Damian worked day and night for two weeks and finished the golem on time. He didn't strain the steel too much by over-inscribing spells. Other than the support spells to keep the golem functioning, Damian had placed only two massive spells in its body.
One was a massive light-attribute golden shield spell inscribed in the left half of the golem's body. The other was a set of spells for flying—it was more for quick jumps and faster dodging rather than proper flight. Continuous use of this spell wouldn't be good for the steel material. With the many liters of liquid mana the generators placed inside the golem Damian could create an armor of invisible box spells and shape it however he liked, now that he knew the spell inside and out - that was why he had not made an armor.
The massive golem wasn't the only thing he had made from tons and tons of steel. There were two giant bazooka-shaped runic weapons that fired massive beams of light-attribute laser. He also recreated two of the precise cutting swords giant versions which he had made for his third test in the Second Ranker trial. These weren't meant to last long—just a few attacks. Similarly, he crafted attachable tools for a few specific other uses. All of these could be stored in his sacrium spatial storage bracer, except for the golem itself. He didn't even try to fit it—perhaps with more sacrium it would be possible, but he had already used all of his.
The last few ingots he had were used to make a couple of weapons—it wasn't enough to make a bigger spatial storage, and it wasn't necessary anyway. He placed a plant right between the golem's legs and grew it into a tree. Using the ID, he created a steel cube with a waygate spell—large enough to transport the entire golem through whenever and wherever he wanted. Until then, it would stay here; it wasn't like anyone was going to steal it.
The team of scientists and metalworkers who had helped him build everything received their rewards, and he sent them back to wherever they wanted to go. The tools he had made for them could be considered questionable, but he had promised and fulfilled his promise truthfully.
Finally, the day of departure arrived. Damian had notified the world leaders and pulled back all British soldiers from his allied lands.
The total amount of steel the world had produced in the past seven months far exceeded all the steel they had ever produced before. All his allies now had more steel than they knew what to do with. But one thing was clear—those countries that refused to implement these changes would be left behind in the coming days. He may have withdrawn his soldiers from foreign lands, but the techniques he had imparted to the world would remain with them forever.
The effects of this giant leap in industrialization were something he was both curious and fearful to see come to fruition.
As for the heat-resistant tools, Damian had created multiple special steel armor pieces with a locking mechanism shaped from invisible box spells. Once activated, the armor would wrap around the user's body, enveloping them in an invisible suit. An oxygen bottle strapped to the back allowed them to breathe inside it. It was airtight and had multiple cooling spells to block external heat. Damian hoped this was enough—he could always add more enhancements after testing it in the real lava zone.
The world leaders wanted to host a farewell event, but Damian refused. He had no time to entertain them.
Karl, Evante, Kamisen, and the Highsword Knight Every were staying behind.
Beside Damian stood Lucian, Sam, Sariel, Grace, Amy, Einar, Evrin, Maelor, Elias, Lumi, and Reize, all ready to accompany him. Alex initially decided to stay behind but changed his mind at the last moment. Damian left Toph and Jacob with Karl and the others. This place was safe, and he wouldn't be able to focus with Toph around. He could get him later when he decided to enter dungeons to increase his level.
The first one to join him, however, was Prince. He was more than excited to go back and test if his new body could level up by killing monsters.
"Ready?" Damian asked one last time to confirm.
The serious and determined faces of everyone responded with a cohesive, "Yes," without any delay.
He nodded and boarded the parked Dreamlight in front of the golem.
He had instructed Worldscribe to stay near the entrance of the lava zone so they could do this faster. Using her as a target, Damian opened a large waygate and crossed through with the Dreamlight.
For a moment, their senses blacked out.
When the scene cleared in Damian's eyes, he pulled Dreamlight up, circled around the stone mountain, and landed near Worldscribe's mana signature.
They were finally back.
Damian, along with the others, stepped out of Dreamlight and met up with Worldscribe and Lifewarden. There was a massive mana anomaly nearby—probably a dungeon. The two Highswords had built a small wooden house here and seemed to have been staying for a while. Their faces had barely changed, though there were subtle signs of aging.
How long did a Third Ranker live, anyway?
"Everyone coming with us?" Worldscribe asked.
"No," Damian replied.
He had only made a few suits, and they weren't perfect. Only those who could somewhat endure the heat could go, not everyone. He would have to go regardless, though. Hopefully, his Hellforged species handled heat better than human bodies.
Damian turned back toward the group and said,
"I will open a waygate near the Pigmen City. Many of you have the bracelets I made with the waygate spell—they will still work. If you're in trouble, you can either come to me, which I wouldn't advise considering where I'm going, or you can return to our London base.
You have all chosen to fight a war to save innocent lives. For that, you will have my respect forever. Do not lose the fight. You either win or run away to fight another day."
Damian eyed all of them.
One by one, they nodded, silently making a promise.
Finally, he pulled out a few runic tools and handed them out.