Wizard + System

CH197

Asna looked up sharply at the sound, seeing the ring in Helag's hand. She couldn't understand Parker's voice but realized someone was giving Helag orders. Helag was so powerful, yet someone could still command him!

Moreover, Helag's words echoed in her mind: "I don't have the ability to save them." She suddenly realized that the force behind Helag was more terrifying than she had imagined. If Helag couldn't save them, it meant someone far stronger was orchestrating this massacre.

"Asna, you're not allowed to reveal anything about my bloodline to anyone," Helag ordered, feeling uneasy. Helag's Thunder Ancestor bloodline was something even Parker hadn't detected. Without activating his bloodline mark, he appeared no different from an ordinary wizard. This was a key reason for keeping Asna.

Parker, a third-level wizard, hadn't noticed Helag's bloodline power, so how could a third-level wizard apprentice like Asna? Helag was curious and planned to investigate further, but only after returning to the wizard plane.

At Base 27, surrounded by powerful wizards and magical arrays, any unusual actions would be detected. He had to keep his secrets hidden, focusing on training without showing anything out of the ordinary.

Asna nodded, "Yes, Master." She gleaned some information from Helag's command: his bloodline power was a secret, even unknown to his backers. This revelation sparked many thoughts in Asna's mind. To her, Helag seemed god-like, yet his magical aura was only at a mid-level spellcaster's level. It was a contradiction. Why would someone with such a powerful bloodline disguise themselves as an ordinary spellcaster? Helag must be hiding more secrets.

Asna quickly dismissed these thoughts, realizing they were irrelevant to her uncertain future. She didn't know that Helag's bloodline was indeed powerful but only usable in the Abyss Plane. The stronger the power, the more it was suppressed by the world's will in other planes.

A common Abyss creature would face little suppression in the Elven or Wizard Planes, but Helag's high-ranking bloodline was heavily suppressed, preventing normal activation.

Hearing a noise behind Helag, Asna turned to see a man and a woman approaching. Reese glanced at Asna, then reported to Helag, "We've finished on our side. Parker wants us back."

"Alright, let's go," Helag nodded. David and Reese looked at Asna but ignored her as they turned to leave. Asna gasped; both were mid-level spellcasters with strong magical auras, seemingly Helag's subordinates.

Asna followed Helag silently, pushing aside her negative emotions and making a new decision: I must survive. I must become stronger.

Asna had never craved power so intensely. If she were strong enough, Sadi and the others wouldn't have died. If she were strong enough, she wouldn't be at the mercy of others, unable to resist. She realized these people were incredibly powerful, and joining their ranks might offer her access to great power.

Asna believed her talent rivaled anyone's. If these two could become powerful mid-level spellcasters, so could she, and she could go even further.

More importantly, Helag, who signed the master-servant contract with her, was a god-like being in disguise. Asna saw this as an opportunity. To grow stronger, she needed Helag. She didn't know his plans, but staying by his side would eventually present opportunities to gain strength. From that moment, Asna tied her fate to Helag's.

Helag, unaware of Asna's thoughts, returned to Base 27 with David and Reese. Others gradually arrived, appearing relaxed, having easily dealt with the adventurers. Helag even noticed a bald wizard with a voluptuous woman dressed as an adventurer. The bald wizard grinned at Helag, indicating the woman was his prize, likely a result of boredom at Base 27.

Parker didn't care who you brought back, as long as they didn't leave. Inside the base, you could do as you pleased. Asna saw the woman, covering her mouth in shock. She recognized her as a well-known adventurer, a knight-level assassin. Though still breathing, her future seemed grim. Asna glanced at Helag's back, worried. If Helag wanted to do something to her, she was powerless.

An hour later, Cain was the last to return. Many gathered in the base's square, with Parker at the center. Cain reported, "All traces have been cleared."

Parker nodded, "Good. After eliminating these adventurers, stronger forces may come. Be prepared." Parker had anticipated the consequences of wiping out the adventurers. Their disappearance would surely attract more powerful investigators.

But Parker and Base 27 were unfazed. They just needed time. When they finally faced the elves, Base 27 would be ready to strike, no longer needing to hide.

Asna stood behind Helag, observing the mid-level, high-level, and even stronger spellcasters around her. Some had magical power far surpassing high-level spellcasters. She felt dizzy, wondering why so many powerful beings gathered in the Lim Mountains. She didn't understand the wizard plane's language, unable to follow their discussions.

CH198

Asna could sense that this group was planning something significant. Inside Base 27, she saw many high-energy facilities, filled with devices brimming with magical energy. Yet, she didn't recognize any of them.

Looking around, Asna felt puzzled. "It seems there's no one stronger than Lord Helag here…"

To Asna, if Helag unleashed his true bloodline power, he could single-handedly annihilate everyone present. This convinced her that Helag was hiding his strength for a reason.

After Parker finished speaking, he glanced around and said, "Anyone who captured spellcasters or prisoners, please register them. You can sell spellcasters to me or keep them. Remember, no prisoners can leave the base."

"It's best to sign a master-servant contract. If you don't have one, you can buy it from me."

In the wizard plane, capturing prisoners and taking elf maidens as servants was common at various bases.

After registering Asna with the base's population manager, Helag took her to his room.

"You know the rules. Don't even think about leaving here, understand?" Helag warned.

Asna nodded, "Understood, Master."

***

The next day, Helag, David, and Reese were stationed in the hidden forest within the Lim Mountains. They had only eliminated the first wave of adventurers yesterday. Based on the information gathered, more adventurers were expected in the coming days. They needed to remain hidden throughout the Lim Mountains, ready to eliminate any who entered.

The adventurers' only chance was to turn back at the entrance without entering. After sunrise, more adventurers arrived, unaware of last night's events or the danger lurking. Dozens entering the Lim Mountains was like a drop in the ocean, unnoticed.

Today's adventurers were fewer, mostly those who had arrived the previous day. The newcomers had likely seen the mission after returning from outside.

Helag watched a group of seven enter a valley. Leading them was a great knight with a large sword, followed by two knight-level members and four ordinary individuals. Among adventurers, this was a strong team, but weak compared to Helag.

Standing up and stretching, Helag said, "Time to get to work. It's been a while since I stretched my muscles."

"I can handle it," David offered.

Helag shook his head, "I'll do it. It's been too long since I had some action."

"Absolute Defense."

A multicolored shield appeared around Helag.

"Blood Bull's Wrath!"

Helag smeared blood on his palm, casting various enhancement spells on himself.

"Giant's Body!"

Helag's body rapidly expanded, his clothes shredding, leaving him naked.

"So big!" Reese blushed, unable to look away.

"Dark Armor!"

A black mist enveloped Helag, forming a glistening black armor on his body. Now over three meters tall, Helag, clad in black armor, exuded an oppressive presence.

"Keep watch here. I'm going down for some action."

Helag glanced at the group in the distance and strode towards them.

In the valley, an assassin asked, "Williams, why haven't we seen anyone else? Weren't there many here yesterday?"

Leading with a large sword, Williams replied, "The Lim Mountains are vast. It's normal not to encounter others. We need to hurry; those who arrived earlier might have found clues."

The assassin twirled a dagger, "No worries. If someone found clues, we'll just take them."

With a great knight and two knight-level members, they had confidence. As long as they didn't encounter spellcasters, they could handle anything. Ordinary adventurer teams were lucky to have one knight-level member. They had two, plus a great knight.

Williams shook his head, "I don't think it's that simple. We can't be careless."

"With you here, who can stop your sword?" Williams' teammate reassured him.

In past adventures, Williams was nearly invincible. He'd once slain a spellcaster with his sword, even though the spellcaster was already injured. That battle made him famous.

Williams remained serious. Since entering the Lim Mountains, something felt off. His great knight instincts sensed lurking danger, so he stayed cautious.

He checked the map; after the valley, they'd reach the patrol area.

"Let's hurry to the patrol area," Williams instructed, pocketing the map.

The group quickened their pace, aiming to cross the valley swiftly.

"Since you're here, don't leave," a deep voice called out.

A giant in black armor emerged ahead.

Seeing Helag, Williams' heart trembled. A sense of impending death surged, nearly overwhelming him. As a great knight, his senses were sharp, giving him a direct impression of Helag's power.

The others, however, were merely wary of Helag's imposing figure, unaware of his true strength.

"We have no quarrel with you," Williams said, adjusting his stance, not daring to draw his sword. He sensed that drawing his sword would mean death.

Helag nodded, "No quarrel, but I don't need a reason to crush a few ants."

"Arrogant!" the assassin snapped.

Ants? Us?

How arrogant could this man be?