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

As more and more passersby joined in to express their support, a surge of positive energy surged through the scene. The elderly man, still busy manipulating the details of the resonance ceremony at the center, finally looked up at the crowd with a smile of relief and anticipation. "It seems we're not alone in this fight. Everyone has an unquenchable passion within them. It's this spirit that sustains us all, moving forward together and facing unknown challenges... Very good!"

However, his tone suddenly changed. "But this doesn't mean the future will be easy. The real test is about to begin..."

Just as everyone was still pondering the hidden meaning behind this, a sudden and even more violent earthquake sounded in the distance. "Oh no!" Zhao Li's face changed drastically, and she pointed to a certain point in the sky. "Look, there's a new threat over there!"

Everyone looked up at once—several large, shadowy figures faintly appeared beneath the night sky, rapidly approaching...

"Now is not the time to discuss theories. Get ready to meet the enemy." The uncle's steady and powerful voice sounded from behind, reminding everyone of the urgent situation in the real world.

"Yes, we must hold on no matter what..." The girl gripped her scepter tightly, her gaze unwavering. Under the night sky, several massive shadowy silhouettes, like monsters from a nightmare, gradually approached with an ominous aura. As they closed in, people could even feel the ground tremble slightly.

An old man among the onlookers said in a trembling voice, "That... is that the legendary shadow beast? Oh my God! We are in big trouble this time!"

A young man next to him was not afraid at all and shouted loudly: "Don't be afraid! We have strength in numbers. As long as we unite, there is nothing we can't overcome!" Although he said so, a hint of subtle fear could be seen in his eyes.

At that moment, the old soldier, who had remained silent until then, slowly stepped forward to the front of the crowd. "Listen, boys," he said in a low voice, yet everyone could hear clearly. "Facing such an enemy is indeed daunting, but remember this: courage does not mean the absence of fear; true courage is the ability to protect others even when afraid."

Hearing these words, many present were encouraged, and their initially flustered mood began to calm. "He's right," a young girl said, childishly yet firmly, clenching her fists as she gazed at the approaching enemy. "Let us fight side by side, for all the people of this land!"

Immediately, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. This sudden surge of collective emotion gave everyone confidence. The fat man dropped his joking attitude and became more serious than ever. "Okay, old man, I believe your lies this time," he said, forcing a smile at the old man. "But if you're lying to me, be prepared to run away."

As the atmosphere intensified, massive black shadows became visible in the distance, each one several times taller than the surrounding trees. As if sensing the changes on the human side, the leading creature let out a deafening roar and charged at the others, leading them. Dust flew, leaves scattered, and even the air hummed with the powerful force.

At this moment, Xiaoyue raised the mysterious scepter in her hand and whispered an ancient incantation. Soon, an invisible energy spread out from her center, forming a protective barrier around everyone. Feeling the warmth envelop their bodies, everyone expressed surprise and gratitude. "Is this the power possessed by the legendary heroes?" someone murmured, their face filled with admiration.

Elsewhere, the seemingly ordinary woman began to display unexpected abilities: with a simple wave of her hands, a thorn hedge suddenly sprouted from beneath her feet, surrounding the group and thwarting any approaching threat. "Hey, kid, did you see that?" she said proudly to a nearby child, whose eyes widened. "Don't be fooled by my ordinary appearance, but I'm a monster expert! You guys should work hard too!"

Just as everyone was on full alert, the leading shadow beast arrived outside the defensive circle and used its massive claws to violently slam the magical barrier. Although each attack shook the entire venue, thanks to everyone's coordinated support, no actual damage was caused.

After observing the situation for a while, Zhao Li turned her head and looked at the old man behind her who was still as calm as ever. "Senior, do you have any special plans? According to the current situation, I don't think we can hold on for long..." She asked softly, with a hint of anxiety in her words.

The old man nodded. "That's right. We can't just stand there and fight. We need to find a way to distract them, buy time to find their weaknesses and launch a counterattack. And to achieve our goal... I'm afraid you'll need to be even more creative."

Just as the two were quietly discussing tactical arrangements, a young man standing at the edge of the team, observing the entire battle, suddenly interrupted, "Wait! I've discovered something!" Everyone's attention immediately focused on him. "From what they've just shown, these monsters seem particularly sensitive to light... If we can create some light in the darkness, perhaps it could provide some distraction?"

This suggestion made everyone's eyes light up, especially Zhao Li. She immediately thought of the light skills she had used before and shouted excitedly, "That's it! We can use things like flashbangs or small torches, and with the appropriate control layout, we should be able to effectively reduce the enemy's field of vision! And—" She paused here deliberately to keep the topic in suspense, "I just happen to have a special card here. It might have unexpected effects at a critical moment~"

Hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted, as if they saw a glimpse of hope. Meanwhile, the attacks of the giant beasts in the distance intensified, and it seemed that time for everyone to prepare was running out. "Seize this last opportunity to prepare!" the old man ordered decisively, "Now is the moment to witness a miracle—"

As the first torch was lit and lifted into the air, a spectacular battle between humans and beasts was about to begin. But what no one could imagine at that moment was that a deeper and more complex backstory was quietly unfolding behind the scenes... In the night, the light of the torches reflected on everyone's resolute faces, and the air was filled with the scent of battle. In the distance, the shadowy beasts roared continuously, their huge bodies crashing against the fragile magical defenses, making the entire forest seem to tremble.