Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 597: Witch Array Simulation Battlefield
The train’s body is covered with smooth metallic skin, with the Seville Empire’s eagle emblem and gear symbol painted on the side. Below, intricate energy-diverting runes flicker faintly.
The Duke boarded the train along with the sparse crowd. The interior was spacious and bright, with comfortable seats. Most passengers sat quietly, some resting with closed eyes, and others operating small personal information terminals they carried.
As the train started, there was almost no jolt or noise, only the extremely faint sound of air friction and the humming of energy flow.
It glided rapidly along the transparent energy tracks suspended in mid-air, and through the wide windows, the street scenes of Anvil Castle unfolded like a flowing picture scroll before the Duke’s eyes.
Below were bustling streets, where various models of magic-powered vehicles and cargo golems traveled in an orderly manner.
In the distance, towering energy towers spouted stable light streams, while giant holographic advertisements flickered information alternately.
Even further, one could see that from the chimneys in some factory districts, what was emitted was not black smoke, but processed steam with magical glows.
About twenty minutes later, a clear synthetic voice from the train’s broadcast announced: "Zone 7 reached, please prepare to disembark if needed."
The Duke followed the crowd off the train, exited the station, and a group of buildings with a style completely different from the hotel and commercial district appeared before him, this was the combat evaluation and training center.
The entire center covered a vast area, surrounded by tall alloy walls with defensive spikes.
The main entrance was a grand arched metal gate, with the center’s full name engraved above in cold metal letters. On both sides stood four battle magi-golem guards, over five meters tall, painted in black and yellow warning colors. Their eyes scanned the incoming and outgoing crowd, exuding undeniable deterrence.
The entrance was crowded, but orderly.
Among them were Imperial Knights clad in standard armor, Wizards in various colored robes, and many Mechanical Wizards with noticeable mechanical modifications. Some carried large weapon boxes, while others directly piloted small single-person mechs.
The air was filled with a mix of metallic, ozone, sweat, and faint residual energy scents, unique to combat environments, creating a sense of tension.
The Duke walked into the spacious reception area of the hall, brightly lit inside with noisy sounds. Numerous information screens were hung around, continuously displaying the usage status of various training rooms, selectable scenarios and difficulty levels for simulation battles, and some public challenge rankings.
Staff in uniform gray attire with rank badges on their chests moved among them, providing services to visitors.
He went straight to a service desk labeled "Individual Access to Witch Array Simulation Battlefield," where a young woman in her twenties sat. Her left eye was replaced by a precisely structured mechanical eye, with calm blue light flickering in her pupil.
"Hello, I need to use the Witch Array simulation battlefield," the Duke said.
The woman with the mechanical eye lifted her eyelid, swiftly scanning the Duke, seemingly conducting some basic assessment.
"First time using?" Her voice was efficient, devoid of excess emotion.
"Yes."
"Please present your identification credentials and indicate your approximate skill level and needs, so we can match you with suitable simulation scenarios and intensity." A touch screen rose in front of her.
The Duke presented the Black Sail Medallion again: "Level 1 Crystalized Mage, also a first-level novice Knight. Needs: high-intensity, high-frequency combat training, environment and enemy types are not limited, as long as there’s sufficient pressure."
The woman quickly operated on the screen, her mechanical eye projecting a faint light that lingered for a moment on the medallion shown by the Duke, seemingly verifying the information.
"Information confirmed, recommended level is 6-star intensity, adaptive pressure mode, random environment, mixed enemy types. Basic access fee is five thousand Level 1 standard magic stones per hour; energy consumption and scenario complexity might incur additional fees calculated based on actual usage.
First-time users must sign a safety agreement, clearly informing that despite strict testing, there is still an extremely low risk of spiritual load overload in the simulation battlefield, which is exempted by our center, do you accept?"
"Accepted," the Duke naturally had no objections.
The Witch Array simulation battlefield here had strict pressure level classifications. Level 1 was suitable for Level 1 Mages and Knights, while 6-star was a more specific pressure difficulty.
There were a total of ten-star difficulties, with 6-star being above middle difficulty, more suitable for Crystalized Mages to challenge.
In terms of the Duke’s apparent strength, Level 6-star was the most suitable for him.
Primarily, this was his first time using the Witch Array simulation battlefield, and the attendant specially chose a more conservative level for him.
"Alright, please pay the basic fee, then head to Zone C, the second access hall, and the 19th access chamber. Your access code is C2-19, wish you a successful training." The attendant handed over a metal token glowing with the code and a virtual agreement requiring a spiritual imprint confirmation.
The Duke paid in magic stones, left a spiritual imprint on the agreement, picked up the token, and turned toward Zone C as directed.
Five thousand Level 1 magic stones per hour, this cost was definitely not low.
If it were just once, it wouldn’t seem much.
But if used long-term, it would mean at least hundreds of thousands of magic stones spent each month.
For ordinary Level 1 Mages, it’s impossible to afford such expenses.
But this is for the West Coast, the East Coast is evidently much more prosperous than the West Coast, the average income for wizards here would also be significantly higher, and earning money is relatively easier.
For these wizards from the East Coast, this expense is not so unacceptable.
The Duke now had over sixty million magic stones, even among Level 1 Mages on the East Coast, he was considered well-off, and this expenditure was manageable.
He was more concerned with how effective the Witch Array simulation battlefield would be, if it was effective, spending more wouldn’t matter.
Holding the coded token, the Duke followed the signage through the wide corridor, arriving at the second access hall in Zone C.
The atmosphere here was more solemn, the hall neatly lined with dozens of silver-gray access chambers resembling metallic sarcophagi. The doors were closed, with dim blue energy patterns flowing on the surface. Occasionally, a door opened, and people came out, some looking exhausted, others excited, or reflective.
The Duke found the 19th access chamber and brought the token close to the door’s sensing area.
The door slid up silently, the interior space was small, with only an ergonomically designed metal seat, above which hung a net-like crown constructed from numerous fine crystal threads.
