Entering a military unit required adopting a soldier's mindset.
As an outsider, Richard displayed ample respect for the White Wizard squad he was assigned to. First, because several members were second-circle wizards with extensive combat experience. Second, because he was here to reap the spoils—essentially competing with these warriors risking their lives. A bit of respect was the least he could offer.
The squad leader assessed Richard and spoke with a serious tone. "Advisor, our squad is honored to work with you. We will do everything in our power to ensure your safety, but we also ask for your full cooperation."
Ensure his safety?
Richard shook his head. "I think you're mistaken. I don't need protection."
With that, he deactivated his Cloak of Concealment, revealing his life energy radiation.
The squad leader's eyes widened slightly but did not waver.
"Advisor, your strength is greater than I expected, but a second-circle wizard is not invincible on the battlefield."
For battle-hardened White Wizards, power level did not always equate to combat ability—especially in the wizarding world, where skill gaps could be enormous.
A powerful second-circle wizard could assassinate a tier-three native with a well-planned strike. Conversely, an inexperienced second-circle wizard could just as easily fall to an equally ranked native.
Richard sighed. These White Wizards really underestimated him.
Did they not see the world lord perched on his shoulder? Did he really need their protection?
He turned to Vladimir for support, only to see the old wizard already flying away while muttering into his crystal ball.
"…Seriously?"
Richard wanted to argue further, but the squad leader furrowed his brows and spoke more sternly.
"Advisor, how many interdimensional wars have you fought?"
Richard hesitated. "…This is my second."
The squad leader gestured to a young first-circle wizard behind him. "He has the least experience in our squad. Even he has been through three wars."
He then asked another question.
"And how old are you, Advisor?"
Richard paused, then answered helplessly, "Over three hundred."
Hearing that, the squad leader's expression shifted to one of mild irritation.
"Advisor, while a wizard's age does not always directly correlate with strength, an older wizard is generally more battle-hardened than a younger one.
I'm sure you inherited a wealth of knowledge from your family, but let me be clear—knowledge is one thing, applying it in battle is another."
"…Family? What family?" Richard was puzzled.
He had no idea what the squad leader was implying.
But the squad leader had already lost interest in the conversation.
"Advisor, we are entering the city now. I hope you will cooperate as you claim."
With that, the squad assigned three wizards to surround Richard in a protective formation—one of them being a shield wizard.
It was a standard escort formation, typically used for transporting wounded personnel.
Richard sighed. "Fine… Have it your way."
If they wanted to play bodyguard, he wouldn't argue.
Once they were in battle, things would become clear.
---
Wizards had three main alchemical tools for urban warfare.
1. Life Detection Crystal: A small crystal ball that detected lifeforms. Primarily used to locate enemies hidden underground, as mental probes were sufficient for detecting most threats above ground.
2. Demolition Alchemical Hammer: A device that emitted high-frequency shockwaves to break down buildings.
3. The Third Eye Potion: A one-time-use potion that enhanced a wizard's danger sense, allowing them to react instinctively to lethal threats.
Richard examined the potion in his hand and sighed.
His business should have been in potion-making, yet he ended up as an arms dealer instead.
Life was unpredictable.
Perhaps he should study alchemy further and find a way to mass-produce potions. The most profitable market was supplying war efforts. But if potions weren't cost-effective, Grand Wizards wouldn't waste magic credits on them.
After collecting their gear, the squad moved into the city.
Richard's squad had only seven members, but the presence of multiple second-circle wizards indicated they were an elite unit.
After years of interdimensional warfare, the White Wizards had developed numerous strategies.
For urban combat, elite squads led the charge, while regular wizards cleaned up any stragglers.
It was a high-risk, high-reward role.
Beyond battlefield spoils, elite squads also received additional military compensation.
As they entered the city, the only sounds Richard heard were distant explosions of magic.
It was eerily quiet—almost as if the entire city had been abandoned.
Above them, warships hovered in the sky, providing limited fire support against clearly visible enemies. But their primary role was reconnaissance, giving command a better grasp of battlefield conditions.
Richard wasn't the only one to notice the unsettling silence.
The squad leader extended his mental perception to the limit but found nothing.
It had been only three days since the Fire Lizard army retreated. Yet within this brief window, a city that should have housed millions had seemingly turned into a ghost town.
While the squad leader pondered this, the team's detection wizard approached, holding the Life Detection Crystal.
The crystal displayed several red dots—enemies hiding beneath a nearby building.
"They're in a cellar?"
The squad leader checked the locations and life energy levels, then issued a quiet order through the psychic network.
"Take them out. Keep it quiet."
A wizard with fully metallic skin entered the building. Moments later, he emerged, and the red dots on the crystal vanished.
"Just some elderly Fire Lizards. It seems the civilians have already been evacuated."
"Evacuated?" The squad leader frowned but then relaxed.
"That's good. Less interference means a smoother operation."
Richard also received the news but reacted differently.
These Fire Lizards… seem highly organized in their wartime measures.
As they advanced, the squad followed a zigzagging search pattern. Every building they passed was scanned multiple times with mental probes to ensure no Fire Lizards remained.
Suddenly, the squad leader signaled a halt.
Through the psychic network, he issued orders in a calm tone.
"Two hundred meters ahead, a building with a black sign—three first-tier Fire Lizards are lying in ambush. Take them out quickly.
And remember, we have a nobleman's son with us. No reckless moves."
"Captain, that advisor looks familiar," one squad member suddenly said. "I think I saw him in the Hive World. He was working with Master Vladimir to repair magic stone cannons…"
"You must be mistaken, Akor," the squad leader interrupted sharply. "This kid became a second-circle wizard at such a young age and got assigned as a technical advisor?
It's obvious he's just some noble family's talentless youngest son trying to win favor.
No normal wizard could amass the resources for advancement at his age. No teacher would allow a student to rank up so soon."
The squad leader's face showed clear disdain.
These privileged heirs were nothing but liabilities in war. Any commander despised having such an unpredictable factor in their squad.
"And besides, I've heard of that Richard. He was just a first-circle wizard fresh out of the academy. His mentor might be Master Jorod, but Jorod has multiple students.
For him to break through to second-circle, he'd have to fight in an interdimensional war. And even if he gathered the resources, Jorod would never let him advance this early."
For wizards on the path of spiritual evolution, aging before third-circle wasn't a drawback. In fact, due to Soul Dimming, older wizards had a safer path to advancement.
A mind tempered by age had a better chance of enduring the darkness of Soul Dimming.
The squad advanced steadily, reaching the target building. The squad leader signaled the attack.
Two wizards raised their staffs, launching crimson fireballs into the structure.
With a thunderous explosion, the building collapsed.
The squad prepared to move forward when—
"Gah! Incoming."
Ulysses, perched on Richard's shoulder, snapped open his eyes.
Before his words even finished, the air was filled with thuds as several dark figures smashed through doors and walls, lunging at them.
Their speed was astonishing, catching even the vigilant squad leader off guard.
"Ambush! Defensive formation!"
The squad leader bellowed, his face steely and composed.
He had survived countless battles. This was nothing new—
Slash!
A wizard's magic shield shattered.
A black scimitar cleaved his torso in half.
The attacker was a towering Fire Lizard, over two meters tall, radiating intense life energy like a miniature sun.
A golden mask covered its face. Its black steel scimitar gleamed menacingly.
In a single strike, it had pierced through the shield of a first-circle wizard.
A second-ti
er creature!
The squad leader's heart clenched. He swept the battlefield with his mental perception—
And his stomach dropped.
Ten Fire Lizards.
All of them… were second-tier.
(End of Chapter 216)