From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

After an unknown amount of time, Eric's consciousness gradually returned.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a vast grassland.

Golden sunlight spilled across the emerald green grass, a gentle breeze rippling its surface. In the distance, rolling hills resembled a sleeping giant, dotted with pale purple wildflowers. The sky was crystal clear, and a few snow-white birds flew leisurely by, making everything seem like a part of the real world, so real that it was hard to believe it was an illusion.

Eric slowly sat up, feeling the breeze brush against his cheeks, and felt a moment of daze.

Is this the Thousand-Faced Illusion?

Contrary to his expectations of a treacherous labyrinth and a perilous battlefield, this place was a peaceful and tranquil grassland, free of shadows and dangers, even bringing a sense of peace.

He looked down at himself; his armor was intact, his sword was still hanging at his waist, and he moved his limbs, feeling no discomfort whatsoever, even lighter than in the real world.

No matter how realistic an illusion may seem, it is still just an illusion.

He looked around, his brow furrowing slightly, and realized that Leah was not by his side.

According to the rules of the illusion, the team may be separated after entering, which is one of the challenges. You need to quickly find your teammates in the unfamiliar environment and adapt to the changes brought about by the illusion.

However, there's no need to be too anxious about this.

The Thousand Faces Illusion doesn't actually kill you; once your health reaches zero, you're immediately and forcibly teleported back to the real world. The real challenge lies in the rules, puzzles, and enemies within the illusion, and how to survive and reach the end.

Eric slowly got up, gazing at the distant scenery, his mind racing.

The most urgent task now is to find Leah and figure out the characteristics of this illusion.

In the distance, a wisp of smoke appeared out of nowhere. He walked towards it, the gentle breeze of the grassland caressing his face, carrying the fresh scent of earth and grass. As he drew closer, the smoke became clearer, and he could faintly hear a cacophony of noise—children's laughter and the neighing of livestock.

Sure enough, there was someone there.

It seems that this illusion is not just a simple wilderness, but a complete world.

As he reached the top of a gentle slope, the view suddenly opened up before him.

A quiet and simple little village is nestled among rolling hills.

The village is small, with only a dozen or so thatched houses scattered around. The roofs are covered with thick straw, and the walls are made of rammed earth, exuding an ancient atmosphere. Between the houses, there are several winding dirt paths. Livestock leisurely chew hay by the fence, and chickens hop around in the yard, occasionally kicking up a cloud of dust.

Not far away, a simple well stood in the center of the village. Several women were drawing water from the well; their clothes were simple but clean. Under a wooden shed nearby, an elderly man with white hair was stirring a large pot of steaming food with a wooden ladle. The rich aroma of food wafted on the wind, making Eric's stomach growl involuntarily.

The villagers chatted peacefully with calm smiles on their faces, their words devoid of any wariness or panic. Several barefoot children chased and played along the village path, their laughter echoing in the air like a lighthearted melody.

Peaceful, so peaceful.

Eric frowned slightly, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

In the illusion, everything that seems beautiful often hides unknown dangers.

The moment he stepped into the village, he noticed the silver badge on his chest vibrating slightly. This was a warning amulet he and Leah had bought at the magic market; it emitted subtle magical fluctuations to alert the wearer when a potential threat approached.

in danger?

His brows furrowed immediately, his right hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his gaze quickly scanning his surroundings.

The village remained as he had seen it before, with neat rows of thatched houses, poultry pacing between fences, and the villagers' faces still bearing peaceful smiles. But some details made Eric wary. The villagers who had been chatting earlier were now casually approaching him, but they carried items that shouldn't be carried around for ordinary farm work: hoes, axes, sickles…

They are gathering.

Eric's heart raced slightly. He didn't make any rash moves, but he secretly adjusted his position to ensure that he could draw his sword to defend at the first moment.

Suddenly, a series of urgent whistles rang out in the village.

An elderly villager emerged briskly from a nearby hut. His hair and beard were gray, he wore a coarse cloth robe, and his expression was grave. He glanced at Eric, then asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"

Eric slowly raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm: "I was just passing by and meant no harm."

The old man stared sharply at him, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of his words. The surrounding villagers, however, remained focused, gripping their tools tightly and watching him intently.

However, just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense—

boom--!

A deep, muffled roar came from afar, as if the earth itself trembled.

Eric whirled around and saw thick smoke billowing up from the horizon of the distant grassland, a scorched earth smell carried on the wind. He squinted, trying to make out what was approaching beneath the smoke.

Gradually, he heard a low, hoarse hissing sound, and the sound of claws digging at the ground.

Soon, it became clear.

They were a group of writhing, scale-covered reptiles!

They resemble lizards, but are far larger than ordinary reptiles, reaching about half a person's height. Their limbs are thick and strong, with muscular hind legs, seemingly poised to leap and pounce at any moment. Each creature has sharp bony spurs growing along its back, their eyes gleaming with an eerie green light, and their fangs, when crossed, gleam with a chilling glint in the sunlight. Their claws are deeply embedded in the earth, leaving long scratches with each leap.

At least thirty, or even more.

"It's a Clawed Lizard!" a villager shouted in terror. "They're back again!"

"Everyone, get into position!" an older villager shouted angrily. Immediately, the villagers surrounding Eric turned around, picked up their farm tools, and quickly formed a defensive formation.

Eric was taken aback for a moment, then realized that these villagers weren't targeting him.

They were on guard against these attacking monsters!

He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly drew his longsword.

"Do you need any help?" he asked the elderly villager.

The old man pondered for a moment, his gaze lingering on Eric's blade for a brief instant, before finally nodding: "If you're willing, then draw your sword and fight!"

Eric gripped his sword hilt, surveying the dusty battlefield before the village. The number of Cracked Claw Lizards far exceeded his expectations, roughly estimated at least thirty or forty, and they were extremely gregarious. They moved swiftly, their claws carving deep furrows in the mud, gradually approaching the village.

"What exactly are they?" Eric asked in a low voice, his eyes still warily fixed on the group of monsters.

"Cracked claw lizards." The older villager gripped his wooden cane tightly, frowning as he spoke. "They were originally ferocious beasts that lived in the more remote wilderness, only occasionally migrating in groups. But starting a month ago, their attacks became more frequent, rushing into the village every few days, destroying farmland, devouring livestock, and even harming humans."

Why is this happening?

The old man's face was grim. "We don't know. But one thing is certain: this is definitely not normal. Perhaps some force is driving them."

Upon hearing this, Eric felt a sense of unease. He didn't believe that these monsters would attack the village for no reason, especially within the illusion; such a strange phenomenon must have some hidden meaning.

The old man took a deep breath and continued, "The Thousand Faces Illusionary Realm is not just a place to test individual martial prowess. The outcome here does not depend solely on who can survive the longest."

"What do you mean?"

"Helping the village is the key to winning the illusion challenge."

Eric was slightly taken aback, then a smile appeared on his lips.

"So, you're saying that if I save you, I've passed the test?"

The old man nodded, his expression serious: "At least, this is one of them."

Eric no longer hesitated, drawing his sword, its cold gleam flashing in the sunlight. He slowly regulated his breathing, his gaze calm.

"In that case, let's get started."

The lizard's growls grew increasingly piercing, echoing hoarsely across the open grassland.

Eric quickly surveyed the battlefield and found that while the villagers' formation was barely formed, it was far from tight. Most of their weapons were just farm tools, some even carrying wooden sticks, and they didn't even have a decent suit of armor. If they were to be directly attacked by these monsters, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Eric turned to the villagers behind him: "Do you have any archers?"

A young man stepped forward, holding a simple wooden bow in his hand and carrying a bundle of crudely made arrows on his back. Several villagers beside him also raised their bows.

"Yes, we do," the young man said hesitantly, "but we don't have many opportunities to hunt, and our archery skills are average."

Eric's heart sank.

He had intended to use the archers' ranged attacks to weaken the number of Cracked Claw Lizards, but upon hearing this answer, he immediately realized that the problem was significant.

"Alright, let's give it a try." He didn't have high hopes, but still ordered, "When they get within thirty paces, fire the first volley!"

The villagers nodded in agreement, gripping their bowstrings tightly, their eyes filled with tension and fear.

The clawed lizards drew closer, churning up the yellow sand and soil.

Thirty steps!

"Release!" Eric shouted.

"Whoosh—whoosh whoosh—"

The arrows shot through the air, tracing arcs—

then……

Most of the arrows missed their target and fell into the mud. Only a few managed to hit the Cracked Claw Lizard, but they did not cause fatal damage. At most, they only left a white mark on its scales.

"Uh..." An archer was stunned.

Eric sighed inwardly and muttered to himself, "He's really making things harder for himself..."

The Cracked Claw Lizards were attacked, and their previously orderly charge suddenly turned violent. Several monsters that had been shot let out sharp roars and charged toward the village at an even faster speed.

"Switch to melee weapons!" Eric ordered immediately. "Stop wasting time shooting arrows! Grab your axes, hammers, and scythes, and prepare for battle!"

The villagers were taken aback, then quickly dropped their bows and arrows, took up melee weapons, and stood in the defensive line, looking tense.

Eric took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, and stared coldly at the swarm of rapidly approaching Cracked Claw Lizards.

"Prepare for the first wave of attacks!" he shouted.

The villagers swallowed hard, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

And the Cracked Claw Lizard was already very close.

The wind whipped up dust, and the tawny earth trembled in the atmosphere of battle. They ran on all fours, their hard claws digging into the soil, their eyes gleaming with a cold, bestial killing intent.

Eric held his breath, knowing that the villagers were no match for these monsters. Even with axes, sickles, and other melee weapons, their lack of training made them virtually helpless against the naturally powerful Clawed Lizards.

He must stand at the forefront and become the pillar of this defense line.

"Hold on!" he roared, his voice like a war drum. "They're strong, but we're not without a chance. Don't panic, hold your positions!"

However, before he could finish speaking, the first wave of attacks from the Crack Claw Lizard had already arrived!

A huge lizard suddenly leaped up, its sharp claws aimed straight at his face!

He quickly dodged to the side, and slashed horizontally with his sword!

"clang!"

With a crisp metallic clang, the sword blade was deflected by the monster's scales!

"What?" Eric's pupils contracted slightly. His sword strike hadn't even broken through the scales?

"Their scales are very hard!" the village chief shouted beside him. "Attacks on the outer skin are useless!"

Eric didn't have time to think, as another Crack Claw Lizard pounced from the side!

He shifted his stance, dodging the sweeping claws, and used the momentum to smash the monster's head with the hilt of his sword. Using the force, he flipped and leaped into the air, shouting, "Swarm them! Use your weapons to cut them down! Don't let them break through our defenses!"

The villagers' fighting was chaotic, but driven by their survival instincts, they still desperately resisted, wielding their farm tools.

However, the claws of the split-clawed lizard are extremely sharp. Many villagers' weapons broke upon impact, and some were even knocked back and stumbled to the ground.

A young villager fell to the ground, and a fanged lizard opened its gaping maw and lunged at him!

Without a second thought, Eric leaped into the air and, with all his might, thrust his longsword straight into the monster's eye!

"Pfft!"

Warm blood spurted out, and the Cracked Claw Lizard let out a shrill scream, rolled on the ground, struggled a few times, and finally lay still.

Eric caught his breath and was about to retreat when suddenly a Crack Claw Lizard's tail lashed out!

Caught off guard, he was violently thrown into the air and crashed heavily to the ground, letting out a muffled groan as a metallic, sweet taste rose in his throat.

"Help!"

Some exclaimed in alarm that the attack of the split-clawed lizard was imminent, and the villagers had no chance to free their hands amidst the biting and sweeping claws.

Eric gritted his teeth, struggling to his feet, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He didn't back down; instead, he grew even calmer, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Warriors!" the village chief shouted suddenly, "Their bellies are vulnerable; that's their only weakness!"

Eric's heart skipped a beat. When a Cracked Claw Lizard pounced, he deliberately took a half step back, letting the monster leap up to attack. At the same time, he rolled away to avoid the sharp claws, and his longsword pierced straight through its soft belly!

The monster screamed and struggled, but it was no longer able to fight. Blood splattered everywhere, and it finally collapsed and died.

Seeing this, the villagers followed suit, using various methods to lure the lizards into leaping up, then aiming for their bellies to attack. Although many were still injured, the scales of victory finally began to tip.

After a bloody battle that lasted half an hour, the last Cracked Claw Lizard collapsed and lay motionless on the ground, the soil stained red with blood, and the air filled with a strong fishy smell.

The villagers went from shock to joy, and then erupted in thunderous cheers!

"We won!"

"We won!"

The village chief wiped the sweat from his brow, a smile spreading across his face. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone, collect the monster's blood! This blood can fetch a good price!"

The villagers immediately sprang into action, skillfully using wooden buckets and leather bags to collect the blood of the lizard.

Eric was slightly puzzled by what he saw. These villagers seemed to be exceptionally skilled at collecting monster blood, even more so than during battle.

He looked around, his fingers lightly touching the warning amulet hanging on his chest.

The amulet was still vibrating slightly.

Eric frowned, scanning his surroundings warily. There were no monsters around anymore, so the warning amulet should have quieted down by now.

"You're being too sensitive." The village chief chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Young man, don't be so tense. The battle is over."

Eric was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when suddenly—

"roar--"

A deep roar came from deep underground within the village, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

That sound!

Eric's eyes changed; that was clearly the roar of the Crack Claw Lizard!

He quickly turned to the village chief: "What's that?"

The village chief's smile remained unchanged, even more natural in its curve. He shrugged and said, "Don't be nervous, that's just the sound of a cow mooing."

Eric frowned even more deeply, the vibrations of the warning amulet grew stronger, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.