Chapter 577 - 542: The Tangled Killing Tactics
—— Puppet Master: The hero has a certain chance to mind control an enemy’s tactical position for a period of time. If the controlled unit is attacked, it will regain its senses. The higher the hero’s magic power, the lower the enemy unit’s magic resistance, and the fewer the number of enemy units, the higher the chance of success. Cannot be used on elementals or undead mechanical creatures. Learning requirement: Master-level Dark Magic.
—— Madness Technique: Forces an enemy unit at a tactical position into a frenzy, attacking any nearby unit indiscriminately. If a frenzied unit is attacked, it will regain its senses. Learning requirement: Master-level Dark Magic.
This is Puppet Master and Madness Technique, magic that is very famous in Dark Magic, but not very popular among players.
It is famous because in the hands of an expert, the magic has creative and miraculous effects, such as scouting stealthily without troops, where an expert can use this magic to disgust and overwhelm players who bring troops to the point of vomiting.
It’s unpopular because this spell is probabilistic, and the larger the enemy troops, the less likely it is to succeed. Basically, it doesn’t appear in large-scale battles. In large battles, casting an unreliable spell is far less valuable than using a group Dark Magic for slowing or weakening. Of course, the low success rate is a common issue with spirit-based spells.
Now, Elena has proposed a plan that fully meets the conditions for using Puppet Master, and Da Fei is immediately thrilled! But new problems also arise.
Da Fei urgently asked: "Even if we use Puppet Master to control the Ice Head to attack the other heads, if the other heads retaliate and gang up on it, wouldn’t that just wake it up, or even kill it, rendering it ineffective? Puppet Master has a magic cooldown time; surely we can’t keep controlling the Ice Head with this spell?"
Elena sternly said: "Master, we only have one chance to utilize the Ice Head, so this Ice Head must be able to fatally strike the Hydra, and the condition for a fatal strike on the Hydra may only be one—"
Anlicia couldn’t help but interject: "Killing the ninth head!"
Elena solemnly said: "Indeed, Deputy Lord Miss! According to the mythological era folklore, the deadly vulnerability of the Hydra is only one, and that is its ninth head! The ninth head is also the most powerful head, its strength equivalent to more than the sum of the other eight heads combined; even gods find it hard to deliver a fatal blow. However, a newly formed ninth head may not be so formidable, possibly as fragile as an infant, so our opportunity to strike is precisely the moment it just grows its ninth head, at that moment the Ice Head turning against and striking will certainly be miraculous!"
Da Fei, shaking with excitement, responded: "Makes sense, makes absolute sense!"
Holy moly! That’s right up my alley! I’ve always been thinking about fattening this Hydra before killing it, to improve the quality of the Divine Artifact drops. From the current analysis, it looks like I really have to wait until it evolves into a god!
As for what happens if it becomes a god and I fail to kill it? Damn it, then it’s time to call for the Kingdom’s reinforcements to come and share the loot.
Wait, there’s still a question! Da Fei frowned and asked: "When will it be able to evolve the ninth head?"
Elena seriously explained: "The most likely scenario is when all its heads are awake and roaming around chaotically like the few heads now because that would be a sign that the energy within its body is too chaotic and completely out of control, at that point it’ll definitely need a true leader to regulate it!"
Da Fei nodded: "Makes sense!"
This opinion is quite similar to what the Village Chief said back then. He thought that when all the heads were fighting and no one was leading, a truly intimidating ninth head had to emerge. Meaning, the evolution of the Hydra was inevitable.
So, the final issue is time. According to the report from Advisor Tai Da, the Demon Race’s invasion force would be hindered by the poison gas of Mercury Lake, and there’s also a high chance that they’d be obstructed by the so-called Demigod Crow in the lake. Their invasion will definitely not go smoothly. Moreover, Habbit Village is also well-prepared for defense, and with the natural hazards of the marsh and their innate cunning, even if the village falls, they can still scatter and hide in the swamp teeming with monsters to preserve their strength. It shouldn’t be easy for the Demon Race to annihilate them.
After all, experience comes with age. I believe in the ability of the Old Village Chief who could knock the Eight-Headed Hydra for a loop!
Da Fei’s mind is made up, he then says to Elena, "Very good, I still have enough Skill Books. I’ll make you learn the Master-level Dark Magic. Are you confident?"
Elena shakes her head, "Master, there might be only one chance to act. Such an important mission should be given to Miss Deirdre who is a Banshee. If all the equipment is put on her, and she performs it, the success rate will be much higher than mine. Banshees are natural experts in Spirit Magic."
Da Fei is stunned! Leave it to Deirdre? Damn it! Although a Banshee’s Charming Technique is indeed a hundred percent effective control ’Divine Skill’ on the battlefield, and Deirdre indeed has Master-level Dark Magic, she only has one life, for crying out loud!
Da Fei quickly shakes his head, "No way, no way! Deirdre isn’t even an official hero yet; if something goes wrong, we can’t undo it! Do you have any other solutions?"
Elena frowns, silently.
Da Fei is equally conflicted. Am I being too overly cautious? But honestly, there’s no need to risk Deirdre’s life on such a huge risk! Just now, the Eight-Headed Hydra’s alert range already exceeded the normal casting distance. Deirdre wouldn’t even get close before trouble starts!
Should I bring the Flying over, clash head-on with the Eight-Headed Hydra, then have Deirdre suddenly rush out from the cabin to cast a spell? Damn it! That would be betting both the safety of the Flying and Deirdre’s life! Who knows, the Flying might get capsized the moment it appears before this menacing mountain of flesh!
I’ve gambled countless times, but do I need to gamble this time? It’s just a matter of earning more or less money, utterly unnecessary! I might as well ask the Kingdom to send troops.
But even if the Kingdom could send troops, what if they don’t have a ship and need to requisition mine? I’d still be risking the safety of the Flying, plus unnecessarily causing trouble over splitting the assets. Isn’t that still a headache?
Just then, Elena shakes her head with a wry smile, "If it’s difficult for you, Master, let me do it. Let’s gamble!"
Da Fei’s heart tightens. So, it’s still a gamble?
Just then, Selvia suddenly speaks up, "Captain, why not listen to Deirdre’s suggestion? Besides, she isn’t the type to fear death. In fact, she has faced more threats of death than any of us. Maybe the tactics she arranges could offer new insights?"
Da Fei suddenly realizes, yes, of course! Before the grandmother woke up, she was the chief strategist. Such a crucial matter, I must listen to her opinion! Moreover, during the competition, she died once, but the System Prompt stated she was waiting for a summons, not truly dead. I’ve really been too hesitant!(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)