Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

"You say he's the master?" The head of the club looked at Richard's avatar, extending a mental probe. Despite his efforts, the figure appeared to be a true nightmare creature.

Having studied nightmare creatures, the head couldn't mistake one for anything else.

"Head, this is indeed the master," Firth said, recounting his encounter. The head was shocked by the tale.

To disguise oneself so perfectly, this wizard's knowledge of nightmare creatures surpassed his own.

The wizarding world was vast; surely others had explored the Nightmare World before him.

Looking at Richard's avatar, the head asked warmly:

"So, Master, are you planning to join our Dreamwalkers' Club and participate in this plan?"

Richard's avatar performed a wizard's salute:

"I wouldn't dare call myself a master, but I'm indeed interested in this plan."

The head nodded, "Since you're interested in our plan and wish to join us, the Dreamwalkers' Club welcomes you. However, for everyone's safety, participants must sign a soul contract."

"I'm currently at Residential Layer 5, Unit 232. If you're free, come by to sign the contract. I'll be there until the plan concludes."

"Sign the contract in person? Can't we use a contract made of Nightmare Power?" Richard asked awkwardly.

Unlike the Dreamwalkers, who entered via ritual magic, he had stumbled into the Nightmare World and was physically in the Hive World.

How could he sign a contract in person?

"A contract made of Nightmare Power won't suffice," the head shook his head. He had researched Nightmare Power extensively; while perfect for simulating magical artifacts and materials, it merely mimicked the surface of soul contracts or items affecting the soul.

Seeing Richard's hesitation, the head asked:

"Are you in another plane, unable to return?"

Richard nodded, accepting the head's assumption.

"That's unfortunate," the head lamented. "I must prioritize the safety of others. Without a soul contract, we can't allow you to participate."

The situation seemed at an impasse.

After a moment of silence, Richard spoke:

"But what if I'm already involved?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Richard gestured to Firth, "The reason I fought with Firth is that I found magical traces in the village you operated in. I went there because Magic Sword Amadeus' administrative officer tasked me with investigating you."

He spread his hands, "I've evidently completed the task, and quite successfully."

The head and Firth's expressions shifted instantly.

They had thought Richard stumbled upon Firth's bait, but now realized he was actively tracking them.

This complicated matters.

"Friend, you've infiltrated Magic Sword Amadeus' ranks?" the head asked, amazed. "Your disguise fools even nightmare creatures?"

Richard was baffled by the question.

"Don't nightmare creatures fail to see through your disguises too?"

The head shook his head, "Not quite; I've tried, but they notice something amiss immediately."

Now Richard was puzzled.

Back in his body, Richard asked Ulysses:

"Ulysses, didn't you say bodies formed from Nightmare Power can't be detected as fake by nightmare creatures below a lord's level?"

Ulysses was a bit confused by Richard's question: "Caw, that's true. I used a Nightmare Power body to infiltrate a territory back then."

"Then why is this different?" Richard mused.

He shifted his focus to the avatar, using nightmare senses to examine the two wizards.

Soon, he detected a faint "odor."

This "odor" felt familiar, likely related to the wizard world's essence, but Richard himself didn't have it.

"Ulysses, how did you enter the Nightmare World?"

"Caw, caught off guard by a nightmare fog. Why? Are the other wizards having issues?"

After pondering, Richard replied via the avatar:

"It's likely your ritual's issue. You have a faint 'odor,' seemingly left by the wizard world's essence."

"The wizard world's essence!?" they exclaimed.

"Indeed, our entry ritual is linked to the essence," the head admitted, troubled.

Their difficult research was hindered by the entry ritual's magic.

"But don't worry. This 'odor' merely alerts nightmare creatures. They can't identify you. Nightmare creatures crave foreign souls. If your wizard identities were known, they'd have attacked long ago."

"But Amanda was captured; Amadeus must know we're wizards," Firth interjected.

"He might know, but his subordinates don't. Amadeus' underlings concealed your presence. If you cease activity, he won't know you're back."

"Ceasing isn't an option," the head admitted, resigned.

"This plan isn't mine to abandon."

With that, a magic circle lit beneath him:

"I'm contacting the third-circle master."

The circle's glow enveloped the head, who collapsed, his body losing consciousness. Threads of Nightmare Power drifted from him, sinking into the ground. Firth quickly merged the body with his own to prevent excessive power loss.

"Is this your ritual magic?"

Firth nodded, "This is how we enter and exit the Nightmare World."

After hours of waiting, the circle glowed red, and a soul emerged.

"Good news and bad news," the returning head informed Richard. "The bad news is our plan continues."

"And the good news?" Richard asked, already suspecting the answer.

"The good news is the third-circle master agrees to let you join."

The head extended a hand to Richard:

"Welcome to the plan. How should we address you?"

Richard shook his hand, "I'm Richard. Pleased to collaborate."

...

The Dreamwalkers' plan was simple: stir conflict between two nightmare knights under the Nightmare Lord Wuxin—Magic Sword Amadeus and Black Dragon Korlheim, who were at odds.

Legend has it Korlheim's missing head was severed by Amadeus.

The plan aimed to incite a battle between them, allowing the third-circle wizard to infiltrate Amadeus' manor and find the nightmare artifact, Crystal Gate.

The plan came from the elusive third-circle master, who would handle the most dangerous infiltration. Other wizards provided support.

Richard's involvement altered the plan. Initially, Firth would fish in the graveyard, leaving traces to link the investigation to Black Dragon.

With Richard, these tactics were unnecessary.

Investigator and investigated were allies, making the outcome easy to fabricate.

The third-circle wizard offered five magic crystals and three Little Nightmares as payment, among the highest compensations.

But Richard sought more.

A war between the knights promised greater rewards than the offered payment.

Due to increased consumption of Nightmare Power, nightmare creatures converted it into crystals, using them to breakthrough to new tiers.

Magic creatures like Puppet Billy, not investigating Black Knights, maintained minimal power levels.

Through conversation, Richard learned nightmare creatures faced bottlenecks. Consuming Nightmare Power during these periods didn't increase strength; excess power dissipated.

Overcoming bottlenecks required massive power consumption.

This meant nightmare creatures likely had crystal reserves.

In war, casualties would turn these reserves into untapped treasures.

Richard and the head finalized the next steps. Before leaving, Richard asked:

"Do you know about the impending Black Tide in Amadeus' territory?"

"Black Tide? No," the head responded, puzzled.

"In the last decade, have you encountered black knights?"

Richard was perplexed. Even elder nightmare spirits knew of the Black Tide. How could these wizards not?

"Uh..." The head hesitated. "Our ritual limits us to three-month visits every decade. Outside that, we can't enter freely."

Richard briefed them on the Black Tide.

"Yes, that's a concern," the head acknowledged. "I'll inform the third-circle master to check Black Dragon's territory. If it's there, we may delay a decade."

Richard left the club's base.

Even if delayed, a decade was manageable.

Meanwhile, Richard's main body faced trouble.

Seeing a dark line approaching, Richard rubbed his temples.

"Dozens of Black Knights—a bit troublesome."