Just as the villagers were preparing to fight alongside their new allies, a familiar figure emerged from the golden light in the distance—it was Arthur, the legendary hero known as the "Lightbringer." His appearance not only brought surprise to everyone present but also added a touch of anticipation and confusion.
"It's him?!" Arya stared at Arthur in surprise, her voice brimming with undisguised excitement. "How did you know we needed rescue... Most importantly, the fact that you're standing here means that many things are about to change, right?"
Arthur smiled slightly, his gaze unwavering as he looked at everyone. "Don't be afraid. No matter what difficulties we face, as long as there is light, there is no problem that cannot be solved. Let's welcome the new dawn together."
The old hunter exclaimed in surprise, "Your Excellency, the Messenger of Light! You've really appeared! We have hope!" The little boy standing not far away jumped up excitedly and shouted, "He's the great hero who saved so many people! My dad told me the story!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present nodded involuntarily, as if suddenly imbued with an invisible force. Carl stared intently into Arthur's eyes and said, "So, what should we do now? Your appearance is definitely not just for a simple greeting."
Arthur nodded and replied, “You have demonstrated unparalleled courage and perseverance, which are the precious qualities needed to defeat the enemy. But now, we need to adopt a more proactive strategy. My arrival brings not only a solution to the crisis, but also some special news.”
Hearing this, the villagers' curiosity was completely piqued. A young woman couldn't help but ask, "What news is it? Will it be helpful to us?"
“It’s very important.” Arthur paused for a moment, then said seriously, “I’ve learned that those aerial monsters are actually controlled by a powerful sorcerer who wields dark magic. To truly end all this, we must find him and stop him from continuing to harm humanity.”
Karl frowned and pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Arya, "So how can we pinpoint the location of that mage?"
Leon picked up the conversation, pointing to the soldiers behind him and explaining, "Don't worry about that. My comrades and I have received special training and have unique methods for reconnaissance. With the clues provided by Mr. Arthur, I believe we'll be able to pinpoint the target soon."
"Great!" A little girl clapped her hands and cheered happily. The adults around her were also infected by her optimistic attitude and echoed her agreement and support.
"But even if we find it, it's unrealistic for just the few of us to confront that mage head-on..." someone questioned.
"Don't worry," Arthur said with a gentle smile, reassuring everyone. "I've contacted more powerful friends to fight this disaster together. Once we're ready to act, a strong team will come to our aid. As long as we're united, there's no obstacle we can't overcome."
At this moment, the entire village was filled with an unprecedented sense of hope. Everyone encouraged each other and shared their beliefs. Even though unknown risks awaited them ahead, the hearts of these warriors had become even more resilient.
Suddenly, a blinding light shot into the sky from the depths of the forest. Everyone instinctively looked towards the source. Then, several figures, all clad in silver armor but bearing different insignia, appeared before them...
The lead warrior removed his mask, revealing his true face, and announced to everyone with utmost humility: "Gentlemen, I am the 'Frost Guardian' from the northern highlands. We have been summoned by Lord Arthur to aid you in your fight against the evil forces..."
As reinforcements arrived in droves, the children excitedly circled around them, while the adults wore long-lost smiles—it seemed the tide of the battle was gradually turning in their favor...
Just as everyone was eagerly preparing to begin the next phase of their plans, an elderly villager suddenly reminded them, "Wait... there seems to be one problem that hasn't been solved: who initially triggered these strange phenomena? The answer to this question may be crucial to our ultimate victory..."
Upon hearing this, everyone's smiles instantly froze, and a brief silence fell over the room... The mystery behind this series of events remained shrouded in mist, waiting for a brave person to uncover the truth step by step...
Arthur coughed lightly, seemingly trying to divert everyone's attention. "Gentlemen, this question... is indeed very important. But I believe the answer will soon become clear. Now, please follow me to the temporary command post for more detailed battle arrangements."
As soon as the words were spoken, a slightly childish but curious voice came from the crowd: "Can we really defeat that evil magician? They seem very strong!" The speaker was a boy of about ten years old, his eyes shining, clearly inspired by the arrival of Arthur and the "Frost Guardian".
Standing next to the boy was a burly villager who patted the boy on the shoulder and laughed, "Don't worry, young man. As long as the Lightbringer is here, we will definitely succeed. Remember, it was he who single-handedly sealed the Dark Abyss back then." He then cast an admiring glance at Arthur.
Arya walked gently to the young man's side and asked softly, "Are you confident that you can lead us to victory?" Although there was a hint of worry in her tone, her eyes still burned with a fiery desire.
Faced with her question, Arthur nodded firmly. "Don't worry," he said, "as long as we stand together, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome. As for the question of who is behind this, I have sent my companions to investigate. I believe we will have reliable information soon."
At this moment, another old hunter interjected, "However, this is a battle against a great demon with dark magic. You gentlemen all need to be careful, after all, those aerial monsters are only a small part of his power."
Hearing this, the Frost Guardian nodded, agreeing with the old hunter's concerns. "Yes, that's why we must act quickly. Once we pinpoint the target's exact location, we must launch a surprise attack immediately, aiming to deliver a fatal blow before the enemy even realizes it!"
Hearing this, everyone's morale soared, and even the previously worried children excitedly gathered together to discuss it. "Wow~ That sounds amazing! I want to be the first person to see the dark magician defeated!" the little boy cheered, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.
Just as the atmosphere was getting heated, a seemingly experienced soldier stepped forward and suggested, "Let's quickly assign tasks and set off to find the mage's lair! The sooner we find it, the greater our chances!"
Seeing everyone's eagerness, Karl clapped his hands to quiet them down. "Alright, everyone, just follow the instructions of the two heroes and the warriors. I'm sure we'll be able to turn this danger into safety! Come on, let's set off now!"
As the villagers followed Karl toward the assembly point, Arya tugged at Arthur's sleeve and whispered, "But... I'm still a little worried about that crucial clue the old man mentioned. If we don't know who the real culprit is... won't the battle never truly end? Or might it even worsen the situation?"
Arthur stopped and turned to meet her gaze. "This is also my top priority right now," he replied thoughtfully. "But I can assure you that a group of elites are already working diligently to find the truth. At the same time, we need to remain vigilant to prevent any unforeseen events." With that, he gave Arya a reassuring smile before leading the group forward again.
Walking along the path outside the village, the group chatted about their past experiences and their various imaginings of the upcoming battle. Suddenly, strange colors flashed across the sky, followed by a slight but prolonged tremor that spread across the earth...
"That's...?" someone in the crowd asked, pointing in the air. A faint black shadow slowly emerged on the distant horizon, seemingly approaching...
Just as people were caught in a brief moment of shock, a young woman broke the silence: "My God! Look! What is that over there? It looks extremely ominous!" Her voice was filled with panic and unease.
Leon frowned, observed for a moment, and then replied, "This is a bad omen... It seems our enemy has become aware and is trying to prevent us from continuing our investigation. Everyone, please prepare for defense immediately!"
As Leon finished speaking, a solemn expression settled on everyone's face. At the same time, the eerie, terrifying dark cloud became even more pronounced...
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