While everyone else returned to their tents to sleep, Mo Han was jolted awake from a deep slumber by a surge of magical fluctuation. His immediate thought was that someone, or perhaps a magical beast, had triggered the barrier he had set up.

He scrambled out of his tent and saw Kaily and Anna leaning close together, chatting by the campfire. Noticing Mo Han emerge, Anna asked with a hint of curiosity, "Brother Mo Han, why are you up?" Mo Han walked over to them, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "It seems we have 'friends' arriving."

Anna hadn't processed this yet: "Friends? What friends?" Kaily, however, immediately understood Mo Han's meaning. She drew her weapon and instructed Anna to wake the others.

She then moved to stand beside Mo Han.

Although Kaily found it strange that she hadn't sensed anyone approaching, yet Mo Han, a mere priest, had, she had witnessed enough oddities surrounding him recently that she wasn't overly surprised.

Initially, Mo Han wasn't certain if the intruder was human or a magical beast. It was only a moment ago that he detected a faint ripple of magic, leading him to realize that only when a mage casts a spell is that specific aura present. If it were a beast, it wouldn't initiate magic before closing in on its prey.

Furthermore, he discerned from the fluctuation that it was likely some form of positive enchantment, perhaps an agility spell. By this time, Latin and Rock had already reached Mo Han's side. They had learned from Anna that enemies were present and had drawn their personal weapons. A tense atmosphere began to permeate the camp.

Mo Han spoke calmly toward the front of the camp: "Come out. Since you're here, why hide?"

"Heh heh, I don't know how you spotted us, but none of you will be leaving here alive tonight."

As the voice faded, dozens of masked figures slowly materialized opposite the camp.

Upon hearing the voice, Mo Han smiled faintly and remarked, "I wondered who it was. How come the mighty Gray Wolf Mercenary Group has resorted to banditry? What, you don't even offer a proper greeting to your Master anymore?" With a scoff, the leading masked figure pulled down his face covering to reveal Chris, the leader of the Gray Wolf Mercenaries.

Chris snarled through gritted teeth, "So what if you know? Either way, you'll all be dead by morning. No one who insults me, Chris, ever ends well. I will repay the shame you brought upon me a hundredfold, brat."

Mo Han remained unhurried: "Oh? By treating me this way, aren't you afraid of punishment from the Church of Light?" Chris sneered back menacingly, "Heh heh, once you're all dead, who will even know it was us?"

Hearing Chris's words, Mo Han mocked him: "It seems you planned this for quite some time. You've certainly gone to a lot of trouble."

Chris roared at Mo Han, "Of course! Boy, just wait until you start begging for mercy."

Yet, Chris felt a growing sense of unease, though he couldn't pinpoint why. Years of experience warned him that this young priest before him might not be as easy to handle as he appeared.

Mo Han then flashed his signature smile at Chris: "Heh heh, you plan to wait until your men surround the camp before making a move, don't you?" Acting now would invite complications; Chris decided to finish this quickly.

The feeling of anxiety intensified; it seemed as if this novice priest had seen straight through his entire plan.

As the words left his mouth, dozens of figures simultaneously appeared around the camp perimeter, lunging toward Mo Han and his companions. Facing enemies outnumbering them several times over, Kaily calmly told Rock and Latin, "Protect the mage and the priest."

With that, she charged directly at the enemies in front of her.

Latin and Rock also moved to intercept the foes closing in from the sides. Anna’s bow was already aimed at the figures directly ahead. A flash of golden light streaked out; the golden arrow reached one of the figures, and before the person could react, they were felled.

Such speed! When did this elf acquire a top-tier longbow? Chris thought to himself, astonished.

The figures in the front were also startled by Anna's projectile. They involuntarily slowed their charge because the arrow was so fast; if they weren't careful, they wouldn't be able to dodge it.

Jack began chanting a spell. Kaily had already reached an enemy. The sword in her hand trailed a faint blue luminescence as she swung it toward the figure before her. The opponent hurriedly raised his own sword to parry in desperation. With a light clink, the blocker felt a chilling cold course up from his blade, momentarily slowing his movement. Looking down, he saw a noticeable chip in his greatsword caused by Kaily’s strike and gasped in shock, hesitating for a moment.

Kaily seized the instant the opponent was distracted, sweeping her treasured sword and cleanly severing his head. This stunned the surrounding foes. The enemy she faced had been a high-tier Swordsman, equal to Kaily’s rank, meaning a victory shouldn't have been so straightforward. The primary reason for her quick success was the initial chilling attack from her blade, which forced the enemy to slow down. Then, seeing the blue sword light, he mistakenly assumed Kaily had already reached the level of a High-Tier Sword Master, losing the will to fight properly, which gave Kaily the opening she needed for the one-strike kill.

Seeing Kaily’s ferocity, the enemies opposite hesitated. It was no joke; if she truly were a High-Tier Sword Master, charging her would be suicide. Noticing the hesitation among his subordinates, Chris yelled, "Don't be afraid! She's just relying on a sharp sword. Attack together! Whoever kills her gets that sword!"

Hearing Chris's words, greedy looks flashed across the faces of the Gray Wolf mercenaries as they fixed their eyes on Kaily’s weapon. Exchanging glances, they surged toward her. Kaily, however, showed no fear and met the charge of one figure head-on.

But they all recognized the lethality of Kaily’s blade and avoided direct confrontation, instead circling her, looking for opportune moments to strike. The pressure on her immediately increased, and the situation turned unfavorable for her.

Mo Han was about to intervene when he heard Anna yell beside him, "Despicable!" She raised her hand, and another beam of golden light shot toward someone who was attempting a sneak attack on Kaily. The attacker was alarmed and quickly blocked; although he managed to stop the arrow, the impact numbed his wrist, making him gasp at the sheer force.

Anna followed up with several more arrows, and soon another unlucky soul, slower than the rest, was skewered through the body.

Jack's Fireball spell also flew toward the enemies surrounding Kaily. Those attacking her dared not commit fully, reserving some energy to guard against Anna’s arrows and the mage’s spells.

With Anna’s support, Kaily managed to hold her ground for the moment, thanks to the prowess of her sword. Mo Han praised her, "Little elf, excellent archery."

Anna said proudly, "Of course! My archery is considered top-tier even in the Elven Forest."

Just then, Chris was heard shouting, "A few of you, go take care of the archer!" He knew that as long as Anna was active, she presented a major threat; her incredible speed and accurate shooting were not to be underestimated.

As soon as Chris finished speaking, three figures broke away and rushed toward Mo Han and Anna. Kaily tried to intercept them but was tied up by her own opponents, forced to watch the attackers close in on Anna.

Leaping forward—