I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

"Oh my god! Why are these things spawning non-stop like monsters?" a soldier who had just taken a break from combat complained helplessly. "The previous battle was exhausting enough, and now there are so many of them. It's really killing me."

Despite this, under Ye Qingqing's resolute leadership, everyone quickly regrouped and prepared for battle. Her gaze, sharp as a hawk's, surveyed the surroundings before she barked out the order, "Don't lose focus! Maintain formation! Jack and I will lead the small team in the frontal assault. Ivy, assist Liu Qingcheng in finding the mysterious energy source! The rest of you, continue protecting the villagers!"

Meanwhile, villagers spontaneously organized rescue teams to support the frontline fighters. The innocent, hopeful eyes of the children rekindled the fighting spirit of every soldier. "Come on, uncles and aunts! I believe you will win!" the little boy's innocent voice was filled with encouragement.

On the outskirts of the battlefield, a brother and sister clung to each other, their eyes filled with worry. "Brother...will they win?" the little girl asked tremblingly.

The older boy held his sister's hand tightly to comfort her. "Of course they will. They are heroes! Look at that female warrior over there. Her name is Ye Qingqing. Don't be fooled by her weak appearance. She is always very brave in critical moments. She is simply a modern-day female warrior."

As he said, Ye Qingqing, who was commanding the troops with such composure at this moment, was indeed reassuring. Even in the face of the enemies that kept coming, she showed no sign of retreating, but instead became increasingly calm and composed.

As time passed, the disparity in power between the two sides gradually became apparent. Although the enemy outnumbered them, the warriors, led by several experienced veterans, achieved unprecedented coordination and rapport. This was especially true when Ivy and Liu Qingcheng finally discovered the core power controlling these monsters, and the situation underwent a fundamental shift.

"Everyone, work harder! As long as we destroy this blue-purple crystal, we can weaken the enemy's strength!" The two shouted in unison, attracting everyone's attention.

Morale instantly soared, and everyone threw all their might into this final battle. "Charge!" With deafening shouts, an even more intense and spectacular contest began...

Meanwhile, the man observing all this from the other side of the dense forest once again smiled meaningfully. "Hmm? Looks like this is a lot more interesting than I expected..." He murmured softly to himself, his figure gradually disappearing into the endless darkness. "Then let me spice up this game a little bit." The giant bear-like monster collapsed to the ground with a crash, but before the cheers of victory could fully erupt, new enemies emerged from the night, setting everyone on edge once again. At this moment, the innocent gazes of the children outside the battlefield met the determined gazes of the warriors, forming an invisible force that shone brightly in the darkness.

Soon after Ivy and Liu Qingcheng discovered the crystal, the warriors' offensive became noticeably more ferocious. Every swing of the sword, every arrow released from the bowstring, was more powerful than the last, as if everyone knew this could be the decisive moment to decide victory or defeat. "Keep pushing, everyone!" Ye Qingqing's voice was remarkably clear amid the clamor of the battlefield. "We're about to win!"

"Hurry, hurry, pass me the herbs!" a young nurse nearby anxiously called out to the girl helping carry the wounded. "Yes... yes!" the girl hurried over to help, her hands trembling slightly with nervousness. The soldiers who witnessed this scene exchanged glances, a complex wave of emotions welling up in their hearts: anger at the innocent suffering, yet also a longing for a better future.

Just as everyone was focusing their attention on the seemingly ordinary blue-purple crystal, a burly old general suddenly became alert: "What's that sound over there?" Before he finished speaking, a group of small flying creatures appeared in the air and were rapidly approaching them!

Some of the onlookers couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God! Why are there more flying ones?!" The children burst into tears, and the adults, though trying to remain calm, couldn't hide the panic on their faces. However, in this critical moment, the old general steadied himself and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid. We're here. They can't hurt anyone."

He then waved his staff toward the sky, "Prepare to unleash the rain of fire!" With the command, several mages, already prepared for battle, simultaneously unleashed a vast blaze of fiery flames, instantly engulfing the smaller monsters. Blazing light pierced the darkness, and the air was filled with the distinct smell of burnt barbecue.

Just as everyone was immersed in the brief peace brought by this counterattack, an ominous voice shattered the silence once again. "Do you think this is the end? You are so naive..." The mysterious man reappeared, this time much closer. A mocking smile wore on his face, clearly showing great satisfaction with the current situation.

The villagers began to whisper to each other:

-"Who is that man? Why is he here?"

-"Oh no, I think we might be in even bigger trouble."

At this critical moment, team leader Lin Tao, renowned for his wisdom, stepped forward. "Calm down! Follow my instructions—archers, continue attacking aerial targets; close combat teams, follow Jack and shift left; magicians, please replenish your energy quickly and follow Captain Ye's orders." His tone, though calm, was filled with unwavering resolve, gradually stabilizing the chaotic situation.

At the same time, Ye Qingqing also noticed the identity of the visitor. She did not rush to act but asked coldly: "Who are you? What do you want to do?"

The other person smiled slightly. "Oh, maybe I'd like to introduce myself. You can call me 'Guide,' but I'm here purely out of curiosity about the courage of you mortals." He clapped his hands softly. "I didn't expect you'd make it this far. I'm truly impressed. But the game has only just begun..."

Facing such a sudden and powerful opponent of unknown strength, the atmosphere on the scene became extremely tense. Everyone knew that every second that happened next would be crucial.

Lin Tao whispered to his comrades, "We need to be more careful. We can't let him succeed so easily!" They nodded, their eyes ablaze with fighting spirit. Just as everyone was pondering their next move, the "guide"'s next words made everyone's heart leap into their throats again: