Lord: I can see loyalty.

Although the giant ape was dead, the fierce battle had almost exhausted all the members of the assault team, and many of them were injured by the flying black mud or gravel.

Vio's dark complexion faded quickly, his breathing gradually became steady, and the spot on his chest where he had been kicked showed no signs of injury. Thanks to his breathing technique, he was still the best-performing player on the field.

"Quick! Treat the wounded! Handle the black mud carefully, don't touch it directly!" Albright wiped the blood and sweat from his face and loudly directed the Cooper hunters.

They carried some herbs gathered from the mountains and forests with them, and were now urgently applying them to their companion.

Valerie, accompanied by several sharp-eyed hunters, quickly examined the giant ape's carcass and surrounding environment to confirm that there were no remaining signs of activity.

Not long after, more rapid and orderly footsteps echoed from the direction of the outpost's main gate, accompanied by Jimmy's loud shout: "My Lord! Chief Albright! The enemy in front has been cleared. A large number of enemies were attacking your direction earlier. Are you all alright?"

It was Jimmy's feint attack force that, upon hearing the sounds of fierce fighting within the outpost and seeing the flashing lights, decisively routed the barbarians who were holding them back.

Following closely behind were the main militia led by Xavier and Ansquie, who also caught up as quickly as possible after seeing the signal.

Upon seeing the headless corpse of the giant ape in the arena and the exhausted expressions of the commando team, the arriving Southern Border soldiers all gasped in shock, but then erupted into an even louder cheer.

Eliminating an outpost at such a low cost, and even taking down such a terrifying monster, is undoubtedly a shot in the arm.

"My lord, the outpost has been completely cleared." Jimmy walked up to Vio and respectfully reported.

Vio didn't waste any words and immediately began to make arrangements. "Jimmy, immediately arrange for men to take over the defense of the outpost and establish a temporary base. Ansquie, take men to thoroughly search this outpost; don't overlook any suspicious items or passages."

"Chief Albright, your men are most familiar with the mountains and forests. Please send out scout teams to explore deeper into the mountains, but remember to keep in touch at all times."

With orders issued, the allied forces quickly sprang into action.

The bodies and black mud were dragged to a distant location for centralized disposal. The low wall of the outpost was reinforced, the sentry posts were re-established, and the soldiers took turns patrolling and preparing their weapons.

Ansquie's search quickly yielded results. In one of the most secluded spots near the mountain wall, they found a simple altar with some dried animal skulls and a small puddle of semi-solidified black mud on it.

Xavier examined the altar closely, his brow furrowed. "Those dead priests and monsters probably originated from here."

Vio stared at the symbol without speaking. The existence of this thing meant that the Haro tribe was not just a place of pure madness.

About an hour later, the main force had basically completed its rest and recuperation, the wounded had received initial care, and the Cooper hunters sent out returned one after another, bringing more in-depth intelligence.

"The path forward has been cleared, and there are signs of frequent activity."

"Two similar makeshift outposts were discovered, but smaller in scale and seemingly understaffed; some had already been abandoned."

"To the northeast, about a kilometer away, the fog in the valley is very thick, and we dare not get too close... That is also the direction of the Sacred Forest, and it is very likely their lair."

It seems the goal is clear.

Vio, Albright, Jimmy, and others discussed the matter briefly and decided not to delay any longer.

Leaving behind about a dozen men to guard the captured outpost as a retreat route, the remaining hundreds of Allied soldiers set off again, heading towards the northeastern valley indicated by the hunter.

This time, the march was more cautious, and the pace was noticeably slower.

As the scouts had predicted, they encountered two nearly deserted outposts along the way, with only some junk and embers from campfires left behind.

But as they walked through a grove of vines, they finally encountered a proper ambush.

About twenty or thirty Haro barbarians suddenly emerged from behind the stone pillars and from the vines above their heads, hurling stones and short spears in an attempt to knock down the soldiers at the front of the column.

However, the allied forces, having learned from their previous experience, responded effectively. Cooper Hunters retaliated with more precise arrows, while the Southern soldiers protected their vitals with shields, maintaining their formation without faltering.

"They're stalling for time, or rather, wearing us down." Albright looked at the corpses of the ambushers on the ground. These barbarians were clearly just cannon fodder, more like discarded pawns.

"Whether it's a trap or not, the source must be destroyed." Vio's voice was calm as he looked into the depths of the forest ahead, where the stench of decay was growing stronger. "Pass down the order: strengthen the flanks and rear defenses, consolidate the forces, and prepare for battle."

As they went deeper, the putrid smell of the black mud grew stronger, and the mountain walls on both sides became steeper, as if they were entering the bottom of a huge, natural funnel.

Is Mount Loba... hollow inside?

The fog thickened, visibility decreased, and the light dimmed, with only occasional ray of sunlight filtering through gaps in the fog.

The tall trees gradually thinned out, replaced by more slippery rocks and a black shrub that emitted a faint stench.

The stench grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, after passing through a relatively narrow stone cave entrance, the view suddenly opened up, sending a chill down the spines of everyone who witnessed it.

They were standing on a high slope, below which was a huge valley surrounded by steep mountain walls!

In the center of the valley, there was a shocking sight.

Instead of the densely packed villages I had imagined, there was a chaotic camp built around a huge swamp of sludge at the deepest part of the valley, constantly bubbling with black, viscous bubbles.

Hundreds of makeshift shacks and animal-hide tents were scattered haphazardly around the mud pit.

More Harlows swarmed the camp like ants, far outnumbering any group they had encountered before.

Along the edge of the camp and the path leading to the mud pit stood several wooden watchtowers that were clearly more sturdy than the outposts.

Most strikingly, behind the swamp of mud lies a massive but dilapidated black cave, in front of which stands an even taller altar made of animal bones and twisted black wood.

On the altar, several hunched figures, draped in complete animal skins and wearing huge deer skulls on their heads, were raising a gnarled wooden staff and chanting fervently to the dark mass of barbarians below.

As he chanted, the black mud in the swamp churned even more violently, emitting visible, dark ripples that carried a corrosive odor.

The barbarians below seemed to be summoned, letting out a unified and frenzied roar, their weapons pounding the ground or shields, creating a wave of sound.

Within that cave, figures could be vaguely seen moving about.

This is the source of evil, the Harlow tribe...

Or rather, it's the black mud monster behind it and its puppets.

The coalition soldiers held their breath and gripped their weapons tightly; the final battlefield was right before them.