Chapter 298 - 291: Watch and Learn, Little Bro
Chapter 298: Chapter 291: Watch and Learn, Little Bro
Fine, pure white crystal powder swirled in the hot air currents.
Allen floated in the center of the basin, his Spiritual Power spreading out like a fine-meshed sieve, scanning the ashes below inch by inch.
The power of the Crystal Bomb was too absolute. The Second-level Black Wizard’s flesh, bones, and even his equipment had been utterly obliterated.
"Even the Space Ring crumbled to dust."
Allen’s expression darkened as he looked at the pinch of silver powder he’d picked up between his fingertips.
A strategic weapon worth three million Magic Stones, and all he got out of it was the sound of the bang.
High cost, no return. This was a devastating loss.
At least he was still alive.
He raised his hand. The [Ring of Instantaneous Shadows] glimmered faintly.
After the dizzying sensation of spatial displacement faded, he reappeared in the main workshop of Zone 18.
Meanwhile, in the ruins of the other zone, Victor had already cast several "Cleansing Spells" in a row to make himself spotless.
He had even changed into a spare crimson Wizard Robe threaded with gold, his blond hair combed meticulously.
In this devastated graveyard of steel, he forced himself to maintain the noble dignity of the Tieyan Clan.
His motto was clear: you can lose your head, but not your hairstyle.
"Victor, are you ready? It’s time to report," Allen said, contacting him first.
Victor nodded slightly, adjusted his collar, and assumed his most dignified posture.
"Jarvis, compile the battle damage data and package the kill footage. Connect me to Forged Fire Fortress, highest priority communication."
[Command confirmed. Establishing encrypted channel.]
A screen of light unfolded in mid-air.
The figure of Master Mercer appeared.
He was still wearing his liquid metal robe, but the background was no longer the command hall Allen was familiar with.
A vast space filled with all sorts of equipment and Golems was vaguely visible behind him.
"Master," Allen bowed his head slightly, while Victor, at his side, performed an impeccable noble’s salute.
"I hope you have some good news," Mercer said, his voice as cold and hard as iron.
"In Zone 18, the strongest offensive of the Beast Tide has been intercepted. The invading Second-level Black Wizard has been confirmed as killed."
Allen wasted no time and got straight to the point.
Jarvis simultaneously sent over the footage of the Crystal Bomb’s detonation and the residual Magic Power readings from the site.
On the other side of the light screen, Mercer quickly scanned the data.
A flicker of emotion was clearly visible in his deep blue eyes.
"Two kills against higher-level opponents," Mercer’s voice finally showed a hint of inflection. "This could be called a miraculous achievement. I imagine it came at a considerable cost."
"We detonated the Magic Furnace and the entire volcanic mountain range, wiping out the enemy’s army of modified Magical Beasts. Finally, we used fifty tons of high-purity crystal seeds for a point-blank detonation," Allen stated, factually recounting his strategy.
Mercer was silent for two seconds.
"I noticed the disturbance to the west but had no time to investigate. So it was you, blowing up your own territory. It seems it was a remarkable gambit," Mercer commented.
At his side, Victor straightened his back slightly. After all, his workshop and his entire fortune had also been blown up.
"A win is a win. You did well. Much better than I expected."
"The defensive line had collapsed. There was no path for retreat," Allen said, his tone calm.
Mercer didn’t have time for too many questions. He had seen enough battles between Second-level Wizards to keenly sense the qualitative change in Allen’s Magic Power.
"You’re Level 2?"
"Yes. I just advanced."
"Very good." Mercer nodded slightly. Those two words alone were his highest form of praise.
"You survived and proved your worth. Now, let me brief you on the current situation."
Mercer raised his hand, and a projection was transmitted over.
This time, the red patches on the holographic map were noticeably fewer, and the orange areas had also shrunk.
"The Beast Tide is nearing its end," Mercer’s voice grew somber.
"The fighting on the western front is gradually ceasing, and the other defensive lines have mostly stabilized. The Magical Beasts, catalyzed by the abyssal aura, have begun to scatter after losing the command of a high-tier will."
"Most are now killing each other or retreating into the depths of the plane."
"But during this time, his Black Wizards, under the cover of the Beast Tide, launched simultaneous pinpoint strikes against all zones."
Mercer’s voice was laced with a bone-chilling coldness.
"And the result?" Allen asked.
"Seventy percent of the zone commanders were killed in action."
Seventy percent!
This meant that the new generation of elite Alchemy Wizards who had trained and grown in the Molten Iron Mountain Range plane had been wiped out in droves in just one short month.
Victor’s pupils contracted. He almost lost his noble composure.
"Ten percent abandoned their territories and used emergency evacuation beacons to return to the fortress."
"The remaining twenty percent, like you, either held their ground or turned the tables and killed their attackers."
"As for the high-tier strategic situation on the battlefield, things are still under control."
On the holographic map, only two of the four crimson pillars of light remained.
"The Morning Star Level Magical Beasts on the western and northern fronts have been dealt with. The one on the eastern front was heavily wounded by my Golem Legion and is now retreating."
"Only the Magical Beast on the southern front has made it near the fortress," Mercer’s tone carried a hint of exhaustion.
Allen noticed that the blue light surrounding Forged Fire Fortress in the center of the map was much dimmer than before.
"The real war has only just begun." The blue light in Mercer’s crystalline eyes grew exceptionally sharp.
"The Son of the Abyss can no longer hold back. He wouldn’t have paid such a heavy price just to deplete our Golems and ammunition."
"But that is no longer a battle you can interfere in."
Mercer spoke quickly.
"The Black Wizards also have limited manpower. Since their first wave of attacks failed to take you down, they won’t have the spare resources to organize a second assault."
"Zone 18 and Zone 19 are currently in a period of safety."
"Whether you want to rest and reorganize or go support other zones is your decision. I have many problems to deal with right now, as well as that... Son of the Abyss."
"Master, wait," Allen called out, stopping Mercer as he was about to cut the connection.
"Speak."
"I need a demi-plane fragment." Allen looked his master straight in the eye, his tone calm but firm.
"I’ve advanced to Level 2 and need to construct a private dimension. But Zone 18 is severely damaged, my Golem Legion is completely destroyed, and I can’t gather enough Magic Stones to afford the listed price in the exchange repository in the short term."
He was brazenly asking for special privileges.
Listening at the side, Victor’s scalp tingled with anxiety.
’Haggling with a Morning Star Wizard who’s about to step onto the final battlefield? The sheer audacity!’
On the screen, Mercer was silent for two seconds.
"Rules are made for the mediocre."
Mercer looked at Allen, a hint of approval in his deep blue eyes.
"To survive such a hopeless situation and even kill an opponent of a higher level... You are, of course, qualified for me to break the rules."
Mercer’s gaze swept over them both.
"Victor, you contributed a Quasi-Fourth Level Golem this time. You haven’t shamed the Tieyan Clan."
"I’ll have logistics pick out the two largest remaining demi-plane fragments in the exchange repository. I’ll have them remove the fragments from the exchange list and reserve one for each of you."
"I’ll also give you a twenty-percent discount. Come and get them whenever you’ve saved up enough Magic Stones. No one will be able to touch your items."
Victor was stunned, then ecstatic.
He immediately performed an impeccable noble’s salute, hand over his chest. "Thank you for your generosity, Master Mercer!"
"Understood. I wish you victory in the wars to come," Allen said with a slight bow.
Their master’s communication link cut off, but the two of them remained connected on the screen.
"You really have some nerve," Victor said, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his composure finally breaking.
"Demi-plane fragments... Every Second-level Wizard in the entire fortress has their eyes on that small quota. We totally scored!"
"You can’t be too honest in this world. You should learn from this."
Allen turned and looked out at his ravaged territory, and at the Golems that had been reduced to inert chunks of metal after losing their power source.
No money.
Extremely broke.
So poor, all he had left was his life.