On the battlefield, gunfire and cannons showed no mercy, but the sorcery of the wizards was even more terrifying.
The spells cast by official wizards were mostly large-scale attacks. Each casting unleashed devastating shockwaves, tearing the earth apart in an instant. The overwhelming magical energy rippling through the battlefield made it impossible to predict the extent of its destruction.
For wizard apprentices, facing such sorcery meant almost certain death. Even a slight misstep in positioning could lead to being torn apart in an instant.
As the spells continued to erupt, the battlefield turned into a lifeless inferno. The air was thick with residual magic, severed limbs floated in the air, and corpses littered the ground.
The land was scarred with countless craters as if permanently branded by magical power.
Lynn was careful about his positioning, maintaining a safe distance from the official wizards.
Even so, by the time he barely escaped a powerful surge of magical energy, his Heart of Floral Language was already more than half-depleted. He struggled to find a relatively safe spot.
"That was close..."
Lynn took a deep breath, scanning his surroundings while looking up at the aerial battle.
In the world of the extraordinary, wars were often decided by the strongest individuals.
At this moment, Black Dragon Witch Aestry was facing two third-level great wizards alone in a fierce confrontation.
Although she moved gracefully and maintained a calm expression, her overwhelming power was gradually suppressing her opponents.
Despite their combined efforts and relentless spellcasting, the two third-level great wizards struggled under the immense pressure of the Black Dragon Witch. The battle was tilting in her favor.
From the aerial combat, it was clear that the Furnace held the upper hand, and this advantage was growing stronger.
Reinforcements were continuously arriving, wizards unleashed devastating spells, and even more magical war machines joined the fray.
Lynn noticed a group of apprentices working together to maneuver a massive mechanical device one that resembled a gigantic cannon.
A few apprentices quickly loaded a shell into the barrel before firing it toward Nightshadow Fortress.
The explosion that followed was earth-shattering. The shockwave swept across the area, instantly killing many apprentices from Nightshadow Fortress and reducing a large section of the defensive line to rubble.
Boom!
A deafening blast signaled the complete collapse of a corner of Nightshadow Fortress's defenses, leaving only ruins behind.
But this was only a small part of the battlefield many other magical war machines continued to wreak havoc.
Lynn observed floating constructs hovering above the battlefield, radiating intense magical energy that relentlessly bombarded Nightshadow Fortress's defenses.
The difference in resources between the two factions was now painfully evident.
Although Nightshadow Fortress possessed powerful third-level wizards and a deep foundation, it was still outdated in its combat approach compared to the Furnace a formidable fourth-level force.
The Furnace not only boasted elite official wizards but also developed modernized war strategies such as coordinated infantry and armored assaults. Their precise tactical coordination and destructive firepower far exceeded the independent fighting style of Nightshadow Fortress.
"You lot, come with me!"
At that moment, a squad from the Furnace suddenly appeared behind Lynn and the nearby apprentices. The team was led by a powerful third-level wizard apprentice.
His aura surpassed that of Colin. Through his crystal sphere, Lynn sensed that the man's mental power had reached 39 points, a figure higher than most he had encountered before.
The squad quickly recruited Lynn and the other apprentices, leading them toward a concealed location.
The captain pointed towards one of Nightshadow Fortress's side halls and gave a brief order:
"That is our target. The Furnace's war machines have already shattered Nightshadow Fortress's defenses. The outer formations are broken everyone can now enter."
At this moment, the main forces were locked in intense battles, with powerful wizards clashing at the heart of the battlefield.
This left the treasury areas inside Nightshadow Fortress relatively unguarded. One of the Furnace's key objectives was to infiltrate and plunder these valuable resources.
"Take these spatial storage tools."
The captain continued, handing each of them a pouch-like item, before explaining briefly:
"Store any resources or treasures you find in these. It's simple just place them inside."
Lynn was no stranger to spatial storage tools.
Though expensive so much so that he could never afford one himself this war allowed him to use one for free, courtesy of the Furnace.
"Being recruited by this squad is much better than staying on the main battlefield. And considering these spatial tools, this squad doesn't seem like another one of those 'suicide units'..."
He grasped the storage pouch and followed the team, thoughts swirling in his mind.
"Move out!"
The captain commanded, leading the squad toward Nightshadow Fortress's side hall.
Many similar squads were advancing alongside them, splitting up into different teams to raid the stronghold's treasures.
As for how the Furnace was so familiar with Nightshadow Fortress's layout?
The answer was simple there were traitors within Nightshadow Fortress, and not just low-ranking ones, but mid-to-high-level members.
As they drew closer to the stronghold, Lynn sensed the increasing concentration of negative energy particles in the air.
Ahead stood a towering fortress, its once-majestic structure now battered by warfare. The outer walls were shattered, and a massive opening left by bombardment provided a direct path inside.
At that moment, another Furnace squad approached from a distance.
The two squad leaders exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Without a word, they each took different paths into the fortress.
With time pressing and their mission urgent, no one wanted to waste even a second.
As the two squads brushed past each other in the narrow corridor, suddenly
Three pairs of eyes locked onto each other.
In that instant, the air seemed to freeze.
Among them, Lynn's gaze sharpened, meeting the eyes of two individuals from the other squad.
Lynn saw Riley on the opposing team. His expression was cold and menacing, the corner of his lips curled into a mocking smile filled with murderous intent.
Standing beside Riley was another figure someone Lynn didn't recognize, but he could easily guess that it was White's so-called "backer."
Although White's death hadn't been exposed, given Riley's close ties to this individual, this man couldn't let it slide. The killing intent in his eyes made that abundantly clear.
For now, neither Riley nor his companion dared to make a move amid their squads.
But as they brushed past each other, Riley suddenly let out a cold chuckle.
He ran a finger across his throat in a slicing motion, a blatant provocation as if he couldn't wait for the moment he would end Lynn's life.
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