The Magic Empire for 20,000 years

Chapter 278 Abyss Pioneer Team
"According to the prophet Nora's calculations, the Abyss [Laughing Storm] will appear in 30 seconds!"

"All members of Pioneer Team No. 3, please plug your ears with earplugs to avoid being mentally disturbed by the insane laughter."

On the desolate plains illuminated by the blood-red sun.

John, a high-ranking human warrior, directed his teammates to put on the pre-prepared wax earplugs. They communicated with each other telepathically using the [Erian Mind Link] that they had previously activated.

A moment later, the invisible demon's laughter drifted in like a gentle breeze.

First, a soft, slight chuckle rang out, like an evil whisper tempting one to fall.

A few seconds later, the chuckles grew louder and louder, increasing to dozens, hundreds, and even thousands...

Even more so, a chorus of mad laughter echoed throughout the entire world!

The laughter shook the soul, tempted people to madness, tempted them to fall, and attracted all the otherworldly visitors who heard it to laugh along!
—An Abyss Curse equivalent to [Laughter]!

However, the dozen or so human members of the pioneering team were all wearing earplugs and were not affected at all.

As for the accompanying undead and two golems, as well as the high-ranking demons who were local creatures, they were naturally unafraid of such mental pollution.

After a short while, the maniacal, demonic laughter that seemed to echo through the heavens and earth gradually faded away, leaving only a few scattered chuckles.

"Okay, all clear."

High-ranking warrior John made a gesture and spoke through the telepathic link channel:
"Those who wish to remove their earplugs may do so. This will make it easier to notice any movement around them."

"It's fine if you don't want to pick them."

"According to the information provided by the native demons, the [Laughing Storm] appears quite frequently in the wasteland area below this stone mountain, so it's best to be a little cautious."

The pioneer team members nodded.

Faced with the supernatural [Laughter Storm] that had just struck, everyone remained calm and composed, showing no fear whatsoever, as if they had experienced something utterly ordinary.

Seeing how relaxed the members were, and in accordance with his duty as captain, John reminded them again:

"This place is, after all, a bottomless abyss, a chaotic, evil, insane, and dangerous place."

"In the process of expansion, we'd better remain absolutely vigilant!"

The team members nodded in unison, their expressions serious.
"No problem, Captain, we'll be just as serious as we were during the exercises back then!"

Hearing his teammates' answers, Captain John smiled with satisfaction.

Real combat should be approached with the same seriousness as drills!
Although it sounds a bit strange, it does show that once they actually reached the abyss, the environment they encountered was not as dangerous or difficult as they had imagined during the preparation phase of the expedition.

"That's good. It's normal for everyone to have such a positive attitude."

"It seems we are very well prepared."

"The three-year process of exploring the abyss went very smoothly, and we basically didn't encounter any unexpected events."

John thought with satisfaction.

He is an extremely rare seventh-tier high-level warrior in Eldoron, and one of the strongest warriors in the country.

The only downside is that in such a magical empire, melee classes like warriors and barbarians are ranked slightly lower than spellcasters of the same level.

John expressed his understanding of this.

Perhaps the warrior class is indeed excellent in combat.

However, spellcasters, especially mages, can also play a wide range of roles in fields such as production, construction, and scientific research outside of combat, which is beyond the reach of Muggles.

As a new generation warrior born in a village on the surface of the Empire for four years, John has witnessed the results of Eldoron's magical education and seen many different spells. He is quite envious of the spellcasters' abilities.

The only downside is that learning magic requires exceptional talent.

This not only requires intelligence, but also includes ethereal qualities such as "magical affinity".

In comparison, the warrior class has much lower requirements for talent.

Three years ago, John, a soldier, learned that "Eldorlon is about to expand its territory in the Abyss" and volunteered to participate in the pioneering plan.

The Abyss Expansion Project is a project whose direction was personally set and which His Majesty Elion attaches great importance to!

Simply by participating, one can gain tremendous honor, not to mention substantial rewards such as status and money.

Now, the "Pioneer Captain Medal" worn on John's chest allows this warrior, who was originally of lower status than spellcasters, to enjoy a privilege that many high-ranking mages cannot enjoy.

Last month, when I returned to my hometown, Horseshoe Town, everyone there heard about John's great achievements in exploring the Abyss, and not one of them failed to admire him.
"Have you heard? Our neighbor John is a super big shot now! He's the captain of a pioneering squad in the Eldoron Abyss Expeditionary Force." "The pioneering captain of the expeditionary force? That's amazing! He must have a bunch of mid-level fourth and fifth-ring mages under his command!"

"Yes, and as a meritorious contributor to the Abyss Expansion Project, the treatment and benefits are far superior to those of ordinary high-ranking warriors."

"However, exploring in the bottomless abyss must be very dangerous, right? It's only right that the treatment is good."

Is it dangerous?
John had initially thought that exploring such a legendary and terrifying dimension as the Abyss would be fraught with danger.

He participated in this glorious cause with an almost certain death and a willingness to sacrifice himself.

But in reality, the three-year pioneering journey went much more smoothly than John had imagined.

Indeed, the land of the abyss contains all sorts of supernatural and terrible disasters.

However, for the pioneering team, which had made thorough preparations in advance, it was nothing.

Like the previous "Laughter Storm," as long as you prepare earplugs in advance and know to plug your ears, it's not a threat at all.

Even if you are unfortunately affected, it's equivalent to being hit by a permanent version of the spell "Laughter," and you can't stop laughing, it doesn't matter.

Drinking 10 bottles of holy water that you carry with you, or casting the spell "Atonement" with the divine pendant "Sun Pendant" purchased from the Dwarven Kingdom, can directly purify this abyssal curse.

—The empire's preparations were far too thorough!

"Let's move forward."

"Today we are going to reach the snakewood forest on the other side of the mountain. Along the way, we will conduct mineral exploration and biological resource exploration."

John waved his hand, directing the team members behind him.

"No problem, Captain."

"For Eldoron!"

A dozen or so human team members, dozens of undead soldiers, as well as two enormous golems and two high-ranking demons, followed one after another.

—This kind of pioneering team is currently the standard team for Eldoron to carry out pioneering exploration and resource exploration in the bottomless abyss.

John's dozen or so pioneering team members are mages and sorcerers who are proficient in different schools of magic and specialize in different fields.

Among them are professional prophets, "soul sorcerers" with angelic blood who can resurrect teammates, and necromancers who are proficient in necromancy and skilled at strengthening undead soldiers.

The weakest member is at least at the fourth ring level, and there are even two high-level mages who have reached the sixth ring level.

In addition, there were two clay golems, two high-ranking demons controlled by [Otherworldly Oath], and dozens of undead soldiers equipped with cold iron weapons.

Such combat power is considered terrifying in the [Ten Thousand Abyss Plains].

Ordinary abyssal monsters should be avoided even from a distance.

Even against legendary enemies, they can hold their own for a while!

Even if the squad encounters a threat that it cannot handle, they can urgently contact the Abyss Base in Eldoron.

The legendary warriors of Eldoron, and even Emperor Elrian himself, will be teleported to their aid immediately!
"There is a thin cloud of mist ahead. According to intelligence, it may be a supernatural disaster unique to the Abyss called [Memory Cloud]."

"After inhaling this cloud, memories that are not one's own will appear in the brain. Professionals with insufficient mental strength will experience mental confusion for several days."

"Although the treatment is easy, it's advisable to avoid trouble by taking a different approach."

Captain John led the group around the thin fog.

…………

The pioneering team, advancing across the howling winds of the wilderness, was unaware that—

On a distant hillside, a group of demons were watching them.

"Your Excellency [Lady of Transformation], [Demon Princess] Artina, we have successfully located the pioneering team of Eldoron."

Artina, a lesser lord with the form of an elegant humanoid woman, reddish-brown skin, and wearing an alabaster mask, had a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth beneath the mask:

"it is good."

"Wait until I seal off spatial teleportation and block communication magic."

"Then, grab them!"

(End of this chapter)