The war waged by the Furnace against external forces had lasted for over a hundred years. The extraordinary factions near the Furnace had long been obliterated.
As a result, in every war, the Furnace would construct teleportation arrays to swiftly deploy its forces to distant enemy territories for invasion.
A dazzling white light flashed. Feeling slightly dizzy, Lynn stepped out of the teleportation array along with the others.
Once he regained some clarity, he found himself standing before a vast, endless forest. Towering trees stretched skyward, their interwoven branches forming a canopy that seemed to seal off the sky entirely. Sunlight barely penetrated, leaving the forest shrouded in an eerie gloom.
Groups of wizard apprentices, clad in hooded robes, emerged from the teleportation array, appearing particularly spectral beneath the thick shadows.
Lynn glanced down at his robe. Despite having arrived, the tension within him refused to dissipate.
Before teleporting, he and the other wizard apprentices had already been informed about the nature of their mission.
They now stood within the vast expanse of a forest known as the Emerald Isle Forest.
From a bird's-eye view, the dense, verdant trees appeared like a floating green island stretching across the land, forming a stark contrast to the surrounding terrain.
It was precisely this appearance that had earned the forest its name.
Around the Emerald Isle Forest lurked several formidable extraordinary factions, the most renowned being the Bitter Heart Sect and the Nightshadow Fortress, both led by third-rank Grand Wizards.
The Furnace's army had previously crushed the Bitter Heart Sect and annihilated other factions surrounding the forest, setting its sights on the Nightshadow Fortress.
However, once the Furnace's forces ventured deep into the Emerald Isle Forest, they realized the grave miscalculation they had made.
The Bitter Heart Sect had only feigned surrender. As soon as the Furnace's army advanced deep into the forest, their retreat was cut off.
The Bitter Heart Sect and the Nightshadow Fortress had allied against the Furnace's invasion and successfully trapped its forces in the dense woodland.
The Emerald Isle Forest itself posed another major challenge its terrain was treacherous, filled with not only formidable magical beasts but also unpredictable natural hazards.
As a result, despite being encircled, the Furnace's army was not immediately wiped out but instead became embroiled in a prolonged struggle.
Given the situation, the Furnace decided to split its forces and wage guerrilla warfare within the forest rather than continue fighting in large formations.
Lynn and the other wizard apprentices were sent to reinforce the Furnace's army in this campaign.
Of course, along with the apprentices, several official wizards accompanied them.
"We're too big of a target. Split up and regroup with the main forces."
A leading official wizard made the decision, ordering them to disperse.
Each of them carried a special tracking device crafted by the Furnace, ensuring that even without a guide, they could locate the main army's position with precision.
Furthermore, most of them were wizard apprentices, capable of fending for themselves even without strict command.
Upon hearing the order, the apprentices nodded in agreement.
They quickly broke into smaller groups of twos and threes, vanishing into the depths of the dense forest.
Though most of these reinforcements were wizard apprentices, they weren't all third-rank apprentices. Some were still at the second rank.
These second-rank apprentices usually traveled with their senior peers for protection.
Lynn, naturally, was paired with Colin. They stood in a corner, pulling their hoods up over their heads.
If they remained silent, their presence was almost imperceptible.
"Good thing you're already a second-rank apprentice. At least you can cast a spell or two otherwise, this mission would be a literal nightmare for you."
Colin sighed, his voice tinged with sympathy.
Lynn could only nod helplessly.
He had originally planned to train in the Potion Garden, quietly biding his time until he reached the third rank or better yet until he became a full-fledged wizard before venturing out.
But who could have expected the Black Dragon Witch to directly issue a mandatory conscription order, forcing even apprentices like them into battle?
"By the way, what type of abilities does your Yfgríd Seed grant you?"
Colin, aware that both he and Lynn were Nature Wizards, knew that discussing spells in detail wasn't very practical. Instead, he opted to ask about Lynn's Life Seed a fundamental aspect of their magic.
He knew the name of Lynn's Life Seed, Yfgríd, but had no idea what it actually did.
"It leans toward defense."
Lynn answered succinctly while continuing his hushed conversation with Colin.
At that moment, a gentle yet firm female voice rang out
"You two wouldn't mind if I tag along, would you?"
Neither Lynn nor Colin needed to look up to know who was speaking.
It was Sonya.
Her tone carried a hint of resignation, and from beneath her hood, her delicate features peeked out, laced with an expression of mild frustration.
Once the apprentices had dispersed into smaller squads, most had naturally grouped up with familiar companions.
Sonya, however, soon realized she was in a predicament the people she was closest to weren't wizard apprentices at all but rather her colleagues from the Potion Garden.
For a moment, she found herself utterly alone with no suitable teammates in sight.
Traveling solo wasn't a wise option. Even in a small squad, members could take turns keeping watch and looking out for one another.
But if she were completely alone, even something as simple as resting would be risky. Who knew how long it would take for her to locate the main forces and rejoin others?
Yet, she wasn't about to team up with random strangers either she had no intention of entrusting her safety to unknown individuals.
After some thought, Sonya turned to the only viable option Lynn and Colin.
She was at least somewhat familiar with them. Plus, both were students of Rosalind, meaning their combat abilities were likely limited.
If worst came to worst, she could always overpower them.
"Oh? And you're not worried that we'll slow you down?"
Colin smirked as he glanced at her.
"If we can't win, we can always run, right? Colin, you're known for being quick on your feet. As for Lynn..."
Sonya trailed off, her gaze shifting toward Lynn.
She had little idea of his actual strength and had assumed he was still a first-rank apprentice.
"I just advanced to the second rank recently, so I can at least defend myself..."
Lynn replied calmly.
"Second-rank apprentice already? That's great! Even if we run into trouble, I can carry you along."
Sonya's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
A second-rank wizard apprentice had access to energy particle manipulation, which was a huge improvement. At least Lynn wouldn't be a complete deadweight.
Lynn exchanged glances with Colin before finally agreeing to let Sonya join them.
After all, both he and Colin were restricted by the limitations of their Life Seeds, while Sonya had no such constraints.
With her on their team, their overall combat ability would significantly improve.
If they ran into danger, she could handle it directly essentially making her their most reliable fighter.
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