Renato stood at the center of layer upon layer of array patterns. Concentric circles and geometric lines drawn with psionic runes crisscrossed the floor, with a tiny Psionics Crystal embedded at every intersection, giving off a steady, continuous pale blue glow.
Several Psionics Protective Spells he had cast in advance surrounded him. A separate, transparent warding barrier hovered before the warrior, spreading out to divide the Metal Polyhedron and the rest of the laboratory into two spaces that would not interfere with each other.
The female Dragonborn stood at the control console above, her gaze sweeping rapidly across the instrument panel. She kept a constant watch on every reading to prevent any "anomalies" once the artifact finished charging.
Renato stepped forward through the warding barrier and took the silvery-gray Metal Polyhedron in his hand. A cold sensation spread across his palm.
The charging progress bar displayed in the [Guide] had stopped at ninety-five percent, still a little short of completion.
After doing some mental calculations, Renato shook his head helplessly, then removed the Ring of Spider Climbing from his finger.
Although plenty of magic items remained in the Colony, most were standardized equipment designed specifically for mind flayers, with identical materials and enchantments.
As a result, the Hellforged Multiverse Wanderer's charging efficiency had declined even faster than Klauthsura had predicted. By now, the artifact would no longer absorb magic equipment with too many duplicates, such as Psionics Wrist Blades and Chitinous Carapace armor.
By this point, the two of them had searched almost the entire Colony. Every remote corner and sealed storeroom had been emptied, making it difficult to find any new types of enchanted items they had not seen before.
Renato did not want Klauthsura to waste any more time and energy helping him search the ruins. More than