Versatile mage c1 2021, p.53
Versatile Mage c1-2021, page 53
This meant that hiding in the underground bas.e.m.e.nts was also not safe. The underground is basically the home of the Colossal-eyed Ape Rats, they would all be dug up and eaten!
“Brother Fan, it turns out to be you! Seeing you here is good,” Zhang Xiaohou looked at Mo Fan as though he was looking at his own relatives, he was so emotional that his eyes nearly turned red.
Recalling when they had encountered a Magical Beast for the first time, many people had lost consciousness from fear.
Today, a large number of Magical Beast were leaving behind corpses and bloodstains in the city which they lived in. There were not many who was able to stay calm, there was already many girls who were crying.
For the students, all of this came too suddenly. It was too scary, and they had no idea on the circ.u.mstances regarding their own families.
Seeing the entire class sunken into fear and despair, it made Mo Fan recall the earthquake, tsunami, and storm-like calamities from his former world. In front of natural disaster, humans really were tiny. Even forming a group to fend off Magical Beasts, these people were still helpless.
“Awuuuuuuuu~~~!”
A howl suddenly came from the basketball court in the back of the mountain. The student who was sitting closest to the window gazed down, feeling an absolute terror as he discovered an One-eyed Magic Wolf had jumped down from the hill. Its vigorous body ferociously stomped on the basketball court.
The entire cement court was deeply crushed, immediately broken to bits. That One-eyed Magic Wolf’s scarlet red eye slowly looked up as it gazed at the delicious students inside the classroom with an incomparable greed.
With their own two eyes, they saw this hungry and greedy wolf, and simultaneous shrieks from girls came from the school building.
“Ma… Ma… Magical Beast!!!” The male student sitting next to the window who was usually diligently studying went completely pale.
Compared to the Spirit Wolf from before, this One-eyed Magic Wolf’s evil tendencies seemed even worse. Looking at it face-to-face caused their entire bodies to go numb.
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Translator: Tofu
Editor: RED
*[Long Taos]: side characters in Chinese operas who perform acrobatics and fight scenes
*[12.47 to 13.07]: don't ask me about the tree sap
Chapter 96 - Vanguard Squad
“Students, come with me. Wind Magicians, go to the front and find us a path!” Xue Musheng hastily yelled out.
The students closest to the window began to frantically escape to the corridor. However, there were a large number of students from other classes in the corridor, they crowded around the place as they all lost their rationality while shrieking.
Shrieking, cries, and the yells of the teachers had resounded throughout the entire corridor. It was a situation where it was difficult for even teachers to control.1
Mo Fan was still standing in the corridor, cautiously watching those students who were frightened to death. His eyes displayed a bit of grief.
They were just like a group of wild deer. As soon as a deer was frightened by a wolf, it would begin run away. Once all of the other deer saw this, they would also frantically try to escape. In reality, there was only one wolf, and as long as the deer stood united and raised their horns, a few more wild wolves would not necessarily be their match.
This fear was contagious, even Mo Fan’s former world was similar in this sense. Otherwise, how could so many shocking stampedes happen?
The people in the classroom were all so scared that most of them took a step back, the skills they were taught on daily basis had all disappeared in this moment.
“Lightning Strike, Mad Whip!”
A chant was resounded from the classroom. Mo Fan turned his head around and saw Xu Zhaoting had made his move in anger. Traces of ferocious Lightning emerged from the air.
The traces of Lightning frantically whipped toward the One-eyed Magic Wolf under the control of Xu Zhaoting. Although the accuracy was somewhat lacking, there was still some lightning traces that hit the One-eyed Magic Wolf.
The Lightning Arc pierced through and surged in turns. Every time it swept past the One-eyed Magic Wolf, it caused it to let out low howls of pain. The flesh of its body began to twitch beneath the might of the Mad Whip.
“Hmph, just an One-eyed Magic Wolf scared them all into dogs, a group of cowards!” Xu Zhaoting swept his gaze past the people who were lagging behind those who ran away, his gaze full of disdain.
“That’s right, we have so many people, why are we still scared of just a few One-eyed Magic Wolves?” Wang Sanpang also stood up.
Just as he finished speaking, Wang Sanpang used a short period of three seconds to finish his Earth Ripple spell.
His pair of fat hands smacked onto the floor of the classroom, in an instant, a ripple circulated from the classroom all the way down to the cement campus grounds. The paralyzed One-eyed Magic Wolf was ferociously bumped into the other basketball hoop under the quick movements of Earth Ripple.
Zhoumin could be considered to have some courage, she quickly finished her Fire Star Path and a ball of Fire Burst emerged in her grasp.
Taking advantage of the One-eyed Magic Wolf having fallen down, Zhoumin’s Fire Burst quickly streaked across the flagpole of the school as it accurately hit the One-eyed Magic Wolf that was being pressed beneath the basketball pole.
Fire Burst: Burning Bone’s might was naturally powerful. In an instant, it burned the backboard into ashes. The One-eyed Magic Wolf began to constantly howl under the fire as it rolled around the campus grounds.
Soon enough, another few Magicians with different elements began to cast their spells from different locations. Judging by the level of their spells, it was clear that it was some Practical Teachers who cast them. Under their cooperation, they quickly turned the rash One-eyed Magic Wolf into a scorched carcass!
Seeing the One-eyed Magic Wolf being quickly disposed of, Mo Fan slightly let out a sigh of relief. It seems like not all of the people in school were a group of losers.
“Come over here,” Xue Musheng said to the seemingly calm students who remained in the classroom.
Xu Zhaoting, Zhao Kunsan, Mu Bai, Zhoumin; these were the people who were able to directly face Magical Beasts back in Practicals. It had been a year since then, their fear toward Magical Beasts was no longer as deep as before.
All of them came over. They didn’t know why Xue Musheng had suddenly made them stay behind.
“Originally, this kind of responsibility should be carried by the teachers. However, there are sightings of large numbers of One-eyed Magic Wolves in the back mountains, and the strength of our teachers is limited. Now, we have no choice but to draw support from the strengths of you students,” Xue Musheng said with a seriousness that no one had seen before.
“Teacher, let’s not waste too much time in this kind of time. If you have something to say, hurry up and spill it.” Wang Sanpang couldn’t help but speak up.
“We need a Vanguard Squad. I’m afraid the Vanguard Squad will mainly be comprised of students.
“The Vanguard Squad will be separated from the Main Group, practically independent. Furthermore, they have to walk ahead of the Main Group.
“The nearly two thousand people from our school will follow the path opened by the Vanguard Squad. Your group has the strongest combat prowess amongst our entire school, you are definitely not inferior to any teacher. Thus, we hope you can form a Vanguard Squad that can show everyone the way to the Safety Shelters,” Xue Musheng said.
As this was said, all of these students turned silent. For a few moments, they were unable to unable to process this plan.
The truth is, they themselves didn’t know if they were able to fight against Magical Beasts after they separated themselves from the main group. Having them become the Vanguard Squad, the risk was indeed quite big.
“This decision is up to yourselves, we won’t force you. If you aren’t willing, then I will go and find other students. We will just be delayed for a bit longer and the danger will be a bit larger… This Vanguard Squad will be led by me, please give me your response as soon as possible, alright?” Xue Musheng said.
“Mrs. Xue, I’ll join.” Zhoumin had no hesitation, she took the initiative and joined the Vanguard Squad first.
“I will also join.” Xu Zhaoting also didn’t ponder over it too much.
Wang Sanpang and Xu Zhaoting were good friends. Since Xu Zhaoting have already joined, he could only join with a bitter face.
Xue Musheng slightly nodded. With a Lightning Magician here, the Squad’s combat prowess would be one level higher. They should be able to successfully arrive at the Safety Shelters.
“I will also join.”
Mu Bai and his henchman Zhao Kunsan glanced at each other, and then finally chose to join.
Following this, an Earth element student with an exceptionally good grade also joined.
Zhang Xiaohou however left his gaze on Mo Fan, it seemed as though he was processing this plan.
“Brother Fan, are we following the main group or are we choosing the Vanguard Squad?” Zhang Xiaohou asked.
“Let’s join the Vanguard,” Mo Fan replied.
“I didn’t know that Brother Fan was also a man with high principles.” Zhang Xiaohou was really able to find joy in sorrows. He was still able to make a joke in this kind of situation.
“Going with the main group is even more dangerous,” Mo Fan said indifferently.
“Why?” Zhang Xiaohou asked, puzzled.
The main group had at least seventeen hundred people. With that kind of colossal number, even if they were to suffer the attacks of a group of Magical Beasts, they still wouldn’t be in much danger. After all, the seventeen hundred people were practically Magicians.
“You saw what just happened. With the appearance of a single One-eyed Magic Wolf, the entire floor panicked. That is the instinct of weaklings; not only are they transmitting fear to each other, they are also able to magnify the fear infinitely. Thus, the Main Group’s battle prowess will be limited. If I’m not wrong, then just a hundred Magical Beasts will completely wipe out the main group. With such a large group of people walking, that is equivalent to easily attracting a group of Magical Beasts, or even higher level Magical Beasts. I don’t want to be associated with a large group of sheep. When their time comes, whether they live or die is not something they are in control of,” Mo Fan whispered to Zhang Xiaohou.
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Translator: Tofu
Editor: RED
Chapter 97 - Sudden Death
After Zhang Xiaohou heard this, he looked at Mo Fan in surprise. He had never considered this point.
Zhang Xiaohou himself was unable to distinguish whether what Mo Fan said was right or wrong, he just subconsciously believed in Mo Fan’s choice.
Zhang Xiaohou actually did not know that Mo Fan could be considered a Hunter Magician with experience in hunting Beasts. Being influenced by that kind of environment caused Mo Fan to understand one very important principle, and that was to never think a large number of people would equal being powerful. Why would the Hunter’s Union only form smaller squads to go hunting Beasts in the outside world? Could it be that they didn’t know that the more people there were, the safer it was? The truth was, the more people there were, the easier it was for them to attract the attention of large numbers of Magical Beasts, and easier for them to become livestock for the higher level Magical Beasts.
The amount of people in the Vanguard Squad couldn’t be considered that many. If they were to meet a large number of Magical Beasts, they could most likely evade them. Their movements would be less restricted, and the decision to fight or escape could be made very quickly.
However, if they were in the main group...
If they didn’t meet large numbers of Magical Beasts, then they were safe and sound. However, if they did attract the attention of a Soldier-class creature and its group of Magical Beasts, then the main group would definitely get massacred. In this kind of massacre, your life would no longer be in your own control.
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The Vanguard Squad had ten people in total, Xue Musheng was in charge of it.
After passing through the gate of the school, they were no longer able to see anyone on the streets.
Trashwas everywhere, with shattered goods from the vendor stalls being flipped over and stores with their doors wide open, yet no one was watching...
When the Blood Alert was sounded, all of the civilians either hid in their houses, or they began to run toward the Safety Shelters with all their might; causing a complete mess. This was also the main reason why the people from the school were not able to retreat in time.
However, there were still a large amount of people who hadn’t retreated to the Safety Shelters. When Tian Lan Magic High began to move toward the Safety Shelters, many of the civilians in the vicinity began to rush over. They wanted to use the strength of the students and teachers of Tian Lan Magic High to safely pass through this three kilometers of dreadful street blocks.
The Vanguard Squad was walking at the very front of the main group. Zhang Xiahou moved to the top of a building and quickly saw this scene of civilians gathering toward the school...
“I’m afraid there’ll be over four thousand people in this move. In this area of the city, there are many people who didn’t reach the Safety Shelters in time. They didn’t dare to move by themselves, so now they’re like iron dust on magnets as they constantly get absorbed into the main group from different locations,” Zhang Xiaohou said to everyone after he jumped down from the old building.
“Mmm, with more people, they should be able to prevent the attack of some smaller groups of Magical Beasts. However, they will also become a burden for the entire main group,” Xue Musheng observed coolly.
Magic High Schools were different from Magic Universities. The students of Magic Universities had more battle prowess than regular army mages, but Magic High Schools nurtured groups of magic student apprentices who weren’t even eighteen. A student able to protect themselves in this Blood Alert could already be considered good, protecting a mass of people was really too far-fetched.
“This is also something we can’t do anything about, it’s not like we can throw them away and ignore them,” Zhoumin said.
“Let’s go, now that the main group has increased to four thousand people, the burden on us has also increased,” Xue Musheng said.
Everyone nodded.
“Zhang Xiaohou, Zhang Yinglu, the two Wind Magicians are responsible for finding us a path. The others will closely follow behind.”
It was clear that Xue Musheng was a teacher who had gone through military training. He had some experience with deploying and troop formation, having some plans on what to do in this kind of situation.
---
The movement of the ten people could be considered rather quick. Passing through the main street after leaving the school gates and along the pedestrian lane, then going through the small area of houses with elevators would allow them to see the Safety Shelters.
The main street was around one kilometer long, and was completely blocked by abandoned cars. Let’s not even talk about a school bus being able to pass through, even a bike would have difficulty finding a smooth path.
Vehicle traffic was basically blocked, they could only rely on walking to get there. Three kilometers; it was far, yet not that far. It was short, yet not that short. Whether something would happen was out of their hands.
“There’s a Colossal-eyed Ape Rat in the book kiosk to the front.” Zhang Yinglu’s complexion was white as she ran back with gasping for breath.
“It is chewing on a child,” Zhang Xiaohou added.
By the time the two of them had discovered it, the child was already dead. But this kind of bloody scene had fallen into their eyes, sad and frightening.
After continuing their advance, they moved past a big bus that was diagonally parked and blocking the street. They were able to see the book kiosk dyed by blood, and the ten or so year-old little boy that was laying in the pool of blood.
“Where’s the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat?” Xue Musheng creased his brow. He was looking around, but he couldn’t even find the shadows of the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat they were talking about.
“It was just…”
“Gugugugu!!”
Just when Zhang Yinglu was about to say something, a furred creature ferociously jumped out of the rear of a Volkswagen to the side, its two large incisors biting at Zhang Yinglu, who was caught completely unprepared.
_Puuuchi~_
Zhang Yinglu was a very thin and weak girl. Her neck was torn out by the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat in front of the stunned Squad, her life’s-blood began to spurt out all over the advertis.e.m.e.nts on the side of the bus.
This scene was too sudden!
Even Mr. Xue Musheng did not have any kind of preparation for it. He was standing right next to Zhang Yinglu as the blood from her neck splashed over his face.
“Hide in the bus, hurry!” In the instant the stunning change happened, Mo Fan shouted at everyone.
Everyone woke up from their daydreams as they staggered toward the bus.
Xue Musheng’s reaction could be considered quite fast, he pulled Zhang Yinglu along as he jumped into the bus. The dreadful Colossal-eyed Ape Rat was going to continue its massacre, but had crashed into the doorway of the bus due its body shape.
The other people were also somewhat frantic, they also hid themselves in a bus.
As Xu Zhaoting saw Zhang Yinglu being killed like that, he began to chant the power of Lightning in his rage.
Mo Fan originally wanted to link his Star Path also. However, the Beast-Seeking powder that he sprinkled had actually floated in different directions, causing him to suddenly realize something!
