The genius who counterattacked the mainland

The Alliance dragged their heavy, wounded bodies as they trudged home. Xu Tiancai was filled with resentment and self-blame, knowing full well that allowing the Dark Pope's soul to escape was undoubtedly a dangerous act, and the future would be even more treacherous and unpredictable. Agang's body was also covered in wounds, blood soaking his clothes, but he remained firmly gripped by his battle axe, his eyes etched with determination, and each step was steady and powerful, as if to declare to the world that he would not be defeated by pain. Lin, her face pale, the wind elemental drifting weakly around her. Overuse of magic had nearly exhausted her, and she could only move forward with the support of the Ice Princess. Though also exhausted, the Ice Princess struggled to support Lin, her gaze radiating calmness and determination, ever vigilant of the dangers around her. The man in white was seriously injured and unconscious, carried on the back of a Shadow Hunter. His breath was weak, his life like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

When they finally arrived back at the Alliance camp, an uproar erupted. Soldiers gathered around, their eyes filled with concern and worry. Medical magicians quickly sprang into action, carrying the injured to the medical tent. Various healing spells flickered and intertwined within the tent. Xu Tiancai refused the offer of immediate treatment. Despite his exhaustion, he summoned the Alliance's core members to discuss the next steps.

"Although we dealt a heavy blow to the Dark Pope this time, we failed at the last hurdle, which is a serious problem." Xu Tiancai's voice was hoarse but firm, and his eyes burned with anger. "The Dark Pope will definitely come back, and his revenge will be even more insane next time."

Everyone's face was solemn. Ah Gang slammed the table so hard that the teacups on the table jumped up: "We can't just sit there and wait. We have to find a way to improve our strength. We must not let that guy get away next time!" His wound was torn by the violent movement, and blood oozed out, but he seemed unaware of it, and his eyes were full of determination.

The Ice Princess nodded gently, her face stern yet beautiful, her hair fluttering gently in the breeze. "We must hurry to heal the wounded, while also strengthening the soldiers' training to improve their overall combat effectiveness. Furthermore, we must further study and practice the 'Star Devil Breaking Formation' and other magic and tactics that counter the forces of darkness."

Lin said weakly, "I feel that the Dark Pope was able to escape from the Dark Abyss with the help of some mysterious dark energy. We need to find out the source of that energy. Maybe we can find the key to defeating him completely." Although her voice was soft, it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

The Alliance camp thus entered a period of intense recuperation and military reorganization. Medical magicians stood guard over the wounded day and night, performing a variety of advanced healing spells. Beads of sweat covered their foreheads, magical lights flickered in their hands, and they chanted incessantly, striving to repair the wounded's bodies and their damaged magic. Soldiers sweated profusely on the training grounds, their cries of battle resonating with the earth. They repeatedly practiced various battle formations and tactical coordination, each sword swing and charge brimming with power and determination. Mages retreated to their towers, their pages turning in the pulsing magic as they sought new methods to restrain the forces of darkness from ancient texts. Magical runes flickered in the air, seemingly revealing the mysteries of magic.

During this time, Xu Tiancai assisted in treating the wounded while deeply researching the inherited power of the Star God of War. He practiced in seclusion in a quiet chamber, its walls engraved with magical runes that shimmered with light. Surrounded by the power of the stars, Xu Tiancai's gaze was focused and profound, as if he were in a soul-to-soul conversation with the ancient god of war. He constantly explored the potential of the star power, striving to more perfectly integrate it with his own magic, thereby enhancing his own strength.

After a period of meticulous care and diligent training, the wounded gradually recovered, and the man in white was also pulled back from the brink of death. Although still weak, he was no longer in danger. The strength of the alliance army has significantly improved due to intensive training and in-depth research. The soldiers' combat skills have become more sophisticated, and their formations can be changed with ease. The magicians have also mastered several new spells to restrain dark magic, making their magic more powerful. Xu Tiancai's control over the power of the stars has also reached a new level. He can use the Star Sword Technique and Star Demon Breaking Formation with greater ease, and their power is astonishing.

Just as the Alliance prepared to launch an offensive to uncover the whereabouts of the Dark Pope, a new evil force quietly emerged in the southern reaches of the continent. This region was once a tranquil forest and vast grasslands, but at some point, a dark aura began to spread. The trees in the forest gradually withered, their leaves turning pitch black, as if swallowed by darkness. The once clear streams became murky and stagnant, with dead fish and debris floating on the surface. The grass on the grasslands quickly withered and browned, and the cattle, sheep, and other livestock became restless, often letting out cries of fear.

According to reports from nearby villagers and adventurers, they've seen a group of mysterious individuals dressed in black robes and with pale faces active in the area. These individuals wield strange dark magic, extinguishing all life wherever they go. They've also set up dark magic circles at strategic locations. These circles continuously absorb the surrounding life energy, transforming it into a dark force, intensifying the area's aura of darkness.

Rumor has it that the leader of this mysterious force is a powerful being who calls himself the "Shadow Lord." He possesses profound dark magic, capable of manipulating dark elements and summoning various dark creatures to his service. His ambitions appear even greater than those of the Dark Pope, vying to rule the entire continent and cast the shadow of darkness over every corner.

After the Alliance learned of this news, Xu Tiancai decided to send an advance team to investigate. This advance team consisted of Agang, Lin, several Shadow Hunters skilled in reconnaissance, and a magician proficient in dark magic research. They disguised themselves and cautiously headed towards the southern tip of the continent.

As they approached the area engulfed by darkness, a strong, rotting stench assaulted their faces, making them sick. The sky was thick with dark clouds, completely obscuring the sunlight. The entire world seemed shrouded in darkness. Ah Gang frowned and whispered, "This dark aura is no weaker than the Dark Pope's. Everyone, be careful." He gripped his battle axe tightly, and the eternal fighting spirit flickered on the axe blade.

Lin controlled the wind element to form a barrier in front, trying to block the foul smell: "There seems to be some kind of evil magic hidden in this breath, so don't inhale it easily." Her face was solemn, and the wind element trembled slightly in her hands.

Shadow Hunters, using their stealth skills, quietly infiltrated the surroundings for reconnaissance. Their figures moved through the darkness like ghosts, almost blending in with it, making them virtually undetectable without careful observation. Mages, on the other hand, cast their spells, detecting the distribution and energy fluctuations of the surrounding dark magic circles.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound shattered the silence. A swarm of bat-like, yet enormous, dark creatures flew towards them from all directions. Their eyes flashed an eerie red, their mouths were covered with sharp fangs, and their claws were as sharp as iron hooks.

"It's the dark demon bat! Be careful everyone!" a magician shouted.

Without hesitation, Agang charged forward, swinging his battle axe with ferocious force. "Just in time! I was just about to try out a new move I've learned!" He unleashed a new combat technique—the "Wind-Breaking Battle Axe Technique." The axe blade slashed through the air in sharp arcs, stirring up gusts of wind. Each axe mark imbued with powerful Eternal Dou Qi, colliding with the dark demon bats with a dull thud. The dark demon bats fell under Agang's attack, but more demon bats surged from behind, seemingly endless.

Lin waved her hands, and wind elements quickly converged, forming massive vortexes of wind. "Sweep away the remaining clouds!" The vortexes swept toward the dark bats, their powerful suction drawing them in. Wind blades sliced ​​through the vortexes, shredding the bats' bodies into pieces, sending black blood and feathers splattering everywhere.

The Shadow Hunters, meanwhile, watched for opportunities in the shadows, their daggers flashing with a cold gleam. When a dark mephit approached, they struck with lightning speed, their daggers precisely piercing the mephit's vitals. Each strike was clean and precise, and a mephit screamed and fell.

The magicians formed a magic circle in the back and cast the "Light Purification Spell." A dazzling white light emanated from the magic circle, spreading toward the group of dark bats. This light possessed a powerful purifying power. Upon contact with it, the dark bats' bodies sizzled, as if burned by a raging fire, and they struggled in agony.

With everyone's concerted efforts, the dark bats were finally repelled. But they knew that this was just the beginning and more dangers were waiting for them ahead.

Continuing deeper, they discovered a vast dark magic circle. Located within a vast valley, it was filled with magical runes that shone with a cold, dark light. Surrounding the circle were various strange, dark offerings: animal carcasses, human skulls, and gems emitting a dark aura.

"The energy of this magic circle is very powerful. It seems that some large-scale dark ritual is being performed." A magician said solemnly.

Just as they were about to examine the magic circle, a group of mysterious men in black robes suddenly appeared. Their eyes were cold and empty, as if they had no souls. Without a word, they cast dark magic and attacked the advance team.

Agang roared, charging forward once more. "These guys again! See how I'll deal with you!" He engaged in fierce close combat with the mysterious black-robed figure. Agang's battle axe clashed with the figure's dark wand, sending sparks flying. Eternal fighting spirit and dark magic collided, emitting a roaring sound.

Lin controlled the wind element and attacked the mysterious man in black robe from the side: "Wind Blade Attack!" Wind blades shot towards the mysterious man in black robe like flying knives, forcing them to distract their attention and relieve the pressure on Agang.

The shadow hunters took advantage of the dark environment, quietly went behind the mysterious man in black robe and launched a surprise attack: "Shadow Assassination!" Their daggers stabbed at the back of the mysterious man in black robe like poisonous snakes, and instantly killed several mysterious men.

The magicians in the rear continuously unleashed various magical attacks, such as "Fire Blast" and "Lightning Spell" pouring down on the mysterious figure in black robes. The magic light illuminated the dark valley, interweaving with the dark magic power, forming a gorgeous yet dangerous scene.

However, these mysterious black-robed figures seemed to possess a unique coordination, constantly adjusting their formations and supporting each other during the battle. One of the mysterious black-robed figures waved his dark wand, and a dark shield formed before them, partially blocking the advance team's attacks. Another mysterious figure chanted a phrase, summoning several dark puppets. These dark puppets were enormous, crafted entirely from dark metal, and possessed incredible strength. They charged towards Agang and the others, their every step causing the ground to shake.

"These dark puppets are not easy to deal with, everyone be careful!" A Gang shouted.

He concentrated his energy, channeling his eternal fighting spirit into his battle axe. "Battle Axe Destroys Demons!" He swung his axe at the head of a dark puppet. But the puppet's head was incredibly hard, and Agang's blow left only a shallow mark. The dark puppet swung its arm back, and Agang quickly dodged, but his arm was still grazed, sending a sharp pain through him.

Seeing this, Lin manipulated the wind element to wrap around the dark puppet's limbs, "Wind Binding!" in an attempt to restrict the dark puppet's movements. However, the dark puppet was too powerful, and the wind element quickly broke free.

The magicians changed their tactics and cast "magic decomposition" to try to break down the dark puppet's structure. A magical light enveloped the dark puppet, and cracks began to appear on its body, but it still stubbornly rushed towards the crowd.

The Shadow Hunters moved through the gaps between the Dark Golems, searching for any weaknesses in the Black Robe Mysterious Man. They seized the opportunity and launched another attack, successfully eliminating several of them. As the number of Black Robe Mysterious Man decreased, the Dark Golems' movements also slowed.

Ah Gang seized the opportunity to launch another attack: "Eternal Break!" He channeled all his strength and fighting spirit into this strike. His battle axe, gleaming with dazzling light, fiercely chopped down the dark puppet's vitals. This time, the dark puppet was finally shattered, transforming into a pile of dark fragments.

After defeating the dark puppets, the advance team continued their battle against the mysterious black-robed figures. After a fierce battle, they finally eliminated them all. However, they paid a heavy price, with many injured and their magic power and fighting spirit largely depleted.

They arrived before the dark magic circle and carefully examined it. Through magical detection and analysis, the magicians discovered that the magic circle was used to summon an extremely powerful dark creature. If this ritual was allowed to complete, the consequences would be disastrous.

"We must destroy this magic circle!" Lin said firmly.

So, under the wizard's guidance, they began carefully destroying the dark magic circle. Following the circle's rune structure and energy flow, they gradually weakened its power. Ah Gang stood guard, vigilantly preventing any further enemies from appearing.

After much effort, the dark magic circle was finally destroyed. The moment it was broken, a powerful burst of dark energy erupted, sending the advance team members flying. A-Gang quickly steadied himself and helped the injured team members to their feet.

"Is everyone okay?" A Gang asked with concern.

Everyone expressed their willingness to persevere. They knew that while this investigation had yielded some results, it had also made them deeply aware of the power and danger of this new evil force. They quickly returned to the alliance camp with the intelligence they had gathered and reported the situation to Xu Tiancai and the others.

After listening to the report, Xu Tiancai said solemnly, "It seems the power of this 'Shadow Lord' cannot be underestimated. We must continue to search for the Dark Pope's whereabouts while also dealing with this new threat. The Alliance must re-strategize and gather a stronger force to protect our world."

Thus, the Alliance camp once again descended into intense preparations and strategic discussions. Soldiers trained more diligently, magicians delved deeper into their research, and the powerful constantly refined their abilities. They knew a more arduous battle was approaching, and they must be fully prepared, for world peace and light, at all costs.