We agreed that you, a weak strategist, would fight against three heroes by yourself?

The surrounding dark energy seemed to be summoned by something and rushed towards the black-robed wizard frantically, wrapping him in a huge vortex of black energy.

The vortex was spinning faster and faster, making a shrill whistling sound, as if it was going to swallow everything.

"What's going on?" Luo Xiaoyu exclaimed, with an expression of disbelief on her face.

Everyone watched what was happening in front of them nervously, and a chill ran from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

They originally thought they had a sure win, but they didn't expect that the black-robed wizard had such a powerful trump card.

The black-robed wizard became even taller as he was wrapped in dark energy. His black robe fluttered in the wind, like a devil walking out of hell.

He slowly opened his eyes, with scarlet light flashing in them, like two burning flames.

"Feel the despair!" The black-robed wizard's voice became deeper and hoarser, carrying endless malice.

He suddenly raised his hands, and the black energy vortex instantly expanded, turning into countless black lightning bolts that poured down like a rainstorm.

Everyone dodged in fear, but found that they could not avoid the attack from everywhere.

"Damn it! How did he become so strong?" Li Hunter cursed loudly while dodging the black lightning.

The man in white had a solemn expression on his face. He quickly formed seals with his hands, and white light curtains formed in front of him, barely resisting the attack of the black lightning.

However, the power of the black-robed wizard seemed endless. His attacks became more and more fierce, and everyone's defense became more and more difficult.

"We can't go on like this. We must find a way to defeat him completely!" Xiaohong said anxiously, with a slight tremor in her voice.

Everyone looked at each other, but no one could come up with an effective solution.

The power of the black-robed wizard has exceeded their imagination. They feel like a small boat in the ocean that may be swallowed by the huge waves at any time.

The sense of danger became stronger and stronger, as if a sword was hanging over their heads and could fall at any time.

"Are... we really going to die here?" Luo Xiaoyu murmured to herself, her voice full of despair.

At this moment, the mysterious old man suddenly said: "No, it's not over yet..."

The black lightning was like a dancing poisonous snake, tearing through the air and making a sharp hissing sound.

Everyone tried their best to dodge, their figures intertwined in the light and shadow. Although they looked embarrassed, there was an unyielding fire burning in their eyes.

Gravel flew, dust rose, and the originally lush trees were corroded into charcoal by the black energy. The air was filled with a pungent burnt smell.

The world seems to be coming to an end, and only the tenacious resistance of the people can prove that there is still a spark of hope in this world.

"Don't give up!" Doctor Zhang's calm voice was like a magic needle that pierced through the noise.

"We will definitely find a way!"

"Yes, we can't lose to this monster!" Li Hunter's rough voice was full of determination.

Their shouts seemed to have magical power, igniting everyone's fighting spirit in desperation.

Xiaohong held the weapon tightly in her hand with a firm look in her eyes, while Luo Xiaoyu brushed the dust off her body and wiped the blood from the corners of her mouth. She knew that she must not fall here!

At this moment, the black-robed wizard attacked again.

He let out a long roar towards the sky, his voice as eerie as a ghost. A huge black tornado rose from the ground and swept towards everyone like a roaring python.

The strong wind swept up gravel, branches, and even the ruins of houses, forming a black vortex of death.

Everyone was instantly sucked into the tornado, their bodies spinning uncontrollably.

They tried their best to keep their bodies steady, but they felt as if they were in a blender and their internal organs were about to shift out of place.

The man in white looked pale. He quickly formed seals with his hands. Dazzling rays of light burst out from his body, forming a solid barrier to try to block the ravages of the tornado.

Luo Xiaoyu tightly protected Granny Lin beside her and used her body to block the flying debris.

"Ah!" With a roar from the black-robed wizard, the power of the black tornado suddenly increased.

The strong wind cut through everyone's bodies like a sharp knife, and their physical strength quickly drained away.

They felt like leaves in a storm, ready to be torn to pieces at any moment.

"No, if this goes on we will all die here!" Luo Xiaoyu struggled and said, with a hint of despair in her voice.

At this critical moment, the mysterious old man slowly raised his head, with wisdom flashing in his eyes.

He muttered something and his hands drew complex tracks in the air.

At the same time, the rune elf also emitted a soft light. Beside her, ancient runes emerged one after another, emitting mysterious power.

With the combined power of the two, a warm force slowly injected into everyone's body. The originally weak bodies gradually recovered a little strength, and the speed of rotation gradually slowed down.

Just when everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, they heard the mysterious old man whisper, "It's coming, be prepared to withstand the impact..."

The strong wind blew like a sharp blade, and everyone's clothes were already tattered. The exposed skin was covered with bloodstains of varying sizes, as if it had been cut by countless tiny blades, and it was burning with pain.

Every breath I took felt like I was inhaling hot sand, and my throat felt dry and painful.

The feeling of despair spread in everyone's hearts, like invisible shackles, tightly binding them, making them feel as if they were in an endless dark abyss, without a trace of light.

Luo Xiaoyu's body was shaking in the storm. She clenched her teeth and tried to keep her eyes open to prevent herself from falling.

However, the long battle had already exhausted all her strength.

Everything in front of my eyes became blurry, my body seemed to be drained of energy, and waves of weakness came over me like a tide.

Her eyes went dark, and she finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell down limply.

"Xiao Yu!" Xiao Hong exclaimed. She struggled to get closer but was blocked by the strong wind.

She watched Luo Xiaoyu fall to the ground, her heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, and a strong sense of sadness surged in her heart.

She rushed over regardless of everything and hugged Luo Xiaoyu tightly in her arms, tears welling up in her eyes.

Other villagers also gathered around. They looked at the unconscious Luo Xiaoyu with worry and sadness written all over their faces. The atmosphere was depressing and suffocating.

Suddenly, Elder Chen shouted excitedly: "I understand, I finally understand! We can't fight alone, we must gather everyone's strength together, so that we can break this evil barrier!"

His words were like a bolt of lightning, instantly striking everyone's heart.

They suddenly realized that, yes, they were not fighting alone, they were a whole!

They are not isolated from each other, they can help and support each other!

Excitement spread among the crowd, and they gathered their strength together without hesitation. In an instant, a powerful light burst out from them, like a gorgeous rainbow, tearing through the darkness before their eyes, and the surrounding space became brighter because of this power.

They felt unprecedented strength surging into their bodies, their chests were filled with hope, and their hearts were filled with confidence to defeat the enemy.

They held each other's hands tightly, feeling each other's strength. They were no longer afraid or confused.

They knew clearly that they would definitely defeat the black-robed wizard and achieve ultimate victory!

Everyone looked determined and was about to launch a counterattack when the silent man in white suddenly stood up holding Luo Xiaoyu. He frowned and looked at the unconscious Luo Xiaoyu in his arms and whispered, "She needs to rest..."

The man in white carefully picked up Luo Xiaoyu. Her body was limp, like a rag doll that had lost its life.

His brows were furrowed, his eyes full of worry, and he carefully supported her back as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.

Seeing this, Xiaohong hurried forward to help support Luo Xiaoyu's body.

Upon seeing this, Doctor Zhang immediately stepped forward. He looked calm and quickly checked Luo Xiaoyu's injuries.

His fingertips gently stroked Luo Xiaoyu's pulse, feeling her weak heartbeat.

Granny Lin was rubbing her hands anxiously, muttering prayers, her old face full of worry. Her eyes were closely following Doctor Zhang's movements, as if every sigh was filled with endless concern.

The surrounding villagers also gathered around, they quietly guarded Luo Xiaoyu, and the air was filled with a reassuring warmth. At this moment, they were no longer just individuals fighting on their own, but a closely connected whole. They supported and relied on each other and faced difficulties together.

Suddenly, a dazzling light burst out, like the dawn, instantly dispelling the haze that shrouded everyone's heads.

Their combined strength was like an indestructible sword, which directly broke through the black tornado of the black-robed wizard and hit him hard.

The black-robed wizard let out a shrill scream, the sound was sharp and piercing, like a rusty knife scratching across glass.

His body began to dissipate, turning into black spots of light and eventually disappearing into the air.

"We won!" Li the Hunter shouted excitedly, waving his fists, his face filled with the joy of victory.

The surrounding villagers also cheered, their faces filled with joy of surviving the disaster. They hugged and laughed, celebrating this hard-earned victory.

The space around them seemed to become brighter because of their emotions. The sunlight penetrated the clouds, sprinkled down, and dispelled all the haze.

They felt their chests filled with strength and a sense of accomplishment they had never experienced before, as if they had undergone a transformation and become stronger.

At this moment, they finally defeated this powerful enemy, and the joy in their hearts was like a volcanic eruption, difficult to suppress.

"Look, the sky!" someone in the crowd exclaimed. They looked up and saw that the strange phenomenon in the sky gradually disappeared, the dark clouds dispersed, revealing the long-lost blue.

Just when everyone relaxed their vigilance, the man in white suddenly turned around and looked outside the village, his eyes full of confusion: "What is that?"

The disappearance of the black-robed wizard seemed to have taken away the haze that covered the sky.

The rolling dark clouds gradually dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky.

The warm sunshine poured down, shining on everyone's face, dispelling the coldness and fear of the past few days.

Everyone looked up at the sky, their hearts filled with joy at having survived the disaster.

"We won!" Cheers rang out one after another, and everyone's face was filled with bright smiles.

They hugged each other, high-fived, and celebrated this hard-earned victory.

After experiencing this life-and-death battle, they not only defeated the powerful enemy, but more importantly, they overcame their inner fears and became more united and stronger.

"Let's go back," Elder Chen suggested, "and tell everyone the good news."

Everyone nodded. They couldn't wait to return to the village and share this joy with their family and friends.

They packed their bags and set off back to the village.

Walking on the familiar mountain road, the breeze blows on my face, bringing the fragrance of the earth, and the birds sing happily on the branches. Everything seems so beautiful.

Everyone was in a good mood, chatting and laughing, recalling the thrilling battle and the final victory.

However, just as they were immersed in the joy of victory, a strange atmosphere spread quietly.

This aura is different from the cold and evil aura of the black-robed wizard. Instead, it carries a hint of mystery and unknown.

It is like an invisible silk thread, gently plucking everyone's heartstrings and making them feel a sense of inexplicable uneasiness.

"Did you feel anything?" Xiaohong stopped and looked around vigilantly.

Others also stopped and carefully felt the changes around them.

"It seems... there is a strange smell," Luo Xiaoyu said with a frown, "I can't tell what it feels like, but I always feel that something is wrong."

Everyone looked at each other, their hearts full of doubts.

What exactly is this breath?

Where does it come from?

What does it indicate?

"Let's go and take a look," said the man in white, his eyes looking into the distance, where the mysterious aura came from.

Everyone agreed and walked in that direction with firm and cautious steps.

They know that a new adventure may have just begun...

"Wait," Granny Lin suddenly said, pointing to a huge rock not far ahead, "There seems to be something there."

Everyone looked in the direction of Grandma Lin's finger, and saw a faint golden light flickering on the surface of the boulder...

The golden light flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, rhythmically like breathing.

Everyone held their breath, with curiosity and anticipation intertwined in their eyes, as they walked towards the boulder and the source of the mysterious aura.

At first, the road was flat, with green trees on both sides and birds singing.

As we went deeper, the road became increasingly rugged and the trees became twisted and grotesque. Branches stretched towards the sky like ghost claws, blocking out the sun and making it difficult for even a ray of light to penetrate.

The air was filled with a damp and rotten smell that was sickening.

The birdsong disappeared, replaced by a low humming sound, as if some huge insect was lurking in the shadows.

A shadow cast over everyone's heart, and a tense atmosphere began to spread.

Luo Xiaoyu subconsciously clenched the dagger in her hand, while Xiaohong grasped the sleeve of the man in white tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Despite this, they did not stop.

This mysterious atmosphere attracted them like a magnet, making them irresistibly want to find out more.

"It looks like there's a swamp ahead," Doctor Zhang pointed ahead and said with a hint of worry in his tone, "We'd better take a detour."

"Take a detour? That would take so much time!" Luo Xiaoyu yelled impatiently, "I think we can just go straight through. How dangerous can it be?"

"The swamp is full of dangers, so don't be reckless." Doctor Zhang advised calmly.

"Coward!" Luo Xiaoyu curled her lips in disdain and was about to step into the swamp.

"Miss Luo, no!" Doctor Zhang grabbed her and said, "The swamp may seem peaceful, but it actually hides dangers. If you enter rashly, the consequences will be disastrous."

Luo Xiaoyu pushed Doctor Zhang away and angrily said, "Why do you care about me?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Xiao Hong stepped forward to persuade them: "Everyone, please stop arguing. Let's just..."

At this moment, the sky suddenly became dark...

Dark clouds quickly swallowed up the sky like ink. The originally bright sky dimmed in an instant, and a dull feeling of oppression enveloped everyone.

The wind also began to become violent, carrying the smell of damp earth, indicating that a rainstorm was coming.

The raindrops hit the leaves like beads that had broken off a string, and a sense of uneasiness and anxiety filled the air.

"It's going to rain!" Li the hunter shouted in a rough voice, his honest face full of worry.

He subconsciously tightened the animal skin around his body, as if trying to dispel the impending chill.

Granny Lin's face was pale and her body was trembling slightly. She looked particularly weak in this gloomy atmosphere.

She was already old and frail, and the cold and dampness of the swamp made her situation even worse.

Upon seeing this, Doctor Zhang quickly took off his coat and put it on Grandma Lin, his brows furrowed and his eyes full of worry.

Although Luo Xiaoyu was harsh in her words, she put away her previous arrogance at this moment, stood silently beside Granny Lin, and tried to block some of the cold wind with her body.

Xiaohong looked at Grandma Lin's uncomfortable expression and her eyes instantly turned red with tears welling up in her eyes.

She had been dependent on Granny Lin since she was a child. Seeing Granny Lin suffer, her heart felt as if it was torn apart.

She held Grandma Lin's cold hand tightly, wanting to give her a little warmth.

Everyone turned their eyes to the man in white with a hint of expectation in their eyes.

They all vaguely knew that the man in white possessed powerful magic. Perhaps he could be like the immortal in the legend and take them across the dangerous swamp with a wave of his hand.

However, the man in white just shook his head slightly, with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "The spiritual energy here is disordered, and the spells are restricted. I can't take you directly over."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. They thought the man in white would be their greatest support, but they didn't expect that even he was powerless.

Luo Xiaoyu widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief, while Doctor Zhang frowned, as if thinking of other ways out.

Even Xiaohong, who had always trusted the man in white, had a look of surprise and confusion in her eyes.

After a brief silence, everyone looked at each other, with helplessness and anxiety written all over their faces.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and the bean-sized raindrops hit my body, causing pain.

They had to speed up their pace and look for a place where they could temporarily take shelter from the rain. (End of this chapter)