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Chapter 412: Chapter 32: The Green Tide
The Wizard’s battlefield had no smoke of gunpowder.
Boom!
Fireballs falling from the sky exploded prematurely in mid-air due to frenzied fire elements.
The fire element brought by the fireballs once again stabilized the fading fire elemental storm.
The frenzied fire elemental storm, like a red Grim Reaper, relentlessly harvested every creature within its reach.
This fire elemental storm had been ravaging the battlefield for two months, and if the Wizard wished, it could continue wreaking havoc for two more years, or even twenty.
Whenever it was about to dissipate, new fire elements would be added to prolong its existence.
But this time was somewhat different.
"Something is wrong, are this time’s fireballs fewer?"
Within the fortress cluster, an old wizard keenly noticed the change on the battlefield. The fire elemental storm on the battlefield was dissipating at a surprising rate.
This rate was far beyond the norm.
If no new fireballs replenished the fire element, this fire elemental storm that had been rampant for two months was about to vanish.
"Ek, report to the command center that the fire element storm is fading and request immediate support from the magic support vehicle."
The old wizard, with furrowed brows, watched the dissipating fire elemental storm, sensing a hint of danger from his years of wartime experience.
Every wave of fireballs launched by the magic support vehicles was carefully calculated by the headquarters.
The number of fireballs was just enough to maintain the storm until the next wave arrived.
Even if a magic support vehicle malfunctioned, there would be a backup ready to fill in without missing a single fireball.
But now the fire elemental storm was about to fade.
Something must have gone wrong behind the scenes.
The old wizard took out a crystal ball, shouting into it, "Attention all members of Squad 16 at Position 315, everyone prepare for battle, everyone prepare for battle..."
"Captain! The headquarters has responded."
Ek, who the old wizard had referred to, interrupted with a serious expression as he quickly approached, holding a crystal ball.
"There’s no issue with the number of fireballs launched by the magic support vehicle team. The commander has instructed us to carefully inspect the battlefield situation and report back at any moment."
Hearing this, the old wizard’s heart sank.
He knew the days of slaughtering insects from within the fortress were over.
He shouted into the communication crystal ball, "All cannons prepare, all cannons prepare! Prepare to face the enemy, prepare to face the enemy!"
Simultaneously, nearly every commander of a squad based at the frontmost fortresses along the entire defensive line issued the same command.
The old wizards had all faintly perceived something amiss.
Thud! Thud! Thud...
The dull sound of footsteps crossed through the fire elemental storm, reaching the ears of the wizards at the frontline of the battlefield.
All the wizards who heard it felt the ground under their feet tremble slightly.
Soon, the fire elemental storm dissipated.
A line of treants ablaze with roaring flames marched towards the cluster of fortresses. Behind them, the boundless Forest Sea seemed to step forward almost simultaneously.
After two months of warfare, the World Tree Subbody had finally evolved the ability to devour fire elements.
...
Floating City.
The command center was bustling with noise. Almost all front-line commanders reported to the command room simultaneously.
Every position along the entire defensive line was under assault by treants.
This rendered the already stretched thin defensive line on the verge of collapse.
"Has the information about the treants come in yet?"
As the chief commander, Jimmy, although somewhat impatient, maintained a calm demeanor.
In such times, the higher the position, the more composed one must be. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
"It’s here."
A Three Rings Wizard casually tossed a magic book to Jimmy.
Jimmy, upon receiving it, felt slightly overwhelmed.
The magic book listed ratings based on the messages sent from the front line:
[Flame Treant, Life Rating: 3.5, Defense Rating: 3, Attack Rating: 2.5, Overall Rating: 3, Quantity: Very Few]
[Treant: Life Rating: 3, Defense Rating: 2.5, Attack Rating: 1.5, Overall Rating: 2.5, Quantity: Numerous]
The numbers in the ratings represent the difficulty level, with a Life Rating of three indicating that this creature’s life energy is comparable to a third-level creature. If it’s 3.5, it is comparable to a Three Rings Wizard.
Among these assaulting treants, the Flame Treants already reached the overall rating of a third-level creature. The majority, being treants, each matched the standards of a Second Ring Wizard.
This disparity in combat power basically declared the collapse of the defensive line.
Jimmy placed the magic book aside, rubbed his forehead, and began adjusting the defensive line.
"Pass the word, abandon the first line of defense, all available Three Rings Wizards are to engage in battle, and logistics wizards, excluding Medical Wizards, are also to enter the battlefield.
Additionally, release the Synthetic Beasts we’ve been breeding lately."
"Synthetic Beasts?" A Three Rings Wizard questioned, "Aren’t we just feeding them?"
Jimmy, hands pressing on the table, explained, "The logistics department’s Alchemy Wizards have made improvements to the Synthetic Beasts, so when they die, their bodies will produce a variety of potent toxins targeting plants.
"Although this won’t allow us to recover anything, it can still be used as cannon fodder."
Jimmy’s voice was calm, yet every Wizard in the room detected a hint of powerlessness.
With limited resources at hand, they faced an enemy possessing nearly the resources of an entire world.
"I’m stepping out for a bit, Elco you take over command."
Jimmy suddenly stood up straight, the immense pressure making it hard for him to breathe.
He needed to vent.
"Okay, but you only have half an hour," replied the Wizard known as Elco without lifting his head.
"Phew, half an hour is enough."
Jimmy let out a relaxed breath and his body instantly disappeared from the command room.
When he reappeared, Jimmy had transformed into a black-robed giant covered in Magic Patterns, emerging outside the Floating City.
"Hey, Deputy Dean, out for some fresh air?" greeted a Three Rings Wizard who was heading to the battlefield.
Jimmy nodded slightly, "Yes, out for some fresh air and to vent a bit."
Right after saying that, Jimmy’s figure flashed and a loud sonic boom resonated through the air.
Soon, Jimmy found himself at the front lines.
Looking at the slightly disorganized group of Wizards being pursued by treants, a cold light flashed in Jimmy’s eyes.
"Trees should just quietly grow on the ground."
With those words, Magic Power surged within Jimmy, and it seemed like all the Magic Power in the sky was converging towards him.
The treants on the ground sensed the flow of energy and started shooting bolts of lightning towards the sky.
But Jimmy, facing lightning that was akin to a concentrated Magic barrage, not only didn’t dodge, he even revealed a ferocious smile.
"Lightning? Bring it on!"
In the next instant, Jimmy’s figure was engulfed by the brilliance of the lightning. Then, a fist enveloped in thunderous force lit up the half of the sky.
Jimmy, his body wrapped in thunder, stood in the air like the mythological Thunder God.
His thunderous punch was unstoppable. It carved a grand road through the endless treants, crashing everything in its path into smithereens.
With that single punch, thousands of ordinary treants were struck into charred remains. It directly eased the Wizards’ retreat and eliminated any need to look back.
Witnessing this, a young Wizard could not help but aspire.
"Is this a Three Rings Wizard? One day, I will become..."
"Stop daydreaming and move!"
The older Wizards, unlike the younger ones inexperienced in such feats, knew scenes far more spectacular when Great Wizards fought.
But undeniably, Jimmy’s punch carried the flair of a Great Wizard.
"That’s all there is to it!"
Jimmy boasted to the treants, but his body was flying back towards the Floating City.
The punch had nearly depleted all his Magic Power and spiritual power. Moreover, it was achieved only with the aid of the treants’ lightning and his own Thunder Rules.
Pretending further could have turned him into a laughingstock if the treants counterattacked and turned him into compost.
On other battlefields, the Three Rings Wizards were similarly demonstrating their formidable powers.
Though strong, these treants were still just Second-level Creatures with strong Life Energy to the Three Rings Wizards.
Even the Flame Treants were merely ordinary third-level creatures.
As long as they were not overwhelmed, these treants posed no significant threat to the Three Rings Wizards.
Unless...
Crack!
A seemingly ordinary, even somewhat frail treant threw a whip at a Three Rings Wizard covering the retreat.
Immediately, the Energy Barrier of the Three Rings Wizard cracked open with a "snap," and the residual force of the vine whip sent the Three Rings Wizard flying.
"Not good! World Tree subbodies have infiltrated the regular treants."
The flung Three Rings Wizard was suddenly alarmed, not expecting these wooden beings to employ such tactics.
The Three Rings Wizard immediately took out his Communication Crystal Ball, ready to report to the headquarters.
But before he could send out the message, a thick bolt of white-purple lightning plummeted down from above.
Despite his best efforts, he barely managed to block it.
"Headquarters, headquarters, I am Three Rings Wizard Izak, World Tree subbodies have infiltrated the treants, all Three Rings Wizards must be cautious in distinguishing..."
Crack!
...
Listening to the sound of a Magic Barrier breaking in the crystal ball, the receiving Three Rings Wizard silently switched to the next communication.
Three Rings Wizards are accustomed to life and death, the uncertain fate of one wizard could not make their "iron hearts" tremble.
"All Three Rings Wizards please be aware, World Tree subbodies have infiltrated ordinary treants, please be meticulous in identification."
"Repeat, World Tree subbodies have infiltrated ordinary treants, please be meticulous in identification."
Next to the map in the headquarters, the acting commander Elco updated the map with Magic Radiance.
The once intact defensive line now showed gaps, and the black area representing the Insect Tide had been changed to green representing the treants.
Now, the green tide was rapidly closing in on the Floating City.
