My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Chapter 124 The Road to Triumph (New Year's Triumph)

Chapter 123 The Road to Triumph The morning sun pierced through the perpetual mist of the gray forest, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Unlike the tension of yesterday's battle, today's sunshine is exceptionally warm, even dispelling some of the chilly atmosphere emanating from the depths of the forest.

Xiuqi stood on the edge of the high ground, gazing at the gradually clearer outline of the forest in the distance.

Three days.

For three whole days, they fought, survived, and protected this land that had been eroded by the demonic tide.

Now, it's finally time to head back.

"Captain Xiuqi." Cade's voice came from behind. The Shield Captain was already fully prepared, his face filled with undisguised excitement. "Everyone is ready."

Xiuqi turned around and glanced at the camp.

The members of the 11th Regiment are making final preparations.

Blake strapped the last bag of loot to his backpack, a broad smile on the greatsword warrior's face.

Lynn inspected his crossbow, a satisfied look on the vagrant's gaunt face. Old Jack polished his longbow, his movements still nimble despite being over forty.

The members of Squad 32 were equally in high spirits. The sword-and-shield warriors and the axe-wielders were joking with each other, while Captain Allen was whispering with Selena.

The young priestess's face was still a little pale, but her eyes shone with relief—her healing magic had saved too many people during this mission.

The members of Squad 33 remained calm as always.

Hodor, carrying a spiked club, his massive body resembled a moving steel fortress in the sunlight. The ogre's bright yellow eyes scanned the forest, remaining constantly vigilant.

Max stood beside Ador, the mighty goblin warrior gripping a greatsword, his crimson eyes calmly gazing into the distance.

Link carried his longbow, and the young hunter's eyes were more composed than they had been three days ago. A bulging satchel hung at his waist, containing Captain Allen's notebook.

The princess hid in the shadows at the edge of the camp, her silver-gray figure almost blending into the shadows of the trees.

On the other side of the camp, the atmosphere in the 12th Regiment was completely different.

Glenn leaned on his warhammer; the dwarf captain's left arm was still wrapped in thick bandages, and although the wound on his right arm had healed, he still had difficulty moving. His face no longer bore its usual hearty smile, but only a deep weariness and sorrow.

Alfred stood beside him. The paladin captain's chainmail was damaged and he had been replaced with spare armor, but the Holy Symbol of Justice on his chest still shone in the sunlight.

His gaze lingered on the three corpses covered with white sheets, and remained fixed on them for a long time.

Old Jack leaned against the rock. The old archer's burns had healed, but the scars on his face were still shocking. His eyes were vacant, as if he were still immersed in yesterday's fierce battle.

Lily sat to the side. The female vagrant had saved her right leg, but she still walked with a limp. She kept her head down and remained silent, simply wiping the dagger that had been with her for many years.

The young soldier was a survivor of the 12th Regiment. He was kneeling before three corpses, praying silently. There were no tears on his face, only an almost numb resolve.

Winter Wolf Frostfang lay at the edge of the camp, its silvery-white fur still gleaming in the sunlight, but its icy-blue eyes were filled with weariness. It glanced intermittently at Sylvester, then at the three corpses, letting out a low growl.

Silves stood on the rock face, his black robe swaying gently in the morning breeze.

His face was expressionless, his deep purple eyes gazing into the distance, as if looking at something, yet also as if seeing nothing at all.

Three days ago, he confidently led Winter Wolf into the forest, full of vigor and self-assurance that he could complete the clearing mission on his own.

Three days later, he walked out of the forest alive, but the 12th Regiment lost three comrades forever.

This contrast cast a shadow over the necromancer's pride for the first time.

"Let's go." Xiuqi's voice was calm and clear.

The two teams, totaling more than twenty people, began to head towards the exit of the gray forest along the route they had come from.

The atmosphere was completely different on the way back.

The members of the 11th Regiment walked ahead, chatting and laughing, as if they were not returning from the battlefield, but on a picnic.

"Blake, were you dreaming about counting money last night?" Lynn teased, his gaunt face full of mischief.

"You have the nerve to say that to me?" Blake retorted. "You secretly got up in the middle of the night and counted three times!"

"That's because I'm worried about my purse being stolen!"

"How can we steal it? The bounty hasn't even been paid out yet, where are we supposed to steal it from!"

The two teased each other, drawing laughter from those around them.

Captain Cade walked in the middle of the group, a pipe dangling from his lips, smoke curling around them. A satisfied smile played on his face, and the scar that ran from his eyebrow to his chin looked less menacing in the sunlight.

"Captain Cade," Allen walked up to him and said in a low voice, "you'll need to get that shield properly repaired when you get back."

"What's there to repair?" Cade exhaled a puff of smoke. "Just buy a new one! This bounty is enough for me to get a decent shield!"

Allen laughed: "Then you'll have to treat me."

"Please! You must!" Cade waved his hand. "When we get back to Summertown, I'll treat everyone to a drink at the Travelers' Rest! All you can eat, Mrs. Adeline's ale!"

A cheer erupted from behind.

Selena walked on the flank of the group, and the young priestess couldn't help but smile slightly as she listened to their rough laughter.

She looked at Xiuqi ahead.

The gray-robed youth walked at the head of the group, his steps steady and his demeanor composed. Sunlight shone on him, casting a pale golden halo over his gray robe.

He didn't join in the laughter and chatter behind him; he just walked quietly, occasionally looking up into the distance.

"Captain Xiuqi doesn't seem to smile much..." Her gaze lingered on Xiuqi for a few more seconds without her noticing.

Fifty paces behind this column, members of the 12th Regiment walked silently.

No one speaks.

Only the sound of footsteps and the occasional suppressed groans of the wounded could be heard.

Glenn leaned on his warhammer, walking slowly with each step. Although the dwarf captain's left arm was bandaged, even the slightest movement would aggravate the wound, causing excruciating pain.

But he just walked on silently, his cloudy blue eyes staring ahead, occasionally turning back to look at the three corpses being carried on stretchers behind him.

Alfred walked beside him, and the paladin captain remained silent.

His right hand remained on the hilt of his sword, even on the return journey, maintaining vigilance. This was a habit ingrained from years of adventure, and also a sign of respect for his fallen comrades.

They are no longer able to fight, but those who survive must be ready to fight at any time.

Although Old Jack's burns had healed, he remained weak. His lips were pale, his eyes were sunken, and he looked ten years older.

Lily leaned on a makeshift wooden cane, each step the wandering woman took bringing a sharp pain to her right leg. But she gritted her teeth and remained silent.

The young soldier walked at the back, and he was responsible for looking after the three corpses lying on the wooden cart.

His face was expressionless; he simply moved mechanically, mechanically adjusting the angle of the wooden cart and mechanically avoiding the gravel on the road.

His eyes were red and swollen, but no tears could come out.

Silves walked at the back of the group, his black robes swaying gently in the wind.

Winter Wolf Frostfang followed beside him, his steps slow, his head bowed. Although his silvery-white fur had been baptized by Selena's divine magic, traces of new skin and scars were still visible.

Both the man and the wolf remained silent.

The necromancer's face no longer held the high spirits he had displayed three days ago when he stepped into the gray forest.

In those deep purple eyes, there was only a profound weariness and an indescribable sorrow.

He recalled how confidently he had accepted the area assignment three days earlier in Summertown Square, and how calmly he had said, "I will explore the westwards alone."

He recalled Glenn and Alfred's hesitation at the time, and how he had reassured them with the words, "If you are in danger, release the signal flare, and I will come to rescue you."

Then he remembered how he had ventured alone into the West District, how he had been overwhelmed by the demonic tide, how he had fallen into a coma, and how he had led the team that trusted him into a desperate situation.

If the 11th Regiment hadn't arrived in time...

Silves closed his eyes.

Frostfang seemed to sense its master's emotions and nuzzled his hand with its head. Winter Wolf's icy blue eyes were filled with worry and comfort.

Silvers opened his eyes and gently patted Frosttooth's head.

"It's nothing," he said softly, his voice hoarse and weary, "It's just... I'll need to remember the mistakes I made for the rest of my life."

After walking five miles, other small teams returning to the city began to appear on the road.

The first team we encountered was the 21st team.

This team consists of three squads, but at this moment there are fewer than ten people walking on the road.

Each of them was injured. Some had bandages wrapped around their heads, some were using makeshift crutches, and some had thick bandages wrapped around their chests, with bloodstains faintly visible seeping out.

The most striking sight was the five stretchers in the center of the procession, covered with blood-stained white sheets.

Those were five adventurers who closed their eyes forever.

The captain of the 21st Regiment was a middle-aged soldier with a full beard. His left arm was severed at the elbow and was tightly bandaged, with blood still seeping through the bandage.

When he saw Xiu Qi and his group, he stopped and nodded slightly.

"It's good that you came back alive," he said, his voice hoarse.

Cade stopped and returned the greeting solemnly: "You too."

The two teams passed each other by.

There were no extra words, only those two simple words—"living".

But at this moment, the weight of those two words is heavier than any flowery language.

As the 21st Regiment marched away, faint, suppressed sobs could be heard from within the ranks.

The laughter from the 11th team also disappeared.

Everyone watched in silence as the team walked away, looking at the blood-stained white sheets on the stretchers, and at the captain who had lost his left arm but still stood tall.

"That's the captain of the 21st Squadron," Cade said in a low voice, his tone respectful. "A Level 1 Champion Defender, he has a good reputation among the adventurers in Summertown. His squad originally had five people."

He didn't continue.

But everyone understands.

There were originally five people, now there are only four? Three? Two? Or is he the only one left?

No one dared to ask.

The procession continued forward.

Then we encountered several more small teams.

The 27th Regiment set out with twelve men, but returned with only seven. Their leader was a female ranger with a black eyepatch over her right eye and her face covered in blood.

The 19th Regiment set out with thirteen men and returned with eight. Three of the wounded were carried by their comrades in turns.

The 8th Regiment set out with eleven men, but returned with only six. They pushed wooden carts covered with five white sheets, and each of their faces wore an almost numb emptiness.

Only a few teams, like Team 11, were in high spirits.

A small team of five caught up from behind, their steps light and their laughter hearty.

The lead sword and shield warrior was a burly man, clad in fine full plate armor, with three stars emblazoned on his breastplate. A satisfied smile graced his face as he walked, chatting and laughing with his companions behind him.

"Cade!" The sword and shield warrior's eyes lit up when he saw Cade, and he strode over.

Cade smiled, went to meet him, and the two embraced tightly.

"Gareth, you're still alive?" Cade laughed.

"You're still alive, how could I bear to die?" Gareth laughed heartily, then looked at the team behind Cade, his gaze lingering on Xiuqi for a moment. "This is your team? Looks pretty good!"

"That's right." Cade proudly raised his chin. "Our team suffered zero casualties."

Gareth's eyes widened: "Zero casualties? You didn't encounter a demonic tide?"

"Of course we encountered them, and quite a few at that." Cade pointed into the distance. "We took down three Thorn Demons alone."

"Three Thorn Demons?" Gareth gasped, then looked at Xiuqi. "And this is..."

"Our company commander is Xiuqi," Cade solemnly introduced, "the captain of Squad 33."

A flicker of surprise crossed Gareth's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected that the captain of this injury-free squad would be so young.

But he didn't question it, he just nodded solemnly to Xiuqi: "Gares, captain of the 3rd Regiment."

Xiu Qi nodded slightly: "Xiu Qi."

Gareth didn't say much, but his gaze toward Xiuqi now held more importance.

The two teams walked side by side for a while, and Gareth and Cade talked about their respective battles.

From their conversation, Xiuqi learned that Gareth's team had killed hundreds of lower-level demons, earning a bounty of over a thousand silver coins.

Gareth's own squad consisted of five professionals.

Captain Gareth, Level 3 Shieldbearer.

Vice-Captain Lia, Level 3 Ranger.

There are three other team members, all of whom are Level 2 professionals.

"We could have participated in the deeper clearing operation," Gareth said, a hint of relief in his voice. "But then I thought, while the outer perimeter is dangerous, at least there's a way out. Deeper clearing operations... those kinds of places are easy to get into, but hard to get out."

Cade nodded: "A wise choice."

Gareth looked at Xiuqi and suddenly asked, "Captain Xiuqi, how was your team's harvest?"

Xiuqi didn't answer, but simply said, "It's alright."

Gareth paused for a moment, then laughed: "Captain Hugh is too modest!"

A team that can take down three Thorn Demons without suffering any casualties must have had a good haul. We'll find out when we get back to town; the guild will definitely be compiling bounty rankings.

He patted Cade on the shoulder: "Let's go for a drink then."

"must."

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