Chapter 220: Summoning

Helag didn’t quite understand how these creatures identified allies.

For instance, the two-headed wolf was seeing the three of them for the first time, yet it recognized them as allies.

Helag could only guess that their identities were recorded in the magical array at Base 27.

The Shadow Altars might be linked to Base 27’s array, allowing summoned creatures to distinguish friend from foe.

Helag estimated that with his magic, he could summon over a hundred shadow creatures a day.

He turned to David and Reese, “Try it yourselves and see how many you can summon in a day.”

“I’ll give it a shot,” David said, stepping up to the altar and channeling magic like Helag to summon a shadow creature.

Minutes later, an eight-legged spider crawled down from the altar.

Reese screamed, instinctively clinging to Helag.

Helag felt a bit flustered.

“You’re a first-level wizard, and you’re scared of this?” he said, exasperated.

Reese, embarrassed, let go, “I-I’m terrified of spiders.”

The spider looked at Reese with its compound eyes, then crawled over, seemingly awaiting her command, making Reese retreat in fear.

“See, it likes you,” Helag chuckled.

Reese shook her head vigorously, clearly not fond of the spider.

Her skin prickled with goosebumps, showing her genuine fear.

“Go over there,” Helag directed the spider to the nearby forest.

The spider obeyed Helag’s command, scuttling into the woods.

“David, how many shadow creatures can you summon in a day?” Helag asked.

David pondered, “If I use all my magic, I can summon thirty.”

Helag nodded, turning to Reese, “Your turn.”

Reese approached the altar, summoning another spider, then quickly hid behind Helag.

“And you? How many can you summon?” Helag asked.

“A-About thirty-five,” Reese estimated.

Knowing their limits, Helag said, “Our daily task is fifty creatures. I’ll handle twenty, and you each do fifteen.”

Twenty shadow creatures wouldn’t drain much of his magic.

He wanted David and Reese to retain some combat ability.

If they used all their magic for summoning, they’d be defenseless in emergencies.

“We can take on more, Helag. You’re the main force,” David suggested, worried about Helag’s magic depletion.

Helag shook his head, “Don’t worry about my magic.”

He had stored magic in his diagram, and even after summoning twenty creatures, he’d have plenty left.

The trio began summoning creatures in turns, completing fifty in just over an hour.

The altar was soon surrounded by active shadow creatures.

The Lim Mountains were teeming with them, turning it into a shadow creature haven.

Shadow Altar summoning wasn’t limitless, capped at fifty per day.

To summon more, they’d wait for the altar to stabilize by the next day.

Forcing more summons would damage the altar, risking collapse from overuse.

Twenty altars spread across the Lim Mountains, spaced apart.

With these creatures, patrols no longer required personnel.

Base 27 could monitor the Lim Mountains through the shadow creatures.

In one day, a thousand creatures populated the mountains.

Though not enough for conquest, time would increase their numbers, forming a formidable force.

Parker seemed in no rush for a large-scale operation, likely planning to amass more power.

Helag glanced at Oberstein, knowing those who didn’t evacuate in time would face hell when the creature army emerged.

Oberstein’s fifty-thousand-strong army, though numerous, was no match for the creatures.

These creatures were at least knight-level, with some first and second-level wizard apprentices.

Knights were elite in the army, and the creature army’s absolute power would leave Oberstein’s border forces no chance.

***

A month later.

Lucio arrived in Oberstein with a coalition from three elven tribes.

The group included three magician-level spellcasters, over ten high-level spellcasters, and several mid and low-level ones, totaling over sixty.

The large elven contingent entered Oberstein.

Though the city had mostly cleared the ruins and was repairing the walls, the devastation still shocked Lucio.

He’d received news of the attack, the capture of three tribesmen and Severus, their whereabouts unknown.

Lucio wanted to come sooner but needed time to coordinate with the other tribes, ensuring their cooperation.

Traveling quickly on special-bloodline horses, they reached Oberstein.

The city’s population had dwindled, with most who could leave already gone.

Those remaining had reasons not to leave.

Once a bustling border city, Oberstein was now desolate.

Seeing this, Lucio felt somewhat relieved.

He knew the brutality of fighting wizards.

The fewer civilians, the fewer unnecessary casualties.

Tyron soon learned of the elves’ arrival and hurried to meet them.

He looked older, with more white hair and a weary demeanor.

He’d been overwhelmed, responsible for everything.

The governor was no longer in Oberstein, summoned to Seastone City by the king for questioning.

Now, Tyron was in charge, with full authority.

The king had one demand: he didn’t understand wizards, but Oberstein must be defended.