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

Ivan lowered his voice and said to everyone, "We must act carefully. These people may be very dangerous."

Zhao Yan nodded, signaling the others to disperse and approach the group of black-clad men from different directions. Genos, holding his longbow, carefully aimed at one of them; Leon tightly gripped his staff, ready to cast fire magic at any moment; Lina stood behind Zhao Yan, muttering a spell, gathering elemental power.

Suddenly, a man in black turned around and noticed their presence. He shouted a warning: "Someone's coming!"

The other men in black immediately became alert, drew their weapons and prepared to fight back.

Zhao Yan took the lead and stepped forward, loudly demanding, "Who are you? Why are you breaking in here?"

The leader of the men in black sneered, "We are messengers from the abyss. Everything in this land will belong to us. You are nothing more than insignificant obstacles."

"Damn it! These guys are so arrogant!" Genos shouted angrily, drawing his bow to its full length and shooting an arrow at the enemy. However, the man in black dodged lightly and nimbly.

Leon raised his staff and shouted, "Firestorm!" A burst of scorching flames erupted, rushing towards the enemy. One of the men in black was engulfed in the flames, screaming and falling to the ground.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding villagers couldn't help but exclaim: "Oh my God, that boy's fire magic is really powerful!"

Another man in black brandished his sword and confronted Genos head-on, the two sides fighting hard. "This guy's fighting ability is very strong!" Genos secretly admired him as they fought.

At this moment, Lucy blew the flute in her hand, and the melodious music instantly spread. This sound seemed to have some special power, making everyone feel a subtle change in the depths of their hearts.

Lina took the opportunity to cast frost magic, and pieces of ice shards condensed in the air and flew towards the people in black. Her magic hit several people, and the low temperature slowed them down a lot.

Zhao Yan seized the opportunity, unsheathing his longsword and charging directly at the leader. He swung his sword rapidly, each blow imbued with the force of thunder. The leader of the men in black was not to be outdone, and the two engaged in a tug-of-war, their swords flashing and shadows intertwining in a spectacular battle.

"This is so exciting, it's like watching a superhero movie!" a young boy shouted excitedly, "I wish I could become as strong as Zhao Yan when I grow up."

As the battle intensified, the remaining men in black began to feel overwhelmed. Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the leading man in black shouted, "Retreat! Run!" and then led the remaining men into the depths of the forest.

Ivan frowned and looked into the distance: "Although we have temporarily driven them away this time, it is obvious that this matter is not over yet..."

"Yes, we must find the mastermind behind this as soon as possible." Zhao Yan pondered for a moment, then turned to Lucy and asked, "Lucy, can you use your flute to summon the forest spirit again? Perhaps it can tell us more information."

"Okay, I'll give it a try." Lucy nodded and began playing her flute again. Gradually, the melody in the air became softer and more melodious. Before long, a group of elves emitting a faint blue light floated down from the treetops and danced around them.

A small elf slowly landed on Zhao Yan's shoulder and spoke in a tiny voice, "Dear friends, the forces of darkness are indeed approaching this city. To resist the coming crisis, you need to find the holy relics in the ancient ruins."

When everyone heard this information, their eyes suddenly lit up. Zhao Yan looked at Aiwen, "Mr. Aiwen, do you know the exact location of the ruins?"

Ivan thought for a moment and replied, "I remember there's a ruin at the northernmost end of Dream City. It was once a holy place. It's said to contain many secrets and treasures."

Lina smiled slightly: "Then without further ado, let's set off early tomorrow morning."

That night, the entire village fell into a brief period of peace. However, for everyone, the journey ahead was filled with uncertainty and unknown challenges...

Villager A whispered to his partner, "Do you think they will be able to find the relic and protect us?"

His wife gently patted the back of his hand and comforted him, saying, "I believe it will happen. As long as you walk with courage and wisdom, no matter how great the difficulties are, you will not be afraid."

At this moment, the sky in the distance is still covered with dark clouds, indicating that the new day that is about to come will not only bring new adventures to these warriors, but also hide greater secrets waiting for them to uncover...

At dawn the next day, the group set out on their journey once again. Their hearts were filled with fighting spirit, unafraid of the unknown. Only in this way could they protect this beautiful and magical land. As the morning light broke, the group had already gathered at the village entrance. Zhao Yan packed his bags and looked around at his companions with a determined gaze. "Let's go, friends," he said. "We have an important mission."

Ivan nodded in agreement and pointed to the northern horizon. "The legendary holy land is not easy to find. It is hidden deep in the ancient forest outside the Dream City. Not only are there unknown creatures guarding the ruins, but it is also filled with fog and danger."

Hearing this, the surrounding villagers cast concerned glances. A young woman held the little boy's hand tightly and whispered to him, "Look, how brave they are! You should learn from your older brothers and sisters."

Genos responded with a smile: "Don't worry, please believe that we will succeed!" He patted his chest, as if wanting to prove something.

Lina smiled and waved to the little boy: "Little brother, we will bring you some gifts when we come back." Her gentle words made the little boy's eyes light up and he showed an expectant smile.

As the sun slowly rose, the group set out on their journey towards the ruins. Birdsong echoed through the woods, and in the distance, rolling hills stretched endlessly. Everything seemed serene and beautiful. However, only those who had truly experienced combat knew that beneath the tranquility lay a greater danger.

After walking for a while, the path became increasingly difficult to follow. Vines entwined the trees, and the dense forest almost completely obscured the sky. Suddenly, Genos stopped and said, "Listen, is there a sound?"

Leon closed his eyes and listened carefully. After a moment, he said, "Yes, it's the sound of an animal approaching. Maybe the wild animals in the forest were startled by us."