"Wait, where is the specific location of that village?" Jason frowned and quickly organized his thoughts, "We need to formulate an action plan as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary casualties."
"To the southeast, it's about two days' journey along the old trade road." The scout was still panting and eager to convey the information.
"For two days, for the village that was attacked, every minute and every second may be life or death." A taciturn swordsman in the team finally spoke, his voice was low and powerful, "We have to speed up."< br>
"That's right," Lin Hao nodded, "Jason, you lead a small team first and be sure to arrive before dark to buy time to understand the situation and stabilize the situation. Su Mo and I will follow with the remaining personnel to prepare for support. ”
"Understood." Jason agreed immediately, turned around and selected a few quick-moving members. After a few brief explanations, they disappeared into the secret passage in an instant like an arrow from a string.
While Jason and his team were leaving, Su Mo took out several ordinary-looking but mysterious items from his backpack and distributed them to the remaining team members. "Bringing these will come in handy in emergencies. We are not only soldiers, but also rescuers."
Everyone took the distributed equipment with a hint of surprise in their eyes and admired Su Mo's meticulousness. A new therapist asked softly: "Su Mo, what are these? It doesn't look simple."
"They are the results of our past expeditions. Some can temporarily block magic detection, and some can quickly restore physical strength." Su Mo explained with a gentle smile on his lips, "Remember, only by protecting yourself can you better help others. .”
The team quickly regrouped and galloped towards the village in the southeast. On the way, they met several fleeing villagers, dressed in ragged clothes and looking panicked.
"Are you... the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn?" an old man asked tremblingly, with the light of hope flashing in his eyes.
"Yes, old man, please tell us what happened." Su Mo stepped forward, his tone calm but full of power.
"Monsters... monsters that appeared out of nowhere and almost destroyed the village. Please, save my family, save our home." The old man's voice was filled with tears, and his tears mixed with the dust and fell down.
Lin Hao patted the old man on the shoulder and said in a firm voice: "Don't worry, we will do our best."
This scene was seen by travelers passing by, and their conversation quickly spread among the crowd, triggering waves of exclamation.
"The Son of Balance and the Wings of Dawn are truly legendary heroes!"
"Aren't they looking for some ancient secret? Why do they care about such a trivial matter?"
"Probably, this is the real hero. No matter how big or small, as long as there is a crisis, he will lend a helping hand."
With these discussions, the names of Son of Balance and Wings of Dawn were once again given a deeper meaning. Not only an explorer, but also a guardian of this world.
When night fell, Jason's team had arrived at the village in advance. The sight in front of them was shocking: ruined walls, billowing smoke, and occasionally the groans of the injured could be heard. Jason quickly organized members to launch a rescue, while being alert to possible dangers around him.
"Stay vigilant, we don't know when those creatures will appear again." Jason whispered, his eyes burning like a torch, scanning the darkness around him.
While they were nervously searching for survivors, a huge figure suddenly emerged from the ruins. It was an unprecedented monster, covered with thick scales, and its eyes flashed with evil red light.
.
"Back off!" Jason shouted, and at the same time he pulled out the light blade he carried with him, and the silver light drew a dazzling trajectory in the night.
The villagers screamed and ran away, but the monster seemed not interested in chasing the civilians, and instead rushed straight towards Jason and the others. For a moment, the air was filled with tension and fear.
"Disperse and attract its attention!" Jason quickly gave the order, and the team members immediately executed it, each finding cover and trying to contain the monster from different angles.
"What is this thing? It doesn't look like something from this world." A nimble archer in the group murmured in a low voice as he fully drew the bow string, with both fear and excitement in his eyes.
"No matter where it comes from, we must deal with it today." Jason said firmly. He waved the light blade, released circles of energy ripples, and tentatively attacked the monster.
At this moment, a deafening roar erupted from the monster's mouth, and then it rushed towards the nearest team member. The man dodged quickly and narrowly avoided the attack, but the building behind him was not spared and collapsed.
"Is everyone okay?" Jason asked with concern, while noticing that the monster seemed to be afraid of the light blade's attack.
"It's okay, but this thing has rough skin and thick flesh. Our weapons don't seem to be very effective." A soldier holding a short ax gasped and replied. The ax in his hand was covered with black blood spattered by the monster, and it obviously failed to cause any damage. Too much damage.
At this critical moment, the sound of rapid horse hooves sounded in the distance, followed by the main force led by Lin Hao. "Jason, we're here!" Lin Hao's shout was like a warm current, instantly boosting the team's morale.
"You came just in time, this guy is tougher than you thought!" Jason responded, feeling relieved at the same time.
The two teams merged, and Lin Hao and Su Mo joined the battle. Su Mo raised his hands, and the surrounding elements seemed to respond to his call, forming a powerful protective shield, providing temporary shelter for the team members.
"Lin Hao, I'll attract its attention, and you look for its weaknesses." Su Mo calmly laid out his tactics, and then released a series of light balls to hit the monster accurately, forcing it to temporarily turn its attention to him.
Lin Hao took the opportunity to go around to the side of the monster and observed it carefully, trying to find a breakthrough. Suddenly, he discovered a slightly different scale on the monster's neck, which seemed not to be completely integrated with the rest of the body.
"Su Mo, target its neck, there!" Lin Hao reminded loudly, and at the same time, he charged up a strike, and the light blade hit that special scale accurately.
With a shrill wail, the monster paused, its huge body gradually slumped, and finally fell to the ground and turned into a ball of ashes. A strange energy fluctuation filled the air.
"Well done, it seems we have found a solution to the problem." Su Mo wiped the sweat off his forehead with a victorious smile on his face.
At this time, the villagers came out of their hiding places one after another, looking at this group of heroic warriors with gratitude and awe in their eyes.
"You are really our patron saint!" The old man from before led the villagers towards them step by step, his eyes red.
"We just did what we should do." Lin Hao smiled faintly. He turned and looked at the night sky, where the stars were dotted, which seemed to indicate that new challenges were coming.
"However, this battle is just the beginning. The source of darkness has not yet been eliminated, and there are more people who need us to save." Lin Hao's voice was firm and profound.
"So, where is our next destination?" A new ranger asked expectantly, with a desire for adventure in his eyes.
Lin Hao raised his head, his eyes penetrated the night, and seemed to have seen the distance: "Shadow Abyss Valley, that will be our next stop. There, I believe we will find more clues and reveal the truth hidden behind the darkness."
"No matter what the road ahead is, as long as we walk hand in hand, nothing is impossible." Su Mo added softly, his words full of gentle and firm power.
Jason looked around the team. Everyone's eyes were filled with firmness and determination. Even after a fierce battle, they remained unwavering. "Then, let's get ready for what's next. Shadow Valley, the name doesn't sound simple. What do you think?"
"It is said that there is the source of ancient magic, and there are many unsolved mysteries hidden there." A member who looked like a knowledgeable historian said. He pushed up his glasses, his eyes flashing with a desire for the unknown.
"Unsolved mysteries mean unknown dangers." A muscular warrior in the team tightened the giant hammer in his hand. Although there was worry in his tone, there was also a fighting spirit, "But as long as we can prevent the spread of darkness, We move forward fearlessly.”
"Indeed, Shadow Abyss Valley is said to be surrounded by heavy fog, and few people who go in can come out alive." A young magician frowned slightly, and he caressed the magic book in his arms, as if seeking some kind of comfort, " But with the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn, and our unity, I believe we can create miracles.”
Passers-by cast surprised glances, and their whispers were mixed with sincere admiration for this team.
"Look, those are the Sons of Balance and Wings of Dawn. They dare to even set foot in forbidden places like the Valley of Shadows. They are truly legends."
"Yes, it would be great if I could become one of them."
"Hey, I heard that there is an ancient treasure hidden in Shadow Deep Valley. If you can find it, it will be an opportunity to make a career."
The sound of everyone's discussion gradually faded away, but Lin Hao and his group did not stop. In the small town before entering the Shadow Abyss Valley, they met a mysterious fortune teller. He was sitting on the roadside, playing with a worn-out tarot card in his hand, and his eyes were deep.
"Travelers, destiny has led you here, are you seeking answers or challenging the unknown?" The fortune teller's deep voice sounded, and his eyes swept over the faces of each team member.
Lin Hao stepped forward with a sincere attitude: "Both. We are pursuing dark clues, and we are also exploring our own path. Can you give us any guidance?"
The diviner smiled slightly, flicked his fingers, and a card jumped into the air, slowly flipped over, and finally fell back into his hand. "Tower, collapse and reconstruction. You will face unprecedented challenges, but it is this challenge that will create new glory."
"Is it good or bad?" Someone in the team couldn't help but ask, with a hint of nervousness in his tone.
"There is no absolute good or bad fate, it all depends on how you face it." The fortune teller replied meaningfully, then lowered his head and continued his divination without saying more.
As night fell, the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn stood in front of the entrance to the Shadow Abyss Valley. The deep valley looked like a sleeping giant, quietly waiting for intruders. Lin Hao turned around and looked at each of his companions who had followed him, his firm voice echoing in the night wind.
"We are about to step into the unknown. We may face despair, or there may be a bright dawn. But remember, together we can write our own legend. Whether it is for justice or for the world, let us Keep moving forward ”
"Keep going forward!" The team responded in unison, and the oath echoed in the valley, and even the stars seemed to be shaking.
As they take their first step into the Shadow Abyss Valley, the unknown adventure officially begins, and future challenges, adventures, and the ultimate truth are waiting for the exploration of this group of brave men.
In the Shadow Abyss Valley, the light is dim, the mist is shrouded, and the surrounding vegetation is extremely lush, as if every leaf is telling a forgotten story. The team moved forward cautiously, weapons held tightly, alert to any possible danger.
"The feeling here reminds me of some ancient legends." The historian in the team whispered, his voice seemed a bit ethereal in the mist, "It is said that the Shadow Abyss Valley hides the ruins of ancient mages, and there are not only powerful... Magic, and... Guardians ”
"Guardian?" asked a young new member of the team, a curious female mage, "What kind of guardian?"
"It is said that they are ancient creatures, or stone statues and trees that have been given life by magic. They exist only to protect secrets that should not be known." The historian explained, his eyes shining with the light of knowledge in the darkness.
At this moment, a low roar came faintly from the fog ahead, and then, the ground trembled slightly, as if something huge was quietly approaching.
"Get ready to fight!" Jason immediately gave the order, and the team quickly formed a battle formation. Everyone tensed their nerves, preparing to face unknown challenges.
In the mist, a huge figure gradually appeared. It was a stone giant covered with moss and vines, and his eyes were shining with cold light. It took heavy steps, and the ground trembled, as if the entire valley was responding to its presence.
"The guardian has appeared." Su Mo whispered. He raised his hands again, and the power of the elements surrounded him, ready to provide support to his teammates at any time.
"It seems that we need to solve this problem through wisdom rather than pure force." Lin Hao said after thinking for a moment, "Stone giants are usually set up puzzles or trials as conditions for passage."
"Puzzle?" An astute thief in the team raised his eyebrows, "That's right, I'm good at this."
The thief jumped forward lightly and shouted to the stone giant: "Great guardian, if you are really as wise as the legend, then give us a puzzle, and we are willing to accept the test." The moss-covered stone giant An inexplicable expression appeared on its face, and then it made a low and deep voice: "Through wisdom rather than violence, this is a respectable attitude. (End of Chapter)