Chapter 2123 - 45: A Test of Wills (Part 2)

The scouting network composed of multiple Clockwork Fairies quickly expanded Fang Hong's vision. He left some Silver Bees hovering above the battlefield, while others continued advancing into the Withered Woods, descending in altitude.

Not long after, he detected a secret within the Forest.

He discovered a peculiar type of Crystalysis Beast, resembling the crab they encountered before, but without large pincers, seemingly lacking any attack capability.

They were continuously producing crystal short spears here, then spitting them out from their mouths, handing them over to the ordinary Disorderly Minions.

Fang Hong realized where those special Disorderly Minions originated from.

He immediately understood that dealing with the Spear Throwers was not the key issue; these Crystalysis Beasts might be the core problem. He promptly marked their locations within the trees and informed everyone:

"They are creating Spear Throwers in these locations; find a way to attack these positions."

"It's so far; our previous methods probably won't work," someone immediately responded, "Gunslingers and Rangers can't reach that distance."

"We can use Ritual Magic. I remember there is a type in Ritual Magic that increases spell range, which was the precursor to tactical magic."

"Then we'll need to divide into several groups to organize the magic rituals, but who can organize them, and how can we spare the manpower?"

At this time, the voice of Cuiye came again: "I have good news for everyone; the Tree People have agreed to advance, and they will contribute more living forces. I've also contacted several commanders from other directions, and they have detected the issue too, planning to join the Tree People in a counterattack."

"Pure defense isn't a solution; we have to make our opponents feel less comfortable."

The crowd seemed to have some tacit understanding and quickly reached an agreement. Of course, the main force on the battlefield remained the Tree People, who were willing to put in more troops, allowing them to accomplish more.

The Grey Treants lacked long-distance, large-scale destructive capabilities but were excellent warriors and shields, which fit perfectly with the Invokers, allowing the Invokers, compared to the lower-level Spellcasters and Archers of the Crystalysis Beasts, to exert their power.

A row of Tree People emerged from the rear of the Golden Forest, passing through the Invokers' front line and entering the battlefield.

The Crystalysis Beasts at the front were battling against the Allied forces of humans and Tree People, striving over the riverbank.

Meanwhile, Cuiye shared their plan further, achieving consensus with the Allied forces—almost all teams extracted Magic Guided Conductors to the rear to prepare for Ritual Magic.

Fang Hong, while wishing to avoid the spotlight, inevitably bore the responsibility of marking high-threat targets.

In an instant, he received dozens of connection requests; fortunately, there was no need for him to act personally, as Cuiye brought all commanders and captains along the entire front line into the channel.

However, apart from the Invokers on the left-wing front, not everyone trusted his abilities—there were not only him as a Combat Artisan in the channel but also Alchemists from other guilds and teams connected.

No one wasted words; as soon as they entered the channel, they began searching for their own targets—the current situation didn't allow them time to compare each other since the Crystalysis Beasts were ready for the next wave of attack—and now most Magic Guided Conductors had been withdrawn, leaving those remaining unable to protect everyone.

They must conclude the battle ahead of unacceptable casualties.

Therefore, proving themselves became the best choice at this time.

Fang Hong intended to keep a low profile, but unfortunately, he couldn't allow the Spear Throwers to attack while deliberately delaying time.

Thus, everyone witnessed a spectacular scene.

Different artisans marked their vision with various colors, yet the same colored marks began to illuminate one by one, becoming conspicuously bright rapidly.

Initially, these marks appeared on the left wing of the battlefield but gradually spread towards the center and right wing.

No one knew how the owner of these marks managed surveillance over the entire battlefield, and none understood the marks indicating how many Clockwork Fairies were soaring over the Withered Woods—

Yet everyone was somewhat amazed.

"Wow."

Cuiye couldn't help but click their tongue, wondering whether they had accidentally stumbled upon a remarkable person. Could it be one of the top Great Combat Artisans, playing fool with them?

"Who is this? Is this guy pretending to be impressive, fooling us?"

But naturally, some harbored doubts.

The ordinary teams didn't matter.

The people from the Holy White Stone, Hydra, and Twilight Guild had long sent their Combat Artisans down for verification. Those Combat Artisans returned with astonishing looks, shaking their heads.

Indicating that each mark they inspected was genuine.

Yet, after the initial shock, the Combat Artisans exchanged fascinating glances through their eyes, unanimously agreeing that a god-level Combat Artisan was present on the battlefield.

To fight alongside top players from the grand guilds was an honor, worth bragging for half a year at least.

Then, rows of Tree People also entered the battlefield, and the Ritual Magic was officially declared ready, finally blowing the horn of counterattack on the Thorn Frontline.

In the golden forest, the Magic Guided Conductors simultaneously raised their Magic Wands.

In the high-pitched chanting, the power of Ether converged through the ritual's conduction, folding to a coordinate kilometers away.

Above the Withered Woods, above each artisan-marked location, within people's vision, arrays were slowly unfolding.

On the position, all Shields simultaneously withdrew, Assault professions were the first to charge out of the line, holding their swords in both hands, shouting: "Marlan Above!"

Or in the name of the God of Warriors, Erchetid—

The battlefield seemed to darken.

Because blinding rays were crossing over the open space above, passing through that array, descending like meteors, bringing a glaring flash like the sun.

Crystalysis Beasts within the Forest were struck by these meteors, reduced to dust.

Majestic Tree People crossed the riverbank—

Magic's light and Gunslingers' bullet rain further extended before them, the Crystalysis Beasts began to retreat for the first time, slightly beyond Fang Hong's expectation.

He originally thought the crystal's attack should be more resolute; although it lost some high-level Crystalysis Beasts, it should still be far from exhaustion in terms of battlefield situation.

Tree People's counterattack aimed merely at stabilizing the formation and dismantling the opponent's ranged threats, unexpectedly achieving better results than anticipated.

The offensive of Crystalysis Beasts appeared to be wavering, although the term wavering may not fit completely with Construct Beasts. For them without intellect, it's merely a choice between being able to continue fighting and not, eliminating the notion of wavering.

The true wavering could only be from those standing behind them.

Fang Hong cautiously instructed his Clockwork Fairies to further expand their vision, but he quickly discovered the crystal's third wave of offensives.

Within the Valley, amidst ethereal blue flames, some grand Crystalysis Beasts appeared, unsurprisingly those were the massive crabs they had previously encountered—Disorderly Guards.

It seemed the crystal truly decided to gamble everything, its attack was far weaker than expected, but if its force was only such a bit, it should not have made the Heart of Tree Moenyalit so worried.

Could it be, was this merely a probe?

Yet regardless, he conveyed the information he observed.

And to conceal himself, Fang Hong continued using written communication rather than voice.

By this moment, no one in the channel questioned his authority anymore, making his temporary ID in the channel, Columba, marked as the alias of a great Combat Artisan in people's minds.

As for who it was, maybe someone from the Elite or the Godslayer Guild indeed, only those guild's members would be so bored.

The former because the guild's attributes are such, the latter's group of Combat Artisans was almost all peculiar in personality nurtured by the Nether.

"The third wave has arrived!"

"The third wave has arrived!"

Thus, the voice transmitting across the battlefield momentarily rose and fell.

...