Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 231 Forced Intrusion
The group began searching through the night for the entrance to the Curse Spell Research Institute at the heart of the city-state of Corinth.

They began to meticulously search every detail of the castle, fearing that it might be the entrance to the research institute for cursed spells.

Locke also began using the spell to summon tomb spirits, creating two invisible tomb spirits that wandered around the castle, searching for the entrance.

He is now becoming more and more proficient in using the Tomb Spirit Summoning spell model, so much so that he can summon two invisible Tomb Spirits at the same time, performing the task of reading the Modo language twice simultaneously.

“The Curse Spell Research Institute consumes a massive amount of resources every day, possibly thousands of magic stones in a single day. Therefore, a large amount of resources must be invested there. No matter how well it is hidden, these traces will still remain,” Locke pondered. “However, there seem to be quite a few dark wizard apprentices in this castle. Even with Nils covering for us, I still need to be careful.”

"These nameless black wizards may not have the ability to accomplish anything, but they certainly have the ability to do evil. Accomplishing something is extremely complicated and difficult, but when it comes to doing evil, they often only need to shout a few times."

At midnight, a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Locke wandered alone in the courtyard. A second-class wizard apprentice from the Blood Curse Court saw Locke disguised as a mortal in the courtyard. He frowned, feeling strange, and walked over, intending to cast a fear curse spell on Locke. However, he was surprised to find that the rudimentary spell model could not work on Locke.

Putting aside Locke's extremely high magic resistance generated by his 505 magic pressure, even the effect of the Bear Spirit Jade Elixir can make him immune to this level of curse magic.

The second-tier wizard apprentice immediately became alert. "Who are you?"

The next moment, his neck and mouth were sealed by the ominous mandrake vines, and he was unable to escape or make any sound.

The ominous mandrake vines wrapped around the branches around his neck, sprouting strands of purple berries that released a deadly poison. Soon, the second-class wizard apprentice died.

This is the Poisonberry Ejector.

For Locke now, the spells he casually casts are deadly and dangerous toxins to these low-level wizard apprentices.

Sophia the Witch's voice came to Locke's ears. "Locke, it seems you encountered enemies over there. You handled it very well, that's good."

"Among us, only you are the one who uses magic, making it almost impossible for the Wall of the Unbelievers to detect you. Especially when you use low-level spell models."

"Locke, Andy has found the entrance. Come to the second floor of the castle quickly."

Locke was surprised. He hadn't expected that among the five people, the one who found the entrance the fastest was Andy, the incinerator who was a specialist in combat.

However, this is fine.

It's much better than, half a day later, the witch Gabriel was forced to risk everything, braving the Wall of the Unbelievers, to use a first-circle prophecy spell in the heart of the Blood Curse Court.

Locke immediately placed the dark wizard's corpse into his Astral Ring and then went to the second floor of the castle.

As soon as he stepped onto the second floor of the castle, he found Andy, Albert, and the others gathered in a room.

Everyone is already waiting here.

Andy, the Incinerator, said, "Very good, everyone is here. The entrance to the Curse Spell Research Institute is in the mirror of this room."

"Because I often fight on the front lines, I have some understanding of the spells of the Blood Curse Court. Since it's not in the real world or in the shadows, it's most likely in the Mirror World."

"The Blood Curse Court has a well-developed blood curse—the Mirror Blood Curse. They can use curse magic to create a special cursed space behind a mirror."

"The way to determine this is also very simple."

Andy placed a wisp of magical flame in front of the dressing mirror in the room. Stimulated by the faint magical flame, a large amount of blood immediately appeared on the surface of the mirror.

Strands of blood gushed from the surface of the mirror.

"This slight stimulation will not attract the attention of the research institute entrance and the Wall of the Believers, but it will stimulate the Blood Curse and cause it to manifest."

“Ordinary weak magic cannot stimulate this blood curse space.”

"But based on my understanding of them on the battlefield, I had previously discovered that fire magic is effective against this kind of mirror curse magic, which will be manifested under flames."

The dark wizard Nils spoke softly, offering his insights. "It's possible that the curse spells of this blood curse are vulnerable to high temperatures, which would destroy some of the connection points between the curse spells. My guess is that the most crucial aspect of high-level curses lies in the connection points where the curse's geometric spells are superimposed."

"Sometimes, in order to create certain curse effects, you can only make the connection points have certain weaknesses, without being able to make up for them."

Andy glared at him. "Don't talk to me, dark wizard."

Niels looked at the witch Sophia and even Locke with a rather aggrieved expression.

Andy turned to look at everyone, his expression softening, showing none of the menacing look he had when speaking to Nils. “Everyone, forcing our way in will definitely alert the people at that cursed spell research institute.”

The witch Gabriel smiled slightly. "Don't be afraid, I brought the [Wing of Diego] in advance."

The witch Gabriel took a white feather from her astral ring, but Locke only saw it as white at first glance, then black, and upon closer inspection, it had turned red, even its shape had changed. The Feather of Diego, a feather from a first-ring magical creature, could be transformed into a first-ring enchanted item using alchemy and divination magic.

This thing's effect is a highly prioritized confusion spell that can confuse and disrupt the magical locks of the Protection School, as well as identity authentication and so on.

The witch Gabriel walked up to the mirror. "As long as we find the entrance, we can find a way to enter the Curse Spell Research Institute without alerting them."

"The Nibelungian astrological system can help me complete the decryption."

She placed the Feather of Diego in front of the mirror, and at the same time Locke noticed that the Nibelungen Astrological System seemed to be operating at an accelerated pace, to the point that the magical energy inherited through the ring had increased.

Lady Morgana said, "Be careful not to disturb the Wall of the Unbelievers. Since the Blood Curse Court bought five of these defense systems, infiltration has indeed become much more difficult."

Ten minutes later, a blood-red cursed gate appeared in the mirror.

Gabriel the Witch smiled. "It's a success."

"I've successfully tricked the magic lock and opened the entrance to the research institute. Everyone, let's go in quickly."

The witch Gabriel placed the Feather of Diego into the mirror, and as soon as the feather entered the mirror, ripples appeared inside.

Lady Morgana's voice rang in everyone's ears. "Everyone, next, I will use the Nibelungen Astrological System, in conjunction with the Feather of Diego, to confuse their Sixfold Curse Barrier, rendering their barrier completely ineffective."

"But at the same time, my support for you will essentially disappear. The Nibelungen Astrological System must operate at full capacity to confuse the Sixfold Curse Barrier for you, and, when necessary, reverse the Sixfold Curse Barrier for you."

"Please be careful in any case."

"You all have to come back."

Albert said to the group, "Let's go in together. That way we should be together."

"Niels, you stay outside and keep watch."

Nils had a backup plan left by the witch Sophia, and he seemed to have completely bet on Lilith's Hut, so he had initially gained the trust of the people.

Locke and the others walked into the mirror together and opened the Blood Gate.

It was a strange feeling, like walking into a mirror and opening a door inside.

But just after they passed through the blood gate, a river of blood suddenly rushed towards them, filled with cursed energy.

This sudden change startled both Sophia and Gabriel, but at this moment the Nibelung astrological system was already doing its best to confuse the sixfold curse barrier for them, and Lady Morgana had no time to give them any guidance.

The witch Gabriel reacted quickly. "Sophia, don't use first-circle magic, it's not the right time yet."

"This is the institute's automatic defense mechanism. It must have detected the anomaly and therefore launched an indiscriminate curse attack. If it were one of their own, nothing should have happened."

“Albert, Andy, and Locke, you must protect me and the Witch Sophia. It’s not time for us to make our move yet. The three of you don’t have enough magic to directly lock onto the Wall of the Believers, and that’s your advantage.”

“Make good use of it, especially… Locke. You can fight at full strength in this environment with a high probability that you won’t be detected by the Wall of the Believers.”

The next moment, the Blood River completely engulfed the five people.

Locke immediately took out a bottle of Bear Spirit Green Elixir from his Astral Ring, drank it, and at the same time used three Ominous Mandrake Vines to wrap himself in a green cocoon to protect himself.

Although he could use the Eye of Perseus for defense, that would be tantamount to launching an attack, which would easily attract unnecessary attention.

The next moment, Locke felt the river of blood crash heavily into him, constantly invading his magical plants and his body. However, the Bear Spirit Jade Elixir in his body generated corresponding magical resistance, repelling all these curses from his body.

‘Bang~’

Locke heard a loud bang, but he couldn't hear anything in the river of blood. At the same time, he seemed to hear a mournful howl filled with resentment. After these sounds disappeared...

Locke frowned, dispelled the spell, and put away the three Ominous Mandrake vines. His clothes were somewhat corroded and dissolved by the cursed energy, but he seemed to have successfully entered the research institute.

The only problem is that he is standing alone in a corridor.

It seems that an accident occurred during the teleportation, causing them all to be scattered.

"Troublesome." Locke frowned, alone in the dark wizard's stronghold. "I must rejoin my teacher and the others as soon as possible. They can't use magic yet; what will we do if we encounter enemies?!"

(End of this chapter)