The Golem Mage

Chapter 1243: Great Lord Alec Gordons (Tier 7) [3].

If Alec had decided to create the innate runes manually using his own mana via the conventional method it would have taken Alec months, leaving him stuck as a Quasi Tier 7 mage during that period until the merging was complete.

This delay is precisely why mages often isolate themselves in seclusion for years; as any disruption to the rune-forming process can set their progress back significantly.

And had Alec chosen the standard route of merging the innate spells together through his mental power, his speed would have definitely surpassed that of a typical Tier 6 mage, considering he had a mental strength that rival Tier 7 mage prior before he even began the breakthrough.

The thing is that most average Tier 6 mages only reach around one hundred mental points or slightly below before even attempting a breakthrough to Tier 7, which serves as the established benchmark for them.

However, as an anomaly, Alec was not bound by such standards, if he wanted with abundance of cultivation pills and mental pills at his disposal that he could have easily relied on them during the merging process and wouldn’t have to burn into his foundations, he literally did not have to follow any of those conventional paths.

Instead, Alec had chosen a far riskier path, he had harnessed the tribulation thunder itself to accelerate the process, making it over ten times faster than the conventional method.

He formed six new innate spell runes representing his lightning affinity and initiated the fusion with his other spell runes. When the process concluded, a single massive rune array remained in place of the individual components.

This grand structure contained numerous intricate smaller runes, a standard Tier 7 mages with a single elemental affinity typically possessed a High-rank innate spell array supported by six smaller runes.

Those exceptional enough to hold two elemental affinities could manifest at least twelve supporting runes. Alec, however, possessed three elemental affinities, yielding eighteen smaller runes.

This High-rank spell rune array formed directly in the center of his spiritual world, floating beneath his radiant, unclad astral form like a vast magic circle.

As massive surge of energy suddenly erupted from the array, flooding into his astral body within the spiritual realm. In that instant, Alec felt his mental power expand so violently and rapidly that it felt as though his mind was on the brink of exploding.

Simultaneously, a bountiful wave of energy surged from his Devourer bloodline, as Alec felt his skin peel away, immediately being replaced by newly regenerated tissue.

It was at this moment that he recalled a widely talked about tale: for those on pure magic paths, or disciplines heavily reliant on magic, reaching the high-rank realm would bring a qualitative shift centered primarily on their mental energy.

This transformation elevates their mana control to an entirely new tier, built upon their prior mastery.

Conversely, for mages who walk paths defined by bloodlines or martial combat, their high-rank breakthrough manifests as a quantitative surge focused on strengthening their physical bodies.

Because Alec embodied both disciplines, he was subjected to the simultaneous baptism of both paths. Though the process lasted only a few minutes, to Alec, it felt like an eternity.

His Divine weapon, the Blood Changdao, had undergone a profound transformation after absorbing the heavenly tribulation thunder on its master’s behalf, and also fully advancing to the next level.

Even without opening its status, Alec was certain that new attributes had emerged on it simply from looking at its now altered form, the blade also to directly transmit details of its newly acquired abilities to him, resembling a young child eagerly seeking approval and praise from its parent, at this point Alec didn’t even doubt again that his weapon had awakened an ego.

However he was more eager to inspect the changes within himself so he planned to check on his weapon later, Alec then whispers, “Status window.”

[ Status ]

Name: Alec Gordons

Race: High Rank Human

Tier: 7 [Low]

Next Tier Advancement: 1%

[ Attributes ]

Physical Strength: 1,500

Mental Strength: 300

[ Elemental Affinities ]

Earth Manipulation IV

• Gravity Control, Sand Control, Tremor Control, Seismic Control

Fire Manipulation IV

• Magma Control, Black Ashes, Flame Phasing, Magma Control (Awakened via Earth Affinity Link)

Lightning Manipulation III

• Paralysis Control, Lightning Imprint, Blood Lightning

[ Special Abilities ]

Devourer Beast Bloodline (3/7) – Quasi-Mid

[ Skills & Proficiencies ]

Advanced Swordsmanship (Max)

Advanced Blade Techniques (Max)

Advanced Scythe Techniques (Max)

Golem Skill Assimilation (--)

[ Point Balances ]

Available Points: 50

System Points: 1,876,679

Alec observed the sweeping transformations across his status window with astonishment. Most notably, was his specialized physical traits stats, they all seem to have been consolidated into a single physical strength attribute, though he could still sense that his speed remained his strongest attribute.

Also the traditional numerical leveling system was gone, replaced instead by a direct measure of progress toward the next realm, while he still retained unassigned attribute points, a glance at the newly unlocked elemental controls filled him with a surge of pride.

In his current realm, he was no longer bound strictly to rigid spells, even his raw physical might alone felt capable of devastating numerous high-ranking mages, and he could feel every sub-control enhancing significantly to match his advanced manipulation tier.

“System spirit,” Alec remarked, turning toward a shadow in the corner, “isn’t a mage supposed to endure a period of vulnerability lasting hours or days following a breakthrough? And doesn’t the speed of their recovery reflect their true inherent potential?”

The system spirit’s golem body stepped out from behind the pillar, as a guide and construct bound to the system’s host, its primary duty was to safeguard Alec—and though it did always avoid combat, it had still appeared specifically to protect him during his breakthrough.

Now that Alec had successfully broken through, and his loose mental energy seems to have been strengthened it had brought about a newly created mental energy barrier around him.

Which made the system spirit realized that it could no longer bypass Alec’s mental perception to conceal itself near him as it usually did.

“It is quite simple, your foundation far exceeds what is required to reach the Tier 7 realm. With such a robust foundation, it is only natural that you bypass the weakened phase entirely.” the system spirit explained.

“The weakened phase only affects those who had to burn through their potential just to reach the high-rank realm, mages who awaken earlier demonstrate that their potential remains intact, allowing some of them to push forward to Tier 8 upon reaching the peak of the Tier 7 realm. Conversely, those who require an extended period to recover from their breakthrough have likely exhausted their potential, rendering them unable to ever advance beyond Tier 7.”

“Such limitations do not apply to someone like you who has already satisfied both the physical and mental requirements. You were effectively a Quasi Tier 7 mage prior to your breakthrough.”

“And to the heavenly tribulation, which inherently envies true talent, your breakthrough was viewed merely as a quantitative progression rather than a qualitative jump. Because it already regarded you as a Tier 7 mage, the initial punishment inflicted by the tribulation was far more severe than what a peak Tier 6 mage would normally face.” The system spirit patiently detailed the process to Alec, who rested a hand thoughtfully on his chin.

With a clearer understanding of his newfound state, Alec was left with a single pressing desire, finding a suitable target to unleash the intoxicating power surging within him.

Just then, he sensed invaders encroaching upon the palace grounds. Realizing he was still unclothed, he sent a quick voice transmission to the Hive Queen standing guard at the entrance, instructing her to stall them so he could use the intruders as his initial test subjects while he rummaged through his space ring for suitable clothes.