Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

Boom!

A slash mark appeared on the tunnel wall, but nothing else happened.

Seeing this, the two-star warrior insect shook its antennae and quickly left the tunnel.

"Seems like I've been a bit paranoid lately."

The inspection ended swiftly, as each insect had a specific area to patrol, and these areas weren't particularly large.

In the mucus-coated tunnel, Richard's cleanliness obsession left no trace for the Black Crystal Insects to find.

After the search, the warrior insects returned to their posts, continuing to guard their designated areas.

Emerging from the shadows, Richard appeared slowly.

Looking at the slash mark less than ten centimeters from him, Richard's heart pounded.

If that strike had been just a little closer, he would have been exposed.

"These insects have such sharp instincts. Shadow merging isn't infallible; I need to be more cautious."

Descending further through the tunnel, Richard soon reached the upper level of the underground hive.

The defenses in the underground hive were not as tight as those above. Vast areas were guarded by just one or two warrior insects, with most of the hive's forces deployed above to counter the wizards.

Finding a small, secluded chamber, Richard released Ulysses from his pouch.

"Caw, finally out."

Ulysses flapped his wings, taking a lap around the chamber.

"Caw, why are we down here again? I've had enough of this wretched place."

"Mission. How's your recovery lately?" Richard asked calmly.

After two years of battling insects underground, Richard had gathered a significant amount of priest fungus. These fungi had some healing effect on Ulysses' injuries, so he had given them all to Ulysses.

"Caw, not bad. Those fungi are somewhat effective. My injuries have improved a bit. At this rate, the fungi might restore me to mid-level standard for a second-tier creature. Currently, I'm at the peak of a first-tier creature."

As he spoke, Ulysses ignited with black flames, his energy aura formidable.

Richard nodded. As long as the fungi were effective, it was good. The more Ulysses' soul injuries healed, the more methods Richard could employ, ensuring greater safety in dangerous situations.

His only task was to maintain a balance, preventing Ulysses' power from surpassing his control.

Using the microwave revealing crystal ball, Richard surveyed the surrounding terrain to determine his target.

There were three primary targets within the hive: food storage, hatching pools, and weapon depots.

Food storage was crucial. While first-tier creatures could sustain basic activities by absorbing ambient energy, combat was another matter.

Wizards needed magic stones to replenish mana, while the insects relied on food to restore energy and stamina.

Destroying a food storage was akin to eradicating a wizard's magic stone supply—a significant impact.

Then there were the hatching pools. Black Crystal Insects didn't reproduce sexually like typical creatures. Instead, the mother insect laid eggs, which priest insects distributed to various hatching pools for incubation.

These pools were often located at leyline nodes, filled with liquid rich in life-active substances and magic.

For wizards, hatching pools held great value both strategically and personally.

Lastly, the weapon depots. According to intelligence from earlier infiltrating Black Wizards, the Black Crystal Insects' strategic weapon, the Mother God Cannon, was stored in these depots. However, these depots were heavily guarded, with Mother Insect Guards and priest insects, making destruction nearly impossible for ordinary Black Wizards.

Soon, the revealing crystal ball projected a map of the nearby terrain.

Using the map, Richard began exploring the surrounding environment.

The underground hive's structure was relatively simple, centered around a settlement with surrounding fungal fields. Small settlements were clustered around larger ones. Thus, finding a small settlement could lead to a larger one, revealing key targets like food storage or hatching pools.

However, putting this approach into practice revealed its challenges.

The most significant challenge was the maze-like tunnels. Though the crystal ball could map them, the convoluted paths looked like a tangled mess on the map, giving Richard the feeling of an electrician in India.

Additionally, these tunnels were frequently patrolled by insects that weren't warrior insects but were equally threatening.

Using invisibility, Richard captured one for dissection, discovering its highly developed vocal apparatus. If it raised an alarm, warrior insects within kilometers would be alerted. Moreover, this insect secreted a pheromone that left a trail, making it difficult to shake off pursuit if contaminated.

Lastly, small settlements always housed insects—anywhere from one or two to over a dozen. While Richard wasn't afraid of them in combat, he was deep behind enemy lines.

Leaving fewer traces was paramount.

Although the swarm's elites were weak compared to wizards of the same level, they posed a threat.

Considering these factors, Richard's infiltration mission became extremely challenging.

In the initial phase, progress was slow, with frequent slip-ups. Fortunately, these were minor, and with Ulysses' help in covering them up, Richard managed to explore steadily.

Six months later, Richard lay in a narrow tunnel, eyes alight as he gazed at the chamber ahead.

The chamber was vast, filled with large glowing fungi, where cultivator insects busily worked, occasionally visited by warrior insects traveling to other settlements.

At the chamber's deepest point sat a small, stone-built pool, steaming continuously.

Brimming with bright red, scalding liquid, it exuded a vigorous life force in the air with each burst bubble.

This was Richard's target—the hatching pool.

To reach this point, Richard had spent three months surveying the surrounding area, mapping all chambers within a twenty-kilometer radius to determine potential insect reinforcements.

Now, the time to act had come.

With his cloak wrapped tightly, Richard slipped from the tunnel like a shadow, cautiously entering the chamber.

Richard had already assessed the chamber's defenses: thirty warrior insects and ten Spider Knights. Within ten kilometers, only fifty warrior insects could reinforce the chamber, arriving in waves. The first wave, numbering twelve, would arrive in two minutes if nothing went wrong.

Thus, Richard needed to destroy the hatching pool and escape within two minutes, evading numerous insects while covering his tracks to ensure safety.

Clearly, this was impossible for a first-circle wizard like Richard.

Therefore, Richard devised a clever plan.

Buzz!

An inaudible soundwave rippled through the chamber, startling the settlement's warrior insects.

A black-armored warrior insect dashed from the fungal chamber, its sharp cry echoing throughout the chamber.

"A wizard creature spotted! Leave a third of the insects; the rest, follow me to support. We must sacrifice that wizard creature to the Mother Insect God this time!"

Five kilometers from the settlement, a black-robed figure rampaged through the tunnel, slaughtering alarm insects.

"Caw, the thrill of slaughter is delightful."

Beneath the robe, Ulysses laughed, spewing annihilating flames with unrestrained energy.

In its wake, a squad of warrior insects blocked the tunnel. The lead warrior insect shouted at Ulysses, "Wizard creature! Today, I'll take your head for the Mother Insect God!"

Before it finished, the black-robed figure swept past, engulfing it and three warrior insects in a sea of black flames.

Watching the writhing insects in the flames, Ulysses pecked a charred insect leg into his mouth.

"Caw, roasted, these insects aren't bad."

Listening to the incessant hum of insects in the tunnel, Ulysses chewed, speaking with a mouthful.

"Caw, I've made enough noise. That kid... should manage."

Meanwhile, the settlement's insects were ready. At the black-armored warrior insect's command, they took flight, speeding into the tunnel.

"Half left, not bad."

In the shadows, Richard murmured as he observed the departing insects.

Using the Cloak of Shadows and his bloodline's Shadow Step, Richard had infiltrated the settlement, now only two to three hundred meters from the hatching pool.

Gazing at the steaming pool and the eggs floating within, Richard felt a surge of excitement.

The pool's liquid was rich in life-active substances, enhancing constitution with prolonged use. The immature eggs made excellent specimens, allowing wizards to delve deeper into the Black Crystal Insectoid species.

With two-thirds of the defense forces gone, the settlement's defenses were lax.

Richard silently circled to the rear of the hatching pool. Two Spider Knights should have guarded this spot, but with reinforcements needed, the area was temporarily unguarded, only patrolled intermittently.

Seizing the opportunity, Richard poked a hole in the pool with his staff, collecting about ten kilograms of liquid and two eggs, then planted two timed obliteration bombs.

Withdrawing as quietly as he'd arrived, Richard left the chamber.

Not long after Richard's departure, two patrolling insects arrived at the hatching pool's rear.

"Think we'll catch the wizard creature this time?"

"Who knows? These wizard creatures are as sly as reptiles. I doubt it."

"Yeah, true. Hey, what's that hole by the pool? Let's check—"

Boom!

Richard watched quietly as the obliteration bombs detonated, then turned to leave.

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