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

Alpha and Allen remained immersed in the joy brought by the various novelties in the market. Alpha clutched a small bell emitting a cold blue light, which he had secretly stolen from a vendor using his skillful thieving techniques. The bell jingled crisply as it swayed, seemingly enticing him to explore its mysteries further. Allen, on the other hand, wore a mask inlaid with colorful gemstones, which he had just found at a street stall. The mask seemed to possess magic; wearing it instantly transformed him into someone mysterious. He brandished his longsword like a hero, making Alpha laugh heartily.

However, they were unaware that the minions of the Dark Cult, like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, were stealthily approaching them. These minions were of high level, the weakest being around level 45, far exceeding Alpha's level 40 second-job rogue and Allen's level 42 second-job paladin.

The henchmen of the Dark Cult quietly gathered in the shadowy corners of the city. One of them, a tall, thin henchman with eyes like eerie green flames, whispered, "Those two guys are with that Ryan, aren't they? They seem to be interfering with our plans. We need to find a way to get rid of them."

Another strong henchman waved his thick arm and echoed, "That's right."

Just as Alpha and Allen were reveling in their joy, a dark figure had silently crept up to a short distance behind them. This figure was a level 30 assassin-type minion, skilled in stealth and ambushes.

"Little insects, today is your death day." The dark figure chuckled and slowly approached.

Although Alpha was joking and playing with Allen, the results of his special training were evident. He instantly sensed danger approaching and keenly activated his Thief's Senses skill, detecting even the slightest fluctuations in the surrounding magical energy. He approached Allen silently and whispered, "Allen, danger. Watch your back."

Upon hearing this, Allen immediately removed his mask, gripped his longsword tightly, and watched as runes on the sword faintly glowed—a signal that he was about to engage in battle. He told Alpha, "Be careful."

Seeing their alertness, the shadowy figure waved its hands, sending a beam of dark shadow energy towards them. Alpha instantly used a thief's stealth skill, his body blending into the shadows, and the shadowy figure's attack missed. Allen shouted and took a step forward, raising his sword to block the aftershock of the shadow energy, but he was still knocked back a few steps by the impact.

"Hmph, you've got some skill, but it's not enough." The shadowy figure said, then vanished into the shadows in a flash.

Alpha moved with ease through the complex market, using the stalls and crowds as cover to quickly flank the shadowy figure. Allen, meanwhile, stood still, shield raised high, vigilantly watching his surroundings, his longsword ready to strike at any moment.

A dark figure suddenly appeared in front of Alpha and threw a punch. Alpha dodged to the side, and at the same time, a dagger formed from dark energy appeared in his hand, which he thrust towards the figure's arm. The figure swung his hand back, blocking Alpha's dagger, and then kicked Alpha. Alpha rolled backward and hid behind a small stall.

Seizing the opportunity, Allen charged towards the shadowy figure. He wielded his longsword, the light energy imbued within it having a certain restraining effect on the shadowy figure's dark attributes. Forced back a few steps by Allen's attack, the shadowy figure gathered even greater shadow power in his hands and slammed it towards Allen.

Alpha and Allen realized that a direct assault would be futile, so they began to cleverly use the market's terrain to escape. Alpha charged into the throng, weaving nimbly through the crowd, while the shadowy figure dared not pursue too closely, fearing to harm innocent civilians. Allen, on the other hand, ran towards a narrow, winding alley, its walls clinging with various odds and ends.

The shadowy figure chased Allen into the alley, only to find himself trapped in a cramped space. Alpha stealthily approached the shadowy figure from the other side, calculating the figure's attack range precisely. The instant the figure turned around, Alpha hurled the dagger with all his might towards the figure's back.

The shadowy figure sensed danger behind him and tried to dodge, but it was too late; the dagger struck his shoulder. The figure roared in fury, turning to charge at Alpha. At that moment, Allen charged in from the side, leaping high into the air, his sword gleaming brightly, and thrusting it fiercely at the shadowy figure.

Beset on two fronts and wounded, the shadowy figure's strength was greatly diminished. Knowing that defeat was inevitable if things continued this way, he transformed into a shadow and fled towards the end of the alley.

Alpha and Allen breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew the Dark Cult wouldn't give up so easily.

Worried about Wang Xiaoyi and Guild Leader Winnie, Alpha and Allen rushed to the entrance of the Adventurers' Guild. The guild entrance was bustling with people, mercenaries moving in and out, carrying supplies or exchanging mission information. But Alpha and Allen paid no attention to any of this; they anxiously paced back and forth at the entrance, their eyes fixed on everyone who came out.

"I hope the guild leader and Wang Xiaoyi are alright." Allen frowned, his eyes filled with worry. Alpha and Allen entered the main guild hall. Inside was a huge building with all sorts of corridors and rooms. Alpha, relying on his keen senses, searched for Guild Leader Winnie and Wang Xiaoyi. Allen followed closely behind him, his eyes anxiously scanning every corner.

In a large hall, they saw some injured adventurers receiving treatment. Other adventurers were nervously discussing something, the atmosphere extremely tense.

"Who are you looking for?" a member of the guild asked as he approached.

"President Winnie and Brother Ryan, are they here?" Allen asked hurriedly.

The staff member shook his head. "No, but you can go over there and ask."

Alpha and Allen, filled with anxiety and anticipation, hurried towards the direction indicated by the staff. Their eyes were fixed on the mysterious study ahead, and with each step closer, their hearts seemed to beat faster.

Finally, they stopped outside a study. The deep voices emanating from inside seemed to possess an invisible magic, drawing them in to investigate.

Alpha cautiously reached out and gently pushed the tightly closed door. The door slowly opened, and a faint scent of books wafted out. A busy scene unfolded before their eyes: Wang Xiaoyi and President Winnie were intently flipping through documents, their serious expressions making the surrounding air seem heavy.

Alpha took a deep breath and began to recount his experiences since separating from Wang Xiaoyi and President Winnie, pouring out his heart and every detail of his adventures. Wang Xiaoyi listened quietly, his expression shifting between seriousness and relief. When Alpha finished speaking, Wang Xiaoyi patted Alpha's shoulder gently with an approving look.

"You two are quite brave, but in the future, when you encounter dangerous situations like this, you must protect yourselves first." Wang Xiaoyi's voice was deep and powerful, his words filled with concern and expectation.

Alpha and Allen nodded firmly, like two obedient schoolchildren. They knew that the battle ahead would be like a raging torrent, even more turbulent and fraught with difficulties. With their current strength, they couldn't offer much help at this stage, but they absolutely didn't want to be a burden or hold everyone back.

Seeing President Winnie and Wang Xiaoyi reviewing information, Alpha and Allen felt a strong urge to contribute to the upcoming adventure. They quietly approached and began helping to organize the data, while listening to President Winnie explain the plans for the upcoming adventure.

"We are about to embark on an adventure in the cursed ancient forest." President Winnie's voice was calm but serious. "That forest is full of dangers, filled with eerie darkness and many unknown dangerous creatures."

Alpha and Allen exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with longing and determination. Without hesitation, they expressed their desire to go together. Alpha said eagerly, "Guild Master, although we are newcomers among adventurers, we have our own skills, and we are not afraid of danger."

Allen quickly chimed in, "That's right, we can look out for each other and we'll definitely be able to help."

However, President Winnie fell into deep thought. She knew all too well that the dangers of this trip were beyond imagination; taking these two young people along was like taking on three burdens to care for. She hesitated repeatedly, her brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently.

"Although they have their own ideas, their levels and experience are limited after all, and in such a dangerous place..." President Winnie silently weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

Alpha and Allen looked at President Winnie's hesitant expression. They knew about her worries, but their desire was not extinguished.

Finally, President Winnie took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. "Alright, you will set off with us, but you must stay close to the group, follow instructions, and never act on your own."

Alpha and Allen's faces instantly lit up with delighted smiles. They nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with determination, ready to embark on the challenging adventure that was about to begin.