Chapter 193: The Reality
Time flew. A week later, Bayen and the others had cleared the northern mining area and the road of Monsters, returning to the settlement with dozens of Monster corpses and several live ones. Regrettably, they did not find another of the strange Monsters, so they couldn’t research it further.
Leon reorganized the mining team and headed for the northern mining area.
To prevent Monster attacks, under Ace’s instruction, ten Wizard Apprentices accompanied them to the northern mining area. They were responsible for using Magic to excavate the mine shaft and protect the mining team.
Ace stood by the foundation of the Magic School castle. Seeing that the apprentices had already built the entire three-story basement, he looked pleased and muttered to himself:
“The Wizard Apprentices are currently our most precious productive force and the seeds of future research. Opening mine shafts is fine, as it accelerates production.
But it is necessary to arm the mortals as well, allowing them to protect themselves.
Once the iron ore is mined, I will try using Fire Element Magic to smelt iron. Even ordinary Lesser Fire Element Magic can easily melt iron ore and refine high-quality iron.
Leon has already built the public latrines, so there is no lack of ordinary saltpeter. There is sulfur in the northern mining area as well. I just need to prepare charcoal. Based on my past experience creating Glycerin Magic Tubes, manufacturing simple black powder in this world shouldn’t be a big problem.
If mortals use gunpowder weapons, they can not only protect themselves but also fight against ordinary low-level Monsters. This will liberate the Wizard Apprentices from the tedious work of protecting the territory, allowing better use of this productive force for greater things!”
Just then, the mournful sound of a horn came from the direction of the reclaimed fields!
The residents digging the irrigation canals were calling for help! Upon hearing the sound, Ace immediately activated Flash Teleportation from his Soul Sanctuary. Simultaneously, he used Mana Crystal Shaping to create massive geometric Mana Crystal wings and flew rapidly toward the reclaimed fields.
In about ten seconds, Ace arrived at the fields. It was Monsters!
Over a dozen marmot-like Monsters, about a meter tall, had suddenly burst from the ground, chasing the people digging the canals.
“Help! Save my child!”
A boy of about five or six was bitten on the left shoulder by a marmot. Bleeding profusely, he struggled weakly. His mother screamed shrilly, bit her lip until it bled, grabbed a hoe, and charged at the marmot.
Seeing her charge, the marmot’s eyes actually showed a trace of contempt. It tossed the boy aside and charged head-on at the young mother, instantly biting her neck.
The young mother’s head lolled to the side. The hoe dropped powerlessly from her hand. Her anxious and worried eyes remained fixed on the unconscious boy.
Ace, in the sky, saw this scene. Mana gathered in his hand. The Soul Spell Spell Imprint instantly marked the marmot. A Burning Missile with tracking imprint effect was instantly activated. A scorching white flame missile formed in an instant, flying toward the marmot.
The marmot, gnawing on the young mother, suddenly sensed danger. It looked up and saw the white Burning Missile, carrying high heat and explosive power, rushing from the sky. It immediately dropped the mother and burrowed underground.
As it burrowed, the dug-up soil quickly closed up, seemingly due to its special ability.
The Burning Missile was incredibly fast. Carrying scorching heat, it penetrated the soil directly. A dull explosion sounded from five or six meters underground.
Ace surveyed the entire reclaimed field. From the moment the Monsters suddenly emerged from the ground, only a few minutes had passed, yet dozens of Freemen were injured, and over a dozen were killed on the spot.
Leon was furious. The usually gentle and elegant man skillfully wielded a short sword and round shield, directing dozens of Reserve Citizens with military experience to form a formation and slowly advance toward the marmot-like Monsters.
Seeing them form a formation, the group of Monsters stood up on their hind legs and roared at the group: “Ah!”
The sound carried a powerful sonic impact, making Leon and the others dizzy. Several people stumbled and fell to the ground on the spot.
The marmots seized the opportunity to rush at the Reserve Citizens, who were swaying with their swords and shields, ready for a feast.
Ace descended rapidly from the sky. Bang! He landed in front of the marmots. His expression was vastly different from usual. The tragic scene before him had enraged him. A red light flashed across his eyes.
Flickering whispers surfaced in Ace’s ears again.
Kill! Kill them all!
Eat! Eat them!
Ace’s powerful Inherent Mana activated directly. Mana Crystal Shaping. Dozens of Mana Crystal weapons—sabers, spears, swords, and halberds—infused with Inherent Mana, formed in an instant.
His eyes flickered between red and their normal color. Enduring the splitting headache, he activated the Soul Spell Spell Hand. A Mana Crystal Spell Hand composed of over a dozen tentacles appeared directly behind him. Each tentacle grasped a Mana Crystal weapon.
Ace gave the marmots no chance to hesitate. He activated Flash Teleportation, rushing directly into the group of marmots.
Inside his Soul Sanctuary, Advanced Magical Trickery flickered.
“Mana Crystal Weapon · Reinforcement · Sharpness · Toughness · Swiftness!”
Accompanied by the short incantation, the Mana Crystal weapons held by the spell tentacles took on the cold sheen of steel, becoming sharper and tougher. Every swing was incredibly swift.
In just two or three seconds, Ace killed most of the marmot-like Monsters. The remaining Monsters hurriedly burrowed underground, wishing their parents had given them two extra front claws.
Ace waved his right hand, chanting simultaneously: “Mana Crystal Weapon · Super · High-Speed Rotation!”
The spell tentacles squirmed, each forming a large palm that held a Mana Crystal weapon and spun it rapidly, thrusting directly into the ground. Squelch!
Almost instantly, the vibrating ground stopped shaking. The Mana Crystal tentacles, penetrating several meters deep, pulled forcefully, dragging out the marmots, which had been turned almost into meat paste, and threw them heavily onto the ground.
The mirror image arrived with the Wizard Apprentices just in time to see this scene. Ace stood in the center of the reclaimed field. Over a dozen tentacles formed by the Spell Hand wielded Mana Crystal weapons like sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. Beside him was a pool of dark red blood, and over a dozen unidentifiable mosaic-like Monsters lay quietly there.
The mirror image sensed the violent mental fluctuations of the host body. He activated Advanced Magical Trickery, chanting the incantation: “Calm · Mechanized Mind!”
Accompanied by his incantation, the Mana rhythm rushed toward Ace. Under the effect of the quasi-Mechanized Mind, Ace finally calmed down, and the red light in his eyes vanished.
Sulu looked at Ace’s power, his eyes revealing envy and desire. He shouted loudly: “Lord Torch-Bearer saved everyone! The Lord is mighty!”
The other apprentices and the people present also woke from their daze, cheering along. Many people were crying incessantly—some for their dead relatives, others for surviving the disaster.
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