CHAPTER 479: CHAPTER 439 GOLDEN COMPASS AND GOLDEN COMPASS

Zz...zz...

While Milan and the others quickly dodged using the intricate terrain, those crisscrossed and magnificent glowing crystal pillars were in bad luck.

The small clusters vanished directly in the toxic mist, and even the surfaces of the large crystal pillars were forcibly melted off a layer.

If facing a Kingdom Army below the Extraordinary, the Mushroom People would have, using their home-field advantage, cleared the field with their consecutive large-scale witchcraft!

Even for them, who were all Extraordinary, equipped with the gas masks meticulously prepared by Aiven and the leather jackets covering all skin, they dared not personally experience the horrific power of that dark green toxic cloud.

"Ah—!"

On her neck, the beast tooth necklace had red Soul Fire suddenly rise up and swiftly pour into Apsuya’s tall body.

Beneath the bird-beaked mask, red beast patterns appeared on her cheeks, and illusory circular beast ears grew atop her head. Muscles swiftly swelled, stretching the leather jacket tight, revealing perfectly muscular lines.

[Extraordinary Ability: Giant Bear Soul!]

She kicked off a crystal pillar at least two people high, hugged it with both hands, and shot it out like a siege ballista as she exhaled and shouted.

Boom—!

However, even through a layer of dark green mist, the Mushroom People, with their Spore Cloud Mind Sensing, could not be ambushed by such a simple attack.

Accompanied by the subtle flickering of a Spirit Spark, the Mushroom People’s bodies floated up effortlessly, dodging the attack with ease, no longer appearing clumsy as they did when moving with mycelium.

On the other side.

Upon realizing that this guy was one of the remaining two Black Wizards, Aiven’s first reaction was...

luxu——

Amidst riotous and fervent curse words, a red Magic Spiritual Light shot out from Aiven’s fingertips.

[Witchcraft: Flesh and Blood Uprising!]

"Witness the might of the Poison Plague School’s nemes... What? How can this be?"

But the targeted witchcraft, supposed to deal devastating damage to this parasitic existence, surprisingly... had no effect when facing the Mushroom People.

Aiven immediately realized that this mushroom person, seemingly composed entirely of fungal cells, might have completed a fundamental transformation of life form.

The body no longer contained any foreign parts, nor was there any troublesome flesh and blood!

Unlike the "Living Corpses" and "Poisonous Wolves" which must retain a specific parasite while keeping the brain, this fully transformed big mushroom guy had adopted multiple forms of survival, such as parasitism, saprophytism, and independent living.

After acquiring that highly resilient otherworldly life form, he maximized overcoming its drawbacks.

If he had stayed with the Vesalian School initially, this mushroom person might have become an outstanding figure comparable to the school’s founder, Dr. Andre Vesalius, and the current chief, Dr. William Osler.

Just as Aiven stumbled with one move, the Mushroom People’s counterattack began. Even though not specialized combatants like several companions, he understood the strategy of capturing the leader in a one-against-four scenario.

"Your spirit shall be commanded by me!"

A majestic thunderous declaration resounded in Aiven’s heart.

Crackle...

The face of the Mushroom People turned towards Aiven, and golden Spirit Sparks flickered in the spores enveloping the body and air simultaneously.

Under the control of a senior wizard and psychic ability master, a strong electric field brimming with terrifying energy began to form.

[Talent Magic: Psychic Lightning]

His keen mind sensing detected Aiven’s deeply hidden powerful physical strength and untapped immense energy within.

To a wizard’s perspective, possessing strong physical strength while wielding an ineffective witchcraft attack against oneself unmistakably showed the opponent’s spiritual power’s weakness.

And as is well known, a wizard cannot simultaneously be a Knight Tier 3 and above spirit as solid as iron. The power from the mind would easily pierce his soul, turning him into a loyal servant.

Then... make him tear his companions to pieces!

In the vacant eyes of the Mushroom People, a flash of electricity appeared.

Crackle——

The next moment, the psychic lightning brewed to its peak easily pierced the damp air in the cave, drawing a dazzling white arc, like a fierce White Dragon, pouncing on Aiven on the other side of the toxic cloud.

And as this destructive attack brewed, Aiven had already changed his weapon, and with the aid of the high-quality Extraordinary Longsword "Lightning Rod," the massive Life Magnetic Field of a Tier 3 Extraordinary was unleashed like an Evil Dragon.

At the moment of psychic lightning’s descent, a bright blue electric Poisonous Dragon shot out from the tip of the "Lightning Rod" as opposing charges attracted.

Boom!

The two lightning bolts turned into two differently colored dragons, entangling each other without any pretense.

Rumble...

The entire cave, which had existed for hundreds of thousands of years, trembled, while large chunks of crystal growing on the cave roof occasionally broke off, shattering into pieces around them.

It seemed as though even the wondrous works of nature couldn’t help but tremble in fear under the force of these two’s powers!

The nerve signals in living beings are themselves a type of electrical signal, and the power of lightning is one of the rare energies capable of bridging the material and spiritual realms.

The Mushroom People relied on countless fungal cells to convert psychic power into lightning, while Aiven transformed it into lightning using a physical Tier 3’s formidable Life Magnetic Field.

In this technical-less combat called "Opposing Wave," only the stronger force prevails!

Gradually.

The two opposing electric fields collided and concentrated between them into a ball lightning, shining like a blue sun. Like its counterparts in nature, beneath its cold blue exterior lay a destructive and powerful energy.

The moment this ball lightning formed, it began to slowly move toward the "Mushroom People" direction, making it clear who was at a disadvantage in this contest.

"How can this be?"

In the pure contest of power, the Tier 2 "Psychic Lightning" of the "Mushroom People" was steadily defeated by Aiven’s Tier 3 Extraordinary Power "Divine Power."

Clearly, after Aiven unleashed "Flesh and Blood Uprising," the "Mushroom People" made the same mistake out of inexperience.

Even though Aiven’s spiritual power value was far lower than his opponent’s, the addition of the Tier 3 life magnetic field was enough to crush them.

Only when the "Opposing Wave" began did the "Mushroom People" realize with shock that their chosen opponent was a powerful Tier 3 Transcendent!

Cursing inwardly at how unprofitable this deal was, the intent to retreat arose in his heart.

Forcing himself to suppress the fear of such destructive power, the "Mushroom People" floated backward, retreating to the cave’s only entrance and exit, the winding passageway that Aiven’s team had just passed through.

Sneering inwardly but resolute to act decisively when needed, in the instant he abruptly cut off the energy output, he had already rushed into the cave, soaring through the winding mine under the full exertion of his psychic force field.

Boom—!!!

The ball lightning, filled with the energy of both sides yet controlled by neither, fell like the explosive warhead of a missile onto the tunnel’s exit.

Crash...

As the earth shook and a deadly crystal rain descended, the "Mushroom People" paid a heavy price for their "Opposing Wave" failure.

A portion of his body that served as neurons silently turned to ash.

However, for the "Mushroom People" with no vital parts, this injury was still bearable, and grinding his teeth, he persisted, rushing out of the Crystal Cave before the tunnel completely collapsed.

Meanwhile.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Also freed from the constraints of the electric field, Aiven, a blur of motion, gathered his three companions at the most stable edge of the mine structure, raising the Witchcraft Shield "World Barrier."

Through the final connection maintained by Psychic Lightning, Aiven unexpectedly captured a small portion of memories spilled out from the obliterated part of the "Mushroom People’s" body.

Finally, through this, he unraveled the confusion that had always persisted in his heart.

That is: What benefit does spreading a plague hold for the "Poison Plague School"?

Only then did Aiven finally link this sudden biochemical attack incident with what Apsuya had mentioned before about the New Continent’s "Spirit Tide."

"These guys might also have grasped the existence of the ’tide’!"

Although on the surface, they seemed to have no relation to the Totem God.

The "Poison Plague School" left no Extraordinary mark pointing to Lady Crow in their actions, nor would they establish any contact in the spiritual world with that Upper Totem God.

But any "large-scale plague" occurring in the New Continent on its own is the most direct support for Lady Crow, the Upper Totem God holding the threefold authority of [Unclean], [Plague], and [Death].

Clearly, among those powerful natural spirits eagerly competing for the sole demigod personality, someone is no longer willing to endure the years or decades of long waiting, wanting to push the continent’s situation favorably for themselves in one go.

Perhaps even set a conclusive victory, eliminating all other contenders.

Their cooperation with Lady Crow and her Shamanic Order...

The "Poison Plague School" is now purposefully attacking tribes that worship a Tier 4 Totem God.

This not only allows them to expand the infection scope through the numerous individuals but also ties up the attention of these powerful beings, leaving no time to prepare for the demigod position contest.

Indeed, a masterful strategy achieving multiple objectives with one stroke.

However.

Through these memories, having acquired more intelligence, Aiven was also entirely deterred from investigating further, planning to immediately obtain the original strain of the Cystic Fungus and leave.

He’s not had enough of life to meddle in an Upper Totem God’s affairs.

After a brief moment.

Though the cave was in complete disarray, it finally stabilized completely, yet Aiven heard a startled cry beside his ear.

"The exit has completely collapsed. Could we really be trapped underground with no way out? This is 300 meters deep, underground!"

Apsuya, holding Milan’s hand, spoke with an undeniable note of fear.

Looking up, Aiven also noticed the traces of a mountain collapse after the ball lightning explosion. Although their hiding spot had not been affected, the way out was entirely blocked.

He hadn’t expected his young disciple Angie, a non-prophet witch, to prove right with her words, finding himself actually buried underground by the collapsing mine.

But with reliance, Aiven was not at all flustered...

So.

"Don’t worry, I have a way!"

Without knowing where the mutual understanding came from, Aiven and "Roddy," speaking in unison, said the same sentence before simultaneously taking out a... Golden Compass that glittered even in the dim underground!

The two couldn’t help but exchange a glance.

"Uh, this is a bit awkward!"