Book Eater

Chapter 272: Karul Plains (3)

Exactly four days afterward...

... Demonstrating my skills, is it?

Theo unfolded the order sealed in wax and read it carefully. The scouting of the eastern canyon on Karul Plains and all other operational areas would be left to Captain Theodore Miller. It was obvious, but the fact that he was entrusted with this power meant he had to take responsibility.

Theo needed to personally prove that he and his men were worthy of their command. The order was handwritten in Benedict’s clear calligraphy. Theo had spent less than a week training his thirty one members.

Considering the special circumstances, this wasn’t a normal order. The eastern canyon was closer to the Empire, and fell under their defensive umbrella. They had long established watchtowers to warn of attack. Thirty people shouldn’t be able to make a dent.

“How interesting.”

However, Theo grinned after burning the letter.

“It seems like headquarters is making a bet on what we can do in the canyon. We will either run like ponies with our tails on fire or die like canaries in the mine.”

Theo and his unit had reached the entrance of the eastern canyon and were in the middle of a discussion. If the terrain had been ordinary, then simple scouting spells would have done the trick. However, Karul Plains had been the site of numerous clashes of aura and magic, so the mana of the plains itself had grown chaotic. Scouting spells started to lose their integrity the moment they left the user’s body, and fizzled out a few meters away.

The eastern canyon was also very deep and known for its chaotic mana, which left it relatively opaque to spells. It was a fatal terrain for magicians, since the field of view and space was narrow. The elite knights of Andras could cross the forty or fifty meter wide fissures in two breaths. There simply wasn’t enough space for magical combat. That was why Meltor had not contested Andras’ claim and was hesitant to dig deeper into the eastern canyon.

“Well, isn’t this good?” Theo looked around at his silent team and pointed at the dark canyon. “Let us defeat this notorious place.”

Theo placed his hand on the floor of the canyon. He didn’t hesitate any longer. Scouting spells couldn’t find any purchase in this rugged terrain, but Theo had another method at his disposal.

Mitra, please.

[Hoing! I will look!] Mitra responded vigorously before diving into the ground.

The ancient earth elemental, Mitra...

After swallowing the seed of the world tree, she had acquired the power to communicate with vegetation, making her effective on Karul Plains. There weren’t many trees and weeds in the canyon, but it wasn’t bereft of life like the Red Plateau.

Mitra moved through the terrain at a fearsome rate.

Gluttony called it a ‘radar,’ but Theo didn’t understand that word. Was it forgotten ancient magic? Regardless, he didn’t need to know right now.

“... Okay.”

It only took MItra ten minutes to convey a map of the eastern canyon to Theo’s mind. He now knew the location of Andras’ watchtowers, patrols, sniper nests, and the camp at the end of the canyon. Theo wouldn’t be a magician if he didn’t know how to attack after all of this information.

“William.”

William straightened. “Yes.”

Theo ordered, “Take ten highly mobile magicians and move according to my instructions. Your task is to destroy the enemy watchtowers and sniper nests without being discovered.”

William nodded. “I will destroy the watchtowers and sniper nests.”

Theo turned to the other side, “And Para.”

Paragranum’s female avatar stepped forward. “Yes.”

Theo said, “Take ten alchemists to create obstacles. Make it look as natural as possible, like real rock walls.”

Para’s eyes lit up. “Aha, are you trying to beat the patrols?”

Theo nodded. “Correct. There is another purpose as well, but... that’s for later.”

It was a strange strategy that divided the already small thirty man unit into three groups. However, Theo was convinced that this was the best way.

Alfred’s experience was telling him that this was the right strategy. The ten remaining magicians accompanied Theo into the heart of the canyon.

“William, Para, and I will go in order.”

Theo brought his hand down like a seasoned veteran.

“Go!”

***

There was nothing more tedious and annoying than standing guard at the border. The soldiers would stare at the canyon for hours at a time, waiting for an opponent that never seemed to show. It would only take a few shifts before the soldiers would lose focus.

Robin of the 12th Imperial Army was very frustrated with his posting.

“Damn, why would the Meltor guys come to this damn canyon? There wasn’t even a proper battle here in the last war,” he cursed.

Robin shivered in the cold wind, as he berated Meltor and everyone who had placed him here. If he didn’t do this, he would fall asleep. It had been less than an hour since his shift started, and he still had two more hours before he was relieved.

“It is a little cold, so can’t they give me a blanket or let me leave an hour earlier? At this rate…”

Puk!?

At that moment, the wind seemed to blow a little harsher than before.

“...?”

Robin didn’t even have time to groan as a hole appeared in his neck, killing him instantly. It was the 5th Circle wind spell, Gale Gimlet. Gale Gimlet had a narrow range, but its penetration ability was superior to even some 6th circle spells. It was one of the best assassination spells.

A transparent figure discreetly slipped away, muttering under his breath, “That’s the 22nd one. There are seventeen watchtowers remaining and thirty four snipers.”

William and his men had climbed the cliffs and were quietly subduing the snipers and watchtower guards. The imperial knights who were stationed in this area were often bow experts. They were one of the reasons why the eastern canyon was so dangerous to Meltor’s troops. Without them, this canyon would’ve already fallen into Meltor’s grasp.

Paragranum and her people were also active.

“We’ll create a rockfall here. Make sure to evenly mix the sand and soil.”

Under Theo’s guidance, they created walls disguised as natural objects. They piled up soil to a height of ten meters and disguised it as a landslide. They also created artificial outcroppings that would interfere with an aura user’s extraordinary abilities.

Unlike the other attributes, earth magic dealt with mass. Even if the magic power maintaining it was exhausted, the finished result would remain unchanged. The magicians might not be skilled at sculpting earth, but the alchemists that Paragranum led perfectly camouflaged their work.

“What’s going on here? Was this way originally blocked?”

“It was empty yesterday.”

The patrols were confused and turned around.

“It looks like a landslide.”

“We’ll have to modify the map. Record what you see.”

“This’ll shift our patrol route, no?”

“It can’t be helped. We’ll have to report it to the higher-ups and find a new path.”

The patrols were diverted along inefficient, and sometimes inaccessible routes. It was a feat that wasn’t possible unless someone had a perfect grasp of the terrain. Neither Meltor nor Andras would ever think Theo could see the entire canyon. If they had any idea that Theo’s map was being updated in real time, they would be horrified.

Theo knew whenever William’s troops destroyed a watchtower, and he knew every time a patrol went around a blocked road.

Thus far, it is going as planned.

A dark smile appeared on Theo’s face.

The watchtowers and snipers were all dealt with, and Paragranum had diverted the patrols.

This was already sufficient for headquarters to call it a big achievement. The mobile magicians and alchemists were elsewhere, while Theo had kept the magicians who specialized in destructive power. There was a reason he had come up with this combination.

“Captain, that’s-!”

“Don't be surprised, Sylvia. That is our destination.”

Theo turned away from Sylvia’s startled expression and stared at the faraway blue-black iron wall. It was the permanent post of the Andras army in the eastern canyon. After exploring with Mitra, he discovered that the defense of this campsite was the poorest.

But the magic barrier is perfect. It would dissipate anything below 4th Circle magic.

The walls of the barrier were made of the great metal, titanium, which only a great spell could destroy. It was a mysterious metal that was mined from a mysterious source. Shields and walls made from this ore scattered mana, and it was as strong as adamantium.

It wasn’t used for weaponry since it didn’t accommodate aura like adamantium. However, if it was added to military facilities or shields, it had the power to endure ranged firepower, which was the biggest advantage of a magician.

- It is comparable to adamantium. It can’t be helped. People in this era aren’t familiar with it.

Theo responded to Gluttony’s unexpected interjection.

What do you mean?

It felt like information he shouldn’t miss.

- Did you call it titanium?

One can’t make golems or artifacts with it?

- Well, in the same context. Creating it consumed a large amount of the already rare adamantium, yet magicians in the Age of Mythology could easily penetrate its defenses. So, it’s a metal that didn’t see much light in ancient times.

It was an explanation that couldn’t be found in any book. Theo kept listening as he devised a way to attack this camp.

- By the way, the existence of that metal raises a few questions. Paragranum might know how to make it, but it isn’t an alloy that can be figured out just by digging it up. There is probably another grimoire in the Andras Empire.

That isn’t a problem I can worry about now. What is its weakness?

- There are two big ones.

Theo listened to Gluttony’s description and rotated his seven Circles without hesitation.

Kuooooh!

Such an abrupt rise in magic power created a phenomenon that even the distant imperial army could see. Theo ignored the bewildered gazes of his team as he decided on a strategy to take advantage of one of the two weaknesses.

Titanium’s first weakness was attack magic which contained mass projectiles.

Maybe magic like Meteor Fall.

Meteor Fall pulled rocks, meteorites, out of the atmosphere and sent them hurtling toward the opponent. The speed and firepower were amplified by the gravity of the planet. Magic resistance had no effect before falling meteors. However, Theo couldn’t yet cast Meteor Fall, and the only other spell he knew with physical projectiles was Volcanic Shell. However, that wasn’t enough to crush the titanium wall.

Therefore, he chose the second weakness.

Overwhelming firepower that the titanium can’t endure!

Theo’s gathered magic power swirled around him, and the clouds overhead scattered, causing the area around him to be strangely calm.

It was a natural disaster in human form. Theo was a 7th Circle magician, but this magic event was like something created by an 8th Circle magician.

“All troops! Cast your strongest attack spell with me!” Theo yelled out the command while activating a feature he hadn’t used for a while.

Memorize.

The ability allowed him to store his desired spell and use it without casting, and he could now store up to seven spells. It was possible, but Theo’s magic power hadn’t been able to completely control two or more great spells.

... But now, it’s possible!

His memories of the East came to mind. In the three months he’d spent there, Theo had been able to properly train his mind and body. The full acquisition of the Fairy Dance filled an empty spot in his body and magic.

He couldn’t use all seven slots, but three or four was possible!

Memorize. Four Slots Open. Quadruple Inferno.

Four fire pillars rose into the air. The power of one pillar was enough to burn down a town, but now four fire vortexes equal to one great spell roared like mad dragons.

The clouds that had gotten in the way of the burning mana had already disappeared. The heat was enough to melt the rocks in the distance. Theo’s eyes turned bloodshot with extreme concentration as he managed to wrest the spell into submission.

Rage of Ragnaros!

The inferno that Magnus had summoned had just been recreated. With a twist of Theo’s will, the giant vortexes of flames started to move. The high temperatures melted steel like it was butter, while the birds in the distant sky died from the heat.

The tremendous force of light collided against the walls of titanium.