The battle broke out deep in the swamp.

The orc warriors of the Deadwood Tribe roared, and their battle axes and totem poles fell down. Countless tangled poisonous vines sprang up from the ground, wrapping around and strangling them.

Completely different from the Rotten Vine Alliance mercenaries they encountered before, these Dead Wood Elite were brave and coordinated well.

A uniform dark green light flowed on the rough leather armor, forming a faint whole.

"roar--!"

Enzo's lava hammer, wrapped in wind pressure, smashed towards the shield formation, but was easily blocked by several activated giant tree totems that suddenly rose from the ground.

The huge recoil force made his obsidian arms make a dull sound, and he was forced to stagger back.

He roared angrily: "Damn, these green turtles have such hard shells!"

Mark's giant cross sword swept across with a whimper that tore through the air, and the blade flashing with holy light slashed at the intertwined vine barrier, leaving only deep scorch marks, but the vines healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Legion-level defensive magic!" Monica's voice echoed through the four people's minds. "The magic nodes are circulating under the shamans in the rear. A strong attack is too inefficient!"

Her figure shuttled through the gaps between the vines like a ghost, and her dagger left afterimages, but she was always forced back by the suddenly thickening vine wall or the sudden stabbing spear before reaching the core.

Even the invincible Shadow Lurking found it difficult to move forward in the dense wood elemental magic.

The Great Shaman of Deadwood stood in the formation, his ancient wooden staff deeply embedded in the ground, his cloudy eyes filled with a coldness that seemed to indicate that he was in control of everything.

His voice was hoarse, infused with magic power and spread out: "Give up, human! You can't shake the roots of the dead tree! Retreat now, and you can still survive. When I activate the 'Throne of Thorns' with all my strength, you will become nutrients for this swamp!"

Mark blocked a poisonous arrow with his cross sword, and the holy light shield rippled, sneering:

"Old man, save your energy! You're not afraid of us, you're afraid that if you delay for too long, the hyenas behind you will smell the blood and pounce on you, right?"

He spoke very quickly, revealing the other person's thoughts.

"I'm even more curious. Who tipped you off? The Ivy Alliance tipped you off, yet at the same time, they're posting a quest to steal your heart... What's going on here?"

The muscles on the great shaman's wrinkled green face twitched suddenly, and a trace of undisguised fear flashed across the depths of his eyes, as if he remembered a taboo more terrifying than death.

He interrupted sharply: "The dead don't need to know too much! Go to hell and guess the secrets of the dead tree yourself!"

The staff slammed heavily, and more thick poisonous vines broke out of the ground, strangling Mark's team like a dancing giant python, and the attack suddenly became three times more violent.

The battle situation seemed to be in a stalemate. The Deadwood Tribe relied on the legion magic and geographical advantages to keep Mark's team firmly on the periphery.

The roars of the orc warriors and the clashing of weapons were deafening.

However, when Mark and the other three exchanged glances, there was no trace of anxiety in their expressions.

Anna's arrows were still accurate, but in fact she didn't even take out the magic-breaking arrows, she was still using the most ordinary bow and arrow.

Enzo's lava hammer looked powerful, but he had no intention of using the rune forging hammer on his waist. He also deliberately avoided several nodes that Monica had secretly marked for them, which could be broken at a small cost.

As for Mark's wielding of the cross sword, the holy light shield was as solid as a rock, and he was only using the disguised holy light magic.

The real trump card has not even been revealed halfway.

Just as Mark once again used his giant sword to deflect several chopping axes, at the moment when the holy light and dark green magic power collided violently, his fist covered with holy light clenched slightly.

Not towards the enemy in front of him, but towards the deep swamp behind him, which was shrouded in fog and miasma.

"Six... No, at least a dozen different soul fluctuations are approaching at high speed..." Mark's voice was low and clear, echoing directly in the minds of the other three people, with a hint of amusement. "Several of them... Oh, by the Holy Light, it's really getting more and more lively. Even 'old friends' have come here to smell the scent."

The Great Shaman Deadwood was still roaring in the formation, completely unaware that the "heart" he was defending with his life and the remaining soldiers had become a bloody bait that was about to trigger more fighting in the eyes of Mark's team.

The magic and power of both sides collided violently again above the swamp wetlands.

The dark green vine barrier trembled violently under the bombardment of Enzo's lava hammer, with debris flying everywhere, and then quickly healed under the guidance of the Deadwood Shaman.

Mark's giant cross sword was wrapped in disguised holy light, and every slash was accompanied by a dull sound of breaking wind, but it was as if it was cutting on an extremely tough century-old vine, and it was difficult to truly tear the opponent's defense line.

The poisonous vines, like dancing pythons, kept emerging from the muddy ground, trying to entangle and strangle the team members, but they were either blocked or dodged by the team members.

Another fierce collision of energy waves exploded, and mud splashed everywhere.

At this seemingly stalemate moment, Mark's eyes sternly, and he uttered a quick but clear low cry:

"withdraw!"

This order was not a panicked retreat, but a tactical retreat.

The four of them performed the same actions.

Enzo made a feint with his giant hammer, forcing back the orc warrior in front of him, and then he pushed off the ground and leaped back.

Anna's light figure touched the totem poles and floated backwards like catkins.

Monica was like water merging into the shadows, instantly losing contact.

Mark swept his cross sword across, deflecting several poisonous arrows. The light of the holy light shield grew slightly, covering his retreat.

Their "retreat" route was not a straight line away from the battlefield.

Instead, it intentionally or unintentionally cut diagonally into an area shrouded by huge rotten tree roots and dense miasma, where the light was dimmer and the vision was obstructed.

Just when the four of them seemed to have lost their formation due to retreat, especially when Anna landed on the ground—

Swish!

A cold sword light suddenly emerged from the shadow of a huge, twisted mushroom cap behind the side without any warning!

The target was directly aimed at the back of Anna who had just landed!

The angle was tricky and ruthless, and the timing was perfect. It was obviously a long-planned and deadly sneak attack!

"Anna, be careful!"

Enzo's roar was like thunder, but his movements were even faster!

At the moment when the sword light was about to touch Anna's emerald green leather armor, the dwarf warrior's face was not panicked, but instead showed a sinister smile.

He didn't even look at it. The huge lava hammer came with a terrifying scream that tore through the air, like a boulder thrown by a slingshot, and arrived first.

He fiercely smashed towards the deep shadow where the attacker's sword light came from, the place where his head might be hidden!

Woo——!

The war hammer, carrying the dwarf's violent power and the hot breath like lava, instantly tore apart the shadow of the mushroom cap!

The attacker obviously didn't expect the counterattack to be so swift and violent. He had to give up attacking Anna in a hurry and hurriedly changed the moves of the rapier in his hand, trying to block the powerful hammer.