CH193
Although the strongest among these spellcasters were only third-level wizard apprentices, there was no telling what special methods they might possess. Any risk of Base 27 being exposed was significant.
Helag turned to leave, "Let's report back quickly."
As they returned to Base 27, they noticed other patrolling wizards had also hurried back, clearly having spotted the adventurers too.
Parker quickly received the news and began formulating a plan.
The primary objective was to prevent these adventurers, especially the spellcasters among them, from approaching Base 27. While they had concealment arrays, Parker, an experienced wizard, knew that many factors were unrelated to raw power.
The simplest way to keep adventurers away was to eliminate them. However, this required ensuring none escaped, as the adventurers were scattered in small groups throughout the mountains.
Parker decided, "Let them come in first. The mountains are vast, and our position is deep enough to avoid immediate detection."
"Once they're all in, we'll secure the mountain pass and all directions, then eliminate them."
Helag asked, "But Lord Parker, if all these adventurers die here, won't it draw attention?"
Parker explained, "Every base is destined to be exposed eventually. Our goal is to delay that as long as possible. Once the base is fully operational, exposure won't matter as much, and we'll take action ourselves."
"A group of adventurers dying won't cause much of a stir. To the elves, it's just adventurers dying in their pursuits, not enough to warrant their attention."
"Our main enemy is the elves. There's no World Tree or elf settlements near Base 27, so conflicts with human kingdoms are manageable."
As a wizard invasion point, Base 27's exposure was inevitable. Any significant actions would draw attention, an unavoidable reality.
Adventuring was inherently risky, with countless adventurers dying daily. Mass deaths in a single area were rare but not unheard of, and of little concern to the kingdom or elves.
Killing these adventurers would cause local unrest but be a minor issue for the Norn Kingdom.
Parker quickly organized Base 27's personnel throughout the Lim Mountains, forming a net to encircle the adventurers. The only exit was the mountain entrance, where the adventurers had come from.
Once enough adventurers were inside, Cain would guard the entrance, ensuring none escaped. To adventurers, even the strongest third-level wizard apprentices, a second-level wizard was insurmountable.
Helag, David, and Reese were assigned to guard an area, tasked with eliminating adventurers on command. If possible, they were to capture spellcasters alive, as their magic principles and spells held research value.
Captured spellcasters were the captor's spoils, as Bennings had assured them there'd be no bias against those from the Barrens.
Helag had faced no unfair treatment in his four months at Base 27, despite being one of the few from the Barrens.
The rest were Dawn Land wizards, and while there was discrimination, Helag didn't care about others' opinions, focusing on his strength.
Helag wore a jade bracelet for communication, suitable for Base 27's range since the Elven Plane lacked a magic network, and then Helag, David, and Reese hid in the forest, awaiting Parker's orders.
***
As Asna and her companions entered the mountains, they were surrounded by many adventurers. The vastness of the mountains led the adventurers to spread out.
Asna chose a direction based on instinct and began searching for clues. The team's warrior led with a shield and sword, clearing a path through the dense forest. Sadi guarded the rear, protecting Asna and the cleric while staying alert.
"So many bugs here!" Sadi flicked a bloodsucking insect off her arm with a dagger.
In the mountains, insects were everywhere. Asna assessed the situation, producing a bag of crushed herbs. Chanting, she gathered energy particles, then scattered the powder over the group.
"This should keep the bugs away."
The powder, combined with Asna's spell, repelled insects. They had experience in jungles and were prepared.
The group moved slowly through the forest, encountering only a bear without incident.
"What a waste. That bear pelt could've fetched a good price," Sadi lamented, recalling the bear.
She'd wanted to hunt it, but Asna insisted on focusing on the mission, so Sadi relented.
"We need to hurry and stay in top condition. The Lim Mountains are dangerous, and battles can happen anytime," Asna reminded Sadi, who was always thinking about money.
CH194
"Okay, okay, I got it," Sadi said, sticking out her tongue and slipping into the nearby woods to keep watch.
Asna sighed and pulled out a map to study it.
The Lim Mountains were vast, and with only four people, searching the entire area was nearly impossible.
To quickly find clues, they needed a plan.
Asna pondered over the map, circling a few spots with a feather pen.
One circle marked the patrol area of the missing team, while the others were Asna's calculated guesses.
These locations were based on the patrol's schedule and estimated disappearance time, offering potential sites where they might have encountered danger.
Searching these spots increased the likelihood of finding clues.
Asna planned to check these areas first, eliminating them one by one before searching elsewhere.
Progress through the forest was slow, and by sunset, they had only just entered the Lim Mountains.
Asna glanced at the map again, estimating it would take seven to eight days to search all the spots.
It was slow, but necessary.
A thorough search of the vast mountains was impossible with limited manpower and time.
After sunset, the group found a sheltered spot to rest for the night.
Wandering the mountains at night was too dangerous.
Asna and the cleric sat by the campfire, while Sadi prepared a rabbit with her dagger, and the warrior kept watch.
While handling the rabbit, Sadi remarked, "Asna, we've walked all day and found nothing. Where could they have gone?"
"I don't know. We'll have to see if we can find any traces tomorrow."
Asna hadn't detected any lingering magical energy, unsure if it had dissipated over time or if they simply hadn't found it yet.
"Others haven't found anything either. I wonder if we'll succeed," Sadi mused.
They'd encountered other adventurers during the day without conflict.
Everyone sought the missing patrol's clues.
Without conflicting interests, no one acted rashly.
Asna's team was formidable enough to deter most adventurers.
Half an hour later, as they roasted the rabbit over the fire, Asna suddenly stood, staring into the distance.
"Asna, what's wrong?" Sadi asked.
The group's demeanor turned serious; Asna's tension indicated something significant.
Asna's senses were sharp, especially for danger.
Her fearful expression sent chills down their spines.
For Asna to react this way meant something serious was happening.
Taking a deep breath, Asna steadied herself, "There's a strong magical presence over there."
She pointed to the dark mountains, but Sadi and the others sensed nothing.
"Abandon the mission. We need to leave now!" Asna decided.
"What? Abandon it?" Sadi was stunned.
The mission's reward was substantial, and leaving now seemed rash.
Traveling at night was risky.
Asna explained, "That magical presence could be a mid-level spellcaster, or even higher. It's beyond us."
"The danger the missing team faced might be greater than anyone imagined. We must leave, even if we encounter magical creatures on the way back. It's better than meeting a high-level spellcaster."
Her words made the others realize the gravity of the situation.
A high-level spellcaster?
To Sadi and the others, Asna was already an impressive spellcaster, but she was only an apprentice.
They'd rarely seen official spellcasters, let alone high-level ones.
Such beings were almost mythical.
Knowing one was nearby, they felt an urgent need to escape the Lim Mountains.
They didn't wait for the rabbit to cook, extinguishing the fire and packing up to leave immediately.
Asna's judgment had always been accurate.
Sadi and the others trusted and followed her decisions without question.
They moved quickly in the dark, faster than during the day.
They'd been leisurely before, but now it was a race for survival.
Once accustomed to the forest's darkness, they moved with ease.
Their physical fitness allowed them to see well even at night.
"Good evening, everyone." A voice suddenly came from behind.
Turning, they saw a black-haired man standing on a tree, smiling at them.
Asna's eyes widened in terror, her mouth agape, then she clamped a hand over it, her expression one of extreme fear.
"Asna! Asna! What's wrong?" Sadi noticed Asna's reaction immediately.
The black-haired man seemed ordinary, doing nothing, yet Asna was terrified.
To Asna, the man's magical power rivaled a mid-level spellcaster.
More alarming was the immense bloodline power within him.
Asna could see others' bloodline strength, usually a faint red glow.
Stronger knights had a red glow around them.
Great knights were enveloped in a red aura.
The strongest bloodline Asna had seen was an elf, shrouded in a red mist, indicating potent bloodline power.
But compared to the black-haired man, they were insignificant.
His red aura was like a sea of blood, a tidal wave reaching the sky.
Asna looked up, seeing the red glow covering the night sky.
In the glow was a black humanoid silhouette with bat-like wings, larger and more imposing than any bat's.
It was a sight Asna had never seen, an anomaly in his bloodline power unlike anything she'd encountered.