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

At this time, Leon couldn't help but stepped forward and said, "Don't underestimate us. Captain Kyle just said that greater challenges are waiting for us!" His confident smile encouraged many people present.

"Come on! You guys are awesome!" the excited little girl jumped up and waved, drawing laughter and applause from the adults nearby. "Yeah, the little girl is cheering you on, but you've got to show some real skill!" a middle-aged woman said with a smile.

Seeing this, Aidan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Just as the group was about to continue their advance, several veterans, seemingly seasoned warriors, suddenly emerged from a nearby alley. "Wait a moment," one of the veterans, clad in heavy leather armor, stepped forward, his eyes stern as he looked at Aidan and the others. "Young men, please allow me to warn you: the road ahead is far from easy. I urge you to be fully prepared."

"Don't worry, senior," Aiden replied, "We will keep your advice in mind. And I believe we will find the treasure!"

Hearing this, the experienced veteran smiled with relief, patted Aidan on the shoulder, and said, "Well... in that case, I wish you good luck! Remember—never underestimate any opponent. Even if it looks weak, it can still pose a deadly threat."

After saying this, he and the other elders quietly retreated to their original positions to continue watching the situation unfold. At this moment, Kyle signaled that everyone could continue forward. "The second test will be even more dangerous than the previous maze and will test individual strength even more. Therefore, I hope that every team member can perform at their best before entering the next stage."

After he finished speaking, the entire scene fell into unusual silence, broken only by the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.

Then, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the gate slowly opened. A vast wilderness lay before them, dotted with abandoned buildings and various obstacles.

At this moment, a whisper like a breeze was heard not far away: "Are you ready for a new wave of baptism?" Along with these mysterious words, a figure appeared - it was a woman with a pretty face and elegant figure.

She walked forward with a smile and introduced herself as Sophia: "Hello, warriors! I am one of the guards responsible for managing this area of ​​ruins. Please believe that only those with both courage and wisdom can hope to overcome all these obstacles and reach the end~" Sophia's voice was soft and magical, which unconsciously attracted the listeners.

Just as everyone was stunned by this sudden situation, a companion asked, "So, how exactly should we begin? And... why is this place like this? It seems so strange..."

"All the mysteries will be revealed one by one in the process, and now all you have to do is follow my footsteps..."

As the last words fell, the surroundings suddenly changed. The previously peaceful world gradually became filled with an indescribable and eerie aura...

"Wow, it seems like something big is going to happen again!" exclaimed the always active little girl, while tightly grasping the clothes of the adults around her, appearing both scared and full of anticipation.

"Oh... I hope the children are okay..." Someone sighed, expressing his deep concern.

Just as people were discussing this, Sophia's gentle and clear voice rang out again:

"Okay, friends, there's no need to worry too much about the future. Just remember that the most important task right now is to face the upcoming challenges with all your might!"

Her words gave everyone a boost of courage and confidence. Then, led by this beautiful female guardian, the entire expedition officially entered the next phase of their adventure... As Sophia finished her words, the entire team began to move forward, guided by her. An indescribable tension seemed to hang in the air, even the breeze carried a hint of foreboding. But everyone's face was filled with determination, clearly prepared to face any challenge.

Leon, who was walking in front, said to Aidan excitedly, "Hey, do you think we'll encounter a real monster this time? I can't wait to show off my skills!"

Aidan gave a wry smile and responded, "You're always so passionate... But honestly, I'm also looking forward to what will happen next. I hope to see something even more amazing."

"Hmph, all you boys do is fight." Mireya, following closely behind, interrupted, her eyes gleaming with intelligence and curiosity. "I'm even more curious about the secrets hidden here. It's said that the ruins contain the remains of an ancient civilization. I really want to uncover the mystery myself!"

As the three of them were talking, the team gradually moved deeper into the center of this seemingly abandoned yet mysterious land. Suddenly, a dark, narrow road full of cracks appeared in front of them, which looked particularly strange and unpredictable under the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Looks like our first step is to get through here," Captain Kyle said after pausing to survey the surrounding terrain. He then led the way. "Follow us, everyone! Remember to stay in formation and don't run around!" He reminded the team members to follow him closely and not fall behind.

Just as everyone was cautiously moving along the path, several long black tentacles suddenly stretched out from the cracks and quickly rolled towards the members walking closest to the edge.

"Be careful!" A cry of alarm echoed through the air, followed by a flash of several blades. Leon, the quickest and most experienced, immediately drew his sword from his waist and cut it off. But this didn't cause anyone to relax, as more bizarre creatures swarmed out from all directions.

At the same time, the villagers who had been paying close attention to the development of the situation were also shocked by the sudden change. They had originally thought that they could witness an exciting adventure today, but they had never expected to witness such a dangerous and exciting scene.

"This...this is too horrible, right?" the young villager asked stutteringly, his face full of fear and shock.

The woman standing next to him, however, showed more composure. "It's okay, kids. I'm sure they can pull this off. Look how formidable that young man is! He took down his enemy with just a few strikes!"

As expected, Aiden, Mireya and others worked together to eliminate those unknown monsters one by one in front of everyone. Although they faced many dangerous tests in the process, they finally overcame the difficulties and continued to move forward.