Oh, I can't possibly Alec feained reluctance.
Yet his body instinctively settled into a seat.
The moment slices of meat and vegetables were added to the pot, they commenced their feast.
After dinner, with a night watch assigned, Fongghao retreated to his tent for rest.
Now Ana shared the tent with Fong Hao, providing a semblance of close protection.
On the following day, the expedition resumed its journey.
Along the way, they encountered a few wild beasts trailing them and faced several minor waves of monster attacks.
After traveling for a half day, they finally arrived at their intended destination, the ruins of a city.
Most of the city walls had crumbled and through the open city gates.
The remnants of collapsed houses and structures were visible.
Ruined walls stood amidst new growth with greenery blanketing the debris.
In this desolation, a hint of vitality persisted.
The layout of the buildings within the city was clear with no immediate threats in sight.
Have we arrived? There are no enemies.
Alec expressed his curiosity, inquiring of a nearby mercenary.
The mercenary replied, "Isn't it better that there are no enemies? We can take a stroll, and upon our return, each will receive five gold coins.
A splendid outcome.
" Unlike Alec and Fong Hao, the mercenaries were not eager to encounter any monsters.
Rather, a leisurely exploration followed by a reward was their preferred scenario.
Alec nodded in agreement, acknowledging the sentiment.
However, the Dragon Scale Mercenary Corps was not naive enough to expend funds for mere sightseeing.
Upon halting before the city gates, Captain Primo of the Dragon Scale Mercenary Corps called out to the assembly, "Attention all teams.
Stand by for 10 minutes.
Attend your needs and check your equipment.
We are about to enter a hazardous area.
" At the sound of Primo's command, the atmosphere shifted to one of tension.
Though no one responded verbally, team leaders began urging their members to check their gear to avoid unnecessary losses in the heat of battle due to minor oversightes.
As the prospect of impending combat loomed, Alex's face flushed with a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Fongo, let us move closer together for mutual support.
Alex's voice trembled slightly as he placed a hand on his long sword.
Certainly, Fong Hao concurred without hesitation.
His aim was to locate the treasure chest within the ruins, and having each other's backs would simplify the task.
Before long, the 10 minutes had elapsed.
Captain Primo waved his hand, signaling the group to proceed.
This time, there was no pause.
They passed through the city gates and stepped into the ruins.
Following Primo's earlier warning, the atmosphere among the mercenary groups was tense.
Conversation ceased and weapons were drawn as they remained vigilant of their surroundings.
Squeaks echoed in the air.
A strange cacophony erupted from the ruins.
Some creatures resembling skinned monkeys emerged from the shadows, crouching on the fractured walls, their eyes fixed intently upon the sudden appearance of the human contingent.
The distance was not insurmountable.
Fongo glanced at the monkeys and the prompt materialized before him.
Ruins corpse demon level 5.
Remarkably, it was a fifth tier creature.
In terms of the transformed units within their territory, a fifth tier was not particularly high.
However, among this mercenary band, a level five entity was considered quite formidable.
Apart from the heroes, Dimmitga and Ana, only the captain of the second squad, Primo, had attained level seven.
While the majority of the remaining members were merely at levels 3 to four in a one-on-one confrontation, it would be challenging to contend with such monsters.
The ruin's corpse demon bore a striking resemblance to a monkey afflicted by albinism with pointed ears and sharp fangs.
Its head adorned with grotesqually mismatched features and its elongated arms resting on the ground tipped with slender claws.
A massive grotesque growth protruded from its back, akin to a burlap sack slung over its shoulders.
Archers, eliminate the white-skinned monkeys in the vicinity.
Captain Primo commanded, "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" The order was given, and the sound of arrows slicing through the air filled the atmosphere.
Even the melee units were equipped with ranged weaponry.
They swiftly drew their bows, unleashing a volley upon the surrounding ruins corpse demons.
The demons upon being struck emitted blood curdling howls.
Simultaneously, an everinccreasing number of white-kinned monkeys materialized, swelling to a count of 70 or 80 in the blink of an eye.
Their numbers continuing to surge.
In the next moment, all the white-kinned monkeys launched an assault on the crowd.
Weapons raised in defense.
They formed a protective circle.
Damn it.
My men have been dragged away by those monkeys.
Curse be their kind.
One soldier cursed.
Their blood is toxic.
We must avoid having it splashed into our mouths and eyes.
And damn, the numbers keep growing.
The mercenary groups descended into disarray.
Fongo's team stood adjacent to Eric's mercenary band, forming a defensive perimeter to counter the advancing white-kinned monkeys.
Aside for Dimmitga and Anya, the remaining members hailed from a bandit background, displaying a fierceness that surpassed that of the white-kinned monkeys.
Fonggha refrained from casting spells, opting instead to draw his long sword, cleaving at the attacking monkeys.
However, as he was shielded in the center, opportunities for attack were scarce.
Fortunately, their collective numerical advantage proved decisive.
After leaving dozens of carcasses in their wake, the white-kinned monkeys chose to retreat, lurking behind the ruins as they sought another opportunity.
Seizing this moment, the group began to recuperate, consuming antidotes.
"Eric, are you all right?" Fong Hao quietly inquired, noticing Eric trembling nearby.
Mafina, one of the team members was injured and is undergoing detoxification, Eric replied.
The two squads moved in unison.
Their numbers were not extensive yet following the battle.
Their casualties remained minimal.
This was largely attributable to the presence of the two heroes.
Not only did the heroes alleviate a significant portion of the pressure, but they also provided numerous attribute enhancements.
They rallied their spirits and pressed onward, observing that the battle casualties were minimal.
Captain Primo commanded the team to delve deeper.
The group remained vigilant against the lurking white-kinned monkeys, kicking aside the corpses beneath their feet as they advanced.
Fong Hao and his companions followed suit, their gazes drawn to the surrounding structures.
A frown creased their brows.
The buildings bore ancient stone patterns that evoked a sense of the sacred.
Could it be that this place is linked to a temple? Before Fong, how could ponder this further? The team had already departed, continuing their exploration of the ruined city.
The number of lurking monsters increased, threatening to launch a second assault at any moment.
Yet, Captain Primo persisted in guiding the team inward.
This compelled Fong how to consider the true purpose of the Dragon Scale mercenary corps.
The mission issued by the Dragon Scale Mercenary Corps was shrouded in secrecy, meaning that prior to their arrival, all mercenary groups remained unaware of the objectives and aims of this expedition.
Now, as the mercenary core pressed deeper rather than engaging in the eradication of surrounding monsters, it became evident that they were pursuing a specific goal.
They were evidently in search of a particular item with a clear understanding of its location.
After fending off two waves of attacks from the white-skinned monkeys, the core finally approached the core structure.
It was a grandstone fortress, partially collapsed and entwined with creeping vines.
Yet, glimpses of various religious temple patterns and symbols along with shards of colored glass could still be discerned.