Chapter 232: The Electromagnetic Spear

Chapter 232: The Electromagnetic Spear

Control Metal!

Ji Xinghuo was delighted as he discovered that this ability in itself was a super-limit power, a very rare one. He hadn't expected that reaching level four in the rotating magnetic field would grant him this ability as well.

After carefully sensing it for a moment, he found that his metal manipulation differed significantly from the ability described in the Exotic Database.

The ability known to people was called "Metal Control."

After fusion, one had to physically touch the metal to manipulate it, causing it to deform, melt, or turn into a liquid state. Moreover, the control was only temporary, and the consumption of starlight energy was intense, making it very inconvenient with an extremely difficult training and upgrade process.

However, his metal manipulation ability didn't require touch and could be performed from a distance!

Although the range was rather short.

Ji Xinghuo quietly tried it and found that beyond ten meters, it was beyond his control range.

This distance was precisely the radius of his electrostatic field.

Even though the rotating magnetic field had reached level four, expanding the magnetic field's sensing range to about five kilometers, the radius of the electrostatic field remained unchanged.

His control over metal was also limited to within this ten-meter radius.

Ji Xinghuo understood: "The electrostatic field and the rotating magnetic field must be superimposed to form a perfect electromagnetic field to manipulate metal."

But this didn't affect his perception of metal.

The range of perception of metal was as large as the range of the magnetic field.

Ji Xinghuo held a titanium alloy arrow in his hand, appearing casual but actually delving deeper into his newfound ability to manipulate metal.

The arrow floated lightly and then fell.

When no one was looking, the part of the arrow in his palm slightly deformed and then returned to its original shape.

"My control over metal shape is still rather weak."

"Not as good as 'Metal Control.'"

Ji Xinghuo mused that this might be related to the "ferromagnetism" of the metal. The main material of the titanium alloy arrow was titanium, which had weak ferromagnetism, and the other metals contained only small amounts of iron. Hence, his control over the arrow was not profound, and the effect of applying magnetic field intensity would be discounted.

However, being able to manipulate from a distance was already a huge advantage, and the consumption of starlight energy was not much.

Moreover, this was just the initial stage of manipulation.

As his rotating magnetic field and electrostatic field continued to upgrade, his ability to manipulate metal would also improve, delving deeper into the essence of metal.

This potential was undoubtedly far greater than "Metal Control"!

Moreover, metal manipulation was not meant to be used alone. To unleash its true power, it must be combined with the rotating magnetic field and electrostatic field.

Snap!

As this thought occurred to him, the titanium alloy arrow in Ji Xinghuo's hand crackled with electricity, emitting a soft sound.

Under the enhancement of the magnetic and electric fields, the ordinary titanium alloy arrow was momentarily imbued with immense energy. At this moment, he felt as if his body were a bow, and with just a thought, the arrow would be loosed.

"As expected!"

"This is the correct way to manipulate metal."

A smile curved Ji Xinghuo's lips as he removed the electricity from the arrow, returning to his calm state in the blink of an eye.

It was a pity that now was not the time to test its power.

He immediately thought of several plans, and the one with the most potential was the "railgun" principle—electrifying a piece of metal so that it would be subjected to a force (Ampere force) in the magnetic field, accelerating and launching it forward.

His body was the railgun launcher!

Spherical bullets, arrows, spears, and pointed shells could all be used, preferably made of metals with strong ferromagnetism. With his strength, he could also impart a tremendous initial velocity when throwing them. The metal projectiles shouldn't be too light; the greater the mass, the stronger the power.

It should also be aerodynamic to reduce air resistance and improve accuracy during the throw.

"A spear should be the most suitable!"

"Second would be a metal bullet."

Ji Xinghuo guessed.

Driven by the electromagnetic field, manipulating the metal, and adding the kinetic energy from his arm, the triple amplification would undoubtedly result in tremendous destructive power.

"If this works, I'll be a human railgun!"

Ji Xinghuo's heart raced with excitement, and he couldn't wait to find a place to test it out.

With difficulty, he suppressed his excitement and continued to look at the interface of the Myriad Star Pupil. There were still 1554 points of spiritual source energy, which he immediately invested in "Electrostatic Field" without hesitation.

【Electrostatic Field (Level 3 2030/8089)】

As the progress bar grew, the radius of the electrostatic field expanded to about 15 meters, and the range of control over electric charges and metal objects increased synchronously to 15 meters.

Ji Xinghuo silently calculated that, according to this growth ratio, when the level three electrostatic field was fully upgraded, the radius should be able to reach 30 meters.

Upon reaching level four, it would definitely expand even further.

"Still need more than 6,000 points of spiritual source energy," he glanced at the upgrade progress and secretly lamented.

Earlier, when Wu Yindragon had killed over a thousand people, he hadn't obtained all of their spiritual source energy. At least half of them had died outside the range, and the Myriad Star Pupil hadn't been able to harvest their spiritual source energy, resulting in waste.

Soon, they could clearly make out the silhouettes in the sky.

They were a group of massive blood-red bats with wingspans of over ten meters. Each bat had three thick supporting bones in its red wing membranes, and its wingtips were equipped with a pair of massive claws. Their sturdy hind legs also ended in sharp claws, and their heads resembled those of horned hounds with blood-red eyes, creating a terrifying appearance.

These flying mounts were known as "Blood Demon Bats," and they possessed formidable combat strength, even surpassing that of flying dragons.

More than twenty Blood Demon Bats descended from the sky, slowing down as they approached.

The lead bat was even larger, with a wingspan exceeding twenty meters and a pair of large horns on its head. When it landed, it kicked up a storm of wind and dust.

It folded its wings and stood upright on its hind legs, exuding a terrifying aura that showcased its power as a calamity-level monster.

"'A' level Blood Demon Bat," Ji Xinghuo observed from a distance, making a judgment.

However, he was more interested in the figure riding on the bat's back.

The figure was a Highlander, and like all powerful Highlanders, he had a tall and robust build. His body was covered in blood-red tattoos, and his hair was shaved around the sides, leaving only the top long and braided into a thick plait that hung down his back. He carried a large and plain-looking spear on his back, exuding an aura of efficiency and fierceness.

"General Ductai!"

He Yan quickly stepped forward and knelt before this formidable Highlander, bowing his head in respect.

"What happened? You've lost a lot of men," Ductai said without dismounting from his Blood Demon Bat. His voice was stern as he swept his gaze over the Highlander army and the mercenaries.

He Yan recounted the attack by the Mist Dragon.

"Useless," Ductai remarked, waving his hand dismissively.

A blood-red shadow flashed, and an invisible giant palm struck He Yan, sending him flying into a pit several meters wide.

He Yan did not dare to resist and crawled out of the pit, continuing to kneel before the Blood Demon Bat.

"Continue on with your men. We must reach the tribe by today," Ductai ordered without sparing He Yan another glance. His eyes scanned the sky, as if searching for the Mist Dragon, and added, "If that dragon lord dares to show up again, I will offer its blood as a sacrifice to the Red Emperor."

"Yes, General!" He Yan replied loudly.

Whoosh!

In the gusting wind, the Blood Demon Bats took to the sky.

The dozen or so Blood Demon Bats that had been hovering in the air also dispersed, with some circling overhead and others scouting the surrounding area.

Only when General Ductai took off did He Yan dare to stand up and urge the army to quicken their pace.

Ji Xinghuo watched the entire process from a distance.

Even at such a far remove, this Fresh Blood General filled him with a sense of awe. Ductai was an indisputable sixth-stage Evolver, equivalent to a Monarch on Earth.

Although most Highlanders, due to their racial talents and beliefs, tended to focus on the path of strength evolution, shunning or even rejecting those flashy abilities, and always favored direct combat, their prowess in this area was undeniable.

The Fresh Blood Generals possessed the advanced Blood Drinking Rage, and each of them had emerged from the sea of blood and corpses. Their combat strength was fearsome.

It would be difficult for a typical Monarch to match them.

Ji Xinghuo estimated that if Ductai were an Other on Earth, he would rank among the top twenty on the Monarch list!

With such a powerful individual as their escort and the Blood Demon Bats scouting and guarding them, the Mist Dragon naturally wouldn't dare to appear again.

He Yan relentlessly drove the army to increase their speed, and they raced through the night.

As evening fell, they finally entered the territory of the Blood Rage Tribe, but they didn't stop, pressing on through the night. They passed through multiple settlements, watchtowers, and fortresses belonging to the Blood Rage Tribe, and finally, as dawn approached, they arrived at the most important location of the Blood Rage Tribe—Blood Rage Fortress!

This was a massive fortress built in a valley surrounded by peaks that soared to a height of ten thousand meters. The only passage in and out of the valley was located in the south.

A hundred-meter-high stone wall blocked the valley's sole exit, stretching for five or six kilometers.

A gate was set into the bottom of the stone wall.

Ji Xinghuo and the two others, along with the mercenaries, passed through the gate, and their eyes were greeted by countless stone houses built into the mountainside, climbing higher and higher on both sides until they reached the snow line near the peaks.

However, the Highlanders often referred to the entire valley as Blood Rage Fortress, as it was home to nearly a million people, a quarter of the Blood Rage Tribe's population.

Ji Xinghuo had excellent eyesight, and as he marched with the mercenary army through the streets, he took the opportunity to observe the terrain of the valley.

It had to be said that the Highlanders had a keen eye for strategic locations. This valley was naturally defensible and challenging to attack, and the stone walls only added to the difficulty. A river flowed through the valley, formed by the melting glacier, ensuring a constant water supply. With sufficient food reserves, they could hold out for a long time behind those walls.

Of course, the strongest fortresses were always breached from within.

If the enemy could fly, those walls would be useless.

Fortunately, the Blood Rage Tribe had their own aerial forces.

Without even looking up, Ji Xinghuo's electromagnetic sense detected various flying patrol squads regularly passing overhead, even in the middle of the night. The most common were the Blood Demon Bats, with a few types of flying dragons that were less numerous and nested on the surrounding peaks.

The ground forces were even more substantial. From the stone walls to the depths of the valley where the Blood Rage Fortress stood, there was a military camp every kilometer or so.

These camps were filled with second-stage and above Highlander warriors.

Nearly everyone had a six-legged horned horse, totaling over 100,000 mounts, forming a massive heavy cavalry force! No matter the race or civilization, the military's strength far surpassed that of civilians.

Ji Xinghuo observed the Highlander residents in the valley and noted that over half of them had evolved at least once, reaching the first stage. Even those who hadn't evolved possessed strength far superior to Earthlings, and most of them were underage Highlanders who would have the opportunity to evolve in the future.

In the Blood Rage Tribe, the elderly were rarely seen.

Very few weak Highlanders managed to live to old age; most perished at the hands of enemies or were sacrificed to the Red Emperor by their own kin.

The symbol of the Red Emperor was ubiquitous throughout the valley, with blood-colored skulls painted on the doors and walls of every home. A few Highlanders who were still awake glared at the foreign mercenaries with bloodthirsty eyes, as if contemplating how to dismember these outsiders.

Ji Xinghuo felt as if he had walked into a valley of villains.

After a moment.

He Yan led the army into a military camp and arranged accommodations for the mercenaries.

The camp was mostly inhabited by Highlanders, with a smaller group of mercenaries who had been recruited from other places by the Blood Rage Tribe. It seemed they had already been there for several days.

Ji Xinghuo and his two companions were grouped with a team of five Dan and Huang people, sharing the same tent.

The night passed without incident.

As soon as it was light, Ji Xinghuo got up and left the tent.

He Yan had given strict orders the previous night, forbidding the mercenaries from leaving the camp. All their needs were to be met within the camp, including five meals a day, though the food consisted mostly of various kinds of grilled meat, served rare or even raw, to be washed down with strong liquor, as was the Highlander custom.

Ji Xinghuo ate a little something and then informed Xia Qingyu before making his way to a smelting shop within the camp.

He had noticed it the previous night.

This smelting shop was essentially a blacksmith's forge, where they could repair swords and armor, replace horse hoof irons, and also sell some ordinary-quality weapons.

The Highlanders' craftsmanship was quite advanced, and they were capable of creating super-ability equipment.

However, this particular smelting shop was not one of them.

Ji Xinghuo didn't expect to find any treasures here, and as he walked in, he saw several burly Highlanders working away, their arms bare as they hammered away at weapons and repaired armor, creating a constant din even at this early hour.

The Highlanders glanced at him but didn't approach to offer their services.

Ji Xinghuo's gaze swept the walls.

There were various already-forged weapons displayed there, of surprisingly good quality. Most were the types of weapons favored by the Highlanders: axes, war blades, and long spears. And among them was the type of spear he sought—a javelin!

Several black metal javelins leaned against the corner, each about two meters long, pointed at both ends, but of varying thicknesses, differentiated by weight into different specifications.

Ji Xinghuo walked over and picked up the heaviest one, feeling its weight.

"A bit light."

He brandished the javelin, testing its balance.

With his current strength, he could wield a one-ton weapon with ease, but considering that this was a javelin meant to be thrown, 20 kilograms was actually overweight.

No Highlander warrior below the fourth stage or higher would be able to throw such a heavy javelin very far.

"This weight should be just right for me."

"An ordinary javelin in my hands becomes an electromagnetic javelin!"

Ji Xinghuo turned to a Highlander blacksmith and said in True Dragon language, "I'll take twenty javelins of this specification."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end