I, Eternal Worm, Am Happy to Help

The Eternal Worm's protest silenced the surroundings. Cheating was rare in the Artificer Challenge, but when it happened, the Artificer Guild's penalties were usually severe, ranging from point deductions to outright expulsion from the artificer ranks.

However, since the Artificer Challenge itself had no restrictions on equipment, contestants' gear was rarely inspected. There were no forbidden items, so there was no need for checks.

But the current situation was unusual. Everyone had witnessed the abnormal performance of Fang Heng's Clockwork Sprite, which was completely different from its clumsy display in the first half.

Even if he was hiding his strength, the unbelievable self-modification spin was hard to explain. It was simply not something a Tier 2 Combat Artificer could achieve through "personal strength."

The Gnome Referees, however, didn't realize their guesses were already quite close. They were still gathered together, whispering and discussing:

"Could it be an external proxy?"

"Impossible," the Head Referee stroked his pointed beard and shook his head decisively. "We provided the Clockwork Sprite, and the linker on the Core Crystal can only be the individual. You and I have both verified it; there's no room for error."

"What about falsely reporting their level?" another asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Even less likely. Did you forget how special tonight is?"

"Now that you mention it, yes. Those tall fellows did measure the contestants' levels, so there wouldn't be any mistakes—"

"But there must be an explanation!" All the gnomes frowned.

Finally, the Head Referee, drawing on his experience, removed his hand from his beard and said, "Then let's ask him for his opinion?"

So, all the gnomes hurried over to the table and bombarded Fang Heng with questions: "Contestant D12, Contestant B3 wishes to inspect your personal tools. What is your opinion?"

Did he even need to ask? Letting others see the inside of his glove would be disastrous! Inside, there was only one intact Silver Rail left. Although there were two before, the onlookers wouldn't care about the details.

Controlling two Clockwork Sprites with one Silver Rail was like something out of a fairy tale. Once the news got out, Fang Heng knew, even with his eyes closed, that he was finished for the night.

So, he firmly shook his head. "No."

The Gnome Referees had actually anticipated this answer. There was no precedent for inspecting an Alchemist's tools in the Artificer Challenge. Since the competition itself didn't limit what kind of tools Combat Artificers could use, the claim that Fang Heng had cheated using his tools was actually weak.

However, this answer couldn't quell the doubts in everyone's hearts, nor could it silence public opinion.

The gnomes turned back to look at the Head Referee.

The Head Referee was also troubled, hesitating, "Although there's no precedent for inspecting Alchemist tools in the Artificer Challenge, Contestant D12, you must explain the situation from earlier."

Fang Heng scratched his head. How could he explain? He didn't even know the principle himself. Even if he did, it wouldn't match his level and stats. It would be better to honestly say he was a Dragon Knight? A Tier 1 Dragon Knight? Regardless of whether anyone believed him, he might as well hand over his glove honestly.

The atmosphere on the scene became somewhat awkward.

At this moment, the Eternal Worm beside him said in a strange tone, "Since Contestant D12 is unwilling to explain, I won't force it. However, I request that Contestant D12 change his control glove when competing on the same stage as me. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

A commotion erupted among the crowd upon hearing this proposal—that wasn't too much to ask?

Even the referee team looked troubled. Most Combat Artificers' control tools were self-modified. This was why artificer competitions generally didn't inspect Alchemist tools; it involved technical secrecy.

And for tools that had been used and were comfortable, changing them would undoubtedly significantly impact a contestant's strength. The malicious intent behind the Eternal Worm's words was as clear as day.

Everyone looked at Fang Heng, eager to see the young man's choice.

But Fang Heng was different from what they expected. He widened his eyes and looked at the Eternal Worm, disbelieving, "You really want me to change gloves? Are you sure?"

Seeing his expression, the Eternal Worm mistakenly thought he had succeeded and sneered, "Haha, you're scared now that your biggest reliance is gone? It's okay. If you're scared, I'll give you a chance to forfeit. No need to embarrass yourself on stage."

"Contestant B3, mind your words," the referee quickly interjected. "Threatening and intimidating contestants is prohibited."

Fang Heng was almost amused to death by this guy.

Although the young man was a bit naive, he wasn't a saint. This fat guy had been flaunting himself in front of him repeatedly and inexplicably targeting him. Even a clay figurine would get angry.

He shook his head and kindly reminded him, "I just hope you don't regret it."

"Me?" The Eternal Worm almost burst out laughing. "Regret?"

Everyone's jaws dropped. They hadn't expected the young man to agree—he was too young! Even those who had doubted him the most couldn't help but shake their heads, let alone Hudi, who was stomping his feet and wringing his hands nearby.

The referee team was also surprised and couldn't help but confirm repeatedly, "Are you really sure, Contestant D12?"

"I'm sure," but Fang Heng scratched his head. The problem that annoyed him was different: "But I don't have a spare control tool."

"Pfft—" The Eternal Worm spat out a mouthful of water. "Haha, you and that Mr. Trash are really birds of a feather. Is it that bad? Do you want me to lend you one?"

Fang Heng looked at this detestable fellow and gritted his teeth.

But the crowd couldn't help but chuckle. While Alchemists weren't rich enough to rival a nation, as a Life Profession, they had never seen anyone so down and out.

Only Tian Lan gritted her silver teeth in anger, wishing she could go up and argue, but the moment she took a step, the Elf girl yanked her back and gave her a fierce glare.

So, the French Girl could only reluctantly back down.

The referee team was also at a loss for words. The Head Gnome Referee stroked his pointed beard again and said, "In that case, let's make an exception. We, the competition organizers, will provide the tool—"

But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the Eternal Worm, "Wait, Referee, I recall the rules stating that contestants cannot use equipment other than their own."

The Head Gnome Referee was stumped. This fat guy repeatedly disrupting things was truly unpleasant. He couldn't help but look at him impatiently. "Then what do you propose?"

"It's not what I propose," the Eternal Worm, who had been waiting for this, replied. "Contestant D12 must use his own equipment. That's the rule."

"It's his own and his team's equipment," Hudi walked over and corrected him.

The Eternal Worm wasn't in a hurry and replied, "Alright, I misspoke. But is Mr. Trash a teammate of this 'friend'? Don't cheat, the eyes of the public are sharp."

Hudi had actually considered it, but hearing the fat guy's threat made him hesitate.

The crowd let out a low hiss, but this time it was directed at the Eternal Worm. They weren't blind and could see that the fat guy was being unreasonable.

The Eternal Worm was thick-skinned and unbothered, looking quite smug about it.

Just as the scene fell into a stalemate, a sudden voice rang out: "I have gloves!"

Everyone turned their heads, especially Fang Heng, who was somewhat surprised. He realized the person speaking was Luo Yu, standing behind Etila. The tall teenager stepped forward and said, "I'm his teammate. We registered before entering the inn, so it can be verified. Can... can Aiya use my equipment?"

The Head Referee's eyes lit up. He glanced at Mazak nearby, and after receiving confirmation, quickly nodded, "If that's the case, then naturally, he can."

The crowd couldn't help but look toward the Eternal Worm. The fat man's face darkened; he clearly hadn't expected Fang Heng to be so down on his luck that he'd actually have a teammate. But the rules were the rules, and he couldn't object. He could only nod.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Luo Yu opened his backpack and took out a magnificent control glove.

The glove was entirely golden-bronze, made of brass. The upper part was a streamlined metal shield, while the lower part was covered in pipes and gears. The outer casing was inlaid with gilded filigree depicting lush branches and leaves, with raised sections surrounding a blank dial. The dial bore the small inscription 'XII, Soar, 173, 1, 12', indicating the craftsman's identity and manufacturing date.

The entire glove looked like a piece of craftsmanship from the Victorian era.

"This is..." Hudi's eyes widened.

Someone in the crowd shouted before he could: "Kingfisher Workshop's Fourth Generation Universal Pointer!" Upon seeing the glove, the Eternal Worm's jowls quivered.

The control glove had undergone three generations of improvements. The previous generation was the old slide-rail control glove, but it had been obsolete for many years. The current mainstream was the magic buoy-style control glove, with products from the Kingfisher Workshop being the best. The Fourth Generation Universal Pointer was the latest model, and its price on the market remained stubbornly high.

This type of control glove used the direction of a magic buoy to control the posture of a Flexible Construct. It was said to be the most sensitive, most complex, and most precise control glove. Because the magic buoy could point in any vector, the Universal Pointer earned its name.

Luo Yu carefully cradled the glove and handed it over.

Fang Heng looked at him, somewhat puzzled, "Luo Yu, how do you have a craftsman's glove?"

But Luo Yu didn't answer his question, only whispering, "Help me teach that annoying fatso a good lesson."

The two seemed to be whispering, but Luo Yu enunciated each word clearly, making sure everyone around them could hear. The onlookers let out a burst of low laughter. The Eternal Worm was furious: "I protest, he insulted me!"

But the Gnome Referee raised an eyebrow. "Protest invalid. The other party is not a contestant."

The laughter grew louder.

The Eternal Worm's face turned green, then white. He couldn't do anything about Luo Yu and shot Fang Heng a dark look.

Fang Heng was also taken aback. He hadn't expected the usually serious Luo Yu to have such a side. He glanced at the fat man and nodded, "I promise, he'll remember this glove forever."

"You talk too big!" the Eternal Worm sneered.

Fang Heng took the glove, turned around, and looked at him.

"I'll ask one last time, Contestant B3, do you really want me to change gloves and fight you?" As he spoke, the immature aura of a young boy vanished, replaced by a composure as steady as a majestic mountain.

If this were in Kapuka—

Those craftsmen would understand at that moment that someone was about to be in trouble.

Everyone fell silent.

Luo Yu and Tian Lan also looked at Fang Heng with surprise.

Not to mention the Eternal Worm. He didn't answer immediately, finally reacting after a moment, wiping a cold sweat and saying strangely, "Don't try to bluff here. I'll make you lose face later."

Fang Heng glanced at him and simply nodded to the referees, "I'm ready, gentlemen."

The Gnome Head Referee also gave him a friendly nod.

As too much time had been wasted, the organizers no longer bothered with formalities. They had the little goblins clear a space and, after briefly announcing the rules, let the two contestants enter the arena.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, the first match was between the Eternal Worm and Fang Heng.

The third round was the final round of the qualifiers. This round would determine the two final winners from those who passed the first two rounds. These two winners would have the honor of competing alongside the losers of the official matches. The winner of that match would then enter the final round of the Craftsman Challenge.

However, the chances of winning in the official matches were too slim, so the third round of the qualifiers was generally considered the de facto final round.

The venue was silent, everyone awaiting this grudge match. Fang Heng took his backpack from Miss Etila, nodded to her, and walked onto the stage.

On the cleared arena, the Eternal Worm, that fatso, was already waiting for him.

At this moment, the Eternal Worm also vaguely sensed something was wrong—but he maintained his composure and said a few perfunctory words: "If I were you, I'd forfeit immediately and leave to avoid embarrassing myself later—"

Fang Heng couldn't be bothered with him. He put down his backpack, untied the knot, and took out his Walker.

The Eternal Worm was still curious about what the guy needed a backpack for, but when he saw the 'Walker,' his eyes widened. It wasn't just him; the entire qualifier arena fell into a brief hush.

Then, in an instant, it erupted into laughter.

Many people were laughing until tears streamed down their faces.

"Heavens!" Tian Lan, though not very knowledgeable about Combat Artificers, could tell the strength of a Flexible Construct. She had never paid close attention to Fang Heng's 'Walker' before. Seeing it now, she couldn't help but cover her forehead: "Is Brother Ed's brain broken?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" the Paparal people shouted anxiously from below. "Can someone pick me up!?"

But no one paid them any mind.

Hudi also stared at the scene, dumbfounded, but they were relatively better off.

The Eternal Worm, after a moment of stunned silence, burst into laughter, tears and snot streaming down his face, nearly rolling on the ground.

He clutched his stomach, laughing breathlessly at Fang Heng, "This... this is your combat Flexible Construct? Haha... Hahaha, a wooden... Walker... and it's so small? Haha... Hahaha, don't joke... Ouch, my stomach hurts so much... Are you trying to laugh me to death to win the match? Hahaha!"

The crowd laughed even louder. Although most people didn't agree with the Eternal Worm, Fang Heng's Walker was simply too comical.

Truly, they had never seen such a 'cute' Combat Artificer.

"This little guy is just too adorable," a few female adventurers even laughed hysterically.

But only Fang Heng didn't laugh.

Mazak, who was watching this scene from afar, also didn't laugh--

Fang Heng adjusted his Walker and stood up.

He looked at the Eternal Worm not far away and said lightly, "I hope you can still laugh later."

The Eternal Worm could naturally still laugh. Seeing that Fang Heng hadn't even brought his Magic Furnace, he felt even more at ease. He was about to mock him again, but suddenly swallowed his words.

Because he saw Fang Heng extend his right hand downwards. The golden exterior of the control glove lit up slightly on the dial, and the Magic Buoys lit up one by one, two, three... up to twenty-four. They rotated clockwise in a circle and then returned to their original positions.

The entire process was incredibly smooth.

Then the twenty-four Magic Buoys disappeared one by one, leaving only six pointing in different directions.

The Eternal Worm swallowed a mouthful of saliva, rubbed his eyes, and almost thought he was seeing things--but Fang Heng had already raised his hand and said in a low voice, "Sword Plover, attack!"

Two silver lights.

In his shock, the Eternal Worm quickly retreated. Then he remembered that the competition rules did not allow attacking the person directly, so he stopped, his heart still pounding. But in that moment of daze, the Sword Plover had already circled behind his Shield Bearer like a silver light.

He had never seen a Flexible Construct this agile--

In his horror, he quickly had his Shield Bearer counterattack. A spear thrust out from behind the large shield, about to hit Fang Heng's Flexible Construct.

But at this very moment.

The Eternal Worm suddenly opened his mouth wide, his eyes filled with extreme shock.

It wasn't just him; everyone around the arena held their breath in unison.

Fang Heng raised his hand. The six Magic Buoy indicators on the dial rotated from bottom to top, then moved left and right, making seventeen or eighteen changes in an instant, almost dazzlingly fast.

The 'Sword Plover' seemed to come alive, easily dodging the spear. Then it leaped forward, its six legs lifting off the ground one by one. In mid-air, it spun like an octopus.

It grabbed the Shield Bearer's spear and climbed up.

"Not good!" The Eternal Worm finally reacted. He flicked his hand, and the Shield Bearer also raised its spear and swung it, trying to throw the Sword Plover off.

But it was too late--

Fang Heng's Walker leaped forward like a poised tarantula and landed on the Shield Bearer's head. "Easier than Big Sister," he shook his head, then raised his right hand, fingers together, and lightly swiped from left to right.

Shield Bearers were a special type of heavy construct, with their giant shields being their primary means of defense.

But their bodies were nothing special.

A silver line streaked across.

The Shield Bearer sank downwards, its knees hitting the ground simultaneously. It knelt on the arena. Its head spun and flew high into the air, landing on the ground with a "bang" under everyone's gaze.

Dust flew.

The headless body of the construct tilted forward and crashed down heavily.

And so, on the arena.

Only the Eternal Worm, the Walker, and Fang Heng remained.

The young man raised his head, his hand still held in mid-air, looking at his opponent.

His dark eyes were calm, with only his pupils expanding outwards like flames.

"You lost."

From the first strike to the last.

It took nine seconds--

The entire venue fell into silence.

Today's chapter is 5000 words because I wanted to finish the fight in one go.

Let's talk about updates, going on the shelves, and chapter breaks--Chapter breaks are sometimes unavoidable, as a 4000-word chapter isn't really my rhythm.

However, I hope you understand that new books rarely update with 4000-5000 words per chapter, as this quickly pushes them past the new book period, which is very detrimental to a new book. Of course, I'm trying to compromise, prioritizing my own rhythm and your reading experience, but that's all I can do. Because this involves the performance of the new book, it's tentatively scheduled to go on the shelves in March. It's basically impossible to go earlier because of the buyout contract for new book signings. You wouldn't want to see the book get cut short due to performance issues, right?

I hope for your understanding. I'll do my best to ensure your reading experience, and I don't dare ask for more, just your recommendations and collections.

After it goes on the shelves in March, I'll do a small burst of updates--I don't dare promise more, for fear of affecting quality--Before then, I'll have to trouble you to bear with me a little longer~