Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 297 Enemies of the Forbidden Forest

Locke pondered for a moment. His permanent defensive field was already complete. As for adding spells and expanding the forest, that was a matter for later.

There's no benefit in staying at this research institute right now, so it's time to leave.

Currently, I don't possess any magic other than defensive magic. Staying in the research institute won't yield any results; it's just a waste of time.

"I should have asked Dean Levi to teach me a first-level offensive spell first. I should have learned an offensive first-level spell before heading out," Locke said. "But learning first-level magic isn't something that can be done in a day or two."

Locke held the Execution Hammer Mushroom, and the "All Plants Are Soldiers" spell model transformed into wave after wave of emerald green magical halos, enveloping the one-ringed magical plant.

The "All Plants Are Soldiers" spell is somewhat weak, but its advantage is that it is compatible with almost all magical plants, meaning that any magical plant can activate it.

It's essentially a universal driver.

Locke swung the hammer-shaped mushroom in his hand, and the air whistled as the heavy mushroom smashed into the air, creating a shockwave.

The execution hammer mushroom has the unique ability to vary the size and weight of its head, and its stem can also be of varying lengths, allowing for versatile use.

With a wave of his hand, Locke unleashed a wall of air that surged through the research institute's tunnel like a tidal wave, sweeping into the distance before slamming into a wall at the other end of the tunnel.

At the same time, the emerald green halos that had enveloped the Execution Hammer Mushroom shattered one by one and vanished without a trace.

"Does the 'All Plants Are Soldiers' spell only allow for one use of the Hammerhead Mushroom after each incantation?" Locke pondered. "Never mind, it's enough anyway."

"At worst, I'll just recite the incantation a few more times."

"It will at least be useful for a while before I learn the first level of the Hammerhead Mushroom's accompanying spells, [Mycelium Branding] and [Mushroom Hammering]."

"Let's get out of here first."

Before leaving, Locke activated all the remaining intact defensive magic facilities in the research institute and, using the permissions of his Wizard Seed Badge, accessed the Magic Sunflower Garden system, guiding the magic source there to flow in.

This will improve the safety of the research institute.

Locke threw three Rotten Earth Amorphophallus plants into the Synthesis Cube. Now that he was a first-ring wizard, he could synthesize level 8 items!

At the same time, he flew out of the research institute using the Great Blue Owl Banana, then looked back at the Mysterious Swamp, and began searching for the first-class wizard apprentices he had led.

Because of the first-ring wizard's magical pressure, all the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest sensed the terrifying first-ring magical pressure and fled at full speed.

Even those dangerous magical plants automatically closed their flower buds and stopped opening their dangerous flowers.

It can be said that as long as first-ring wizards do not venture deep into the Forbidden Forest, there is basically nothing in the outer areas that can threaten them.

Locke moved through the Forbidden Forest as if it were his own backyard.

"found it."

Locke's magical pressure at this moment was like a vast river, while Sebastian and the others were like a small stream. Therefore, Locke easily detected the magical pressure of Sebastian and the other four.

Sebastian and his companions were seen fighting a Shadow Panther King.

The violet-colored Shadow Panther King possessed top-tier combat power among apprentices, moved like the wind, and had the ability to slip into the shadows. He left five veteran first-class wizard apprentices, including Sebastian, covered in blood.

"What the hell? The students at Lilith's Hut are really outrageous. Five seasoned first-class wizard apprentices, beaten like this by a beast with some strength." Locke, flying in mid-air, was quite speechless. "If I hadn't come, would they have suffered casualties in the battle?"

"Losses in the wizarding realm? That's a bit of a joke."

Locke descended from the sky, and the Black Lock Sword Bamboo, driven by his demonic pressure, unleashed its maximum power, unleashing a torrent of black demonic pressure.

The Shadow Panther King died on the spot.

Sebastian's face lit up with ecstatic joy upon seeing Locke descend from the sky. "It's Senior Locke! That's wonderful! With Senior Locke here..."

He took a few steps forward and swallowed hard, because the magical pressure emanating from Locke was immense, so heavy that his knees were trembling and he could barely stand.

This is... the magical pressure of a formal wizard.

Sebastian's expression changed drastically. "The magical pressure that erupted before was really emanating from Senior Locke... no, it was emanating from Instructor Locke."

"Master Locke, our purpose in entering the Forbidden Forest this time is to become a first-ring wizard!"

The expressions of the four people behind him varied, some showing awe, some admiration, and some feeling inferior, but in general, they all showed more respect for Locke, and the distance between them and Locke grew even greater.

Sebastian asked Locke somewhat nervously, "Master Locke, have you become a first-ring wizard?" Nixon and the others also looked at Locke.

Locke nodded slightly.

Everyone immediately looked at Locke with utmost respect and bowed to him.

Within the academy, formal wizards and apprentice wizards are completely different in status and class.

Even the most talented wizarding apprentices cannot be certain that they will become full-fledged wizards, because the genius wizarding apprentices who have fallen on the road to becoming full-fledged wizards have already lost their way.

Every formal wizard is someone who stands at a high position in a certain magical field.

Sebastian said to Locke, "Congratulations, Mentor Locke."

The others also started calling Locke "Mentor".

At Lilith Academy, formal wizards can hold positions of lecturer or higher, or even formal wizard mentors and chief mentors, which is why they call Locke a mentor.

This is standard practice within wizarding academies.

Locke nodded slightly and glanced at them. "You've all reached your limit; you can't continue. Consider the materials from this Shadow Panther King a gift from me. Keep them safe. I'm taking you out of the Forbidden Forest."

Sebastian and the others immediately showed extreme joy on their faces.

The Shadow Panther King is a top-tier apprentice-level magical creature. Even those wizard seedlings might not be able to hunt it down. Its fur and bones are excellent materials for crafting enchanted items, yet Locke gave it to them without batting an eye.

However, given Locke's current status and wealth, he naturally wouldn't be interested in such things.

Locke led them back towards Mistlin Road.

Meanwhile, deep within the Forbidden Forest, every plant and tree served as the eyes and ears of the King of the Forbidden Forest. A being draped in a filthy black robe and possessing a pair of hairy beast-like feet appeared deep within the Forbidden Forest, secretly watching Locke.

Beside him followed a special fairy, the Silent Bee, which was dark green, bee-like in appearance, but the size of a medium-sized dog.

Silent Bee Fairy waved her antennae. "Oh dear, oh dear, although it's only the first ring, the number of nature guardians is already very small in this world."

"Are you really not going to see him?"

The King of the Forbidden Forest spoke in a voice like the clash of metal. "No need. If it's another type of nature guardian, even if it's only a first-level one, meeting them once wouldn't hurt."

"But Type I Nature Guardians are different from us. Disaster Beasts are natural calamities and symbols of nature's destructive power."

"He's simply not suited to be a nature guardian like me. And his level is too low."

"Moreover, he is also a human wizard. I really don't understand how he managed to deceive the natural plane and obtain the identity of the nature guardian. Perhaps this is a conspiracy by those human wizards."

Silent Bees circled around the King of the Forbidden Forest. "A conspiracy? That can't be right. How could a first-ring wizard be involved in any plan related to our Forbidden Forest?"

“Those human wizards aren’t that stupid.”

"I really hope they're that stupid."

Deep within the forbidden forest, a sound like chains being dragged suddenly came from the ground, causing it to tremble.

The King of the Forbidden Forest and the Silent Bee Fairy both paled.

Silent Bee Fairy said, "It's it again, it's back again... If it weren't for it, we wouldn't need to compromise to this extent."

"The Forbidden Forest has far too many enemies, but we must maintain our own existence, provide shelter for those marginalized groups in the magical world, and ensure the continued existence of biodiversity."

The King of the Forbidden Forest silently turned and returned to the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

With each step he took, the magical tide shifted violently, its immense power unparalleled, leaving only rows of unique animal footprints on the ground.

The wizards of the southeastern corner region would call this line of footprints "the footprints of death itself".

In the past, every wizard who saw these footprints, even those who were first-ring wizards, would die a violent and inexplicable death.

The mysterious King of the Forbidden Forest, the master of the Forbidden Forest, has always existed in the hearts of all wizards in the southeastern corner of the region as an unsolved mystery.

(End of this chapter)