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

As the group was busy preparing, a sudden gust of wind blew, shaking the branches. "The weather is about to change. We need to hurry to avoid being delayed too long before the storm arrives," someone said, looking up at the sky.

Aiden quickly assembled his chosen men, gearing up to embark on a journey with the Dark Apostles into the unknown. As they gradually faded from sight, the remaining residents felt a mixture of hope and worry. Everyone silently prayed that the return of these brave warriors would bring new light to the village.

It is still unknown what challenges are waiting for them ahead... and beneath this tranquility, an unpredictable force is quietly awakening, which will change the life trajectories of all the fateful people involved in this battle, including those warriors who are about to set out to find answers and those ordinary people who stay here to continue to resist the threat of dark invaders.

-“Hey, are you sure this is okay? What should we do if we get into danger?” a young soldier asked his comrade next to him anxiously.

-But the other party smiled and comforted him: "It's okay, as long as you follow Brother Aiden closely, everything will be fine. After all, he is our hero! No matter what, we must believe in our choices and face everything bravely..."

As the sky gradually darkened, this hastily assembled team took the first step towards a mysterious land, heading towards an unknown future full of infinite possibilities...

Aiden's team set out at nightfall, with the Dark Apostle leading the way as they embarked on an unknown journey. A hint of tension and unease hung in the air, but everyone's gaze remained steadfast. They knew this mission might change everything.

After passing through dense forests and crossing rivers, when the first rays of morning light penetrated the clouds and illuminated the earth, the team finally arrived at a hidden valley. Here, lush vegetation and shrouded in mist, seemed like a corner forgotten by the world.

"It's here." The Dark Apostle stopped, turned around and said to everyone.

"What's here?" Sal looked around curiously.

The Dark Apostle didn't answer directly, but slowly walked towards a huge rock in front of him. He lightly touched the surface of the rock, and after a strange light flashed, a long-hidden cave entrance appeared before everyone.

The crowd exclaimed one after another:

-"Wow! There really is a secret passage!"

- "Now it's easy to find..."

"Go in," the Dark Apostle said calmly, "but remember our agreement."

Mary followed Aiden into the cave, and the others followed after checking their weapons. The further they went, the more humid and chilly the air became. After passing several forking paths, they stopped in a wide space—scattered with broken stone statues, and on the walls were murals depicting ancient battlefield scenes and mysterious symbols they couldn't decipher.

As everyone studied the inscriptions on the wall, the floor suddenly shook slightly, as if something was stirring beneath the surface. "Look! What's that?" someone shouted. Gradually emerging from the cracks in the ground was a massive, ancient stone door. Its carvings were incredibly intricate, emitting an aura that was impossible to ignore.

"This is the path to the secret core." The Dark Apostle explained.

Aiden took a deep breath and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly: "Open it." But he knew in his heart that the road ahead would not be easy...

As the last spell fell, the heavy door slowly opened, revealing a wider world inside under the dazzling light. At the same time, the entire cave began to shake even more violently.

-"Oh no! It seems like a mechanism has been triggered!"

- “Run!”…

The sudden change threw everyone into chaos. Suddenly, a large area of ​​the ground collapsed, and several team members, unable to react in time, nearly fell off a cliff. Fortunately, the team members helped each other and managed to stabilize themselves, avoiding tragedy.

After finally escaping danger and reaching the next area, they found themselves faced with an empty platform. In its center stood an altar emitting a faint blue glow. Scattered around it were numerous treasure chests and artifact fragments, seemingly equally ancient yet still in pristine condition. One particularly striking object was precisely what Aiden was searching for: a perfectly sealed ancient tome!

Just as Aiden reached out to touch the book, a blinding flash of light suddenly shot out, forcing everyone back several steps. "You humans, daring to trespass into this forbidden area, are truly courting death!" As these words fell, an enemy clad in ornate armor, shrouded in streams of black and red magical energy, appeared on the altar. "I am the guardian of this realm. No one can take this sacred object!"

Gavin immediately adopted a defensive stance. "Prepare for battle, men! We have nowhere to retreat." The others also raised their weapons and prepared for battle. The atmosphere instantly became tense...

Aiden looked up at the strong man's fierce gaze and said without showing any weakness: "Since you won't let us easily get the key to victory, then we can only use strength to speak!" Although he knew that the opponent's strength should not be underestimated, he would never give up any opportunity to save his home.

Just before a fierce clash broke out between the two sides, the Dark Apostle, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, suddenly stepped forward and stood between them. "Everyone, please listen to me," he said solemnly, looking at both sides. "Perhaps there is a better way to resolve this dilemma?"

Everyone looked at the Dark Apostle in surprise, wondering what tricks he was going to play. At this moment, the sky in the distance suddenly became extremely gloomy, with dark clouds covering it, as if a bigger storm was about to come.

Aiden asked with a frown, his eyes full of confusion.

The Dark Apostle spoke slowly, his voice heavy. "We can put aside our grudges for now. After all, we are not our true enemies. If I can convince this guard to retreat temporarily, giving you some time to find a solution...how do you think?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and everyone held their breath waiting for the answer.

-"Can you believe what you said?" a young swordsman asked doubtfully.

-"I think it's worth a try. After all, the situation is not favorable to us now." Mary was slightly more optimistic.

-...

Finally, Aiden nodded. "Very well, it's settled then. I hope you'll keep your word... but before that, I'd like to hear your reasons." The Dark Apostle took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. He slowly spoke, "In truth, the secret of this forbidden land is more than just an ancient tome. Hidden here lies a deeper power—a power powerful enough to subvert the entire continent."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in sighs and discussions. Meili's eyes widened as she asked, "What are you referring to? Are they those legendary…" The Dark Apostle nodded slightly, prompting her to continue. He swallowed and added, "Are they the key objects that can change the course of history and determine the rise and fall of civilization?" Aiden gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. Though he remained calm on the surface, he was already calculating.