A month later, we're on a plane.
"I refuse!"
Zu Jiming vigorously denies the mission posed by the advisors. We're currently flying around the outskirts of the Sahara Desert: Egypt's Training Hall is our destination. A few minutes ago, the Cape of Good Hope Magic Association, Africa's highest Magic Association, requested our assistance, knowing we're currently flying near the Sahara.
It's just us teammates in the plane, but we're in contact with our advisors. More specifically, Nan Yu and Ai Jiangtu possess the means of contact.
The request, relayed to us by the advisors, involves searching for tracks left by Egypt's national team. They were training near the Sahara when a sudden sandstorm forced them to flee into the ominous grounds of the foreboding desert.
The trio of forbidden places on Earth comprises the Bermuda Triangle, the Sahara Desert, and Antarctica. Their outermost regions are classified as red, the rest being purple and black. Red indicates Greater or even Evolving Commanders as the highest threat level. Purple means Rulers, and black… Emperors.
The choice to flee into the Sahara Desert was a rational one: faced with certain and uncertain demise, the latter is clearly the superior option. Sentries in the area noticed the sandstorm and reported it to their superiors, some of whom called the advisors of Egypt's national team. They quickly comprehended the situation, contacting the Cape of Good Hope. One of its higher-ups in communication with China realized we happened to be near the spot where the students escaped into the Sahara, so she explained the circumstances to our advisors.
The Sahara Desert is constantly churning and homogenizing the sandy landscape. Any traces left behind by the students will vanish within two days, necessitating hasty action. Hence the 100 million yuan reward for each of us that ventures into the Sahara, conditional on us bringing back the Egyptian national team mostly intact.
Luckily for him, Zu Jiming isn't required to enter. The advisors made it clear that the mission was not mandatory. Concisely stated, people who go get rewarded. People who stay don't.
"I'm going." Nan Yu and Ai Jiangtu simultaneously demonstrate their determination. However, the rest of the team is well aware of the danger lurking in the depths of the Sahara, and among our teammates, only Mu Ningxue and I volunteer.
The four of us parachute to the sands below, and we begin pacing to the fringes of the desert.
…
…
Half of peril in the Sahara stems from the illusions. In fact, the Sahara's boundary on a map is defined by where the illusions commence. Natural Chaos magic grotesquely distorts all sense of direction; those lucky (or skilled) enough to escape explained how one's fullest attention was demanded at all times, and even that isn't sufficient to ensure survival. An eternal effect of 'gravitation' in the illusions ensures each step you take puts you closer and closer to the Sahara's inner regions. Unless you unceasingly verify a landmark or some other constant in the ever-churning sand dunes, getting lost is practically an inevitability. Experts recommend staying absolutely still and waiting for navigators to find you.
"Are you all informed on the Sahara?" I ask the others as we approach the boundary, labeled with stone monuments hundreds of meters tall and distanced a kilometer away from each other.
They all nod their heads in confirmation.
"Then an explanation is redundant. Don't fret about the illusions: I'll ensure we traverse our desired paths. Almost every Sahara rescue team contains a Chaos Magician, and for good reason."
Having learned by now to trust me, they allow me to take the lead. We walk adjacent to a stone pillar for a few seconds, reaching the top of a tall sand dune. Just like that, we're in the Sahara. Copy-and-pasted sand dunes litter our vision—distinguishing between them is an impossibility. Nevertheless, if my confidence in my skills is not unfounded, that won't matter at all.
…
…
Without complications, we walk for a few hours in a winding path to thoroughly scour the students' route of escape. The exercise was not unfruitful: we dug a green tent out of the sand with the Egyptian national team's seal on it.
"Alright, they're definitely nearby if they were smart enough to remain still. To cover more ground, we'll split up along a 90 degree arc aimed at the center of the desert. If something forced them to flee from this spot, we can be certain that the illusions compelled them in that general direction. Mu Ningxue, use your Wind Element to send a plume of sand flying upwards every 10 minutes. Nan Yu and Ai Jiangtu, watch for her signal and make sure you don't stray off your intended path. If you find yourself getting lost, stay still. I'll come find you if we regroup and someone's missing."
They solemnly agree. Nan Yu and Ai Jiangtu head for the left and right of the arc, respectively. I head in the direction with the highest probability of finding the team: aiming right at the center of the Sahara Desert.
…
…
The Chaos fluctuations grow more intense and scrambled as I progress further into the desert. Fortunately, I'm well versed in formation and Chaos magic, enough that I can handle the decoding of the mixed signals in my perception. They won't fool me, at least not yet.
Another hour passes, and footprints begin to litter the sand. Relieved, I keep walking, and a group of gritty, weary young adults enters my vision as I climb over a dune.
"Sayed! Meos! Schindler! Fancy seeing you all here."
Their jaws drop as they gawk at me, and the former two quickly direct a glare at me once they compose themselves. In contrast, Schindler amiably greets me. "Are you the rescue operative?"
"In a sense, yes. China's national team happened to be nearby, so some of us went in to secure traces of your presence and offer the clues to subsequent rescue teams. I happened to stumble upon you all. Come with me, I'll lead you guys out of here."
"How are you so confident in your sense of direction? Surely you're aware of the… ah. Chaos Magician?"
[On second thought, perhaps I should have just waited for a rescue team with them. I forgot how agreeable yet astute their captain was.]
"Indeed, though my Chaos Element isn't really suitable for battle yet: it just barely allowed me to navigate this horrid place. Let's go, before something ill befalls us."
He skeptically gazes at me, but he does gesture at his team to follow my lead.
…
…
Nan Yu made it back to Mu Ningxue, but Ai Jiangtu did not. Luckily, he hadn't strayed too far since he rapidly realized he'd lost his way, and I brought him back within the hour.
Sayed whines, "Can we leave already? This place gives me the creeps."
As I'm about to agree, my body tenses up. I whisper, "Guys… do you feel that?"
Ai Jiangtu, Nan Yu, and Schindler wear grim expressions. Evidently, I wasn't the only one to sense the beast's presence beneath us.
"Ai Jiangtu, teleport everyone away and find a safe spot to stay put. I'll distract it."
Bright silver stars form a beautiful Space Star Constellation. I escape the spatial spell's range, and everyone's figures vanish a moment later. For several tense beats, blue skies and sand dunes are all that remain within my field of view.
Seconds pass agonizingly slowly.
[Now!]
I morph into a Shadow Bird an instant before the sand caves in on itself. Unfortunately, colossal sand clouds billow around me, obscuring my vision. Although I'm safe from physical attacks in this form, lack of sight might be fatal in such a dangerous environment.
I dispel the Shadow Bird form and continuously cast Change of Order: Gravity on myself, propelling myself towards the sky. As I rise above the beige sand clouds, the beast's full form reveals itself.
A 400 meter long Sandworm. A mouth over 30 meters wide with hundreds of spiny teeth, each taller than most Commanders I've fought. Dense gray scales, likely impervious to most Advanced spells.
And unfathomable agility. It glides in and out of the sand, as if it's a whale in the sea. Instead of water splashing, dust clouds are scattered when it surfaces.
I instantly realize I stand absolutely no chance of harming this thing, let alone killing it. Cutting through its hide with a sword would be like cleaning my fingernails with a toothpick. The sand would shred me into scrap before I'd do anything beyond superficial damage.
I estimate I have around 50 seconds before my Chaos Nebula runs out of mana.
[How do I escape while ensuring it doesn't go after the others?]
I grit my teeth. There's only one method that guarantees success.
I start falling, having ceased casting Chaos spells on myself. Instead, my body becomes encapsulated in a golden armor: the 3rd tier Light Advanced spell, Light Scale Holy Armor. 2 such armors, in fact. My Light Galaxy is as dim as can be, lacking even an iota of mana.
As planned, I land on the Sandworm's head and secure my position by sticking two swords into its scales. Eerie clicking noises escape its mouth following the maneuver.
[Is it more insect than worm?]
I've no time to find out the answer, as my outer layer of armor is already dimming due to the constant barrage of coarse sand. The Sandworm attempts to shake me off by diving in and out of the desert, but I've carved a small cavity into its cranium and lowered myself in, sticking a sword between the walls above me to use as a seatbelt. Sand partially fills the cavity, acting as a barrier against the onslaught of more sand, offering my dim golden armor a respite. Still, most of the Light Scale Holy Armors' protective capabilities were used in the ambush.
I hadn't imagined I could actually remain here unscathed. Should I attempt to kill this thing?
No. If its anatomy is anything like that of a worm, I'd have to slice this thing into tiny pieces to ensure it dies. It might take me into purple or even black regions of the Sahara by then, and I wouldn't just be facing a Sandworm at that point.
If my sense of direction is accurate, I've already traveled kilometers away from the group. It's time to escape.
I unsummon the swords and morph into a Shadow Bird, no longer encased in the armor and unfazed by physical damage like sharp, billowing sand. I start flying in a direction that I assume will lead me back to the others, and I quickly leave the undulating Sandworm behind.
A few minutes later, I spot them on top of a massive boulder. I glide down next to them and cancel my Shadow Bird form, startling Meos, Sayed, and a few other members of the Egyptian team that I've yet to be acquainted with.
Ah, the 6th tier Basic Shadow spell, Shadow Evade: Shadow Bird. Obtaining the Dark Noble Mantle and placing it in my Spiritual World granted a passive +1 tier to all Basic Shadow spells, so I no longer have to lay down a Nyx Regime to gain access to such a speedy, nimble form. I can't fly vertically, but as long as I remain reasonably close to my shadow, anything goes.
"Let's get out of here before another eldritch monster devours us all."
Everyone concurs.
As I'm leading the way, I analyze the battle I just had. That Sandworm was merely a Lesser Ruler, yet it forced me into such dire straits. Killing it was an impossible task; either I'd make a mistake while slicing and get dissolved by digestive acids, or another Ruler would devour the Sandworm's corpse, and me along with it. The Sandworm was simply moving too quickly.
I was lucky to have discovered that cubbyhole strategy. Without it, I'd need to suffer the full force of the sand's onslaught, and I doubt I'd last long enough to ensure it didn't come after the others.
The Sandworm is one of the least threatening species in the Sahara. It lacks intelligence, has a very limited attack arsenal, and allows instinct to guide its decisions. We were fortunate to have run into it and not anything else, honestly.
…
…
We land in Cairo's airport and greet the other team members, who are here to meet us after defeating Egypt's defensive team and securing their stamp. Coincidentally, the mission's bounty arrives at this moment, alighting 4 phones with notifications of a transfer of funds. My bank account grows to 200 million yuan once I accept the reward money. Mu Tingying fumes at the sight of Mu Ningxue receiving such a large lump sum, but the latter treats her like air while slightly smiling. Evidently, her mood has soared after securing the funds to continue her progress in the Advanced level, simultaneously dampening Mu Tingying's mood.
A single stop lies between us and Venice: Puccini, a small city in Egypt around 200 kilometers away from Cairo. The advisors were not really clear about the scope of our job, but based on the description, it's similar to the ordeal in Japan's East Maritime Fortress. We must reside in the city, helping defend it from demon creatures.
"Strange, why does it look like many people are injured here?" Zhao Manyan takes notice of people helping the injured move around on the street, an alarmingly common occurrence.
"I heard a local saying that Puccini City hasn't been peaceful lately. It seems like something did happen here," Nan Yu expounds.
A few Wind Mages carrying a white stretcher blow past us, making their way to the center of the city with the help of Wind Trail.
"That man has lost his legs, I managed to catch a glimpse of the wounds, it looked like they were torn off!" Guan Yu exclaims.
Intrigued, we all follow the Mages' path, finding a vast open field after some time. It's the epicenter of wound treatment: vehicles and Mages continuously arrive, ferrying injured individuals to tents for medical service. Tents the size of small buildings, not little camping tents.
"That symbol…" Nanrong Ni sees a symbol resembling a wheel of flowers on a tent. When looking at it from different angles, one can discern similar but inverted flowery patterns. The patterns were then joined together into a milky-white wheel of flowers with golden-blue edges.
[The seal of the Parthenon.]
Nanrong Ni is familiar with the organization, of course. It's where she awakened the Blessing Element after reaching the Advanced level, since it's one of the three places in the world with the means to bestow this special Element. More accurately, it (along with Vatican City and Akshardham Temple) monopolizes those means with tacit agreement from the world's various powers.
"I will ease the pain for you, but you must calm down and tell me how you ended up like this, so it's easier for me to treat your injuries," a gentle voice softly resounds from within the tent.
[Wait a second, that sounds like…]
I unceremoniously fling aside the tent flap and dash inside, but I make myself scarce after comprehending the gravity of the situation.
"I…I stumbled into two Poisonous Golden Mummies, one was grabbing me while the other dug its claws into my legs. I immediately fainted. When I woke up, I was already being carried here. I know you've temporarily eased the pain with the Psychic Element, but I know I will never get my legs back. The injuries inflicted by the Poisonous Golden Mummies are incurable, not to mention how young you look." The crippled man is a Mage in the army running border patrol, though he apparently believes his situation is hopeless.
"I can help you recover," the woman smiles.
The Mage starts grumbling when the pain gradually returns, and sneers at her reassuring words. However, the unsightly expression falls off his face once his broken veins, bones, and flesh regenerate slowly, reconnecting with the legs that had been torn off.
The glowing, milky-white 'liquid' hovering above the healer's hand with a strong presence of vitality slowly drips onto his legs with a sacred light, helping his bloody stumps attach to his legs. He watches the miraculous sight with a vacant expression, as if he's in disbelief.
First the bones, then the muscles, tendons, sinew, arteries, veins, hypodermis, dermis, and finally epidermis. Once the skin tightly seals itself, not a single scar remains. He stares at the healer responsible in awe, as if she's an angel that descended from the heavens.
"Rest well, the muscles in your legs are still recovering, don't do anything too vigorous for the next three days," she softly advises.
"Three days? Just three days? Unbelievable, I've never seen such a capable Healer!"
The angelic lady merely smiles humbly in response, but the female knight by her side arrogantly raises her chin. "Don't underestimate the Healing magic of our Parthenon Temple, it's the strongest in the world!"
"One of the strongest. Akshardham Temple, Vatican City, Jerusalem, and others would take great offense to your claim just now."
She sharply swivels her head and prepares a withering response, but she's interrupted by the woman next to her, who screams, "JIANYU!"
I run to Xinxia and kneel in front of her wheelchair, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.
Annoyingly, the fly hovering next to her starts shouting, "How dare you blaspheme a Servant of the Hall of the Goddess! I will n-"
"I'm her brother."
"... That isn't the po-"
"Then you have no grounds on which to scold me. I'll leave her to continue saving lives now, but perhaps I should inform her to request another guardian knight. One that assumes an air of humbleness which mirrors hers, instead of this arrogance you're blithely tossing everywhere."
"Jianyu, it's okay… Lana's just a little protective."
"Well, I suppose I have no problem if you don't mind."
Lana finds no words as I walk away and approach the team that followed me into the tent. Nanrong Ni wears a strange expression as she asks Xinxia, "Are you… really a Servant of the Hall of the Goddess?"
"It's currently a temporary status, but I'll officially become a Servant after I finish my training here, yes."
"I see…" She falls silent, lost in her thoughts. Mu Ningxue exchanges a few pleasantries with Xinxia, and we then leave her to her medical duties.
…
…
"Are you teasing me because I'm not studious? How does a mirage threaten the city?" Zhao Manyan's eyes widen as he looks at us, puzzled.
"Can someone please explain the situation to this idiot? We have other matters to discuss," Guan Yu impatiently declares.
I accept the task. "Zhao Manyan, we refer to them as mirages because they're reflections of the real pyramids. Precisely how the mirroring happens is beyond the scope of this conversation, but just know that cities can get unlucky and have mirages of pyramids appear near them."
"And… why is that unlucky?"
"Basically, the undead in Egypt and the undead in our Ancient Capital are slightly different, mainly in terms of their activity range. The undead of our Ancient Capital only appear at night, and they usually gather at places with a stronger presence of death. On the other hand, the undead here in Egypt are only active around the pyramids, but daylight doesn't affect them. These pyramids are the tombs of ancient Egypt's Pharaohs. Most of them were the authoritative masters of slaves back in the days, tyrants with the power to decide everyone's fates. These Pharaohs were incredibly powerful, and even after their deaths, they still wanted countless people to protect their remains. As such, they placed curses in the pyramids to resurrect the dead: ones that were buried together with the Pharaohs and those that were buried nearby to rise from the ashes and protect the pyramids forever."
"So the curse also applies when it's a mirage? Because I assume the cities were all built far from the pyramids."
"That's the crux of the mirages: 'mirage' is merely a moniker, and a bad one in my opinion. The process of reflecting the image of the pyramid is not nearly as simple as placing a huge mirror next to a Pharaoh's tomb. Suffice it to say the curse gets transferred to the mirage pyramid, causing undead to surge up and protect it. Their hostility radius is 30 kilometers for the smallest pyramids, but the Great Pyramid of Giza's projection might eradicate all life within 200 kilometers. 118 pyramids plus these ongoing mirages mean a huge chunk of Egypt is uninhabitable."
"Which pyramid is harassing Puccini?"
"The Pyramid of Ounas. Around 50 meters tall, with a 60x60 meter base."
"... Wouldn't that be a tight fit for Commanders?"
"In terms of height, no. Although it does get rather cramped in there, what with all the passageways. Plus, you'd do well to not underestimate the pyramid, even if it appears small. Fly up to that tower, and you'll understand what I mean."
Befuddled, he complies and summons Magic Wings, heading for the top of the observational tower located in a corner of the medical camp. I transform into a Shadow Bird and approach its base, then soar up to its peak.
I morph back into a human next to Zhao Manyan, and we both gaze at the pyramid in the distance, 35 kilometers to the north of Puccini City. It's a golden structure glowing under the sunlight. Strangely, the sunlight sprinkling over the city is warm and comfortable, but the light shining onto the golden pyramid looks icy and eerie, as if it's corrupted. Although it's only a stacked-stone structure fifty meters tall, I feel the same pressure as viewing a huge army charging in my direction.
"Gold usually represents sacredness, nobility, and royalty, but the golden pyramid feels intimidating and spooky…" Zhao Manyan voices.
"Hey, get down from there!"
A guard shouts at us to leave, so we comply. I morph into a Shadow Bird once more, soaring to the ground. The moment we both reach the group, Ai Jiangtu informs us of our duties.
"As soon as a mirage appears, a war begins between the dead and the living; usually, a mirage lasts for a couple of months. It also depends on what level the pyramids are. A troop of Battlemages with some assistance from other countries is usually enough to handle a small pyramid, but if it's the bigger pyramids… the number of the undead is comparable to hordes of demon creatures, and that's a problem. For now, our job is to assist the city's Battlemages to eradicate the Poisonous Golden Mummies. Those creatures are responsible for the injuries only treatable by the Parthenon healers interning here," Ai Jiangtu states.
"Why can't we just try and reach the pyramid to eliminate the mirage, and put an end to the war?" Zhao Manyan asks.
Guan Yu immediately lets out a hollow laugh and sneers, "Do you think the undead are just mere decorations? They aren't afraid of death! They only have one goal in mind, apart from killing everything in their way: to protect the pyramid! Anything that gets within ten kilometers from the pyramid will be immediately surrounded. The path to the pyramid is usually laid down with the corpses of many Mages!"
"He's telling the truth; don't ever underestimate the undead even if it's only a small pyramid. The number of undead surrounding this pyramid is pretty insane, almost on the scale of a horde of demon creatures. Many people are going to die just to clear a path to the most sensitive area for the undead, since they are a lot harder to kill than demon creatures. Many injured that were sent here are from the front line," Nan Yu says.
"Is there already an army making their way to the pyramid?" Zhao Manyan wonders.
"Yeah, it's currently around five kilometers away from the city, but it's still at least thirty kilometers away from the Pyramid of Ounas. Actually, the army has only encountered the undead in the outer ring, but still, there are already so many casualties while the army is only trying to gain a foothold," Nan Yu clarifies.
The army has a team of vanguards clearing a path ahead while the others set up a temporary camp behind. This is done repeatedly, about once every few hundred meters, allowing supplies to be delivered and the injured to be escorted back through an undead-free path. Worn out soldiers are replaced with rested ones. Soldiers are posted along the path to preclude the rare circumstance of undead swarming the supply line: usually, the vanguard draws the attention of most of the undead, since they prioritize targets closer to the pyramid. The slow, painstaking method of securing camps in the undeads' territory is one perfected by Egypt over centuries of fighting the undead, and it minimizes casualties: a vital component of the strategy. The last thing Egypt wants is to fight its own soldiers revived by the curse surrounding the pyramids.
Unfortunately, this is not possible for the final stretch. Undead that inhabit the pyramid are far more powerful than the mummies currently devastating the army, and they'll defend it against any foreign entity that wanders within 3 to 10 kilometers (depending on the pyramid's threat level). If the army's prowess isn't enough to crush the undead forces, sacrifices must be made. When the time comes, the army will give those with a higher chance of reaching the pyramid a device that emits burning light. After a suicidal charge, at least once soldier will place it at the foot of the pyramid, and the subsequent illumination will erase the mirage. The curse will desist from reviving undead, and the threat will have ended.
Graciously, the truly powerful undead only exist in real pyramids: mirages merely spawn the weaker subordinates of the pharaohs.
"The camps along a 5-kilometer trek have been set up. We'll be following the army as they press forward tomorrow. They want us to take out the Poisonous Golden Mummies to reduce their casualties," Nan Yu sums up the situation.
Everyone murmurs in concurrence.
…
…
Later that night, I peer into my Spiritual World. A faint, translucent shell has coalesced around my Chaos Nebula, and it obstinately prevents any brightening of the Nebula via meditation.
[It's about time.]
I take a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the challenging endeavor ahead. Clutched tightly in my hand is a Galaxy Vein, a shimmering crystal pulsating with ethereal energy. The translucent stars within my Nebula swirl in a state of heightened anticipation, as if they sense the momentous transformation about to occur.
With unwavering focus, I begin to channel the energy into the Chaos Nebula. The Galaxy Vein's energy flows like a river, merging with the chaotic maelstrom within my Nebula. The stars respond eagerly, their movements growing more frenetic with each passing moment.
The translucent stars, now surging with newfound power, converge upon the translucent shell that has long hindered my progress. They strike with relentless determination, causing the barrier to tremble and crack. Each impact sends ripples of energy cascading through my Spiritual World.
The mental strain is intense, a searing pain that courses through my consciousness, but it's bearable. The stars continue their assault, and finally, with a resounding burst, the translucent shell shatters into a thousand fragments.
My Chaos Nebula, now bathed in a radiant brilliance, begins its transformation into a spiral Chaos Galaxy. The pain ebbs away, replaced by a profound sense of accomplishment. I have taken the first step on a new and exhilarating journey, unlocking the boundless potential of a Chaos Galaxy. 294 new stars, all enhanced to the 3rd tier instantly after I use up my remaining Warrior Soul Essences I kept in reserve from the Rock Demon slaughter.
All 5 star clusters are now Galaxies: Light, Water, Shadow, Chaos, Demon. They resonate in my Spiritual World, shattering the Spiritual Attainment bottleneck and sending me into the intermediate realm, at the 4th tier. I'll have to test the limit of the newfound potency of my current Chaos spells, heightened by the Spiritual Attainment increase, and learn to construct a Chaos Star Constellation.
For now, I'm content with the abundant mana flowing through the Galaxy. Chaos is now suited to a drawn-out battle, and it'll be my trump card in the imminent war.
…
…
Early the next morning, just after the sun rose, a substantial army assembled to the north of the city. It mainly consists of the Battlemages from the local government.
Many gather to bid them farewell. They understand the perilous nature of the impending war, where there are no guarantees of a safe return. Yet, the mission is of utmost importance—to eliminate the mirage of the pyramid. In the face of looming danger, the soldiers display unwavering courage, their resolve stronger than any trepidation.
Our Chinese team joins the collective effort and is instructed to advance with the army. Here, we meet the operation's commander, General Fenna, a formidable woman in her forties. There's no trace of conventional femininity about her; instead, she exudes the seasoned and resolute aura of someone who has spent a lifetime on the battlefield.
"You will follow the army's advance; your responsibility will be the Poisonous Golden Mummies. We attack once the formation is set up, in about 30 minutes." General Fenna's voice is somewhat hoarse, and her countenance perpetually stern.
"We will do our utmost to eradicate them," Nan Yu assures her.
The path to the final camp, situated five kilometers from the city, has been cleared in the initial charge, and the Battlemages stationed along the path destroy the odd mummy that wanders nearby. We swiftly reach our destination without the obstruction of the undead.
With the arrival of the second troop, the main army begins its advance. Their primary objective is to reach a high vantage point roughly fifteen kilometers from the pyramid, securing a foothold before proceeding further.
"On the other side of that hill lies a group of Poisonous Golden Mummies," Nan Yu explains to our team. "They're experts in poison manipulation and exceedingly cunning. They often lurk behind piles of corpses, striking with poison when we're least vigilant. The main army will approach the hill head-on and establish a defensive formation to deter the undead's advance. Meanwhile, our team will discreetly traverse the hill to eliminate the Poisonous Golden Mummies. Once the main army secures the high ground, we'll fall back within the protective barrier. Our goal isn't necessarily to vanquish every Poisonous Golden Mummy."
Nan Yu's directive is clear. We are in the midst of a brutal war, not a playground for showcasing individual prowess. As a military officer, Nan Yu does not permit any team member to deviate from her orders.
[Except…]
"I've learned how to construct attack formations. Why don't I assist their formation experts to work offensive options into their setup? I'm sure you all can handle a group of Warriors led by a Commander."
She sighs, but nods in assent. "I'll describe your talents to General Fenna so you aren't met with ridicule."
"As considerate as ever."
…
…
"General… you want this 20 year old boy to assist us?"
"Are you questioning my decisions, soldier?"
The wizened veteran stiffens, then crisply salutes. "No, General."
"Hop to it, then."
He doesn't seem interested in cooperating, so I take the initiative to converse with him. "What's the general layout currently looking like, and what's your desired result?"
"We're pretty much done setting up Light and Water barrier arrays in a line that'll block off the undead. And… that's about it."
"Why don't I direct the construction of some offensive arrays? The more undead we eliminate now, the fewer that'll swarm us later."
He stares at me with skepticism, but the recent castigation by his General compels him to agree. I set off immediately, enlisting the help of a few men. I whip out my black Runic Pen and use Water mana to draw a few runes, then Light mana.
"See these simple arrays? Just 4 runes each. Water Mages, construct the one that creates a Water blade. Light Mages, Light blade. I want one of each in a second line, 2 meters in front of the barrier arrays. While you do those, I'll create a Gathering Array in between the lines and connect it to all of your mini arrays, drawing a few more that'll direct them to attack the mummies. This way, we'll preserve the magic stones powering the defensive formation by killing most of the undead before they reach it."
To my surprise, they finished the entire 200 meter line in 15 minutes. I'm the rate-determining step, and I finish 15 minutes later.
[Commendable teamwork.]
General Fenna announces the commencement of battle upon viewing the completed formations. Scouts draw the attention of the bulk of the undead situated on the hill, and while the groaning mummies approach us, a few Shadow Mages discreetly transport my teammates behind the hill to accomplish their mission.
I elect to watch the fruits of my work before battling the undead. Thousands of mummies clad in decaying, wrapped linen shuffle toward us. Dozens of 5 meter tall Warrior mummies tower above the 2 meter Soldiers, spread evenly throughout the army. There's no Commander, but their sheer numbers pose a threat. General Fenna must save her energy for Super spells at crucial moments since they'll draw the attention of Rulers, so it's up to us Advanced, Intermediate, and Basic Mages to deal with the low-level undead.
Well, that's if the sight before our eyes wasn't occurring.
As if walking into a massive blue-and-yellow blender, every advancing mummy gets shredded to bits by blue Water blades and yellow Light blades, each around a meter long. The soldiers watch in awe: not a single spell of theirs is required until the Warriors arrive mostly unscathed, but all that's needed to finish them off are a few Fiery Fists, Thunderbolts, Wind Discs, etc. What mounted to a grueling battle transformed into a lackadaisical slaughter.
Shaking my head at the carnage, I morph into a Shadow Bird and soar to the back lines, scouting the path ahead. Since I helped the soldiers preserve so much energy, we'll have no qualms about pushing forward. I myself have all my energy in reserve: I waited a few seconds between each Chaos rune to ensure my Chaos Galaxy remained at peak capacity.
I fly past my teammates; they've nearly annihilated all the Poisonous Golden Mummies. A kilometer behind the hill, I'm ambushed by human-sized undead coming out from behind a boulder.
They're as pitch-black as my swords, including their skin, armor, and swords! Only their eyes possess an eerie red glow, with a strong murderous intent. The undead figures, resembling sinister swordsmen, advance with an uncanny grace. One of these spectral assailants approaches me, executing a cross-shaped slash with menacing precision. The obsidian blades gleam ominously under the creature's control.
I deflect both swings with a sword, but I'm in awe of their incredible strength. I elect not to enhance them by laying down a Nyx Regime: they're clearly Shadow creatures, since they sensed my Shadow Bird form with alarming ease and appear as black as the night. A Shadow Domain will benefit them more than me.
Wary of my skills, my sole adversary hesitates briefly before launching another succession of swings. Unfortunately, I familiarize myself with its movements after deflecting a horizontal slash, stab, and a roundhouse diagonal swing; my new opponents' telltale signs of attack now lay bare before my eyes. Lazily sidestepping a vertical slash, I lunge at its exposed midsection, cleaving it in twain. The bisected body attempts to glue itself back together by sprouting shadowy tendrils from each wound, but I halt the process by stabbing its head, which contains an undead crystal.
[So the fundamental form of these Egyptian undead is remarkably similar to China's…]
The excitement from discovering a swordsman adversary swiftly drains away, since I've realized they don't possess the means to learn. They'll continue executing the same patterns of swipes for all eternity.
The other 49 figures do not take kindly to the loss of that Brutal Sword Death Servant. 24 of them march forward while the other 25 lay in wait to finish me off. Only a dozen of them can slice at me simultaneously, but each dozen alternates. I'm faced with an interlacing web of sword strikes, and lesions quickly appear on my limbs as I'm unable to keep up with the sheer number of attacks.
Light Blessing: Impervious Juggernaut!
The 5th tier Intermediate Light spell clads me in a glowing, golden armor. It dims at a significant rate, but I manage to reach the front line of Brutal Sword Death Servants before it vanishes, and I cast another one while shearing through their swords and heads alike—I put on the Rabbit Feet to enhance the swiftness, and therefore the power, of my strikes. Following the same pattern, the remaining Great Warriors collapse to the ground like so much scrap metal after casting 4 Impervious Juggernauts.
My Light Galaxy trembles after the battle, and I use the last vestiges of energy in my Galaxy Vein to expand it: a 2nd tier Light Galaxy! The 343 yellow stars whizz in glee, and the Galaxy's radiance is at its peak once more, as if I had never consumed 4 Intermediate spells' worth of mana.
My enthusiasm is tempered as my gaze shifts to gleams of radiance amidst the Brutal Sword Death Servants' corpses.
[Is that…]
I haven't encountered rare material since the days of Bo City, yet there's 7 rare Great Warrior bones here? Just how special are these undead from inside the pyramid? I suppose pyramid guards boast a higher status compared to corpses revived from outside the pyramid, but I hadn't imagined that tidbit of information would translate to eerie cooperation and high rare bone odds.
I gingerly gather them and store them in my backpack. Ah, the Shadow Bird transformation process envelops items I'm carrying, within reason, so thankfully, the Chaotic Piercer and backpack don't fall to the ground when speed is of the essence.
Casting these thoughts aside, I shift my attention to the 4th tier Light stars.
[I'll recover an Advanced spell's worth of energy in a few hours, and I estimate it'll take us a couple of days before we intrude within 3 kilometers of the Pyramid of Ounas…]
Steeling myself with resolve, I align the 343 Light stars.
Descending Light: Beam!
A torrent of Light coalesces into a golden circle large enough to encase me, which instantly fires a pulverizing beam of Light. Mummies grazed by the vicious Light particles instantly crumble into dust, and the phenomenon continues for half a kilometer before the light ray finally relents and vanishes.
[Incredible. An AOE attack, one that'll eradicate anything in the line of fire. It doubles as a single-target attack when faced with a Commander, whose body will be far larger than the circumference of the light ray.]
Although I'm itching to test it on a Commander, I shelve aside my desires in favor of continuing to scout. However, I perceive nothing else of note on my flight to the pyramid, and I cease approaching it once I'm 4 kilometers away, electing to fly back instead.
My teammates have regrouped with the bulk of the army, and the Egyptians are marching forward under General Fenna's supervision. Like a well-oiled machine, fresh Mages seamlessly replace ones who run out of energy; their swift progress impresses me.
I land next to the aforementioned General and morph back into a human. "General Fenna, I've a proposition."
My abrupt arrival startled them all, her subordinates adopting battle stances, but they relax when she composes herself and curiously inquires what I have in mind.
"Repeat today's events every five kilometers until we're within 3 kilometers of the pyramid. I allowed the Undead Magicians to harvest the Soul Remnants and Essences today, but in exchange for my formation assistance, I demand them all henceforth."
"Done."
"... That was faster than expected."
"You've no idea how many soldiers die in these pyramid raids. If only I could find offensive formation masters like you and have them stay permanently…"
"To put it bluntly, such rare specimens would never deign to offer their services in such a banal endeavor as protecting a city from a pyramid?"
She scoffs, "Precisely. They're all snapped up by the rich clans and organizations. The ones that the military does get its hands on will never be sent to 'remote' cities like Puccini."
"I sympathize, but I'm afraid this conversation will not reach the conclusion you desire. I've other affairs: the World College Tournament being one of them."
My sharp denial elicits a sigh. "I had to try."
A twinkle enters my eye. "On the other hand, I wouldn't be opposed to you commissioning me to draw a large-scale formation around Puccini City's emergency safe zone. I'm sure a barrier exists, but today's events are evidence that offense is often the better defense."
She stiffens, fixating her full attention on me. "Are… are you serious?"
"Deadly so. However, I'll need a week and the assistance of all of your formation masters. Especially those who have Chaos. And you'll have to forgo our aid in the ensuing war against the pyramid's undead."
"Hmmm… what's your price?"
"5 billion yuan. Or about 20 billion EGP."
Her jaw drops as she stares at me, flabbergasted. "I'm not sure whether you're joking, but that's almost as much as the sum of the yearly salaries of all my men. Not happening."
I narrow my eyes and smile. "I don't know whether you're joking, but I'd be installing a Gathering Array. A large-scale one, to power the entire offensive formation. If you have Space Mages, I could even construct a Storage Array to supercharge the defense or offense with reserved energy. That aside, the Gathering Array alone is worth at least 20 billion EGP."
She hesitates, then shakes her head in the negative. "Your presence in the war results in minimal casualties. That, plus 20 billion EGP, is worth more than an array that'll only be used in emergencies."
"Fair point. Besides, the Gathering Array will have to be redrawn at least once a year to remain efficacious, since Chaos runes are particularly volatile. I'd do it for free, but since you're not willing… See you tomorrow."
I stroll off, leaving behind a troubled General Fenna. A unit in the center of the stopped horde of humans catches my eye. More specifically, the Parthenon's flower pattern displayed on banners draws my attention.
"Hey, Lana."
She wrinkles her nose at the sight of me. "You stink of darkness."
"About that, I'm here to be purified."
[It irks me that I need an excuse to talk to Xinxia. How does she tolerate Lana?]
"You'll have to wait, as she's currently treating the injured Battlemages. Perhaps you'll have better luck tomorrow morning."
"Lana, who are you talking to?" Xinxia wheels herself outside the tent. "Jianyu?! Come in!"
I offer Lana a level look as I shove aside the tent flaps while I wheel Xinxia in. In turn, she glowers at me.
"I take it you're not currently busy?"
"No, few Battlemages are sustaining wounds right now for some reason."
"Interesting, because Lana turned down my attempt to see you. On the grounds that you had your hands full with patients."
"Jianyu, please bear with her. She's just concerned about me interacting with you because…"
"Because? I've got no accolades under my belt, while you're about to be a Servant in the Parthenon Temple's Hall of the Goddess? A brother with no accomplishments is a stain on your glory? Don't worry, that'll change after word of today's battle reaches her ears."
She perks up. "Do tell."
"Nothing complicated. The Egyptians were going to set up a barrier formation to hold off the undead while the Chinese team snuck around the hill to eradicate the Poisonous Golden Mummies. I simply altered the plan by adding another set of arrays, offensive ones. Instead of consuming magic stones on mere defense, I led the construction of Light and Water blade arrays powered by a Gathering Array, and they mowed through thousands of mummies. That's part of why advancing right now is so easy: we thinned out the crowd in this area, and the mummies will only return to their original concentration after we march another few kilometers."
"That's amazing! Wait, are you hurt?"
She pouts as she notices the lacerations concealed by new clothes. I lay down on her sterilized operating table, eliciting a sigh. She grudgingly falls into the role of a healer, erasing the pangs of pain stemming from my various wounds. I admire her concentrated face and converse with her to ease her disgruntled mood.
…
…
After just 5 days, we're on the cusp of penetrating through the penultimate layer of undead; however, the challenge ahead of us generally demands a steep price for victory. Usually, over 70% of all casualties occur in the final stretch, where Battlemages die in droves attempting to place a device of burning light on the pyramid's surface.
Nevertheless, that's a loss the current Puccini City army can afford: my formation tactics eliminated all traces of risk accompanying the advancement to the pyramid. Moreover, I've secured magnificent gains for myself. Upwards of 42,000 Soldier-class undead were shredded apart by Light and Water blades, and General Fenna allowed me to monopolize their glowing Soul Remnants and Soul Essences.
Akin to the Chinese undead, the quality of these soul drops surpasses that of ordinary demon creatures: a 1/210 chance of a Soul Essence instead of 1/350, and 30 instead of 50 Soul Remnants needed to refine a Soul Essence. That means 1400 refined Soldier Soul Essences and 200 natural ones.
The greatest boon was Nyx's evolution. Apparently, it had been refining the Eternal Lotus for the better part of a year, and it completed the process last night. Just now, my habitual glance into its inner world left my jaw on the floor. The clear Nether River spiraling and flowing in the center of the space is as familiar a sight as ever, but the anomaly lies in the brilliant lights floating over its waters. I expected to see 1400 there and 200 in some corner of the space, and while the 200 natural Soldier Soul Essences remain present, 1400 Soldier Soul Essences transformed into 700 Soldier, 50 Warrior, and 2 Commander Soul Essences.
[10 Soldiers into 1 Warrior, 10 Warriors into 1 Commander? Seems to fit the numbers.]
It's midnight; I'm currently alone in my tent, awaiting tomorrow's mad dash for the pyramid. I whisper, "Nyx, can you convert everything into Commander Soul Essences? Everything but the natural ones."
Indeed, the Nether River bustles with activity for a while, eventually settling down. 14 bright white lights adorn the space like incandescent lamps, and 200 dim ones resemble fireflies. 14 refined Commander Soul Essences, 200 natural Soldier Soul Essences. It really doesn't sit right with me to upgrade 14 stars to the 6th tier, so I elect to retain them for the time being.
…
…
We number 2000 strong. Flakes of linen are the sole remnants of the mummies revived by the pyramid's curse; we've wiped them all out, at least the ones more than 3 kilometers away from the pyramid. The final obstacle has already readied itself: a pitch black barricade in front of the pyramid comprises 500 Brutal Sword Death Servants, all bristling with indignation that a foreign entity dares to intrude on the pyramid's grounds. A sea of rotting bodies, red eyes, horrid faces, and poisonous gas lies between us and the crisp black swordsmen.
General Fenna hoarsely shouts, "CHARGE!"
A Brilliant Light: Flare accompanies her outcry, signaling the commencement of battle. My teammates and the Advanced Battlemages begin dashing toward the pyramid, while the rest of the Mages attempt to thin out the crowd.
Icebound Coffins the size of parking structures rain down, the handiwork of Mu Ningxue and Mu Tingying (though the former's are superior in quantity and quality). Ai Jiangtu and Nan Yu crush and blast the mummies into pieces with Space and Sound spells. Zhao Manyan expertly layers protective spells over our teammates. Jiang Shaoxu controls dozens of Warrior undead to pounce on their allies, tearing holes in the undead army.
In fact, Xinxia does the same a distance away. Her Elements are Healing, Psychic, and Blessing, and I'm glad the Parthenon values the Psychic Element almost as much as the two supportive ones: she's far from defenseless.
Sensations of wind gathering interrupt my observations. 7 Star Constellations coalesce into a monstrous green Star Palace above General Fenna's head. She's floating in the air with 3 pairs of Wind Wings behind her back, and the fierce wind around her transmutes into a myriad of Wind sabers sweeping forward. Thousands of undead ahead are sliced into pieces within an instant, and scattered across the ground like fallen leaves.
All of a sudden, there's a clear path to intrude within a kilometer of the pyramid. Our unstoppable momentum heightens morale for the Egyptian army, and the soldiers charge with newfound vigor.
An hour passes amidst the tumultuous battle, enough time to expose the Brutal Sword Death Servants. However, their motions are synced in an eerie manner, and swings of their swords seem to overlap, engendering sharp black crescents that soar forward. Dozens of unsuspecting Battlemages are shredded into bloody ribbons before the rest realize what a threat these Warriors pose and cease their mad dash for the pyramid.
The army stills a fair distance away from the foreboding swordsmen. A wall of obsidian is the only obstacle in our way, but it's a seemingly insurmountable one.
Abruptly, the atmosphere chills. Behind the Brutal Sword Death Servants arises a shadowy figure riding a black phantom horse. The figure is enveloped by dense darkness with a black cape draped over its shoulders. It strikes the figure of an imperious knight while atop the majestic horse. The enormous black sword in its hand raises to point at the crimson-red sky, summoning black aura that starts descending from the clouds.
The black substance hurtles towards the left portion of our army, condensing into a sharp projectile that bisects everything in its path. Hundreds of Battlemages collapse dead, leaving a conspicuous hole in the human army.
[A Dark Swordmaster? I thought the truly dangerous undead wouldn't show up in mere mirages of an average pyramid…]
Everyone's frozen in fear while my mind races. There's two threats, the 500 Brutal Sword Death Servants and the Dark Swordmaster, an Inferior Ruler. Super Mages are better suited to butchering mass numbers than handling single strong targets, so General Fenna's prowess will be useful (and necessary) in breaching the barrier of 500 swordsmen. That leaves…
I instantly arrive at a decision.
"General Fenna, while I keep the Dark Swordmaster occupied, cut through the Brutal Sword Death Servants and place your burning light device on the pyramid!"
Without awaiting a response from the startled general, I morph into a Shadow Bird and fly at the shadowy figure. Before the 500 Warriors unleash an onslaught of slashes, I yell at the Dark Swordmaster in English.
"I, besmirching the name of the God of Darkness, challenge you to a duel to the death! Do you dare accept it?"
My mind flashes back to the time spent traveling with Ye Meng'e, when I was in search of Zhang Xiaohou. In particular, it was a conversation with her after she Summoned a Warrior.
"Well, you can think of my Dark Swordmaster as a Summoned Creature from the Dark Dimension. It has incredible strength, it's outstanding at using a sword, and it's highly intelligent and loyal, too. However, it has a little weakness."
"What weakness?"
"It's the kind of creature that has signed a contract with the God of Darkness, thus it has to obey certain rules. One of them is if someone, or something, with a Dark Element challenges it to a duel, it must accept. Since the God of Darkness has granted it a new life and outstanding strength, it will not allow anyone to challenge the God of Darkness's name."
"So someone could keep your Dark Swordmaster busy by challenging it, allowing his peers to take you down?"
"Exactly. What a nuisance. You had better not reveal this information to anyone, by the way."
The horse, the robes, the sword, everything resembles the Summoned Creature of Ye Meng'e, except bigger: the sword is twice my size, and so is the Dark Swordmaster. It doesn't fail my expectations, responding to my aggressive shout with Egyptian curses. Clearly, language isn't a barrier; rather, the intent of my words invoked the Dark Contract.
The giant sword trembles as a torrent of dark energy pours out of it, forcing even the Brutal Sword Death Servants to back away. The Dark Contract forms a huge triangle on the bloody, corpse-covered land. It first draws the boundaries on the ground before extending into the air to form a triangular prism. The black walls of light rising into the sky are covered in ancient runes.
I'm forcibly teleported into the arena by the shadows.