Core Creation!”
A small magic circle unfolded over Number Zero's chest, allowing the magic stone to merge bit by bit into the golem's chest cavity.
This was merely a surface-level technique Li Xiuman had learned from studying Golem Cores.
Using magic stones to craft Golem Cores could prolong a golem's operational lifespan.
As for installing a Golem Core inside Number Zero to allow it to exist indefinitely like an Ore Beast...
That was not as simple as removing and replacing a battery.
To successfully install a Golem Core inside a golem, one had to thoroughly research and comprehend the core itself.
At present, Li Xiuman had only scratched the surface. Golem Cores were not a single bit simpler than Magic Models.
As the magic stone fused into Number Zero's chest, a faint red light began to emanate from its body.
The mana inside the magic stone slowly trickled out and was absorbed by Number Zero, serving to sustain its bodily functions.
Li Xiuman took out 《The Skeleton's Magic Book》 and carefully recorded the changes.
This was, after all, precious research data.
Only when Number Zero's rough skeletal structure was completely finished did the magic circle gradually fade away.
Li Xiuman looked at Number Zero, whose physique had undergone a massive change, and nodded in satisfaction.
The Number Zero before him had shrunk to a height of 1.8 meters, and its build had returned to the proportions of a normal human.
Its body, constructed of rock and metal, was exposed to the air.
It looked just like a robot.
Its eyes were composed of Nine-Angled Fire Crystals, while the outermost layer of its body consisted of hardened rock and magic steel.
Those few precious pieces of Red-Faced Square Gold formed the skeletal framework of its hands, enabling Number Zero to instantaneously cast Fire Magic.
Molten refined iron filled its entire interior, allowing Number Zero to enter a blazing form at any moment.
[Name] Number Zero Li
[Race] Golem
[Level] Lv. 23
[Class] Golem
[Skills] Rock Manipulation Lv. 3, Fire Magic Lv. 3, Earth Magic Lv. 3, Hard Rock Lv. 3, Resilience Lv. 3, Great Strength Lv. 3, Swordsmanship Lv. 2, Close Combat Lv. 2, Swiftness Lv. 1, Quiet Steps Lv. 1, Flame Devour Lv. 1
[Status] Decay
[Description] An exceptionally exquisite golem created by the Mage Xiuman Pound Li. An indestructible combat machine capable of using Fire Magic and Earth Magic. Employs a special golem crafting technique with embedded magic stones, expected to last for another six months before collapsing.
Its level was only one level lower than Li Xiuman's.
Judging by this skill set, it could likely battle Mages or Swordsmen within Tier 2, all the way up to Lv. 30.
It was currently the pinnacle masterpiece of Li Xiuman's golem crafting technique.
“Should I give it a humanoid appearance...?”
Li Xiuman stared at Number Zero.
Right now, Number Zero looked entirely like a golem. Should he craft a layer of bio-mimetic skin for its exterior?
Materials similar to silicone likely existed in this world.
No, silicone was too weak.
It would be best if he could find a type of rock that resembled skin.
Besides, if he were to truly give it a humanoid appearance, Li Xiuman would definitely make Number Zero female.
He would design her to look exactly like his favorite type.
He had already planned to use Number Zero as a long-term bodyguard.
In that case, it would obviously be better if she were easy on the eyes.
He was already getting excited just thinking about it.
Li Xiuman began searching his mind for stone materials that resembled flesh.
Ideally, it should be a highly durable magic material, which could then also double as the outermost armor.
Even better, it would be a material that adjusted its hardness dynamically—becoming soft or hard as needed.
...
Number Zero remained standing silently on the side, quietly watching the design blueprints Li Xiuman was drafting for its body.
Its current level of intelligence was far from capable of comprehending its master's devious intentions.
After finishing the design for Number Zero, he took a nap.
Then, he spent another three days and three nights studying magic without sleep or rest.
It was not until the night of the third day that a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest.
Li Xiuman almost thought he was going to drop dead from overwork, but as he clutched his chest, he suddenly remembered.
He was already dead. He couldn't die of overwork.
Looking down at his chest, he realized that his Rib Sword was the culprit.
By now, the Rib Sword had finally absorbed all the death energy within his body, and its pristine white surface was now wrapped in black patterns.
The black patterns intertwined with the original red ones, giving off an extremely ominous aura.
[Skeleton's Death Rib Sword] A magical item accidentally formed from a rib inside a Dragon-Blooded Skeleton, possessing the power to devour. Tempered by death energy, it has been tainted with an ominous aura. It devours life energy when slaying foes, granting an additional +10% kill experience, and reducing elemental damage taken by 10%. Wounds inflicted by it cannot heal. Attacks apply a Death Mark; accumulating five stacks of Death Mark inflicts Death Awe, dealing damage to the soul. Death Shield: Deploys a shield of death energy.
Quality: Purple.
“...Is this... my bone sword?”
Li Xiuman stared at the Rib Sword's description, utterly incredulous.
Its quality had jumped by two tiers in one go!
Purple Quality!
It was now the most valuable thing on him!
That death energy had actually nourished his Rib Sword enough to make it leap two tiers.
Li Xiuman pulled out his rib.
The rib elongated bit by bit, transforming into an exquisite bone sword.
Deep black and bright red patterns ran along both edges of the bone blade, weaving upward and intertwining at the crossguard, where a section of bone split off and connected to the pommel to form a curved handguard.
The original Rib Sword did not have this handguard.
Of course, Li Xiuman could also actively control the Rib Sword to grow such a handguard.
But this time was different. The bone handguard had formed naturally the moment he withdrew the Rib Sword.
Li Xiuman speculated that this handguard had developed because the Rib Sword now possessed a defensive skill called [Death Shield].
Li Xiuman gave it a few trial swings and found it exceptionally comfortable to wield.
After all, it was his own rib; it felt completely natural and handled beautifully.
“Number Zero, cross swords with me at once!”
Li Xiuman retrieved a sword belonging to some forgotten, unfortunate soul from his storage space and tossed it to Number Zero.
The skeleton and the golem then made their way to the small courtyard and began to duel.
This reminded Li Xiuman of the times he used to practice swordsmanship here with Ilu.
The only difference was that back then, Ilu would utterly dominate him, whereas now, he and Number Zero were evenly matched.
After all, Number Zero's [Swordsmanship] skill had been copied one-to-one directly from him.
Since they shared the exact same teacher, neither could break the other's moves!
Realizing that sparring with Number Zero was nothing more than fighting himself, Li Xiuman called off the duel.
By now, all of the death energy had been entirely purged from his body.
It was time to pack his things and head to Iron River City to forge the Red Dragon Alloy as a return gift for Ilu.
Rate on N.U.
