Chapter 794: Chapter 780: The Dwarfs’ Decisive Weapon

The border between Fungus Castle and the Empire.

Due to the impact of the mist surging from the direction of the Empire, the fungal mat in this area was devoured in patches, rendering it nearly useless for surveillance.

On a relatively intact fungal mat, the Sword Saint Puki, having just replenished his magic power, slowly rose, the mycelium connected to the mushroom body breaking off one by one behind him.

The Sword Saint habitually spread his perception, finding not a single living soul around.

He already knew about the situation with the Dwarves. His view was quite similar to the leader’s; the Empire would likely seize this opportunity to attack Fungus Castle, putting it at risk from three sides, facing its greatest crisis since its rise.

However, the reality was somewhat different from what they had imagined.

The impact from the mist grew more intense each time, but after he repelled the mist for the third time, the intervals between subsequent mist impacts became progressively longer, clearly entering a retreating phase, yet there was no movement from the Empire.

Did an unexpected event occur within the Empire preventing them from seizing this opportunity, or did they have other plans?

Unable to figure it out, the Sword Saint could only focus on the present as the mist approached again.

A vast expanse of white surrounded him, and the Sword Saint skillfully wrapped his tendril around the sword hilt, maintaining a battle-ready stance, waiting for the mist to complete the scene setup.

But this time, the scene before him left the Sword Saint slightly stunned.

The familiar deep area of the Pujie Dungeon.

However, the fragmented barren cavern of the fungal mat and the immense spatial rift stretching in front indicated it was the dungeon core point during the time he led the team there.

"Is it really this scene... I wonder whether this core is Puki or Chis this time..."

From the distant passage, came the sounds of numerous "Puki", as the Sword Saint slowly drew his longsword.

No matter where the core is, cutting everything he sees is always correct.

However, at the last moment, the Sword Saint seemed to suddenly think of something.

He quickly threw down four longswords, then buried himself entirely in a pile of dirt, waiting for the Puki army to pass over him, after which he quietly emerged and blended into the Puki team.

Miraculously, the Puki seemed not to notice an outsider among them, continuing their advance along the predetermined route.

The illusion realm created by the mist probably didn’t consider the possibility that even the race had changed.

Of course, mixing in like this could only delay time; any active attack would still expose him.

The Sword Saint’s purpose wasn’t to navigate the mist itself but to satisfy his curiosity.

He had pondered countless times, what exactly the leader was?

Is it the fungal mat itself? Or some Puki? Or maybe a human, elf, or demon race controlling everything from the shadows through the fungal mat?

But one thing could be certain, if there really was a physical form, it would definitely be within the fungal mat’s range, a necessity for connecting the fungal network.

Yet even knowing this was useless, as the fungal mat now almost covers the entire world. Searching for something uncertain within the world’s vast reach, topping the surveillance power of the fungal network is undoubtedly a naive delusion.

However, at this time point, the fungal mat only exists within the dungeon range, possibly suggesting there might be a chance to find that potential physical form?

Blending into the Puki group, the Sword Saint quietly spread his perception.

Hoping the mist scene would restore details he hadn’t noticed before...

...

The Empire’s lack of immediate coordination with the mist and Dwarves to attack Fungus Castle somewhat surprised Lin Jun, though it didn’t cause Lin Jun to relax defense arrangements in the Empire’s direction.

Not only the Sword Saint, Number Four, Norris Jida team, but even Little Pig, who was commanding operations against the Dwarves himself, stationed at Dragon Horn Castle to respond to possible threats from the Empire.

The pressure from the Dwarves wasn’t significant; Lin Jun primarily dispatched the Mushroom Transformers team. It seemed both sides were fighting fiercely, but the losses on the Fungus Castle side were actually very low.

Number Ten also performed excellently, managing to suppress Bado, the inept dwarf easily enchanted. If not for the Black Steel Clan’s general bringing personal soldiers to aid earlier, Number Ten might have left Bado behind.

Strangely, Lin Jun felt somewhat peculiar about Bado, even though he didn’t have any mycelium on him.

Currently, there’s no time to research this trivial matter; resolving the spirit field on the Dwarves’ side is the top priority.

Winning the defensive battle against the Dwarves is not difficult for Lin Jun; it’s what comes after that’s challenging.

If the spirit field isn’t resolved, Fungus Castle would either station a permanent army at the mountains’ border to guard against the Dwarves or directly invade the mountains to completely solve the dwarf problem.

The latter seems more permanent, yet not easily achievable.

The fact is, the Puki forces still overly rely on the fungal mat.

The Treemen of the Elf Forest can solve the fungal network extension issue, but elves evidently unlikely to support Fungus Castle in a war against the mountains, can’t go fighting the elves just to bring out the Treemen, can they?

And the earnest strategy of laying fungal mats for advancement, the marching speed is much slower, during which the Empire might stir up unforeseen issues.

The best method is still to disable the spirit field, then using the momentum of "saving" the mountains, completely reverse the reputation of mycelium among the dwarves, achieving peaceful assimilation is the most steady approach.

Fortunately, the Yellow-covered Book, as a colleague, seems capable of analyzing the source direction within the opponent’s spirit field range.

The only problem is the dwarves’ army blocking the way.

So, the current goal is to completely rout the dwarves’ army!

...

The dead Mushroom Transformers emerged from the fungal mat once more, with the white mass of the Puki army reappearing outside the dwarf encampment.

Under the nervous watch of Bado and the other dwarves, Number Ten hovered at the front of the formation, extending eighteen tendrils to touch the surrounding fungal mat.

Vast magic power began to converge at the top of Number Ten’s mushroom cap through these mycelium tendrils, forming a massive lightning ball that instilled fear in all the spellcasters present who could sense its terrifying force.

Lin Jun looked at the lightning ball with a sense of familiarity, reminiscent of the one Number Ten encountered during its "transcend tribulation" after emerging from the Super Magic Library.

Was this learned after analysis?

Though close, it was still missing a little bit, but it was enough to deal with these dwarves.

Clearly, Number Ten wanted to blast open a breakthrough directly.

The dwarves naturally wouldn’t sit idly by.

Bado roared in anger, leading a team of elite soldiers charging from the flank straight towards Number Ten.

What he faced was the countless Puki under Number Ten’s feet.

The round Puki cared not for their life and death, even if they accidentally hurt other Puki, they would try their best to hold him back for a moment longer.

Bureta, the patriarch of the Zafa clan, stood on the high ground at the back and could no longer care about the planned timing, turning her head to shout:

"Quick, activate that thing!"

Three coffin-like metal blocks were pushed onto the high ground.

They were longer than coffins, their shells had a dark iron-gray color, connecting to countless magic conduits on the back, as thick as an arm, with runes flowing on the surface, corresponding to the dormant patterns on the coffins.

Bureta waved her hand, the magic power began to surge within the pipes, drawing vast energy from the magic power pool at the back, pouring into the coffins, and the runes on top lit up one by one!

The sudden emergence of a high magic reaction naturally caught Number Ten’s attention; its mushroom cap slightly turned, and the lightning ball about to shoot out changed direction, targeting the high ground where Bureta was located.

"Don’t even think about it!" Surrounded by Puki, Bado disregarded his own safety and let go of his battle axe, spinning as it chopped towards Number Ten.

Number Ten remained motionless, and the moment the battle axe struck it, its figure shattered and dissipated like an image in water.

The light in the air distorted, and Number Ten reappeared three meters away.

Bado realized he had been deceived, but it was too late to stop once again.

Finally, the lightning ball detached from Number Ten’s mushroom cap and shot out.

Wherever it passed, electric arcs flickered, the ground’s broken stones floated automatically beneath it, and when swept into its edge, turned to powder, even other spells cast by the dwarves were completely negated and swallowed, unable to hinder it in the slightest.

Just when the dwarf soldiers sank into despair, one of the coffin lids fell to the ground, a phantom rushed out from the coffin, diving headlong into the center of the lightning ball.

The lightning ball shrank violently, all its brilliance, electric arcs, and destructive energy compressed to the extreme, then exploded fiercely.

The sweeping electric arcs scorched the high ground, plowing dark grooves in the ground, causing heavy casualties to those misfortunate enough to be affected, including mages who raised shields.

The power was immense, yet it fell short of the effect Number Ten intended to achieve.

More crucially...

Before the electric arc dispersed, the previous phantom appeared before Number Ten, carrying with it the electric arc.

That was a metal golem embedded with S-Class Demon Crystals, with light flowing through the gaps in its armor, like a set of armor breathing.

It had no flesh, no face, only two slender slits on its helmet mask from which the glow of magic power emanated.

Sharp foot blades sliced through the air, charging straight at Number Ten.

The ferocious wind lifted Number Ten, causing it to float back, evading the golem’s attack.

"Combat Puppet?"

Number Ten seemed to realize something, looking towards the mountaintop where the three metal coffins had already opened two, the second coffin was now empty as well.

The second combat puppet appeared behind Number Ten, and in the nick of time, Number Ten awkwardly manipulated the wind to blow itself downward to dodge the attack.

Boom, boom, boom—

A coarse, big hand reached out amidst the self-destruction of Puki below, grabbing at the falling Number Ten.

"Gotcha!" A battered Bado did not hesitate, grabbing Number Ten and hurling it fiercely to the ground, the tremendous impact directly smashed a hundred-meter wide crater.

In the center of the crater, the shattered mushroom body of Number Ten attempted to gather magic power again with its two remaining tendrils, but the two combat puppets were already beside it.

Hssss—

Number Ten’s shattered mushroom cap flew far away, rolling a few turns on the ground before stopping.

"Done... killed it!"

"That Magic Puki is dead!"

"Charge!"

Intense cheers erupted in the position, the dwarves buoyed by morale charged out of their positions, rushing towards the mass of Puki to support the hero Bado!

Losing their high-tier combat power, the remaining Mushroom Transformers tenaciously fought but were eventually wiped out by the counter-charging dwarves, only a few managed to retreat through the underground tunnels.

Standing amidst the scattered mycelium blocks, the cheers of the dwarves echoed across the wilderness!

After this victory, the Fungus Castle’s position had to retreat, while the dwarves continued clearing the fungal mat, steadily advancing their fortifications.

Until the third day, like an ordinary mushroom, Number Ten brought the Puki army back to the front of the two armies once again...

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