Chapter 112: Two Versions of Sentinel 2.0

“Yawn!~” Rando groggily opened his eyes, glanced at the sun nearing the horizon, then stretched lazily. That nap had been incredibly refreshing.

After two months of relentless, sleepless study, his research on innate talents had finally reached a milestone. However, since other projects awaited his attention, he didn’t return to his dormitory. Instead, he headed to the rooftop of the laboratory to bask in the sunlight and unwind, only to end up dozing off until dusk.

Patting his cheeks, Rando prepared to resume his work.

Advancement in arcane knowledge was never one-dimensional. For example, the talents he studied could be applied in various other fields.

Take the Sentinel—a combat automaton Rando had independently developed. Although it had yet to see any proper battlefield action, this did not diminish the high hopes he placed upon it.

Because the Sentinel’s primary material originated from the Heartspace, it could be easily transformed and adjusted. After integrating the structural blueprints derived from “Crystal Skin (Blue)” and “Crystal Body (Purple)” into the Sentinel, its combat capabilities had doubled.

The new Sentinel 2.0 could effortlessly overwhelm three older models working in unison. Furthermore, based on the two schemes from “Crystal Body (Purple),” the new version was divided into Sentinel 2.0A (optimized for energy storage and operational efficiency) and Sentinel 2.0B (enhanced defense model).

After dozens of combat tests, Sentinel 2.0A clearly outperformed 2.0B in battle, though 2.0B held its own value.

Though Sentinel 2.0A always defeated 2.0B, each victory took over ten minutes—testament to 2.0B’s formidable defensive prowess.

Rando knew that his future explorations wouldn’t always go smoothly. When faced with perilous environments demanding sacrificial retreats, Sentinel 2.0B would be the wiser choice over 2.0A.

Yet, he was in no rush to finalize their roles within his combat lineup. Carrying two intelligent battle cores recording all data for both models, he entered the virtual world.

Upon entry, a flood of messages greeted him. Skimming through, most inquiries concerned the Sentinel’s price and possible collaboration. A smaller portion were challenge requests. Closing the messages, Rando reviewed recent battle logs for the Sentinels. From initial overwhelming victories, the trend had shifted to more losses than wins lately.

What surprised him most was the “Tiger King,” a formidable opponent from the Sentinel’s very first battle who had left a deep impression. They had matched again recently, and the Tiger King’s strength had skyrocketed. The fierce crimson aura that had only erupted at the end of their first clash was now skillfully controlled throughout. In a narrow, brutal victory, the Tiger King had finally bested the Sentinel—clear evidence of tremendous growth.

Next, Rando set up the automatic matchmaking program for both new Sentinel models in the combat arena. Sentinel 2.0A retained the original name “Sentinel,” while 2.0B was dubbed “Sentinel Two.” With these tasks done, Rando logged off, eager to tackle other work.

Unbeknownst to him—or perhaps indifferent—his actions stirred ripples within the combat arena.

...

Within the virtual arena, as the Sentinel resumed its deadly rampage alongside the rise of Sentinel Two, those in the know recognized the unmistakable sign of an upgrade by the designer. Although the Sentinel boasted superior combat power—as evidenced by their direct encounters—many valued Sentinel Two more highly. This versatile, heavily armored automaton was practically the perfect bodyguard.

Yet, despite efforts to contact the Sentinel’s designer or offer lucrative deals, all inquiries vanished without a trace, leaving many frustrated.

In a virtual chamber, five figures sat together—each a high-ranking executive from major merchant guilds. Before them, two screens displayed battles between Sentinel and Sentinel Two.

“Any news? Has anyone uncovered the automaton’s designer’s identity?” one asked.

“Our guild has some leads, but even with a joint agreement, handing over information so freely isn’t appropriate,” another replied.

After a brief silence, the four others conceded on certain cooperation terms. The first speaker smiled contentedly and began sharing information.

“Based on our intelligence, there’s a 90% chance the Sentinel’s designer is Rando from Silver Tower Academy!”

“Rando? The disciple of the Grand Archmage?”

“Yes, him. I heard he recently accomplished something extraordinary!”

“I’ve heard of him too. People are already calling him a new standard-bearer of the new school.”

“If it’s him, this complicates things.”

After several days of discussion, the information provider remarked, “The Sentinel’s abilities closely mirror the feats Rando displayed in the Crystal World. Moreover, he’s said to have secluded himself after returning. If he’s been refining the Sentinel with the gains from the Crystal World, the timeline fits perfectly.”

“Hmm, if it’s him, commercial tactics won’t work. The question is whether he’d entertain official collaborations.”

“That’s unlikely. We and other guilds have sent countless messages, yet not a single reply. It’s clear his focus lies elsewhere.”

“Such a pity.”

“Indeed, a shame.”

After a pause, the five dropped the topic, shifting to other business—wasting time on a dead end was futile.

As their conversation turned casual, it was clear they shared more than just professional ties; their camaraderie ran deep.

One sighed regretfully, “I’ve been following that newcomer called ‘Tiger King.’ I don’t know what happened recently; he’s suddenly unreachable.”

“Tiger King? I’ve been watching him too. I was thinking of inviting him soon. Has he stopped logging in?”

“I noticed it first! He used to fight relentlessly in the arena at fixed times daily. His progress was rapid. Just as I was about to extend an invitation, I found he hadn’t logged in for several days, and my messages went unanswered.”

“That’s unfortunate, but it doesn’t matter much. The Empire has plenty of players. Unless he becomes a legend, he’s just a mere speck.”

“True, but I feel sorry for him. With our guild’s support, his chances would be significant. I really believed in him.”

“Oh? That’s truly a loss!”

“...”