Kane stood in the small square of the base, though calling it a square was an exaggeration; it was merely a small flat area.
In front of him stood Herag and two others. "In the past few days, everyone should be quite familiar with the situation here. Today we leave the base and complete the first task."
Kane produced a map, the shape was quite irregular.
With the base at the center, many unexplored regions surrounded it, appearing as blank spaces on the map.
Kane said, "What we need to do today is perfect the terrain in the southeast direction. The task is simple, and the likelihood of danger is relatively low."
Base 27 was situated deep in the mountains, surrounded by desolation, even lacking small paths on the mountains.
Herag and the two others followed Kane out of the base’s main gate, encountering dense jungle.
Since no traces could be revealed for the time being, no paths were opened up, making the mountains and forests hard to traverse.
Herag and the others directly traversed the primitive forests; fortunately, all were Official Wizards, so they did not move too slowly.
"Shenlan, activate environment detection."
Herag promptly activated Shenlan’s environment detection, constantly observing the surroundings.
The concentration of energy particles here was much thicker than on the Wizard Plane, perhaps thicker than in the Barren Land.
In the Elf Plane, and similar to the Abyss Plane, the operation of wizard magic was less fluid than on the Wizard Plane.
The magic didn’t flow as smoothly, and various spells’ effects were somewhat reduced.
This was the result of the Elf Plane’s World Will suppression, though not as severe as in the Abyss Plane.
In recent days, Herag attempted to sense the Bloodline Mark, which here was still being suppressed.
However, since the Bloodline Mark contained the aura of the Royal Elf Bloodline, it seemed capable of exerting that portion of the Royal Elf Bloodline Power.
Herag never truly activated it because, within the base, monitored by the Witch Array, he couldn’t act recklessly.
Unlike before in the Abyss Plane.
After arriving in the Elf Plane, Herag felt particularly good, with his magic operation not becoming dull but rather smoother.
"It appears it’s due to the Royal Elf Bloodline."
Herag speculated in his heart.
After absorbing Chatiya’s Royal Elf Bloodline, arriving in the Elf Plane felt like coming home.
The World Will here didn’t suppress his magic operation.
Aside from the suppression of the Thunder God Ancestral Bloodline Power from the Abyss Plane, no other powers were suppressed.
Herag and the others traversed mountains, arriving in the large mountain area in the southeast direction.
Upon arriving, they began using magical perception to detect the surrounding terrain and draw it onto the map.
The work was monotonous, but its simplicity made it less daunting.
Kane led the three, drawing the surrounding map as they moved.
In Herag’s mind, a broader, larger map was forming.
Shenlan’s environment detection range was much larger than this spell of magical perception.
Herag was also releasing magical perception, working conscientiously on the map.
Though his perception had already grasped what the broader terrain looked like.
He still drew the map slowly, following the range of magical perception.
It was impossible for him to present Kane with the map detected in full.
The magic perception range of a Level 1 Gaseous Wizard generally spanned a hundred to two hundred meters.
Shenlan’s environment detection range was fifteen hundred meters, far exceeding the magic perception range.
At their current pace, estimating a month’s time was needed to complete the map of this southeast region.
If gauging by Shenlan’s range, it could be completed in seven or eight days.
Such tasks could afford some delays if possible; completing them too quickly might result in new tasks.
Herag would struggle to explain how he detected such an extensive range.
Herag just followed normal progress, slowly drawing the map.
While advancing through the mountain forest, Herag also documented the various plants encountered along the way.
Many of the plants here weren’t found on the Wizard Plane, and Herag had Shenlan record each one.
While Herag and companions were mapping, across the mountains another group was trudging through the forest.
These people wore light armor, carrying bows, arrows, and packs.
They were border soldiers from the Noen Kingdom, responsible for patrolling this mountainous region.
Calot was a veteran at the border, having served here for ten years.
Patrolling the mountains was tough work, meant to prevent illegal smuggling as well as ensuring immediate alertness to any movements by enemy nations.
Calot’s group consisted of thirteen, having been in the mountains for five months.
With one more month of patrolling, they could return to their military camps at the border for much-needed rest.
Life in the mountains was truly harsh, apart from the difficult paths, they also faced various poisonous insects and beasts.
Beasts were manageable, as several were Official Knights in the group, handling beasts wasn’t difficult.
Ordinary beasts didn’t dare approach with so many people around.
After making noise in the mountains, clever beasts kept a safe distance.
In the mountains, the real trouble was those poisonous insects.
With myriad little bugs impossible to guard against, a lapse could see them crawling down necks or into pant legs. Googlᴇ search novel•fire.net
Getting bitten a few times was bearable, but many were poisonous.
If bitten by a bug, failing to treat it timely could mean losing an arm or leg.
The only fortunate aspect was the lack of warfare recently, keeping the border relatively tranquil.
Mountain-patrolling soldiers didn’t encounter enemy troops, at least avoiding large-scale casualties.
As long as lives were preserved, suffering was tolerable, at least without threat to life.
Calot brushed off a black bug from his calf, applied some ointment, and continued the journey.
This patrolled area today was one they hadn’t been to before, an uninhabited area.
Calot held a telescope, ready to view the landscape.
He looked through the telescope for a while, suddenly spotting four people in action in the distance.
"Come quickly, there’s someone over there."
Other members took turns looking through the telescope, discovering Herag’s group.
"What are these people doing; why are they here?" Calot was puzzled.
Seeing Herag’s group dressed like commoners, devoid of weapons.
Yet this was an uninhabited mountain, what kind of people could arrive here without any weapons?
Calot decided to approach and inquire, fulfilling their duty as border patrol soldiers.
By then, Herag had noticed this squad too, but he couldn’t say anything.
Kane, a Level 2 Wizard, hadn’t noticed; how could he, a Level 1 Gaseous Wizard, have noticed?