Moreover, it has many special attributes that common magic stones lack – such as space manipulation, time acceleration, and even reality reconstruction!"
"At the level we’re at, ordinary magic stones can already be extracted from the void, as simple as you breathing air."
Vinard continued, the boastfulness in his tone growing stronger:
"But such natural treasures as demon crystals cannot even be artificially synthesized by those ancient alchemists! Unless..."
His voice turned mysteriously:
"Unless one possesses the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, this ultimate creation that only exists in theory!
But that’s too ethereal; over several eras, there have been only two or three examples that might be close."
Vinard operated the controls, and the Titan began to emit a deep starting noise:
"Years ago, for the sake of this demon crystal, I invested all my wealth accumulated over eight hundred years! Even mortgaged the mining rights of several otherworld territories!"
His tone became even more exaggerated:
"I owed an astronomical debt equivalent to fifty thousand complete magic stones!
To the point where I, a dignified Great Wizard, was forced by debt to become a mercenary!"
But at this point, Vinard’s tone turned proud again:
"But now... heh heh, those guys who laughed at my extravagance back then are now insanely jealous when they see my financial statements!"
"Even a Great Wizard can be troubled by debt?" Ron was somewhat incredulous.
"Kid, do you think Great Wizards don’t partake in worldly affairs?" Vinard laughed heartily:
"The higher the level, the more terrifying the consumption.
Every time we cross-dimension teleport, the cost can make a Dark Sun Level Wizard’s heart ache!
And creating a decent piece of alchemy equipment randomly starts at thousands of magic stones!"
With the initiation process underway, Ron could feel a stronger and stronger vibration beneath his feet.
It felt less like the turning of mechanical gears and more like the rhythmic sensation of some giant lifeform awakening.
It was as if they were situated within the body of an ancient giant deity coming to life.
Through the external perception system, Ron saw the true form of the Titan for the first time.
It was a human-shaped colossus, towering at a thousand meters tall, constructed entirely of a special alloy with a dark gold luster.
Its surface was covered with glowing patterns resembling blood vessels, pulsing with the rhythm of a "heartbeat."
The head had two enormous light spheres, each with a diameter exceeding a hundred meters, slowly lighting up like newborn stars.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
Vinard’s voice was full of pride:
"It’s my masterpiece! Every screw, every circuit, designed with meticulous care!"
The planet where the Titan was located also appeared in Ron’s view.
This was a completely engineered metal world.
The surface was covered with countless crystalline energy towers, each releasing beams of different colored lights into the sky.
In the distance, the mountain ranges were not of rock but composed of massive crystal clusters, glittering under the light of twin moons.
The ocean had a strange silvery color, its surface teeming with glowing algae-like plants, resembling a liquid starry sky.
The entire world exuded a surreal beauty while simultaneously revealing unsettling artificial traces.
"When I discovered this place, it was originally a dead, barren planet, and I spent several hundred years transforming it into what it is now."
Vinard’s tone carried the pride of a creator:
"I redesigned everything according to my will, from atmospheric composition, gravitational fields, to geological structure. Now it’s one of the richest territories in resources in this quadrant!"
But soon, his attention shifted elsewhere:
"However, today is not about sightseeing. Do you see that little fellow approaching?"
Following the indication, Ron looked to the outer edge of the planetary orbit, where an irregular asteroid, about several tens of kilometers in diameter, was slowly approaching.
Its surface was covered in deep-red metallic minerals, glittering under the light of the star.
"Hmm... that should be a small celestial body rich in rare metals?"
"Ha ha, smart!"
Vinard laughed:
"This is also why I bought this barren planet; it’s just right to let my ’Star-forged Titan’ put to use.
Due to the special position of this planet, encounters with such asteroids happen once every ten years.
Rather than allowing it to impact the surface causing destruction, why not let me mine it clean, killing two birds with one stone!"
Having said that, the Titan began to ascend.
The huge anti-gravity engines activated, and gigantic energy wings unfolded on its back like angel wings.
Once fully extended, the wingspan measured several kilometers, blocking out the sun.
This steel giant, weighing countless tons, gracefully separated from ground gravity, heading toward space.
"Every time this creature is activated, it consumes the energy of several hundred complete magic stones."
While Vinard controlled, he continued his "complaints":
"If engaging in high-intensity combat, its daily consumption exceeds the weekly energy costs of the entire Dawn Harbor.
The real cannon fires gold by the tens of thousands; this beast consumes more than any weapon!"
But the pride in his tone was unmistakable:
"Yet investment always brings returns... over the years, the ’Star-forged Titan’ has helped me mine over thirty resource planets, yielding profits surpassing ten times the initial investment!"
As the Titan broke through the clouds, the entire sky was illuminated by its brilliance.
The native aerial creatures that originally flew at high altitudes – enormous creatures resembling dragons.