199: Chapter 0199 Expanding Production

Mark said in a low voice. The two apprentices beside him nodded, preparing to cooperate with him.

Just then, a "swoosh, swoosh" sound came from overhead. Mark looked up, only seeing a few silver shadows flash by.

The next second, the Magic Monster's head exploded like a crushed watermelon, splashing dark green blood everywhere.

"It's him again!"

Mark angrily hammered the tree trunk, sending bark fragments flying:

"The Magic Monster we worked so hard to find was snatched away by Li Size's drones again!"

Liliya, the female apprentice beside him, whispered:

"Captain, let's just go back to an area without drones..."

"We simply can't compete with his drones. There are too many of them, they are everywhere..."

The other apprentice, Tom, said desperately:

"Yeah... We searched for an hour just to find this one Magic Monster, and it was snatched before we could even attack. If this continues, our points won't be enough to stay in the safe zone..."

Mark looked at Li Size's points on the leaderboard increasing by another 100 points and sighed helplessly:

"Fine... Let's go back."

The three left dejectedly, their retreating figures looking particularly desolate in the forest.

On the west slope of the forest, a pair of apprentice lovers were hiding behind a tree, observing a Zero Ring mid-level Magic Monster.

The girl was named Amy, and the boy was named Jack. They were childhood sweethearts participating in the Grand Examination together.

Just as Jack was about to cast Ice Arrow Spell, he suddenly heard a "da da da" sound, and the Magic Monster was instantly riddled with holes.

Amy looked up and only saw a silver drone circling overhead once before flying away.

"Jack... our points..."

Amy's voice was on the verge of tears:

"If this keeps up, we're going to be kicked out of the safe zone..."

Jack tightly held Amy's hand and comforted her:

"Don't worry... Let's search some more... Maybe we can find a straggler..."

But his eyes were filled with despair—the forest was full of drones; there were no stragglers at all.

Four hours later, the number of Li Size's drones reached 900!

The leaderboard in the square refreshed again—his point growth rate reached over 100 points per second!

The crowd instantly quieted down, then erupted in deafening cheers.

"100 points per second! Faster than Barmont!"

"Li Size is about to overtake him!"

"We have hope!"

The examinees and mentors who had bet on Barmont's victory turned pale, looking as if they had lost their parents.

A mentor trembled and said:

"How is this possible... Barmont's necromantic servants are already at 840, how could he still be surpassed?"

Another examinee collapsed onto the ground, clutching his head:

"My points... all gone... I bet all my points on Barmont..."

On the high platform, Kallen von Hohenzollern looked at the leaderboard, his brow deeply furrowed.

Director Black beside him asked:

"Lord Kallen, what do you think? Li Size's point growth rate is too fast... Over 100 points per second, this is simply not achievable by a normal Wizard Apprentice."

Kallen sighed:

"I previously thought no one in the Southwest Region could compare to Barmont... Now it seems I was wrong. Li Size's Mechanical Alchemy items can actually reach this scale... An army of drones, a silver net of hunting... I no longer understand these ideas."

His eyes were filled with surprise and gratification:

"The new generation surpasses the old... These young people have a promising future."

Director Black from the Monte Province Department of Education nodded in agreement:

"Indeed... Li Size's Mechanical Alchemy technology has surpassed our understanding. If he can maintain this speed, he will soon surpass Barmont."

Li Size's points climbed at a rate of over 100 points per second, getting closer and closer to Barmont's 100,000 points.

The entire city was ignited; everyone stared at the leaderboard, anticipating the moment Li Size would overtake him.

The crowd in the square cheered excitedly, and the mentors also showed relieved smiles, while those who bet on Barmont's victory sank into despair.

Li Size sat in his Laboratory, calmly watching the control panel screen. The drone army was still growing, and the silver hunting net had already covered the entire forest.

The points on the square's leaderboard jumped faster and faster. Li Size's points were already close to 90,000, only one step away from Barmont's 100,000 points.

Everyone held their breath, staring at the jumping numbers, anticipating the historic moment.

Kallen von Hohenzollern stood on the high platform, hands behind his back, his eyes full of anticipation.

He knew this Grand Examination was no longer just a competition for points; it was a clash between two magical systems—the traditional Necromancy versus the emerging Mechanical Alchemy.

And Li Size was using his wisdom and technology to write a new chapter in the Wizard World.

Sunlight spilled onto the city square, and the number on the leaderboard finally jumped above 100,000 points!

Li Size's points surpassed Barmont's, making him the first place in the Grand Examination!

The square erupted in deafening cheers. Examinees embraced each other, and mentors also showed relieved smiles.

Li Size sat in his Laboratory, looking at the control panel screen, a faint smile playing on his lips—he knew this was just the beginning; his path of Mechanical Alchemy had just set sail.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the edge of the forest. Barmont sat cross-legged under a withered tree, his black robe fluttering in the wind.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his eyes tightly shut, but his lips were pursed, revealing a trace of unwillingness.

On the leaderboard, Li Size's points had quietly surpassed his—150,000 to 140,000.

Barmont suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of madness flashing in his pupils:

"Li Size, you won't defeat me!"

He formed hand seals and silently recited an obscure incantation. The 'Dark Night Meditation Method,' the Family Legacy, instantly operated at its peak.

Pale purple Demonic Energy overflowed from his seven orifices, enveloping his body like smoke.

"Meditation Method Special Effect—Mental Burst!"

Barmont roared, and his Mental Energy instantly doubled. The consciousness that could originally only control 840 necromantic servants was forcibly expanded to its limit.

He felt a tearing pain in his mind, but he gritted his teeth and persisted, pointing his finger deep into the forest:

"Go, my servants! Bring back every Magic Monster!"

In the forest, the previously stationary necromantic servants suddenly moved.

The legion composed of 840 Zero Ring high-level Magic Monster corpses surged toward the depths of the forest like a black tide.

The bone spurs of the Magic Wolves flashed with cold light, and the scales of the Magic Snakes glowed faintly. Every servant exuded a chilling Death Qi.

They tore apart all the Magic Monsters along the way, and the corpses were then converted into new servants by Barmont's Mental Energy—soon, the number of necromantic servants reached 1,680, forming a terrifying undead army.

On the points panel, Barmont's points began to jump wildly.

Dozens of Magic Monsters were killed every second, and his points rose at a rate of over 150 per second.

Late into the night of the sixth day, his points had broken 300,000, far exceeding Li Size's 280,000.

In the city square, the examinees gathered in front of the leaderboard, letting out a gasp, but soon returned to silence.

"He overtook him again..."

Someone muttered, "How long is this going to go on?"

A mentor shook his head and sighed:

"Barmont's undead legion has reached its limit, but Li Size's drones are still increasing... The outcome is really hard to say."

In the early morning of the seventh day, the city was still shrouded in mist.

The leaderboard in the square suddenly refreshed. Barmont's points stabilized at 320,000, while Li Size's points were 310,000.

"He overtook him again! Barmont overtook him again!"

Someone shouted, but there wasn't much surprise in the voice.

Everyone had grown numb to these dramatic changes, just staring at the rankings, their eyes filled with anxiety.

"I just want to know who wins in the end..."

An examinee said tiredly, "This exam is driving me crazy."

Barmont stood deep in the forest, his face as pale as paper.

His Mental Energy was already overdrawn, and the blood overflowing from his lips stained the crest on his chest.

"Li Size... How much longer can you last?"

He muttered to himself, despair flashing in his eyes.

1,680 necromantic servants were already his limit; he couldn't increase them any further.

And Li Size's drone count was still soaring—he could feel the silver dots in the forest growing more numerous, covering the entire sky like scattered stars.

In Li Size's Laboratory, the sorcery machine tool was still running.

He looked at the drone count on the control panel screen—it had already broken 2,000 units.

"Barmont has reached his limit, but I haven't even started exerting my full strength yet."

Li Size smiled faintly, his fingers tapping quickly on the keyboard:

"Continue production, target 4,000 units!"

The machine tools hummed, and more drones slid out of the Forging cabins, ascending one by one from the porthole, joining the silver ocean in the forest.

On the night of the seventh day, the starry sky was brilliant.

In the forest, the silver ocean composed of 4,000 drones covered the entire sky.

Every drone shimmered with the light of mithril silver. The Sorcery Recording modules captured the traces of Magic Monsters, while sniper cannons and machine guns fired alternately.

The roars of the Magic Monsters had almost disappeared, leaving only the humming of the drones and the whistling of bullets.

A Zero Ring high-level Magic Leopard poked its head out of its cave, only to be hit by dozens of armor-piercing rounds and instantly reduced to fragments.

On the points panel, Li Size's points jumped at a rate of over 300 per second.

Soon, his points broke 700,000, while Barmont's points remained stuck at 300,000, with no chance of surpassing him again.

In the square, the examinees finally erupted.

"Li Size has definitely won!"

Someone cheered, "4,000 drones, this is something no human can fight against!"

The examinees who bet on Barmont's victory slumped on the ground, their faces as pale as paper.

"My points... all gone..."

An examinee cried out in despair, "I bet all my savings on Barmont!"

Kallen von Hohenzollern stood on the high platform, looking at the silver ocean in the forest, his eyes filled with amazement.

"4,000 drones..."

He murmured, "This is no longer Mechanical Alchemy; these are war machines. Li Size's talent will likely shock the entire Crimson Soul Duchy."

Director Black nodded in agreement:

"The title of the number one Genius in the Southwest Region belongs to him, no doubt. Although Barmont is outstanding, compared to Li Size, he is still a bit lacking."

Li Size looked at the points on the control panel screen—it had already broken 700,000.

He stopped the machine tool, a smile playing on his lips.

"The points are no longer in doubt. The remaining time should be spent doing what I originally intended to do."