**Chapter 105: The Wizard Camp**
“Fifty kilometers ahead, five people…”
Jie Ming paused, his expression turning peculiar.
“What’s wrong?” Amy asked, a hint of tension in her voice.
Jie Ming rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Hold on…”
He delved into his internal space, activating his Alchemy Technique to temporarily modify the core module of a micro-eye.
Switching its “vibration search” to “Analysis Technique,” he linked it to the scouting system of the other micro-eyes. With a flick of an energy bolt, he propelled the modified micro-eye toward the detected team.
With the Analysis Technique aiding in energy fluctuation detection, Jie Ming’s expression soon relaxed. “It’s the resonance of wizardry.”
The so-called wizardry resonance was the natural disturbance of ambient elemental energy caused by meditation techniques and wizardry models.
“They’re wizards!” Victor said, his spirits lifting.Amy perked up as well.
The contract they signed upon enrolling at Noren Academy proved effective. At least in the absence of deep grudges, most wizards from Noren Workshop encountered on the planar battlefield were trustworthy.
The other party seemed to have detected the fluctuations of Jie Ming’s Analysis Technique and began cautiously moving toward their position.
However, they hadn’t gone far before running into enemies.
Sensing the intense energy fluctuations on his “tactical map,” Jie Ming didn’t immediately approach.
He double-checked the micro-eye’s feedback, confirming the standard Noren Workshop wizardry fluctuations with no anomalies, before leading the trio carefully closer.
“Stop.”
As they neared, Jie Ming signaled for them to take cover.
In the distance, a team of five wizards was locked in fierce combat with a swarm of giant spiders.
Their spell radiance intertwined with the spiders’ venom, the battle intense.
Jie Ming’s group didn’t intervene rashly, both as a precaution and to demonstrate their lack of hostility.
Only after the battle concluded did Jie Ming lead Amy and Victor to reveal themselves.
“We’re apprentices from Noren Academy 13, seeking support,” Jie Ming stated directly, declaring their identity.
The captain of the wizard team, an unremarkable second-level wizard, scrutinized them cautiously.
However, having observed Jie Ming’s earlier actions and recognizing the unmistakable energy fluctuations of the Analysis Technique, there was little room for conflict.
Confirming the Analysis Technique originated from Jie Ming, the captain nodded. “So, you’re assessment apprentices. To make it here so quickly, your strength must be impressive. Follow us—the camp is just ahead.”
Led by the wizard team, the trio soon reached their destination.
The view opened up to a vast, cleared plain where a wizard camp, constructed entirely of metal, stood prominently.
Yet, it wasn’t the war-torn, heavily fortified fortress Jie Ming had imagined.
Instead, the camp resembled a newly established, somewhat sparse miniature version of Noren Academy.
At its center stood several towering rune towers, surrounded by numerous buildings and training grounds, even an area that looked like a public mess hall.
Though hastily built and lacking the ornate patterns of the academy’s architecture, the camp exuded an air of calm.
“This is our wizard stronghold?” Amy asked, surprised.
“Yes, apprentice. This is our frontline temporary command post,” the lead wizard explained. “Most wizard teams are out on missions. Only logistics and a few stationed personnel remain here.”
The wizard team didn’t elaborate further, but their demeanor suggested they weren’t overly concerned about sudden native attacks.
Jie Ming and his companions understood why.
Though the interior seemed sparse, Jie Ming could sense the terrifying power embedded in the camp’s details.
The surrounding area was saturated with dense, almost tangible elemental fluctuations—a testament to countless rune circuits and energy nodes.
If fully activated, this small academy would transform into a fearsome war machine, capable of shredding any enemy that dared approach.
At the camp’s perimeter, rows of war golems of varying sizes stood—from scouting models just over human height to siege types dozens of meters tall.
Various summoned creatures, from abyssal hounds to elemental giants, were scattered around the camp.
Combined with the high-level wizards stationed inside and the camp’s own defenses, it could hold its own even if the gods of this world suddenly launched an all-out assault.
The lead wizard departed after escorting them, suggesting that bringing encountered apprentices to the camp was part of their mission.
Guided by a camp golem, the trio arrived at a rune tower in the camp’s center—the hub for identity registration and mission assignments.
“Please register your identity information, apprentices,” a wizard in charge of registration said without looking up.
The trio placed their apprentice badges into the corresponding rune slots, and a stream of information instantly flooded their minds.
“Welcome to the Elosia frontline camp, apprentices,” a cold voice echoed in their heads as their permission lists appeared clearly before them.
“You may use the camp’s teleportation array to forcibly breach the planar barrier and leave, but this will mean automatically forfeiting this assessment, and you will be directly teleported back to Noren Workshop headquarters.”
“You may use the camp’s facilities for resupply and trade raw materials, special items, or new knowledge gained in this plane with the workshop.”
“However, you cannot access this plane’s wizard war mission system.”
The final rule caught Amy and Victor off guard.
“Why not?” Victor couldn’t help but ask.
The registration wizard finally looked up, his expression blank. “Simple. Your purpose in this plane is to undergo the assessment. The mission system’s tasks are issued by us formal wizards based on intelligence gathered from the frontlines.”
“That intelligence itself is a resource. If we handed it to you directly, what would be the point of this assessment? You must learn to scout, judge, and contribute on your own.”
“The workshop seeks elites who can survive and create value in unknown environments, not soldiers who merely follow orders. Understood?”
The trio exchanged glances and nodded reluctantly.