Chapter37-Looming Threat

On the village pathway, the level ground suddenly rippled. 

The compacted earth transformed into mire. 

The basic magus spell [Swampcraft], originally intended as an auxiliary spell to limit monster movement, had, under the collective casting of hundreds of magus players, astonishingly altered the terrain itself.

The charging [Abyss Imps], in their rush, found themselves stepping into the swampy ground. 

Being of small stature, half of their bodies were submerged. 

The more they struggled, the deeper they sank.

Within a radius of 500 meters, it became a quagmire. 

The pathway leading to Darkstone was already narrow, and with tens of thousands of [Abyss Imps] crowding together in their charge, the swamp significantly slowed their advance.

The magi's second wave of magical assault promptly followed. 

For a moment, stones the size of eggs soared through the sky. 

Though their power was limited, this elementary spell was characterized by its low MP consumption and quick casting speed. 

With hundreds of magi launching them in unison, a dense barrage rained down.

The [Abyss Imps] trapped in the swamp cried out in pain, with damage numbers floating above their heads. 

This volley alone claimed the lives of hundreds of [Abyss Imps].

Seeing their charge hindered, the [Blood Thralls] following behind the [Abyss Imps] let out a roar. 

A faint magical glow emanated from them. 

Within this roar was a unique magical power: they were activating their innate skill [Inspiration].

Under the skill's effect, the once-disarrayed formation of [Abyss Imps] regained their composure. 

The Imps trapped in the swamp ceased their struggles, pressing their torsos low against the mud, exposing their flat backs.

They were intending to use their bodies as bridges, forcibly allowing the Legion of Cataclysm behind them to pass over!

Sebastian felt a chill in his heart. Such discipline in these lower demon races was unexpected. 

The reputation of the Legion of Cataclysm was indeed not unfounded!

"Those [Blood Thralls] are the overseers and commanders of the imps. Archers, do not spare your MP! Activate hawk eye and snipe skills, prioritize targeting the [Blood Thralls]!"

Sebastian shouted, simultaneously reciting a spell under his breath. 

With a swift motion of his wand, an ice spike instantly formed, whistling towards a [Blood Thrall] in the distance.

The [Blood Thrall] widened its eyes in disbelief, looking down at the gaping hole in its chest where the ice spike had pierced through. 

The chilling temperatures of the spike sealed the wound, not letting a single drop of blood escape. 

With a resentful roar, it fell backwards.

"ShepherdWind is incredible!"

"Damn, that's powerful! An elite monster at level 25, taken down with just one skill?"

"With ShepherdWind as our guild leader, we can surely hold out for three hours!"

Sebastian's feat of felling a level 25 [Blood Thrall] with a single skill acted like a shot of adrenaline, instantly boosting everyone's morale. 

What seemed like a battle with no hope for victory now shimmered with a hint of possible triumph.

Having reached level 20 and with the support of the Ashen Set, Sebastian's attributes had improved significantly. 

However, taking down a level 25 elite monster in one shot was still a bit of a surprise to him. 

He had benefited from the Demon race's physical resilience: high physical defense and low magic resistance.

Reaping a good outcome, Sebastian continued reciting his spells, targeting the exposed [Blood Thralls] one by one.

Archers positioned at higher vantage points also unleashed their long-range prowess. 

Enchanted arrows, imbued with the snipe effect, whizzed through the air, their swift flights marked by a sharp "whistle".

Although their levels were significantly lower than the [Blood Thralls], the sheer volume of arrows more than made up for the gap. 

Under the volley of over five hundred archers, in the initial onslaught, dozens of [Blood Thralls] were turned into pin cushions.

However, both the [hawk eye] and [snipe] skills consumed vast amounts of MP. 

The generally low-level archers could, at most, release two long-range snipe arrows before their MP ran out, necessitating the consumption of blue potions to replenish. 

Moreover, [hawk eye] had a mere three-minute duration, and [snipe] had a whopping five-minute cooldown. 

After a round of volley, Darkstone's long-range firepower inevitably faced a lull.

Yet, this wave of attack was not without merit. 

As the commanders of the [Abyss Imps], there were about a hundred [Blood Thralls] directing tens of thousands of imps. 

After this assault, the number of [Blood Thralls] was reduced by a third.

Devoid of their commanders and the boost of BUFFs, the [Abyss Imps] once again faltered in their charge. 

Still, nearly a thousand imps managed to break free from the swamp and reached the village's entrance.

"Warriors, charge!"

"We cannot let these monsters approach the village!"

"Give it your all against them!"

The guild leaders from several major guilds had also regained their composure, issuing combat orders. 

A hint of embarrassment tinged their faces; the formidable formation of the Legion of Cataclysm had momentarily stunned them, causing them to forget their leadership roles in the heat of battle.

Fortunately, Sebastian remained level-headed, taking charge in their stead. 

Under his calm judgment and precise control of the battlefield, the players didn't just fend off the Legion of Cataclysm but also secured significant victories.

"ShepherdWind truly is remarkable. Not only is his personal strength unparalleled, but his battlefield command is also razor-sharp. He's a true all-rounder!"

"Thank the heavens he's leading. We would've been overrun by those thousands of imps otherwise!"

"I noticed he didn't speak much during the guild leaders' battle conference earlier. I assumed he wasn't well-versed in combat tactics. Turns out he's just modest and understated."

"A big shot is a big shot. He plays his cards close to his chest!"

...

Everyone looked at the ceaselessly casting Sebastian with eyes filled with trust and admiration. 

Especially among the female players, their gazes lingered, almost dreamy. 

The handsome magus robe, concealing a tall and upright figure, sent many a heart racing uncontrollably.

The warriors, enhanced by the magus with various boosting skills, stood ready for battle. 

At the call to charge, they roared and surged forward, directly confronting the onslaught of the thousand [Hell Imps]. 

Numerically, the player warriors had the upper hand, and their levels were fairly matched. 

Furthermore, having been buffed with enhancements like [Sturdy Armor], [Vitality], and [Basic Strength Amplification], the player warriors faced the horde of imps with significant advantages.

Under the command of several guild leaders, they banded in small groups, forming combat teams that effectively pinned down the swarm of imps.

As the first wave's offensive seemed to wane, Mia, dressed in a light blue mage robe, couldn't resist joining the fray, collaborating with the warriors to subdue the already faltering imps. 

Mia's skills were impressive; the basic magus skills flowed seamlessly in her hands, and her combat instincts were razor-sharp. 

Even in the heat of battle, she accurately assessed the surroundings, always appearing where she was needed most, assisting those warrior teams in dire straits.

With a beautiful and powerful magus like Mia joining the combat, the morale of the player warriors soared, and their fighting spirit ignited further.

Sebastian, whose MP was drained and was currently replenishing with a potion, suddenly sensed a powerful presence emanating from the heart of the Legion of Cataclysm. 

A deep purple orb hurtled towards the battlefield at breakneck speed, its target... 

Mia!