In the depths of the Nightshadow Fortress, numerous figures had gathered. The powerful fluctuations of sorcery emanating from them were intense and terrifying each of them was a fully-fledged wizard.
"Over the past half-month, we've suffered excessive losses among our apprentices. It seems that the Forge's reinforcements have arrived. But what confuses me is, why are their reinforcements of such high quality? They weren't assigned to the regular army but were instead deployed as a separate force?"
One of the wizards in Nightshadow Fortress frowned, his expression filled with doubt.
"I captured a few and cracked open their heads to figure it out. Turns out, it was that little girl from the Forge stirring up trouble. She made a trip back and brought those wizard apprentices over."
Another wizard sneered as he explained.
"So that's how it is."
The other wizards nodded in understanding as if they had grasped the full picture.
"But it doesn't matter how many apprentices die. The Forge is trying to grind us down in a prolonged standoff, using our lives to train their troops. That's exactly what we want! Haha, that old bastard wants us to serve as stepping stones for his students? Then he shouldn't blame us for retaliating..."
A deep, commanding voice rang out, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The speaker was none other than the master of Nightshadow Fortress a Level 3 Grand Wizard!
His words exuded an oppressive aura that made everyone shudder.
"Lionheart Knight, when will the Bitter Heart Sect arrive?"
The fortress master turned and coldly looked at another wizard beside him, his voice heavy.
This figure was different from the other wizards around him. His blood and vitality were astonishingly strong, his muscles as hard as steel, and an overwhelming bloodline power radiated from his body.
This man was the infamous Lionheart Knight a traitor who had slaughtered his own master and defected from Whiteheart Tower.
Standing there, his gaze was deep and sharp, his presence equally formidable, not inferior in the slightest to the Nightshadow Fortress master.
Just as the Lionheart Knight was about to speak, a thunderous dragon roar suddenly echoed from outside, making every wizard's eyes narrow in an instant.
"Assemble!"
With the commanding roar of a dragon, the entire stronghold swiftly fell into an orderly state.
The official wizards immediately organized their squads, while the numerous apprentices quickly gathered their belongings and stood by for further orders.
Lynn blended into the crowd, deliberately standing in an inconspicuous position, silently observing and listening.
"According to the plan, we will rendezvous with another stronghold and launch an attack on the left flank of Nightshadow Fortress. Move in your assigned groups, maintain formation, and do not break away from your teams under any circumstances..."
The official wizards relayed the battle arrangements. They did not forcefully split up existing apprentice squads, as each team had already developed a degree of familiarity. Disrupting these groups would only hinder cooperation and efficiency.
As a result, Lynn, Colin, and Sonya remained in the same squad.
However, this time their small team was merged into a larger operational unit, alongside several other squads, forming a sizable apprentice task force marching toward Nightshadow Fortress.
After the briefing, a robed wizard slowly stepped forward.
His appearance was eerily unnatural his entire face was eerily smooth, devoid of eyes, nose, mouth, or even eyebrows, as if the skin had been carelessly stitched onto his skull as a mere disguise.
Perched on his shoulder was a beetle-like creature, its wings vibrating slightly, producing a series of broken yet distinct syllables that seemed to form a special language.
"&%￥#…"
The wizard's voice, when he spoke, was in the language of sorcery.
This was a tongue that not only required mental energy to chant during spellcasting but even listening to it as an apprentice demanded a certain degree of mental endurance.
However, the language this wizard uttered seemed to go far beyond the apprentices' comprehension.
To their ears, his words were utterly incomprehensible, as if listening to an ancient scripture written in an entirely foreign script.
To Lynn, it was like a child who had just learned elementary school literature being forced to translate complex classical texts…
As the final syllable fell, a dazzling and immense silver-white radiance erupted from the wizard's body, instantly enveloping the entire stronghold, covering both official wizards and apprentices alike.
Lynn noticed strange runes and markings appearing beneath their feet. The silver-white glow wrapped around everyone like a mystical shroud.
Though these symbols seemed unfamiliar, Lynn wasn't completely clueless about them he had seen similar patterns before, on the teleportation array they had used when traveling to Emerald Isle's Great Forest.
"Whoosh!"
As the light flared, an invisible force yanked at them abruptly. In the blink of an eye, they were transported across vast distances.
During the teleportation, a sharp pain spread through Lynn's mind, as if his very consciousness was being torn apart. His stomach churned violently, and an overwhelming dizziness nearly knocked him off his feet.
This hastily cast sorcery teleportation was far from the stable transportation arrays outside the Forge.
He had no idea how long had passed before the swirling light finally faded.
Lynn staggered as he landed, barely managing to stay upright.
Suppressing the nausea surging within him, he lifted his head and took in his surroundings everything had completely changed. They had arrived at the very edge of the Emerald Isle Great Forest.
Behind them lay an endless expanse of verdant wilderness, but before them stood a towering, pitch-black cluster of fortresses.
Each fortress was as dark as the night itself, exuding an eerie and oppressive aura.
Above this ancient stronghold, a vast black sky curtain loomed, thick and inky, blotting out the heavens like a malevolent shroud.
There was no doubt the cold and sinister stronghold before them was none other than Nightshadow Fortress.
As Lynn surveyed the scene, more teleportation flashes flickered around them reinforcements from other branches of the Forge were arriving one after another.
"ROAR!"
Suddenly, a resounding dragon's roar shook the heavens.
Lynn looked up and saw a sleek, elegant black dragon sweeping across the sky.
When its massive wings unfurled, they seemed to blot out the entire firmament, exuding an overwhelming presence akin to an unstoppable force of destruction barreling toward Nightshadow Fortress.
As the dragon soared through the air, its wings stirred up a swirling black mist, scattering an ominous haze into the night.
In mere moments, the entire sky was tinted gray, shrouded in an unsettling aura.
Atop the majestic black dragon stood a lone witch.
Her features were flawless, her violet eyes radiating a mysterious glow, making her the undeniable focal point amidst the murky battlefield.
Lynn knew this was the Forge Master's prodigious student, the very same girl who had issued the command that forced all apprentices into this war!
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