Chapter 949: Prisoners
The alchemical golem base in Radiance Fortress ran almost entirely on automation. But that masterpiece was the crowning achievement of a peak Ascendant—a force so powerful it siphoned Abyssal energy from the entire city, using the metropolis itself as a gigantic alchemical array.
The Gray Orc fortress could never match such extravagance. If they relied on magic crystals, they’d burn through them in no time. So, they had to use water power or other mechanical sources, which meant their water consumption was staggering.
Now that the fortress was sealed off, how could they dare to waste water so recklessly?
Circling the Gray Orc fortress, Leon quickly noticed that it was built atop a colossal slab of granite—cleverly preventing enemies from tunneling in underground. With those walls and anti-air towers, defense was hardly a concern.
But if that’s the case, there’s no way they’re tapping into groundwater. So where does their water come from?
Leon eyed the two converging rivers, a thought flickering in his mind. He approached the banks, scanning the flow with his magitech gear, which instantly began capturing vast streams of data about the water’s movement.
It didn’t take long before Leon spotted something odd in a nondescript stretch of river—the water volume dropped noticeably here, as if part of it was being diverted elsewhere.
Diving into the river, Leon found a concealed alchemical array. Its defenses were laughably weak—barely tougher than ordinary rock—but it perfectly masked the hidden passage beneath the stony riverbed.
Following the river’s course, Leon soon discovered thirteen passages. As expected, every single one led straight into the Gray Orc fortress.
No wonder these guys were so determined to hold out—they weren’t afraid of a long siege at all.
Leon pondered for a moment, then casually smashed two of the passages. He deployed a squad of alchemical golems to guard the riverbed, with another team probing for more.
Naturally, the Gray Orcs noticed. Two of their water intake points suddenly stopped flowing, and when they spotted the alchemical golems by the river, panic began to set in.
If all their fresh water channels were destroyed, they’d be trapped inside, unable to develop or even survive. In less than half a month, drinking water would become a luxury.
On the third day, Leon had the alchemical golems destroy another water channel. That was the last straw—the Gray Orcs couldn’t sit still any longer.
At night, hundreds of Monster Alchemical Golems slipped out of a side gate in the fortress, accompanied by dozens of bizarre-looking golems.
These humanoid alchemical golems stood six or seven meters tall, with huge transparent domes in their abdomens. Inside each dome sat a Gray Orc, piloting the Half-Golem as if operating machinery. Their movements were far more agile than those controlled by programming—if a fight broke out, their combat power would be on another level.
Leon’s side kept utterly quiet, not even lighting a campfire. He watched the Gray Orcs and Monster Alchemical Golems emerge under cover of darkness from afar.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Leon’s mouth.
“Go on, tear down those cannon-fodder golems, I don’t care. But don’t kill the Gray Orcs—anyone who can pilot a Half-Golem is at least a certified alchemist. That’s real talent. Capture a few, let a few escape...”
The Mage Legion and the Alchemical Golem Army waited in silence, until one of the riverbed golems was dismantled. Then, both legions rushed to the riverbank, feigning surprise as if they’d just discovered the breach.
Those cannon-fodder golems didn’t matter at all. After two charges from the Bladewalker Alchemical Golems, they were nothing but sitting targets.
But the dozens of Gray Orcs piloting Half-Golems put on a display of combat prowess that drew wary glances.
These Half-Golems lacked control systems and relied entirely on the Gray Orcs inside. Yet, despite all being Level-30 Alchemical Golems, dozens of Half-Golems only retreated under pressure from hundreds of Level-30 Bladewalker Golems—they were disadvantaged, but not overwhelmed.
The Half-Golems possessed a flexibility the regular golems lacked. In battle, they fought like seasoned warriors—under siege from multiple Bladewalker Golems, they could retreat and disable one attacker at the same time.
But once the Mage Legion joined the fray, everything changed abruptly.
The Half-Golems were designed for melee, but the Gray Orcs could cast spells from inside, using preset devices. Melee and magic, a Level-30 Half-Golem paired with a Level-30 Gray Orc could fight at the level of thirty-three or even thirty-five.
Watching from afar, Leon recalled a few records about these Half-Golems.
In the future, the rigidity of alchemical golems—and their inferiority to mages of the same rank—would become a recurring topic. The Half-Golem, an old invention, naturally drew attention.
By removing the control program and letting a mage operate the Half-Golem from inside, you got a fighter who could brawl and cast spells.
It was a good idea in theory, but in practice, it was too difficult. Making a mage fight like a warrior—even inside a Half-Golem—was less effective than letting the golem fight on its own. Trying to control the golem and cast spells at the same time split your focus, and you’d never match a true specialist.
Then, a Dragonblood Orc appeared. He could cast spells using innate runic magic—no need for chanting or rune formation like a mage—and he was a powerful warrior too.
Dragonblood Orcs were already formidable—few could match them at the same rank. Their bodies and warrior instincts were unmatched, and they could unleash spells instantly with their magic runes.
This particular Dragonblood Orc was only Fifth Ascendant, but after offending an Eighth Ascendant mage, he was hunted across more than a dozen planes before finally escaping.
(To be continued... Click next page for more!)
Years later, after nearly dying several times, that hunted Dragonblood Orc returned for revenge. Still Fifth Ascendant, but now piloting a Sky Rank Half-Golem.
That battle showed everyone just how terrifying a Half-Golem could be.
The Fifth Ascendant Dragonblood Orc piloted a Sixth Ascendant Half-Golem, and right from the start, he suppressed that Eighth Ascendant mage...
After ascending to Sky Rank, each level’s gap grew wider—rules of power came into play, and the smallest difference could mean life or death. The Dragonblood Orc was strong enough to fight a Sixth-Rank Sword Saint at Fifth Ascendant, but against the Eighth Ascendant mage, he was still hunted like a stray dog. If he hadn’t run fast, he’d have died countless times.
But with a Sixth Ascendant Half-Golem, he turned the tables and began hunting the Eighth Ascendant mage, chasing him across more than a dozen planes. In the end, it took a top powerhouse from a major faction to make the Dragonblood Orc back off...
Ever since, this supposedly worthless Half-Golem became the subject of intense research by countless factions.
The final verdict? Only races like the Dragonblood Orcs—warriors who can cast spells with runic magic—could truly unleash its potential, pushing their combat power beyond its limits.
The Gray Orcs piloting these Half-Golems were still a bit clumsy, clearly unable to tap into their full melee power. Even so, their strength exceeded their rank by three or four levels.
Leon glanced back at Hubert, a bit regretful. After his run-in with god-demon blood, all those runes on Hubert’s body had vanished, along with his spellcasting ability. Otherwise, giving him a Half-Golem would’ve boosted his combat power even further.
But with Hubert’s monstrous physique now, he didn’t need a Half-Golem at all. His terrifying strength and bizarrely tough body already surpassed any alchemical golem.
The combined pressure from the Mage Legion and Alchemical Golem Army quickly dismantled several Half-Golems piloted by Gray Orcs. Without their golem protection, the Gray Orcs were snatched up in seconds by the fearless Bladewalker Alchemical Golems.
After capturing more than thirty Gray Orcs, both legions pulled back, chasing the survivors toward the fortress. On the walls, the fortress’s giant cannon golems were already preparing spells...
Blinding flames lit up the night...
The Mage Legion and Alchemical Golem Army withdrew decisively. It looked as if Leon’s forces wanted to avoid a direct clash with the Gray Orcs, and even the escapees seemed perfectly staged.
There was no way the Gray Orcs could tell Leon had ordered the legions to go easy on them.
From the moment the Gray Orcs appeared, Leon, Reina, Anderson, and the Patchwork Golem never made a move. Hubert was strong, but without spellcasting ability, he wasn’t much use in this situation.
Leon sealed the Gray Orcs’ spellcasting, then handed them to William to be sent to Radiance Fortress for Lord Shaun.
Catching over thirty Gray Orcs so easily even made Leon smile.
Gray Orcs are physically weak. To pilot a Half-Golem, they must be deeply involved in its construction to understand every detail and operate it well.
After all, Gray Orcs almost never produce melee professionals...
So, the captured Gray Orcs were all at least past the Alchemical Apprentice stage.
Sure enough, there were over thirty alchemists—and one Grand Alchemist.
Most were ordinary alchemists, which satisfied Leon. The Gray Orcs’ reputation as alchemists wasn’t just about their numbers or high-level experts—it was their ability to cooperate!
Usually, alchemists have to work alone when crafting something. At best, others can help with materials, but the actual making must be done solo. Otherwise, conflicts are inevitable.