Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Hill, seated in the black airship at the front of the group, widened his eyes in astonishment as he saw what enemy appeared behind them.

Ignoring the order passed down from Aislin to ’not break formation,’ he directed Russell to steer the airship higher.

Although this world lacks the existence of Knight Corps who rely on team formations to create combat arrays, how could mages not understand the benefits of collective strength?

However, getting mages to cooperate is extremely difficult.

Even if a combat formation can be established, the power added to the controller at the center of the formation is not substantial.

Mainly because it’s not worth the effort.

Think about it, making so many mages obediently stand or even walk according to fixed positions requires considerable spiritual power... however, mana belongs to them personally, so how much they’re willing to contribute, can one really force them?

Those that can be forced are the kind of semi-puppets whose souls are involuntarily controlled... however, a combat array greatly relies on human will.

Puppets lack any true will.

To exert so much effort just to add one or two layers of power, it’s better to meditate properly and strengthen oneself.

Yet, mages are not completely unwilling to exert any power or think at all, so they specially devised this formation resembling a long snake, but with a head-tail responsive moving type of formation.

This formation is mainly used for alerting and adding a layer of defensive shield to the group.

As long as the formation remains intact and your airship is within it, it is very difficult to be successfully ambushed.

And the reason this array can succeed is that these flying saucers’ arrays are of the same type, allowing them to form a web of interconnected mana.

By adding several rune chains to the airship’s control array, the person controlling the airship can choose whether to join this array group.

Of course, this serpent formation must have nodes, especially the critical positions at the head, body, and tail, which require three main airships to support these three nets... and these main airships need the assistance of six side airships around them.

Logically, Gilbert’s airship should be an auxiliary to Ruth, but he didn’t have a matching student he could use.

Though the requirements for the airship’s controller are not high, as Ruth’s spaceship has his long-term deputy in control... who, though slightly lacking in talents compared to Ruth’s students, is at least a Fifth Circle Mage.

And the auxiliary aircraft’s controller must have a spiritual power not far from the main controller, otherwise, the magic ring cannot resonate.

Gilbert himself can’t handle it, nor does he have a qualified student. Even if his airship has superior performance compared to others and its array stability is remarkably strong, he can only squat in the center like others as a mobile spaceship.

Naturally, as far as Hill is concerned, he’s quite pleased with this encounter... even if others thought this rendered his status as Ruth’s favored student somewhat awkward.

After all, students eligible to act as Ruth’s auxiliary aircraft would inevitably receive some benefits, and their status would also be affirmed.

Although not as high as Aislin leading at the front or Oliva holding the rear, it at least proves their unwavering rank within the Ruth Faction.

Though they had only departed for a few days, Hill already heard many assigning ranks to Ruth’s students... mainly the top nine.

and 2 are naturally Aislin and Oliva... there’s quite a debate over who ranks first between them.

Indeed, Aislin’s antics over the years weren’t in vain.

Clearly everyone knows Oliva holds the greatest power, but because Ruth treats them overly fair, it’s hard for people to discern their place.

The middle positions need not be mentioned, in actuality they’re quite indistinct, and those arguing are merely idle.

However, the ninth position is quite fixed... the esteemed Archmage Gilbert Hainarson.

Hill himself doesn’t care about the so-called ranking.

At first, he couldn’t understand what these people were doing... they were all mages, how can they not know that such rankings are utterly pointless?

Moreover, why insist on putting Gilbert in the spotlight?

He, as an early Seven Rings Mage, is in no position to be compared with those old Seven Rings who even have students at the Fifth Circle.

Not to mention, there are others like Hill who, due to mismatched student levels, cannot perform as an auxiliary.

However, after listening to their praises over and over, Hill realized: These people are considering the future after entering Sia Tower.

At Sia Tower, if they indeed wish to lay a hand on Archmage Ruth... Ruth’s most prized student would naturally be the first target.

As a descendant of the Defense Tower and highly favored by Ruth, how could Gilbert be allowed to fade into the crowd?

Besides, hasn’t Archmage Ruth always admired his talents, believing Gilbert stronger than anyone... then shouldn’t Gilbert step forward, standing before others who can’t even compare to him?

Once Hill figured out the antics behind this, he ceased to concern himself with it.

Mages who’ve persisted in the Ruth Faction until now, regardless of level, are no fools; their minds are even denser and more multitudinous than a beehive.

Even with Gilbert here, he wouldn’t be outsmarted by this crowd.

Just like Hill now, completely ignoring Aislin’s orders... if Gilbert were here, he wouldn’t care about formation or no formation.

”Teacher... is that necromancy?” Russell looked in astonishment at the crystal window ahead of the airship... already enchanted by Hill to enhance vision, ”But, how could the Tower of Necromancy...”

”Their goal is to make Sia Tower suffer, so targeting the Tower of Dark Enigma, which plans to replenish itself, seems normal.”

Hill’s words seemed to elicit surprised glances from Russell and Carpenter: They both understood the situation clearly, yet Hill seemed to be talking nonsense?

Even though someone might want to eavesdrop... once said... ah, their teacher is mocking someone, right?

”Such harassment seems rather pointless.” Hill stated matter-of-factly, ”Maybe, the Necromancers are running low on energy reserves, so they come to rob the rich and help the poor?”

”Well, they are indeed rich.” Russell hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly kept up the pace.

-----------------

Aislin slammed the table violently.

At this moment, she sat sullenly in her hall... compared to others’ airships, Aislin’s red airship was not only more beautiful, but its interior space also larger.

It’s even more spacious than Ruth’s... this couldn’t be helped, Archmage Ruth’s entourage is much larger than Aislin’s, naturally requiring more space to be divided.

And Aislin has only her subordinates, no students, nor followers.

Even her auxiliary airships are barely manned by a few Three-Ring Mages.

After all these years, only a countable few could withstand Aislin’s temperament changes, always being irritable due to falling in love.

Recently, they’re still around mainly because not long has passed since her last romantic story, temporarily without excessive depletion.

Moreover, who with ability and power would dare linger behind Aislin!

Thus, when commanding with the status of Ruth’s chief disciple, many would obey her, but if she had to do it alone... only some resource-hungry Mid-Lower Rank Mages are willing to sacrifice themselves.

Of course, the most critical part is that those eligible to reside in Aislin’s airship as followers are only so few, and all are Three-Rings.

Even if a Fifth Circle Mage dared to permanently reside within her domain, Aislin wouldn’t entrust these non-loyal people with controlling her airship!

Thus, Aislin’s airship hall even accommodates a high platform for her.

Aislin cherishes this feeling of being elevated, overlooking those below.