Synthetic Wizard - Chapter 262 - 170: Ambusher in the Shadows (2)
Chapter 262: Chapter 170: Ambusher in the Shadows (2)
The dazzling achievements of the trio have influenced many others, resulting in more and more Level 2 Wizard Apprentices choosing to team up in groups of three.
The entire team, aside from Sherman and the two other Wizard Apprentices, included two squads of Demon Pattern Knights, totaling twenty Demon Pattern Knights.
Everyone maintained silence along the way, avoiding unnecessary communication to prevent any sound from interfering with their vigilance of the surroundings.
After more than ten minutes, the team reached a spacious area.
Sherman made a hand gesture, and everyone immediately spread out, checking the surroundings. Once they confirmed there were no issues, they sat down in a place with a clear view.
Except for the Demon Pattern Knights on guard duty, everyone else took out food and clean water, striving to rest and fill their stomachs.
Sherman nibbled on his dry rations, an invisible tower shield still floating behind him.
Years of exploration and combat in the underground world had already made him an experienced adventure expert.
He always remembered that there were numerous creatures in the underground world that could traverse rock walls, so he never chose a place near the walls to rest.
Furthermore, the underground world could at any time lead to a breakout of combat with creatures, hence vigilance could never be relaxed.
At least one magic or protective magical item must be activated at all times.
“I heard they’re forming a Sub-dragon Species cavalry this year at the base?”
During rest, there was no need to be so guarded, and Attila relaxed as he opened up the conversation.
Sherman nodded: “Yes, Dragon Antelope Knights. I’ve seen the Dragon Antelope Ranch from a distance, and there are many dragon antelopes, all of which have developed quite robustly.”
He paused, looking at Cole, asking, “Cole, your Dragon Antelope Magical Pet was taken from the breeding room, wasn’t it?”
Cole, as usual, was taciturn and merely nodded upon hearing this.
Now all three of them had their own magical pets.
Cole’s was a dragon antelope.
Sherman’s was a Storm Dragon Beast.
Attila’s was a winged dragon.
Without exception, they were all contracted juvenile Sub-dragon Species.
After more than four years of cultivation, the magical pets of the three had now reached the Legendary Realm.
Of course, they were still far from being comparable to the magical pets of their teacher.
It was said the Hidden Dragon had now evolved to the Tier Four Legendary level, with its blood concentration very close to that of the Dragon Race.
Now standing before the Hidden Dragon, even the three of them could feel a heart-pounding, anxiety-inducing sensation.
It was a powerful pressure very close to dragon might.
It’s foreseeable that the Hidden Dragon evolving into the Dragon Race is only a matter of time.
Sherman’s dream is that one day, he will cultivate his Storm Dragon Beast to the same level as the Hidden Dragon.
“I heard Prince Abbott is taking the aptitude test this year?” Attila brought up another topic.
“Yes, Prince Abbott is twelve years old now, reaching the minimum age for aptitude testing.” Sherman pondered slightly, “I wonder if he can pass the test.”
“Prince Abbott is royalty after all; the chances of passing are probably high,” Attila remarked.
“That’s not necessarily true. Royalty only has superior knight talents, while wizard aptitude is not much different from others; failing the aptitude test is the likely outcome.”
Attila thought it made sense, as Grand Duke Kei was merely a Legendary Knight, not a Wizard Apprentice, so his descendants indeed have no significant genetic advantage in this aspect.
But their teacher, having descendants of a teacher might very well possess wizard aptitude.
“Speaking of which, our teacher has been appearing less frequently lately. Carolina mentioned that the teacher often stays in the Meditation Room for a month or two at a time. Do you think the teacher is advancing to become a wizard?”
With Attila’s mention, both Sherman’s and Cole’s expressions shifted.
To be honest, they had similar thoughts before.
Although encountering a broader world, they had come to know that a true wizard was almost impossible to be born on the Starlight Continent.
But their teacher was different.
Though they had never interacted with other Level 3 Wizard Apprentices, they knew that a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice like their teacher, possessing grand resources, was unique across the Starlight Continent.
If anyone on the Starlight Continent has the greatest hope of advancing to wizard, it would undoubtedly be their teacher!
“It’s possible.” Sherman beamed with joy.
If their teacher successfully advanced to Official Wizard, it would undoubtedly be a shot in the arm for these apprentices.
At least it offered them a ray of hope that the Starlight Continent could ultimately produce an Official Wizard after all.
“I don’t expect to become a wizard,” Attila sighed. “I’d be satisfied if I could become a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice in this lifetime.”
Sherman pursed his lips, remaining silent. Deep down, he still held a trace of hope for becoming an Official Wizard, even if he knew it was unreachably distant.
Currently, the base has increased to over 350 apprentices, with those at the Level 2 Wizard Apprentice numbered in double digits.
More and more Level 2 Wizard Apprentices joined the Star Alliance’s exploration, significantly accelerating the external expansion of the Star Alliance.
Compared to four years prior, the Star Alliance’s territorial map has doubled in size.
Four years ago, the Star Alliance only comprised Ghost Lake, Matu, Auson, and Giant Eye City, at most adding Kasham, now turned into the Magic Plant Garden.
But now, the Star Alliance has developed into a giant with fifteen city-states and over a hundred resource points.
However, as the territorial map expanded, the resistance to the Star Alliance’s expansion increased dramatically.
More and more city-state forces became aware of the threat posed by the Star Alliance and allied against its expansion efforts.
This time, they’re heading out because Human-faced Lion Scouts discovered traces of Dark Elves nearby, costing several Human-faced Lion Scouts.
“We’ve circled around several times without finding anything; could they have been mistaken?” Attila discussed the current situation.
Sherman shook his head: “I don’t think so. Human-faced Lion Scouts are highly skilled at concealing their tracks, and there aren’t many creatures around Nolan City capable of noticing them. Also, the body of a dead Human-faced Lion bears dagger wounds and traces of shadow force corrosion, which indeed seems like the work of Dark Elves.”
“What should we do next?”
“Continue seeking! Although Dark Elves are also adept at hiding, I don’t believe they can evade us indefinitely; we’ll find them sooner or later!”
“Magic Spider City is seven to eight hundred kilometers from here. What brings those Dark Elves over here?”
“Perhaps they’re feeling uneasy about the Star Alliance’s expansion.”
Attila thought so too; in a mere four or five years, the Star Alliance’s territorial map had pushed outward five or six hundred kilometers. If she were the matriarch of the Dark Elf family, she would also feel uneasy.
Just then, a low shout came from the Demon Pattern Knight on guard ahead.
“Something’s happening!”
In fact, they didn’t need his reminder; Sherman and the others had already sensed it immediately.
The three immediately stood up, either activating magical items or chanting spells.
The other Demon Pattern Knights also reacted instantly, activating their Magic Pattern Armor, raising weapons and watching ahead with alert eyes.
Silence loomed around them; about six or seven seconds later, heavy and clear footsteps echoed from ahead, as if some massive crawling creature was moving toward them.
Its speed wasn’t fast, but its weight was clearly astounding, causing nearby rock and soil layers to tremble slightly.
The Demon Pattern Knights instinctively tightened their grip on their sword handles, their expressions turning serious.
Sherman, Cole, and Attila remained calm, showing no sign of disturbance, merely letting the rune gemstones drop quietly into their palms.
Before long, a round black shadow appeared into view.
It looked like a giant black maggot, about three meters long, with six thick, short claws and a triangular pointed head, the mouth area featuring a protruding slender tube, devoid of eyes.
“It’s a Dark Sound Blind Monster!”
Sherman immediately identified the creature.
The “Illustrated Encyclopedia of Underground Creatures” distributed by the base mentioned the Dark Sound Blind Monster.
This monster lacks eyesight but has sensitive and developed ears. Their tubular thin mouths could produce precisely controlled resonance, with sound waves powerful enough to shatter rock walls.
