Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 239 Life is Like a Play

Friendly fire?

Not at all, not even remotely.

Regret for being too ruthless?

That's completely untrue.

After reading the diary, do you want to avenge Jimny?

Our friendship wasn't that deep.

Link's melancholy stemmed purely from his sympathy for his own kind.

Don't be fooled by Link's current overpowered status among first-level wizards; he can easily defeat anyone.

However, there are so many powerful figures looking down on us. If we're not careful and offend one of them, we'll be in big trouble.

He will not know how he died, nor where he died.

Trembling with fear, as if facing an abyss, as if treading on thin ice.

"Keep it safe, give it to Christina next time."

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Link handed the diary back to Jasmine and said something under his breath.

"Um."

Jasmine agreed, took the diary, and continued reading.

As the person in charge of logistics, all she had to do was collect the spoils.

As the vice-captain, I need to find a way to extract some intelligence from the spoils of war.

Even if the five wizarding organizations agree not to tell the participating teams the specific competition rules too far in advance, or if the specific competition rules are only finalized right before the start, the participating teams will still receive some information.

For example, "freedom to do whatever you want" means knowing three weeks in advance that there will be individual and team competitions.

Jasmine wanted to see if she could find any valuable information from the collected items with text or the deciphered AI.

Apart from encountering a team from the Blazing and Metal Merchants at the start, "Freedom to Do Anything" did not encounter any other teams during the next hour of marching, after resuming its silent marching state.

The reconnaissance team did spot other teams' reconnaissance magical artifacts high in the air.

But just like "Freedom to Do Anything" kept using the shielding device, even though "Freedom to Do Anything" was flying close to the ground, it still couldn't find that team.

Faced with numerous well-prepared teams, the reconnaissance artifacts could only provide information about the surrounding terrain and were completely ineffective in their reconnaissance function.

All I can say is that they have an abundance of experience in conquering the Wizarding World.

The educational systems established, even if they differ from one wizarding organization to another, certainly include the commonality of cultivating reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance awareness and abilities from the wizarding apprentice stage.

All the participating teams are top performers.

They were taught by the same "master," so I can't break their moves.

Therefore, we can only rely on that special device that looks like a stopwatch.

An hour has passed.

Link, holding a special device, once again sent the "Freedom to Do Anything" location to the other surviving teams, and also received the location of the other surviving teams.

"Freedom to do whatever you want"—at this point, they finally found their second target.

About 30 miles away in the direction of "Freedom to Do Anything", there is a team from Shadow City.

What's there to hesitate about? Just charge straight in!

If you go too late, you won't even get a hot meal.

To achieve a higher ranking, you need to eliminate as many teams as possible.

Just like their slogan, "The car overturns and everyone gets hurt!"

This time, Link didn't take the lead and charge into battle, taking on the toughest challenges himself and letting his teammates enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Instead, they should earnestly fulfill their duties as captains, give full play to the roles of their team members, and fight a real surprise attack or assault.

"Jasmine, get your weapon ready."

After giving the order, Link shouted a simple slogan to his team: "Roll over, everyone!"

"The car overturned, and everyone was on board!"

The team members all shouted at the top of their lungs.

The already high morale has surged once again.

One after another, they were already starving and eager to fight the "enemy" right now.

"WhooHa!"

After shouting, Buck felt it wasn't enough, so he roared again to bolster his voice.

Jasmine then pulled out her "tools"—a full ten two-wheeled "off-road motorcycles".

This is a surprise attack weapon specially made by Link.

Traveling in a four-wheeled vehicle or aircraft does indeed offer advantages in terms of comfort and defense.

However, it lacks flexibility, preventing wizards from fully utilizing the convenience and versatility of magic on the ever-changing battlefield.

Two-wheeled "motocross motorcycles" do not have this limitation.

Equipped with a dedicated AI, the "off-road motorcycle" can drive autonomously, freeing the hands of the riding wizard, making it easier to use magical artifacts and allowing them to concentrate their mental energy to perform magic.

In case of emergencies, you can abandon the vehicle at any time.

It may float in the air or land on the ground, depending on the situation.

"We're free to do whatever we want," including Link, and everyone rode motorcycles.

With a slight roar of the engines, the ten motorcycles sped off, leaving ten long tire tracks as they raced toward the Shadow City team at the 3 o'clock position.

This attack also proceeded in a sagittal formation, except that Buck was leading the charge.

Link will be stationed at the rear, ready to provide support at any time.

The Shadow City team was ready for battle the moment they saw the Rivosos Academy team logo.

The first-level wizards who were selected by their respective wizarding organizations to participate in this competition are all outstanding among their peers.

Changes in team positions can reveal a lot of useful information.

For example, the "freedom to do anything" direction originally had two teams: one from Rivosos Academy and the other from the Flame and Metal Merchant Guild.

Now only one team from Rivosos Academy remains.

There are only three team logos left on the map for the Flame and Metal Merchant Guild.

The Flame and Metal Merchant Guild teams from other directions still remain.

So, what else could have happened if the Rivosos Academy team, which wasn't very close to them, eliminated the Flame and Metal Merchants team within the first hour?

Did the entire team from the Blazing Metal Merchant Guild commit suicide?

It's utterly ridiculous and absurd.

"Be prepared to engage the enemy at any time."

The Shadow City team leader's voice was hoarse and grating, like it had been ground from two pieces of rusty iron.

Christina, disregarding the risk of exposure, forcefully reminded Link just before he entered the game world.

All nine team members were handpicked by Christina and are very obedient to her.

Unlike the time they entered the ruins during the exchange and learning trip, the team that entered the ruins world was not as unruly.

These nine individuals were not top-tier in terms of talent and strength, but in Shadow City, a place rife with twisted humanity, these team members could be considered as human beings, with less twisted humanity.

Christina wanted to bring them out intact and bring them back intact.

However, this is not something she can do simply by wanting to.

Under this format, a fierce conflict is bound to break out when two teams from different camps meet.

Unless one possesses exceptional strength, casualties are inevitable.

We can only do everything we can to achieve this goal.

"I hope it's you who comes."

Christina erected a defensive shield composed of black, serpentine smoke, looked towards the 9 o'clock position, and sent a message using special methods at the soul level.

"Master, master, there's that snake woman up ahead. She seems to be the captain."

Flandre's voice echoed in Link's mind, and at the same time, Link also received a message from Christina.

As the two teams were about to clash, Link made a decision in a flash, instructing, "Flandre, go tell the snake woman to defend with all her might. Remember, she must defend with all her might."

"Yes, sir."

Flandre responded sweetly.

Previously, the reconnaissance team discovered reconnaissance artifacts belonging to other teams.

It wasn't just UFOs flying low, searching for the team's trail.

Flandre also transformed into a wind sprite, searching everywhere, but unfortunately, she returned empty-handed as well.

This made Flandre quite frustrated, feeling that she had failed to help her master, and she was rather sullen.

I'm very happy to be able to work for the master and play a role.

Link then used "telepathy" to issue the order: "We are about to engage the enemy. Launch a full-scale attack, then turn around."

The team members, upon receiving the order to "do whatever they want," did not respond verbally but instead diligently prepared for the upcoming attack.

It could be witchcraft, witchcraft artifacts, or a combination of both.

"Snake woman, snake woman, my master is coming to beat you. He told you to be on your best defense, you must be on your best defense."

Hearing the silvery voice ringing in her ears, Christina breathed a slight sigh of relief and immediately spoke in a hoarse voice: "We are about to engage the enemy. Defend with all your might. Defend with all your might."

After giving the order, she took the lead and pulled out all her best second-hand level 3 defensive magical artifacts.

Seeing that their captain was so cautious, the team members all followed suit.

In less than 3 seconds, the colorful defensive shield reappeared.

Just as they finished setting up their three-dimensional, overlapping defense system, ten two-wheeled off-road vehicles appeared in their field of vision.

"WhooHa!"

The wizard in the first vehicle let out a strange cry, and suddenly his whole body floated into the air, his hands outstretched forward.

The whooshing sound of something cutting through the air rang out immediately.

Buck had previously been mocked by Lynn for not using proper witchcraft and instead trying to use his fists like a big shot, but he tolerated it.

I really acted on impulse at the time, without thinking too much.

Now, instead of using witchcraft, Buck has pulled out an upgraded version of the "RPG".

We'd exchange five greetings upon meeting.

Following closely behind "RPG" was Buck's signature sorcery: a dozen ice spikes gleaming with a poisonous glow, piercing the Shadow City team at a speed no slower than "RPG".

Link raised his hand, pressed down, and pulled the overly excited Buck back onto his "motorcycle".

Floating in the air, as a target?

It seems we'll have to train him properly once we get out of here.

The other team members attacked only a beat slower than the overly excited Buck, each unleashing their most skilled offensive magic and powerful magical artifacts.

All sorts of attacks surged toward the colorful defensive shield.

The commotion was immense and the scale was terrifying.

"attack!"

Christina was not only prepared to defend with all her might, but also ready to counterattack.

If you're going to put on a show, then make it as realistic as possible.

Being prepared in advance and only passively taking hits is not the style of Shadow City.

Their first move was a group spell, a specialty of Shadow City wizards—a combined spell that could gather the power of no less than thirty people—Shadow Serpent's Bite.

A lifelike black serpent, composed entirely of shadow magic, bypassed "Freedom to Do Anything"'s attack, tracing an arc, and under Christina's control and guidance, swiftly pounced on "Freedom to Do Anything's" convoy as it was preparing to turn.

Sensing that Shadow Serpent's Bite had reached the attack intensity of a top-tier 2nd-level sorcery spell, Link made a tough decision and decided to let his teammates take the hit themselves.

"defense!"

The command reached the ears of the nine team members as Shadow Serpent's Bite lunged down.

Following the training, everyone immediately cast a spell together, unleashing the defensive combination spell—the shield—that Link had acquired at great expense.

Yes, the name of this combination of witchcraft is "Shield".

Its core is a "universal adapter" that can connect, superimpose, and combine shield-shaped defensive spells of different types to form a shield-shaped defensive spell with a larger defensive area and higher defensive strength.

This idea is an advanced and complete version of the Double Water Shield spell that Link once performed using "Double Casting".

The attacks from both sides were launched and arrived almost simultaneously.

Attack and defense occur simultaneously.

A thunderous sound erupted, and streaks of light scattered everywhere.

Without Link's intervention, "Freedom to Do Anything" barely managed a draw against the Shadow City team.

Neither side gained an advantage.

The ten motorcycles completed their turn, then stopped, facing the Shadow City team who were waiting in full force.

Both sides have time to prepare for a second wave of attacks.

"Link Grande."

Christina gestured to her subordinates to hold back for now, took out a half-finished "Reversal" potion and drank it, temporarily reviving her voice. She then cast a megaphone spell and shouted, "I know your strength, and I know you didn't attack just now. If you had, I'd probably be a corpse by now. We surrender, and you let us go, how about it?"

Link rode his motorcycle to the front of the "Do Whatever You Want" group, staring indifferently at the Shadow City team, and said coldly, "Since I can kill you, why should I let you go? Give me a reason."

Meanwhile, at Link's behest, Flandre whispered in Christina's ear, "Master told me to tell you that there might be surveillance cameras. Think of a reason that won't get you into trouble."

Christina nodded almost imperceptibly, then continued shouting:

"The reason is simple: you want a ranking, we want to survive."

If you lose your life, you lose everything.

I know that if we surrender, we might run into trouble after we leave.

But if we don't surrender, we'll definitely die at your hands, and we won't even have the chance to be bothered by trouble.

I believe the higher-ups in Shadow City won't blame us.

"Your combat power is simply too exaggerated; it's not a fault of your fighting ability."

Link smiled. "I can accept your reason, but what are you going to offer in exchange for my magnanimity?"

Upon hearing this, Christina's snake-like eyes revealed a conflicted expression, and she remained silent for a long time.

It was obvious to everyone that Christina was having an internal struggle, unsure whether she should offer some crucial, valuable information or items in exchange for a chance to surrender.

"Captain, let's fight them!"

"At worst, I'll just die."

"Yes, we can't win; at worst, we'll just die."

"Captain, don't be afraid. There's nothing to be afraid of. Dying will end it all. It's nothing."

The nine team members personally selected by Christina all spoke out.

Their humanity wasn't that twisted, but it was only not that twisted; they still retained some of the instincts of various snakes.

Indifferent, ruthless, and indifferent to life.

"Shut up!"

Christina's snake-like eyes narrowed as she glared fiercely at her teammates, giving each one a sharp look. "Am I the captain, or are you the captains? You all listen to me!"

By emphasizing her authority and suppressing dissenting voices within the team, Christina confronted Link once again.

Taking a deep breath, seemingly resigned to her fate, Christina said, "A wizard from one of your academy's families once approached me, wanting to bribe me to deal with you in this competition. However, after witnessing your fighting prowess firsthand during our last exchange, I didn't dare agree. Is this information enough to buy our lives?"

That's enough.

Link's face darkened. "You can choose to surrender, and I'll agree."

"it is good."

Christina took out a stopwatch-like device and chose to surrender to Link's team.

Link immediately agreed.

Ten white beams of light descended from the sky, moving the ten members of the Shadow City team out of bounds.

The play, which was completed through six months of research and experimentation and tacit understanding, has come to an end.

I wonder what the outside "audience" thinks after watching this scene.

Do you accept this kind of storyline?

(End of this chapter)