Chapter 401: Green Tide (Patreon)

Chapter 401: Green Tide

The Wizard's battlefield was devoid of smoke.

Boom! The fireballs raining from the sky detonated mid-air, ignited prematurely by the raging fire elements.

The fire elements brought by the fireballs once again stabilized the dissipating Fire Elemental Storm.

The violent Fire Elemental Storm, like a crimson reaper, mercilessly harvested every living being caught within its range.

This Fire Elemental Storm had been wreaking havoc on the battlefield for two months. If the Wizards willed it, it could continue for two more years—or even twenty.

Each time it was on the verge of dissipating, new fire elements would replenish it, allowing it to persist.

But this time was different.

"Something's wrong—are there fewer fireballs this time?"

Within the fortress cluster, an Old Wizard keenly noticed the change on the battlefield. The Fire Elemental Storm was now dissipating at an alarming rate—far faster than usual.

Without replenishing fireballs, the storm that had ravaged the battlefield for two months would soon vanish entirely.

"Eck, report to the frontline commander—the Fire Elemental Storm is dissipating. The rear Magic Support Vehicles must provide reinforcements immediately."

The Old Wizard frowned as he watched the fading storm. Years of war had sharpened his instincts, and now, he sensed danger lurking.

Every wave of fireballs launched by the Magic Support Vehicles was meticulously calculated by command.

The number of fireballs was precisely calibrated to sustain the Fire Elemental Storm until the next wave arrived.

Even if a Magic Support Vehicle malfunctioned, backup units would compensate—never missing a single fireball.

Yet now, the storm was fading.

Something had gone wrong.

The Old Wizard pulled out a Crystal Ball and called out, "Attention, all members of Squad 16, Position 315—prepare for combat! I repeat, all members, prepare for combat—"

"Captain! Command has responded."

The Wizard named Eck interrupted the Old Wizard's orders. Holding a Crystal Ball, he strode forward with a grave expression.

"The Magic Support Vehicle launch count is normal. The commander orders us to investigate the battlefield and report any developments immediately."

The Old Wizard's heart sank.

He knew it—the days of safely mowing down the enemy from their fortresses were over.

Shouting into the Communication Crystal Ball, he barked, "All turrets, stand ready! Prepare to engage! I repeat, prepare to engage!"

At the same time, nearly every fortress along the frontline issued identical commands.

The Old Wizards all sensed something amiss.

Thud! Thud! Thud…

Heavy footsteps pierced through the Fire Elemental Storm, reaching the ears of the frontline Wizards.

Every Wizard who heard it could feel the faint tremors beneath their feet.

Soon, the Fire Elemental Storm dissipated.

A line of Treants, their bodies wreathed in roaring flames, marched in formation toward the fortress cluster. Behind them, an endless sea of forest stirred to life, their footsteps synchronized.

After two months of war, the World Tree Sub-body had finally evolved the ability to devour fire elements.

…

Floating City.

The command center buzzed with voices as nearly all frontline commanders simultaneously sent reports flooding into the war room.

Every position along the entire defensive line was under assault by Treants.

This sudden onslaught pushed the already strained defenses to the brink of collapse.

"Has the intel on the Treants come in yet?"

As the supreme commander, Jimmy remained outwardly calm despite his growing impatience.

The higher the rank, the more composed one needed to be in such moments.

"It's here."

A Third Circle Wizard casually tossed a Magic Book toward Jimmy.

Upon reading it, Jimmy felt his entire body go numb.

The Magic Book contained a synthesized assessment based on frontline reports:

[Flame Treant: Life Rating: 3.5, Defense Rating: 3, Attack Rating: 2.5, Overall Rating: 3, Quantity: Rare]

[Treant: Life Rating: 3, Defense Rating: 2.5, Attack Rating: 1.5, Overall Rating: 2.5, Quantity: Abundant]

The numerical ratings represented threat levels—a Life Rating of 3 meant the creature's vitality rivaled that of a third-tier being. A 3.5 indicated parity with a Third Circle Wizard.

Among the attacking Treants, the Flame Treants already matched third-tier creatures in overall strength, while the more numerous ordinary Treants each reached the level of a Second Circle Wizard.

This disparity in combat power all but guaranteed the defensive line's collapse.

Setting the Magic Book aside, Jimmy massaged his temples before issuing adjustments.

"Order the abandonment of the first defensive line. All available Third Circle Wizards are to engage immediately. Logistics Wizards—except for medics—are to join the battlefield as well.

Also, release the Synthetic Beasts we cultivated recently."

"Synthetic Beasts?" a Third Circle Wizard questioned. "Won't they just become fodder for the enemy?"

Jimmy pressed his hands against the table and explained, "The Alchemist Wizards in Logistics have modified them. Upon death, their bodies release multiple plant-targeting toxins.

We won’t be able to recover them, but they’ll serve as decent cannon fodder."

Though Jimmy's tone remained steady, the Wizards present detected a hint of helplessness.

Even the most skilled couldn't make bricks without straw—their resources were limited, while their enemy commanded nearly an entire world's worth.

"I need to step out. Elco, take command in my place."

Jimmy suddenly straightened, the overwhelming pressure making it hard to breathe.

He needed an outlet.

"Fine, but you only get half an hour," Elco replied without looking up.

"Half an hour is plenty."

Jimmy exhaled in relief before vanishing from the command center.

Moments later, he reappeared outside the Floating City, now a towering, black-robed giant covered in Magic Tattoos.

"Hey, Vice Dean, out for some fresh air?" a Third Circle Wizard en route to the battlefield greeted him.

Jimmy nodded slightly. "Yeah, clearing my head—and venting some frustration."

With that, his figure blurred, and a deafening sonic boom tore through the sky.

Soon, Jimmy's silhouette appeared on the frontlines.

Watching the somewhat disheveled Wizard team being pursued by the Treants, a cold glint flashed in Jimmy's eyes.

"Trees should stay rooted to the ground where they belong."

As he spoke, Magic Power surged within Jimmy's body, and it seemed as if the magical energy of the entire sky was converging toward him.

The Treants on the ground sensed the flow of energy and shot bolts of lightning skyward.

Facing this barrage of lightning comparable to a concentrated Spell volley, Jimmy didn't evade. Instead, a ferocious smile appeared on his face.

"Lightning? Perfect timing!"

In the next instant, Jimmy's figure was engulfed in the lightning. But immediately after, a fist radiance wrapped in thunder illuminated half the sky.

Jimmy, wreathed in lightning, stood suspended in midair like the thunder god of myth.

That fist radiance was utterly devastating, plowing a broad path through the endless sea of Treants, crushing all in its way.

With just this single punch, thousands of ordinary Treants were reduced to charred husks by the lightning, instantly relieving the retreating Wizards of any concerns about pursuit.

Some young Wizards witnessing this couldn't help but feel awestruck.

"Is this the power of a Third Circle Wizard? One day, I too will become..."

"Don't just stand there gawking! Move it!"

The older Wizards weren't as easily impressed as the youngsters—they'd seen far more spectacular displays when Great Wizards made their moves.

But there was no denying that Jimmy's punch indeed carried the flair of a Great Wizard's strike.

"Is that all you've got?"

Jimmy taunted the Treants even as he flew toward the Floating City.

There was a simple reason—this punch had nearly drained all his Magic Power and mental energy. Moreover, he'd only achieved this effect by borrowing the Treants' lightning and combining it with his own thunder principles.

If he kept up the act and got surrounded by Treants, ending up as fertilizer would be the joke of the century.

On other battlefields, various Third Circle Wizards were also demonstrating their might.

Though these Treants were strong, to Third Circle Wizards, they were merely second-tier creatures with slightly stronger vitality.

Even Flame Treants were just ordinary third-tier creatures.

As long as they weren't surrounded, these Treants posed little threat to Third Circle Wizards.

Unless...

Crack! A seemingly ordinary, even somewhat scrawny Treant lashed out with a whip toward a Third Circle Wizard covering the retreat.

The Wizard's energy barrier shattered with a loud "crack," and the remaining force of the vine whip sent the Wizard flying.

"Damn it! A World Tree Sub-body has infiltrated the ordinary Treants!"

The sent-flying Third Circle Wizard was shocked—he hadn't expected these wooden creatures to employ such tactics.

The Wizard immediately pulled out a Communication Crystal Ball to report to headquarters.

But before he could send the message, a white-purple thunderbolt as thick as a bucket came crashing down.

Even with his full strength, he barely managed to block it.

"Headquarters, headquarters, this is Third Circle Wizard Isaac. World Tree Sub-bodies have mixed in with the Treants. All Third Circle Wizards must exercise caution in identification—"

Crack!...

Hearing the sound of a Magic Barrier shattering through the Crystal Ball, the receiving Third Circle Wizard silently switched to the next communication channel.

Third Circle Wizards were long accustomed to life and death—a single Wizard's uncertain fate wasn't enough to stir their "hearts of stone."

"Attention all Third Circle Wizards, attention all Third Circle Wizards. The World Tree Sub-body has infiltrated ordinary Treants. Exercise extreme caution in identification."

"Repeat, the World Tree Sub-body has infiltrated ordinary Treants. Exercise extreme caution in identification."

By the command center's map, acting commander Elco modified the chart with spell radiance.

The once-circular defensive line now showed multiple breaches. The black zones representing insect tides had been altered to the green of Treants.

Now, the Green Tide was rapidly advancing toward the Floating City.

(End of chapter)