As Lin Degang stepped into the passageway that flowed with a ghostly blue light, a peculiar smell mixed with ozone, molten metal, and a powerful catalyst hit him.
Before he could get used to the environment inside the tower, a short, startled cry suddenly came from the end of the corridor!
"ah--!"
Immediately afterwards, a figure shrouded in a strange armor that was thick, angular, and gleaming with a dark metallic luster was sent flying backwards from the depths of the corridor as if struck by a battering ram!
The passage was straight and narrow, leaving absolutely no room to dodge!
Linde's pupils contracted sharply, and he only had time to instinctively activate his activation aura and cross his arms in front of his chest—
Bang!!!
An overwhelming force slammed into him! It didn't feel like hitting a person; it felt more like being head-on by a charging armored rhinoceros!
Linde grunted, his feet instantly leaving the ground. He was carried away by the terrifying impact, like a kite with a broken string. Together with the armored figure, he crashed through the metal door that had just slid open and tumbled out!
The world spun wildly in his eyes: the hard ground, the cold grass, the flying dust...
He felt like a tattered sack, rolling around seven or eight times on the grass in front of the castle along with the heavy "iron block" on his body, before he could finally dissipate the terrible impact.
Linde collapsed onto the grass, feeling a tightness in his chest, seeing stars before his eyes, and experiencing dull pain in his arms and back.
He was panting heavily, his mind blank, with only a buzzing echo and the taste of grass in his mouth.
"Cough cough..."
A slightly muffled groan of pain came from his arms.
Linde then felt the heavy "burden" on his body shift.
Suddenly, the strange armor, with its sharp edges and powerful presence, braced itself against his arm, producing a clanging sound as if metal were scraping against metal, and sprang up from his body as if electrocuted.
The person wearing armor also seemed to have fallen quite hard. He shook his head, then raised his hand somewhat anxiously, groping for the buckles on both sides of his helmet.
"Click!"
The visor was lifted up, and then the entire helmet was removed.
In an instant, a dazzling display of snow-white silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall! The strands shimmered with a silky sheen in the afternoon sun, a few beads of sweat clinging to her smooth, full forehead.
Beneath the helmet was a stunningly beautiful face, flushed from intense exercise, tinged with astonishment and disbelief.
Those deep blue eyes, as clear as a frozen pool, were now wide open from the violent impact and the sudden appearance of the person in front of them.
"Lin... Lord Linde!?"
Leonis's voice was slightly hoarse from the shock, but even more so from immense surprise and a touch of embarrassment, "You...you're back?!"
She was clearly not prepared to be greeted by this way upon the lord's return. She hurriedly tucked the heavy helmet under her arm, and with her other hand, she reached anxiously towards Lind, who was still lying on the ground, her voice filled with apology and nervousness:
"Are you alright? Get up! I'm sorry! I... I lost control..."
Lind grasped her outstretched hand, encased in cold metal gauntlets.
That hand was incredibly strong, easily pulling him up from the ground.
He patted his outer robe, which was covered in grass clippings and dust, and looked at the strange armor in front of him, whose cold lines were full of oppressive power but whose boundaries were softened by a head of silver hair, and at the rare, somewhat childlike, helpless expression on the armor's owner's face.
The slight annoyance at being knocked away vanished instantly, replaced by intense surprise and a hint of amusement.
"Leonis?"
Linde looked her up and down, especially at her clearly extraordinary armor, his tone full of inquiry, "What is this...?"
He hadn't finished asking his question.
A gentle breeze, carrying the scent of fresh grass and magical dust, swept over without warning and with great speed!
A small figure dressed in a dark blue mage's robe, with a reckless drive, crashed headfirst into Lind's arms like a cannonball!
It wasn't very impactful, but it was filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement and longing.
Linde was knocked back slightly and instinctively wrapped his arms around the person in his arms.
Her long, golden hair brushed against his chin, carrying Alice's unique scent—a blend of parchment, alchemical potions, and a hint of sunshine.
The girl's delicate fragrance instantly filled his nostrils.
"Linde!"
Alice's muffled voice came from his chest, filled with an excitement she never usually showed, almost choked up. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, as if afraid he would disappear at any moment, "You're back! You're finally back!"
She suddenly raised her head, and the scholarly air that she usually had on her delicate, doll-like face was completely gone.
Her fair skin flushed with excitement, and her eyes, which were always immersed in the ocean of knowledge, shone brightly, clearly reflecting Lind's figure. They were filled with pure, undisguised joy and lingering fear.
"You're alright! That's great! I heard the situation was dire... such a dangerous place..."
She spoke rapidly, her voice trembling slightly, her gaze greedily sweeping over his face, as if trying to confirm that every inch of him was unharmed.
"I knew it! I knew you'd come back!"
Linde looked down at the "treasure" he had found again, feeling the strength with which she gripped his clothes and her slightly trembling body. His heart felt as if it had been hit hard by something, a mix of sourness and tenderness.
He tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his chin gently resting on the top of her fragrant hair.
"Yes, I'm back, Alice."
His voice was deep and gentle, carrying a calming power.
"It's alright, it's all over now."
Leonis stood to the side, clutching her heavy helmet, watching the two embrace.
The blush on her face had not completely faded, and a complex emotion flashed in her blue eyes, a mixture of relief and a faint, almost imperceptible, sense of loneliness that even she herself had not delved into.
She subconsciously straightened her back, which was covered in heavy armor, as if doing so would make her appear less conspicuous.
Alice lingered in Lind's arms for a while before she seemed to finally confirm his presence and slowly calmed down her overly excited emotions.
She sniffed, somewhat embarrassed, and let go of his hand, taking a small step back, but one hand still tightly gripped Linde's sleeve, as if afraid he would run away.
Only then did she notice Leonis standing beside her, dressed in exaggerated armor, and the slightly uneasy expression on Leonis's face.
"Ah! Leonis! Are you alright?"
Alice seemed to only then remember the "incident," and her gray-blue eyes immediately filled with concern and apology. She jogged over and stood on tiptoe to check on Leonis's condition.
"The energy feedback circuit overloaded too suddenly! The peak impact force exceeded the test range! Are you injured?"
“I’m fine, Miss Alice.”
Leonis quickly shook her head, stretching her arms encased in heavy armor, producing a clanging sound as they rubbed together.
“This armor… is very sturdy. It just knocked the lord away…” she said, then looked at Lind with some apology.
Lind's gaze was finally able to examine closely the powerful armor Leonis was wearing.
It has a deep, matte black finish and is made of neither gold nor stone, giving it a heavy, shell-like texture.
The joints are designed with exaggerated angles and curved plates, the shoulder armor is as thick as a fortress, and a replica core with a stable aura is inlaid in the center of the chest armor. Complex energy patterns spread from the core to the whole body like blood vessels.
Her legs were sharply defined, and her feet gripped the ground like the claws of a giant beast. The entire suit of armor exuded a heavy, solid, and oppressive aura, born of pure power and protection, creating a striking contrast with Leonis's original physique.
“This is…” Lind’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. Combining the terrifying impact from just now, he immediately guessed what it was. “Alice, could this be…”
"Yes! That's it!" Alice's attention was immediately diverted, and her face instantly lit up with the almost fanatical radiance unique to research fanatics.
She tugged at Lind's sleeve, pointing excitedly to Leonis's armor, her voice rising with excitement:
"This is the breakthrough in copying the core that I mentioned to you in my letter!"
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