Chapter 9: The Second Phase of the Plan

Under Carter’s careful revisions, the schematics for the Construct Lich grew increasingly sophisticated, and with his assistance, several prototypes were finally assembled. Outwardly, these prototypes scarcely differed from the Archmages of the Arcane Mechanism school, but beneath their robes of mystic cloth, their bodies were crafted from fine adamantine, granting them formidable close-combat prowess. Their surfaces were etched with countless layers of magical runes; as each rune was activated, the Construct Lich could wield the corresponding spell.

Moreover, spellbooks similar to those used by heroes and players were suspended behind each Construct Lich. Embedded sapphire gems within their bodies skillfully mimicked the fluctuations of gathered mana, enabling them to cast spells from these tomes.

The only significant departure from the usual Mechanical Mage blueprints was the Construct Lich’s internal power system. This ingenious design combined the superconductive systems of high-level mechanized creatures with the spiritual conduction arrays favored by the necromantic arts, allowing energy drawn from a minuscule power core to be distributed swiftly and efficiently throughout the Construct Lich’s form.

However, Li Bin did not participate in the creation of the most crucial element—the soul system—which Carter completed personally. Li Bin could only infer from the Construct Lich’s behavior that it utilized a virtual soul, a sophisticated construct akin to those found in advanced mechanized lifeforms.

The source of this virtual soul pointed directly to Carter himself, who had seldom shown himself during this period—a field of study he had long pursued in secret. Li Bin was not at all surprised that, at the final stage, Carter excluded him from the process. After all, this was Carter’s ultimate secret.

Yet, after the Construct Lich’s successful creation, Carter sent Li Bin the revised blueprints and documented the final assembly steps, gifting him ten thousand points of free experience. Not long afterward, the city of Uyada quietly exchanged hands—the new lord was none other than a Construct Lich bearing Carter’s likeness.

Seeing this outcome, Li Bin knew the plan had entered its second phase. Now all he could do was wait—for Damon to fulfill his promised conditions.

Five or six days passed before the great alarm atop Uyada’s highest tower was suddenly struck. Carter’s voice echoed throughout the city, reaching every hero and player:

“Enemies are attacking! Heroes and players wishing to join the defense, report to the barracks at once. Those not wishing to fight must leave the city immediately or remain inside their homes. Once the defense begins, anyone found in the streets will be deemed a traitor and executed on sight.”

Carter broadcast this message three times before the system’s prompt for faction selection appeared.

Forewarned of all this, Li Bin had already dispatched his subordinates, Ted and Gru, early that morning. When prompted, he chose the option to stay indoors and not participate.

Just before the battle commenced, a halfling player slipped into Li Bin’s armory. Li Bin immediately recognized him as Wu Xiang Lun Hui, the halfling rogue under Leon’s command.

He was one of the most crucial players in this plan. His unique skill, Treasure Hunter, allowed him to locate valuable artifacts within a certain range. Carter’s hidden phylactery qualified as such a treasure. Li Bin’s final plan was to strike at Carter’s newly forged phylactery at the most decisive moment of Carter and Leon’s battle, ending Carter’s reign in a single blow.

Wu Xiang Lun Hui had received detailed instructions from Leon beforehand. Upon entering Li Bin’s armory, he wasted no time in deploying his skill.

Li Bin, meanwhile, was wholly absorbed by the unfolding siege outside. Though he could not leave his house, he could still observe the events.

Beneath the walls of Uyada, Leon, whom Li Bin had once met, stood at the head of his great army, blockading the northern gate. Behind him stretched a massive formation: three battalions of human crusaders, two battalions of elven archers, four squads of gryphon riders, one battalion of ordinary knights, and two battalions of clerics.

Further back, Li Bin caught a glimpse of Damon’s forces, though at such a distance, he could not make out their composition.

On Carter’s side, he employed the standard hero tactic of using expendable troops. Large numbers of gargoyles, elementals, and golems, all controlled by players or lesser heroes, formed the bulk of his cannon fodder.

Carter’s main force consisted of three battalions of mages, two battalions of djinn, four squads of naga queens, a battalion of ordinary naga, and two battalions of the unique mechanical medics belonging to the Arcane Mechanism school.

As soon as Carter and his troops appeared atop the city walls, the djinn immediately began casting a myriad of empowering spells. A cascade of magical auras enveloped the expendable troops below. The commanding heroes and players of these troops had also received a system notification: whether they won or lost, as long as they spent their entire force, the experience and rewards would be distributed at once.

With this assurance, they charged forth, sending a surging tide of basic units towards Leon’s lines.

Faced with this suicidal assault, Leon’s expression remained unchanged. He did not employ expendable troops of his own but arrayed his three battalions of crusaders in triple ranks. With the skills “Last Stand” and “Hold the Line” activated, these crusaders became an immovable wall of steel, utterly unyielding before his formation.

The cannon fodder from Uyada could advance no farther than the crusaders’ shield wall before being scythed down by the rapid volleys of the elven archers in the rear.

From the city walls, Carter watched the battlefield coldly, never averting his gaze. Each time his expendable troops were wiped out, he would simply dispatch a fresh wave, showing no intention of committing his main force.

Suddenly, Carter seemed to notice something. He spoke slowly: “Since you’re here, you might as well come out. There’s no need to waste your top commanders as cannon fodder.”

“So you’ve spotted us already. Truly worthy of the name Dragonslayer Mage Carter,” Damon’s voice drifted in from afar. One after another, units began to appear beneath Uyada’s walls.

This force, composed of almost all the major units from both the Sanctuary and Elven factions, immediately drew the attention of everyone in Uyada. Among the great companies of high-level troops, the city’s inhabitants even glimpsed the shapes of one or two dragons.

Carter snorted coldly. The troops left inside the city were swiftly summoned to the walls, and he declared icily, “You’ve gathered the armies of every other city in the Duchy of Warner here. Aren’t you afraid our nation will seize the chance to attack your cities?”

“Afraid?” Damon laughed aloud. “Do you really think the Empire of Bialu would go to war with us for the sake of a disobedient city lord like you? You’ve already been abandoned by the Empire of Bialu…”