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Chapter 407: Chapter 27 The War Begins
Floating City.
In comparison to other worlds, the expansion of wizard territories in the Green Forest World was more challenging.
The biological weapons left behind by the Pioneers were no trivial matter; even a wizard could inadvertently lose their life to the Underworld.
Moreover, these creatures were also skilled in survival.
Led by the Drilling Demon Worms, these creatures burrowed through the hardened ground of the fortress wizards, leaving it riddled with holes.
The seeds scattered by the Sowing Falcons could even take root in alchemy machines.
In addition to that, there were trees with roots like drills that could consume metal, poisonous insects capable of devouring metals, which didn’t show immediate effects, but over time would erode the enchanted Energy-devouring Spores...
The harsh environment of the Green Forest World taught the well-traveled fortress wizards a harsh lesson.
Fortunately, wizards were not a race set in their ways, excelling at learning and improvement.
Though the environment of the Green Forest World was harsh, with long-term evolution, these creatures had become more than just biological weapons.
They had formed an ecosystem, with a very complete food chain and web.
By studying the relationships between these creatures, wizards quickly found ways to deal with them and even used them to hasten their own advancement.
For example, within the dense forests of the Green Forest World, there existed gigantic Insect-eating Plants, carnivorous plants whose menu consisted of poisonous insects and some small biological weapons; their digestive fluid emitted a special pheromone that lured in poisonous insects for predation.
Once wizards confirmed that their diet included most poisonous insects, they immediately began cultivating them on a large scale.
Even under the leadership of a few Three Rings Wizards, they domesticated these carnivorous plants, turning them into an asset for the wizards.
Now, these Insect-eating Plants could even be used as emergency medical pods.
Under this line of thinking, the wizards’ expansion rate would accelerate periodically.
Before the World Tree issued its counterattack command, the rate of expansion in wizard frontiers had almost reached two-thirds of that in a normal world and was about to catch up.
Keep in mind, this was the expansion of an extremely dangerous Wilderness World.
Sadly, the commands from the World Tree forced the wizards to retract their defenses.
...
"Hurry, hurry, we only have twelve hours left!"
Within the incomplete fortress clusters, a Second Ring White Wizard, while controlling an Earth Element giant to transport materials, yelled at the other White Wizards.
According to the intelligence report from the Three Rings Wizards who had returned from the unexplored frontier, the next Insect Tide could enter the attack range of the fortress clusters in as little as twelve hours.
If delayed, this time could extend to eighteen hours, and at most twenty-four hours.
This was certainly not good news for the wizards.
Because of the special circumstances of the Green Forest World, the command headquarters had not given top priority to constructing fortresses during the expansion. Although this strategy greatly accelerated the pace of wizard expansion, it also meant that even with intelligence in hand, the construction of defenses was hard to perfect.
Throughout the defenses, numerous gaps were being filled by fortress wizards working overtime, tireless day and night.
But the Insect Tide would not wait for them.
The White Wizard’s urging forced the wizards to quicken their pace again, despite some already experiencing exhaustion of their spiritual power; they still worked hard, pushing through the fatigue.
After all, the integrity of the fortress clusters was closely related to their safety.
When it came to their own lives, people would put in extra effort.
Floating City, Command Room.
Jimmy nodded repeatedly as he watched the Crystal Ball in front of him.
"Good... good... I understand. Don’t worry, principal, our Academy’s wizards have come through a sea of corpses and a river of blood; we can definitely win... okay."
Soon, the light of the Crystal Ball dimmed.
Jimmy put the Crystal Ball away with a serious expression, and then took out another one.
"Gentlemen, our problem this time is very serious. The power of the Insect Tide has exceeded our planned standard point and is nearing the critical value we estimated."
Saying this, the newly taken out Crystal Ball projected a three-dimensional holographic image.
In the image, the fortress clusters built by the wizards were using Alchemy Weapons to block the Insect Tide. Chain Lightning, Fireball Technique, Wind Blade Technique, and other Spells were massively effective in the Insect Tide, with almost every Spell killing a swath of insects.
But not a single wizard in the Command Room showed any sign of relief; instead, they all wore serious expressions.
Jimmy’s fingertips flickered with Magic Radiance, pausing the image.
"I think everyone has noticed."
The Command Room fell silent for a moment before an old White Wizard spoke, "There are too many high-level creatures among these insects. Our Alchemy Weapons are having difficulty eradicating them completely."
Jimmy nodded slightly, "Exactly. The number of high-level creatures in the Insect Tide has reached an unimaginably high level, and the defenses of these high-level creatures are extremely strong."
With that, he pointed to a corner of the paused image.
"This biological weapon took five high-energy lightnings. If I remember correctly, the target-elimination weapon equipped by the Netherfire Army should be the Tesla Model 9 Modified Alchemy Magic Stone Cannon.
Such a Magic Stone Cannon has reached an Energy Level of five thousand and possesses Penetration attributes.
Even I would suffer slight injuries if I had to withstand its force with just my flesh, yet this biological weapon could withstand five shots.
And such biological weapons are not uncommon in the Insect Tide; in fact, they are quite frequent."
Jimmy pointed to several particularly prominent biological weapons in the image.
"Although these few can’t withstand five shots, withstanding two or three is still possible."
"These biological weapons pose a grave challenge to our fortress cluster. If their numbers exceed our processing limit, then our fortress cluster is no different from one made of paper."
Jimmy said with a grave expression, "I think our fortress should be able to withstand a siege by third-level creatures without breaking, right?"
The Command Room was silent as birds, and all the wizards, black and white alike, were furrowing their brows in thought, contemplating a solution.
"Let’s deploy the Magic Support Vehicles," a White Wizard suddenly suggested. "The Magic Concentrated Fire from the Magic Support Vehicles can effectively reduce the number of the Insect Tide.
Our fortress cluster can then clean up the remnants from behind."
"Do we have enough parts for the Magic Support Vehicles?" Jimmy frowned and asked. "I remember that the casting components of those things need to be replaced frequently.
We are engaging in a war of attrition this time; if we show our hand too early, we won’t have anything left to use later on."
"If we follow the usual support method, then indeed we will not have enough parts," explained the Legion Commander of the White Wizard Army. "But this time, we don’t plan to use them conventionally.
Thanks to Garon Great Wizard, our order from Richard Jolod’s Commerce was exceptionally moved up the queue.
This has left us with an ample number of Magic Support Vehicles.
In this situation, we don’t have to push the casting components to the point of melting.
We can strike, allow a cooldown period, and then strike again. With this approach, the lifespan of the casting components of the Magic Support Vehicles will be significantly extended."
Upon hearing the Legion Commander’s words, Jimmy was slightly taken aback.
Indeed, although the greatest utility of the Magic Support Vehicles is to overexert the lifespan of the casting components for timely magic support,
it doesn’t mean that’s the only way they can be used.
"I’ve learned something new," Jimmy said with a slight bow.
This trick, although trivial, is still a piece of knowledge. If Jimmy were to participate in another Plane expedition in the future, this little trick might just solve some difficult problems for him.
"Great, there’s an Insect Tide coming later anyway. We can use them for practice to see if this plan works."
The wizards all nodded in agreement, and the conversation quickly turned to another issue.
"Besides the ground Insect Tide, we’re also facing attacks underground."
Jimmy’s fingertips sparkled, and the image projected by the Crystal Ball changed to a three-dimensional model.
The content of the model was a rough representation of the entire Wizard-occupied region.
"Although we’ve reinforced our foundations with Hometown Grass, the roots of the World Tree Subbody are still relentlessly shaking them.
This is very detrimental to our defenses."
In the image, root strands burrowed and drilled into the solidified foundations created by the wizards like drill bits. As the image continued, a massive amount of root strands would eventually riddle the foundation of the wizard’s fortress cluster with holes.
By then, even without the World Tree Subbody making a move, simply retracting its roots would be enough to cause leaks or even collapses in the wizard’s fortress cluster.
"Let Black Wizards skilled in Earth Element Magic handle this," a Black Wizard clad in a black robe spoke up. "Underground, White Wizards can’t utilize their strengths.
Moreover, combat underground requires not just strength but also a strong heart from the wizards.
Being isolated and without support underground is too cruel for White Wizards."
The Black Wizard’s words were not very pleasing to hear, but none of the White Wizards present refuted.
They were all Three Rings Wizards, and reason had long since triumphed over any surplus emotions.
Although what the Black Wizard said was harsh, it was the truth.
The underground environment was indeed not suitable for White Wizards.
"Okay, let’s resolve the root strands underground like this," Jimmy decided. "But Black Wizards adept with the Earth Element won’t be enough. Later, I plan to release a batch of knowledge about the Earth Element, allowing other Black Wizards to learn as much as possible.
What do you all think?"
Sharing knowledge, upon hearing this strategy, even though the wizards present were all Three Rings Wizards, some couldn’t help showing signs of surprise.
Of course, those surprised were all from outside Jialong Academy, as the wizards of Jialong Academy were not at all startled by Jimmy’s plan.
For a Wizard Academy, the influence of a permanent headmaster on the academy’s culture is enormous.
People will unconsciously mimic the behavior of the strong, hoping they too can become strong.
As if a worshipper of a one-armed cape guy would cut off his own limb, and then look for four guys to humiliate himself for three months.
"Releasing a batch of knowledge, Garon Great Wizard is truly generous," a Black Wizard expressed with admiration.
"The plan is feasible."
"I see no problems with it."
"The bait of knowledge is too enticing."
...
Seeing that there was no objection among the wizards, Jimmy confirmed the plan.
Afterward, in the meeting, the wizards also discussed issues concerning the distribution of materials and personnel deployment.
After wrapping up the discussion, Jimmy announced the end of the meeting.
Soon, the Insect Tides arrived.
Herds of shepherd insect people, like giants driving a flock of sheep, were pushing the Insect Tides toward the wizard’s fortress cluster. They wielded Vine Whips, and each flick sent vast amounts of Frenzy substances flying.
Under the influence of these substances, the Insect Tides became utterly agitated.
Like a tidal wave, the insects charged toward the fortress, blocking out the sky and resembling a black sandstorm in the desert.
