As the Great Wall Project neared its final stages, the completion of the orbital Star Fortress signified yet another milestone, with only its expansion modules remaining under construction. Li Lin's prerequisite tasks for career advancement had been fulfilled.
The requirement of producing over one million mechanical combat units with an average combat power exceeding 100 was accomplished more than three years ago. Today, Li Lin's mechanical army's production facilities have spread to nations across the globe, while the orbital dockyards of the Star Fortress continuously churn out machines to prepare for the apocalyptic crisis.
With foundational material-conversion technology in place, raw materials ceased to be an obstacle. Armies of millions of mechanical units, spanning countless variations, now stood ready for action.
Regarding the mechanical species, thanks to Turing's successful prototype, subsequent replication and production were straightforward. Even before the mechanical army was fully established, their numbers had long surpassed the required 10,000 threshold. Although there were minor issues, such as managing their coexistence with ordinary human citizens, these problems were easily resolved under the leadership of the AI and Turing.
The once-daunting challenge of achieving a "mechanical miracle" was now resolved with the completion of Runeterra's comprehensive defense system, the orbital Star Fortress, and the imposing Overlord Mecha.
Unlike his first and second career advancements—"Heart of Machines" and "God of Machines"—ascending to the title of "Creator of Machines" was a qualitative transformation. While his three primary active abilities remained unchanged, their effects were significantly enhanced. Additionally, all his passive skills merged into a singular, upgraded ability: "Machine Creator", which required no leveling and delivered unparalleled performance enhancements.
This career advancement not only elevated existing abilities but also introduced a sophisticated theoretical framework. Li Lin's long-coveted subspace and antimatter technologies were directly unlocked, presenting such a vast array of knowledge that even he felt overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of information.
With subspace theories now in hand, Li Lin corrected flaws in the hyperspace teleportation technology, enabling it to transport living beings instantaneously, a feat far superior to Hex Gates in terms of convenience. Moreover, subspace theories allowed him to collaborate with Heimerdinger to pioneer a rudimentary "dimensional storage" concept. Currently, Li Lin's mechanical creations could be stored in subdimensional space, ready to deploy via hyperspace portals. This process was not only twice as fast as conventional transportation but also eliminated the need for storage facilities.
As for antimatter technology, it addressed a subject Li Lin had previously explored with Piltover University. Though they had successfully captured antimatter through large hadron colliders, their theoretical understanding remained superficial. Armed with a complete antimatter technological framework, Li Lin was poised to develop stable antimatter weaponry, such as antimatter beams and missiles.
The Void, known for its ability to devour all matter, relied on energy to sustain its activities. During his confrontation with the Void Empress, Li Lin observed her Void Citadel absorbing energy from his laser weapons.
However, weapons composed of antimatter, which fundamentally contradicted the properties of ordinary matter, theoretically posed a natural countermeasure to the Void. Experiments with Void creatures were the next logical step in this endeavor.
In the realm of biotechnology, Li Lin unlocked advancements like "Mechanical Ascension" and "Genetic Ascension," enabling a fourth phase of body enhancement that shattered the 100-year human lifespan limit. Cells could now directly harness energy from sunlight. While this didn't result in a "biological field" akin to a superhero's powers, Li Lin's newly engineered genes granted him the ability to fly.
Coupled with his control over magnetism, his flight speed rivaled that of the third-generation Project Genesis Infinite Armor during its maiden ascent. If not for the lingering need for oxygen, Li Lin could have ventured beyond Runeterra's atmosphere.
The "Creator of Machines" marked a monumental leap forward. Armed with these advancements, Li Lin now had greater confidence in the impending apocalyptic battle.
---
Another Spring
At the Academy of War, Li Lin had just dealt with the reawakening of the Dark Sovereign, Syndra.
A sorceress of unparalleled magical talent, Syndra's raw magical power rivaled that of Ionia's spiritual leader, Karma. Decades ago, fearing Syndra's immense strength, the previous Karma mobilized Ionia's native forces to seal her within the Well of Living Waters on Feilor Island in the western Navori Province.
Even during the Noxian invasion, a Vastaya loyal to Noxus and guided by Soraka assumed the role of Syndra's warden, guarding her prison despite enduring decades of hardships.
As time passed, most Ionian people forgot about Syndra's existence. However, a few who remembered the legend attempted to eliminate the once-betrayed, hatred-filled sorceress. Their foolish actions only succeeded in releasing a mage whose anger threatened to annihilate Ionia.
To prevent Syndra, a rebellious "young girl" trapped in an adult's body, from destroying Ionia, Li Lin intervened.
Initially, he sought to negotiate with Syndra on equal terms, but she responded with an endless barrage of dark spheres, brimming with fury. Her hatred for her family, village, former mentor, and Karma had spread to encompass all of Ionia.
Syndra suspected that Li Lin, being Ionian, sought to manipulate her with lies. Since her release, she had vowed never to be controlled or trust anyone again.
While Syndra's magical talent surpassed any human in Runeterra, she remained human—no match for the divine in any sense. Li Lin didn't even need to personally act; his biomechanical weapon, the War Mecha Xerath, effortlessly overpowered her.
In less than half a day, Syndra was subdued. The Arcane Binding Rings placed around her neck, wrists, and ankles severed her connection to the spiritual realm, reducing her to the frightened girl she once was—betrayed and powerless.
Though Syndra posed a significant threat, Li Lin hesitated to seal her again. Unexpectedly, she broke into tears, her vulnerability clashing with her mature appearance, leaving Li Lin at a loss.
Thankfully, after venting her emotions, Syndra became willing to communicate. After careful consideration, Li Lin invited her to join the League of Legends. There, she would no longer face restrictions on her power and could even receive guidance from experts in magical theory. Syndra's only obligations were to follow the League's relatively lenient rules and assist during the Void's invasion of the world.
---
(End of Chapter)