When I first arrived.
Enzo's dark armor, flowing with lava patterns, exuded heat and an ominous aura; Monica's presence was almost one with the shadows; and Anna carried the aloofness of a shadow elf and a hint of barely perceptible rebellion.
The three's extreme mutation state was undoubtedly an anomaly among anomalies, and it was clearly impossible for them to be welcomed by those young masters from the Holy City.
Even when Little Mu transformed back into its round, chubby slime form and quietly perched on Mark's shoulder, the menacing "Pale Skull Crown" on its head still silently proclaimed its extraordinary nature.
Since the followers of the Holy Light did not welcome them, they naturally mingled with a few "outsiders" in the camp.
The mercenary "Scarface" Rek, who has a scar on his face; the skinny thief "Mole" Jim, who is skilled in traps and short blades; and an old apothecary named Karl, who carries a huge medicine chest and has a somewhat gloomy look in his eyes.
These individuals possessed diverse strengths and held little respect for the Holy City or the Holy Light; they only valued power and personal gain.
The reason he joined the Thirteenth Holy Knights' unofficial squad was actually because he was impressed by Alfonso's powerful personal strength.
So, to put it more bluntly, they are more like Alfonso's followers...
As for why Mark became the leader of their group, it was naturally because the three of them decided that whoever had the strongest fist would become the leader of the group.
Considering that Enzo, Monica, and Anna had not yet exited their extreme mutation state at that time, it would have been somewhat unfair to have them compete.
So in the end, Mark went down to compete against the three of them.
The black cross was planted in the ground, and the fist wrapped in divine judgment inexplicably struck the three people.
Not only did it make the three realize that the priests were indeed abnormal professionals who could withstand attacks and fight after advancing to the later stages, but it also made Mark and the others realize that the enemies they encountered outside seemed to be strong people whose strength far exceeded that of ordinary professionals!
So in the end, Mark didn't even need to use the blasphemous mark to become a minor leader of the "Outcasts".
On the other side, there is the "Holy Light Orthodox Faction" formed around Kyle and Ruby.
Ruby, after being enlightened by Kyle, is no longer bothered by the fact that Little M swallowed the Seraph, since it was just a clone of the Seraph anyway.
If she summons the Seraphim again, the Seraphim will judge for itself whether Little M is a heretic.
Since she wasn't going to dwell on the matter, she took on the task of communicating with the outside world on Kyle's behalf once again.
Those few "second-generation saints" youths from the holy city.
Ron, the round-faced apprentice knight; Emilia, the slightly arrogant priest apprentice; and Darren, a young paladin who always wants to show off.
As if they had found their pillar of support, they eagerly surrounded Kyle and Ruby.
They were well-equipped, their armor bearing family crests or church emblems, and their gazes toward Mark were filled with undisguised scrutiny, rejection, and even a hint of the superiority of the Holy City's nobles.
Although the ten apprentice knights, including Oak, were also assigned to Kyle's side, they knew that their identities would prevent them from fitting into the Holy City's circle, so most of them remained silently on the periphery.
A tense atmosphere was brewing in the camp, like a taut string.
What broke the dull silence was the cold, emotionless voice of the recorder, Elliott.
He walked to the center of the camp like a ghost, tossed the two scrolls toward Mark and Kyle respectively, his movements devoid of any warmth.
"Mission: Reconnoiter and cleanse the 'Rotting Muddy Swamp'." Elliott's voice was flat and even. "Fifteen miles southeast of the swamp, there has been unusually active necromantic activity recently, suspected to be remnants of the Rotten Vine Alliance or a naturally formed necromantic aggregation point. Investigate the cause and eliminate the threat. Log in."
The contents of both scrolls are identical.
They all marked the approximate location and emphasized that samples or evidence from the target area needed to be brought back.
Without specific instructions, he completely delegated authority; this was precisely Elliott's style. He only cared about the results.
As soon as the scroll landed, the circles on both sides reacted immediately.
Ron, the "second-generation saint," snatched the scroll from mid-air and eagerly unfurled it.
“Captain Kyle, this kind of reconnaissance and purification mission is precisely our Holy Light’s forte! Let those…” He glanced at Mark’s side, his voice low but loud enough for the other side to hear, “…take unorthodox methods to deal with unstable factors, it’s too risky. Our Holy Light purification is upright and efficient!”
Emilia chimed in:
“That’s right. With Sister Ruby’s purification spell combined with Captain Kyle’s Judgment Light, the mere necromantic lair is a piece of cake.”
She deliberately ignored the fact that Mark was also a clergyman.
Darren puffed out his chest and declared, "Please give the order, Captain! We are ready to be at the forefront!"
On the other hand, the "Outliers" group reacted much more directly.
"Hmph, Holy Light? Making such a racket like thunder, are you afraid the people inside won't know you're here so you can run away in advance?" Scarface Rex sneered, crossing his thick arms. "Reconnaissance? That's our job as 'night owls'."
Jim the Mole deftly twirled the dagger in his hand, adding in a sinister tone, "Exactly, those necromancers, sometimes the darkness devours them faster than the holy light burns them. Enzo, you agree, right?"
He looked at Enzo, who was radiating a scorching, dark aura.
Enzo simply snorted a hot, sulfurous breath in response.
Old Karl slowly wiped his bottles and jars, muttering, "Necromantic miasma... I'll need some potent antidote..."
Mark and Kyle spoke almost simultaneously.
Mark's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness: "Rake, Jim, prepare your night gear and get ready for nighttime operations. Let's get to our destination first, prioritizing reconnaissance of the terrain and the concentration of undead."
"Enzo, Monica, Anna, prepare for backup and a full-scale attack. Old Karl, the logistical support, including the antidote and anti-miasma medicine, is your responsibility. Little M, you're in charge of guarding."
He had a clear mind and instantly assigned tasks based on the characteristics of the team members, making full use of the "Alien Group's" advantages in stealth and dark environments.
Of course, he still had to entrust the main combat force to his own team members, so that everyone could cooperate well and avoid any mistakes.
On the other side, Kyle was calm and composed, displaying the qualities of a proper commander.
“Ron, Darren, you two take Oak and the others to be responsible for perimeter security and support. Signal for enemy activity, but don't rush in. We must advance into the undead lair step by step. Emilia, prepare group protective spells and purification prayers. Ruby,”
He looked at Ruby and softened his tone, "Be careful to conserve your mental energy; you'll be needed as a backup if necessary."
His arrangements were progressive, emphasizing teamwork and the proper use of holy light, placing the "second-generation saints" in relatively safe support positions.
The two men's orders were completely different, but both hit the nail on the head, demonstrating their rich experience and unique leadership styles.
But in the eyes of both teams, this undoubtedly became a signal of competition.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
