Wizard: I Can Refine Everything-Chapter 141 - 41: Infiltrating the Insect Nest

Chapter 141: Chapter 41: Infiltrating the Insect Nest

At the border where Wizard occupied area met the Insect Nest, small war fortresses stood in a line.

Because the number of wizards was at a disadvantage compared to insects, in the battle lines against the insects, wizards were mostly in a strategic defensive posture.

In these defensive battle lines, White Wizards used the war fortresses as bases to monitor and harass the Insect Nest, rarely engaging in large-scale offensives.

However, with the command headquarters issuing an infiltration mission, these White Wizards had no choice but to cover for the infiltration of the Black Wizards.

“Assembly.”

The White Wizard squad leader issued the command through the spiritual network.

...

There weren’t many White Wizards stationed at the war fortress—just twenty per fortress.

This number was the minimum required to maintain the advantage of the White Wizard Army, and any lower would result in a loss of their combat edge when engaging in group warfare.

As the White Wizards gathered, they found a group of Black Wizards already waiting for them in the hall.

“Why are these Black Wizards here?”

“Aren’t these guys supposed to be clearing the insects in the Insect Nest?”

“Could they be here to help us hold the line? Surely, they aren’t starting infiltration operations now.”

…

The White Wizards communicated using spiritual messages, and the White Wizard squad leader standing in the center of the hall cleared his throat and announced their mission:

“The command headquarters requires us to provide cover for the Black Wizards. Today, we need to coordinate with the surrounding fortresses for a proactive strike and draw as much attention from the Black Crystal Insects as possible, to facilitate the Black Wizards’ infiltration into the Insect Nest.”

Upon hearing this, the present White Wizards immediately stopped communicating.

Infiltration warfare is an indispensable and the deadliest phase of planar expeditions.

The Black Wizards infiltrating behind enemy lines would lose support from their fellow wizards and have to face enemies that could emerge from any direction.

Unless something unexpected happened, most of the White Wizards present could survive until the end of the war, but most of the Black Wizards infiltrating behind enemy lines would likely meet their ends there.

The White Wizard squad leader silently performed the Wizard’s Salute to the Black Wizards in the hall, followed by the other White Wizards who did the same.

It was a long-standing tradition.

A salute to those headed to their death.

Soon, the White Wizards formed their ranks to depart, and the Black Wizards demonstrated their divine skills, blending their forms with their surroundings as they moved towards the Insect Nest.

Richard activated his Concealer Cloak, blending into the shadows like a part of them, perfect camouflage in the perpetual night of the Insect Nest World.

Boom!

With the sound of spells exploding, the White Wizards officially commenced their operations.

The Insect Nest’s insects had to hurriedly mobilize in response to this sudden attack.

Warrior Worms dodged and countered under the direction of Priest Worms, the Mother Goddess Cannon spewing deadly Acid Liquid Balls whose energy arcs lit up half of the sky along with the White Wizards’ spells.

The insects were distracted by the White Wizards, leaving the effectiveness of the Black Wizards’ actions up to their own abilities.

…

The Black Crystal Worm Clan’s Insect Nest was enormously large, with entry and exit points as numerous as stars. Although the Black Crystal Insects intentionally filled many, several pathways remained unguarded.

With the White Wizards assaulting, a significant number of guards were redeployed, making Richard’s infiltration surprisingly smooth.

Like a shadow, Richard utilized Shadow Shuttling, swiftly entering the Insect Nest, and upon entry, he didn’t rush deeper but took out an Imaging Crystal Ball to start scanning the surrounding terrain.

This type of crystal ball, tested by Black Wizards and improved by logistics wizards, had enhanced concealment and performance.

Now, as long as it wasn’t used within five meters of Level 1 Creatures, fifty meters of Second-level Creatures, or a hundred meters of Third Level Creatures, there was no chance of being detected.

As the microwave scanned, a three-dimensional map of the Insect Nest unfolded before Richard.

Looking at the terrain displayed in the crystal ball, Richard fell into thought.

Their infiltration as Black Wizards had a purpose; as a ring within the Black Wizards, their only task was to disrupt enemy lines.

Thus, he should try to enter the Underground Insect Nest—the rear of the Black Crystal Worm Clan—rather than operate in the ground-level nest.

But according to the map, if he wanted to go underground, he would need to traverse a corridor where numerous insects were lurking.

If he wasn’t fully prepared, entering the underground would undoubtedly lead to detection, a case of dying before achieving anything.

But if he chose not to take this corridor, he’d have to activate the crystal ball again to find a new path.

This also posed a risk for him.

On the ground level of the Insect Nest, Black Crystal Insects had gathered a considerable number of Level 1, 2, and 3 Creatures, scattered throughout the nest. Every use of the crystal ball increased the risk. If the insects discovered a wizard had infiltrated near them, a thorough search would be inevitable.

And beyond a massive search, there was the problem of endangering other wizards.

It was a dilemma.

While Richard pondered, a series of soft footsteps accompanied by the low hum of Warrior Worms suddenly traveled down the corridor, causing Richard’s hair to stand on end.

Had he been found out?

Without a moment to lose, Richard wrapped himself in his Wizard Robe, blending into the shadows.

The shadow infiltration etched in his Concealer Cloak finally came in handy today.

As the footsteps grew nearer, Richard’s anxiety heightened. Soon, two Warrior Worms passed by him.

“What’s with these Wizard Monsters today, why such a large-scale attack all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know, but the Priest said that these wizards must have plotted some evil conspiracy, otherwise they would never launch such a rash attack.”

“What is this conspiracy?”

“How should I know? We’re warriors, let the Priests think about these things.”

…

The two Warrior Worms passed by Richard without noticing that a Wizard Monster was lurking in the shadows beside them.

After they left, Richard emerged from the shadows, pondering thoughtfully,

“The logistic Wizards’ translation of the Black Crystal Worm language is quite accurate.”

Over the past two years, the logistic Wizards had used various means to compile and translate the Black Crystal Worm language, creating an Inheritance Crystal Ball for other wizards to study.

Richard had also picked up the language while collecting mission items.

As far as he could tell, he had understood about eighty percent of what the Warrior Worms had just said, the rest he did not understand was mostly tonal words and colloquial habits.

From what the Warrior Worms had said, the Black Crystal Worms were still unaware of the Black Wizard’s infiltration, giving him more time to react.

Once the Black Crystal Worms reacted, a large-scale search would begin immediately.

“However, judging by the effectiveness of Shadow Infiltration, moving through the lower levels is entirely feasible. These Level 1 Warrior Worms can’t detect me entering the shadows.”

Without hesitation, Richard immediately began moving towards the deeper levels of the Insect Nest according to the terrain map.

On the way, Richard also got a chance to see the structure of an Insect Nest inhabited by the worms.

Nurtured by the Black Crystal Worms, the upper Insect Nest was not as dry as Richard had seen before. These worms would coat the walls of the nest with a secretion from their bodies, which maintained the moisture levels in the nest and nourished the fungal threads inside the nest walls.

These fungal threads, under the nourishment of the secretions, managed to survive and then support the structure of the entire Insect Nest, while the worms lived in the nest continuously supplying the fungal threads with secretions.

It was a win-win situation.

However, this was not so pleasant for an infiltrating Wizard.

Richard, frowning, carefully navigated through a section of the tunnel that had just been maintained by the worms. The tunnel walls were covered with a fresh, slightly greenish viscous liquid that emitted a strange acidic smell, turning his stomach.

After passing through this section, Richard arrived at the most dangerous part of his entry into the lower levels of the Insect Nest.

At least twenty worms were hovering nearby in this stretch of tunnel.

If he was discovered, although Richard wouldn’t necessarily be doomed, his infiltration mission would be ruined.

The White Wizard Army would not stage another raid just for him; if he wanted to infiltrate again, the risk would be significantly higher.

Wrapping his cloak tightly around him, Richard silently entered the tunnel.

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The low hums of the Warrior Worms intermittently reaching Richard’s ears through the tunnel were mostly chatter, containing no valuable intelligence.

For the Black Crystal Worms, who hadn’t participated in the Battle of the Black Bone Plain, wizards were powerful, but not enough to invoke fear.

They are the dominant race that had conquered a world, believing that no other race could threaten their reign in the skies, the land, or underground. Pride and confidence etched in their bloodline made them believe they could keep winning.

The current defeat was merely strategic.

Richard continued silently along the tunnel, staying close to the shadows to prevent any surprises.

But his concerns seemed redundant, as he had not encountered any incidents for most of his journey through the tunnel.

The Black Crystal Worms couldn’t imagine that a Wizard Monster was walking through a tunnel just a few dozen meters from them.

As Richard passed the last crossroad, he slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

From here on, it should be a clear path… there were worms coming.

Rapid, urgent footsteps echoed through the tunnel, as if a group of worms was running at high speed.

Richard didn’t have time to think. He wrapped his cloak around himself, and his whole body instantly merged into the shadows. Barely a second after he had hidden, a group of at least twenty Warrior Worms rushed past him.

“The Priest commands, a thorough search! A thorough search!”

“A Wizard Monster has infiltrated the Insect Nest during the attack! All worms, begin patrols immediately, report any signs immediately!”

The leading Warrior Worm emitted a high-pitched call, instantly mobilizing the surrounding worms.

This leading Warrior Worm was a Second-level creature, each movement exuding a strong force.

In the shadows not far away, Richard held his breath, silently watching the worms in action.

The gap between a Second-level creature and Level 1 creatures was not to be underestimated; Richard was confident he could escape from a group of Level 1 worms, but if it was a Second-level worm, he had no choice but to rely on Ulysses.

A Two Stars Warrior Worm stood near Richard, huge compound eyes scanning the surroundings.

Due to instincts brought about by its Physique Evolution, it continually felt as if something were watching it.

Its gaze swept across the vicinity, inspecting every crack and every shadow.

After a thorough check, it detected nothing.

It was, after all, in the middle of a tunnel where no other creature could hide.

The Two Stars Warrior Worm shook its antennae and suddenly slashed its knife into the shadow beside it.