Wizard: I Can Refine Everything-Chapter 229 - 13 Ambush? Artillery Barrage!

Fifty kilometers away from the Fire Lizard ambush site.

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"Alright, give it a try and start it up."

Richard closed the enchanted armor plate of the Magic Support Vehicle and shouted to Iyad.

Practical testing was crucial for a weapon, and though Richard's Magic Support Vehicle was designed with various issues in mind, it still encountered malfunctions after being tested by the extreme conditions of the Red Sun World.

The temperature on the Red Soil Plain of the Red Sun World could easily reach sixty degrees during the day, and at noon, it would rise to eighty degrees. However, as the sun set, the temperature of the Red Soil Plain would plummet below zero.

Such extreme weather required the engine's cooling system of the Magic Support Vehicle to operate at its limit during the day, while the sharp drop in temperature at night could easily cause warping of some of its small components.

But with Richard, the designer, serving as a technical consultant for the White Wizard team, the issues with the Magic Support Vehicle were all resolved under his operation.

After this mission, Richard planned to upgrade all the Magic Support Vehicles to adapt to the harsh environment of the Red Sun World.

"Okay. I'll give it a start."

The hybrid engine roared wildly as it was infused with Magic Power.

"Everything's normal! Ready to set off."

Hearing Iyad's voice, Richard felt relieved.

As long as the problem was solved, it was fine.

It was Richard's first time providing after-sales service, and he felt immense pressure. If he failed to address the problems with the Magic Support Vehicle, it would definitely affect future sales of the vehicles.

Fortunately, he had some skills, and they hadn't encountered any insurmountable problems on their journey.

He opened the door and sat in the passenger seat, and the team continued towards the location where the signal was emitted. However, for the sake of caution, Richard released Ulysses to scout ahead.

After all, they were on the front line, and if any Fire Lizards alerted the Black Wizards and set a trap there, it would be bad.

Seeing Richard release Ulysses, Iyad hurriedly tried to stop him:

"Master Richard, you shouldn't let your Magic Pet go out. Those Fire Lizards have beast hunters specifically targeting our Magic Pets. If your Magic Pet hasn't gone through special modifications, it could be caught by the beast hunters of the Fire Lizards, and you would lose a Soul Seed."

But Richard just smiled and shook his head: "Don't worry, my Magic Pet is not weak."

Before long, Ulysses returned, holding a small Dragon Beast in its claws that had dragon scales and resembled a pterosaur.

"Gah, these little creatures bred by the lizards are pretty fierce, good fighters, tasty too, the bones are crisply delicious."

Iyad was shocked by the courage of Ulysses.

These beast hunters usually operated in groups, and even a Second Level Magic Pet would be torn to shreds if encountered.

And yet, this crow managed to catch a beast hunter and return fully intact.

It had the strength that could match some Wizards.

Looking at Richard, Iyad felt that this master was becoming more formidable.

Alchemy was impressive, the Magic Pet was so powerful, and his own strength must undoubtedly be strong as well. Plus, Richard looked so young...

Thinking this, Iyad couldn't help but sigh.

The gap between Wizards could be larger than that between Wizards and the natives.

"Just get to the point; are there any Fire Lizards lying in ambush ahead?" Richard took the hunted creature from Ulysses's claws, sealed it with a casual motion, and tossed it into his Magic Pocket.

"Gah, there's indeed an ambush, but not many. However, given your strength..." Ulysses paused, "a direct assault might be risky. Though I haven't included your vehicle in the calculation, I wasn't involved at the time, so I don't know how powerful it truly is."

Richard frowned slightly: "Tell me about the location and strength of the Fire Lizard ambush."

"Gah, I took a quick look, several First Levels, three Second Levels, but this lot have Spiritual Camouflage, they are clearly among the elite of the Fire Lizards."

"The location?"

Richard took Iyad's Crystal Ball map, and as Magic Power was infused, a map hologram appeared in front of Richard.

Ulysses made a quick estimate and then pointed at the map with its beak.

Richard looked at the location and fell silent for a moment.

"...It's at the signal emission site. Iyad, our mission has already failed."

"Hmm!?"

Iyad slammed on the brakes and brought the entire convoy to a halt.

"Master, we need to find the living or the dead. Without physical evidence, it's going to be hard to explain to the command center."

Commands from the headquarters aren't always completed, and the Wizards who survive uncompleted tasks need to submit a written report detailing the situation at the time to the command center.

While such reports aren't required to have evidence, this was for those Wizards who were lucky enough to survive.

These people often lost companions and were severely injured, so it was normal not to have evidence.

But the entire team of Squad 13, with no injuries and even with the Magic Support Vehicle unused, evidently needed to submit some evidence proving either the death of the Wizard or the ambush of the Fire Lizards.

"Evidence? That's easy."

Richard remained calm as he took out an Image Capturing Crystal Ball from his Magic Pocket.

"The firing range of the Magic Support Vehicle is not short. We'll launch a thirty-second barrage in the direction of the ambush. It will ensure safety and blast that group of Fire Lizards sky-high.

Then my Magic Pet will record the scene with the Image Capturing Crystal Ball."

"With this, we now have evidence, and the Magic Support Vehicle has been tested. Two birds with one stone."

Upon hearing this, Iyad instantly agreed with Richard's method. It was indeed a strategy with two-fold benefits, a satisfactory solution for all involved.

"Just do as the Master says. Later, our squad will follow the Master's lead."

The various data for the Magic Support Vehicle might be clear to the few Wizards driving it, but compared to Richard, the technical consultant, their proficiency was far from sufficient.

Weapons perform differently on a test range and on a battlefield; sometimes, fine-tuning is essential.

To achieve precise adjustments, either you have enough experience with the weapon from several battles,

or you understand it thoroughly, down to how each part operates and the manufacturing process and materials of those parts.

The Magic Support Vehicle was a new weapon; there was obviously no veteran with experience, but as the designer, Richard was able to fulfill the second requirement.

"Alright, I'll take command later."

...

In the ambush spot, the Silver Horned Fire Lizard awaited the big fish to take the bait, somewhat bored.

In fact, this wasn't the first time it had used this tactic.

Allow a small fry to escape perilously, then wait for other Wizards to come for support.

This strategy was unfailingly effective.

It had employed it four times, and each time it yielded unexpected results. The best time, it wiped out an entire squad of White Wizards.

For this, it had even received a personal award from Azuhan's leader and Princess Akala—a Golden Medal.

For Silver Horned Nobles, gold wasn't considered precious, nor was pure gold.

But the honor that the medal represented was different.

These Silver Horned Nobles had never experienced poverty from childhood; if you applied Maslow's hierarchy of needs to them,

these Silver Horned Nobles were at the very top of the pyramid—self-actualization.

And the honor that the medal represented was an acknowledgment, a form of self-actualization.

It was something countless Silver Horned Nobles would gladly give their lives for and relish.

Suddenly, the Silver Horned Fire Lizard felt a slight trembling underfoot. It pressed its ear to the ground, and the soft rumbling continued to reach its ears.

Something was coming!

The Silver Horned Fire Lizard tapped the ground with its tail, a signal that the enemy was nearing.

The ambushing fire lizards tried to blend in with the environment as much as possible, adjusting their breathing, heartbeat, and body temperature to become virtually indistinguishable.

Their disguise was impeccable—Richard standing beside them might not even be able to detect them.

Only this time, they were not facing Wizards.

...

"North by northeast thirty-two degrees, maximum range."

Following Richard's command, the turrets on the backs of the four Magic Support Vehicles began to adjust positions. With a series of metallic squeaks from inside the turrets, all were ready.

"Is everyone prepared? Three! Two! One!"

"Fire!"

At Richard's order, the turrets mounted on the four Magic Support Vehicles instantly spat out a deadly barrage of fire.

In thirty seconds, the four vehicles unleashed one thousand four hundred and forty fireballs of three-hundred-and-fifty energy level. These fireballs streaked across the night sky, resembling a meteor shower from a distance.

Boom, boom, boom!

The rain began to fall.

Though launching fireballs at the very edge of their range could cause significant scatter, the sheer volume of one thousand four hundred and forty was enough to compensate for this drawback.

The ambush of fire lizards didn't wait for Wizards to take the bait, and their camouflage could not deceive the fireballs.

Thirty seconds later, the rain stopped.

The red soil was a mess, the ambush of fire lizards nearly wiped out, with the few survivors barely clinging to life.

In the sky, a crow with a Crystal Ball was recording the scene.

"Caw, this kid's contraption isn't half bad."

Ulysses returned to the caravan with the Crystal Ball, and after Iyad confirmed the content of the recording, he gladly accepted the Crystal Ball.

It would serve not only as evidence but also as proof of their achievements.

"This mission has been a trouble to the Master."

Richard waved his hand: "It's my duty; no trouble at all. I need to check the battlefield and collect some data.

You go on ahead. We've caused quite a stir; let's not draw the fire lizard's army here."

But as soon as Richard finished speaking, he saw a faint beam of light appear from the site of their artillery fire.

The beam exploded in the air into a dazzling firework, and upon seeing it, Richard's skin immediately tightened.

It felt like something had landed on him.

And Iyad, who had had many dealings with fire lizards, turned pale upon seeing the firework.

"Master, we need to flee instantly; that's a fire lizard's distress flare.

One of the fire lizards we bombed is a Silver Horned Noble."