Wizard: I Have a Nightmare World

As the first rays of purple sunlight pierced the horizon of the totem world, the bugle calls of the expedition camp resounded across the entire plain.

Lynn stood at the edge of the camp, watching the massive war machine begin to operate.

Dozens of students from White Raven Tower Academy gathered in the center of the camp and entered their designated positions through the portals in formation.

The Steelscale Academy team had already set off from the left. Those figures in dark gray robes moved like rocks in the morning mist, their steps steady and orderly.

The silver-white team from Moon Ring Academy dispersed like flowing water from the right, weaving through the sparse woods and quickly disappearing from sight.

A tense atmosphere filled the air.

It was the silence before the great battle, like a string about to break, trembling slightly at the fingertips.

"Seventh Logistics Team, assemble!"

Du Wei’s voice came from behind. Lynn turned around and saw that Du Wei had a brand new battle axe on his back and three bulging leather pouches hanging from his waist, which looked like they were full of alchemical materials and potions.

Kulen was already standing next to Du Wei, carrying a metal box that was taller than himself on his shoulder, and it was unclear what was inside.

Scarlett stood a few steps away, taking out the arrows one by one from the quiver to check them. Only after confirming that each one was intact did she put them back in.

Fei Qing was taking inventory of the team's supplies.

Lynn walked over quickly and stood in the middle of the four.

Du Wei glanced at everyone, nodded, and then took out a roll of yellowed parchment from his pocket and unfolded it in front of the four people.

A detailed map was drawn on the parchment, marking the hills, citadels, and trade routes they were already familiar with.

But in the very center of the map, directly below the Totem City, there is a mark drawn in dark red ink.

The mark resembled a beating heart, surrounded by rings of runes.

Lynn's gaze fell on the mark, and a sense of unease welled up inside him.

"Before we set off, I have something to announce that only the advance team leader knows."

Du Wei raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the four people in turn, his voice low and solemn.

"The real mission of our 7th Logistics Team is not to clear out reconnaissance posts and supply lines, nor is it to spearhead the main force."

His finger landed on the dark red mark on the map and tapped it lightly.

"Our mission is to launch a feint attack on the three acropolises with our main force to draw the attention of the Totem World's main forces, while we infiltrate the depths of the Totem Holy City, find the core of this world, and then take it away."

"The core of the world?"

Lynn frowned; he had never heard of that term before.

"What is that?"

"The primordial energy crystal of a world is the foundation for maintaining the operation of the entire plane."

Du Wei lowered his voice, as if afraid that his words would be overheard by someone who shouldn't hear them.

"Every decaying plane has a core, which can be solid, liquid, or even gaseous."

"It embodies all the energy essence of this world from its birth to its death, and it is the ultimate goal that the Witch World sent us here to fight for."

"What about the totem masters in the Holy City? What about that second-ring totem master?"

Kulen asked, his rough voice tinged with a rare hint of caution.

"Would they just stand by and watch us sneak in and steal their world's core?"

Du Wei put away the map and turned his gaze toward the distant Totem Holy City.

"Someone will lead them away."

"It is said that the expedition team has prepared a special method that will be activated at the same time as the main force launches a feint attack, luring that second-ring totem master and all his confidants to the north of the holy city."

"At that time, a brief defensive vacuum will appear inside the Holy City, which will be our opportunity to infiltrate."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then suddenly thought of something.

"Are we the only ones doing this task?"

Du Wei shook his head.

"No, Steelbell, Moonbeam, Obsidian, Crown of Thorns... every division's advance team received the same order."

"Whoever finds the core of the world first can bring it back to the Witch World, and the branch will reward them with a full resource quota."

"Therefore, the ultimate goal of this expedition was never the resources or population of the totem world, but the core of that world."

Lynn took a deep breath, feeling that he had finally seen the whole picture of this war.

Hundreds of students from the three academies arrived in a grand procession via teleportation array, even launching a massive feint attack—all of this was a smokescreen to cover up the real target.

But these so-called "advance teams" are the ones who actually wield the knife.

"When do we leave?"

"Lynn asked."

"Now."

As Du Wei spoke, he took out a silver-white rune stone from his waist and handed it to Lynn.

"This is a concealment rune stone. Once activated, it can completely eliminate your aura and energy fluctuations for a short period of time, lasting about 35 minutes, which is enough for us to infiltrate the outskirts of the Holy City."

Lynn took the runestone and could feel a cool energy slowly flowing within it.

He held the runestone in his palm, feeling the energy slowly spread along his arm and cover his entire body.

"Remember, once you enter the underground of the Holy City, follow my orders in all actions."

Du Wei's gaze became extremely serious.

"The core of the world must have a powerful protective formation, and although that second-ring totem master will be lured away, who knows if he might have left any hidden tricks?"

"If we encounter an insurmountable danger, we should retreat immediately and not linger in battle."

"If the core of the world is gone, we can find another one; but if you lose your life, you lose everything."

The three nodded simultaneously, each with a different expression.

Kuren grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, as if anticipating a thrilling battle.

Scarlett remained expressionless, silently nocking an arrow onto the bowstring.

Fei Qing took the supplies out and then put them back.

Lynn took a deep breath, his fingers unconsciously reaching for the amber in his pocket.

"Set off!"

Du Wei waved his hand and took the lead in walking towards the Holy City.

The four walked through the dense forest shrouded in morning mist, bypassing the ruins of a village that had been occupied by wizard apprentices.

The air was filled with the smell of burning, probably from when the Lunar Academy marched last night and cleared out some of the native settlements.

Along the way, they encountered two other White Raven Tower teams that were also on their way.

When those people saw the badge on Du Wei's chest, they simply nodded, asked no further questions, and continued on their way.

This made Lynn realize that their identity as a "logistics team" should be a good cover.

No one would bother to inspect a logistics team, especially at a time when a major battle is about to break out.

After walking for about 15 minutes, the four of them arrived at a low hilly area.

Du Wei raised his hand to signal to stop, then lay down behind a boulder, took out a monocular telescope, and looked ahead.

Lynn lay down and followed Du Wei's gaze, then gasped.

In the distance, a majestic city stands in the center of the plain.

The city's architectural style was completely different from that of Chiyanwei City. All the buildings were made of huge black stones, and their surfaces were covered with a thick layer of black moss, as if they had stood on this land for thousands of years.

In the center of the city stands a massive pyramid-shaped building, hundreds of meters high, its top glowing with a dark red light, like an inextinguishable heart.

Totem Holy City!

On the four walls of the holy city, hundreds of totem warriors stood ready for battle.

The warriors, clad in crimson armor and wielding various totem weapons, stared intently at the white figures approaching from outside the city.

"The main force of White Raven Tower has arrived as well."

Du Wei said in a low voice, handing the monoculars to Lynn.

Lynn took the telescope and saw that on the plains south of the Holy City, the apprentices of the White Raven Tower had formed three square formations.

Each formation has about thirty people, with several leaders in dark purple robes at the front directing the apprentices to set up some kind of large magic array.

The purple sunlight cast a pale purple sheen on the white robes. In the howling wind, the apprentices stood shoulder to shoulder in a solemn white formation, facing the black holy city in the distance.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Lynn lowered his binoculars, looked at Du Wei, and awaited his next instructions.

Du Wei did not rush to act, but quietly observed the movements of the totem warriors on the city wall, while listening intently to catch the faint sounds brought by the wind.

About fifteen minutes later, a deep horn sound came from the direction of the holy city.

The horn's sound wasn't sharp and piercing like the metal horns of the Wizarding World; it was muffled and hoarse, like the final roar of a dying beast.

The totem warriors on the city wall began to mobilize rapidly, and large torrents of red energy surged toward the northern part of the holy city.

"They're here!"

Du Wei's eyes lit up. He climbed out from behind the boulder and pointed to a dense forest on the west side of the holy city.

"The second ring totemist has been lured away, now it's our turn."

"Stay close to me, don't fall behind."