stonecrandall Page 394
Page 394
Just then, an elderly man pushed his way through the crowd to the front. Although his hair was gray, his eyes were bright and piercing, and he exuded an extraordinary aura. "The young man has done very well, but we cannot let our guard down." After saying this, he turned slightly to the villagers behind him and said loudly, "Everyone step back a little and don't hinder Brother Zhao's actions."
Upon hearing this, the crowd that had been gathered around began to slowly disperse. Children were led by their parents to safety, and only occasional excited chatter broke the somewhat somber atmosphere.
"Mommy, why do we have to stand so far apart?" a little girl asked her mother curiously, looking up at her.
The loving mother gently stroked her child's hair and replied, "Because we don't want to disturb Uncle Brave's work; he's helping everyone eliminate the bad guys."
At the same time, the talisman in Zhao De's hand glowed even brighter. He knew that he couldn't afford to be careless at this crucial moment; a moment's inattention could lead to failure. Just then, someone nearby suddenly screamed, "Look over there!" Following the direction the person was pointing, they saw a small group of shadowy figures that hadn't completely disappeared stealthily approaching!
"Be careful, there are still remnants of evil power!" The old man who had warned everyone earlier immediately shouted a warning.
Zhao De reacted swiftly, instantly enlarging the ball of light in his hand to cover the area. Immediately, the entire region erupted with intense energy fluctuations once more. This time, it was no longer a gentle glow, but a dazzling fireball as blazing as the sun, incinerating all darkness.
Just as everyone was holding their breath awaiting the result—
A piercing, mournful scream emanated from the depths of the flames. It was a desperate, helpless wail, which then abruptly ceased.
Then, as the last vestiges of darkness vanished, a fresh and natural scent filled the air. The earth was restored to its vibrant state.
Seeing this, everyone cheered. "That's amazing!" "This is a true hero!" A chorus of praise and gratitude rose and fell. Even those who had been skeptical had to admire the formidable strength Zhao De had displayed.
However, when people were about to step forward to express their gratitude, they found that Zhao De was already squatting on the ground, pale-faced and covered in sweat.
"Mr. Zhao! What's wrong?" A kind-hearted young man nearby quickly went over to help him up as he was about to fall and asked.
Chapter 1099 Please take a look when you have time.
Chapter 1099 Please take a look when you have time.
Zhao De forced a smile: "Don't worry, I'm fine... It's just that this battle was quite taxing..." As he spoke, he felt dizzy and his whole body went limp as he leaned against the wall.
At that very moment, several hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance.
"Make way, make way!" Several young men in uniforms rushed over. The one in the lead, who looked like a team leader, hurriedly ordered his men to get out a first-aid kit and give Zhao De some basic treatment after seeing his condition. "Don't move him!"
Seeing these unexpected visitors and the astonished looks around him, Zhao De, lying on the ground, barely opened his eyes and looked at the newcomers:
"Who...who are you? The problem here isn't completely solved yet..."
"Hello Mr. Zhao, we are specialists from the XX organization." The team leader replied respectfully, his eyes showing admiration. "Please allow us to take over now. How about you get some rest? There are still many things I need to ask you about this incident."
Although exhausted, Zhao De remained clear-headed: "But..."
"Don't worry," another team member interjected reassuringly. "We'll handle everything, and..." He paused slightly before continuing, "According to the report, it seems some even more troublesome problems are approaching."
Upon hearing this, Zhao De's pupils contracted sharply, and an unprecedented chill rose up his spine.
Zhao De struggled to sit up, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "What problem are you referring to?"
"Specific details cannot be disclosed at this time," the commissioner said cautiously. "But we do have some clues that suggest this is not an isolated incident. It may be linked to a larger, more dangerous force."
The celebratory atmosphere instantly turned to freezing. The villagers, who had just been immersed in the joy of victory, involuntarily stopped what they were doing, and fear and worry spread through them.
"How could this be... Didn't we just resolve all the problems?" a villager asked in a trembling voice, his words filled with obvious resentment and fear.
Another, slightly more robust man angrily said, "Hey! Explain yourselves! Do you want us to face this horror again?" Although his tone was tough, it was not hard to see that he was also extremely uneasy inside.
Seeing that there was a growing restlessness in the crowd, the leader of the staff member responded earnestly, "Please rest assured, we will do our best to ensure your safety. Please remain calm."
That being said, it was clear from people's eyes that no one was completely convinced. A thick atmosphere of doubt and discontent filled the air.
Meanwhile, the young people taking care of Zhao De also showed worried expressions.
"Brother Zhao, you should rest and recover first. Let the professionals handle this kind of thing," a young man said, patting Zhao De's shoulder gently.
Another child, who seemed a bit more astute, muttered quietly, "I have a feeling this isn't as simple as it seems..."
After closing his eyes and thinking for a few seconds, Zhao De suddenly asked the specialists, "Do I need to get involved in investigating this issue? If so, I hope to learn the details as soon as possible."
The team leader nodded upon hearing this, then took out a document from his small bag and handed it to Zhao De: "This report contains some preliminary intelligence. Please take a look at it when you have time. We will arrange for someone to explain the situation in detail and what countermeasures we plan to take next."
Chapter 1100 The Sacred Oath
Chapter 1100 The Sacred Oath
After glancing at the documents in his hand, Zhao De turned to the crowd and said, "Fellow villagers, don't worry. I believe that as long as we are united, there is no problem that we cannot overcome."
Hearing this, the villagers seemed to improve slightly, and many began to nod in agreement spontaneously. Just then, an elderly woman slowly stepped forward and said, "No matter what happens, we should support you, child. You've been working so hard, you should rest for a while."
Just as everyone was preparing to disperse, a young man on guard duty ran over nervously. "Captain! Something's wrong!" he practically shouted, plunging the scene into panic once again.
Another new development?! Zhao De practically leaped up from the ground, and several commissioners immediately became alert as well.
The youth quickly reported: An unidentified light source was spotted rapidly approaching from near the forest to the north; based on the description, it is very likely those...
Before he could finish speaking, several eerie, flickering lights appeared on the horizon not far away, looking particularly terrifying against the backdrop of the night.
Faced with this sudden situation, everyone had the same question: how many unknown and terrible threats are hidden beneath this land?
In this tense, oppressive, and unpredictable situation, Zhao De took a deep breath and steadied himself. "It seems this battle is far from over..."
The specialists nearby reacted immediately. "Everyone prepare for battle! Protect the safety of innocent civilians at all costs! And you, Mr. Zhao…"
“I know what to do,” Zhao De interrupted him, a determined look in his eyes. “No matter how treacherous the road ahead, I will find out the truth and protect this homeland.”
As their conversation ended, the entire village fell silent once more—except for the chilling sounds emanating from the ominous creature that was gradually approaching in the distance...
Zhao De's gaze was unwavering. He gripped the document in his hand tightly, as if it were a sacred oath. The commissioners quickly organized a defense, and the villagers scrambled for cover. An indescribable tension filled the air.
“Brother Zhao, look at this unidentified light source… Could it be that those monsters have returned?” A young man approached Zhao De, his voice trembling.
"Whatever they are, we can't let the villagers get hurt anymore." Zhao De's voice was calm and powerful. "This time we must resolve this completely."
"Zhao De is right!" The village elder suddenly stood up, his voice loud and inspiring, "Young men, show the courage we had when we fought against the bandits! Don't be afraid, unite, there's nothing we can't overcome!"
Encouraged by the old man, some villagers' fighting spirit was rekindled, and they picked up various tools that could be used as weapons, preparing to meet the unknown threat.
At this moment, the eerie, flickering light in the distance gradually became clearer, revealing blurry black shadows leaping through the woods—seemingly creatures never seen before. Several timid women in the crowd screamed, while the children clung tightly to their parents' hands, their eyes filled with terror.
Suddenly, a young girl stepped forward. Her voice trembled slightly but was filled with determination: "Listen to me, everyone! Since even Brother Zhao is willing to stand up for our safety, we absolutely cannot show weakness! We must believe in our own strength and conviction, and face all of this together!"
Chapter 1101 is one of them.
Chapter 1101 is one of them.
These words resonated with the villagers, and the chaotic situation gradually stabilized. More people began to calm down and prepare to deal with the impending danger.
At this moment, several villagers, carrying simple flashlights, shone them toward the unknown light source, hoping to see what it was. A daring young boy volunteered to go and investigate: "Let me go and see. Maybe it's just some kind of animal that's acting strangely because it's frightened."
Just as everyone was worried about the boy, the specialists quickly stepped forward to stop his impulsive act. "This is too dangerous. Let our professionals handle this," the team leader said seriously, and immediately dispatched several experienced team members to check the situation.
A short while later, several scouts returned to the village to report. One of them, with a grave expression, said, "There are indeed things heading this way, and quite a few of them. But they aren't ordinary wild animals; they seem to be carrying some strange technological equipment..."
These words immediately put everyone on edge. "A combination of technology and bizarre creatures? This is even more troublesome than what we've encountered before," the slightly burly man couldn't help but complain, but he immediately expressed his willingness to fully cooperate in resisting the invaders.
Seeing this, Zhao De stood in front of everyone and loudly announced, "No matter how powerful and cunning the enemy is, we must not lose faith! Tonight, let us fight side by side to protect this land and our families!"
This was immediately followed by a deafening cheer in response to the call to action. In this atmosphere, people seemed to temporarily forget the fear lurking deep within their hearts...
As the mysterious point of light drew ever closer into view, Zhao De took a deep breath and looked at the agents beside him, saying, "Are you ready? Whatever they may be, there will be no enemy here tonight!"
"Of course!" a commissioner replied immediately. "Everything is ready, just waiting for the order."
Just as the battle was about to break out, the targets that had been rapidly approaching suddenly slowed down and eventually came to a complete stop—as if they were frozen in place by some unknown force.
This sudden change plunged everyone into silence; several people were so surprised they almost lost their footing.
Just a few awkward and oppressive seconds later, a strange yet extremely loud voice came from the darkness:
"Stop, friend! I come representing another force. Perhaps we can have a dialogue instead of a fight..."
Upon hearing this, the scene fell silent, with only the figure in the distance appearing and disappearing in the moonlight, its true intentions remaining unclear...
In the stillness, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. He wore a long black robe and a cloak, obscuring his face. Yet, one could sense that this was no ordinary person.
"I am Cassano, the messenger from the world of shadows." The stranger's voice rang out again, carrying an indescribable air of authority and confidence. Everyone present held their breath, even the usually composed Zhao De involuntarily tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
The villagers began to whisper among themselves. One asked quietly, "Who is this? Has some other force really intervened?" Another villager replied, "I've heard there are many hidden forces outside; perhaps this Cassano is one of them."
Chapter 1102 Quickly Find Cover
Chapter 1102 Quickly Find Cover
Cassano seemed to notice the reactions of the crowd around him, slightly raised his chin, and continued, "Don't panic. My aim is not to be your enemy. On the contrary, I believe we share a common goal—to combat the impending threat."
"A common goal?" Several voices of doubt rose from the crowd. "How can you prove that?"
At this moment, another simply dressed old man stepped forward. He was the village's old priest, one of the few who had seen much of the world. "Friends, please give him a chance to speak," the old priest said in a gentle yet persuasive voice, instantly easing the tense atmosphere.
Zhao De looked at the old man and nodded, indicating that everyone could listen to what Cassano had to say. "Alright, then you'd better speak quickly. You know, time is very precious to us." Although his tone was still wary, he was willing to remain open.
“A wise move,” Cassano praised. “The matter is simple: the forces behind me possess the knowledge and technology needed to fight those monsters; but we lack strong, courageous hearts—that is, talent like yours, and the united strength of this land. If we could join forces…”
Before he could finish speaking, someone interrupted him, saying, "It sounds good, but how can we believe what you're saying is true? What if it's a trap?"
Many people agreed with this statement. Seeing the atmosphere become tense again, the girl who had spoken earlier bravely stepped forward. "I think we can listen to his proposal first before making a decision. Anyway, the situation is already very unfavorable for us, so there's no harm in trying."
After a moment of silence, Zhao De spoke up: "Tell me about it."
Hearing this, Cassano smiled slightly. "A very rational choice. So first, I must tell you that those things are actually biomechanical entities created by an advanced civilization. They don't belong to this world, but for some reason, they crossed over and are attempting to take over this place. Only through special means can these guys be completely eliminated..."