Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

Gazing at the black-robed nightmare before him, Puppet Billy suddenly felt a surge of caution. He hadn't noticed this Little Nightmare until it was already near him. In a battle, this oversight might have spelled his defeat or even death.

Despite the wariness in his heart, Puppet Billy maintained a calm exterior.

He asked in a steady tone, "Are you this little one's master?"

Richard observed the Little Nightmare before him, the energy cycle within it perfectly clear to his eyes. He quickly assessed its strength—forty thousand units of Nightmare Power, a top-tier first-level nightmare creature.

Killing it would be troublesome.

So, he nodded slightly, "I am Bones' master. Tell me your name, outsider."

Seeing Richard's concession, Puppet Billy quietly sighed in relief. This Little Nightmare exhibited unusual strength. While Billy was confident in victory, a fight would be costly. From Richard's reaction, he wasn't a hothead.

"There's potential for recruitment," Puppet Billy thought.

"I am Puppet Billy, a Nightmare Commandant under Lord Magic Sword Amadeus. I've come to investigate the Black Knight situation," Billy stated, neither arrogantly nor humbly. He then shifted the conversation, "Your subordinate mentioned you killed a Black Knight?"

Richard glanced at Bones, shaking his head slightly, "Not one, but three."

Although he had slain seven Black Knights, Richard chose caution. The Black Knights were formidable; ordinary first-level nightmare creatures might not defeat them in single combat.

Hearing Richard's correction, Billy was taken aback. While Richard's strength was apparent, he hadn't anticipated it being this formidable.

A wild Little Nightmare capable of dispatching three Black Knights.

Even Billy would struggle against three Black Knights.

"Are you sure it was three?" Billy asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

Richard nodded, "I am sure, Puppet Billy."

"Can you show me the battlefield?"

"Please."

...

Following Richard to the battle site, a forest, Billy confirmed Richard's claim. The Black Knights' power lay largely in their charge. On open ground, they were unstoppable, but in the forest, their charge was limited. The longer their charge, the more devastating their power.

A ten-kilometer charge would challenge even Lord Magic Sword.

"You're quite fortunate," Billy remarked. "May I ask your name?"

Richard felt a spark of inspiration, "I am Black Robe Charlie. What luck are you referring to?"

"Black Knights in full charge are true threats. In the forest, they're crippled beasts," Billy replied nonchalantly.

With that, Billy opened his chest, retrieving a black parchment. The parchment appeared to be a map. Using Nightmare Power, he marked an X on it. Besides this mark, Richard saw over a dozen others.

If he guessed correctly, these marked previous Black Knight sightings.

After marking, Billy spat a black flame, incinerating the parchment. The ashes formed a grinning skull in the air, which then flew south as a black light.

Watching it depart, Billy turned to Richard.

"My task is complete. Now, let's discuss your situation."

"My situation?" Richard feigned ignorance, "What about it?"

Billy pointed toward the village, speaking slowly, "Black Robe Charlie, the land you're on belongs to Lord Magic Sword Amadeus. All Nightmare Power collected here is his property. Without resolving this, you'll become an outcast."

"Outcasts roam the wilderness or become mercenaries in the No-Law Land. They're unrecognized by Nightmare Lords, preyed upon wherever they go."

"Oh?" Richard feigned anger, "Are you threatening me, Puppet Billy?"

To complete the act, Richard unleashed a surge of Nightmare Power.

"No," Billy replied calmly. "I'm informing you. If you're uncooperative, this will be your fate."

"So what do you propose?" Richard asked, retracting his Nightmare Power.

Billy smiled, a disconcerting sight on a puppet's face.

"If you cooperate, these are minor issues. Your strength isn't insignificant, and you didn't err intentionally. Lord Magic Sword Amadeus will forgive you. If you join his ranks, this village remains yours, and nearby villages may be awarded to you."

Finally, Billy reached the crux.

"And if I don't cooperate?" Richard countered.

"Don't cooperate?" Billy laughed, the air turning eerie. "Then you'll be Lord Amadeus' enemy!"

Ulysses, serving as a decorative crow on Richard's shoulder, communicated mentally:

"This Little Nightmare is tricky. He's developing a Nightmare Domain, a nasty ability. Avoid getting trapped if possible."

"Don't worry. Allegiance was always my plan," Richard reassured Ulysses.

From the start, Richard never intended to fight alone.

He lacked Ulysses' overwhelming power, being merely a first-ring wizard. As a wizard, Richard preferred solving problems with intellect.

This wasn't a planar war; he could collaborate with these nightmare creatures.

"One question, Puppet Billy."

"Speak."

"Does pledging to Lord Amadeus involve being named or anything similar?"

"Named?" Billy laughed, then mocked, "Black Robe Richard, you don't think you're that significant, do you? Being named by Lord Amadeus is an honor for elite nightmares, his personal guards. You're just a slightly stronger Little Nightmare, unworthy of such measures."

Hearing this, Richard inwardly rejoiced.

A mutual agreement.

"Then I agree to join Lord Amadeus."

Billy scrutinized Richard, confirming his sincerity, then said:

"Good. Follow me to the territory to meet Lord Amadeus in person."

"When do we depart?"

Billy opened his chest again, pulling out a carriage model and tossing it to the ground.

"Now!"

The model transformed into a four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two nightmare steeds.

"I'll drive. You sit in back. We leave immediately!"

...

The nightmare carriage sped along, scenery flashing by the window as Richard watched silently.

"Ulysses, how much Nightmare Power can a Nightmare Knight collect in a year?"

The crow on his shoulder opened its beak, then flapped its wings as if yawning.

"Caw, who knows? Depends on the territory size. But to sustain a Nightmare Knight, a territory needs to collect at least one to two million units annually. Otherwise, minor exertions would exceed intake."

For nightmare creatures, Nightmare Power is both a power source and sustenance. Each consumes varying amounts daily, depending on strength.

At Richard's current level, he consumed about ten units daily, spending most days in his room studying runes. Any activity would increase this consumption exponentially.

Nightmare Knights, already at third-tier or peak third-tier, often resorted to hibernation to conserve Nightmare Power.

"Not bad," Richard mused with a smile.

"Caw, you're not eyeing that Nightmare Power, are you?" Ulysses cautioned. "Though I did it back then, you're far from my level."

Richard glanced at him, "Relax, I'm not foolish. More territory income means more control. I doubt a hibernating Nightmare Knight can prevent underlings from skimming."

Soon, the carriage stopped. Billy, now inexplicably in formal attire, opened the door with a gentlemanly flourish.

"Step out, dear lady. We've arrived."

Richard exited the carriage, "Do we even differentiate between genders?"

Billy stiffened, looking displeased.

"Buzzkill. Follow me to meet Lord Amadeus."

The Nightmare Knight's base was a city akin to Gael City, though smaller. With the Blood Moon rising, countless Nightmare Spirits crawled from shadows, ready to enter dreams.

"This is Lord Amadeus' core territory, Amadeus City," Billy boasted.

Richard nodded, feigning amazement, "Impressive. It must house tens of thousands of Nightmare Spirits."

"Tens of thousands?" Billy laughed, "There are millions here, producing half the territory's Nightmare Crystals annually."

"So many! That means hundreds of thousands of units annually!" Richard exclaimed.

"Hundreds of thousands?" Billy thought this wild Little Nightmare was naive. "Amadeus City alone produces hundreds of thousands of crystals yearly!"

Richard feigned more astonishment, but beneath his robe, he smiled slightly.

Billy hadn't realized Richard had tricked him into revealing information.

Following Billy, Richard reached the city center, stopping at a mayoral mansion.

Guards at the door, all second-tier beings, likely part of Amadeus' guard, stood watch.

"Guard, I've brought a Little Nightmare willing to serve Lord Amadeus, seeking his approval."

A bear-like guard glanced at Richard, silently opening the mansion's door.

"Enter."

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