Chapter 10

Moreover, by allying with darkness, they can wield the cursed magic sword

"What is inappropriate? Compared to Vidiann, many men marry multiple wives. Can they truly satisfy the needs of so many women?" Layne's voice grew increasingly high.

Only the legendary gods and demon kings are capable of using forbidden spells with their own magical power

The Fenrir is agile and possesses strong resistance to magic, making it tantamount to suicide for an ordinary magician to confront it

Hearing this question, Rain paused her actions and looked at the questioner, "Why do you ask that?"

Strange? What material is this? I can't seem to tell at all, thought Alek in his heart

However, this method of sword casting has its difficulties; the quality of the finished product depends on the strength of the caster's willpower

Although it is slightly slower than using one's own magic alone, the consumption of magic can be reduced somewhat

The arrangement of the ambush may be able to trap Fenrir for a while, but it is unlikely to defeat it

The second issue is the weather; if it starts to rain before the wolf pack enters the trap, the plan for a fire attack will be completely ruined

This team is concealed at a distance from the entrance of the canyon, and once the ambush is initiated, they will block the canyon's mouth to prevent the wolf pack from escaping back the same way.

Because Fenrir possesses freezing breath, although it cannot extinguish the great fire, it can create a path for escape. Therefore, a battle with Fenrir is inevitable in the end

Afterwards, the conversation shifted to what Alek said about the magician

After the attempt, the sword exhibited a reaction unlike that of any other weapon before, with a bluish-white phosphorescence emanating from the blade.

It seems to be a painful past! He probably does not wish to speak of it, so it is better not to press further

"This is the fire of the soul, this sword is bound to the soul." As Alek spoke, his hands began to tremble, and the expressions of the other two mages changed.

"I said, brother, is there really no problem?" Xiuke La asked with a hint of concern

When he finished speaking, everyone turned their gaze to the Sword Master, hoping to receive an answer

However, the drawback is that reciting the incantation takes a considerable amount of time. In close combat situations, there is simply not enough time to finish reciting the incantation, and the more powerful the magic, the longer the incantation becomes

"Wadean never seduces married women, nor has she been known to steal anyone's lover. In contrast, some men take pride in committing adultery with others' wives and in stealing their lovers. Who, then, should be condemned?"

I still have some expectations of you, so please do not be like those fools who can only view Diane with a superficial perspective

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, as they had judged by appearance and believed that Mu could not be older than thirty years.

After listening to his explanation, Noxiu found it satisfactory and decided to adopt this proposal

The second method is to activate magic using key incantations, which does not require reciting the entire spell; it is sufficient to use one or two keywords to initiate it

"A man who treats his wife like a prostitute is unworthy of being called a man; he is merely a parasite on a woman's body." Rain was somewhat angered by Mu's interjection.

However, Mu said that it is only necessary to blow some to cover the ointment, so making fifty bags would be more than enough, and he advised everyone not to search any further

"What is a Dark Knight?" Mu retorted to the other party

The men in the group, apart from Captain Noxiu, are all fools. Donier is an arrogant stud, Xiukela has become senile, and the others are even worse.

The second team is composed of the most elite warriors, while the first squad organizes its elite soldiers into two small teams. The elite units of the third and fourth squads also form a small team.

The third method involves the use of complete incantations to invoke magic. By employing complete incantations, one can harness the powers of external spirits and deities, resulting in significantly lower consumption of magical energy compared to the first two methods

However, the stronger the magic, the better the offerings required. Among these sacrificial rituals, many are considered forbidden and viewed as dark arts because they use other lives as offerings.

"Hi! The idea you have is really interesting! You wouldn't have been setting fires everywhere in the past, would you?" Rain playfully winked.

After a series of imposing sermons from Leine, Mu said with a serious and repentant expression, "I will change!"

The mercenaries have arrived at the canyon for the third day, yet the wolf pack has not yet appeared

During the time spent waiting for the wolf pack, the mercenaries chatted or played cards in their hideout to pass the time

Three wizards are each assigned to three different paths, and Alek, who is ambushed at the valley entrance, is positioned similarly to Mu

Philia's sword itself is a magical sword with fire attributes, and does not require any additional magical enhancement

The meeting continued, and someone suggested that the ambushers at the entrance apply some grass ash on themselves, as this could eliminate the scent and reduce the likelihood of being discovered

There are also differences in strength among spells of the same level; in fact, the classification of spells into levels is quite ambiguous, serving merely as a rough categorization.

Moreover, beyond her beautiful appearance, she is also an excellent knight; a woman who possesses both beauty and talent will not fall short in any aspect compared to men

For a long time, various thoughts have been continuously flashing through the minds of many people

"It's nothing, that was a long time ago, and it doesn't hurt as much now." After saying this, Mu closed his eyes

The first focus of the meeting is the effectiveness of the combination of oil paste and grass powder. The results are surprisingly ideal. Moreover, the moss is inherently slippery, which perfectly masks the slippery nature of the oil paste.

Forbidden spells are restricted due to their excessive destructive power, leading magicians to mutually agree on self-discipline, allowing their use only under specific conditions

Mu suggested that a large hollow grass ball could be made by binding branches and hay together, then coated with grease. When launching an attack, the grass ball could be ignited and pushed down from the cliff; even if it does not ignite the wolf pack, it could still cut off their retreat.

When two people are collecting data far away from others, and only they can hear each other's conversation, Mu poses a question

However, due to the gradual erosion of the body and mind by dark forces, they generally do not live long, with most experiencing mental breakdown or death before the age of 40

However, Noxiu is still very concerned about this operation, as there are two key factors involved in this action.

The three magicians in the group are all at the level of sorcerers, and they are proficient in using complete intermediate spells, even capable of casting some intermediate magic using key incantations

That said, the only one on the continent capable of fully utilizing a forbidden spell is the great sorcerer known as the "Seven Sages".

Yaleck was initially worried that the other party would refuse, but after a moment of consideration, Mu agreed to his terms

At forty-seven years old, the same age as me, he certainly doesn't look it! However, this does explain why he possesses such martial arts skills and military strategy expertise, thought Noxiu.

First of all, will the wolf pack truly pass through the Giant Canyon as anticipated? The mountain range on both sides of the canyon stretches for over 100 miles, making it unsuitable for the wolf pack to climb the steep cliffs; they can only traverse through here

The Dark Swordsman is a swordsman who has made a pact with dark spirits or deities, combining dark power with life force to achieve an explosive enhancement of physical abilities

Mu unfastened the belt and handed the two swords in their scabbards to the magician

This made Noxiu very worried that his plans might turn out to be in vain

However, Mu stated that this was still insufficient. The following morning, apart from those who remained to process the materials, everyone else would need to go out to gather more materials.

A skilled dark swordsman can also unleash dark energy to form armor for self-protection, or expel dark energy to attack enemies, possessing strength sufficient to contend with a sword saint

Upon hearing him say this, Mu informed Rein of what he had observed during the meeting

What a monster, nearly fifty years old and still the same.

As time passed, the clouds became increasingly dense and lower.

Those who specifically study such incantations are very dangerous; a person prepared to sacrifice their life is capable of doing anything. This is why it is prohibited for the general public to learn them

As if the gods were toying with him, just when the sun was nearing the distant mountain peak, Noxiu believed that his plan was about to be ruined. At that moment, however, many moving black dots sprang forth from the forest near the canyon.

It has now become a race against time for the mercenaries and the wolf pack; as long as the wolf pack enters the canyon's trap before the rain, the mercenaries can easily reap the fruits of victory

However, those incantations and rituals are not casually taught by the sorcerers; they are only permitted for those who have the qualifications of a sorcerer to learn

The people nearby were quite surprised upon hearing this, but the person being pointed out showed little reaction

A hand forcefully slapped Mu on the back, "You are not planning to be my or Diane's husband, so why take it so seriously!"

"Pfft! Hahaha" Upon seeing Mu's serious gaze, Rain unexpectedly burst into laughter, reverting to his usual playful self

Most of them are dried or baked, then crushed into powder, while some are processed by boiling or frying

As evening approached, Noxiu let out a sigh

Moreover, without flames to separate the wolf pack, the small number of elite forces ambushed at the entrance will find themselves in peril, unable to prevent the wolves from breaking through from that point

After the preparations were completed, the mercenaries, equipped with the necessary supplies, proceeded to the Giant's Canyon to begin their preparatory work

Mu is very interested in wizards, as they are clearly different from Eastern sorcerers and onmyoji.

The first method is to use one's own magical power to drive the magic, which does not require any preparatory work such as reciting incantations to be utilized

Seeing the look in Mu's eyes after he finished speaking, "I apologize! I didn't mean to remind you of that kind of thing," Alek said

"However, if there is a curse that brings misfortune, it should be upon me, not upon the sword." At that moment, there was no trace of a smile in his eyes; it was more like a cry without tears.

However, the drawback is that it requires the complete use of one's own strength, which consumes too much magical power

Rein just finished delegating the tasks, and after sending the various teams off, she went over to play with Mu.

The light infantry squad was brought by Rain, and no matter what Filia said, she was still the captain. She did not want to take orders from a newly joined vice-captain, while Rain found it quite interesting and decided to lead the team herself.

Rein's series of remarks left Mu speechless

"The souls within those two swords are my two friends." As Hetushucomcom spoke, a smile unexpectedly appeared on Mu's face

Aylek was equally interested in him, and when Mu posed the question, Aylek also requested Mu to first explain why the sword was imbued with a soul

"Alas!" Layne sighed. It was the first time Mu had seen the lively Layne sigh, and that sigh carried a sense of disappointment.

Due to the differing messages conveyed by their gazes and expressions, the interpretations among the crowd are divided into two sides

After examination by the wizards, it was found that only Doniel's longsword made of platinum mixed with holy silver (Mithril silver), the spear of the same material owned by Vidiann, and several magical arrows possessed by Ryan were suitable for the attachment of powerful magic

Mu mentioned that it was a method he had used before, which led many to wonder what he had been doing in the past. Was he frequently involved in arson? Otherwise, how could he know so many techniques for starting fires

However, these two points are beyond his control, and at this moment, Noxiu can only leave the remaining matters to fate.

Hearing two people sing in harmony, those nearby couldn't help but stifle their laughter

This is probably just nonsensical chatter! He likely won't speak the truth, so there is no need to pursue it further

Due to the large number of people, it is easy to be discovered, and the actions of this team must be swift, so only a select few elite members are chosen

Therefore, the wizards proposed that the weapons used by the warriors fighting Fenrir, aside from the magical swords, must possess sufficient strength and magical attachment properties, so that they can affix magic to the weapons

"As long as you take my words to heart, that is enough." In that moment, a rare expression of tenderness appeared on Rain's face

Due to iron being unfavorable for the attachment of magical power, the materials suitable for sword casting that allow for magical attachment are astonishingly expensive, and even among the leaders in the group, very few possess them

The first part is personally led by Noxiu, with members primarily consisting of Ryan's archers and other support personnel

As the dark spots drew closer, Noxiu, hidden at the summit, could already discern that they were giant wolves.

Looking at him, Mu thought to himself: (It is not just Wei Dian; I do not even understand Lei Yin. I previously thought he was a straightforward person who loved to joke, but I did not expect him to have such a delicate and gentle side.)

If it were possible to bring them back to life, he would rather not have these two swords

"And you have been emanating a faint dark aura, and your sword also appears to be a demonic sword, so the three of us assumed you were a dark swordsman"

Indeed, there are husbands who treat their wives as prostitutes, using them as mere props

They are concealed in the woods at the mouth of the canyon, responsible for blocking the canyon's exit. Since horses are difficult to hide and the mobility of heavy infantry is too poor, they can only be stationed here

"Those men spoke of Diane in that manner simply because he had stepped on a sore spot for them, revealing that they were not as brave as they boasted to be"

His two friends jumped into the furnace, which resulted in the creation of these two swords imbued with sword souls

Mu, seeing this, quickly snatched the sword away and asked the trembling magician, "Are you alright!"

Moreover, another concern that Noxiu has is that adverse signs in the weather have also emerged

I thought you were different from others! Although Vidiann is lecherous, she is not as the legends suggest

Yet he still attempted to channel his magic into the sword to observe its reaction

Eastern people are indeed mysterious

The last method is the offering of sacrifices, which can be used even by those without magical power

On the morning of the third day, all the raw materials had been processed into finished products, at which point Noxiu also convened a meeting with the cadres

Is he joking again?

If a living person is not voluntarily throwing themselves into the furnace and lacks unwavering confidence, it is impossible for the soul and the sword to fully merge

Yaleck informed Mu that there are actually several methods for wizards to cast spells

As for spells, they are categorized into basic, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and forbidden spells

The third squad has the largest number of personnel, including the cavalry and heavy infantry units, as well as the remaining combat personnel from the other three squads

As for basic magic and certain elementary spells, they can be directly propelled using magical power

The crowd at the scene gasped in unison, "You can't be serious! Little brother, you said you are already 48 years old," asked the oldest among them, shocked.

Vidian simply enjoys the wild thrill of passion, but his desires are too strong, and few can satisfy him. Therefore, he has been searching for someone who can fulfill his carnal cravings and love him.

Mu informed Alek that in the East, there exists a secret method of sword forging, which involves casting a person into the furnace, allowing the soul to merge with the molten metal. The swords forged in this manner will possess a sword spirit, greatly surpassing the power of those made by conventional methods.

Due to the ample manpower, within just one afternoon, the raw materials they collected could be piled into several small hills

Given the condition of the cloud cover, it appears that after midnight, the temperature will drop, and it will start to rain. At that time, even if a pack of wolves appears, it will be difficult to deal with them effectively

However, there are a few exceptions, namely the rituals and spells that require the life of the practitioner as a sacrifice

Those men fear being exposed for their inability to satisfy their wives, so they continuously seek new women to create the illusion that their wives cannot meet their needs

If the wolf pack does not take this route, then the entire deployment will be in vain

The person who originally went to collect thought that with so much gathered, it would definitely not be used up in the end

"What is going on?" the wizard Amalik asked with concern for his companion

Thus, Alek made a brief explanation, wanting to see if the other party knew anything.

Because he is well aware that a broad-minded man can accept a woman who has been a prostitute as his wife, but he cannot accept having his wife become a prostitute and sharing her with others

You still do not understand Wei Dian, so you would judge her solely based on this matter. In fact, she is not as promiscuous as the legends suggest.

Therefore, it is more ideal for a skilled warrior to engage in close combat. However, ordinary weapons do not inflict significant damage on Fenrir; it is preferable to use magical weapons or to enhance weapons with magic for combat.

After the explanation is complete, Mu will instruct each team to go to their designated areas for collection

The wizard pondered for a moment, realizing that the person before him hailed from the East, while the dark swordsman was merely a legend in the West. There had been no reports of such a figure appearing anywhere; perhaps there were only warriors in the East who bore a resemblance.

The three magicians stated that such a sword should not be inferior to Phyllia's magical sword. Given this, the crowd, under various thoughts, did not pursue further inquiries.

As for the first and second squads, they will be left to Noxiu to crush the charcoal for the preparation of the ointment

Regarding the archers, Ryan believed that it was sufficient to assign members below the rank of squad leader to provide support for such trivial matters. However, Campot volunteered to lead the team in assistance, thus he commanded the actions of the archers

"Then I should not be! I am already 48 years old, not like the dark swordsman you mentioned." Mu pondered for a moment before responding

With both palms, he forcefully slapped his own face, reminding himself to stay calm and to ensure that the deployed effects would be maximized

The meeting reached its final part, which was how to deal with the greatest trouble—Fenrir

"Rest assured! Since I dare to bring it up, I have a way to accomplish it. For now, let's ask everyone to help me gather the materials!" Mu appeared confident.

When they returned at noon, they were surprised to see several piles of raw materials, yet only produced over twenty bags of finished products, which led them to worry whether it would be sufficient at the time

The three teams communicate during the day using flags, and at night they switch to signaling with flashes, directed by Noxiu from the mountaintop

However, Xiukela and Leiyin were thinking, could it be true that Mu claimed to be a wanted arsonist before!

After checking his condition, he took a breath and said, "I am fine, just a bit startled." Alek replied

However, if the wolf pack needs to bypass this mountain range, it will not take many days

After the commotion finally subsided, "Ahem! Perhaps we were mistaken. In that case, let us take a look at your sword!" said Alek.

The original small hill, after the removal of moisture and being ground into powder, has a volume that is less than one-tenth of its original size

This team is ambushed above the canyon, monitoring the movements of the wolf pack. Once the wolves enter the ambush, they will set fire, complemented by arrows and falling rocks to eliminate the wolf pack

Everyone finds this configuration very ideal, yet some have proposed new ideas

"Ah! To be honest, I am a notorious arsonist in the East, and the fires I have set have caused countless casualties. I fled to the West to escape the manhunt," Mu replied with a serious expression.

After the assembly was completed, the three squads had over 300 members. Once taken to the field, Mu first collected some samples of several types of plants to provide to each sub-team.

Because the two of you have such vastly different styles of conduct, it is hard to imagine how you became friends

Although Captain Philya despises Widian, believing that his promiscuous behavior brings shame to women, I think he is merely being true to his feelings and bodily needs

The last wizard named Alek approached Mu, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Are you the Dark Swordsman?"

Furthermore, Fenrir was able to detect the presence of mages from other mercenary groups, which suggests there may be ways to sense the existence of magical energy. It is also necessary to consider how to conceal it.

Next comes the issue of ambush configuration. Noxiu plans to divide the troops into three parts

"However, reaching that level seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it?" Mu couldn't help but interject

There exists a soul within that sword, but it should not be an evil spirit, and it will not curse the wielder of the sword

Why do you seem to be very close with Wei Dian

Vidian never makes love to a second man on the same day; he loves only one person each day

What method is used for maintenance

In just one day's time, the latter half of the canyon has become overgrown with a great deal of "moss," and the top of the valley has also prepared a large number of falling rocks and big grass balls. Next, we are just waiting for the wolf pack to pass through the canyon.

The two conversed all the way back to the barracks of the riflemen. After gathering all the team members, in order to expedite the collection process, Mu requested Xiukela to assist him by reallocating personnel from the infantry and archers to help.

Well! That is the Eastern calculation; according to the Western calculation, one should subtract a year, so it would be considered forty-seven years old