Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 551 Air Superiority
"Did they successfully evacuate the floating island fortress?" Eye of Illusion closed the bomb lever again, turned to look at the astrologer standing by the pod observation window and asked.

The Astrologer put away the alchemical communicator and replied calmly, "The infiltration team encountered a large number of enemies on the floating island. In the end, they used a large amount of alchemical explosives to blast a breach and pull them out... There are serious injuries. The teacher has already gone down to provide support."

The Eye of Illusion rubbed his hands and suggested, "All the bombs have been dropped. Should we also go down to reinforce? And while we're at it, we can also clean out the demon lizardmen roaming around the outer edge of the floating island?"

"Your Majesty's orders don't authorize this action..." The Astrologer didn't even bother turning around and said coldly, "According to the action plan, only the teacher has the authority to leave the airship alone after receiving the distress signal. I advise you not to act on your own."

Having hit a snag, the Eye of Illusion nodded awkwardly, walked to the observation window, and looked down with her.

The flames and smoke that rose after the intensive bombing had gradually subsided, and the silver moon hanging on the top of the mountain, which was about to set, was still bright... Without the obstruction of clouds and smoke, the ten airships hovering in the sky appeared extremely eye-catching.

"You said... these monsters can sense the surge of magic power in our bodies, but they don't react to magic bullets or shells infused with liquid magic power. What's the reason for this?"

The Astrologer was stunned for a moment, then gave the Eye of Illusion a surprised look. "Why are you suddenly using your brain? Isn't theoretical research your worst skill?"

"Haha, doesn't Your Majesty always preach the slogan 'Practice makes perfect' at the Academy?" The Eye of Illusion laughed awkwardly. "In my opinion, actual combat can also yield valuable truth and knowledge."

"The Lizardmen lack the ability to perceive pure magic energy. Neither Your Majesty nor the Academy of Sciences have yet made any progress..." The astrologer stared blankly below, muttering softly, "Teacher has also tried to discuss this with Dean Arturo and the others. They believe these monsters seem to be born to restrain spellcasters. As Your Majesty put it, this is how their species evolved."

It is also to restrain the spellcasters... The magical weapons developed by His Majesty that can be controlled by mortals are also claimed by the top military officials to be able to overthrow the arrogant extraordinary people. The invading alien enemies also have the talent to perfectly resist magic.

The Eye of Illusion couldn't help but feel a surge of shame and frustration. He reluctantly argued, "That's not a complete countermeasure. Even if spellcasters don't rely on magical weapons, they still have many ways to deal with these monsters that can only move in the deep sea and on land... Don't forget, we have mastered the ability to fly."

Yes... The secret of magic made humans go through hardships, and finally they had the privilege of being born to conquer the sky, just like the ancient dragons. It was also because of this that during the Dragon War, the human race was able to unite with the demons and other short-lived races to completely defeat the ancient dragons that had ruled this land for thousands of years, and eventually caused them to gradually decline and wither away.

The astrologer narrowed his eyes and dealt him a fatal blow in an instant. "Don't forget that we were a defeated tribe that was expelled. If flying alone can defeat the enemy, then why were we exiled to the corner of the continent? Don't tell me it's because the ancient high-level wizards didn't learn to fly?"

The Eye of Illusion was choked and speechless. He could only angrily pick up the sniper-type magic rifle customized for him from the weapon rack and muttered softly, "You're right, but magic weapons are also created by spellcasters... They have nothing to do with mortals. Your Majesty will surely become a great figure on par with the founder of the Federation, that hidden legend!"

Before he could finish his boasting, the astrologer's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he pointed downwards and exclaimed in surprise: "Look! The top of the floating island!"

The top of the floating island fortress, which had been shattered by dozens of high-explosive bombs and was full of potholes, suddenly had seven or eight strange protrusions that stood like miniature craters.

With the help of the Transfiguration Mage's modified superior eyesight, the Eye of Illusion could even see that the craters were constantly expanding, contracting, and wriggling... His rich combat experience immediately made him feel that something was wrong, as if he was a hundred meters high in the air, but was being stared at by some strange thing for no reason.

A layer of sticky sweat suddenly broke out on his back. Just as he was about to reach for the communicator from his waist, almost instantly... a stream of thick black mucus suddenly erupted from the volcanic crater of the floating island below. As soon as the mucus emerged from the volcanic vent, it immediately solidified into a thick black crystal spike, which struck the cluster of hovering airships with lightning speed.

"Speed up and take off!" The Astrologer turned her head and rushed towards the magic core that controlled the power of the airship, but the Eye of Illusion grabbed her at the critical moment, kicked open the maintenance door on the top of the pod, and flew out at an angle like lightning.

After a loud bang, the two men who had barely managed to keep their balance in mid-air turned their heads and saw that the airship, which had just been floating in the sky, had been pierced directly through the pod and the airbag above it by a huge crystal spike. The violent impact directly detonated the magic power core and energy storage tank, turning them into a huge cloud of fire. Then the fragments of the airship exploded and flew everywhere... The heaviest part of the pod wreckage fell directly from the sky.

"They actually possess weapons that can lock onto aerial targets and launch a direct counterattack!" The Eye of Illusion widened its eyes in disbelief. "Then why didn't they react in time when we launched the bombing just now?"

Without saying a word, the Astrologer cast a flying spell and sped towards another airship that was unfortunately hit by the airbag... The companion on that airship was a mid-level wizard who had no ability to escape.

A wave of black thorns from the floating island below dealt a fatal blow to the three airships in the air formation - two were directly detonated by the impact, and one penetrated the airbag and was slowly falling to the ground. Fortunately, the only two high-level ones with the ability to fly arrived in time and rescued their panicked and desperate companions.

The rest of the airships immediately dispersed their formation, either quickly increasing their altitude or moving sideways to the sides of the valley to avoid the attack. Fortunately, the black water nozzle that suddenly appeared on the floating island did not immediately launch the next wave of spray, giving the remaining people a chance to react and escape.

……

"How could this happen?" Harvey stood up from his chair in shock and anger, pointing at the front-line intelligence that had just been delivered half an hour ago, two magic stones that recorded the battles of the infiltration team and the air team respectively.

Although the infiltration team paid the price of three members being seriously injured, at least there were no casualties, and the internal intelligence of the floating island brought back is still to be analyzed.

But the situation of the air team was beyond everyone's expectations. The air advantage they relied on was unexpectedly counterattacked by the enemy without them being prepared or aware of it.

It turns out that the Lizardmen have the ability to resist aerial attacks...

But why weren't they used in the first place during the attack? This is the big question on everyone's mind.

Harvey stared blankly at the scene presented in the magic stone, and suddenly a thought that he found hard to accept flashed through his mind.

Could it be that... the anti-aircraft counterattack weapon of the Lizardmen suddenly evolved in a very short period of time after being attacked from the air?

(End of this chapter)