Chapter 119: Set Up
Everyone could see that Marcel was hiding something, but they did not ask in detail. This was how cooperation between Gray Wizards worked. Everyone would have some reservations, and it was impossible to achieve full trust.
Soon, everyone arrived at the entrance that Marcel had mentioned.
They came to a hillside not far from the entrance. Marcel released the Spotted-Tailed Flying Bug and secretly observed the situation at the entrance. At the same time, he took out a crystal ball and used it to project the Spotted-Tailed Flying Bug’s vision to everyone.
This was a dark and damp valley. The valley was covered with large spider webs. Spiders of different sizes stopped on the webs. They looked like an army of spiders.
The smaller ones were the size of a fist, and the larger ones were as tall as a person. They were even two to three meters tall. There were thousands of them densely packed together, making people’s scalps go numb.
Marcel explained, “The one guarding here is a Queen Spider and that is the spider army she leads…”
The cold-faced man frowned. “Queen Spider?”
That was a demonized beast that was equivalent to a peak Apprentice. It was only a hair’s breadth away from becoming an official Wizard.
Marcel said, “Under normal circ.u.mstances, the Queen Spider would be very dangerous. But now that the Queen Spider is in the sp.a.w.ning period, her strength will be greatly reduced. If we work together, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Heath observed for a while and asked, “Can we use fire?”
He knew about the Queen Spider. It was a demonized insect-type creature that lived in the forest. It was cruel by nature and liked to suck the brains of human babies.
This creature was very powerful in all aspects. It only lacked resistance to fire and was very vulnerable to fire.
Marcel shook his head. “In order to guard against fire, Wizard Parker set up many magic arrays around the valley. When someone tries to use fire, these magic arrays will be activated.”
Heath asked, “Do you know the exact location of the magic array?”
Marcel said, “I know a little…”
He looked at Heath with a strange expression. “Do you want to dismantle the magic array?”
The knowledge of magic arrays was not something that an ordinary Apprentice would learn.
Heath said, “I want to try.”
Jon agreed, “With the help of the flame, our battle will be much easier.”
Marcel nodded. “Alright.”
Then he took out a map and marked it one by one. “The area where I drew the red cross is the area where the magic array is.”
“But most of them are under the control of the spider army and you can’t get close. The only ones that can get close are here, here… and here, these few areas.”
Heath took it over and looked at it.
After thinking for a while, Heath quickly circled a few areas on the map.
Old Jon’s eyes lit up when he saw where Heath circled. He could not help but ask, “Could it be that the Apprentice Heath is also involved in the human military?”
The area Heath had circled was suitable for spreading out the battlefield.
Before Heath could say anything, Marcel started introducing enthusiastically, “I think Apprentice Jon has heard of the Sword Wizard from Twilight Fortress, right?”
Jon was shocked. He looked Heath up and down. “Could it be…”
Marcel smiled. “That’s right. This is the black-haired genius of our Shadow Tower. The Sword Wizard who led 800 human soldiers to defeat the enemy’s army of 10,000 undead in Twilight Fortress!”
The battle of Twilight Fortress two years ago shook the entire Underdark Treezea. All the Wizards in this area had more or less heard of the black-haired genius who knew how to use a sword.
Jon seemed to have gotten to know Heath again. “So the genius friend that Marcel mentioned is actually a genius like you, Sir. I was rude before.”
This time, even Kirst, who had always been quiet, could not help but look at Heath again.
In the Wizard World, strength was the most important. Jon and Kirst were both advanced Apprentices. Although they did not say anything yesterday, they actually did not think much of Heath, a middle-level Apprentice.
Now that they knew Heath’s ident.i.ty, they could not help but look at him in a different light. After all, he was a genius who had such an outstanding record of defeating an advanced Apprentice.
Heath said politely, “Your Excellency also surprised me very much.”
He had once thought that only a Wizard like him would be able to control the army and war.
Jon smiled and said, “Humans are better at strategizing. I have a friend who specializes in these things. I drank with her a few times and heard him talk about some things. His name is Campbell. Sir Heath should have heard of him.”
Heath was surprised. “Campbell?”
There was no need to introduce this name anymore. After the Red Demon War ended two years ago, Heath had learned about him. He was basically the most outstanding military strategist of this era.
Heath said, “Sir’s friend is indeed fresh in my memory. If there’s a chance, I would like to get to know him.”
Jon shook his head. “I’m afraid there’s no chance. My friend pa.s.sed away last month.”
Heath was stunned. “What?” He said in disappointment, “That’s really a pity.”
Probably because he had extracted Count Kroya’s military knowledge, Heath was also interested in this area of knowledge. From time to time, he would use it to study it.
It was a pity that he could not meet such an epoch-making military genius.
Jon said, “Human life has always been like this. It is short and fragile. If you are not careful, your whole life will pa.s.s.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “But my friend left some books related to military affairs. If you are interested, we can talk about it after this is over.”
Heath replied, “Sure.”
Then, everyone began to move.
They followed Heath to the places marked with red circles on the map and began to dismantle the magic arrays.
In the past two years, Heath had extracted a large amount of magic knowledge. In addition, he would read it in detail in his spare time to integrate it. In this aspect, even some Wizards were far inferior to Heath.
With this powerful knowledge, dismantling the magic arrays was a piece of cake. He easily dismantled the magic arrays.
After clearing the empty s.p.a.ce, Heath took the initiative and said, “If everyone trusts me, then listen to my arrangements and plans. This way, we can win more easily.”
If it was what Heath said before, it would be good if others did not kick him out. But now that they knew his ident.i.ty, of course, no one would object. After all, he was a military genius who could fight against 10,000 people with 800 people!
Jon said, “We’ll leave it to you, Sir.”
Marcel and Kirst also nodded.
Heath said, “First, I need to set up a magic array here. It will cost at least 20,000 Magic Stones. This magic array will greatly enhance our chances of winning. If you agree, we will bear the cost together.”
Jon said, “As long as it is effective, 20,000 Magic Stones is nothing.”
Ma.r.s.eille and Kirst nodded in agreement.
Compared to the ma.s.sive amount of precious materials in Magic Bug Forest, 20,000 Magic Stones was nothing.
Soon, Heath had set up the [h.e.l.lfire Sea] on the battlefield he had chosen.
It was an empty s.p.a.ce at the right end of the valley. It was surrounded by mountains, and there was only a narrow pa.s.sage in front of it.
Heath explained, “The others are ready. Now, we just need to attract the spider army into this place. Once they all enter, we’ll block their escape route. The rest will be left to magic.”
Kirst volunteered, “If we just need to lure them here, just leave this to me.”
No one was more suitable for this job than him, who had mastered flight.
Jon said, “In that case, I should show some sincerity.”
As he spoke, he took out a horn and handed it to a Knight beside him.
The Knight took the horn and blew it forcefully.
Immediately, there was a loud rumble, and the ground shook. The surrounding rocks rolled together naturally, quickly forming two-meter-tall stone giants.
In a moment, an army of stone men was formed.
Jon said, “These two hundred stone men are under your command. Whatever you need them to do, just give the order to the Knights.”
After a pause, he added, “But they can only last for thirty minutes. You need to pay attention.”
Heath said, “More than enough.”
This surprised him. He did not expect the old man to have such a good thing.
Then, he commanded the stone men.
After everything was arranged, he said to Kirst, “Lure them over.”
After receiving the order, Kirst quickly went over.
About half an hourgla.s.s’s time…
Suddenly, there was a tremor on the ground, followed by a flurry of footsteps that came from afar.
The tremors became more and more intense, and the footsteps also became louder and louder.
A moment later, a ma.s.s of black fog rushed into the valley.
Following closely behind, a densely packed spider army surged into the valley, shoulder to shoulder, legs to legs. It was densely packed, uncountable, and it was as terrifying as the tide.
Clang!
Heath pulled out his cross-shaped sword.
“Prepare for battle!”