As the old man finished speaking, the crowd's eyes hardened. A tense yet exciting atmosphere filled the air, as if everyone could sense that this would be their greatest challenge yet.
"Alright, everyone, quiet down!" Kane called out, trying to drown out the noise. "We all know the battle ahead will be tough, but we're not fighting alone." He looked at Ares, his eyes full of trust. "As long as we're united, there's no enemy we can't defeat!"
“Yes! Ares and Sophia are here!” Lilith’s voice was full of anticipation as she turned to look at the people beside her. “And Amy’s little arrows are also very powerful! We all believe you can succeed.”
"Hmph, who do you think you are?" Little archer Amy retorted, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Watch me shoot down one of that monster's wings!"
Just then, the enormous monster drew closer and closer, its ferocious and terrifying appearance becoming almost visible.
A town resident asked in a trembling voice, "Is that really what we're going to have to face? My God..."
The person next to him immediately chimed in, "That's terrifying! Such a huge thing..."
However, defiant voices rang out from the crowd: "Don't be afraid! Didn't you see? These warriors just repelled several powerful monsters! I believe they can do it!"
Hearing this, the old man in town nodded. "That's right, since we're here, we should trust in our strength." He encouraged the young man, then turned and patted Ares's arm again. "Young man, everything depends on you."
"Don't worry, old man," Ares replied with a smile, a resolute glint in his eyes. "We will do our utmost to help you solve your problem. But before that, please tell us about this monster—what are its weaknesses?"
"Hmm...it's said this creature is most afraid of holy light," another elder replied after a moment's thought. "However, finding a sufficiently powerful and pure light source is extremely difficult..."
"Then let me give it a try." Sophia stepped forward, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and began chanting a spell. Her body was enveloped in a soft yet dazzling white light, which gradually expanded into a protective shield covering the entire team.
The onlookers were stunned, their mouths agape: "Wow...she's like a real guardian angel! So beautiful!"
By this time, the monster had flown overhead and was preparing to attack.
"Now, Sophia!" Ares roared, brandishing his longsword and leaping to meet the enemy.
Instantly, a fierce battle erupted between the two sides. Silver-white sword light flashed like lightning, slicing through the massive bodies of the dark creatures, while Sophia's holy light illuminated the surrounding area. Those beings, who had initially appeared exceptionally ferocious and formidable, instantly writhed in agony, letting out piercing screams of agony.
Just when everyone thought the situation was settled, unexpected events occurred one after another.
Suddenly, several loud noises came from not far away, followed by a series of low, threatening words: "Who dares to cause trouble in my territory?"
Then, another, even stronger, gigantic figure covered in hard, armor-like scales appeared before them. This was the true mastermind—the one they had seen before was merely a minor character.
Another wave of panic erupted in the crowd, especially Roy, who had only recently joined and was so frightened that he almost fell to the ground.
"What do we do?! Isn't this even more terrifying than the last one?"
At this moment, Sofia sighed and revealed a fact that surprised everyone:
"I'm afraid the real crisis we face is far more than this... because my premonitions indicate that there are many more unknowns that are quietly approaching."
Before the words were even finished, a sudden silence fell. The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds, then countless faint sounds drifted from afar…
(The conversation ends, but the suspense remains.)
In the ensuing silence, faint footsteps and low growls began to echo from all around, sending chills down everyone's spines. The tension among the crowd intensified; everyone held their breath, unsure of what danger awaited them next.
"This...this is impossible! There are even more monsters?" Lilith's eyes widened in surprise, and she unconsciously grabbed Amy beside her for comfort.
"Hmph, what are you afraid of? As long as I'm here, I guarantee I'll shoot them down one after another!" Amy tried to appear strong, but the slight trembling of her hand holding the bow revealed her true feelings.
Just then, Kane stepped forward, his characteristically calm voice bringing a sense of reassurance to the crowd: **"Don't panic, everyone. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, as long as we trust each other and fight side by side, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome."**
Another courageous young man quickly followed suit, expressing his support: **"Yes, look at our heroes—they're all ready! We should give them more trust, not panic."**
Encouraged, the older townspeople began to regain their confidence, encouraging one another: "Think about it, those powerful enemies we defeated before were nothing more than defeated foes in front of these kids! What are these little setbacks compared to that?"
Upon hearing these words, the flames of hope were rekindled in people's hearts, which had been shaken by fear, and everyone focused their attention on Ares and Sophia.
The latter slowly lowered his hands, ceasing the continuous supply of holy light, but a gentle and warm aura still lingered around, making people feel incredibly safe: "Thank you for your support... What we need to do next is to do our best to ensure that everyone gets through this calamity safely."
“Yes!” Ares nodded in agreement, then turned to the newly emerging, immense threat. “No matter how terrifying or powerful they are, we must defeat them. Otherwise, everyone here, and innocent civilians in the wider region, will face devastating consequences.”
After saying that, he turned to his companions and said, "Ready? Let's go and expose this mastermind and teach them a lesson!"
Just as the team was preparing to depart, a sudden gust of wind swept in, whipping up a cloud of dust. Through the blurred vision, countless pairs of malevolent red eyes could be vaguely seen gradually approaching…
An old man hurriedly shouted: **"Quickly, quickly, children, set up a defensive formation! Those guys seem to have already launched their first wave of attack!"**
At the critical moment, Roy mustered his last bit of courage and shouted, "Wait for me... I want to help too!"
"Very good." Ares nodded approvingly, giving the young warrior an encouraging look. "Remember to stay calm and fight alongside us until the very end."
With the team regrouped, everyone had their assigned roles and preparations complete. A strong fighting spirit filled the air—
Just then, another powerful aura emanated from not far away...
"It seems the real challenge has only just begun..." Sophia sighed, gazing at the crimson spectacle rising on the horizon.
Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous corner of the town, two figures secretly observing the entire conversation were quietly talking:
"The plan is going very smoothly..."
"Yes, it's just taking a little longer than expected."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Since we've already started, there's no need to delay any longer, right?"
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