Chapter 14: Twelve-Person Squad

Zhai Guangyi’s vision could clearly sense every movement within a radius of 500 meters. Based on Xiong Batian’s report, he had learned the direction of the endangered small team and began focusing intently in that direction.

About half a quarter of an hour later, Zhai Guangyi spotted twelve Human figures.

Among them were the Swordsman Luke, the Mage Luqi, and the Shield Warrior Bader, who had escaped last time, along with some unfamiliar faces. The names of these three had also been retrieved from Jack’s memories. Jack’s memories were fragmented, but the names of these three stood out vividly.

Walking behind Luke was another Swordsman. Compared to Luke, he was slimmer in build and dressed more lavishly, wearing a purple Robe adorned with intricate patterns. His attire did not include practical heavy armor, and the sword at his waist was even inlaid with a purple gemstone.

He appeared to be an Aristocrat, followed by three Shield Warriors. Two of them wore identical, fully enclosed armor that left no gaps exposed.

The third Shield Warrior was Bader, whose Equipment was rather worn and damaged, though his massive shield remained spotlessly clean, showing no signs of wear.

Behind the three Shield Warriors were two Thieves wielding short swords. They seemed more professional than Jack, with uniformly equipped gear that was dark in color but shifted hues according to the environment.

Behind the Thieves were two Mages holding staffs. One was Luqi, who had cast a barrier to escape last time, and the other was a Male Mage carrying a long staff embedded with a blue gemstone the size of a soybean. He wore an opulent Robe that clearly cost a fortune. He chatted and laughed with Luqi beside him.

Behind the Mages was a Priest, holding a golden book in his left hand and a two-meter-long staff in his right, its tip resembling a sharp spear.

There was also a Maiden dressed in black robes, moving between trees with a bow in hand, occasionally observing her surroundings. She had unusually long ears and would pause from time to time, her ear tips twitching as if listening intently to the environment.

The team consisted of two Swordsmen, four Shield Warriors, two Mages, two Thieves, one Priest, and one Archer—a total of twelve members.

Zhai Guangyi couldn’t help but marvel at the terror of Humans. If an ordinary Magical Beast encountered a team with such a configuration, fleeing would be the only option. But now, he couldn’t run even if he wanted to, nor did he wish to. Moreover, his Follower showed no intention of fleeing, so how could he possibly escape?

“Ding, threat detected approaching.

New mission: Protect your Followers. Rewards will be determined by the number successfully protected. Please ensure the safety of your Followers.”

As Zhai Guangyi observed, the System’s mission echoed in his mind.

There was still some distance between them, and Zhai Guangyi had no intention of waiting idly for their arrival. Last time, they had set up a Magic Circle in advance, but this time, Zhai Guangyi wouldn’t let them have their way.

He planned to communicate with the Spirit to release Magic when they approached within 150 meters. He wanted to create an environment favorable for the Storm Demon Wolf to fight. As for the effect—only by trying would he know.

Zhai Guangyi’s fifth-level Spirit Magic was far more than just summoning two Spirits for battle. Through recent experimentation, he had learned to utilize Spirits to accomplish many spells.

Of course, the simplest and most direct method was Spirit summoning, but that required too much Magic Power. The most Magic-efficient approach was to communicate with existing Spirits in reality, convey his requests through Magic as a medium, and then construct the spell.

The bright moonlight that had been hanging in the sky had now vanished. Dark clouds silently gathered, and rumbling sounds echoed continuously through the air as a heavy rain suddenly began to fall.

The Adventurers who had been advancing slowly suddenly halted. This unexpected downpour disrupted their planned route.

Howling winds and torrential rain with thunder—for Humans, this was the worst possible environment.

“It’s raining. All personnel, stay alert and quickly set up rain shelters,” ordered Mark, the leader of this expedition.

“Honored One Mark, perhaps we should retreat a bit before setting up camp. First, advancing at night is too dangerous. Second, we are approaching the Demon Tree, and this distance poses some risk,” Luke approached Mark and earnestly advised.

Mark pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. The purpose of this expedition was to eradicate the Demon Tree and prevent irreversible ecological damage in this area.

A neighboring town had been destroyed by a Demon Tree capable of endless consumption. Such Demon Trees would recklessly devour all natural things to strengthen themselves. In later stages, they could even move using their roots, which was terrifying.

“Ah, it seems my newly bought robe is going to get dirty,” sighed the Male Mage walking beside Luqi, looking helplessly at his robe.

“Haha, Senior, your robes are never the same. At most, I can create a barrier just for you now,” Luqi said with a hint of flattery toward the Male Mage, Jielude, waving her staff.

“Then thank you, Sen—”

“This rain feels off. I sense the presence of Spirits being manipulated,” the Archer observing from the treetop suddenly interrupted their conversation. Jielude instantly grew irritated. This arrogant Forest Elf always infuriated him.

He had been respected since childhood, and he had only reluctantly agreed to this expedition at the City Lord’s request.

The entire team treated him with reverence, but there was one person in the group who was utterly disdainful, not even sparing him a proper glance.

“You, what do you think you are, interrupting my—”

Before he could finish, a foot kicked toward him. As a Mage, his body was inherently fragile. The kick made him vomit his dinner from earlier and sent him crashing hard against a tree trunk.

“Boom!”

Loud claps of thunder echoed repeatedly. Right where Jielude had been standing moments before, a bolt of lightning struck fiercely, charring the soil and sending dust flying.

The one who kicked him was the Archer who had been perched in the tree. After kicking him, she used the recoil to roll several times on the ground, also avoiding the Lightning Strike.

The group gasped in shock. Mark quickly ordered three Shield Warriors to protect the Mages and Priests, while a Priest rushed to heal Jielude.

“Great Deity, please bestow Your Divine Power and aid Your most faithful Believer!”

The Priest raised his staff and quickly chanted, casting healing magic on Jielude.

The Archer also climbed up from the ground and began to stay alert to his surroundings.

The lightning strike was not caused by Zhai Guangyi. Zhai Guangyi only wanted the Spirit to help him bring down some rain. He was not yet powerful enough to control lightning to attack his opponents.

The purpose of the rain was also clear: it could both hinder the enemy’s advance and slow their retreat, while also affecting their vision and perception in the surrounding area.

As for the lightning, it was simply the Male Mage’s misfortune—a bolt just happened to strike right where he was.

Zhai Guangyi looked down at everyone from two hundred meters in the air, observing their every move. His Followers were already familiar with the nearby terrain. Using the advantage of the enemy being exposed while they remained hidden, they began to encircle and suppress them.