Chapter 342 The Villain Lady Arrives 171
At this moment, a sudden gust of wind blew up the yellow sand all over the sky, blurring the vision and providing the demigods with a chance to catch their breath. Estella took the opportunity to gather with several companions, and their faces were full of solemnity. "We must reassess the situation," Estella said in a deep voice, "If this continues, even if we can win, it will be a miserable victory."
"Retreat?" A burly demigod named Rek'Sai snorted in dissatisfaction, "When did we demigods ever need to be so embarrassed?"
"It's not a retreat, it's a strategic shift." Fiona took over the conversation, her voice soft but firm, "The support from the Church of Light is coming soon, and it's a force we can't easily contend with right now. Besides, our goal is only that treasure, not to make the entire continent our enemy."
Rek'Sai frowned even more, but he also knew that Fiona's words made sense. He looked at Estrella, waiting for his decision. Estrella was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Fiona is right, we can't waste too much energy here. Evacuate first, and then make plans."
Following Estella's decision, the demigods began to retreat in an orderly manner. Their figures gradually blurred in the wind and sand until they disappeared completely. Seeing this, Tariq and others did not immediately pursue them, but instead carefully observed the surroundings to prevent any fraud.
"They retreated." Leah panted, her face showing both fatigue and relief, "But we must remain vigilant, they will not give up easily."
Tariq nodded in agreement. He looked into the distance, with mixed emotions in his heart. Although this battle had come to an end for the time being, there was still a long way to go, and more challenges were waiting for them.
"Sophia, you must immediately arrange personnel to confirm the support situation of the Church of Light and prepare to welcome them." Tariq instructed Sophia.
Sophia nodded quickly and turned to carry out the order. Leah walked over to Tariq and whispered, "We also need to find the treasure as soon as possible. Only in this way can we truly get rid of those greedy pursuers."
Tariq took a deep breath, his eyes firm. "Yes, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, we must persevere. For the sake of the treasure and for our beliefs."
In the following days, with the help of Leah and Sophia, Tariq and his party recovered their strength while stepping up their search for clues to the treasure. At the same time, they also kept an eye on the movements of the Church of Light, looking forward to the reinforcements that could bring them hope.
Finally, on a clear morning, a melodious bell sounded in the distance, which was a unique signal of the Church of Light. Tariq and others were immediately excited, knowing that reinforcements had arrived.
When the Knights of the Church of Light appeared before them, Tariq and his companions felt unprecedented peace of mind and strength. The leader of the Knights of Light, a knight wearing golden armor and holding a holy sword, named Gabriel, paid high tribute to Tariq and his companions and expressed the full support of the Church of Light for their just cause.
"We, the Church of Light, always stand on the side of justice and light." Gabriel's voice was loud and firm. "We admire your courage and perseverance. Now, let us fight side by side to protect the peace and tranquility of this continent."
When Tariq and the others heard this, they felt a warm current in their hearts. They knew that with the support of the Church of Light, their chances of winning would be greatly increased. So, under the leadership of Gabriel, the two forces merged into one and headed towards the final location of the treasure.
After a series of arduous battles and explorations, Tariq and his companions finally found the legendary treasure - a gem containing ancient power and wisdom. However, when they were about to take it away, they accidentally triggered the ancient mechanism around the gem.
After a dazzling light, an old and majestic voice sounded in everyone's ears: "Anyone who harbors greed and selfish desires cannot touch this treasure. Only those who truly possess a pure heart and firm faith can inherit its power."
As the old and majestic voice fell, the surrounding scene suddenly changed. The originally dim stone room was shrouded in a soft and mysterious light, and the air was filled with an ancient and solemn atmosphere. Tariq and others looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and astonishment. They had never expected that such a mysterious test would be hidden in the final location of this treasure.
"This...what does this mean?" There was some resentment in Rek'Sai's voice. He seemed dissatisfied with this sudden change, but he was more eager to try unknown challenges.
"It seems that we not only have to face external enemies, but also overcome the trials within ourselves." Fiona gently stroked the pendant on her chest, with wisdom flashing in her eyes. "Stay calm and feel with your heart. Perhaps we can find a way to pass through this illusion."
Estella closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her heart. She knew that at this moment, any panic could be the fuse of failure. She slowly opened her eyes, her eyes firm: "We are a team. No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must work together and face them together."
As soon as the words fell, a strange wave emanated from the gem, enveloping everyone. In an instant, they found themselves in a completely different world - it was an illusion made of light and shadow, surrounded by endless void, with only the gem emitting soft light suspended in the center, like the brightest star in the night sky, guiding them forward.
"This... where is this?" There was a hint of trembling in Leah's voice. She looked around, but couldn't find anything solid to rely on. There was only endless void and the warm light of the gem.
"Don't be afraid, Leah." Tariq reached out and held Leah's hand, giving her strength. "Remember, no matter where you are, as long as there is light in your heart, you will never be lost."
With Tariq's encouragement, Leah gradually calmed down. She held Tariq's hand tightly, and they smiled at each other. That tacit understanding and trust seemed particularly precious in the illusion.
As they go deeper, the illusion begins to show different scenes. Sometimes it is a garden full of flowers, with fragrant flowers and colorful butterflies flying; sometimes it turns into a deep and unfathomable forest with towering ancient trees and roaring beasts. Each change of scene is accompanied by an indescribable emotional fluctuation, testing their will and faith.
"This illusion seems to be able to see into our hearts and amplify our deepest fears and desires." Fiona frowned. She felt unprecedented pressure. "We must stay awake and not let these illusions affect our judgment."
Rek'Sai was more direct. He roared and swung his axe, trying to split open this illusory world. However, his attack was like a stone sinking into the sea, without causing any waves. "What the hell is this? I, Rek'Sai, never believe in evil!"
"Rek'Sai, calm down." Estella tried to dissuade him. "Violence can't solve the problem. We need to find the core of this illusion before we can find a way to get through it."