novelraw Chapter 659: The Squad
Chapter 659: The Squad
Besides being a Level 2 Mage, Ted also has considerable expertise in Alchemy and Magic Potions, earning respect from Keith.
Joining Duke in Ted’s team was a Female Wizard with Elf blood named Una.
Una, a Bounty Hunter, makes a living by taking various commission tasks and bounty missions, without joining any major faction.
Perhaps due to her mixed human and Elf heritage, she seemed to have faced considerable discrimination in the past, so she became accustomed to being solitary.
Being able to become a Level 1 Crystalized Mage without joining any faction and relying solely on herself is quite rare.
However, Una possesses some Elf blood, and Elves themselves are natural Casters, which likely helped Una progress more smoothly on her path as a Wizard to some extent.
After the meeting ended, everyone dispersed.
After departing, Duke wandered around nearby, primarily to familiarize himself with the environment of Darkmoon Town.
After a while, just as he was about to return to his temporary residence to digest the task information, a slightly raspy yet clear female voice called to him.
"Duke?"
Duke turned around, seeing the Female Wizard with Elf blood leaning in the shadow of the corridor, her pointed ears moving slightly in the dim light.
She had removed the low-profile cloak she wore in the briefing room, revealing deep green leather armor that fit her form and was convenient for movement, with two gracefully curved short daggers and a bulging miscellaneous pouch at her waist, her eyes sharp and carrying a habitual sense of distant scrutiny.
"I am Una." She introduced herself simply, not extending a hand, just nodding slightly, "Master Ted wants us to meet in his room, to get acquainted with the new team members."
"New team members?" Duke was somewhat surprised, having initially thought the squad was just four people.
"Yes, I heard something happened to the Gray Mouse squad, the leader, a Level 2 Mage, fell in the eastern Rotting Swamp, and the remaining few who escaped alive were scattered and reorganized, with two added to our team." Una spoke in a flat tone, as if explaining something ordinary, "In such places, losses and reorganizations are commonplace. Let’s go, don’t keep Master Ted waiting."
Duke followed Una through the noisy streets of Darkmoon Town.
The air was mixed with campfires, the stench of the Slave Legion, and a breeze carrying a damp, rotten scent from the distant dark forest.
They arrived at a relatively quiet two-story wooden house in the Explorer camp area, where Una knocked on an ordinary door at the end of the second floor.
Inside the room, two people were already seated.
A short, solidly-built middle-aged man with dark skin, a fresh scar cutting diagonally from his brow to his cheek, his eyes carrying a fierce and persistent alertness from surviving peril.
His name was Harald, a scout from the original Gray Mouse squad.
The other was a pale, somewhat frail-looking young Warlock, with sunken eye sockets, his fingers unconsciously rubbing a seemingly ordinary short wooden staff.
His name was Ewen, a Wizard from the Gray Mouse squad.
Both exuded a persistent, mixed aura of bloodshed, swamp, and fear.
"Come in, close the door." Master Ted concisely instructed, sitting back in his chair behind the desk.
Duke and Una entered and sat down; another young Warlock named Shadow Raven was already there.
The room was cramped, and with six people, the space felt somewhat crowded, adding to the stagnant atmosphere.
Ted’s gaze slowly swept over the four, finally resting on Harald and Ewen.
"The situation is urgent, let’s skip the formalities and probing. Harald, Ewen, tell us what you know about the Night Elves."
The previous leader of the Gray Mouse squad was at least a Level 2 Mage, and yet was killed. Ted and the others naturally wanted to thoroughly understand the specifics.
Especially regarding the characteristics and strength of the Night Elves, Harald and Ewen had experienced direct combat and contact with them and would certainly know more.
Harald and Ewen exchanged a glance, Harald spoke first, his voice rough and hoarse, tinged with a strenuously suppressed tension:
"Night Elves... are completely different from humanoid creatures we previously encountered in other Planes; to start, their most troublesome stealth utilizes the Shadow Space, allowing them to lurk silently and approach, unless you maintain alertness using Magic to detect Shadow Space."
He instinctively touched the fresh, fearsome scar on his face.
The Night Elf race excels at using natural and Dark Attribute Magic; the Elf Plane itself is lush, and Dark Attribute Energy is particularly abundant.
As natives of this Plane, such an environment is exceptionally advantageous for them.
Moreover, Elves are already adept at casting spells, and Wizards facing them might not necessarily gain an upper hand.
The Elf Plane is a Middle Plane, a Plane with Level 6 Life forms, extremely powerful.
Yet, despite such a Plane, after the Seville Empire investigated thoroughly, they still directly launched an invasion.
This indicates the Seville Empire is confident in conquering this Plane, else they would certainly not invade alone but instead invite other Wizard Organizations to join the Plane War.
Meanwhile, Harald and Ewen continued introducing relevant intel.
"The Night Elves’ societal structure is centered on clans, and the rise and fall of each clan are tightly bound to a Moon Well."
Hearing intelligence related to the Moon Well, Duke couldn’t help but focus more.
"The Moon Well is the source of Night Elves’ power, a Holy Artifact of inheritance, and the absolute core of their societal structure. The water within contains pure and vast Dark Attribute Energy and Life Essence, accelerating their growth, healing injuries, extending lifespan, and serving as the power source for Priests and high-level Casters to cast powerful Magic. Essentially, a Moon Well represents the foundation of a Night Elf clan."
"Based on the intensity of the energy within the well, its range of influence, and the clan size and strength it can support, Moon Wells are roughly classified into several levels."
Harald began to explain in detail, obviously crucial intelligence.
"A Level 1 Moon Well has relatively mild energy, with a range usually within a few miles, capable of supporting a small or medium clan, the strongest member typically at Level 2 peak, or in rare cases, newly Level 3. These Moon Wells are most numerous and are our Explorers and Empire’s primary targets in the early stage of strategy."
"A Level 2 Moon Well has more powerful, pure energy with an influence range of tens of miles, capable of supporting a large clan with surely a Level 3 powerhouse guarding it, possibly more than one, dramatically increasing the challenge level."