After emerging from the Teleportation Array, the caravan did not rest and continued towards what was once the Holy Capital Aifilan, under the gradually darkening sky.
This part of the journey was much more dangerous than before. Both NPCs and players could feel the intensifying dark and evil aura in the air merely by sitting on the carriages. Even in the distant surroundings, they could faintly hear eerie or terrifying cries, which were said to be sounds only vicious monsters brought by the Demon Tide would make.
Fortunately, the caravan leader Sandra held the All-Seeing Crystal, a treasure that could detect nearby dangers in advance. With its guidance, Sandra led everyone along a path that was quite winding and meandering but undoubtedly the safest, ensuring that everyone did not encounter any major demon tide that night, only cautiously clearing a few waves of ordinary monsters blocking their way.
After an entire night of traveling, everyone found a place to camp and rest for a while at dawn, ate some rations to replenish their strength, and then set off again, continuing along the winding route towards their destination as indicated by the All-Seeing Crystal.
By the afternoon of that day, the entire caravan arrived at a location with a very strong dark aura, and they could faintly see the massive and eerie shadow of a city in the distance ahead.
"Everyone, ahead is Aifilan. According to the crystal I hold, the relic we are seeking is within it."
At this moment, the female warrior Sandra, who was deeply trusted by the Baron, gathered all the NPC professionals and players together to make the final appeal.
"To retrieve the relic from the hands of the monsters is a very arduous task, but as long as we unite as one, we surely have hope to complete the great plan of the Baron, and let our names be forever remembered by everyone across the continent."
"So everyone, please follow me closely on the remaining journey. I will choose the relatively safest route, but there will definitely be many monsters we need to deal with together."
"That’s all for now, everyone move out!"
Sandra, the female warrior, was clearly not someone skilled at giving speeches or stirring emotions, but her dedicated and responsible attitude along the way still gained everyone’s unanimous approval. Following her command, all NPC professionals and players left the carriage parking place, as the caravan guards stayed behind, while they set off on foot towards the distant ruins of Holy Capital Aifilan.
By now, the surroundings were likely patrolled by exceedingly dangerous monsters, and the longer they delayed, the greater the potential for accidents, which was why Sandra didn’t arrange for much rest before directly launching the assault.
They were fully aware that, despite the help from the All-Seeing Crystal, under the premise of having to enter the city, they were destined to encounter many perilous battles, so everyone was highly vigilant in the upcoming time.
Half an hour later, at the outskirts of Aifilan Ruins.
"Everyone, according to the crystal’s display, the monsters here are not as densely packed as elsewhere, making it an ideal starting point to approach the relic. After entering, some monsters will appear from the left; everyone, please eliminate them quickly, and try not to make too much noise."
The armored and sword-wielding female warrior Sandra explained the initial route to everyone around her before leading the way into Aifilan Ruins, single file through a gap in the city wall. Shortly upon entering, they commenced their first battle.
Wang Zhifan also got into the state by now. He had replaced his previous Iron Mountain Belt with the Demon Slaying Belt obtained from the Baron’s treasury, and chose Wolf-Slaying Blade as his weapon, opting not to use his actual primary weapon, Thunder Dragon Fury.
"Andre, I will quickly neutralize the combat power of all approaching monsters to protect your safety, and you will send them back to hell."
Before the battle began, Wang Zhifan teamed up with Andre, the red-haired mage youth he had become acquainted with, setting himself a role focused on protection and support.
This was primarily because he did not want to expose his capacity for choosing rewards, nor did he wish for bothersome reward pop-ups to appear one after another, hence minimizing his actions and loot drops. Of course, if higher-level monsters appeared, that was another matter; he would undoubtedly take the lead in annihilating them.
"Rest assured, my brother, my flames are explosively powerful and definitely won’t disappoint you."
The red-haired, slim mage immediately raised his Radiant Staff and made a pledge, thrilled to have found a warrior ally in this mission, particularly one who was willing to support and protect him, as he feared close encounters.
A short while later, those who entered the city walls encountered the first wave of monsters—disgusting humanoid creatures entirely pitch-black, moving rapidly across the ground. They charged collectively from the left road, with a total number exceeding two hundred, surging towards the mission team like a black wave.
Bang bang bang bang bang~
The first wave of attacks greeting these creatures came from the team’s gunman players, who seemed to have equipped their guns with silencers as suggested by Sandra. Although gunfire still sounded, it was not as piercing. Each bullet fired invariably exploded a grotesque creature’s head.
"Ice Rain Skill!"
Seeing that the gunmen had sufficient firepower, an NPC professional then adopted a support role, casting a sheet of ice crystals over the encroaching monsters, significantly slowing their movements.
"Electric Current Vortex!"
Seeing this, a mage player dressed in sportswear spontaneously added a wide-range damage spell, bathing the slowed creatures in a rapidly rotating current, soon paralyzing their bodies until they could no longer move.
Witnessing how just a few teammates exerted some effort and rendered the first wave of monsters entirely impotent, spiraling into a state where they were quickly wiped out without resistance, Wang Zhifan, standing beside Andre with the Wolf-Slaying Blade in hand, breathed a big sigh of relief. He initially thought he might have to slay some monsters and face a flood of bothersome reward pop-ups, but his teammates proved formidable. Not only he as a melee fighter but even the mage Andre next to him didn’t have to make a move, as they eliminated this first wave of enemies.
"Attention everyone, follow me into this alley now; approximately twenty monsters are hiding inside. According to the crystal, they are Spirit Bodies, so prepare your methods for dealing with them."
After overcoming the first wave of enemies, Sandra, the leader, promptly informed the group of the following route and the monsters they would encounter, ensuring everyone was prepared for battle.
Thus, aided by the All-Seeing Crystal, the mission team advanced step by step closer to the relic’s location until Sandra announced the approach of a strong enemy.