Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 452: Giant Rock Grip

The main settlement of the Mountain People lies deep within the Black Wind Mountain Range, in a vast valley known as the Giant Rock Grip.

Its terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and hard to attack, and it has been the core dwelling place of the tribe for generations.

Giant Rock Grip is a majestic valley as if cleaved by a Giant Axe.

The entrance of the valley is extremely narrow, accommodating only four or five people abreast, flanked by sheer black cliffs hundreds of meters high, so smooth that not even monkeys can climb them.

At the mouth of the valley, towering ramparts built of massive rocks and sturdy hardwood were filled with Mountain People warriors clad in demon beast skins and armed with weapons, their gazes vigilant and hostile as they watched the well-equipped invaders outside the valley.

Above the ramparts fluttered a rough-hewn flag bearing the totem of the Mountain People, depicting mountains and crossed arms. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

A heavy, oppressive atmosphere, seemingly containing countless years of steadfastness and xenophobia, permeated from within the valley.

Currently, inside the Giant Rock Grip Valley are only robust young men; women and children have already fled.

The clearing of surrounding outposts and strongholds has naturally made the Mountain People aware of the seriousness of the situation.

They knew they were up against powerful Wizards, and the chances of victory were slim.

But they would not abandon this land they have inhabited for generations. After sending away the tribe’s elderly, weak, sick, and some young laborers, those who remained were determined to defend this land to the death.

The Seventh Squadron approached the entrance of the Giant Rock Grip Valley, with seven different-shaped, terrifyingly imposing Level 2 slave creatures standing like statues around them.

They did not make the first move, but their tangible malevolent aura and large size already posed a significant psychological threat, severely dampening the morale of the valley’s defenders.

This time, they also would not act casually, but gave the opportunity to this group of young Wizards from the Seventh Squadron.

This mission is essentially to hone them, and Catherine is under great pressure because their superiors are very dissatisfied with the performance of the Seventh Squadron.

Catherine was in a difficult situation, having to protect these young Wizards’ safety while ensuring they achieve some substantive combat results and gain actual combat experience.

This operation against the Mountain People was an opportunity she fought hard to secure. The mission is not very dangerous, but still challenging for these young Wizards of the Seventh Squadron.

Despite having seven Level 2 slave creatures on standby, one person died, causing Catherine a great headache.

This is how battlefields are, full of uncertainties. No one can control every corner, every detail of the battlefield at all times.

On the battlefield, one must always be prepared to face the prospect of death.

The Mountain People wasted no words and directly launched an attack. They would not sit and wait for death.

The powerful Mountain People warriors hurled large boulders they had prepared long ago, the size of millstones, with a piercing whistle towards the approaching Seventh Squadron.

Many slower-moving slave creatures were caught off guard and were smashed into the ground by the boulders, blood splattering everywhere.

Several Level 1 Awakened simultaneously stomped, activating the energy within the earth, causing the ground in front of the valley entrance to tremble, crack, and disrupt the attack rhythm, with sharp rock spears protruding from below.

Arrows also flew continuously, making a dinging sound as they struck the yellow sand around Duke.

This time they were the main fighters, and Duke, while protecting himself with yellow sand, moved to the front line, where over a hundred Mountain People had already charged forward.

All the Mountain People were Awakened, though their strength varied.

Centered around Duke, a large area in front suddenly turned to sand.

The solid rock seemed to lose all solidity, transforming into continuously flowing, swirling yellow sand.

Several Mountain People warriors who charged at the front roared as they were instantly trapped in the quicksand, struggling only to sink deeper, ultimately swallowed silently.

These were not weak; they were Level 1 Awakened, originally leading the charge.

If it were just ordinary yellow sand, it certainly could not bind them, but this sand, infused with magic metal, contained a vast amount of Duke’s magic power and was far stronger than ordinary sand.

After the Mountain People were consumed by the quicksand, one by one, strands of metallic yellow sand formed ribbons that entered their noses, eyes, and ears, easily breaching the defenses of these weak points in their bodies.

The Mountain People themselves were adept at using earth-elemental energy, but unfortunately for them, they encountered Duke.

The yellow sand could not be manipulated by them; they fell into Duke’s control almost immediately and were eradicated instantly.

The giant rocks thrown from afar plummeted into the sand domain, their speed drastically reduced, and were easily shattered, enveloped, and annihilated by the rising sand waves.

The yellow sand churned around Duke, like a moving natural disaster, tearing open a gap in the fearless Mountain People’s lines forcibly.

From a bird’s-eye view, you could see a swath of yellow sand cutting into the densely-packed Mountain People like a wedge, cleaving through their formation with unstoppable momentum.

Duke was exceptionally suited for this kind of large-scale battlefield slaughter. The metallic yellow sand not only provided excellent defense against various attacks but also allowed for wide-range enemy assault.

These Mountain People used energy in a rather primitive way, with virtually no means to breach Duke’s defense.

With the Sand Guardian at his side, Duke stood invincible.

In addition to the coordination and firepower suppression of other slave creatures, the Mountain People who had just charged out were quickly forced to retreat, falling back into the canyon.

Duke, leading a large number of slave creatures, relentlessly pursued them, also being vigilant for ambushes or attacks hidden in the dark.

The entrance to the Giant Rock Grip was breached easily, and as they charged into this valley, a powerful aura erupted from the other side.

This aura was like a dormant volcano suddenly awakening, a robust figure far taller than a normal Mountain Person, with skin appearing rocky gray and eyes shimmering with earthy yellow light, soared into the sky, holding a heavy giant axe.

"Intruders! Die!" he roared, his voice rolling like thunder, clearly a Level 2 Awakened, the strongest warrior and current leader of the Mountain People.

He locked onto Duke, ready to pounce, intending to eliminate the most threatening invader.

On the battlefield, one should not be too brazen; otherwise, one becomes a targeted target as such.

Duke was well aware of this, but he presented himself so forcefully because he knew someone had his back.