Chapter 637 Appearance of the Interne (1/2)

The powerful Steel Strength ripple resonated just as marvelously as two attracting magnetic poles. Joshua could distinctly sense Zero-One's every move even when it was hundreds of kilometers away and beneath ground, as well as its excited mood.

”Really… It's been a long time.” He muttered softly.

Zero-One had rarely joined the others since the journey to the Anos Abyss, having stayed at the city of the Runic Dwarves since then. Even so, its contribution was no less than others: it was in charge of everything from living metals, super alloy, underground tunnel excavation to clearing a path for the subterranean railway. The technical development it inspired could even be considered the original motive force for Moldavia's burst in magical technology—most machinery would have been unusable without the unique living metals and extraordinary alloy.

Still, Joshua did not rush to meet Zero-One, waiting silently instead as he stood beside the colossal steel statue by the outskirts, all while training how he should materialize objects in his mind through Steel Strength. Hours later, after metallic figures of various sizes piled up beside Joshua, Zero-One's silhouette exited a nearby construction site.

The huge body of steel strode out from a cavern that was equally huge. Beside the construction side labeled with the sign 'Station One of Moldavia Underground Rail', many dwarf engineers were dispersing human employees to clear a path for the Steel Elemental.

And in the moment the Steel Giant reached the surface, it turned toward where the warrior was and leveled it gaze at Joshua.

In the very next second, it stalked out and soon arrived before the warrior.

”Ka-cha-cha-cha…”

Amidst metallic scraping noise, the huge metallic giant slowly half-knelt before Joshua, the flat soil beneath it crumbling under its weight. Joshua smiled as he looked at the imposing steel giant that was wrapped entirely in armor, and reached out to pat its huge head.

”There's no need to be so formal. You are my creation after all, and also perhaps my… child.”

”Bzzt-bzzt!” The Steel Giant's entire body shuddered as it exclaimed, moved and surprised.

Though awkward, Joshua still admitted the fact. Whatever the case may be, Zero-One was assuredly his creation and his child to a certain extent… Other facets notwithstanding, its very form did not differ much with his true Legendary form, the only contrast of which was only in size and density.

And behind Zero-One, the dwarven engineering team panted as they did their best to sped on their little feet behind Zero-One. Some of the smarter ones joined them on magically powered forklifts, and when they finally reached them, Joshua had already finished connecting with Zero-One, and got the steel giant to rise.

”Do tell. Is something the matter that you brought Zero-One along to meet me?”

Joshua turned to the dwarf engineer in the lead, who had a white beard so large that it could wrap a circle around his waist. That was evident of his higher ranking—he was only next to the Grand Forge of the Runic Dwarves, one of the elders of their tribe.

The dwarf clearly understood Joshua's personality as well, and so did not waste any time for nonsense. ”My liege,” he said respectfully after a slight bow. ”The underground railway connecting Moldavia, Winter Fort Academy and our settlement is mostly finished—the subterranean path dug and augmented, the rails being put in place. We estimate that the laying of the rails would be done before this winter, and we could conduct tests once the locomotives are completed.

”Not bad. Your progress is swift: that's three months faster than initial estimations.” Joshua was quite delighted in return. ”Just apply for funds if you find yourselves short—and use my name, tell them that I have approved it.”

The underground rail project of Moldavia was a joint effort between the Moldavian Liege's Residence and the dwarves to build a subterranean rapid transit system. Compared to the considerable number of monsters and the upheaval caused by Extraordinary individuals, an underground rail was instead safer. It also cut down the initial maintenance fee dwarven presence to insignificant proportions—they were maintaining most caverns in the first place, it did not matter much if they split a little effort for them.

In Joshua's plans, the huge underground network would cover the entire Northern Empire, connecting the entire Empire thanks to the dwarves. Not only would it consolidate the dwarves' influence that had been scattered throughout the Empire, most factions that were spread loose over the Empire would be united as well, since transport was vital for most influential factions.

”It surprised me even more that all of you took such good care of Zero-One.”

Joshua looked up toward the Steel Elemental that was standing upright after discussing certain issues regarding the underground rail with the dwarven engineers. It was almost a hundred meters now, and so large that it was one-third as tall as the statue Joshua created once it stood, and its thirty-stories frame could be clearly discerned even from the depths of the city.

”Never thought that you would become so huge after so short a time.”

With a nostalgic gaze, Joshua gladly tapped the tip of Zero-One's feet—it was so tall that it was difficult for humans to do that now. ”Back then, you were so little—”

”Bzzt-bzzt!”

Zero-One's single eye flickered with red light, the Steel Elemental making happy sounds as it reveled in its 'father's affection.

Beside them, in the eyes of the dwarf engineer, though Zero-One's appearance was much larger, it appeared smaller even though it was standing before the warrior who was as small as an ant. The severe contrast between the sensation emanating from Joshua and what he saw was unusually unbearable, but he found it reasonable.

However, unlike what the engineer believed, although Joshua appeared to be tapping Zero-One, he was in fact observing the state of the Steel Elemental's body.

He soon realized an astonishing fact: Zero-One's inner body composition was extremely similar to his Legendary true from!

Joshua found in surprise that Zero-One's was precisely like an inferior copy of this Legendary form. Whatever organs, parts or plugins his body had, the Steel Elemental also had it! Apart from similarities in function that was debatable, the fundamental composition was completely identical!

In other words, if one were to say that Joshua's ability was Steel Strength, Zero-One's was to replicate Joshua's own to such degree of similarity.

”The shape of Nuclear Heart, the organ that controls electromagnetism, Psionic Warp Engine… No, it's just a crystal, the inner constructs are yet to be emulated. Ah, there's actually a Mass Wave crystallization, although it's not functioning yet… but most Extraordinary organs are complete!”

And Zero-One's body was living metal that could transform by will as well, it would be a simple matter to attach any equipment in it.

After a single glance, Joshua was almost speechless when he noticed countless abilities that belonged to him inside Zero-One's body. ”Good fellow, is that Steel Strength Resonance? And it actually copied my abilities out of thin air even when we clearly had not met for so long!”

Although putting it that way was not too correct, but now Zero-One appeared impervious even to ordinary Supreme. From the view of Titans, Zero-One was but a child since it was just a few years old, and yet it was so powerful with such little abilities—there were no limits to its future!

But Joshua was not surprised, given that Zero-One was actually a creation combined with a world's Steel Strength crystallization as well as his own Steel Strength. To a certain point of view, it was considered a Child of the World, surpassing the bloodlines of typical Titans that transcended era, and was nothing out of the ordinary.

And it was then that the dwarven engineer's rather troubled voice spoke. ”My Lord, although Mister Zero-One had aided us considerably, it is really a little too big… We have almost finished researching living metals and alloys, and after we had let Zero-One consume all kinds of rare metals, there is no longer any need for Mister Zero-One to keep staying underground—it could no longer enlarge! Any more and it will be stuck, unable to move in our city.”

The dwarf grumbled to the warrior with a troubled face, and Joshua nodded after some thought. When he thought about it, it was a genuine miracle that Zero-One could live in a city built according to dwarven size.

”Bzzt-bzzt, bzzt-bzzt-bzzt-bzzt.” Zero-One made sounds in agreement.

And Joshua concurred as well. ”That's right, it's time for you to see the outside world. Of course, you could look for a place in the mountains around Winter Fort Academy with Black, I would have the engineering team build one for you… You don't want that? You want to dig one yourself?”

Joshua then shrugged when he heard Zero-One's reply. ”Of course, as you wish.”