Chapter 280: Chapter 249: Forced Mission and Ambush

In just a moment, the communication terminal refreshed a densely packed list of assigned tasks.

But what grabbed every wizard’s attention the most was the “compulsory task” highlighted at the top in scarlet letters:

[All wizards must comply with the command center’s requirements to set up “signal nodes” within the plane numbered 655-4488-32194158 (known as the Aerial Plane) to assist in mapping the interior of this plane.]

Below the task, there were many clauses and detailed requirements.

Jeming glanced over it briefly, and to sum up the requirements, all wizards like him who were searching outside now had to immediately return to the “Ship Plane” to receive the “signal marker” from logistics.

And during subsequent operations, they must forcibly deploy one every thousand kilometers according to the effective communication range of the “signal marker.”

Jeming read it twice carefully and felt that this compulsory task was within an acceptable range.

Besides requiring all wizards to abandon the advantageous areas they had painstakingly explored and return to the “Ship Plane,” which could cause some losses, the remaining requirements were not difficult.

Jeming remembered clearly that according to the contract signed with the Boundary Point, the chief commander of each plane warfare has the right to issue compulsory tasks but under very strict regulations.

Since this Seventh Level Grand Wizard Dionysius Spencer could issue this task, it indicated that he believed it was ultimately beneficial to the interests of all wizards present.

In fact, Jeming agreed with this perspective.

Although this rendered his exploration progress over the past half-month futile.

However, it was only a waste of about a dozen days.

Considering the benefits to everyone’s future actions after implementing this task, the loss was entirely acceptable.

Jeming calculated other factors slightly in his mind and couldn’t help but marvel at the cunning thoughtfulness of Wizard Dionysius Spencer.

Wizard Dionysius Spencer’s timing in issuing the task was subtle; most wizards exploring outward had probably reached the edge of signal communication with the “Ship Plane.”

Therefore, even without the Seventh Level Grand Wizard issuing the task, most wizards would soon return to the “Ship Plane” due to the risk of losing their way, updating maps, and resupplying.

In that case, this compulsory task wouldn’t be too troublesome for many wizards, just a convenient act.

The internal resistance would also be reduced considerably.

Jeming casually glanced through those ordinary other tasks.

Most tasks involved purchasing all sorts of special resources within the “Aerial Plane.”

Particularly the purchase of various exotic creatures, with a demand that seemed almost “unlimited.”

Although the rewards for these purchase tasks were relatively lower than selling those items back at the “Boundary Point,” they were convenient and fast.

For most wizards, it was a fairly suitable choice.

Adjusting his direction while flying quickly towards the “Ship Plane,” Jeming scrolled through the task list on the terminal.

Although these were just tasks, they actually revealed quite a bit of information about this expedition.

Suddenly, his gaze paused, and he furrowed his brows at a certain task on the screen.

[Emergency Task: Find the Lost Wizard.]

[Task Access Restriction: Only wizards of Third Level and above, skilled in “Space Element” knowledge, may participate.]

Due to his insufficient level, Jeming couldn’t see more detailed internal information on this task.

But just the title alone was enough to warrant careful consideration.

If it was just an ordinary “lost wizard,” it wouldn’t be a significant issue.

Considering how places like this, where it’s hard to determine direction, can easily result in getting lost outside the terminal’s signal range with a slight misstep.

But adding the task access restriction makes it much trickier.

“Did it run into a space-related problem causing the ’loss’? From this plane’s element distribution, it’s indeed something to watch out for…” Jeming couldn’t help but ponder.

The most widespread element on the “Aerial Plane” was undoubtedly the “Wind Element.”

In the wizard’s knowledge system, the “Wind Element” itself symbolized “space.”

Therefore, it’s highly possible there are significant unstable spatial currents within this plane.

If unlucky, one might even get swept into spatial currents that have self-contained cycles with no real exit.

Truly trapped in such a place, unless luck has someone discover and rescue you from outside, or you have the power to shatter space.

Otherwise, one would be trapped there for a lifetime!

“I’ve indeed overlooked this issue a bit. After returning, see if it’s possible to buy some witchcraft artifacts in the ’Ship Plane’ market that can stabilize local airspace or lock one’s spatial coordinates…”

While Jeming was in thought, a sudden chill ran down his spine, as a fatal sense of crisis surged from the depths of his soul like a volcanic eruption!

Yet, just as he sensed this danger signal, an attack had already landed silently and invisibly like a phantom!

This was a strike, a perfectly executed assassination.

Fast! Precise! Ruthless!

Moreover, silent!

The attack didn’t produce any energy fluctuations, no tearing shriek in the air, not even a hint of murderous intent was leaked.

It was like the fangs of a ghost, appearing out of thin air, directly targeting Jeming’s forehead!

At the instant when the invisible attack was about to touch Jeming’s skin, a layer of Energy Shield suddenly surfaced on Jeming’s body, which had always been kept at the lowest power and hidden.

Bang—!

A dull sound like the shattering of glass exploded beside Jeming’s ear!

Jeming’s pupils contracted abruptly.

He saw with his own eyes that the shield in front of him, capable of resisting the full power strike of a Second Level Wizard, unexpectedly appeared countless cracks like a spider web.

And relying on the energy reaction triggered when this Energy Shield was attacked, Jeming was barely able to see a vague, “cone” like object seeming to be made of transparent crystals, fiercely stabbing towards his face.

Fortunately, this suddenly surfaced Energy Shield bought Jeming that precious reaction time of a few fractions of a second.

Almost thoughtlessly relying on combat instincts, he swiftly dodged aside, barely evading the deadly strike!

The cone barely grazed past his cheek, and the aftershock even made his skin feel a sharp pain!

Jeming, in the instant of dodging the attack, strained to open his eyes wide and swiftly scanned the surroundings.

But… he found absolutely nothing of what had attacked him.

The opponent, apart from revealing a faintly visible crystal-like “cone” limb when contacting his Energy Shield for a moment, did not expose more in this world!

And after Jeming dodged, the thing dissipated completely into the air like ink dropped into water.

“Roar!!!”

Only then did the five Black Giants react.

They let out angry roars, their massive bodies immediately moving, encircling Jeming tightly to form a solid defensive ring.

Meanwhile, they vigilantly looked towards every inch of surrounding space.

Jeming didn’t have time to think further; instinctively, he first cast several Shields of different attributes on himself.

Then he immediately focused his mind into the Talisman Witchcraft on his wrist, starting to check the status of his “Eye of Scouting” and Five Elements Rainbow Transformation Mirror.

“Thermal imaging, vibration waves, sound waves, Soul monitoring, energy diffusion response, Life detection… damn it! Even with all scouting methods fully activated, no trace of the enemy?!”

Confirmed that his “Eye of Scouting” and Five Elements Rainbow Transformation Mirror had been operating normally, and at full power.

Chills ran through Jeming’s heart; so many scouting methods, yet nothing detected the enemy’s approach…

Just as Jeming confirmed this alarming fact, a lethal attack once again descended unheralded from above his head!

This time the attack still couldn’t be foreseen from any scouting method, of its origin.

And the damage it contained even turned more extreme than before!

Jeming had been cautiously casting up multiple Shields beforehand, yet in front of this attack, these Shields were as fragile as paper, virtually offering no protection, breaking in succession!

Luckily, Jeming had mentally prepared this time, immediately reacting.

He again narrowly dodged the fatal blow, only ending up with a deep wound on his left arm visible to the bone.

Though the attack was exceptionally fierce this time, Jeming instead revealed a cold smile.

He looked at his rapidly healing arm wound under the power of Body Refining Technique, having already guessed what method the opponent used for hiding.

“So, it’s a creature inherently skilled in ’Space Element’ abilities? Not in vain I used my arm to probe; this time… truly a big gain!”

From the wound, Jeming felt a familiar yet strange energy eroding his flesh.

Jeming recognized it as pure “Space Element” power!

It was “familiar” because he had devoted over ten years earnestly learning about “spatial rifts”.

“Strange” because until now, he still couldn’t truly manipulate even a thread of this mysterious power.

Clearly, the reason the opponent could shatter multiple Shields in one go was relying on this kind of “space” power that ignores most energy and physical defenses!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep