Chapter 790 - 776: From the South
Chapter 790: Chapter 776: From the South
Unexpectedly, the mist can be dispelled without dealing with the core NPC!
Originally, Lin Jun’s rescue force was all ready, but unexpectedly, Inanna and Number Four emerged on their own.
They even unexpectedly developed a new strategy for the mist.
The question is whether it was due to scene destruction, killing large numbers of minions, or both.
Unfortunately, this method is obviously not suitable for anyone other than Number Four.
Moreover, this time Number Four emerged not only due to its efforts in destruction but possibly also due to external circumstances.
This time, the mist’s assault onshore was successfully repelled by Lin Jun’s multiple defenses, with only one group lost within it; other teams only suffered some casualties.
After those teams successfully navigated the mist scene, the mist deeper inland was cut off, becoming rootless water, which would naturally disperse even if left alone.
Number Four and Inanna were already on the edge of this mist assault, and while Number Four indeed accelerated the mist’s collapse, even without rampaging, simply by protecting Inanna and stalling for time, the mist here would have dissipated automatically after more than half a day.
Now it appears that the mist, as a consumable resource in the Mist Illusion Realm, is rapidly depleted by wholesale destruction.
What Lin Jun is unsure about is whether such consumption caused by Number Four’s destruction can deplete the Mist Illusion Realm, which has subsequent replenishments, like it did this time, without cutting the mist in half?
If it can, Number Four wouldn’t need to transfer to the east, and could just aid in blocking the mist at the border.
Fortunately, there is a particularly high concentration of Magic Power near the mist, which naturally facilitates the increase in Magic Power collected by the Fungal Mat, just enough to feed the [Leviathan]—Number Four is far from reaching its limit.
Besides the point that wholesale destruction can accelerate mist consumption, Lin Jun noticed another thing, which was about the scenes that Number Four and the others encountered.
Aside from the two soulless Elemental Lords that don’t count as living beings, there was only Number Four and Inanna in the mist.
Yet what they encountered was a completely unfamiliar scene.
In fact, not only Inanna, but also those Fungus Castle troops responsible for blocking the mist on the ocean defense line, almost all encountered similar situations.
A variety of unrelated scenes appeared, and some teams even encountered strange races unheard of before.
This is completely different from the mist data Lin Jun has been collecting and predicting all along.
In fact, Lin Jun has never seen the "normal" Mist Illusion Realm as described in those data.
Whether the mist has changed at this stage, or if the problem lies with themselves is unclear.
Fortunately, although the scenes are varied, it does not indicate increased danger.
The fact that the vast majority of teams successfully emerged this time is evidence.
Regardless of everything, the first wave of mist impact has been successfully blocked.
Although it will rebound later, having gained practical experience, the Fungus Castle troops will certainly be more adept in handling it next time.
During the interval before the mist’s second wave of impact, naturally, the warriors engaged in battle should have a good rest.
The most Delicious Puki wine and fresh meats are being delivered to the frontline by the Cow and Horse Puki, and for those few teams containing Blood Race, they’ll receive the Blood Gem Wine, which is being auctioned for a fortune per can in the Empire.
The team situated at the southernmost end of the coastline received a whole case of Blood Gem Wine.
...
The pot is set on the mushroom cap opened by Dragon Breath Puki, the continuously burning flames warm everyone’s faces.
In the Fungus Castle, which is quite rare, Blood Race Fungus People Erich, who is not hung on the bell, leaned against the supply crate just delivered by the Cow and Horse Puki, legs straightened, with the boot soles facing the pot.
He had just finished his third cup of Blood Gem Wine, the Delicious red liquid smoothly sliding down his throat, relaxing him entirely.
"This kind of life was unimaginable in the Empire," he murmured quietly, his gaze sweeping over the mountain-like pile of supply crates in the camp center.
Meats, Puki wine, new Knight Puki, and his specially supplied Blood Gem Wine are neatly stacked there, open for anyone to take as they please.
Unlike in the Empire, where only high-tier nobility could enjoy Blood Gem Wine, and he could afford to drink it once every few months, with the taste falling far short of what he currently holds.
Across from him, a half-demon reached out to roast by the fire, marveling at something else: "Knight Puki is really useful! One Knight Puki fights better than I do! And I can command three! If I had twenty... the mist would be easily conquered, wouldn’t it?"
"To be honest, the mist is just that," a human tossed his empty cup onto the ground, chuckling, "We were scared stiff before the fight, but once we actually got in, wasn’t it easy to break through?"
In the action to repel the mist this time, they incurred no casualties, only losing some Puki, which bolstered the team members’ confidence.
However, the team captain was clearly still clear-headed.
"Don’t get overconfident!" The captain looked up at them with a serious expression, "Remember Grey Ash Squad? They were no worse than us, and yet went completely missing in the mist. We just got lucky and encountered a scene that wasn’t too difficult. Next time could be different! Don’t let your arrogance get you killed in a situation where you could have survived."
Several team members begrudgingly admitted their mistake, and the initially joyful atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
The half-demon who had spoken earlier skillfully shifted the topic: "Speaking of which, won’t the Empire seize the chance to attack us amidst the mist? We are, after all, at the southernmost point. If the Empire attacks, we’ll be the first to suffer!"
"What’s there to fear? Worst case scenario, if we die we turn into Puki, and then we can try that legendary Puki hot spring massage..." A human soldier nonchalantly raised his cup above his head, swaying it toward the sky, "Praise the Mushroom Lord, I fear nothing."
Blood Race Erich laughed as he negatived that possibility: "Come on, the mist is advancing together, and the Empire doesn’t have Knight Puki assisting them like we do, the entire west is probably being ravaged by the mist! Not to mention attacking us, I suspect that after this mist retreats, our Fungus Castle might even actively advance on them!"
"It would be great if the war could end sooner."
"Indeed, the Empire should have surrendered long ago. How could they possibly resist the Mushroom Lord?"
Under the night sky, the team chatted intermittently, their laughter fluctuating from high to low.
Erich tilted his head back and chugged down the fourth can of Blood Gem Wine, a drop of the red liquid sliding from the corner of his mouth, which he wiped with his thumb and casually popped into his mouth.
Just as he got up to grab the fifth can, he suddenly froze.
His gaze went past the Puki hot pot, past the stacked supplies at the camp’s edge, and landed in the southern depths of the night sky.
It seemed there was nothing there, but Erich instinctively felt something was approaching.
"Erich, what’s wrong?" Noticing his change in expression, the captain, who wasn’t indulging, inquired.
"I’m... not quite sure..." Erich squinted slightly, red light swirling within his eyes, his voice suddenly rising, laced with a trace of dread, "Stop eating, quickly, quickly gather your Puki! Connect to the supplemental Puki quickly! The mist... the mist is coming again!"
"Mist?!" The partially drunken members immediately snapped awake.
Before anyone could question, the Mushroom Lord’s alarm sounded in their minds!
Cups landed on the ground, chairs were kicked over, and the soldiers hurriedly dashed to their respective charging Puki at the fastest speed.
Only after they finally got ready did they realize the mist wasn’t pressing from the sea.
"Not from the sea!" Erich yelled within the Fungal Network, "From the south! From the Empire’s direction!"
Everyone’s gaze turned simultaneously to the south.
At the edge of the night, gray-white dense mist surged, rushing over like an overwhelming tide...
Someone couldn’t help but murmur: "Why... from that direction...?"
Whoosh—
The mist engulfed this camp for the second time within the day.