SWDnovel Chapter 24 Black Forest Gray Tower Outpost
Chapter 24 Black Forest Gray Tower Outpost
Luo Lin spent 3,000 contribution points to buy a slightly larger dimensional bag, enough to hold all the supplies he might need for the next ten years.
I spent another 2,000 contribution points to buy several life-saving scrolls, including a mid-level elemental shield and a short-range random teleport scroll.
The latter is extremely expensive, but it might save his life in a critical moment.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the laboratory, Rolin mass-produced his commonly used [Stamina Recovery Potion] and [Secondary Mental Boiling Potion], and attempted to improve it into a new type of mental potion with stronger effects and fewer side effects.
In addition, he used Dark Gold Wood and an improved nourishing array to accelerate the growth of a batch of commonly used magical plants, and collected and preserved them.
In terms of magic, he focused on improving the stability and power of the [Acid Erosion Ray] and further optimized the energy distribution of the [Weak Force Field Armor] to make it more protective.
He also practiced the "Gentle Breeze Cleanses Dust" technique until he became even more proficient.
Finally, Rowling went to the academy's alchemy workshop and used his remaining contribution points and some materials to enchant the bone dagger, making it sharper and adding a slight armor-piercing effect.
Three months flew by in the midst of intense preparations.
The departure notice was finally issued.
Luo Lin was assigned to the third batch and will depart in three days.
He bid farewell to Wizards Eric and Stone, both of whom gave him some practical advice and a small amount of resources.
He also briefly said goodbye to Lina, Buck, and other apprentices he knew.
Standing in front of the stone house he was about to leave, Roland did one last check of his dimensional bag.
Sufficient medicines, materials, scrolls, food, water, tools, books, notes... everything was ready.
Luo Lin took a deep breath, his eyes calm and resolute.
His ten-year career in the Black Forest will be a comprehensive test of all his past achievements, as well as a path to promotion fraught with unknowns and dangers.
Without lingering, Luo Lin strode towards the meeting point, his figure gradually disappearing into the morning mist of the academy.
……
The journey to the Black Forest front was long and tedious.
The third batch, to which Rolin belonged, was led by a taciturn, peak-level third-class apprentice, and they rode in a caravan of ground-walking lizards tamed by the academy and covered in heavy bone armor.
After passing through the Karugsha Highlands where the Shadow Raven Holy Tower Academy is located, the landscape gradually becomes lush and green.
But a faint, decaying, and wild energy began to permeate the air, indicating that they were approaching the vast and dangerous area known as the Black Forest.
After nearly a month of trekking, the convoy arrived at its destination.
Seventh Outpost, Gray Tower!
The Grey Tower was not the solitary tower that Rowling had imagined.
Instead, it was a small cluster of fortresses built against steep cliffs.
The main building is a tall tower built of dark gray stone, its body covered with traces of battle and reinforced metal supports.
Scattered around the tower are some relatively low stone houses, warehouses, and simple walls enclosed by thick wooden stakes.
The entire outpost was shrouded in a thin, constantly flowing energy membrane, which was the outpost's protective array.
The atmosphere at the outpost was completely different from that at the college.
The atmosphere here is more rugged and cold; everyone is in a hurry, their faces bearing the marks of long-term vigilance and wariness.
In addition to the moisture of the forest, the air was filled with the smell of blood, medicine, and metal rubbing together.
The new apprentices, including Rolin, were quickly gathered and assigned to various positions by one of the outpost's leaders.
He was assigned to a patrol team, mainly responsible for the daily patrol and guard duties of the designated area outside the outpost.
They also need to participate in the maintenance of outpost defenses and the handling of materials.
The accommodation arranged for Rowling was a small, dark stone house with nothing but a stone bed and a table, much worse than the conditions at the academy.
However, Rowling did not complain. He quickly adapted and took out the necessary items and put them away.
The next day, Rowling began his first patrol.
His patrol squad consisted of five men. The leader was a burly third-class apprentice named Holm, who had been there for three years. The other three were also senior apprentices.
The patrol area is located to the east of the outpost, in a dimly lit woodland with twisted trees.
Holm was experienced and made very little noise while moving, constantly observing his surroundings and reminding everyone to be careful of potential traps on the ground and poisonous insects lurking in the trees.
"Pay attention to the color of the moss under your feet. Don't step on the dark or purplish ones, as they may be corrosive."
"Watch out for any movement in the tree canopy; shadow claw monkeys like to ambush from above."
"Immediately raise an alarm if you hear any unusual rustling sounds."
Luo Lin silently noted down these insights, keeping his mental energy focused outwards as he sensed his surroundings.
He could sense that the forest was filled with a chaotic energy field, completely different from the orderly energy environment of the academy.
Maintaining the [Weak Force Field Armor] here consumes significantly more resources.
The first patrol did not encounter any monsters, but found a few traces of what appeared to be small monster activity, and successfully avoided a natural poisonous miasma area.
But the pervasive sense of oppression and the underlying sense of crisis made Rowling deeply realize the difference between the front lines and the academy.
In the days that followed, Rolin gradually became familiar with the rhythm of the patrols and the environment around the Black Forest.
He used his abilities cautiously.
He demonstrated exceptional handling skills when dealing with materials collected from the forest and containing pollution or environmental energy, delivered by some outposts.
He quickly made a good impression on the logistics staff.
Occasionally, when encountering lone low-level monsters during patrols, such as Rotten Poison Wolves or Spiny Boars, he can calmly use [Acid Splash] and [Mage Hand] to quickly eliminate them in coordination with his teammates, demonstrating solid combat skills.
About two months later, during a routine patrol, Rowling's squad discovered an unusual trace.
On the trunks of several ancient trees, there are clear holes corroded by some kind of acidic liquid, and scattered around are some scales that emit a faint glow.
"It's a Netherscale Python!"
"And judging from the corrosion marks and the size of the scales, it's probably a large creature nearing maturity!"
Captain Holm crouched down and examined the area carefully before his expression turned serious.
"These things usually live deeper in the forest, how did they get out onto the outskirts?"
He immediately sent one of his team members back to the outpost to report the situation, while he, along with Rolin and two other team members, carefully followed the trail.
After tracking for about a mile, the trail disappeared in front of a cave half-hidden by vines.
The cave entrance emitted a faint fishy smell and an unsettling energy fluctuation.
"We can't go any deeper."
Holm stopped in his tracks.
"The situation inside is unclear; we're waiting for reinforcements from the outpost..."
Just then, a sickeningly loud scraping sound came from inside the cave.
Immediately, a python head, as thick as a bucket and covered in dark scales, suddenly emerged from the cave entrance. Its cold, vertical pupils locked onto the people outside, and its scarlet tongue flickered, emanating a pressure that carried a sour, putrid stench.
"Prepare for battle!"
Holm let out a low growl, and an earthy yellow light rose from his body, instantly forming a thick stone shield in front of him.
The other two team members also cast spells; one conjured a fireball in his hand, while the other began chanting, preparing a binding spell.
The Darkscale Python was incredibly fast. With a nimble twist of its massive body, it lunged at the apprentice holding the fireball, accompanied by a foul stench, while simultaneously spewing out a stream of dark green acid.
The apprentice was clearly inexperienced and panicked in the face of such a swift attack. He hastily fired a fireball, but the monstrous python nimbly dodged it, and the acid was about to drench him.
Just then, Rowling moved.
Instead of attacking the Darkscale Python's hard head, he instantly unleashed the [Acid Erosion Ray] that he had prepared beforehand.
The target was the relatively fragile tissue inside the gaping maw of the Darkscale Python!
puff!
The slender, dark green rays, launched later but arriving first, precisely entered the mouth of the Scaled Python.
"hiss!!!"
The Scaled Python let out a painful and angry hiss, interrupting its acid-spitting action.
Its massive body writhed violently in agony, crashing against the surrounding trees and making them rustle.
Holm seized the opportunity, roared, and slammed his stone shield into the side of the Darkscale Python, causing it to stagger.
The other apprentice's binding spell was finally completed, and several thick vines broke through the ground and wrapped around the body of the Netherscale Python.
Rolin didn't stop; he knew that although the [acid ray] hit a vital spot, it wasn't enough to kill.
He quickly switched back to the normal [Acid Splash] and fired several precise shots at the relatively thin-scaled abdomen of the vine-bound Scaled Python.