Sofia's eyes were firm, and her voice was clear and strong: "We'll split into two teams. Jerry and Lala, you stay here to study the spring and the information. Carl, Nova, and Aiden, come with me to Leo to discuss the next steps."
"Yes, sir!" everyone responded in unison. Just as the group split up, a soft but sharp voice pierced the still air once more, "Be careful, heroes. This ancient city is not only filled with light..." The voice made everyone involuntarily raise their guard.
---
"What's going on here?" Lala tiptoed to the spring. The water was crystal clear and sparkled in the light. "Brother, look, it seems to be telling us something very important," she said, pointing to the words floating on the water.
Jerry nodded, carefully observing the mysterious characters. "Yes, but deciphering these will probably take some time. Hopefully, they can find new clues on their end."
Meanwhile, another group was hurrying along the path they had come from. Sofia led the way, her steps steady and quick, as if no difficulty could stop her. "Leo should be waiting for us near the exit by now," Nova said as she caught up, her voice full of curiosity and anticipation.
As I passed a slightly more open space, I saw several onlookers talking quietly:
"Wow, these people are amazing! They've solved so many mysteries..."
"Especially that girl who leads the team, she looks particularly imposing!"
"I wonder what they'll discover? How wonderful it would be to be one of those heroes..."
Hearing the whispers around her, Sofia simply smiled and didn't linger, leading the group forward until they met Leo and his companions, who had been waiting there for a long time.
When the two groups met, Leo was the first to step forward and ask, "Have you made any new discoveries?"
Sofia briefly described what she had just seen by the spring. "The problem now is that we don't know how to activate the 'purity of mind' condition in that message."
At this moment, Leo, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "This sounds like a testing ground, designed to test the hearts of everyone who embarks on this journey. Perhaps it's not about physical cleanliness, but about everyone having pure goals and desires... Perhaps the answer lies within each person's heart."
After hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought. Indeed, for such an ancient place, full of ingenious design, what truly matters is often not the surface appearance, but the deeper understanding and perception.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from not far away, accompanied by tremors. "Something's wrong! It sounds like something rushed out!" one of the accompanying guards hurriedly reported.
Just as everyone was about to get up and go see what had happened, that strangely familiar sense of oppression returned to the air, followed by cold, piercing words:
"Welcome back...Are you ready for the real test?"
They exchanged a tense glance, a sense of unease spreading through them. Clearly, this was no ordinary challenge, but they all knew there was no turning back—the only option was to bravely face the unknown.
---
As the words fell, the surroundings gradually darkened, leaving only a faint light source to guide them forward. The expedition team members huddled together, feeling both apprehensive and excited, wondering what thrilling experiences awaited them.
"No matter what, we'll fight to the very end together," Sofia whispered, encouraging her companions with unwavering determination in her eyes.
"Yes! We'll support each other no matter what!" Nova responded, and the other members nodded in agreement.
The conversation ended, leaving endless suspense for what was to come. In this seemingly peaceful yet perilous ancient site, every step forward was fraught with unknowns and dangers; yet it was precisely this uncertainty that ignited the boundless potential within these courageous young people...
Just as the expedition team was preparing for a new challenge, they suddenly heard a sharp roar from ahead, followed by rapid footsteps. Everyone immediately became alert, quickly drew their weapons, and prepared for battle.
Just then, a little boy rushed out, his face as pale as paper with fear, panting heavily: "Quick...come help! A huge monster has run out...so many people are terrified by it!" Sophia quickly stepped forward to steady his trembling body. "Don't be afraid, we're here. Tell me what it looks like? Where is it?" She reassured the boy while casting questioning glances at the people around them.
Among the onlookers, an old man spoke tremulously: "It was a huge creature I'd never seen before, with wings and sharp teeth, and its body was covered in scales. It headed towards the center of the ancient city."
“Thank you for the information.” Jerry nodded politely. He then looked at everyone in the group: “It seems we need to readjust our plans. The priority now is to ensure the safety of the innocent people here.”
“Easier said than done,” Lara muttered, “but with you leading the way, I feel more confident.” Nova patted her on the shoulder in encouragement: “Let’s go, since we can’t avoid it, let’s face it head-on!”
Meanwhile, Karl silently went to the front to scout the situation. When he returned to report, his face was grave. "It is indeed an unprecedented magical beast, enormous in size and incredibly strong. However, judging from its movements, it must be being pulled by some force. We must figure out the situation as soon as possible and formulate a countermeasure."
After pondering for a moment, Sophia made a decision: "Leo, could you take some people to evacuate the nearby residents? I'll take the rest of the group to find the source of this monster. Remember to be careful."
"Understood." Leo replied simply, then turned around and began to arrange the evacuation.
Just then, the voice in the air rang out again, "Brave souls, are you truly ready to uncover the truth? An unpredictable fate awaits you... But remember, only those who pass the trial of a pure heart can achieve final victory."
These words put pressure on the entire team, but also ignited their fighting spirit. They exchanged glances, offering each other their unwavering support in silence.
So they scattered to carry out their respective tasks. Just as Sophia and the others were heading towards the monsters, several more figures appeared beside them—it turned out that a small group of brave citizens who had previously followed Sophia in exploring the mysteries of the spring had spontaneously joined in to offer their help. "We are willing to face any difficulties with you!" one of the young men said firmly.
“Thank you very much!” Sofia gave them an appreciative smile and quickly assigned tactics: “Aiden, you are in charge of protecting the left flank; Nova and Karl, please keep a close eye on the enemy’s movements; the rest of you move in order and keep your distance, and try to avoid acting alone.”
As the group ventured deeper into more dangerous territory, the terrifying behemoth suddenly appeared not far ahead. Its eyes flashed red, and its roars shook the earth slightly…
"Is this what we're supposed to deal with..." Jerry murmured in amazement.
"Are you all ready? We must win tonight, no matter what!" Sofia shouted to boost morale, gripping her sword tightly as she charged towards the target!
In that tense and exciting moment—
"Wait!" An elderly man suddenly appeared, raising his hand to signal them to stop. Everyone looked in surprise at this new face who seemed strangely familiar with the scene before them, awaiting the turning point or crisis he would bring. The conversation abruptly ended, and suspense began.
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