Chapter 408 - Traumatizing the Other Trialists

That night, in the university’s female dormitory, a girl with dark-brown hair wearing glasses and a set of robo-penguin pajamas was startled by what her mechanical assistant told her.

"Master, someone is challenging you for the rights to the Orange Sky Mechanical Research Institute. According to the rules, you must answer the challenge by 9:00 am tomorrow."

"Who is it? What a drag," Ji Xie said with a helpless expression. "Everyone strong enough to beat me should already have their own institute, so it shouldn’t be anyone worth paying attention to.”

"I’ve checked his student ID. He's a level 4 freshman. Since he's new, there’s no existing data on him or his familiars."

Ji Xie became even more dumbfounded. "Level 4?"

What a waste of my time.

"I’m not going. Send Thunderstrike Mecha to answer the challenge in my place tomorrow."

In her mechanical space, a tall, shiny white mecha with golden lightning patterns answered her command. “Yes, Master. I shall return victorious, no matter the enemy.”

***

Early morning the next day, Lu Ran sat cross-legged on his bed. He had trained through the entire night to transform his beastmaster space into a mechanical space using a method that he had found on the internet. In this age of technology, such basic information was included in the standard education curriculum.

The Treasure-grade Mind-Cleansing Fruit had permanently improved Lu Ran's comprehensionCaptain Doofus’s Absolute Comprehension trait and

Six-Path Flower’s Mortal Path also buffed him, putting him on the brink of success after only a few short hours.

"Six-Path Flower and #18 are duking it out."

In the ruin space, #18 was still working on the lightsaber in the Hell domain, while Six-Path Flower was looking a bit worn out. Six-Path Flower was really regretting its decision. Why did it sign itself up for more work? #18's endurance to time dilation was much higher than the other familiars. Mechanical and elemental lifeforms were both generally more resistant to the Time attribute, while plant and animal life tended to be more susceptible.

"Six Flower, how is #18's progress on the lightsaber?" Lu Ran asked.

He was ready to complete the challenge for the research institute. If it still wasn’t ready, then he would have to stop by a store to buy one.

"The Epic lightsaber isn’t ready yet, but during the practice runs, it made hundreds of Rare ones. You can take one to use for now."

Lu Ran nodded.

"Okay."

He finally had a handcrafted lightsaber!

Although Rare was a relatively low grade, it was still at least passable. Even if he were to go out and buy one, he would be hard pressed to find something of better quality.

Six Flower tossed him the lightsaber, which, in its inactive state, was just a hilt. It was made using materials that #18 had manufactured on its own using its species talent rather than ones from the pile that Lu Ran had provided.

[Species talent: Mechanical Production (Allows for the production of three thousand basic Mechanical materials.)]

The three thousand basic Mechanical materials ranged from Common to Rare, all widely available in the market. The talent existed solely for convenience's sake. It was a standard ability for most research-oriented Mechanical familiars, although the specific materials varied.

[Name: Aurora Sword]

[Grade: Rare]

[Description: Can absorb Light energy to create a blade of light.]

Lu Ran summoned Captain Doofus.

Woof?

Because the dorm room was so small, Captain Doofus couldn’t assume its true form. It used its innate abilities as an Overlord to shrink down to the size it was when Lu Ran first contracted it. While smaller, other aspects of its appearance remained unchanged, keeping its blue-and-white color scheme. If one could ignore the stupid look in its eyes, they could even mistake it for a majestic and domineering creature.

"Hold this." Lu Ran stuffed the Aurora Sword’s hilt into its mouth.

[Species: Sword Domain Dog]

[Attributes: Wind, Ice, Space]

[Species Rank: Intermediate Overlord (Superior Overlord)]

"Well, not bad. Your species rank is a little higher than that female student's familiar, and you're only eight levels behind. This is definitely going to be a tough fight, so you’ll have to give it your all. Don't let this turn into a rerun of Sudden Death King versus the Divine Wood Snake."

Woof!

Captain Doofus looked at him with disdain.

Do you not believe in my power? I will remember this grudge. I will cut down that mecha with my blade!

***

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

A little while later, a handsome college student was spotted walking his dog on campus. Captain Doofus actually had a great temperament for an Overlord creature. The majestic air about it made many people sneak pictures of it and look up what kind of dog it was.

I can’t see any of its information. What makes it so special?

Some tried to look into Captain Doofus with their mechanical assistance but failed to glean anything. Refusing to give up, a few students even pulled out energy scanners to try and determine Captain Doofus’s level. Too bad for them, it was highly proficient in energy control and was able to suppress its energy levels to a lower level. To most people, it was just a level 20 normal dog. For any real information, only the Eye of Detection was a reliable source.

"Damn, it's Senior Sister Ji's Thunderstrike Mecha."

A huge mecha shot through the air toward the arena. Lu Ran and Captain Doofus turned to follow the commotion.

"It looks like our opponent is here,” Lu Ran said.

Ji seemed to be very popular at the National Mechanical University. The Thunderstrike Mecha became the center of attention as soon as it appeared.

"Wait, I don’t see Senior Sister Ji on the mecha. Where is it going?"

"It looks like it’s heading for the arena."

"Oh yeah, someone is challenging her for the rights to the research institute she’s using. It’s almost 9 o'clock, so the challenge is about to start. I guess Senior Sister Ji is too busy, so she made her Thunderstrike Mecha answer the challenge on its own.”

"That's probably the case, but who's the challenger? Do they have a real shot? It won’t be some puppy-eyed secret admirer that just wants to get her attention with no chance of actually winning, right?"

"That must be it. Everyone strong enough already has their own research institutes, so they don’t need to challenge her."

Overhearing the surrounding discussions, Captain Doofus's pupils shrank.

What did he call me? I, an almighty Sword Domain Dog, am puppy-eyed?

Glaring at the crowd and the flying mecha, Captain Doofus once again silently remembered the grudge.

"Looks like the mechanic didn’t come personally, so it should be an easy win." Lu Ran petted Captain Doofus on the head. A mecha without a pilot was like a sword without a wielder.

***

Lu Ran arrived at the arena a few moments later. There were still a few minutes left until 9 o'clock, but the Thunderstrike Mecha was already standing on the stage like a stoic warrior awaiting its opponent.

A large crowd of students who were looking for some excitement to start their day surrounded the stage.

"Has the challenger arrived? Your name is Pedestrian A, correct?" a phone-shaped flying robot asked the crowd.

The robot was actually a regular appearance around the arena.

[Species: iReferee]

[Attribute: Mechanical]

[Species Rank: Superior King]

[Level: 70]

"Here we go." Hearing the referee call his name, Lu Ran led Captain Doofus through the crowd and ascended the stage.

"Who is that guy?"

"Never heard of him."

"He's not in the university’s top 100, so his ranking sucks. Case closed. He’s definitely a secret admirer."

"He really brought a dog?"

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, but Lu Ran and Captain Doofus could hear them clearly.

Will they give it a rest?

"Challenger confirmed. Pedestrian A has arrived."

Before the match started, Lu Ran made sure he didn’t break any rules. "Referee, I will use a mechanically enhanced familiar if that’s okay."

Captain Doofus stepped forward, and with a shake of its head, the lightsaber activated.

Pshew!

Ready for combat, the space swordsdog radiated sword energy as it locked onto the Thunderstrike Mecha across the stage.

The iReferee, the Thunderstrike Mecha, and the crowd were all confused.

"What the hell? Isn't that just a dog with a lightsaber? Does that qualify as a mechanical enhancement? Did he bribe his way into the university?"

"Even elementary school kids would think such an ‘enhancement’ is too cheap!"

As Lu Ran commanded Captain Doofus to prepare for battle, the crowd was in an uproar. They would have been a lot more accepting if Lu Ran put in a little more effort and at least put a suit of mechanical armor on the dog.

"It...

technically

qualifies..." The iReferee also thought that the mechanical enhancement was too basic, but it still met the minimum requirement of being mechanically armed.

"Good to know." Lu Ran laughed. "Then we are ready. Let's get started!"

Most of the students were confident that Pedestrian A was playing a prank on everyone. However, one of them had turned pale and began trembling.

"Hey man, you don't look so good. Are you okay? Do you want me to take you to the nurse?" his friend asked.

The pale student—a trialist from the Eagle Federation who had watched the Alliance Tournament—jumped when his friend grabbed his shoulder.

"That mecha is finished. It just had to be Pedestrian A..."

He had personally seen Lu Ran annihilate beastmasters of the first and second generations.

I ended up getting matched with Pedestrian A. I’m so unlucky! I thought I lucked out by walking into a Mechanical Era ascension realm, being able to follow in President Oub’s path, but Lu Ran is here too. There is no hope for me. I can only wish that I get out of this alive...

"Huh? Do you know that guy?"

"

Um...

I probably shouldn’t say anything. I’d better get out of here."

His mouth twitched as he looked back at the Sword Domain Dog, which was wielding a lightsaber. It really was the strongest fourth-generation beastmaster on Blue Planet. Lu Ran was full of tricks, no matter what period he landed in. Was he planning on using this ascension realm to evolve his dog into some space swordsman? Knowing him, he probably had a pretty decent chance.

President Oub, we are in danger! This Xia foreigner is trying to steal your job! This is a national emergency!