Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

The continuous explosion of spells echoed like a drumbeat in Vladimir's heart.

"Sixty, seventy... one hundred and eleven, one hundred and twenty..."

As Vladimir counted the explosions, he became numb.

Thirty seconds quickly passed, and Richard emerged from the cockpit, approaching Vladimir.

"Master, what do you think of my Spell Support Vehicle?"

"Three hundred and sixty... What did you say?" Vladimir seemed startled by Richard, his voice rising in surprise.

Richard patiently repeated, "Master, what do you think of my Spell Support Vehicle?"

"Oh, oh, an evaluation, right..."

Vladimir fumbled, instinctively reaching for his pipe, only to find it missing.

Richard noticed the pipe at Vladimir's feet, picked it up, and handed it to him.

Vladimir took the pipe, his left hand trembling slightly as he conjured a flame to light it.

Puffing on the pipe, Vladimir exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Your name is Richard, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"I retract my earlier statement. You're an unprecedented genius. Your work is... beyond my comprehension."

Vladimir, pipe in mouth, eyed Richard like an old eagle.

"Three hundred and sixty fireball spells in thirty seconds. This... Spell Support Vehicle is so compact. How did you manage the heat dissipation? I calculated that even if you reduced mana loss by ten percent, using the heat dissipation structures I'm familiar with, this machine should last only forty-five seconds. Beyond that, the casting components would melt, and the magical components would need to be rebuilt."

Vladimir, having spent his life studying alchemical mechanics, quickly identified the vehicle's issue. However, he was still confined by traditional alchemical thinking, believing that an alchemical weapon must be robust and durable, hence his question.

Mindset is crucial.

Richard shrugged, "Master, I didn't solve the heat dissipation. Thirty seconds is the maximum for full operation. The casting components have already melted and need replacing."

"No heat dissipation?"

Hearing this, Vladimir frowned, then relaxed slightly, relieved.

Geniuses have limits, after all.

If Richard had solved the heat dissipation, Vladimir might have had a heart attack.

"I must admit, your Spell Support Vehicle is impressive. However, thirty seconds is too short," Vladimir said, exhaling smoke. "Replacing the casting components so frequently might deter the corps' leadership from purchasing."

For wizards, war is a business.

Wizards constantly seek ways to maximize profits with minimal magic stone expenditure.

"So... do you think my creation is satisfactory?"

"Satisfactory?" Vladimir shook his head, solemnly replying, "Your creation isn't just satisfactory; it's stunning! If it continues to evolve, your name might join the ranks of Zeppelin, Tesla, and Fermi, remembered through countless eras."

"Master, you're too kind," Richard said, feeling both honored and nervous.

For alchemical wizards, the names Vladimir mentioned were legendary. Zeppelin, the inventor of current magical airships and the first war zeppelin, greatly advanced wizarding world transport.

Tesla, founder of Tesla Heavy Industries, outfitted eight out of ten White Wizard Corps with their alchemical weapons, making him the wizarding world's top arms dealer.

Fermi, perhaps the most significant, created a power prototype that fuels all existing floating cities.

Vladimir's comparison of Richard to these figures demonstrated his satisfaction with the weapon.

Richard couldn't fathom being compared to such giants. At the very least, he'd need to become a Grand Wizard to merit such praise.

"No, no, you're young and haven't seen many battlefields. You don't know how useful this is," Vladimir said, shaking his head. "I've only seen firepower density like this on Golem Corps fortress beasts, but theirs..."

Vladimir sighed, "Without substantial resources, they're unsustainable."

Vladimir's praise boosted Richard's confidence. Richard then demonstrated the vehicle's mobility and off-road capabilities.

However, these features paled compared to its fiery firepower.

After the test, Vladimir exited the cockpit, closing his notebook.

The notebook documented his entire experience and would serve as evidence to persuade the corps' leadership.

"I'll discuss this with the corps' leadership. Hopefully, they'll accept your concept."

On the way, Richard explained his vision for the Spell Support Vehicle and its cost-effectiveness.

For wizards, the bottom line is paramount, and numbers are the most persuasive tool.

According to Richard's calculations, the vehicle could significantly reduce White Wizard casualties on secondary battlefields. As an offensive alchemical weapon, it could also lower casualties in direct confrontations.

The savings on wizard compensation and replacement costs were much greater than the expense of replacing casting components.

Richard's approach was novel to Vladimir. For alchemical wizards who valued durability, Richard's consumable concept seemed radical.

But practicality rules the battlefield.

After sending Vladimir off, Richard returned to his lab and retrieved a metal rune base plate.

"Phew, after nearly five years, this project is finally wrapping up."

Richard's gaze fell on the rune base plate, part of his Dream World Communication Device. Years ago, inspired by a chance idea, he had been sidetracked by the Forerunner Crystal, stalling his communication device's progress.

Now, with the Spell Support Vehicle built and praised by Vladimir, Richard could refocus on the Dream World Communication Device.

"With Forerunner Rune One, these rune base plates need reworking. This will reduce magic stone consumption, shrink the device's size, and extend its lifespan."

Eyeing the rune base plate, Richard felt a slight headache.

New discoveries aren't always purely beneficial.

...

A month later, Richard received a magical message from Vladimir. The Frost One Corps invited him to demonstrate the vehicle to their leadership.

The White Wizard Corps' upper echelons seemed skeptical of Vladimir's report, urging Richard to avoid mishaps.

Barring issues, Vladimir promised to help optimize the vehicle's minor flaws.

Richard gladly accepted the opportunity.

Three days later, Richard arrived at the Frost One Corps base on the twenty-third floor of the residential area.

Though called a base, it was more of a wizard community for Frost Wizard Academy alumni, including the Frost Two and Frost Three Corps.

These corps had fought alongside Richard in the Hive battlefield.

At the community, Vladimir awaited Richard's arrival. Without delay, he led Richard to the twenty-third floor's wizard testing grounds.

The testing ground, a desert, was where the Frost One Corps' leadership had gathered. However, the turnout was unexpectedly large.

Richard glanced at Vladimir.

"Don't mind them," Vladimir said calmly. "Leaders from Corps Two and Three are here too. Just perform well, and you'll strike it rich!"

Entering the grounds, Richard greeted the corps' leadership.

Among them, the weakest were entry-level third-circle wizards, with some reaching the third-circle pinnacle. With enough luck and wisdom, they might become Grand Wizards.

"Are you Richard, founder of the Jolord Guild? You seem promising," a third-circle pinnacle wizard remarked with a smile.

"Vladimir praised your weapon highly. Don't disappoint us."

Richard saluted the wizards, then opened a secret realm rift, bringing out the Spell Support Vehicle.

Seeing the small machine, several high-ranking officials from other corps frowned.

"Vladimir wasn't exaggerating; it's quite compact," an official noted. "But can something so small achieve a spell volley as claimed?"

Frost One Corps Commander Andre glanced at Richard, replying casually, "I don't know, but I know this kid. He was with me when Susanna fleeced me. I think he's a student of a Black Tower Academy master."

"But there's no alchemical master at Black Tower Academy. Jolord studies synthetic beasts, right?"

"Let's bet. I bet this machine achieves half of what Vladimir claimed."

A high-ranking official shook his head. "Half? I think it'll reach two-thirds. The guild bears Jolord's name; he might be Jolord's student.

Though Jolord studies synthetic beasts, many of his students excel in alchemical mechanics."

"One thousand magic crystals? I bet half."

"I'm in, two-thirds."

"I also bet half. The kid's too young, probably lacking knowledge."

...

As the corps' leadership placed bets, Richard completed the vehicle's adjustments.

With Richard's mind linked to the targeting system, the vehicle's twelve lightweight magic stone cannons began to move.

"Let's try three kilometers ahead again."

Richard adjusted the trajectory and pressed the button.

The leadership sensed the magic pulse, turning to watch the vehicle.

In the next moment, the sky lit up like fire.

In thirty seconds, 360 fireball spells hit the battlefield three kilometers away.

The leadership fell silent.

"It seems Vladimir wasn't exaggerating this time," a high-ranking official murmured. "Three hundred and sixty spells, no less."

The three corps commanders exchanged glances. Then Andre laughed.

"This kid's a match for me. He just made a quick buck off me, and now he's set to make a fortune."