Wizard: Starting with Dealing with Magical Plants

Chapter 18 Hunting the Scorpion Leader

The canyon was more spacious than I had imagined, and deep inside there was a huge opening, which should be the entrance to the manticores' lair.

Near the cave entrance, several exceptionally robust, crystallized scorpion lions with metallic sheen on their bodies can be seen patrolling.

Their aura was significantly stronger than that of the ordinary individuals they had encountered before.

Luo Lin patiently observed for most of the day and roughly figured out the patrol patterns of these elite manticores.

There are approximately six manticores, divided into two groups, who take turns patrolling the area near the cave entrance.

He didn't see the leader; he was probably resting inside the cave.

A direct assault would clearly be unwise.

With six elite manticores and an unknown leader, a direct confrontation would be futile.

He needs to develop a more comprehensive plan.

Lorin recalled information about the habits of crystallized manticores.

This monster is sensitive to sound and energy fluctuations, and is particularly averse to sharp noises of certain frequencies.

At the same time, although they live in groups, there is also a hierarchy and competition among them, especially when the leader is not present.

A plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He quietly retreated to a safe distance and began to prepare.

Luo Lin took out several crystals with certain resonance properties that he had collected before and carefully carved them on the surface with a dagger.

Instead of drawing a complete magic circle, he used his knowledge of [Basic Rune Recognition] to delineate several simple rune structures that could amplify and guide sounds of specific frequencies.

It's simpler than drawing a complete magic circle, but it still requires extremely high precision.

Fortunately, his "High-Efficiency Scholar" specialization allowed him to reach peak control over his wrist strength.

He spent several hours creating three simple amplified phonograph crystals.

Next, he prepared several bottles of potions, not offensive ones, but potions that could emit auras simulating powerful creatures.

This is a byproduct of his previous research on energy maps; its effects are inconsistent, but it might create some chaos.

As night fell, the canyon became very dark, with only the faint glow emanating from the wary manticores flickering in the light.

Rowling began his operation.

He used the [Mage's Hand] to silently place two amplifying rune crystals high on the rock walls on both sides of the canyon, the positions carefully calculated.

Then, he circled around to the other side of the canyon and found a sheltered spot with the wind at his back.

Taking a deep breath, Roland placed the last amplification rune crystal to his lips, then channeled his magic, emitting an extremely sharp, high-frequency hiss from his throat.

The sound, amplified by the rune crystal, instantly became extremely penetrating, echoing and refracting repeatedly throughout the canyon.

Phew! ! !

The piercing noise, like a demonic chant, exploded in the silent canyon.

Instantly, the six elite manticores patrolling the canyon simultaneously let out furious roars!

They were clearly severely disturbed by the sudden noise, becoming extremely agitated, circling in place, scratching the ground with their claws, and the crystalline shells rubbing together to produce a piercing sound.

The time has come!

Luo Lin immediately threw the bottles of aura-simulating potions in his hand into the middle of the manticore pack.

The medicine bottle shattered, releasing a strange aura mixed with sulfur, blood, and the oppressive aura of a powerful predator.

The elite manticores, already agitated by the noise, were further stimulated by this unfamiliar and powerful aura, causing their internal hierarchical order to collapse instantly.

They hissed at each other, warily eyeing their companions, wondering if an enemy had invaded or if their companions had undergone a strange change.

Two of the closest manticores even started biting each other because of a minor provocation.

Chaos was exactly what Rowling wanted.

He ignored the elite manticores caught in their infighting and kept his eyes fixed on the deep cave entrance.

He was betting that the manticore leader would come out to investigate the commotion outside.

He didn't have to wait long.

With a deep yet oppressive roar, a gigantic figure slowly emerged from the cave.

This is exactly the manticore leader that Roland has been waiting for!

This scorpion leader was much larger than an ordinary individual, almost twice the size of a normal one.

Its crystals are no longer chaotic multifaceted, but rather exhibit a layered structure resembling armor, with deep eyes that shimmer with a dark metallic luster.

Its tail needle crystal core is no longer the size of a fist, but like the head of an infant. The energy light contained inside is stable and restrained, radiating a heart-palpitating fluctuation.

As soon as it appeared, the six elite manticores that were fighting amongst themselves immediately quieted down, lowered their bodies, and let out submissive whimpers.

The manticore leader's cold eyes swept across the chaotic scene, immediately pinpointing the general direction from which the noise and strange aura were coming.

This is exactly where Rowling is hiding!

It clearly possesses greater intelligence and is not easily deceived like an ordinary scorpion.

It let out an angry roar. Its powerful hind legs slammed into the ground, and its massive body displayed a speed disproportionate to its size, charging like golden lightning towards the direction where Rolin was hiding.

The six elite manticores followed closely behind.

Luo Lin felt a pang of anxiety, realizing that the plan had gone awry and that the leader's wisdom and reaction speed had exceeded expectations.

Without hesitation, he turned around and ran towards the pre-planned evacuation route.

It was a narrow, steep slope covered with gravel, which was not suitable for the manticore's large size.

As he ran, he continuously fired acid splashes backward, not to cause damage, but to hinder the pursuit and create slippery, corrosive areas in his path.

The manticore leader was extremely fast, easily dodging most of the acid. A few drops occasionally landed on its crystalline armor, leaving only shallow white marks that were almost impossible to penetrate.

The distance between it and Rowling is rapidly closing.

Rolin could even smell the hot breath mixed with a fishy odor coming from behind him.

He knew that the two sides were very close, but he was about to reach his destination.

He rushed into the narrow slope.

Almost at the same time, the manticore leader also caught up to the entrance of the ramp. It tried to squeeze in, but the crystal armor on its shoulders got stuck in the rock wall, making a teeth-grinding scraping sound.

It's now!

A fierce glint flashed in Rolin's eyes, and the scroll of [Low-Level Elemental Shield] that he had been holding in his hand was instantly activated!

hum!

A semi-transparent energy shield, shimmering with an earthy yellow light, appeared behind them, barely blocking the manticore leader's furious claws as it was stuck.

boom!

The claws slammed into the elemental shield, producing a dull thud. The shield fluctuated violently, its light dimming considerably in an instant, but it successfully blocked the fatal blow.

Using the force of the impact, Luo Lin lunged forward a few steps, and at the same time, he spun around sharply.

This narrow terrain was his only chance!

Instead of running away, he turned around and faced the scorpion leader, who was temporarily stuck at the entrance of the ramp and roaring angrily.

Rowling unleashed both hands simultaneously, and instead of aiming for coverage, he highly compressed his mana, condensing it into two thin, yet darker, almost emerald-green, acidic rays.

The gaze was directed at the manticore leader's slightly open maw, which was straining as it struggled, and at its icy eyes.

This is his deeper understanding and application of the spell [Acid Splash], sacrificing range and area of ​​effect in pursuit of ultimate penetration and corrosiveness.

puff! !

puff! !

The manticore leader clearly hadn't expected this tiny human to dare to fight back, nor had it anticipated that the acid would be so tricky and threatening.

The acid injected into its mouth instantly caused it immense pain.

Although it managed to block most of the acid sprayed into its eyes by closing them in time, it still corroded the lens on its eyelids, causing it to let out a deafening roar of pain.

It struggled frantically, rocks falling down, and it seemed about to break free.

Without the slightest hesitation, Roland poured all his remaining mana into the next attack.

This time, he aimed at the small gap where the manticore leader's neck and chest were connected, exposed by his roar, and not completely covered by the layered crystals.

The dark green acid rays, like venomous snakes, precisely burrowed into the crevice!

laugh--

This time the sound was completely different; it was the sound of flesh and blood being violently corroded!

The manticore leader's roar abruptly ceased, turning into a painful wail. Its massive body convulsed violently, and its struggling strength instantly diminished.

Rolin was panting heavily, his magic power almost exhausted, and he felt a wave of weakness.

But he dared not relax and kept his eyes fixed on the other person.

The manticore leader's struggles grew weaker and weaker until finally, its massive body became stuck at the cave entrance, and it stopped moving.

The crystalline luster on the surface of the body quickly dimmed.