My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Chapter 95 Demons Like a Tide

After separating from the Xiuqi Squad, the combined force of Squads 31 and 32 slowly advanced along the western half of the designated area.

For the first three hours, everyone was on edge.

Every rustling sound in the low bushes, every blurry shadow in the distance, even the whistling of the wind through the treetops, would make the warriors grip their weapons and the archers place their fingers on the bowstrings.

"Left!" the wanderer whispered.

Everyone turned around in unison, drew their longswords, and drew their bowstrings halfway.

As a result, only a gray wood mouse was startled and hurriedly scurried into a crevice in the rock.

"Phew..." The greatsword warrior wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Damn it, I scared myself."

Captain Cade frowned and looked around.

It's too quiet.

The gray forest was never a place teeming with life, but usually there were at least the sounds of insects chirping, birds singing, and small animals moving around.

But this afternoon, the entire forest seemed to have been drained of life, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the withered leaves, and the sounds of their own footsteps and breathing.

"Something's not right." Captain Allen walked over to Cade and lowered his voice. "I've been into the Grey Forest no less than thirty times, and I've never encountered anything this deathly silent."

"The effects of the demonic tide." Cade chewed on his pipe, smoke swirling around his lips. "The aura of demons repels ordinary creatures. Those animals are more sensitive than us; they've already fled far away."

Even so, this absolute silence still sends chills down one's spine.

The team continued its advance.

They proceeded according to standard adventurer tactics: Shieldbearer Cade led the way, with two-handed axe warriors and another warrior on the left and right flanks respectively, a wanderer scouting ahead, Allen leading archers to guard the rear, and apprentice priest Selena protected in the center of the group.

Standard formation, standard rhythm.

However, no trace of the monster has been found for a long time.

As the sun set and the light in the forest dimmed, Cade ordered a halt to the advance and set up camp in a clearing backed by a rock wall.

They lit a campfire, set up simple cooking utensils, and heated the dry rations.

The initial tension dissipated during the long wait, replaced by an almost numb exhaustion.

All afternoon, not to mention demons, not even a decent wild animal was seen.

"So we just waited all day for nothing?" complained the two-handed axe warrior, a young man named Blake, as he poked at the fire with a stick.

"It's a good thing we haven't encountered any," Allen said gently. "It means this area is safe for now."

"But the mission is to wipe out the demons," Blake muttered. "If I don't complete the mission, how will I explain it when I get back?"

'

"There are still two days," Cade said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "What's the rush?"

As night fell, the campfire became the only source of warmth in this desolate forest. The aroma of the heated rations gradually relaxed the nerves that had been tense all afternoon.

They were all young people in their early twenties, and there was no deep-seated hatred between them, so the previous minor friction was quickly forgotten.

"Have you heard the latest rumor about Harbour City?" Lynn, a skinny young man from Squad 31, asked mysteriously.

"What rumor?"

"About that young lady from the Marquis of Moore's family!" Lynn lowered his voice. "I heard she broke off her engagement with Sir Finn for an apprentice at the Arcane Academy! Sir Finn, the Knights' Academy's number one genius in ten years!"

"Really?" Blake's eyes widened. "Who is that apprentice?"

"She's said to be the son of a country knight, with average talent, but somehow..." Lynn shrugged, "Who knows what a noble lady is thinking?"

Selena sat quietly by the fire, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands.

Today she wore a simple white priest's robe, her blonde hair tied back in a simple ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. The firelight danced on her face, reflecting her eyes as blue as lake water.

Although only seventeen years old, Selena possesses a composure and tranquility beyond her years. It is a quality cultivated through long-term practice in the church and service to God.

"Miss Selena," Blake leaned closer, a fawning smile on his face, "you're from the Holy Church in the county seat? I visited the county seat last year; the Holy Cathedral was truly magnificent!"

"Thank you for the glory of the Lord of Dawn that protects that temple," Selena replied with a smile, her tone polite.

"I heard you've already reached the threshold of becoming a professional?" another warrior joined the conversation, his eyes filled with envy. "To be able to cast two first-circle divine spells at seventeen, that's amazing!"

"It is a gift from the Lord of Dawn," Selena said softly. "I am merely His humble servant."

This statement is not entirely modest.

In the Holy Church, being able to master two first-circle divine spells at the age of seventeen is indeed an exceptional talent.

It's important to know that the vast majority of novice priests never manage to advance to level 1 in their entire lives, while Selena only needs to master one more first-circle divine spell to cross that threshold.

In contrast, Xiu Qi is already eighteen years old, but he only knows two zero-ring tricks. Although the power of his two tricks far exceeds the ordinary range, they are still tricks in name only.

This contrast adds to Selena's mystique and nobility in the eyes of young adventurers.

Blake and several young soldiers surrounded Selena, showering her with attention and flattery.

Some shared their past adventures, some boasted about their combat skills, and some tried to show off their sense of humor.

Selena maintained a perfectly timed response throughout.

She neither neglects anyone, listens attentively to every word, and nods or smiles when appropriate;

She also skillfully maintained a distance; when someone tried to get too close, she would naturally adjust her posture or pick up her teacup, using subtle movements to define the boundary.

This unhurried elegance is what makes young people even more enamored.

"Youth is wonderful." Cade sat on a rock a little further away, pipe in mouth, watching the energetic young people around the fire, and couldn't help but sigh.

He is thirty-eight years old this year and has been an adventurer for twenty years. The weathered marks on his face, the scars on his arms, and the deep-rooted caution are all the result of years of hardship and life-and-death experiences.

Looking at these young people in their early twenties, Cade seemed to see himself in them—full of energy, curious about the world, full of dreams of adventure, and yearning for beautiful women.

Allen walked over and sat down next to him, a gentle smile on his face: "Yes, it's good to be young."

The two captains exchanged a smile, tacitly recognizing similar sentiments in each other's eyes.

They were all seasoned veterans, having witnessed too much life and death, and too much of human nature. This pure, albeit clumsy, admiration between young people seemed strangely clean to them.

"What do you think of that kid named Xiuqi?" Cade suddenly asked.

Allen pondered for a moment: "It's not simple."

"Nonsense." Cade exhaled a puff of smoke. "I'm asking for specifics."

"He is very confident," Allen analyzed. "Not blind arrogance, but confidence based on his abilities."

Anyone who dares to act alone with two other people is either stupid or incredibly strong. I don't think he's stupid.

Cade nodded: "When we parted ways today, I carefully observed his squad. That ogre was acting strangely."

"How so?"

"His eyes." Cade pointed to his own eyes. "The eyes of an ordinary ogre are those of a wild beast, full of ferocity and greed. But that ogre of his had... restraint in his eyes. A monster that knew how to control its desires."

Allen recalled it, and it was indeed so.

When Ado stood beside Xiuqi, his bright yellow eyes scanning the surroundings, his demeanor was completely unlike that of an ordinary ogre.

"And that hunter kid," Cade continued. "Although he's young, his bow-holding stance is steady, his steps are light, and his eyesight is sharp. He's a promising talent. The fact that Hugh can bring all these characters together and make the ogres so obedient... that kid is no ordinary person."

"So you think he chose to act alone because he was really confident?" Allen asked.

"At least he's not courting death." Cade knocked the ash out of his pipe. "Just wait and see. If he can come back alive after completing the mission, his words will carry weight among the adventurers in Summertown."

As the two were chatting, a burst of laughter suddenly came from around the fire.

It turned out that Lynn had told a bad joke. Although it wasn't funny, it had warmed up the atmosphere among the young people, and everyone laughed along.

Selena covered her mouth and chuckled softly; her profile was gentle and beautiful in the firelight.

Blake was so engrossed in watching that he only snapped out of it when his companion nudged his arm, and he scratched his head awkwardly.

Just then—

boom!

A dazzling firework suddenly burst open in the distant night sky.

It's not red, not green, and not yellow.

It is a deep purple.

The purple was so rich, as if dyed with the deepest night sky. When it bloomed in the dark sky, it resembled an eerie violet, or a demon's eye slowly opening.

The moment the fireworks exploded, purple light illuminated half the sky, and even the forest clearing where they were was tinged with an eerie purple halo.

The laughter around the campfire abruptly stopped.

Everyone looked up, staring blankly at the slowly fading purple firework.

Captain Cade slowly stood up, taking one last deep drag on his pipe—

He then poured the ashes on the ground and stubbed them out with the sole of his boot. His movements were slow and steady, but every slight tremor betrayed the turmoil within him.

Captain Allen's expression had become extremely solemn.

The two looked at each other and saw the same bitter emotion in each other's eyes, as well as the helplessness of "as expected".

"Dark purple..." Allen murmured. "The association's briefing mentioned it, but only said it might appear in very rare cases." He hadn't expected this...

"A massive demonic tide." Cade finished his sentence, his voice low and tense. "It's not just scattered demons wandering around, but organized, structured demon hordes spreading outwards."

He turned around and faced all the team members.

The firelight danced on his rugged face, making the scar that stretched from his eyebrow to his chin appear particularly menacing in the light and shadow.

"Everyone!" Cade's voice, like a warhammer striking an anvil, instantly shattered the tranquility of the night. "Check your equipment! Draw your weapons! Priests, prepare your divine spells! The demonic tide is coming!"

After a brief silence, the open space instantly erupted in activity.

The young men snapped out of their daze, frantically grabbing their weapons, checking their armor straps, and refilling their quivers with arrows.

In his panic, Blake almost tripped over his own axe handle, and Lynn's hand trembled so much that he nearly dropped his dagger.

Only Selena remained calm.

She stood up, clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and closed her eyes in prayer. A soft white light emanated from her, the divine power of the Lord of Dawn, like a beacon in this forest polluted by demonic energy.

"Merciful Lord of Dawn," Selena's voice was clear and firm, "grant us courage, light our way, dispel the darkness, and protect your people from evil."

The white light slowly spread, enveloping the entire camp.

Under the holy light, the young people's panicked emotions gradually calmed down, their breathing became steady, and their hands holding weapons stopped trembling.

"Thank you, Miss Selena." Allen nodded solemnly to her.

"It's what I should do." Selena opened her eyes, her azure pupils gleaming with unwavering determination. "Demons are enemies of order, blasphemers of the living. The Lord of Dawn teaches us that we must not back down in the face of darkness."

Cade was already dressed.

His grey plate armor gleamed coldly in the firelight, his longsword was drawn, and he held a shield in his left hand. He stood at the edge of the camp, gazing in the direction of the purple fireworks—the area deep in the forest, where Districts 12 and 13 met.

"The fireworks are going up from over there." Allen walked up to him and pointed southeast. "It's about ten miles from us."

"Not far," Cade gritted his teeth. "At the speed at which the demonic tide spreads, it will reach us in half an hour at most."

"Should we retreat?" Allen asked. "The deep purple warning means at least a medium-sized demon lair has appeared, or a demon horde commanded by a high-ranking demon. With our strength..."

'

"We can't retreat." Cade shook his head. "Retreat will take time, and we don't know the exact direction and scale of the demonic tide. A blind retreat would only lead to us crashing into the demon horde and dying even faster."

He turned to look at his teammates.

The group consists of eight people: two team leaders, both Level 1 professionals, and six team members, all apprentices or near-professionals. This lineup is adequate against sporadic lesser demons and cowardly demons, but against hordes of demons...

"Establish a defensive position," Cade decided. "With our backs against the rock wall, we only need to defend one direction. Allen, do you know how to set traps?"

"Sure, but materials are limited," Allen replied quickly. "I can set up three simple traps, mainly tripwires and warning bells."

"Enough. Lynn, Blake, you two take some men and collect stones and wood to build a makeshift obstacle in front of the camp. The rest of you, reinforce the camp and dig shallow trenches, as deep as you can!"

Orders were issued one after another, and the team sprang into action.

No one complained, no one questioned.

The appearance of the deep purple fireworks made everyone realize that this was not a drill or training, but a real test of life and death.

Selena walked to Cade's side and asked softly, "Captain, do you need me to prepare any divine spells now? I already have mastered [Blessing] and [Healing] spells."

"Use [Blessing] now," Cade said. "Save [Healing] for battle; it's a powerful tool against demons."

Selena nodded and began to pray again.

This time, her chanting was longer and more resonant, her voice imbued with divine power. White light flowed from her hands, like warm spring water, gently permeating everyone's bodies.

The warriors, blessed by the [Blessing] spell, felt a warm current flowing through their bodies, their muscles became stronger, their reactions became more agile, and even their fear was dispelled.

"This is the power of divine magic..." Blake clenched his fist, feeling the power surging within him, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Don't get cocky," Cade said coldly. "[Blessing] only slightly increases base resistances. In a real fight, you'll still get hit. Get your act together!"

The camp took shape quickly.

Backed by a hundred-foot-high rock wall, in front of it is a low wall about half a person's height made of stones and rough wood.

A shallow trench, two feet deep, was dug in front of the low wall. Although it was not enough to stop the demons, it could at least slow down their charge.

Allen and Lynn set up a trap around the camp—three hidden tripwires connected to makeshift bells made from empty cans.

Although rudimentary, it would emit a piercing sound if triggered in the quiet night.

By the time everything was ready, it was already 8 p.m.

The moon was obscured by clouds, plunging the forest into deep darkness. Only the campfire at the campsite burned, casting flickering light and shadows.

Eight people sat around the fire, but no one spoke.

Everyone was listening intently.

The sound of the wind, the rustling of leaves, and...

In the distance, faint, inhuman roars could be heard.