Nerlestan.

The weather was as clear as ever, and the bustling town had begun to return to its original tranquility. The festival had come to an end, and the merchants on the commercial street began to clean up the mess left behind by the celebrations. Adventurers were no longer lingering in the city, and they set out for their adventures one after another. However, for some reason, the commercial street had gained a new nickname among the adventurers: "Death Commercial Street."

Ailei listened to people's conversations and brought back various ingredients to her inn. As soon as she entered,

"Auntie Ailei! Give me a grilled fish!"

"Boss lady! Take away three hamburgers!"

"Boss, I'm starving! Glad you're back!"

"Boss, I drank some water from the well in the backyard..."

The adventurers were noisy, and her maid was busy and flustered. Upon seeing her master return, the maid's eyes filled with tears.

"Coming, coming, please wait." Ailei went into the kitchen and started getting busy, knowing that a fulfilling day was about to begin for her.

As Ailei brought out the food, she saw a child who had nearly died coming downstairs. Every time Ailei saw the young Elves girl beside him, she couldn't help but admire that she was the most beautiful little girl she had ever seen.

Sighing aside, the child was saved by Pande, but how is Pande doing now? Ailei looked worriedly into the distance, where the fierce frontlines lay.

A month ago, Pande's team had gone to the frontlines.

----------------------------

Boom!

At the frontlines, a transport convoy was ambushed by Orcs. Protecting the convoy was a team of adventurers.

The wolf rider's machete was blocked by a shield, and the shield's patterns emitted a faint glow. The tall warrior holding the shield was clad in heavy armor.

Although the machete was blocked, the huge magical wolf bit at the warrior's waist.

With the warrior's roar, the shield actually pressed the machete back, and with the warrior's waist exertion, the broadsword swept across!

The sharp teeth were held back by the broadsword but got stuck in the magic wolf's mouth. The magic wolf, raised by the Orcs, had great strength. As the wolf tear, the broadsword was flung out of the warrior's hand.

Seizing the opportunity, the wolf rider swung his knife at the Orc's neck, where there was no armor protection!

At the critical moment, a crossbow bolt shot past, and the magic wolf, with its Orc rider, twisted away. The Orc was extremely quick in his reaction and changed his technique, slicing the bolt in half with his knife.

Facing the Orc was a ranger, preparing his next crossbow bolt. The Orc scanned his surroundings and saw his companions had completed a round of attacks and were retreating. Otherwise, the humans would not have surrounded him. The Orc mockingly gestured to the warrior's throat, and the magic wolf leaped away to retreat.

The warrior breathed a sigh of relief, picked up his broadsword, and looked at his comrade who had supported him. The ranger's coat was torn, and the lining revealed, showing that he had narrowly avoided being cleaved. His hat was missing, and his arm and head were bleeding, apparently forcing himself to support the warrior.

The warrior put away his sword and shield and patted his companion's shoulder.

"You look like a scared little girl about to be attacked, Lophy," he grinned.

"Hey, I just saved your life, okay? You owe me crossbow bolts!" Lophy staggered from the pat.

"Ha-ha."

The two returned to their team's position and was immediately met by their captain, Pande. Pande pulled out the arrow and tightened the wound on his arm with a bandage, raising his head, "Are you alright?"

"Fine, almost lost my life though," Lophy pointed to his chest. Pande looked at the warrior, "How about you, Al?"

Al made an OK gesture, "Where are Allen and Amos?"

"In the car." The three got in, and Allen smiled at them. The young priest's body had hardly any wounds, only some blood on his robe. Amos's magic staff was broken in two, and he was in a state of self-closure. Both of them were young, with Amos being the youngest.

"There's something wrong with this pack of wolf riders," Pande sat down. "The convoy didn't suffer any losses, and the wolf riders just attacked once and left, which is very strange. I heard from Count Alaric that the Orcs are extremely fierce and wouldn't leave easily without tearing off a piece of flesh."

Pande took out the map, "There is still a long way to go from the fortress, and the Orcs have no reason to...""I have a bad feeling about this." Allen said worriedly, as he was treating Luo Fei.

Pand rode around the area, looking at his companions, and marked the locations of the attacks on the map. These places surrounded the fortress, scattered all around.

"It looks more like..." Before he could finish, a wave of pain hit his head, and his vision blurred.

He felt as if he was caught in a giant vortex.

With a thud!

"Boss!"

"He's poisoned." Luo Fei untied Pand's arm, revealing a dark wound underneath the bandage.

"Allen!"

"The Purification spell hasn't recovered yet." Allen tried to chant the spell.

"Potion?" Luo Fei quickly searched his backpack.

"We used it all up." Al shook his head: "The merchant hasn't come for a long time, there's no professional Alchemist in the fortress, and all Neres's potions are used up."

"Damn it, I hope he can make it through. Let's go back first."

------------------------------------

I...

Pand opened his eyes, his brain still aching faintly. Allen put down his magic wand, the purification completed.

Pand shook his head, they had returned to their base in the fortress, the time was approaching dusk, but their companions' faces were gloomy.

"What's wrong?"

"While you were unconscious, Count Albeck summoned all the adventurer teams, and the road from the fortress to Neres was closed. The outside is full of soldiers, and we have been forced to take part in the war." Luo Fei sneered: "It seems, your face doesn't work well too."

Bang! Pand hammered the wall vigorously, "I'll go find Count Albeck!"

...

Pand went out but found that their base was surrounded by soldiers, not just theirs, all the adventurers' bases were here.

"Step back, adventurer!" The soldier raised his weapon.

"I'm looking for Count Albeck," Pand said to the soldier.

"The count is not seeing anyone right now, adventurer, go back to your base." The soldier said coldly. In his eyes, these adventurers just wanted to run away in fear, and he had already driven away countless.

"Give this to him, he will see me." Pand took out a tiny silver badge from his waist.

The soldier looked at Pand in surprise, not expecting that this adventurer was acquainted with the count.

In the office, Count Albeck looked at the strategic map with a worried face. A female officer came to his side and handed him a badge: "An adventurer is looking for you."

Count Albeck frowned and then sighed. He knew it was coming: "Let him in, and you all leave."

"Yes."

"Count Albeck," Pand said coldly, "Why won't you let us leave?"

"Adventurer, this is an order." Count Albeck stared at the map without looking up.

"Count Albeck, this is absurd. What can we adventurers do? You should let us go. Do you know, those Orcs are clearly..."

"I know they're scouting. The Orcs are getting restless, and the spies report that the Orcs have built positions near the fortress, just behind the forest in front of the fortress. But the country doesn't take it seriously, only sending a few supplies and reinforcements." Count Albeck stood up, looking out the window at the soldiers reinforcing the defenses. A storm was coming.

"Why not let us go? The Orcs haven't invaded on a large scale for many years; this time it might just be a test." Pand tried to persuade him, but even he didn't believe his own words.

"There's no need to deceive ourselves. This time, the Orcs are making a big move, and more than one spy has found the traces of the Shamans."

"You're sending us to our deaths!" Pand slammed his hands on the table angrily in a roar.

Count Albeck didn't look back, speaking indifferently: "This is war, adventurer, and there is no war without casualties."

"We are not your soldiers!"

"We are short of people." Count Albeck returned to his desk, straightening the disturbed items. "There are things that soldiers can't do, only adventurers like you can." He walked up to Pand and stared intently into his eyes.Pande could not read any emotions from those eyes. He was angry, frustrated, and knew what Albert needed them to do, something ordinary soldiers couldn't do. It was nothing more than causing trouble behind enemy lines and scouting, all of which required elite personnel.

And adventurers were their best choice.

"Ebur!" Pande's voice weakened as he pressed Albert's shoulder.

Albert frowned and waved off his hand, "Don't call me like that."

-----------------------------------

"What does that mean, Pande and Count Albert know each other?" Amos asked.

"The two of them? Haha, it's more than just knowing each other!" Rofi spread his hands.

"Hey! Tell the whole story! If they know each other, can't I get a new staff from the armory? I'm protecting their transport convoy."

"Did you know that our boss used to have a huge sword?"

"I've never seen it before, and isn't the huge sword...?"

"Do you know Snow Wolf?" Rofi mysteriously smiled.

"What's that?"

-------------------------------------

"Have you forgotten, Ebur?" Pande became excited as soon as he saw Albert wave off his arm.

"I told you not to call me like that!" Albert also yelled.

"But you're sending me to die!" The two yelled louder and louder.

"I said, if you don't go, we'll all be dead! Do you think this is a time of peace? Orcs have been coveting this fertile land for a long time! Does this feel like your playful adventures?" Albert approached Pande, staring him down.

"Do you think I'm not afraid of dying? What's the use of escaping when the orcs break through and our homeland is behind us?"

"No one can leave until reinforcements arrive!"

"You have to hold on! I have to hold on! Everyone has to hold on! Unless we die!" Albert's pressure made Pande stagger.

Finally, Albert sat back at his desk, “Don't forget Xixi”. With that remark, he seemed to age instantly.

Pande felt as if he was hit on the head, lowering his head speechless.

"Return to your base, Pande Aragon."

Pande moved his lips but didn't make any sound. He reluctantly stepped towards the door.

Something was thrown from behind, and Pande caught it. It was a token he had given to the soldiers and an emblem of the armory.

Albert's voice came from behind: "Don't blame me, Pande. People always have no control over themselves. It was my turn to be 'unable to control myself', and now it's your turn."

"You take responsibility for your companions, and I take responsibility for my country. You can get better equipment for your companions; that's the only thing I can do for you."

Pande rubbed the wolf head on the token with his fingers, tucked it close to him, and left silently with the emblem.

Xixi Albert, that was his biggest mistake. Back then, he was new to adventuring and thought his skills were unmatched, like the young man he saved from the forest.

He formed his own team, his own mercenary corps. With their strong skills and formidable partners, they quickly gained a reputation.

But a wrong decision led him to provoke the Orcs. Compared to small adventures, the Orc army was like an abyss; once one fell, there was no return.

He lost his best priest in the team.

------------------------

The next day, the weather in the fortress worsened, with heavy rain, strong winds, thunder, and lightning. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Pande's team wore rain hats and prowled in the jungle. The torrential rain was both good and bad; the orc-eagles could not search in this weather, allowing them to sneak near the forest.

They took a short break, the atmosphere a bit heavy, surrounded by the thundering sound.

"Hey, can we make it back alive?" Amos asked in dismay, his exquisite staff in hand, without any joy from getting new equipment.

"Yes, I will bring you all back," Pande said, as if making a promise to someone.Al gave Amos a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, my crossbow is not a toy," Lofi laughed.

"It's okay, Amos, I'll protect you." Allen patted Amos on the shoulder.

"Hmm." Amos gathered his depressed feelings.

They set off again with Lofi leading the way. The Orcs' sentinels were cleared one by one, and Pand was disarming traps one by one. The abundant traps on the ground did not hinder the team at all, with Al guarding Allen and Amos.

Soon, they reached the frontlines of the Orcs' camp.

Endless Orc buildings were in sight, with Orcs setting up one clay house after another. Orc soldiers were transporting food and weapons, with rows of barracks, large groups of war beasts, and massive siege machinery among them.

"Is this the scale? Are the Orcs going to wage a holy war?" Lofi shivered.

For this mission, Albert asked each adventurer team to take separate routes to investigate the Orcs' situation and destroy them if necessary.

"Look, there's the shaman!" Lofi pointed at a tent.

The shaman came out of the tent and walked to a cleared open space. The Orcs dispersed as if they were welcoming something.

"What are they going to do?" Amos wondered.

The wind seemed to grow stronger, as if it wanted to blow people away. The clouds pressed lower, making it almost impossible to see the sun. The darkness was terrifying, and suddenly a figure approached from a distance. Due to the terrible weather, Amos didn't see what it was until it was very close.

He appeared to be stunned.

The huge body, with its domineering claws, amber eyes, terrifying wings, and impenetrable scales - this was the pinnacle of playthings, the embodiment of power and destruction, a dragon!

As Amos was stunned, the dragon's eyes suddenly turned towards him. Despite the great distance, they made eye contact for a moment.

Roar!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Run!" The dragon's roar caused Pand to feel dizzy. He turned around and grabbed Amos to run. The others reacted quickly as well, retreating rapidly. However, could human strength compare with that of a giant dragon?

The dragon merely swooped down and waved its wings, with the huge wind pressure knocking everyone over, even heavily armored Al was blown to the ground. Lofi collided with a tree, the intense impact making his throat sweet. Amos grabbed onto Allen, both of them getting blown to the side but ultimately ending up unharmed next to a bush.

Pand rolled and forced himself to stand up in the wind pressure but was forced to kneel. The group members were separated.

The dragon looked down at the human beings below with a mocking expression, its mouth slightly open, spewing dragon breath at Amos.

The dragon's breath was incredibly fast, too fast for Pand to turn around, too fast for Lofi to raise his crossbow, and too fast for Al to get up.

Eh? Why was it me? This was the only thought that flashed through Amos's mind.

Bang!

Amos felt as if he had been kicked by someone.

"Hey? Allen?"

Allen smiled at Amos, saying: "I will..."

A huge thunder erupted, preventing Amos from hearing what Allen said.

Round after round of light shone from Allen's body, with the outermost layer resembling a barrier of light. However, this was useless in the face of the dragon's breath. The dragon's breath enveloped Allen, igniting the forest and melting the ground. The only thing left in its place was a charred mark.

"Allen?" Amos seemed to be frightened, kneeling on the ground.

Not only was Amos on his knees, but so was Pand. The enormous thunderclap sounded like a lightning bolt, crushing his hope.

Is it happening again? Was I wrong?

I shouldn't have let them stay.

Would it still be like this if I insisted on leaving?

"Go!" Lofi picked up the frightened Amos, Al grabbed Pand, and they both turned and ran.

The dragon didn't pursue, for humans were nothing more than toys to it. She was very satisfied with her results, as humans dared to make eye contact with her, making her playful for a while. She flapped her wings and flew back to the camp, not caring about the humans. She merely breathed out casually.

Pand stared blankly at the place where Allen had disappeared, his hand seeming to want to grasp something, only to get further and further away.This is all... my fault.

-------------------------

Marsa Fortress.

Alberk stood in front of the window, looking at the sky without a word.

A letter just received from the country lay on his desk:

Count Alberk,

We apologize for not taking your warning seriously. The prophet has issued a pre-warning, and the Orcs are about to move south. The domestic army is quickly assembling and heading for rescue. There is also news that the Orcs are likely to ally with the Dragon race; the war mobilization order has been issued. Adventurers are gathering, and no matter what the cost, Marsa Fortress must not fall!

----Elder Council