Wizard: I Can Refine Everything-Chapter 466 - 11: Wizard Hero Medal

Battle Zone Command Center of the Third War Zone.

The Twilight Great Wizard’s clone, dressed in a black robe, stood at the edge of the map, silently observing the strategic map of the entire Galaxy World hung on the wall.

On the map, the Mayfly-controlled areas were sparsely scattered, their traces as elusive as antelopes hanging their horns out of sight.

"Sir, this report requires your review."

A Three Rings Wizard approached him and handed him a scroll with both hands.

The Twilight Great Wizard took the scroll and then opened it to take a glance. In the next instant, the Soul Fire in his eyes suddenly flared up like torches.

"A massive spread of Parasitic Mayflies? What’s going on!"

Faced with the Twilight Great Wizard’s question, the nearby Three Rings Wizard spoke up with some difficulty, "Sir, according to a Black Wizard squad’s intelligence, Fortress 192 has experienced a Mayfly parasite infestation, and everyone within the fortress has been parasitized, except for the Commander.

The Black Wizard who passed through their location has spread the parasite to other fortresses."

"Useless!"

After hearing his subordinate’s report, the Twilight Great Wizard immediately burst into anger. The Soul Fire in his eyes almost set his head ablaze.

A single fortress being completely infected was not a significant matter; after all, the number of fortresses wiped out by the Mayflies these past few months was not small.

But being the source of the infection and spreading the Parasitic Mayflies to several other fortresses was enough to make the Twilight Great Wizard quite enraged.

The logistics command had just rejected his request for reinforcements, only approving five out of the ten requested legions of ten thousand troops each. Without the Star Realm’s control of the skies, a shortage of troops meant that any fortress, if undermanned, could be vulnerable to a Mayfly breach.

Such an incident at this time meant that he was even more hard-pressed for troops.

Could it be that the turning point in the Galaxy World’s war fronts was to start from his Third War Zone?

"Has the situation been confirmed?"

"Yes, sir, after verification, a total of twelve fortresses have issues, with the number of individuals parasitized..."

The subordinate hesitated for a moment, and the Twilight Great Wizard, as if he were a living person, took a deep breath.

"How many?"

"The total number is estimated to reach thirty thousand."

Hearing this news, the Twilight Great Wizard only felt darkness before his eyes. He was already facing a shortfall of fifty thousand troops, and now with this debacle, the gap had skyrocketed by an additional eighty thousand.

"Can they be saved?" the Twilight Great Wizard asked with some difficulty.

"Very difficult," the subordinate reported honestly, "Apart from some wizards who have just been parasitized and the Undead Wizards who have fully transformed, the rest must have their brains destroyed to be removed,"

"What about converting all to Undead?"

"Sir, we don’t have enough materials."

The Twilight Great Wizard raised his voice, "Then file an application! These thirty thousand wizards must be saved at all costs!"

The subordinate silently took note of the Twilight Great Wizard’s order and then continued, "There’s another issue. Fortress 192 has been completely parasitized.

According to our intelligence, a vast swarm of Mayflies is currently besieging the fortress..."

"Stop!"

The Twilight Great Wizard suddenly interrupted.

"You just said that Fortress 192 has been completely parasitized; how could there be any resistance against the Mayfly attack?"

"Because an operative provided support to Fortress 192," the subordinate’s voice held a hint of awe, "According to this operative, the situation inside Fortress 192 has been brought under control. The main problem now is the Mayflies attacking from outside.

We now need to make a decision on whether to hold Fortress 192 or..."

"Keep it!" the Twilight Great Wizard stated decisively, "Since the fortress is still in our hands, we cannot afford to lose it under any circumstances.

Fortress 192 is too close to the Teleportation Gate, and we must not give it up."

After saying this, the Twilight Great Wizard paused for a moment and then continued, "Can we establish communication now? I want to personally communicate with that operative."

"We temporarily can’t establish communication; the operative is currently in a combat situation."

"Then send a message!" the Soul Fire in the Twilight Great Wizard’s eyes flared up again, "Tell him that as long as he holds on until reinforcements arrive and has not completely lost the fortress,

I will award him a Wizard Star!"

Upon hearing the Twilight Great Wizard’s promise, the entire command room fell silent for a moment.

The Wizard Star Medal, also known as the Wizard Hero Medal, is second only to the Golden Star Medal among all the honors officially bestowed by the Wizard World.

Those who are awarded this medal can enjoy a significant discount when exchanging merits for resources, applicable to all projects, meaning even Great Wizard advancement qualifications could enjoy a sixty percent discount.

Moreover, the medal bearer is entitled to the treatment of a First Level operative. A First Level operative’s authority is almost equivalent to a vice-minister, that is, a Great Wizard.

In critical moments, a First Level operative even has the right to command other operatives, bypassing the command center, which is nearly equivalent to a Three Rings Wizard in ordinary Plane Wars.

However, unlike the latter, this authority allows command over even Three Rings Wizards.

Finally, and most importantly, a bearer of this medal will draw the attention of the Wizard World Origin’s will.

If the wizard displayed adequate abilities, the Wizard World Origin might even proactively infuse them with the Origin’s power, enabling them to become an auxiliary World Guardian.

In other words, this was equivalent to a risk-free promotion to Great Wizard.

But to earn such honor, one must overcome challenges that are far beyond the ordinary.

A single person defending a fortress must face enemies that are almost insurmountable, while simultaneously rooting out enemies hidden within the fortress walls.

The difficulty of this task is akin to mortals trying to ascend to the heavens.

"Yes, sir, I will notify them immediately."

The subordinate performed a Wizard’s Salute to the Great Wizard of Dusk and quickly exited the Command Room.

The Great Wizard of Dusk returned to the map, looked at the markings on it, and muttered to himself,

"What exactly do these mayflies want to do?"

...

Fortress No. 192, where thunder, as fine as a fishing net, blocked swarming mayflies like a sandstorm outside.

The black-and-blue flames on Ulysses’s body had grown somewhat dim, and an imposing layer of Holy Light covered him completely. In his belly, a horrific wound continued to drip with fresh blood. A foreign entity was steadily corroding Ulysses’s body, such that even someone as formidable as Ulysses couldn’t spare the effort to deal with it.

Beside him, like a giant, Richard constantly wielded his Thunder Whip. The Chain Lightning from the Alchemy Gun Towers, under his skilled manipulation, formed a vast Thunder Net, completely blocking the path of the mayflies.

The mayflies tried to change their route of invasion, but the top of the fortress was the most vulnerable point.

If they were to assault the walls, the thick Enchanted Composite Bricks, along with the carefully prepared Protection Magic Array by the Fortress Wizard, would teach the mayflies what an iron wall truly looked like.

Of course, all of this was predicated on the disruption from Richard and his companion.

Without anyone to stop them, an army of 600,000 mayflies could create a hole in the fortress walls in mere minutes. Given a day or two, they could level the entire fortress.

"These mayflies sure have a lot of tricks up their sleeves."

With a powerful flap of his wings, Ulysses’s massive figure instantly vanished beneath the curtain of battle. A Light Spear pierced through the space where he had been just as he disappeared into the curtain.

During this battle, he had avoided a number of such snipes by using this technique.

The tactics of the mayfly army were clear; two mayfly generals led 200,000 mayflies each as shields, providing cover for the remaining 200,000 mayflies while persistently harassing Richard and Ulysses.

The 200,000 mayflies they covered evolved into a terrifying biological weapon. The barrage of powerful attacks forced Richard and Ulysses to remain fully vigilant.

The moment they dared to let their guard down, the swarm of mayflies would deliver a Light Spear without hesitation, ending their lives and futures.

"No matter how many tricks they have, it’s useless."

Richard’s body suddenly erupted with Divine Light, and like a shooting star, a radiant arrow emerged from the Void, hitting the bullseye at the center of the Divine Light.

The Divine Shield, a Divine Art, summoned a sphere of Divine Light to use as a shield to protect against physical and energy attacks.

Frankly speaking, that Richard and his companion had held on until now was largely due to the merit of Divine Arts.

600,000 mayflies were not something they could resist with their strength alone.

They were merely stalling for time, relying on the Power of Faith they had accumulated over the years.

Although they didn’t know what the Wizard Star Medal promised by the Great Wizard of Dusk actually was, as the overall Commander of the Third War Zone, he certainly wouldn’t offer anything substandard.

Power of Faith, once depleted, could be accumulated again, but missed opportunities were truly gone.

Just when the two were barely holding on, suddenly, three meteors appeared in the Heavenly Vault.

Upon seeing this, Richard felt a chill in his heart.

They were already barely coping with the 600,000 mayfly army. If another force were to join the fray, they would truly have to flee.

But then, a mammoth creature emerged from the top exit of the fortress.

"Those parasites have all been taken care of by me."

The Snake King, flicking his tongue, watched the mayfly swarm in the sky, a flash of caution in his eyes.

The number of mayflies was enough to pose a threat to him.

"Ha ha, old Snake, you’ve finally come out!"

Ulysses emerged from the curtain, just in time to see the Snake King appear from the fortress.

"Richard, we will create an opportunity for you to deliver the beheading strike!"

Although Ulysses and the Snake King were stronger than Richard, expertise lay in specialization. In terms of beheading mayflies, their elaborate techniques were no match for Richard’s simple and unadorned Radiant Concentration.

The complete Radiation Rule endowed Richard with abilities beyond those of third-level creatures.

The Snake King, without wasting words, had already noticed the three supporting meteors in the Heavenly Vault.

Within each of these meteors were 100,000 mayflies. If they were allowed to join forces with the mayfly army, it was time for them to run.

A soft golden glow suddenly emanated from the Snake King’s body, as his entire serpent form became like it was cast from gold.

He twisted his body, and his gigantic form, several tens of meters long, soared into the sky in a manner that defied the laws of physics.

The golden light on the Snake King grew more resplendent, nullifying any light that touched him.

He looked at the mayfly army, proud like a Giant Dragon returned from ancient times.

A chilly voice reached Richard’s ears; it was the Snake King speaking.

"Get ready, I’m about to clear the path for you!"