Pausing for a moment, Richard continued, "So, from these few explorations, the opponent should clearly perceive that the explorers are getting stronger each time. This is the fourth time we’ve come, and although there are few of us, logically, we are definitely stronger than the previous three times.
Therefore, the opponent can no longer accurately determine our true strength. To ensure its own safety and to guarantee that it can eliminate us once more, it has to adopt relatively conservative methods. Previously, I mentioned being surveilled as one method, and another is using the demonized moose to test us this time.
Over thirty demonized moose are indeed not too strong, but also not too weak. At least a single ordinary third-level wizard would not dare to confront them head-on and would need to use some smarter tactics to resolve the situation. Calculating combat power, it is roughly equivalent to one-half of the third Silent Forest exploration team.
In this case, over thirty demonized moose are undoubtedly a good benchmark for combat power, which can be used to test our true level."
"Is that so." Heluo nodded.
Bobbobovic was still hiccupping, but the hiccups didn’t affect his verbosity at all. Raising his hand, he objected, "If the culprit is really testing our strength through demonized moose, hiccup, then how does it know the battle result, hiccup!"
"To achieve this purpose, there are generally two methods: one is to stay nearby to observe— but this method is too dangerous, if the opponent is wise enough, it would definitely not choose this." Richard said.
"The other method is to have a spy here to observe, and then report back to the opponent— this is relatively safer, and if the spy is discovered and killed by us, the opponent can further deduce our strength from the side."
"So, there is a spy nearby? If we find the opponent, can we quietly follow it to find the culprit? Hiccup!" Bobbobovic said, covering his mouth with his hand to lower his voice at the end to avoid being heard.
"In theory, it is indeed feasible." Richard nodded, speaking solemnly, "Also, from the middle of the battle, I’ve been paying attention to the surroundings."
Speaking of this, Richard paused, frowned, and said, "But up to now, I haven’t found any clues about the spy, making me ponder where the problem might be."
"Maybe this spy possesses some special means, too hidden. So as long as the opponent doesn’t expose itself, we simply can’t find it." Heluo said.
"In that case, what method can we use to find the opponent?" Bobbobovic asked.
"I don’t know." Heluo shook her head, then noticed Richard and Bobbobovic both looking at her, specifically at her left hand.
Her left hand suddenly lifted without warning, extending a finger, pointing straight in one direction.
"What’s that?" Heluo looked over in confusion, Richard and Bobbobovic looked over together, and then saw a black shadow dart out and burst towards the depths of the forest at unimaginable speed.
"It’s the spy!" Heluo’s eyes lit up, and she leaped up to pursue it.
"Quick, chase and capture it!" Bobbobovic urged urgently, followed by a long hiccup, "Hi—cup—"
"It’s too fast!" Heluo exclaimed anxiously while speeding up, "Can’t lock onto the figure, the trees will block it easily, making it easy to lose track."
"No, I will keep watching it!" Richard voiced at this moment, as his eyes flashed with light, already using the Eye of Gaze’s perspective function.
Massive amounts of free energy elements flowed from the Magic Origin into his eyes, then released externally, penetrating numerous obstacles, which turned them transparent.
As more and more free energy elements were consumed, the area of perspective expanded continuously, allowing Richard to successfully lock onto the black shadow’s blurred traces.
At this time, in Richard’s eyes, the whole world was a hazy gray, with a myriad of chaotic lines in front. Behind the numerous lines, an irregular spot moved quickly, hiding towards denser lines.
"Let me see what your identity is." Richard murmured softly, spreading his hands, as countless bright specks appeared, covering his body, forming a set of shining armor.
This was also something Richard studied and learned while researching Truth Society’s spell data, considered a combination of Langdonick’s Spear and Emmsley’s Shield, with strong defense and potent attack.
The strong defense is easy to understand, while the potent attack is somewhat abstract.
But in Richard’s understanding, this kind of attack is very efficient for doing one particular thing, which is...
Richard slightly bent his legs, leaping up, locking onto the runaway’s trail, pursuing at high speed. Crashing into trees, breaking stones, dragging a straight line without turning to close the distance.
Doing this could save time on the one hand. On the other, with the Eye of Gaze activated, all obstacles appeared as lines. Trying to identify them one by one would be too exhausting, so it was better to simply pierce through directly.
Just , the starting-later Richard slowly overtook the starting-first Heluo, getting closer to the fleeing spy.
As for Bobbobovic, he was hiccupping while trying hard to catch up, falling at the end.
Under Richard’s command, Heluo and Bobbobovic flanked left and right, cooperating with him to semi-encircle the fleeing spy into a low-lying area, preparing to capture the opponent.
However, just as they were about to make a final effort, the ground suddenly "cracked", with multiple black shadows rushing out like pythons, winding around the trio’s bodies. On closer inspection, they were several green-gray magic vines.
Clearly, these vines were deliberately intercepting the trio to help the spy escape.
Richard was very aware of this point, decisively shouting, "Ignore them, quickly shake them off, and continue chasing!"
Heluo and Bobbobovic were both smart, responding with action without needing a second prompt.
Bobbobovic suddenly downed a leaf-green potion, halting his hiccups, and in addition to hair and eyebrows, his skin was dyed a light green.
Thus, Bobbobovic’s strength increased significantly, forcibly breaking free from the magic vine entwining his thigh, rushing toward the spy. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Heluo twisted her body, disappearing into thin air to dodge the vines, and reappeared a few meters away, rushing towards the spy.
Richard let more free energy elements infuse into the Achilles Armor on his body, glowing brightly, with his speed skyrocketing, shaking off the vines, and charging towards the spy.
The spy got closer and closer...
At this moment, with a "crash," the ground in front of Richard and the other two cracked open again.