Chapter 1013: 315. Escape Master?_3
He picked up the double-handed earth wand and pointed it toward the location of the Shadow Fragments.
“Stone Imprisonment Technique!”
The mountains near the Shadow Fragments rapidly transformed, a clattering series of explosions sounded, and dozens of thick, strong stone pillars shot up from the ground, forming a tight rock cage.
In just half a second, the rock cage completely sealed off all the Shadow Fragments’ escape routes!
“No! You bastard! Let me go! You’re done for! You’re done for! City Lord Solomon is my uncle! If you…”
Before Hickman Arlington could finish ranting, Noland Lee tapped his fingertip dozens of times!
...
“Evil Blast!”
“Boom boom boom~~~”
Dozens of Shadow Fragments exploded, bursting into clusters of purple-black sparks of death.
Hickman Arlington’s voice abruptly stopped.
[System Message:]
[You have eradicated the “Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watchers’ Chief City Protector Wizard·Hickman Arlington.”]
[Because you have completely deconstructed this target, you did not receive any Energy Value Reward.]
[Target panel information and Memory Fragment updated.]
Noland Lee glanced at the system text in his mind and set them aside.
He dispersed the mountain phantom summoned by the “Mountain Fall”, releasing the rock cage of the “Stone Imprisonment Technique”.
With the mountain phantom gone, the landscape would not be restored.
Without external intervention, the huge crater created by the pressure from the mountain would remain on the ground level.
Right at the center of the crater, where Hickman Arlington’s Shadow Fragments were ignited by the “Evil Blast”, a black semi-transparent leather pouch was hovering.
Noland Lee cast Deconstruction at the object, nodding to himself; this was the exact thing he was searching for.
…
[Name] Shadow Skin Bag
[Item Level] Level 81
[Capacity] 500 cubic
[Feature]
1. Shadow Concealment
This item can be hidden within magical creations composed of shadow energy, including but not limited to wizards’ Shadow Magic Organs, Shadow Magic Tattoos, etc.
2. Repel Non-Shadow noveldrama
This item can only be used to store items of the Shadows Faction, and any items without shadow energy cannot be put inside.
(The rest of the Deconstruction Results skipped)
…
The magical books that Hickman Arlington carried with him were hidden inside this magic container named Shadow Skin Bag.
Noland Lee used “Mind Capture” to take it, broke the magic lock with the Rune Staff, and extended a specific gesture into it, shutting down the internal magic mechanism.
At that moment, the shadow container, which could only hold shadow magical items, became a Spoil of War completely under the control of Noland Lee.
Noland Lee looked around, the devastation in sight.
The multi-segmented Shadow Demons summoned by Hickman Arlington, named “Shadow Cavity Worms”.
After the death of Hickman Arlington, the Shadow Cavity Worms were forced to disperse, disappearing without a trace.
Noland Lee confirmed there were no enemies at the site using “Perception Enhancement” and Deconstruction.
He surveyed the crater caused by “Mountain Fall” and decided not to leave a single clue for the enemies.
An “Advanced Environmental Restoration Scroll” is undoubtedly the best choice right now.
This Magic Scroll, drawn by a wizard of the Natural System, is specialized in repairing unique terrains caused by magic.
Each Scroll retails for 7 million gold coins, non-negotiable.
Noland Lee, no longer short on money, did not hesitate to tear open one and erased the crater left by “Mountain Fall”.
Not only that, the stalagmites crushed by the mountain’s phantom had also returned to their original state under the operation of the “Advanced Environmental Restoration Spell”.
When Noland Lee summoned the Tracking Thunder Arrow and erased the natural energy in the vicinity with thunder and lightning energy, all traces of the battle related to Earth Rock Magic and Death Magic disappeared.
“The City of Exiles will definitely send someone to investigate Hickman Arlington’s cause of death and search for his belongings. Since that’s the case… heh heh heh, I might as well stake out here.”
Noland Lee chuckled inwardly and cast “Mental Illusion” on himself, followed by the use of a “high-level invisibility” spell.
To prevent the detection of any Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watcher who might come here, Noland Lee also set up an anti-detection magic barrier around himself, along with a layer of illusion magic that disguised him as one of the stalagmites.
With layers of spells cloaking him and with the “Tracking Mark” providing alerts, the likelihood of Noland Lee being discovered by the enemy first was incredibly small.
Noland Lee entered a silent state and activated “Mind Induction” to contact Nolin.
“How are the Shadow Death Laborers doing? Nolin,” Noland Lee asked.
“Sir, as per your instruction, I did not use mental magic to spy on their movements. I only observed them with scout mechs equipped with night vision lenses,” Nolin replied.
“According to the latest observations, that group of Shadow Death Laborers is building a magic barrier constructed of magic circles 30 kilometers south of the temporary base. This barrier is suspended in the air and may have long-range firepower. According to the battle plan, I will attack when the energy of the magic circles peaks, controlling the Capacitor Pack Device Spirits.”
Noland Lee chuckled inwardly, generously offering his praise:
“You are doing well, continue with the plan.”
“Yes, Sir, but…” Nolin’s voice carried a hint of apology:
“However, I am sorry, Sir. I couldn’t distinguish the Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watcher from the labor force using the night vision lenses. This is a significant risk.”
“No matter, I’ve got it under control; just stick to the plan,” Noland Lee assured her.
Noland Lee had the plans of the City of Exiles and a set of Shadow Magic books, which gave him great confidence.
As soon as he got the magic books, he performed Harmless Deconstruction.
The set of magic books, titled “Shadow Death Master’s Learning Notes”, consisted of five volumes, covering everything from Wizard Students to high-level Wizards.
From them, Noland Lee deconstructed over a dozen blueprints for the creation of shadow magic items, six spell blueprints with a completeness of 10%, and a scholarly skill named “Shadow Magic Proficiency”.
Of course, the most crucial item also appeared among the deconstruction results.
The “Shadow Death Cipher”, a set of magic runes that could strengthen the magic shield and make the Shadow Sub-dimension treat him as an ally, had now become Noland Lee’s possession.
Even if two Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watchers stood before Noland Lee, they would impose no fatal threat upon him.
Noland Lee even pondered in his mind whether he should deliberately go looking for trouble amidst the labor force…
While contemplating, he cast “Mind View” towards the tracking mark near the labor force.
He wanted to take a distant look at the team and lock onto the two individuals before alerting the Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watchers.
The magic vision unfolded, but that premonition of “someone is about to discover that I’m secretly watching” didn’t arise in Noland Lee’s mind.
“Eh? Where did the Eighth-Circle Shadow Death Watchers in the team go? Have both of them left the labor force?”
Noland Lee raised an eyebrow:
“Could those two be heading to where Hickman Arlington perished?”
The moment this thought crossed Noland Lee’s mind, two dark gazes swept over his surroundings, full of scrutiny and caution.
Noland Lee’s internal alarm bells rang.
Indeed, they had come.
“Perception Enhancement” informed Noland Lee that they were now two kilometers away, examining the stalagmite terrain repaired by the “Advanced Environmental Restoration Spell.”
Noland Lee’s heart pounded; this was the first time he faced two Eighth-Circle Combat Wizards at the same time.
To fight or to flee?
Noland Lee squinted his eyes slightly.
With the “Shadow Death Cipher” in hand, his odds of winning against two Eighth-Circle Combat Wizards were around eighty percent.
But that still wasn’t a hundred percent.
To play it safe, Noland Lee decided to stack the odds of victory in his favor.
“Nolin, leave behind 200 Capacitor Pack Device Spirits to harass the Shadow Death Labor Corps and slow down the construction of the magic barrier. The remaining 300, converge on my position, stay concealed.”
“Yes, Sir,” Nolin acknowledged, realizing the situation had changed and immediately started executing Noland Lee’s command without further inquiry.