Chapter 1011: This Time, We Have Only One Goal!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1011: This Time, We Have Only One Goal!
"How many days do you think this war against the Sun Rock Elf Academy will last?"
Inside the club's temporary combat command center, someone whispered the question.
The most prominent feature of this makeshift rear headquarters was the massive tactical deduction sandbox occupying the center of the room. It projected a high-resolution holographic map of a vast terrain, interfaced with the root network spread out from the Magic City's Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
Ever since the Witch Academy had deployed the Omni-Link Main Network Tree, all regions bordering the academy had used specialized techniques to block the expansion of the power and root networks. Unless one used brute force to eliminate these blocking techniques, the power and root networks could only function as a private playground within the witches' own territory.
This declaration of war against the Sun Rock Elf Academy carried a secondary objective: to establish a second deployment point for the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
The Sun Rock Elf Academy was the perfect breakthrough point.
Many small elven transcendent academies were scattered around the Witch Academy's borders, situated between Afuhemi Academy and the Witch Academy, effectively blocking direct communication between witches and elves. Whether it was to teach the Sun Rock Elves a lesson or simply to "connect them to the internet," this battle was inevitable.
Naturally, the Sun Rock Elves weren't going to sit idly by.
Their first reaction upon receiving the declaration of war was utter bewilderment; their second was to establish a defensive perimeter. They never even considered stopping the war outside their own borders. They almost hoped the witches would come charging in, pillaging and burning along the way—at least that would leave a clear trail to follow.
As for the civilians... who cared about them?
The lag time in wars between transcendent academies wasn't as exaggerated as it was for ordinary people. An endless array of transcendent methods made it impossible to guard against everything. Consequently, blitzkrieg tactics were utilized to their absolute limit in these conflicts.
Large-scale spatial teleportation clashing with wide-area spatial blockade spells was the most direct form of confrontation. Following that was counter-infiltration: using transcendent power for disguise and infiltration, decapitation strikes, sabotage, and even intelligence theft. If you could imagine it, it could be done.
In essence, a battle between transcendent individuals and a war between transcendent factions weren't that different. Both involved doing everything possible to hide one's own weaknesses while striking at the opponent's soft underbelly.
However... the war against the Sun Rock Elf Academy was different.
The scale was different. The methods were different.
Strategy is the respect shown to an equal; total annihilation is the response to a provocation.
You cannot beat me. Even if you have ten thousand schemes, what does it matter?
Currently, the question of how long this campaign would last invited a lot of speculation.
The Main Battle Department of the Witch United Club was the largest "ragtag bunch" in the history of the Witch Academy. From the students on the ground to the chief commanders, everyone was a "green recruit" with zero experience.
Power is truly an intoxicating thing. The moment these witches sat before that massive command sandbox, they felt the ambition to command the landscape and shape the destiny of the world.
"War is a long-term art," someone remarked. "Back in my family, I heard my father talk about academy wars between small transcendent institutions. They last anywhere from two or three months to several semesters."
The others were quite surprised to hear someone had actually learned the details of academy warfare from their parents. However, the duration she mentioned was also shocking. Would the war really last that long?
"Two or three months... isn't that a bit too long? You have to remember, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han killed over a hundred TA-level opponents in less than a day. I doubt the experts of the Sun Rock Elf Academy can even withstand a single round of her havoc," someone questioned.
"The reference I gave was just for small transcendent academies. What is the scale of our Witch Academy?"
"That's true."
The group nodded. Since they hadn't entered the combat phase yet, the atmosphere remained somewhat relaxed. If someone had brought out some desserts and black tea, one might have mistaken this for a group of students gathering for a Witch Tea Party.
If anyone from another transcendent academy saw this, their jaws would likely hit the floor. But this was the Witch Academy... everything seemed strangely reasonable here.
The main reason was their absolute confidence in Teaching Assistant Xiao Han. Furthermore, as rear command and logistics personnel, they didn't really have the authority to boss around a legendary teaching assistant anyway. They were mostly there to collect incoming data for later review.
They needed to move in the fastest, most efficient way possible. Only by encountering errors and setbacks would they truly learn how to fight a war.
They had the capital to afford such trial and error. Everyone has a first time; no one had the right to demand perfection from them yet.
* * *
At that moment, as the detailed information on the root network vanished completely, the broad situation presented itself via the covered Ley Line Briefing.
"Looks like they've left the Witch Academy's territory."
The root network provided much more detailed information than the Ley Line system, as it used physical roots as carriers for data. The ley lines beneath the earth varied in density; while they recorded a wide range of information, the data was unreliable unless one personally performed a Ley Line Identification Art using the power of the Tree of Great Knowledge's main body.
Not long after the signal of the Zero Special Combat Sequence vanished from the root network, the command center received news of an enemy encounter.
These reports were all recorded using the newly loaded first-person POV recording function of the Knowledge Seeds. Along with text logs, visual feeds were transmitted back, allowing the rear to know exactly what was happening on the front line in real-time.
Watching the footage of several students easily dispatching those Sun Rock Elves set a relaxed tone for the mission. However, a reverse analysis of the residual elven magic fluctuations in the air suggested these were just "cannon fodder" sent to die. Their only mission was to perish so the enemy would know the witches' movement.
"Should we tell the Zero Combat Sequence to adjust their route? If they keep going straight, they'll undoubtedly run into a concentrated fire blockade prepared by the entire academy."
"And if they get flanked from other directions and pinned down, casualties will be hard to avoid."
They all knew Teaching Assistant Xiao Han possessed powerful resurrection spells, but resurrection still cost mental energy and mana. Even if she had self-generated mana and didn't worry about consumption, replenishing mental energy required resources—like mental recovery potions or soothing aromatherapy.
Then again, all the supplies for this operation were stored in storage equipment. They were portable, plentiful, and then some...
Well, they couldn't think of a single reason not to just brute-force it.
* * *
Inside the territory of the Sun Rock Elf Academy.
One could tell from the race's name alone that these elves had a particular fondness for light and rock. Consequently, this region consisted of vast stretches of wasteland and desert. The Qunluosen Wasteland bordering the Witch Academy was merely a fringe area.
The human settlements were located in man-made oases; everywhere else was essentially arid land, frequently plagued by large-scale sandstorms triggered by the unique terrain.
"Hmm?"
After passing through a small sandstorm, I looked up at a seemingly empty patch of sky. I raised my hand and fired a fireball, which transformed into a pillar of blazing light, piercing through something.
After the object fell, someone behind me moved to catch it.
"What is this?"
"Such precise construction... it looks like a creation of the Mechanic faction wizards."
"Looks like we shot down a Wizard's Eye—the kind they use for broadcasting," someone quickly recognized the device.
It was a mechanical Wizard's Eye equipped with anti-mana and anti-mental perception properties, plus optical cloaking.
"This feeling of being watched like a monkey in a zoo is really annoying! Why aren't there any enemies yet? They can't be huddling inside the academy waiting to play a final stand with us, can they?" someone grumbled.
"When we get back, why don't we ask the Transcendent Academic Section if they can build us a large transport ship?" I suggested.
Invading while everyone was riding brooms really felt like a loss of face. However, riding brooms was the most traditional and efficient means of large-scale travel for the Witch Academy. Not everyone could master spatial teleportation, and even if they could, it was easily countered by spatial blockade techniques. Traditional travel methods never truly went out of style.
After all, the simpler and more primitive a method was, the harder it was to target.
"A transport ship! Yes! We definitely need that! The sun in this Sun Rock territory is way too fierce," a student nearby chimed in.
Although senior students were nearly immune to skin damage from solar radiation, their ingrained habits and perceptions still gave them a negative psychological reaction to the heat.
"Yeah~ Just think about it. Afuhemi Academy has that 'never-falling' Tree of Life, the Holy Angels have their Floating Holy Islands... what do the Wizards have again?"
"Wizards have anti-gravity airships created by Mechanical Wizards. I heard they can even mass-produce them on assembly lines now."
"When you put it that way... our Witch Academy doesn't have any unique flair at all."
"Who says? Aren't we riding brooms right now?"
"That sounds so low-class! We witches need our own signature style!"
"I've seen my mentor use a flying witch's cottage... does that count?"
"A house? That flies?"
"Yeah! It's huge inside..."
"I still think the transport ship TA Xiao Han suggested would be cooler."
The students argued back and forth, offering their own ideas. Ultimately, this task would fall onto the shoulders of the people in the Transcendent Academic Section. Building a super-large warship that wouldn't fall apart, could withstand a certain level of attack, and could actually fly was no easy feat.
But if it were actually built, such an existence would take on another meaning.
Deterrence.
I didn't think the idea of a transport warship would be rejected. Once the project started, many offensive alchemy weapons from the Transcendent Academic Section would have a primary anchor for their designs. If they didn't break out of the "individual weapon" framework, the use of alchemy items would always be limited to handheld weapons and wearable armor. Even breakthroughs would only be minor improvements in performance or new applications of materials, runes, and solidification rituals.
But once offensive methods had a new carrier, entirely new inspirations would burst forth.
However... it was a bit too early to talk about that now.
Leading the group of students behind me, I looked into the distance and saw a massive object looming through the haze of sand and mist.
It was a unique holy relic of the elves.
An Elven World Tree.
Unfortunately, all World Trees in the Main World were merely offshoots. This meant that while its existence held profound significance for the elves of that race, it was useless to other races. Of course, one could always chop it down for rare World Tree materials. Those were precious items you couldn't just find anywhere.
Looking at the massive canopy reaching into the heavens, its presence awakened a somewhat distant memory. Back then, during the exchange competition in the Primal Dream, there had been an Elven World Tree just like this one. The only regret I had when that competition ended was that I hadn't burned their World Tree to the ground.
"Everyone!"
I shouted, my voice cutting through the air. Everyone immediately stopped their chatting and playing.
"Do you see that behemoth ahead? That is the Elven World Tree that the elves revere as their Mother Goddess!" I raised my hand and pointed toward the distant horizon.
"This time, we have only one goal!"
"Breach the academy gates! Burn the World Tree!"
"Breach the academy gates!"
"Burn the World Tree!!"
Following the slogan I had come up with on the spot, everyone seemed to feel a surge of adrenaline at the image I described. They repeated the grand ambition in unison, as if witnessing—and anticipating—the creation of a history that once seemed impossible.
Burn the World Tree!
Such a slogan sounded utterly unrealistic. Tracing the words back, many people remembered the Exchange Competition from over a year ago. It was as if that event had subconsciously planted this concept in their minds. Even a grand existence known as a World Tree could be touched by the flames of war.
It had become a symbol of glory, a milestone that one had to achieve for their life to be considered complete!
"Look! The enemy has appeared! Let us crush them with absolute dominance and grind the arrogant heads of those elves into the dirt!"
I held the Book in the Box, pointing its corner toward the dark mass of people in the distance as I issued the final command.
In the next instant, I turned into a streak of light, charging into the ambush that had been waiting for us.
They had already set up a massive Elven Blessing magic array. With the support of the Sun Rock Mother Book behind them, a colossal pillar of light enveloped the tree's massive trunk. Countless clouds of dust erupted as heart-stopping life force and Sun Rock power exploded outward, forming individual blessings for every elf.
"Heh... I'll show you that you're just as laughable as your Elven Blessing!"