Wizard + System

CH221

"What's the situation like recently?" Lucio asked.

Tyron sighed, "Let's head to the military camp first, and I'll explain in detail. Things aren't looking good."

Lucio nodded, and the group of elves followed Tyron to the border camp, overlooking the Lim Mountains.

"Our scouts have recently discovered many creatures in the Lim Mountains. Their strength is unclear, but there are a lot of them," Tyron said gravely.

Tyron had been keeping a close watch on the Lim Mountains.

The night Helag and his group began summoning creatures, soldiers noticed something unusual.

Roars from creatures in the Lim Mountains were heard, something that hadn't happened before.

These soldiers, stationed in Oberstein for years, knew the mountains were mostly devoid of creatures.

But since that night, the roars increased.

Upon learning this, Tyron sent a few soldiers, after writing their wills, to cautiously approach the mountains and use binoculars to investigate.

What they saw made their skin crawl.

Through the binoculars, they saw creatures everywhere in the Lim Mountains.

Some creatures noticed them and roared but didn't come out, pacing near the entrance.

The soldiers quickly retreated and reported back to the camp.

Tyron immediately reinforced defenses towards the Lim Mountains and increased surveillance.

The growing number of creatures weighed heavily on Tyron.

Though the creatures stayed in the mountains, this worried Tyron even more.

He feared they were waiting for the right moment to swarm out and devastate Oberstein's border forces.

Besides hoping for elven aid, Tyron also sought help from the Norn Kingdom.

The kingdom promised to send spellcasters and military supplies, preparing for wartime logistics.

Yet, Tyron remained anxious, feeling suffocated by the looming threat.

Seeing Lucio arrive with over sixty elves brought some relief.

Lucio said gravely, "Creatures? The situation is worse than I thought. They've reached this stage."

Recently, Lucio had reviewed various wizard invasions.

He assumed the Lim Mountains base was still under construction, hence the secrecy.

But upon returning to Oberstein, Tyron reported seeing many creatures in the mountains.

Historically, this signaled an impending wizard attack.

Wizards had methods to mass-produce and summon creatures, forming armies.

In past battles, wizards used these armies to wear down opponents.

Summoning creatures seemed costless for wizards, but the elves and humans paid with lives.

Once creatures were defeated, wizards could summon more.

But what about the elves and humans?

Reproduction and growth took time, unable to match war's demands.

As their forces dwindled, wizards would strike.

Wizards' elite forces were powerful, often securing victory upon engaging.

Lucio took a deep breath and told the other two elven tribe representatives, "The situation is tricky. Wizards have started summoning creatures. We need to disrupt their summoning altars and request more reinforcements from our tribes."

"If necessary, we might even seek royal aid. We must crush these wizards early on."

"Once they grow stronger, our chances diminish."

The other tribe representatives nodded, understanding Lucio's point.

"So, we need to form squads to infiltrate the Lim Mountains and destroy the altars," Lucio said.

An elf named Parado said, "But we'll suffer heavy casualties. The mountains are full of creatures. We'll need to fight through them to reach the altars, likely guarded by wizards."

"I know, but we have no choice. They're building strength. We must disrupt them. Once they act, it'll be too late."

Lucio was resigned, knowing infiltrating the mountains was dangerous.

But he believed they had to thwart the wizards' plans or face defeat.

"Who will go to the Lim Mountains?" Parado asked.

"I will," Lucio said without hesitation.

Parado shook his head, "No, you can't. None of us can. We're leaders. If we die, who will lead and organize?"

Lucio fell silent, acknowledging Parado's point.

They were leaders of the operation, and it made no sense for generals to charge into enemy lines before war began.

"Captain, let us try. If it doesn't work, we'll retreat. We'll sneak in after dark. It shouldn't be too dangerous," a team member suggested.

Lucio considered and nodded, "Alright, we have to try."

He planned to send strong team members to test the altar's defenses.

If it proved too difficult, they'd retreat.

"We'll send some of our people too," Parado said.

***

In the end, each tribe sent two high-level spellcasters, forming a temporary squad.

Six high-level spellcasters, equivalent to six crystalline-level wizards, made a formidable team.

After dark, the six quietly left the camp, heading for the Lim Mountains.

They were covered in green plants, a special concealment technique.

To other creatures, they were invisible, their presence and breath hidden, blending with nature.

CH222

This was a concealment spell unique to the elves.

Favored by nature, they could almost perfectly hide themselves using this magic.

In the Lim Mountains.

Helag was stationed by the Shadow Altar, sitting with his eyes closed, meditating and resting.

Each Shadow Altar needed constant guarding.

Helag and his team took turns, each guarding for a night, and tonight was Helag's turn.

The materials used to build the altars were limited and expensive.

Thus, every altar was crucial and needed protection.

If an altar was lost, Helag and his team would face consequences.

Failing to protect an altar would likely mean failing the assessment at Base 27.

Night fell, enveloping the mountains in deep darkness.

Distant stars shone, casting a faint glow over the valley.

Yet, the valley was eerily silent, with only occasional ancient beast growls breaking the stillness, sending chills down the spine.

Above the peaks, the twilight faded, replaced by dim moonlight, illuminating the mountain contours, making them appear eerie and mysterious.

The deep valleys and cliffs blocked most moonlight, with only scattered beams reaching the wind-eroded cliffs, enhancing their sinister appearance.

Suddenly, faint footsteps echoed between the peaks.

Soon, a small creature appeared in the moonlight.

Its eyes glowed like green flames, with short wings on its flat head. It spat a green mist, enveloping its feet, then carefully crawled along the cliff.

More creatures followed. Large beasts with thick fur, baring fangs and glaring fiercely.

Reptilian creatures, agile and resilient, seemingly tireless.

They roamed the mountains, or flew high with magical wings. The mountains teemed with diverse creatures.

These creatures wandered throughout the mountains.

Milanra led the elven squad, and upon entering the Lim Mountains, they were chilled by the sight.

So many creatures, if unleashed, would exact a heavy toll to repel.

Milanra exchanged glances with the others, seeing their resolve to destroy the altars.

Lucio was right; they couldn't allow the wizards time to build strength.

They cautiously advanced through the mountains, avoiding the creatures.

Milanra's group didn't want to alert the creatures too soon.

First, they needed to locate the altars, then destroy them.

Milanra's team scouted the mountain entrance, finding four or five altars.

"So many, but we only have six people."

Milanra realized there were more altars than expected, and these were just at the mountain's edge; more were likely deeper in.

Each altar had one or two guards, and they only had six people.

After a moment's thought, Milanra said, "We'll split into pairs to destroy three altars. Once done, leave immediately. If it's too difficult, retreat."

Their goal was to disrupt as many altars as possible, not to complete the task at all costs.

Preserving their lives was paramount, given their limited numbers.

Losing more would worsen their disadvantage.

The others agreed, nodding and pairing up.

They paired naturally with members from their own tribes.

After the other teams left, Milanra focused on a distant altar, seeing a lone guard below.

Creatures roamed the altar's perimeter, but no other wizards were visible.

Milanra maintained concealment, stealthily approaching.

They planned a surprise attack.

Confident in their elven concealment magic.

***

Helag, meditating, sensed two figures approaching.

Using Deep Blue's environmental scan, he identified them as elves, crystalline-level wizards.

Helag didn't raise an alarm but quietly spoke into his wristband, "Mr. Cain, I see two crystalline-level elves approaching, likely targeting the Shadow Altar. I suspect more elves are infiltrating from other directions."

Cain quickly replied, "Hold your ground, protect the altar. We're sending reinforcements."

After reporting, Helag stood and stretched.

Then.

"Absolute Defense!"

"Rage of the Blood Bull!"

***

Moments later, a giant in black armor stood by the altar, patrolling slowly.

"Have we been discovered?" Milanra was startled when Helag cast spells, fearing exposure.

But seeing Helag merely patrolling, seemingly unaware of their presence, Milanra relaxed.

"A low to mid-level spellcaster's aura? But physically strong," Milanra assessed Helag's strength.

With a plan in mind, Milanra readied his magic.

Ten meters from Helag, Milanra and his kin attacked, summoning a magic array that unleashed two thick green vines aimed at Helag's head and chest.

Helag, back turned, seemed oblivious, walking forward.

Milanra and his kin focused on the vines, envisioning Helag's defeat.

But the vines struck empty air.

Helag vanished.

Milanra was shocked, certain he wasn't hallucinating.

Magic ripples indicated Helag used a spell to evade.

A sound from behind.

Without turning, Milanra chanted, raising a green vine wall to block Helag's punch.

Boom!

The vine wall met Helag's fist with a dull thud.

Milanra and his kin retreated, distancing themselves from Helag.

They realized Helag was a melee wizard, keeping distance was wise.

As the vine wall vanished, Helag's imposing figure emerged.

He grinned at the retreating elves, retrieving a wooden longbow from his spatial ring, aiming at Milanra and his kin.