Chapter 95 - 94: Encounter

Chapter 95: Chapter 94: Encounter

"Each of you will lead a Mage Team of about twenty people. Every kilometer, one team will spread out to each side of the road to conduct sweeping operations." Mage Viersa systematically issued her orders. "If you encounter trouble you can’t handle, send a signal immediately. I will get there as soon as possible."

Receiving these instructions were twenty 1st Ring Mages who also belonged to the official forces of Bremen City.

At Viersa’s signal, each 1st Ring Mage picked out over twenty unofficial mages, forming twenty teams. The teams proceeded in order. For every kilometer they advanced, two teams would sequentially leave the convoy and enter the forests on either side of the official road.

After six Mage Teams had left the convoy, it was finally Gaode’s turn.

A middle-aged mage appeared and pointed at four carriages in succession, including the one Gaode was in. "You, you, you, and you. Get out and follow me."

The Mage Apprentices on the four carriages had long prepared themselves mentally. Upon hearing the order, they jumped down one after another and followed the middle-aged mage into the forest.

Meanwhile, the four carriages they had been riding in, along with over a dozen accompanying City Guards, would wait for them on the official road. This was primarily to provide necessary logistical support, and secondarily to transport the valuable corpses of Earth Vein Creatures.

***

As soon as they left the official road and entered the forest, the smell of decay assaulted their senses. The lush canopy of leaves was virtually impenetrable, making the light rather dim.

As the group navigated through the dense woods, their footsteps crunched against the thick layer of fallen leaves and dead branches, making a constant RUSTLE. Following along in the team, Gaode realized that although he felt a bit nervous, he was surprisingly eager to give it a try.

The leading middle-aged mage had already cast a magic spell the moment he stepped off the official road. His eyes had become deep and bright, as if capable of seeing through all illusions and disguises.

Noticing this, Gaode understood clearly. This was obviously a Detection Magic.

Compared to the haphazard way Wild Mages learned magic, a major characteristic of the spells mastered by mages within the official system was that they formed a cohesive structure. From reconnaissance to combat, their repertoire was thoroughly complete.

"Watch your surroundings, especially above you. I only have one pair of eyes; I can’t guarantee I’ll catch everything," the middle-aged mage warned, seemingly noticing that the group was slacking off a bit.

Hearing this, their hearts tightened, and everyone immediately raised their guard. However, the very moment his voice fell...

WHOOSH!

A dark shadow suddenly swooped down from the shade of a towering tree at an unbelievable speed.

It was a massive avian monster. Its diving trajectory was precise and fierce, having already locked onto its target—a Mage Apprentice trailing at the very back of the team. And the targeted Mage Apprentice seemed to have been frightened silly, standing frozen in place without moving a muscle.

In the next moment, the avian monster’s sharp claws struck out viciously, slicing across the Mage Apprentice’s chest like a sharp dagger.

Blood splattered instantly. Before the Mage Apprentice could even let out a scream, he collapsed to the ground, his fate unknown.

The entire process happened in a split second. This sudden attack instantly sobered everyone’s minds.

After successfully landing its ambush, the avian monster let out a sharp screech, as if demonstrating its power. Its feathers were pitch-black, and a cruel light flashed in its eyes.

"You beast!" the leading middle-aged mage shouted furiously.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his right hand, his fingertips flashing with blue light. Along with his furious shout, the blue light suddenly erupted, transforming into an Ice Blade that gleamed with a frigid glow as it shot rapidly toward the avian monster in the air!

The Ice Blade traced an elegant arc through the sky, making it feel as if the very air had been somewhat frozen. Sensing the threat within the Ice Blade, the avian monster let out a piercing screech and attempted to evade the magic through rapid flight.

However, a new blue light was already glowing and swirling in the middle-aged mage’s hands.

WHOOSH!

The first Ice Blade grazed right past the feathers on the avian monster’s belly. Although it didn’t score a direct hit, the chill emanating from the Ice Blade caused it to shudder all over.

But before the avian beast could make its next move, another Ice Blade arrived. It accurately struck the avian monster’s left wing.

Ice Crystals splattered in all directions. Along with a shocking gash, a thin layer of Ice Crystals covered and spread across the monster’s left wing.

In an instant, the avian monster lost its balance and plummeted uncontrollably. It struggled to steady itself during the fall, but it was all in vain. Finally, with a loud THUD, it crashed onto the ground, letting out cries of agony.

"Die!" In a fit of anger, the newly startled Mage Apprentices cast their own magic to attack the fallen avian monster.

For a time, several, or even dozens of offensive Tricks rained down on the creature in rapid succession. Even though this avian monster possessed astonishing resistance, it could not withstand the continuous magical bombardment from the apprentices. It was instantly blasted until it was thoroughly dead, reduced to nothing more than a lifeless bird.

Even Gaode had pitched in. It was just a pity that he wasn’t the lucky one to land the killing blow, so he did not obtain any Origin.

But that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

Everyone looked at the Mage Apprentice who had been successfully ambushed by the avian monster. At this moment, he was lying on the ground, the clothes on his chest shredded, revealing a gruesome wound deep enough to expose bone. He had already fallen unconscious, his mind unresponsive, his life slipping away.

Seeing this, the leading middle-aged mage frowned slightly, but that was the extent of his reaction. He took out a prepared Basic Healing Potion from his breast pocket and smeared it over the attacked Mage Apprentice’s wound to help temporarily stop the bleeding.

"Take him back to the convoy. The convoy is equipped with mages who have mastered Healing Magic." The middle-aged mage showed no significant emotional fluctuation as he randomly pointed to one of the remaining Mage Apprentices and gave the order.

"Yes!" the selected Mage Apprentice responded hastily, as if granted amnesty. After all, they were paid by the day regardless; being able to avoid combat was naturally a good thing.

"The rest of you, continue the mission with me. Learn your lesson. These beasts have always loved setting up ambushes. If you get hit and the injuries are too severe, even Healing Magic might not be able to save your lives," the middle-aged mage warned the team that had just suffered an early setback.

Everyone nodded silently, clearly taking this warning firmly to heart.

A hard lesson is quickly learned. Having witnessed a companion get hit with their own eyes, all the relaxation in their hearts vanished completely.

An oppressive atmosphere permeated the team. Everyone was pondering the exact same question: "If the target that avian monster locked onto had been me, what would my fate be right now?"

Once they entertained that thought, no one could feel at ease anymore.

Gaode’s mindset had also undergone a change. He had, after all, viewed hunting Earth Vein Creatures in the wild far too simplistically. He had assumed that with strength in numbers and official mages leading the team, their safety would be guaranteed.

But the truth was, anything could happen in the wild. Teaming up only improved safety by a small margin; if he solely relied on others, he wouldn’t even know how he died.

He could only rely on himself.

***