I was so scared that I put all my points into health.

A fierce battle was like a volcano about to erupt, its surging power building within, ready to be unleashed at any moment. The outcome of this battle was of paramount importance; it would not only determine the fate of the box exuding a thick, ominous aura, but could even act like an invisible hand, controlling the destiny of the entire city of Elparan. At this critical moment, suddenly, as if a pair of invisible giant hands had torn a gaping hole in the sky. In an instant, light poured down like a surging, unstoppable tide, so dazzling that it was as if countless stars had exploded simultaneously, making it impossible to look directly at it.

A colossal sword appeared, seemingly a divine artifact descended from mythology. It radiated a blinding light, a light that spoke of ancient and mysterious power. The sword descended from the sky with incredible speed, so fast it seemed to cleave the boundaries of time and space, leaving trails of dazzling light in its wake.

This giant sword was like a peerless divine weapon straight out of ancient mythology. Its power seemed to be a primordial force born from the very beginning of this world, so powerful that it appeared capable of truly tearing the entire world apart. The black-robed man, who had been incredibly arrogant, his face radiating an expression of extreme arrogance, viewed everything around him as mere ants. But who would have thought that such a sudden attack would descend like a bolt of lightning from the sky? He was instantly startled, his arrogant face instantly filled with terror. His body reacted like a bird with conditioned reflexes, instinctively making a dodging motion. However, the giant sword was simply too fast, faster than imagined. He managed to dodge with all his might, avoiding a vital area, but one of his arms was still severed. The severed arm fell to the ground like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, splashing up a small cloud of dust.

The black-robed Dark Cult masters around him were not so fortunate. Like fragile ants, they were utterly powerless against this immense divine power. The powerful divine energy erupting from the giant sword engulfed them like a surging tide. They were instantly purified by this power, leaving not a trace, as if they had never existed. This ultimate move was truly magnificent beyond imagination; the abundant divine power was like a dazzling, breathtaking feast of light, each ray of light seeming to express the wrath and majesty of a god.

Just then, a man wearing a monocle appeared on the street. He walked slowly and unhurriedly, his steps leisurely and carefree, as if what had just happened was not a thrilling, life-or-death battle, but merely a casual stroll in his daily life. He stood before the man in black robes, his face bearing a unique expression that was both gentle and cruel, an expression as if it were a blend of two completely different worlds: ice and fire. His voice seemed to emanate from a distant land of ice and fire, cold yet fiery, gentle yet cruel, reaching the black-robed man's ears: "Surrender, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."

The man in black robes was filled with shock and rage. His face turned deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from him. Gritting his teeth, his face filled with resentment, he quickly cast dark magic to heal his injuries. Black light began to flicker at his severed arm, the light resembling countless writhing black snakes, intertwining and crawling, looking eerie and full of mysterious power. Slowly, the severed arm was reattached under the light. He straightened up, his expression as solemn as a huge, lifeless stone, his eyes fixed on the man with the monocle, his mouth agape in astonishment, as if he had witnessed the most unbelievable thing in the world, and he blurted out: "A hero?"

Then, as if suddenly remembering something crucial, he unhesitatingly activated dark magic. A layer of dark power rapidly enveloped his body, flowing like black silk, quickly binding him. He moved like a black lightning bolt, so fast that only a black shadow could be seen streaking across the night sky; he vanished in a flash, his speed astonishing.

"Hey, he got away." The man wearing a monocle said nonchalantly, his expression as if he were talking about an extremely ordinary, insignificant little thing, his leisurely demeanor as if nothing had just happened.

Seeing this, President Winnie was furious. Like an enraged lioness, she radiated a powerful rage. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes seemed to burn with fierce fire. She charged forward, her anger reaching its peak, and slammed her hand down hard on the man's head. This was no small matter; like a cannonball, it sent the man reeling. His head lolled to the side, his body swayed a few times, and his face was filled with helplessness.

"Stop wasting so much breath, we should have wiped him out long ago," President Winnie said angrily, her voice tinged with reproach and dissatisfaction.

The man with the monocle was also helpless. He knew very well that the man in black robes was incredibly strong. If the man hadn't been unaware of his presence, he wouldn't have had the chance to launch a sneak attack. If they had fought head-on, it was hard to say who would win. Although he was once a hero, the man in black robes might have been empowered by a dark mage or even a legendary evil god. In that case, the strength of the two was evenly matched. If they really fought, the city would probably fall, and the civilians would suffer annihilation. So, his decision to use a powerful attack to scare the man away was actually the wisest choice. Now, being scolded by President Winnie, he could only smile wryly. He thought to himself that this woman had a really fiery temper, like a powder keg ready to ignite at any moment.

President Winnie snorted at the disappointing man, her snort clearly showing her disdain. Then she turned to look at everyone, her eyes regaining their resolve, and said, "Although we successfully thwarted the Dark Cult's plot today, we cannot let our guard down. We must further investigate this box and find a way to completely destroy the Dark Cult. We must never let them threaten our city and people again."

The adventurers nodded in agreement. They knew that the battle against the Dark Cult was far from over, and that this box might hold the key to unraveling the entire Dark Cult's conspiracy.

The man with the monocle walked unhurriedly to the greatsword that had just slain the man in black. He extended his right hand, his long, slender fingers gripping the hilt tightly. The greatsword seemed to become docile in his hand; with a forceful pull, he lifted it from the ground. The greatsword's blade was broad and thick, and the light gleaming on it had softened, as if responding to the man's call.

He slung the greatsword over his back as effortlessly as if he were carrying a light bundle of firewood. At that moment, some people nearby saw his actions. One of them suddenly widened his eyes, his face filled with surprise and reverence, and then shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's the Hero of Light! The Hero of Light—Lord Leon!"

The shouts spread rapidly through the air like a spring breeze. The sounds, like lively musical notes, danced through the streets and alleys. Those around, upon hearing the shouts, were initially stunned, as if frozen in place. Then, like flames ignited, they joined in the shouts. In an instant, cries of "Hero of Light—Lord Leon!" echoed through the streets, like surging waves, one after another.

Those who had been still shaken by the recent battle now had faces full of hope and anticipation. Their eyes shone as if Leon's arrival was the dawn that dispelled the darkness.

The man called Leon heard the call and a faint smile appeared on his face. He waved gracefully, as if he were facing a group of mischievous children, completely at ease. Indeed, as a hero, he was always admired by the masses and was used to being the center of attention.

Not far away, President Vinnie heard the shout, and her face instantly turned bright red, like a powder keg that had been ignited. She rushed over in a flash, as fast as a whirlwind. She grabbed Leon's ear with such force that he winced in pain. As she pulled, she muttered reproachfully, "Instead of handling my official duties, you're out here causing trouble." Leon was utterly helpless, thinking to himself, "If I hadn't intervened so early, she would probably have confessed already. She really doesn't appreciate my good intentions." He shook his head helplessly, a bitter smile on his face. He, the dignified Hero of Light, always so dashing and heroic in front of everyone, could only awkwardly continue waving to the crowds and adventurers. President Vinnie's antics had completely ruined his elegant, refined, yet roguish, image.

The onlookers, witnessing this scene, were mostly stunned for a moment, as if time had briefly stood still. Their eyes widened, their faces showing surprise and confusion. Then, a segment of the crowd began to whisper. It was a suppressed, subtle murmur, as if they were cautiously discussing an open secret.

"Look, it's starting again," a young man said quietly to the person next to him, a smile in his eyes.

"Haha, it's always like this." His companion slapped his thigh lightly, his shoulders shaking slightly with laughter.

Then, the oppressive atmosphere, like a powder keg ignited, burst into laughter. The laughter, like a surging tide, spread wildly through the air. Young people laughed heartily, middle-aged people laughed with a knowing smile, while the smiles of the elderly were filled with more of a sense of reminiscence.

This wasn't the first time such a scene had unfolded. Some of the older residents were like living history books, witnessing Leon's growth firsthand. From when he was just a naive young boy, still somewhat green, following President Vinnie around like a shadow. And now, Leon had matured into a promising young hero.

Throughout his childhood, he was always accompanied by an older sister figure—President Winnie. To everyone else, President Winnie's ear-pulling behavior towards Leon seemed like a unique form of affection. It was like a special emotional bond connecting the two of them. For young people, it was a novel and interesting way of interacting; for middle-aged people, it revealed a kind of familial care; and for the elderly, it was a cherished memory.

Years have passed quietly, and Leon has become the legendary Hero of Light. That once-naive boy, tempered by time and countless battles, is now renowned far and wide. His name shines like a brilliant star in people's hearts, representing hope and strength.

Although becoming a Warrior of Light is a past glory, he now serves as the vice president of a branch in the Adventurers' Guild, wholeheartedly assisting Winnie with various affairs. He is like a sturdy chair, firmly supporting the guild's structure, playing an indispensable role in many key decisions and administrative matters.

Meanwhile, thanks to her years of accumulated skills and rich experience, Guild Leader Winnie successfully became a branch leader of the Adventurers' Guild. In everyone's eyes, she was like an experienced navigator, accurately grasping the direction of the guild's development. Whether dealing with various complex task assignments or coordinating relationships among members, she handled everything with ease.

However, behind this glory lies a hidden secret. Guild Master Winnie's strength has stagnated, like an insurmountable chasm standing before her. Although she has reached the pinnacle of the adventure world, becoming a Gold-level adventurer—a level where her name commands awe—she remains a figure of immense power and influence.

However, she was never able to break through her current level and reach the level of a hero, becoming one of those legendary adventurers. The real reason for this, like a treasure buried in the darkness, was known only to her.

Perhaps a painful past experience left her with indelible psychological trauma, causing her to consistently lose focus during crucial moments of cultivation; or perhaps, in order to protect something important, she was forced to make inappropriate deals with certain mysterious forces, gaining power while also being burdened with insurmountable restrictions. Regardless, she silently endured it all, continuing to contribute to the Adventurers' Guild with her existing strength in her role.