The Great Worm Lich

An unfamiliar language might seem challenging to understand. However, if one managed to master several hundreds of words that were used most frequently in the group, one would be able to meet the needs of communication. When the Atlantean linguists, Travis and McCardy, received the translations of the most commonly used Hellfire words from Zhang Lisheng, they racked their brains to identify its laws.

By continuing to communicate and revise with a very knowledgeable Wizard Li scholar, it only took them five days to successfully program the ‘translating device’ to translate the Hellfire language and writing.

With this tool that was proficient in the language, the civilized scientist and philosopher, Sweltman, put on the sunglasses-like translating device and began to diligently read the animal skin books and bark skin books seized by Wizard Li tribe during its expansion conquest and classified them in details.

The biologist, Alice, on the other hand, focused on doing preliminary risk genetic screening on the biological samples obtained from the 18 islands in Wizard Li’s territory with the help of the natives. Unfortunately, after working restlessly for three whole weeks, she and Sweltman ended up with no results.

When both of them announced the news solemnly, they felt that they had wasted nearly a month. Finally, Zhang Lisheng, who managed to escape from this, sighed with relief. “We’re checking to see if the Shrimp World No. 2 has any monster that can swallow the planet in ancient times, so having no result is the best result. Since we already have a result on the Hellfire civilization, our initial exploration of the foreign world could also be said as completed as well…”

“Doctor, the Hellfire civilization is an island civilization. The biological evolution system between various islands is very different.” Someril interrupted the young man’s words and said, “We still can’t conclude that we have a research result now. Besides, according to the scarce texts of the Wizard Li tribe, the mainstream civilization of World 3009 is a land-based country. If we don’t come in contact with them, we can’t claim that we have completed our exploration work.”

The Atlantean woman was usually very amiable to Zhang Lisheng and rarely spoke with a grave expression. However, when it came to serious issues, she would rarely step aside.

“Yeah, you have a point, but the Wizard Li tribe can only provide us with so much convenience.” The young man frowned at Someril’s rebuttal and held his stance. “Having been able to make these natives do so much is already the limit of my authority. To be honest, madam, if we continue to make our study, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get more help from me.” Of course, he did not really get angry over such a small thing, but expressing his dissatisfaction promptly was the smart thing to do.

During this time, except for the volcanic furnace, underground Golden river, firearms imitation workshops, and a few other no-go zones that were wholly prohibited, everywhere else on the Wizard Li Island was open to the Shrimp World No. 2 civilization exploration team.

The tribe had also done its utmost to provide convenience for them to do whatever research they wanted to carry out. The researchers’ lives were extravagant there. For this reason, even Nordick, who always had a cold face on and was always harsh in treating others, said nothing more. Nevertheless, his expression had still turned colder.

“Doctor, you’ve misunderstood. You’ve done enough. As for the next step of the explorative work, I have other plans for it.” Someril smiled and said, “Of course, this requires your assistance.”

“What assistance?” Zhang Lisheng had an ominous premonition, but he had to ask.

“While I’m here, I realized that almost all of the warriors in the Wizard Li tribe are rehearsing for battle formation. The entire tribe seems to be completely preparing for an expedition, am I right?”

“Yes,” The young man could not deny this, so he could just answer.

“The Wizard Li tribesmen have strong military strength. Such mobilization of all troops means that they must be ready to conquer other Hellfire islands, right?” Someril asked again.

“That’s right.”

“Doctor, we Atlanteans are willing to help the Wizard Li to win this battle. In this way, your position in the tribe should be further improved as well…”

“Madam Someril,” Zhang Lisheng finally understood her intention and burst out into a chuckle. “If only you Atlanteans were willing to dispatch your light energy spacecraft, then we wouldn’t rack our brains to explore this foreign world anymore. For this reason, I believe that the Atlanteans you speak of must mean you and your three subordinates, right? How should I put this? Erm, Madam, I’m not questioning your supernatural abilities. Nevertheless, the Wizard Li tribe has hundreds of guardian spiritual monsters and even tens of thousands of chief warriors who possess supernatural power. Frankly, in a battle of hegemony between millions of people in a magical world, the power of a singular person is minimal. Do you understand what I mean?”

Someril’s smile remained unchanged when the topic of war was brought up. However, her usual calm gaze had a hint of aura arrogance in it. “I understand, Doctor, but do you really get the position of ‘Sergeant Major’ in Atlantis army? Do you know what role an Atlantean warrior, who can produce the same amount of light energy as a stellar light stone and can use it freely as they like, can play in a non-interstellar planet war? Particularly in a war where the enemy is using cold steel weapons?”

Zhang Lisheng had learned about the Atlantean military knowledge from the Internet. He knew that their ‘sergeant’ had the same meaning as ‘non-commissioned officer’ in the army of both countries—China and US—that he had lived in before.

On Earth, the American and Chinese non-commissioned officers referred to professional soldiers with specific professional skills. This included ordinary civilian professions such as livestock breeding, farmland cultivation, and mechanical maintenance, which also included killing skills and weapon utilization abilities.

A non-commissioned officer usually had a slightly lower ranking than army officers in the military. However, in China, some non-commissioned officers with rare skills might enjoy far better treatment than army officers because of their extended service time.

In the US, on the other hand, the boundaries between the non-commissioned officer and the army office were not very clear. Some non-commissioned officers who had distinguished battle achievements might become a junior officer or a senior officer overnight under the right opportunity.

The young man grew silent and pondered the reason why Someril’s tone would become so arrogant before considering it. “I understand your military establishment, Madam Someril. I know very well that the ‘sergeant’ in your Atlantean army is the same as non-commissioned officers on our Earth. Some of them represent outstanding combat capabilities…”

“Not some, Doctor. In Atlantis, only a person who is capable of powerful ‘singular’ combat ability without the help of any machinery can become a sergeant.”

“Oh, just like Rambo on Earth. He can fight against 100 people at the same time…”

“No, Doctor, according to your Earthling’s analogy, it should be ‘one against 200’. On average, the mechanical light sergeant at the lowest level can manipulate a total amount of light and heat that is about 227 times more than an ordinary Atlantean.” Someril explained as though she was reciting a textbook. “The total amount of light and heat power that a magma sergeant can manipulate is five times more than that of a mechanical light sergeant. The planet sergeant can manipulate three times the total amount of light and heat power more than that of a magma sergeant. Meanwhile, a stellar sergeant can manipulate twice the amount more than that of a planet sergeant. Only when a stellar sergeant can freely manipulate every light energy in his body can he can be promoted to become a sergeant major.”

Zhang Lisheng did not know how powerful an ordinary Atlantean could be to master light and heat power. Nevertheless, he could immediately calculate that the simple so-called total amount of light and heat power that a sergeant major could learn was 6810 times more than an ordinary Atlantean.

When the young man recalled Trish, who had just activated her light and heat power not long ago, he could not help but clench his fist. He should not have taken ordinary Atlanteans into consideration and just considered that the supernatural power Someril mastered was 6810 times more than that of Trish. Thus, she should be more powerful than the gods from the foreign worlds already.

“This is too unbelievable, Madam Someril. I’ve mentioned before that a good friend of mine is an ‘Aryan Special’ that has activated her power of manipulating light and heat. Still, if the power that you master is 6810 times more than that of hers, I think, I think—oh, that’s just too incredible! T-Too incredible…” He said in shock.

When Someril saw that she had already baffled Zhang Lisheng, she regained her calm expression and smiled. “Doctor, the total manipulatable amount of light and heat differed from the activated energy intensity. If your friend has used a high-quality light stone to trigger the ability to manipulate light and fire, then her abilities would most likely be much more powerful than ordinary Atlanteans. However, you may indeed feel a little overwhelmed when you see my power for the first time.”

“Perhaps so, Madam Someril. Maybe I have underestimated your strength. Even so, if you really played an important role in the battle of the Wizard Li conquest, I’m afraid it’s still impossible for us to come into contact with the mainlanders. There’s a deep hatred between them and the Hellfire people after all…”

“No matter how deep the hatred is, it still would not clash with a vested interest, Doctor,” Someril shook her head and interrupted the young man. “From the Wizard Li’s ancient literature, Sweltman has long seen through the blood feud between Hellfire civilization and mainland civilization. At the same time, he has also seen through the unchanging interests interweaved between the two parties. The mainlanders hope to get the radiant sea pearls, the strange, rare animals, precious metal, and even wrestling slaves from the Hellfire tribesmen while the Hellfire tribesmen long for the gorgeous fabrics, delicate tools, and gorgeous jewelry woven by the mainlander…”

While the Atlantean woman was speaking, she raised both of her arms. Her flat palms slowly radiated a seven-colored light and condensed it into a basketball-sized light ball. It suddenly burst open and transformed into a 3D map of one-third of the Shrimp World No. 2. “The 8 islands that the Wizard Li occupied are all at the south of the Hellfire sea region. If we sail upward, our next target will be this large island that is shaped like a scorpion. This island is close to the mainland, so Sweltman believes that the indigenous people there will inevitably maintain a trading relationship with the mainlanders. If the Wizard Li conquers it, we can just sit back and wait for the mainlander of the Shrimp World No. 2 to approach us.”