My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Chapter 90 Expedition Squad 33 (5/6)

As the setting sun painted the rooftops of Summertown a golden-red hue, Hugh was leading Ado and Link through the bustling streets, making final preparations for their expedition.

"Six days' worth," Hugh said to Mrs. Adeline in the kitchen of "Traveler's Rest," "smoked meat, hard bread, cheese, and dried fruit that can be stored for a long time. Twelve water sacs, all filled to the brim."

Mrs. Adeline wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands still moving: "Six days? Didn't the association recommend preparing for three days?"

"It's just a suggestion," Xiuqi said calmly. "No one can predict what will happen in the Gray Forest. It's always better to be prepared than to go hungry in the forest."

The landlady looked at him, then at Ado waiting quietly outside the door, and nodded: "You're right. I'll go prepare it right away."

While preparing the food, Xiuqi led the two to "Steel Hammer".

Baal was quenching a longsword when he saw them enter. He grinned and said, "Here to patronize your business again?"

"Silver plating," Xiuqi said bluntly, "ten arrows."

The dwarf whistled: "Dealing with demons? A wise choice."

He took out tools and materials from under the counter and began to work.

The silver powder melted in a special solvent, and Baal used a fine brush to evenly apply the solution to the arrow with skillful and precise movements.

"Your sword doesn't need silver plating," Baal glanced at the "Bavarian Moonlight" at Hugh's waist. "Its previous owner already enchanted it, giving it extra damage against demons!"

Xiu Qi nodded. The longsword trembled slightly in its sheath, as if in response to the topic.

"Where's Mr. Ador's spiked club?" Link asked curiously.

Barth laughed loudly: "What kind of silver plating does that big guy's weapon have? One smash, and whether it's a demon or a devil, they'll all turn into mincemeat!"

Ado seemed to understand the praise, and a pleasant gurgling sound came from his throat.

The silver plating was completed quickly. The ten arrows gleamed with a cold, silvery light under the lamplight.

"The arrow shafts have been reinforced," Baal said, handing the arrows to Link after binding them. "Ordinary cedar arrow shafts are easy to break when fighting demons."

"Thank you, Mr. Baal." Link carefully took the arrow.

"It's good that you came back alive." The dwarf waved his hand.

By the time I left the blacksmith's shop, it was completely dark. The streetlights along the street gradually came on, casting a dim, yellowish glow.

Back at the "Traveler's Rest," Mrs. Adeline had already prepared all the supplies.

Six bulging bags were piled up next to the counter, containing enough food and water for three people for six days.

Xiuqi's right-hand ring flashed with a faint light, and all his belongings were stored in the dimensional space of "Crimson Oath".

Mrs. Adeline's eyes widened: "This...this is so convenient!"

"Indeed." Xiu Qi smiled. "There are no weight restrictions, and it can keep things fresh."

He paid the bill and led the two upstairs.

The oil lamp in the room was already lit. Xiuqi sat on the edge of the bed and began his pre-sleep meditation.

The rare meditation stone on his chest continued to operate, its gentle spiritual energy nourishing his sea of ​​consciousness. He immersed his consciousness into the system space to check the card status.

Princess Alice's attributes have been comprehensively improved, and she has awakened the Abyss Avatar talent.

The Bird Poet can now be summoned normally. Although its duration is limited, it is enough to change the course of the battle at crucial moments.

【Max the Fearless Goblin Warrior】Although it is a one-star card, its attributes are comparable to those of a bear goblin, making it a versatile option in any tactic.

Add to that the heavily armed ogres and Link's impeccable archery skills...

With this lineup, they should be able to handle the surrounding area clearing missions with ease.

Xiuqi blew out the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

Outside the window, the night in Summer Town was far from peaceful. The last vestiges of adventurers' clamor drifted from afar, the songs from the tavern could be faintly heard, and horses occasionally neighed.

This was the kind of restlessness unique to the eve of a major battle.

Xiuqi closed his eyes, his thoughts wandering in the darkness, until he gradually drifted off to sleep late at night.

At five o'clock in the morning, Summer Town was still shrouded in the darkness before dawn, with only a hint of light appearing on the eastern horizon.

Xiuqi woke up on time. Link and Ado had also gotten up, and the three of them silently washed up and put on their gear.

When I came downstairs, Mrs. Adeline was already waiting behind the counter. She had prepared hot oatmeal and fried eggs, as well as a pot of freshly brewed black tea.

"You need to be well-fed to have the strength to fight." The proprietress placed the food on the table with a worried look on her face. "Be careful, Mr. Xiuqi."

The forest is dangerous now.

"I will," Xiuqi said earnestly.

Breakfast ended in silence. By the time the last sip of black tea was finished, the sky outside the window was already brightening.

Footsteps, hoofbeats, and the clanging of weapons began to echo through the streets. Adventurers poured into the town square from all directions, like rivers flowing into the sea.

Xiuqi put down his teacup and stood up.

"Set off."

The central square was already flooded with people.

Xiuqi led Ado and Link through the crowded streets and saw a large, dark crowd gathered in and around the square in the distance.

There were roughly over five hundred adventurers, dressed in various armors and carrying all sorts of weapons. Their voices, shouts, and the clanging of metal created a noisy sea of ​​noise.

The air was thick with the mixed smells of leather, steel, and sweat, along with a certain tension characteristic of the period before a major battle.

Three people were standing on a temporary platform erected in front of the square.

On the far left is a short, stout old man wearing a deep red velvet coat embroidered with gold thread. He has a wealthy businessman's smile on his round face and is leaning on a jewel-encrusted cane.

His slightly protruding belly made him look more like a pampered aristocrat than a commander on the front lines.

"That's Baron Horn," Link whispered, "the lord of Summertown. I heard he was an adventurer in his youth, before inheriting the title and lands and returning here."

Xiuqi nodded. Although Baron Horn was outwardly wealthy, his small eyes gleamed with shrewdness, and his right hand, gripping his cane, was steady and strong, clearly not as simple as he appeared.

In the middle stood a tall, thin old man in a white robe. His hair and beard were all white, his face was gaunt, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, as if they could see through people's hearts.

The cuffs and collar of his white robe were embroidered with intricate silver runes, which shimmered faintly in the morning light. In his hand he held an oak staff, the top of which was inlaid with a sapphire the size of an egg, radiating a powerful magical aura.

"Elder Airon, the guild master of the Summertown Adventurers' Guild," Link said with awe. "An elite mage of the kingdom, said to have traveled the entire continent in his youth."

Xiuqi could sense the powerful magical field surrounding Master Airon.

That wasn't just a mage's shield or a warning spell; it was a natural fluctuation that seemed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. This old man's understanding of magic had probably reached the level of a master.

On the right is Captain Raymond. Today he is wearing a full set of gray plate armor, with the Adventurers' Guild's sword and shield emblem engraved on his breastplate.

The helmet was tucked under his arm, revealing his resolute face and the striking scar.

He stood upright like a pine tree, his right hand resting on the hilt of the longsword at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, like a general inspecting an army.

The three stood on the high platform, forming a stark contrast: a wealthy nobleman, a wise mage, and a resolute warrior. This combination seemed abrupt, yet strangely harmonious.

Following the badge number he received yesterday, Xiuqi found the assembly area for Expedition Squad 33. Squares had been drawn in white lime there, each with a wooden sign bearing its number.

Squares 31, 32, and 33 are adjacent. When Xiuqi and his group arrived, the other two teams were already there.

Squad 31 consists of four people, a standard adventurer setup: a burly, muscular greatsword warrior; a lean,...

A wary wanderer; an archer carrying a longbow and two quivers at his waist; and a sword-and-shield warrior, holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, who seemed to be the captain.

The sword and shield captain was about thirty years old, with the marks of time on his face. When he looked at Xiuqi, his eyes held a clear scrutiny. His gaze lingered on Ado for a few seconds, a flicker of apprehension crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Squad 32 also consisted of four people, with a slightly different setup: two warriors, one wielding a two-handed axe and the other a sword and shield, an archer, and a young girl dressed in a simple white robe, holding a short staff and wearing the holy emblem of the Lord of Dawn on her chest—she was an apprentice priest.

The captain was the capable young man carrying a longbow, who looked to be in his early twenties.

He was speaking in hushed tones with Captain Sword and Shield, number 31. The two seemed to know each other, but maintained a subtle distance during their conversation.

The moment Xiuqi's team appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of everyone around them.

The cannibals were incredibly intimidating.

Even with over five hundred adventurers present, Ado's ten-foot-tall frame and full-body armor still made him the most conspicuous presence.

"Is that Squad 33?" someone whispered.

"An cannibal as a team member...that's some serious talent!"

"I heard the captain is a mage apprentice, just turned 18, and doesn't even have a class level yet!"

"Are you kidding me? Are you sending kids to their deaths on this kind of mission?"

Discussions arose one after another, mostly tinged with skepticism and disdain. In this world where strength reigns supreme, age and seniority are often equated with ability.

Xiuqi and Link's youthful faces stood out starkly against the backdrop of the weathered adventurers around them.

He ignored the commotion. He calmly walked to area 33 and stood there, with Ado and Link standing on either side of him.

Link was a little nervous, his fingers unconsciously stroking the bowstring. Ado, on the other hand, curiously looked around at the crowd, his clear yellow eyes full of curiosity, seemingly not quite understanding why so many people were gathered here.

Just then, Captain Raymond stepped forward from the platform and raised his right hand.

The noisy square fell silent instantly.

"Everyone!" Raymond's voice amplified throughout the arena, "Thank you for responding to the Association's call! The demonic tide threatens our homeland, and you are the first line of defense against this threat!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the audience: "I know that among you are seasoned veterans and newcomers. But today, standing here, you are warriors! You are guardians!"

A low growl rose from the crowd—the sound of adventurers pounding their breastplates with their fists.

"Now I'll explain the operational plan!" Raymond raised his voice. "According to reconnaissance, the demonic tide is currently concentrated in the central region of the Gray Forest, with only a few low-level demons roaming the outer perimeter. Our mission is to clear all demonic creatures within a twenty-mile radius of the outer perimeter, paving the way for subsequent in-depth extermination!"

He turned and pointed to a huge map behind him. The map marked thousands of areas in red, each with a number.

"We have 120 squads that have signed up for the perimeter clearing operation!" Raymond continued, "but scattered operations are inefficient and risky. Therefore, the association has decided to combine you into 40 regiments, with three squads forming each regiment, to operate in coordination!"

A commotion arose from the audience. Teaming up meant working with strangers, a challenge for adventurers accustomed to fixed teammates.

"After the merger, each regiment will be responsible for a numbered area!" Raymond pointed to the map. "The areas have been divided, and regiments in adjacent areas should support each other and maintain communication."

Remember, you are not fighting alone! You have friendly forces on both sides!

He explained the communication methods in detail: each corps would be equipped with three communication flares, red for when encountering a strong enemy and requesting support, green for when advancing safely, and yellow for when an anomaly was detected and reconnaissance was needed.

"Start the merging now!" Raymond waved his hand. "According to the numbering order, squads 1-3 will be merged into the first regiment, squads 4-6 into the second regiment, and so on! You have ten minutes to get to know your regimental partners and then elect a regimental commander!"

The square erupted in noise once more. Adventurers began searching for their teammates, and the sounds of conversation, shouts, and arguments filled the air.

On Xiuqi's side, the captains of squads 31 and 32 walked over.

"Squad 31, Captain Cade, Level 1 Shieldbearer," the sword and shield captain introduced himself, his tone neither warm nor cold. His gaze lingered on Xiuqi's face. "You're the captain of Squad 33?"

"Xiuqi, a mage apprentice," Xiuqi replied calmly.

"Link, the hunter." Link stepped forward.

Ado made a gurgling sound in his throat as a greeting.

Cade nodded and turned to Captain Number 32: "This is Captain Number 32, Allen, a Level 1 Ranger."

Allen smiled, his attitude more enthusiastic than Cade's: "It's a pleasure to work with you. This is our trainee pastor, Selena."

The girl in white robes stepped forward and bowed to Xiu Qi: "The Lord of Dawn has blessed you all."

Her voice was soft, her eyes were clear, and she looked to be at most sixteen or seventeen years old, even younger than Link.

"Well then," Cade cut to the chase, "our three squads are merging into the Eleventh Regiment. As per the commander's request, we need to select a regimental commander. Do you have any suggestions?"

His gaze swept between Allen and Xiuqi, clearly believing that he or Allen was the most suitable candidate—both were Level 1 professionals, experienced, and had complete team configurations.

On Xiuqi's side, although Ado's combat power was amazing, the captain was only a mage apprentice, and the other member did not even have a professional level. No matter how you look at it, they did not have the qualifications to lead.

The two-handed axe warrior from Squad 32 stepped forward and shouted, "Our Captain Allen possesses the Eagle Eye combat skill and can control the battle. I believe he is qualified to be the squad leader."

A look of surprise flashed across Allen's face, and he was about to speak when a voice suddenly rang out.

It was that greatsword warrior from Squad 31. He crossed his arms and glanced sideways at Allen: "Why should you be the ones to call the shots? Our captain is a warrior, strong in direct combat, and suitable for command."

Your captain is a ranger, better suited for reconnaissance and flank work, not regimental commander material.

The two-handed axe warrior in Allen's team immediately retorted, "What's wrong with being a ranger? Captain Allen is highly experienced; he's completed seven bronze-level quests! Where's your captain?"

"Eight!" roared the greatsword warrior.

"So what? We still have priests! Can you match their healing and support capabilities?"

"Priests are useless! When it really comes to fighting, we warriors will have to hold the line!"

The two teams started arguing, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

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