Just as everyone gripped their weapons, preparing to face the next unknown challenge, the crack widened again, and a chilling wind swept in. This not only caused everyone present to shiver involuntarily, but also made the surrounding trees sway and the leaves rustle.
"What...what is that?" A childish voice rang out from the crowd. A little girl pointed ahead—two enormous, powerful figures were slowly approaching the group. Unlike the enemies they had encountered before, these monsters seemed more cunning and intelligent, releasing mental fluctuations that could interfere with human senses even before they got close. "Everyone be careful, these two don't look easy to deal with!" Kane warned, preparing to strike at any moment.
Ares narrowed his eyes, observing the new enemy. "Sophia, use your power to cast a shield for me. I'm going to test the waters." With that, he brandished his radiant longsword and charged headlong into the two monsters. The warriors, seeing this, rushed to his aid, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
An elderly man watching all this from a distance had genuine admiration for the young leader in his eyes: "Well done, young man! This is a true warrior!" The young men standing behind him looked on with reverence: "Yes... I really hope that one day I can be as fearless as Ares."
The battle quickly became incredibly fierce. Despite their overwhelming strength, the opposing team, through coordinated teamwork, consistently managed to seize opportunities to deliver fatal blows. Sofia continuously cast protective magic to ensure the safety of her teammates; the little archer Amy was equally formidable, leaping nimbly through the air and accurately striking the enemy's vitals from afar. "Fantastic!" Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd when a successful coordinated attack dealt a heavy blow to the opponent, everyone's hearts united as one.
However, their good fortune was short-lived. As time passed, the monster gradually revealed even more terrifying strength. "Are we... about to collapse?" someone whispered, a hint of panic in their voice. "Don't give up hope!" Ares answered firmly at that moment, then shouted to encourage everyone around him, "Now is not the time to back down! As long as we work together, there is no enemy we cannot defeat! Believe in each other's strength!"
Hearing this, the group regained their confidence and continued their tenacious resistance. At the same time, deafening sounds and faint but increasingly powerful cries of souls echoed from the depths of the crevice. "Could it be that even greater trouble awaits us..." Sophia pondered the possible shifts in the future situation with a grave expression.
As the sound grew clearer, an invisible pressure enveloped the entire area, and everyone felt an unprecedented sense of oppression. "No matter what, we have no choice but to grit our teeth and go for it," a soldier said through gritted teeth, gripping his shield tightly. At that moment, everyone understood that only by uniting as one could they overcome the even greater challenge that lay ahead.
Ares looked at his companions and said, "No matter how many unknowns and dangers lie ahead, we will no longer be afraid. Because we are not facing all of this alone."
"You're right, Ares. Whatever happens, we'll face it together," the young mage replied firmly, her eyes shining with conviction. "But what do you think we'll encounter next? This feeling is really unsettling..." Her gaze pierced the darkness into the depths of the crack, as if searching for answers.
“Be prepared for any challenge,” Ares said calmly before leading the way into the crevice. The others followed closely behind, forming an impenetrable human wall. At that crucial moment, a blinding light suddenly erupted from within the crevice…
"Everyone stick close to me! No matter what, keep the formation!" These were the last words they heard before they fully entered the crevice.
The light within the rift gradually softened, and when the group finally passed through completely, the sight before them left them speechless. This was not the other battlefield or a more treacherous world they had anticipated, but rather the ruins of a city filled with strange plants and bizarre architecture. In the distance, a massive iron gate, covered in unknown runes, seemed to stand, swaying gently in the breeze.
"Wow...this place looks amazing!" A young boy's voice broke the brief silence. He was a new adventurer who had recently joined the group, named Roy. "Ares, who do you think lived here before? Why did we suddenly come from that terrible place to such a...dreamlike world?"
"Yes, it's incredible!" exclaimed Lilith, a girl in the group. "And the energy here is very special, completely different from the outside world. It makes you feel like you're being healed."
“Don’t let your guard down,” Kane said in a deep voice, though curiosity unconsciously flickered in his eyes. “Places like this often harbor greater dangers.” He then looked at Ares. “What do you think? What should we do next?”
Ares took a deep breath and looked around: "It is indeed a surprising change. But since we're already here, let's explore further. First, let's check the security of this area."
Sophia smiled slightly, "I have already begun to cast detection magic, and I will know soon if there is any danger."
Just then, footsteps and whispers came from not far away—it turned out that a small group of local residents had discovered these outsiders. “Hey, hello! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen people from the outside world!” An old man who looked like the chieftain walked over with a smile. “Welcome to our town! Although it may be a bit desolate now…” At this point, his tone became slightly heavy, “Since those monsters started appearing frequently, we have lost many beautiful things.”
Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a sense of sadness and sympathy.
"Old man, please tell us what happened," Ares said gently but firmly. "Perhaps we can help?"
Another older person chimed in, "Sigh, it's complicated... but would you like to hear it?"
"Of course!" Lilith said excitedly, her eyes sparkling with hope. "Perhaps this is one of the destinations we're looking for! Maybe we can even find more information about that door and the whole mystery!"
Through conversation, we learned that this place is known as the Town of the Dark Forest. For generations, the inhabitants have lived in harmony with nature, possessing ancient knowledge and technology. However, in recent years, an unknown force has begun to erode this land, bringing catastrophic consequences—including biological mutations and abnormal weather. The most serious problem is the rift, which appears periodically, bringing ever-growing, more powerful enemies.
"So... what you need is to defeat these invaders and close that rift?" Ares concluded.
"That's exactly right," the clan chief nodded in reply. "But we've tried countless times without success, and we don't know if it's because..."
Before they could finish speaking, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the sky—far more terrifying than anything before. Everyone looked up and saw an enormous, darkly glowing monster appearing on the horizon, rapidly approaching their location.
An uproar immediately erupted from the crowd:
"Look at the sky! What the hell is that?!"
"This is terrifying! Can we even defeat something this massive?"
"Ares, are you sure everything will be alright this time?"
Seeing the anxious yet expectant looks in everyone's eyes, Ares simply drew his weapon: "Prepare for the challenge. As long as we work together, there is no enemy we cannot defeat!"
Sofia quickly adjusted her posture, preparing to cast a spell. "I will do everything in my power to protect everyone."
At that moment, the young mage quietly clenched his fists: "No matter what, I believe what Ares said. Let's move forward together."
Just as everyone was preparing for the impending battle, the old man stepped forward and patted Ares on the shoulder: "Young man... it's so good to have you guys here."
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