The Golem Mage Chapter 1120: Lowest Of All

“Step onto the testing machine.”

The mages who arrived from the Five Kingdom Continents couldn't help but convene as they followed the lead envoy; they had finally reached the grading zone on the island, yet a palpable sense of nervousness permeated many of them.

As they journeyed, the other three envoys proceeded to explain that each mage would be granted a parcel of land to govern, accompanied by a Lord Token, and would bear responsibility for the humans residing within their domain.

Additional concerns were raised, such as the potential for attacks from abyss lords. However, they were reassured not to fret excessively, as such threats primarily plagued lords stationed at the perimeters of the wasteland regions, who constantly found themselves repelling invasions.

They were further informed that in this realm, the Blood Moon War had evolved significantly. It occurred on the final day of each month, and unlike the massive confrontations between innumerable armies on the continent, this had transformed into a contest between individual lords.

All participants would be transported to a specialized zone brimming with extraordinary resources and materials. It was there that the lords would engage in combat against each other for these acquisitions. Even the ground before them appeared considerably more fertile, and the mana density in the atmosphere was vastly richer than on the Five Kingdom Continents, which would undoubtedly facilitate a mage's cultivation breakthroughs in such an environment.

Consequently, bringing these coveted resources back and cultivating them within their territories would only serve to accelerate their lands' prosperity. Furthermore, once they succeeded in attracting an alchemist willing to settle in their domain and utilize the amassed resources, the creation of items like mental pills and cultivation pills would become substantially more accessible for their personal consumption.

The envoys meticulously detailed these points, striving to impress upon their new recruits the immense advancement of the Origin World's alchemists compared to those from their previous homes.

They deliberately omitted mentioning the harsh reality that the process was far from the effortless endeavor they portrayed. Securing the services of an experienced alchemist, forger, or any mage specializing in a particular path proved exceptionally challenging, especially for a newly appointed lord lacking any remarkable assets.

Yet, the envoys remained indifferent, fully anticipating that the recruits would learn this lesson through bitter experience. Finally, they divulged a piece of information that caused the unified group to fragment, leaving individuals only in the company of those from their respective academies.

This revelation was the fact that, although not officially sanctioned, human lords possessed the ability to wage war against one another to expand their nascent kingdoms.

By seizing the lord token of a defeated adversary, whether an abyss creature or a human, the victor could then utilize their own token to absorb it. For the vanquished lord, two options subsequently presented themselves.

The victor could compel the defeated lord to pledge allegiance, bestowing upon them a military title by employing the remnants of the now-devalued token for their appointment. Alternatively, the victor could choose to execute the lord outright, or grant them freedom to wander as a displaced soul while appointing another subordinate using the same downgraded token.

The instant the prospect of mutual aggression became apparent, a significant number of mages began to distance themselves from one another. The envoys observed the burgeoning paranoia on the mages' countenances with amusement.

However, their mirth subsided as the time arrived to present the accompanying students. The head envoy approached one of the elevated tables where mages of seemingly greater power were seated, placing a list before the individual presiding in the center.

At this particular table, three men were seated. Mirroring other sections of the venue, mages hailing from diverse worlds were undergoing their assessments.

After reviewing the document, the name Takeda was called out, as he was listed first. He was summoned to step forward and occupy the testing machine, which, in Alec's perception, appeared to be an artifact of advanced technological design.

This revelation struck him as peculiar, given his prior assumption that this world would be exclusively steeped in medieval conventions, thereby precluding the presence of such sophisticated machinery.

Yet, here it was.

Takeda advanced with an air of self-assurance. Following a brief scanning procedure lasting several minutes, he was awarded an S-rank grading, an outcome that immediately ignited a stir among the senior envoys.

Swiftly, envoys representing various human kingdoms commenced extending invitations for Takeda to join their territories. Their efforts, however, proved futile, as he had already formalized an agreement with the lead envoy.

Consequently, Takeda merely accepted his reward and retreated to the periphery, awaiting Shin's assessment, as they were destined for the same region.

Dragov was the subsequent candidate. Immediately, those affiliated with the Northern Kingdom turned their attention to witness the grade he would attain.

A collective gasp arose as Takeda's assessment concluded with an S. The anticipation was palpable; surely, Dragov would achieve a similar, if not superior, rank. However, the machine declared an A for Dragov, a result that stunned the mages from the Northern Kingdom. Yet, for the envoys present, this was merely the prelude to even more astonishing revelations.

The initial two results had already shattered expectations. While many mages might have presumed S and A grades were within reach, the assembled envoys were poised to witness firsthand their own insignificance on a grander stage.

Envoys from various regions couldn't resist casting envious glances toward the head envoy, the one who had journeyed to the five kingdoms continent.

Dragov joined Takeda, both awaiting Damien, Carmilla, and Connor to complete their assessments before a group teleportation. It was at this juncture that Alec began to suspect the head envoy had struck some kind of clandestine arrangement with certain individuals.

No such invitation had been extended to him. Alec wasn't particularly bothered, as he held no fondness for the man. He simply hadn't anticipated being regarded with such low regard by the head envoy.

"Next!" the call echoed. Alec stepped towards the machine, and the scanning commenced. Instantly, he felt an invasive sensation, as if the apparatus was delving into the depths of his mana pool, seeking to unearth his most guarded secrets.

This intrusion was deeply unsettling; he had always detested prying eyes, especially when they sought to expose his hidden truths.

[> System detected a foreign presence attempting to probe the host, all powers with any slight connection to the system have been concealed by the incognito function, including golems and all related entities. <]

Upon witnessing the system's notification, a grim premonition welled within Alec. He could sense his ties to his golems and numerous abilities being veiled, even from the assessment machine's scrutiny.

Although he could still forcefully summon them, he felt it would defy the system's intentions. As anticipated, his unease was short-lived, for the result soon materialized before him.

[F]