Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 335 - 328: Patriarchalism

Chapter 335: Chapter 328: Patriarchalism

Luo’er was somewhat like a hen protecting her chicks, willing to shelter his team under his wings and keep them safe, even if it meant that he would be hurt, but he was reluctant to let them face danger.

For him, as long as his team members obediently followed his orders and faithfully completed their tasks, that was enough. He didn’t need a lot of differing opinions. Although he listened to his team’s suggestions, the orders were always given by him.

Cheng Ziang was able to strategize for the team simply because he was capable of making decisions, something that not even Luo’er could overlook. Hence, a portion of power was allocated to him. If there were to be another decision maker, Luo’er would very likely be overwhelmed because the system established around him would fall apart.

In a sense, Luo’er wasn’t much different from the previous Momo. Both had a strong possessiveness, though Luo’er was much more gentle and more blackened rather than turning into a sickly sweet as Momo did.

Yet even though Luo’er was such a person, he behaved very gently, so everyone was willing to accept his leadership and establish a system around him. Frankly, there was nothing wrong with this approach, but when a situation like the current one arose, Luo’er would demonstrate his brashness as the sole representative. At this moment, in the Advance Team, Cheng Ziang was practically the only one who dared openly oppose him.

Looking at the sulking Luo’er, Cheng Ziang felt quite helpless. Luo’er’s concern was not baseless. After all, according to the limited recorded information, there were few cases of Forbidden Curse Mages surviving after casting spells. The majority of mages were just a one-time use. Their first Forbidden Curse also turned out to be their last.

If it was an unknown danger, Luo’er would be willing to let Tangmo give it a try, but for a danger that certainly would kill, Luo’er would never agree.

Shariya gazed blankly at the internal conflict in the small team, unable to react for a moment. After hearing their argument, he finally regained his senses and turned to Luo’er, asking, "Captain Luo’er, would you mind if I say something?"

Luo’er looked up and down at Shariya. Although he was still sulking, he let out a faint sigh and replied flatly, "Dean, please speak."

"Captain Luo’er is concerned for their safety, believing they can’t handle Forbidden Curse magic, is that right?" Shariya asked.

"Of course, they’re so young, I don’t want them to pass away due to Forbidden Curse magic." Luo’er took a breath, still simmering with anger.

"I have a Forbidden Curse magic spell that won’t cause death. I wonder if you would allow them to learn, Captain Luo’er?" Shariya casually suggested.

"They won’t die?" Luo’er looked at him skeptically, feeling like he was being fooled.

"As for the Forbidden Curse magic, there are different levels of strength and differences for each type. As long as they’re cast properly, one can avoid getting hurt and hence they won’t die," Shariya confidently explained.

"Please clarify, Dean," Luo’er continued to ask.

Shariya glanced at the three girls, and then told Luo’er, "As the highest end, the most powerful magic, Forbidden Curse can’t possibly be learned in just one or two days. So, asking any of them to learn it immediately to close the Otherworld Gate is unrealistic."

"But..." Shariya paused. "Since our aim is to close the Otherworld Gate as soon as it opens, it’s rather simple. We just have to learn the first half of the Forbidden Curse—gathering all the magic energy. Then, when the Otherworld Gate closes due to the exhaustion of magic energy, we just have to discharge it."

"Is there such a Forbidden Curse?" Luo’er still looked skeptical.

"Of course, any Forbidden Curse requires a great deal of magic energy to be gathered chant. Once we master the first half of this gathering process, we can close the Otherworld Gate," Shariya confidently stated.

"And it won’t harm the mages?" Luo’er asked, still frowning.

"I can’t promise that it won’t cause any harm, but I can guarantee that as long as the spell is cast properly, there will be no loss of life." Shariya continued to explain, "Most Forbidden Curse mages die when the magic erupts. Even the most hardened bodies have difficulty resisting the magic energy that penetrates them. However, if we eliminate the explosive phase of the magic and instead release the magic energy back gently after the Otherworld Gate is closed, we would be safe."

Shariya’s explanation was like filling a balloon with water. The eruption of magic energy was like popping the balloon; the person popping the balloon would get splashed as well. But by omitting the explosion, it would be like squeezing the water out of the balloon from the opening. Though a lot of water would still be released, the direction and speed could be controlled.

"But where will the accumulated magic energy be stored? That’s the crucial point, isn’t it?" Cheng Ziang raised his query.

"Good question. The mage you mentioned before, the one who killed so many Earthlings, his name is Falok and his Forbidden Curse Magic is the Light Singularity, a fixed-point explosive curse." Shariya explained, "Actually, this magic is the simplest of the Forbidden Curses, there is none simpler. Because it just requires the concentration and compression of magic power, then releasing it, and its power is far less than other magics."

"But many from the Earth army are still dead." Cheng Ziang said.

"The reason so many Earth soldiers died, I think it’s because Earthlings can’t bear the erosion of magic power. Such Forbidden Curse magic literally does no harm to mages who stand at a reasonable distance. Their bodies can completely withstand the invasion of such magic."

Shariya’s view was not wrong. As the magic resistance of mages themselves is very low, they can bear more magic invasion than ordinary people, without causing much harm. Therefore, in battles between mages, they hardly use such an attack method. Most people’s approach is to convert magic power into other substances and forms for attacks.

The large number of Earth Army casualties were entirely because their bodies could not tolerate the high concentration of magic power. It is similar to how a building can withstand infrasound attacks, but the people inside cannot.

"So you mean, by casting the first half of Light Singularity, gathering the magic power, it will cause the Otherworld Gate to close due to the loss of magic?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"Exactly," Shariya nodded and said, "The Light Singularity is the magic I am learning and I have only learned the first half. Forbidden Curse magic consists of many parts of spells. It is not a single spell that can be cast."

"So that means if they open the Otherworld Gate, we can seal the Otherworld Gate and then use Light Singularity to drain all the magic in the sealed area. After the Otherworld Gate closes due to the loss of magic power, we can open it again?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"That’s correct. However," Shariya said, unable to help but frown, "Even though Light Singularity doesn’t need to be detonated, it still requires a significant cost to withstand the flow of magic."

Once the Light Singularity is activated, the mage needs to bear the ceaseless surge of strong magic power into the body and then gather it until the magic power is completely drained. This is highly demanding for the mage’s qualifications. Generally, only people with magic resistance less than two percent can endure it. Even Luo’er, a half-blood elf, could not complete the task of gathering magic power.

"Dean, is there a solution?" Tangmo looked at Luo’er’s back for a moment, then walked to his front and asked with concern.

"Yes," Shariya nodded, then said, "Combined casting, share the invasion of magic."

"That’s great!" Upon hearing his words, Tangmo was overjoyed. Shariya’s method can avoid death and also share the magic power in a collective manner. By doing so, Luo’er should agree to her request.

"But keep in mind that the requirements for combined casting are high," Shariya said with a frown. "The spells of the casters must be kept consistent. The slightest difference can lead to loss of control. You need to consider this."

"I..." Tangmo pursed her lips and then turned to Baiyue. Sensing her gaze, Baiyue hesitated for a while and then nodded firm.

Whether Tangmo or Baiyue, they want to contribute to the team with their strength, not to hide behind three men and enjoy peace. This point contradicts Luo’er’s thinking, so Luo’er resolutely resists their requests.

"This should make you feel at ease now," Cheng Ziang walked over to Luo’er, turned his head to take a look at the two girls, and said to him, "They also want to contribute to the team. Although they might get hurt, they can now be sure they will not die. You should agree to their requests. How long will it take for them to grow up if you keep protecting them like this on our missions?"

"I’ll think about it!" Luo’er did not turn his head around, just muttered stubbornly.

Seeing his reaction, Cheng Ziang could not help but sigh. Even though he was still being awkward, at least he probably would not object now, which relieved Cheng Ziang a lot.

He looked up at the sky and said to everyone, "I will take a nap first, wake me up in four hours. Since you have already made a plan, work on it, make it perfect. After I am awake, give me a feasible plan, I will sneaky into Lipei City again to do onsite reconnaissance for you."

With that said, he looked at Luo’er and said to him, "Luo’er, go replace Old Hu, he just finished his shift, he needs to rest. And you, stop sulking here."

He knew Luo’er was one of those who talks tough but is soft-hearted, so he simply found a reason to send him away, to ease this awkward situation.

Luo’er turned around, glanced at him blankly, and then walked in the direction of Hu Daoke with an angry look still on his face. Although he didn’t express approval for the plan, as long as he did not oppose it, it meant that he agreed.