Chapter 212 - 177: The Second Earth Ring, Thousand-Change Mimic Evolution Tree

[Giant Devouring Current Layer Number: 13,680]

[Physical Enhancement Coefficient: 13.680]

[Heart Steel Goliath Giant - Current Permanent Physique Enhancement: 39%]

[Interlude Event · Part Two, complete.]

[The admonition of your Emperor’s Shield Tutor, Geoffroy, still echoes in your ears to this day: A powerful Physique and Spiritual Power are the very foundation of a Knight’s Power.

Warlord Nico is a living testament to the fate of those who over-rely on Secret Treasures and Divine Artifacts.

His formulaic attack patterns made him nothing more than a ridiculous, posturing clown in the eyes of a true expert.]

[Therefore, deciding what to do with the Ancient Black Box was not a difficult choice for you. This damaged Divine Artifact, which contains records of Ancient Sorcery Technology, would realize its greatest value in the hands of the Imperial Administrative Region and the Mechanical Order.]

[You have obtained a Wizard’s Secret Treasure: Mimic Evolution Body.]

[Mimic Evolution Body: A peculiar Witchcraft Creation that evolves and iterates alongside its host. Without any effort on your part, the Mimic Evolution Body will find the optimal solution to help you develop an independent Earth Ring.]

[Implanting Mimic Evolution Body...]

[Calculating optimal solution...]

[You have awakened a new Earth Ring: The Morphic Armor Mimic Evolution Tree. Learn in battle, evolve in battle.]

The system’s ethereal blue text flashed rapidly across Reinhardt’s vision.

At the same time, he could clearly feel something burrowing under his skin and attaching itself to his spinal cord. The sensation was like an ant crawling through a vein along his spine—a faint, ticklish, stinging pain.

Beyond that, Reinhardt could also sense his Extraordinary Armament, the Morphic Armor, undergoing some peculiar changes.

Then, a schematic of an evolution tree, glowing with a dark purple light, appeared before his eyes.

By default, the evolution tree had already activated two new Special Abilities: Living Bomb and Overload Drive.

[Living Bomb: These living weapons, which manifest on your shoulders, are a mimetic adaptation of Thermite Beam weaponry.

You can launch four Living Bombs in a single volley at the cost of a large amount of Knight Power. Each bomb possesses 80% of the destructive power of a Thermite Beam.]

[Overload Drive: These Micro-Aikacia Nozzles, which grow at your elbows, the backs of your knees, and your ankles, are a mimetic adaptation of the War Witch Skeleton Structure.

Propulsion from micro-energy streams makes your Body Technique Attacks more destructive, and their flexible vectoring capabilities allow you to execute incredible, physics-defying tactical maneuvers in mid-air.]

Until now, Reinhardt’s combat style and application of Knight Power had severely lacked any long-range options.

This was especially true in large-scale warfare.

When it came to killing efficiency, melee combat was far inferior to a missile barrage.

The Morphic Armor’s Living Bomb Special Ability perfectly shored up this deficiency in Reinhardt’s combat capabilities.

As for the Overload Drive Special Ability, the boost in power it provided for a Body Technique Knight like him was nothing short of monstrous! Mid-air vector changes, overwhelming offensive pressure, fine-tuning attack trajectories...

In actual combat, nearly every conceivable tactical application of this ability would have a surprisingly decisive, powerful effect.

Most importantly, his second Earth Ring, the Mimic Evolution Tree, had immense potential for future development, and the Mimic Evolution Body could iterate on its own.

This last point was especially crucial.

Meanwhile, Agate and Irenia both perceived the changes rippling through Reinhardt’s Extraordinary Armament, as he was still maintaining his Blood Fury and full Morphic Armor coverage.

They were both inwardly startled.

Changes like this in an Extraordinary Knight often signified an increase in power; it was highly probable that his Extraordinary Armament had just developed a new Earth Ring and Special Ability.

It was common knowledge that a Knight’s power could grow in the midst of battle.

But for Reinhardt to slay a Warlord one moment and immediately grasp something new from the experience the next... such combat talent was simply terrifying!

Even for Irenia—the woman who had been Eliza Hearn and had known Reinhardt years ago at Frostfire Fortress—it was hard to suppress her astonishment and the complex feelings welling within her.

She was astonished that the passionate young man from the Knight Training Camp possessed a Knight Talent far beyond what anyone could have imagined back then.

She felt a pang of nostalgia, recalling her naïve younger self who had once schemed to poach Reinhardt for her own family.

But fate, alas, is a crossroads leading to countless unknown futures. There was no turning back, and there were no "what ifs."

Although Reinhardt’s power had now reached the Two-star Earth Military Rank, his Physique still couldn’t sustain a full state of Bloodthirsty Madness for extended periods.

He could maintain it for two hours at most before his stamina would be irreversibly depleted. He would then enter a lengthy recovery period, during which his combat effectiveness would be drastically reduced.

If they didn’t leave Kemola soon, he and the Vengeance Angel Squad might be trapped here forever.

Still, Nico’s true strength was just as he’d suspected. The 550 stacks of Steel of the Heart he yielded were fewer than what a Three-star Earth Knight would provide.

The Tomb Treasure Vault had been nearly destroyed by his battle with Nico.

Under the dim light, Irenia stood before him. Her long hair swayed gently, as if a universe of stars spun eternally within its strands. Her emerald eyes had long since lost the innocent foolishness of her youth.

Reinhardt gazed down at her from his superior height.

Irenia met his gaze, her own eyes filled with wariness and apprehension, even a faint trace of fear.

Having spent years navigating the Wizard World, she no longer believed in childish fairy tales like nobility or trust. Among Transcendents, self-interest always reigned supreme.

Even though she had proactively shown goodwill by saving Agate’s life—all in an attempt to earn a chance from Reinhardt to leave Kemola and escape the control of Anatol and Florant—she knew deep down that her chances were slim.

Reinhardt was powerful enough to simply kill her after he was done using her; he had no need to honor some bullshit promise.

So, even as Irenia tentatively questioned Reinhardt, she was poised to flee at a moment’s notice.

「Meanwhile.」

After a brief moment of disorientation, the resurrected Agate gave a strained smile, his surgically altered face twisting unnaturally. He inwardly mocked himself for his self-pitying attitude.

Clutching the pendant and praying a moment ago had made him feel like a spineless coward, and the memory filled him with shame.

’Could a single Wizard’s Divine Artifact really change his faith and convictions?’

’Raphael battles Demons daily, his spirit enduring immense suffering, yet his faith in the Divine Emperor remains unwavering. He doesn’t even flinch. So what was there for him to resent?’

’Since I am alive, I will continue to fight for my beliefs! Until death!’