Instance Name: Alchemy Construct Workshop
Instance Background: An ancient Alchemy laboratory known as the "Ixos Workshop," where the core energy source has gone out of control, causing all defensive systems and experimental constructs to rampage uncontrollably.
Level Structure:
1) Outer Corridor (Beginner Tutorial)
Construct Types:
Patroller: A basic melee construct that moves slowly and attacks with simple swings of its metal arms. Its weakness is an incompletely covered blue rune plate on its back. A precisely aimed Stunning Spell or Impediment Jinx can paralyse it.
Rune Sentry: A wall-mounted construct that fires low-powered magical projectiles. Its weakness is the constantly flashing red rune above its firing port. A Disarming Charm or a precisely cast Freezing Charm can temporarily disable it.
Environmental Hazard: Harmless steam occasionally bursts from the ground, obstructing visibility.
2) Construct Production Workshop
Construct Types:
Heavy Guard: A large construct with extremely thick frontal armour that charges directly at targets. Its weakness lies in the yellow runes at its leg joints. Repeated attacks there can throw it off balance and knock it down, exposing the vulnerable energy core on its back.
Swift Cutter: A small, agile construct that attacks with spinning blades. Its movement pattern is difficult to track, but when moving at high speed, the green rune on its chest flashes frequently. Students must predict its path and use trap-type magic against it.
Environmental Hazards: Overhead cranes move intermittently and may become either obstacles or usable cover. Stepping into the energy pool in the centre of the workshop causes continuous damage.
3) Core Furnace
Construct Types:
Elemental Weaver: Capable of firing small fireballs or ice shards. Its elemental attacks originate from different runes on its arms corresponding to fire and water. Using opposing elemental spells such as Aguamenti or Incendio on the appropriate arm can trigger magical backlash and temporarily paralyse it.
Repair Unit: A non-offensive construct that attempts to repair damaged constructs nearby. It must be prioritised as a target. Its weakness is the constantly rotating white rune on its head, which is extremely fragile and can be destroyed by almost any direct spell hit, though it is heavily protected by surrounding constructs.
Environmental Hazards: The furnace is unstable and periodically releases pulses of energy that briefly stun all targets in the area, including constructs. Several interactive "energy disruptors" are scattered throughout the area, and using them correctly can temporarily shut down the furnace.
4) Energy Core (Final Challenge)
Boss Mechanism: Rather than a single construct, the final enemy is a giant rune core. It periodically summons previously encountered constructs and releases large-scale magical shockwaves.
Method of Defeat: The rune core cannot be attacked normally. Four rune resonance pillars surround the core. Students must observe the constantly changing rune sequences across the surface of the core and quickly engrave corresponding runes with opposing attributes onto the resonance pillars.
Once all four resonance pillars are activated in the correct order, the core enters a brief overloaded state. Only then can students concentrate their attacks directly on the core.
Failure Conditions: Incorrect rune engravings or taking too long will cause the array to unleash a powerful arena-wide shockwave. Additionally, the number of summoned constructs will gradually increase over time.
Because the instance possessed clear educational objectives and interdisciplinary support, it was no longer merely a simple combat training exercise.
However, just as before, the duelling platform's protective enchantments ensured that students would not suffer genuinely fatal injuries. Whenever a young wizard's "life" was placed in danger, they would be automatically teleported out of the instance, which counted as a failed attempt.
The reward system also largely followed the previous format, with evaluations based on completion speed, damage sustained, accuracy of rune identification, spell precision, and other factors.
Possible rewards included House points, duelling points, magical techniques, or small Alchemical items.
Sagres also randomly altered the combinations, quantities, and even the weak-point locations of the appearing constructs, ensuring the instance maintained both replayability and challenge.
A few days later, when Sagres activated the "Alchemy Construct Workshop" instance upon the duelling platform, he added the following explanation to the eager students gathered before him:
"...At Professor Babbling's request, the purpose of this instance is not merely to train your combat reactions. It is also intended to help you intuitively understand that Ancient Runes are not rigid symbols written in books, but real structures that form both the source of power and the fatal weaknesses of magical creations. Professor Babbling hopes that here, you will learn how to truly 'read' magic."
The ancient stone slabs of the duelling platform emitted a deep hum as Sagres lightly tapped his wand.
In the centre of the previously empty arena, the scene began to distort and shift, rippling like water disturbed by a falling stone.
A massive, slightly dilapidated workshop in an ancient Alchemical style gradually materialised like a phantom.
Cold metal pipes coiled across the walls and ceiling like giant serpents, releasing faint jets of steam.
Glowing crystals, unfinished rune plates, and strange tools lay scattered across workbenches.
The air was filled with the sharp scent of metal grinding and a faint foul odour, while in the distance came the grinding of gears and the low hum of an energy core.
Sagres turned to face the wide-eyed students.
"Welcome to the Alchemy Construct Workshop known as Ixos Workshop," his voice echoed across the platform. "This simulated environment is based on an ancient Alchemical laboratory that has gone out of control. Your opponents today will no longer be each other, but them."
With a flick of his wand, several pairs of glowing "eyes" suddenly lit up within the shadows deep inside the workshop.
Accompanied by the clacking of metal joints, several constructs of different shapes slowly emerged from the darkness. Their bodies were forged from enchanted metal and rune cores, their shells covered in ancient runes that emitted varying degrees of magical fluctuation.
"Ancient Alchemical constructs. They possess neither life nor fear, and will only act according to their embedded rune instructions, eliminating all unauthorised intruders..."
"Intruders?" several students asked in confusion.
Sagres nodded.
"That would be you."
The students immediately held their breath, staring at the intricately designed magical creations with a mixture of tension and excitement.
"Each construct possesses its own unique behaviour patterns and energy core. Those cores are usually protected beneath armour plating and moving defensive shells, but the flow of magic inevitably leaves traces on the outside, usually appearing as specific glowing runes or recognisable attack patterns."
"Your task is not to destroy them through brute force. Although that is one method, it is inefficient and comparatively dangerous."
"Observe. Analyse. Find their weaknesses. Then use the most precise spells possible to sever their energy supply or destroy their control runes. That is the optimal approach."
Sagres stepped backwards, his figure blending into the workshop's flickering shadows and dim light.
Noctis also flew onto a hanging vine above the audience seats, its dark eyes overlooking the entire workshop that was about to descend into "chaos."
"A friendly reminder: reckless bombardment will not only waste your magic, but may also trigger their more powerful defensive and counterattack modes."
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