Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree

Chapter 671: Mobilization

The meeting was chaired not by military personnel, but by an elder dressed in a deep purple magic robe, with a stern face and eyes sharp as knives.

He is the frontline commander of the Star Dome Commerce Association in this area, a seasoned Level 3 Mage, and also one of the initiators and chief coordinators of this joint eradication operation, named Vika.

Vika’s voice was clearly transmitted to everyone’s ears, overpowering the noise below.

"...Based on cross-verification of multiple intelligence sources and confirmation from the latest reconnaissance operation," his fingers pointed to several areas marked on the map, near the east side of Darkmoon Town, arranged in an arc, "within this sector-shaped area less than fifty miles from our frontline, four Dark Elf clan settlements have been confirmed to exist.

They respectively call themselves Mist Song, Stone Root, Night Dew, and Mu Ye. Each clan is built around a Level 1 Moon Well, not large in scale, with estimated combat personnel ranging from three hundred to five hundred each, possessing Level 2 Life as leaders or high-end forces, generally proficient in forest stealth, moonlight, and nature magic."

His fingers heavily pointed to the connecting area between the four points on the map.

"The key is that although these four clans might have hunting area conflicts, based on ancient Elf traditions and the energy resonance of the Moon Well, there is certainly a degree of connection and watching out for each other among them. If we concentrate our force to attack one, the other three are likely to swiftly aid, or cause trouble in our rear, or even request help from deeper, stronger clans."

Vika’s gaze swept over the crowd: "Hence, the core tactic of our operation this time is synchronized attack, divide and annihilate!"

Immediately, an assistant behind him stepped forward, using a slender glowing stick to draw clear arrows and encirclements on the map.

"We will deploy a total of over one hundred and twenty official wizard forces, along with four vanguard Slave Creature Legion, totaling over one hundred thousand cannon fodder units. All forces will be divided into four main attack formations, codenamed Anvil, Hammer, Blade, Thorn. Each main attack formation will be temporarily commanded by an experienced Level 2 Mage, equipped with twenty-five to thirty Level 1 Mages and one Slave Legion."

...

Then came more detailed, specific combat plans, all meticulously arranged by Vika.

Despite appearances suggesting a significant disparity in strength between both sides, with the force advantage seemingly sufficient to crush these Dark Elf tribes.

The Wizards were still very cautious, not underestimating those Elf tribes in the slightest.

Their aim is to take down these tribes at the lowest cost while capturing those Moon Wells.

The meeting lasted for over an hour, various details repeatedly confirmed.

As they left the noisy stone house, the sky over Darkmoon Town remained an eternal night, but the atmosphere had changed dramatically.

Teams of Slave Creatures, each emitting odors and restless aura, began to converge towards their designated assembly points under the coercion of whips and magic, producing uneasy roars and shrieks.

The Wizards, a hurried pace, checked their equipment, replenished potions, faces mixed with tension, excitement, and a touch of fear for the unknown.

Master Ted gathered his team members at their temporary camp in the encampment.

In addition to the original team of six, they were supplemented by a dozen Wizards from the Star Dome Commerce Association and other small groups, mostly Level 1, with two or three Level 2 Mages of stable aura.

A total of twenty-seven Wizards, they will command a Slave Legion of twenty thousand consisting of Ratmen, Goblins, and a small number of Swamp Lizardmen.

...

Seven hours of preparation time passed swiftly.

As Shaar’s moon with its oppressive dark red glow sank into the deepest shadow of the western forest, and the eastern skyline began to reveal a sliver of cold, sharp, silver-white light that seemed to slice through the darkness, the massive war machine of Darkmoon Town roared to life.

Thundering yet orderly footsteps, clanging of iron, Slave Creatures’ heavy, murky breathing interspersed with occasional uncontrolled shrieks, merged into a heart-pounding wave, pouring out from each gate of Darkmoon Town, then sprawling in four directions like torrents of blood and steel.

The Thorn group, where Duke was located, commanded by Master Ted, followed the allocated mixed Slave Legion of twenty thousand, slowly poured out of the southeastern gate of the town.

The sight before them was spectacular yet filled with nauseating chaos.

Under the moonlight, hordes of Ratmen gathered, most of them small and hunched, dirty fur, holding coarse iron pieces or bone clubs, eyes shimmering with greedy and fearful red light in the dim light, emitting squeaky noises.

Goblins appeared even smaller and more cunning, clad in tattered scale armor, carrying baskets or makeshift crossbows, darting through the Ratmen crowd.

Relatively robust, clad in rough scale armor, holding heavy stone axes or bone spears, the Swamp Lizardmen served as supervisors and minor leaders, maintaining basic order with hoarse shouts and whips.

Seeing these Slave Creature troops, Duke knew they were standard cannon fodder, extremely low cost, designed to deplete the enemy’s living forces.

There are differences and quality variations among Slave Creature Legions.

Twenty thousand slaves, spread out, almost filling the wide defensive belt cleared outside the town, extending all the way to the forest edge.

The air was thick with a blend of body odor, excrement, and rusty smell.

Most Wizards were dispersed at the flanks or rear of the team, surrounded by their guards or followers, maintaining a clear distance from the cannon fodder.

Master Ted’s team chose not to follow the main force deeply.

Soon after entering the forest edge, he led Duke, Una, Hale, Ivan, Shadow Raven and other core team members, along with another five Commerce Association-hired Wizards, quietly detaching from the main team.

Their task was not to participate in a direct frontal assault on the Mu Ye Clan but to execute a more crucial interception mission.

Setting up deadly ambush circles on the most likely forest paths connecting Mu Ye Clan to the other three clans, intercepting any Dark Elf attempting to escape or come for aid.

Based on intelligence and map analysis, they chose a location named Wind Erosion Gap.

It is not a true canyon gap but formed between two massive, hole-riddled rock walls, seemingly eroded by wind and sand for millennia, creating a relatively narrow, sparsely vegetated passage.

On one side, the rock wall covered with glowing moss and twisted small trees; the other side, a bottomless crevice, shrouded in pale purple mist.

This is one of Mu Ye Clan hunters’ must-pass routes towards Night Dew Clan, relatively treacherous terrain, suited for setting ambushes.