Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1652 - 571: Declaration Before the Battle

Not long after, Rein ascended high above the Hammerfall Mountains, surveying the vast expanse below.

Although Grand Astromancer Dalain had pinpointed Graham's location to the Hammerfall Mountains, the sheer scale of the mountain range, stretching for thousands of miles, made finding a Dawn Late Stage Wizard hidden within it a formidable challenge.

Nevertheless, having a general vicinity was a significant advantage.

While the search of such an immense area would typically consume at least a month for seasoned Dawn Wizards like Elder Ivan, Rein, having attained the full moon peak, anticipated a far swifter conclusion.

Rein harbored a strong conviction that he could locate his target within half a day, or at most, three to five days.

This confidence held even with the opponent concealed within such an expansive mountain terrain.

Just as Rein prepared to commence his search, a sudden thought arrested his actions.

"Considering Graham's nature, if he's hiding within these mountains, he's undoubtedly awaiting an opportune moment to strike!"

"This implies he'll either seek out densely populated areas for a blood sacrifice summoning or locations teeming with spiders to utilize their spirits for the ritual."

"If that's indeed the case..."

Rein's eyes gleamed with newfound insight, and he vanished from his position in an instant.

...

Approximately an hour later.

Rein reappeared in the same elevated spot, his expression contemplative.

"I have thoroughly investigated all eleven County Towns bordering the Hammerfall Mountains, yet not a single trace of him was found."

"As for smaller villages and towns, their populations are insufficient, and they lack the requisite number of powerful individuals for a high-grade blood sacrifice."

"It seems increasingly probable that his whereabouts lie in regions frequented by potent species of spiders."

In the subsequent moment, his form dissolved into the sky once more.

Soon, Rein found himself hovering above a rocky valley, a habitat favored by the black fog spiders inhabiting the vicinity of the Hammerfall Mountains.

"Regrettably... there's no indication of any human intervention here."

Rein's gaze first settled upon the numerous nests from which black fog spiders emerged and departed, then he briefly observed a black fog spider, no larger than his fist, before shaking his head.

"Indeed, while black fog spiders are plentiful, their inherent strength is quite limited. They rank among the weakest of the fierce species."

"If I were Graham, I likely wouldn't opt for black fog spiders either."

...

A few minutes passed, and Rein was now positioned above a dense forest canopy.

Beneath this verdant expanse lay a substantial swamp, home to a multitude of swamp poison spiders.

"No signs of any unnatural manipulation here either."

Rein retrieved a trembling swamp poison spider, roughly the size of a basin, and remarked with a sigh.

Following this, Rein visited over ten additional locations inhabited by various spider types, yet none yielded evidence of Graham's presence.

"No trace within the giant web spider lairs."

"Nothing found in the black widow spider nests."

"And absolutely nothing within the wild thorn spider habitats either!"

...

This persistent lack of discovery caused Rein's brow to furrow, initiating a wave of self-doubt regarding his initial deductions.

"Could it be that Graham has genuinely discovered a secluded spot and vanished from sight?"

"If that's the scenario, there might be genuinely nothing I can do to apprehend him."

"No!"

"Based on his prior activities on the Shirendil Plateau, he's not the sort to simply disappear without a concrete scheme. I must have overlooked some crucial detail!"

After much deliberation and re-evaluation, Rein affirmed the soundness of his reasoning. The adversary was undoubtedly concocting a plan; the hiding place simply remained undiscovered.

"Could he be within the Hammerfall Tunnel?" Rein mused aloud.

"Even with the considerable number of caravans passing through, if multiple caravans had gone missing, the Empire's garrison could not possibly remain unaware or silent."

"But still..."

Having weighed the possibilities, Rein resolved to investigate the tunnel as a precautionary measure.

....

'Whoosh,' with a swift displacement, Rein materialized within the Hammerfall Tunnel, a passage he had traversed previously. A subtle warmth permeated the subterranean environment, and several caravans were proceeding orderly towards the tunnel's opposite end, exhibiting no signs of alarm.

This observation confirmed that no significant incidents had occurred within the Hammerfall Tunnel recently.

"There's magma below, and spiders typically favor darkness... wait! That's not entirely correct!"

"There exists a particular species of spider that thrives in heat – a rare and formidable fierce species known as the molten spider."

A sudden realization struck Rein!

An image, vivid in his mind's eye, depicted a rare, dark-red spider, comparable in size to a calf.

His figure blurred, flickering multiple times as he descended towards a lava-infused region beneath the Hammerfall Tunnel.

"Found it! It's here!"

A genuine smile finally graced Rein's features.

Before Rein lay a nest teeming with molten spiders, where hundreds of these creatures were engaged in transporting the carcasses of various beasts back to their lair.

Upon closer examination, Rein noticed subtle distinctions: several black lines adorned the bodies of these molten spiders, deviating from their natural appearance.

It was evident that an external party had interfered with, or tampered with, these molten spiders.From the searing heat radiating off the lava, Rein discerned a familiar silhouette, one that had sought refuge in this desolate location after fleeing the Shirendil Plateau – Graham, situated deep within the enemy's lair. Graham was positioned near an imposing altar, nearing its completion. At the heart of this grand structure rested a massive, dark red stone formation. Hovering ominously above it was a colossal molten spider, easily the size of a carriage, while an assortment of ferocious beasts, captured by the spider swarm, writhed around the altar's base. After a moment of careful consideration, Rein opted against an immediate assault, choosing instead to discreetly observe and eavesdrop on Graham's hushed pronouncements.