Outside the secret realm.
After Abby departed, the pitch-black mirror finally displayed an image again.
Everyone who had been anxiously watching from the outside breathed a slight sigh of relief when they saw John's face.
Thank goodness, John was still alright!
Some cried tears of joy, not for John, but for their own children still trapped inside, their fates unknown.
As long as John remained conscious, there was still hope that they could bring the children home.
Everyone looked at John with hopeful eyes, as if he were their savior.
Geoffrey, Percival, and the others felt a bit more relaxed.
It seemed there wouldn't be any other issues for the time being...
Principal Sophia watched the silver mirror and furrowed her brows slightly.
She felt... there was something different about John now.
What exactly it was, she couldn't quite say.
But definitely, he had changed from before.
...
Archibald arrived at the city walls early in the morning.
Thanks to clearing six elite monsters the day before, the number of monsters attacking the city today had not increased due to any penalty mechanisms.
Despite being exhausted, everyone was also filled with hope.
Today marked the 11th day!
They just needed to hold on for four more days to be free!
All they had to do was ensure the city walls were not breached and that they themselves survived these four days, then they would be able to leave!
Everyone was thrilled, yet Archibald did not share this sentiment.
He slightly pursed his lips, instructing everyone to fortify their defenses.
John had already warned that the challenges would only intensify.
So, no matter what, they had to protect the entire fortress!
When the time came, the usual thunderous roar sounded, but this time it was different.
They also heard other roars, sounds they had never heard before!
What was going on?!
Anxiety appeared on the faces of those atop the walls as they tensely watched the creatures sprinting towards them from the distance.
Then, at the sight of those monsters, their pupils dilated in shock.
"Emerald... emerald-tier elite monsters, twelve of them!"
Silence...
Everyone fell into silence the moment they saw those elite monsters.
"And..."
Someone began to speak with difficulty, "they're completely different from yesterday's." Everyone tightly gripped their staffs or swords.
In that instant, they even lost the courage to speak!
Twelve emerald-tier elite monsters!
How could they possibly overcome them? Yesterday's six were only managed by exploiting John's strategy to make them turn on each other!
Today there were twice as many—twelve in total!
What could he say? What dared he say?
Even he couldn't help but feel intimidated facing the boss, how could he expect others to remain undistracted?
Roar!
The massive silver-white snow wolf slowly advanced towards the fortress.
Though it was still three to four hundred meters away from the fortress's protective shield, everyone felt the oppressive presence of the diamond-tier boss.
They had never experienced such a sensation from any minor creature or elite monster before.
Many were even trembling uncontrollably; at that moment, it felt not as if they faced a diamond-tier boss, but the Grim Reaper himself.
Now, they didn't even have the courage to cast their spells!
No!
Archibald clenched his teeth, trying desperately to speak, but found himself unable to.
This couldn't continue.
Once everyone lost their fighting spirit and the resolve to win, they would be left with only one path—death.
The most dreaded thing in an army is the loss of morale!
If they had already given up hope before the battle even began, what would they do next?
But he simply couldn't speak out.
The overwhelming pressure, like a massive mountain pressing down on them, made it impossible to breathe.
A boundless fear was slowly breeding within their hearts.
Boom!
A fireball exploded among the wolf pack!
The snow wolves, already fluffy, were now speckled with sparks.
Since the snow wolves were gathered together, the strike hit many of them!
13456!
75437!
23457!
Bursts of damage exploded among the group of snow wolves.
Everyone was astonished as they looked towards the direction from which the skills were being cast.
Was that...
John?
John stood on the platform, continuously unleashing skills at the snow wolves.
One fireball after another exploded, causing waves of howls.
"What are you doing just standing here watching? Do you think these monsters will just die on their own?"
John's tone was indifferent, as if slapping everyone in the face with his words.
In that moment, everyone snapped to alertness, though they still felt some fear.
It was the intimidation from the boss!
They could barely keep a firm grip on their staffs in their hands.
But the next second, they felt a lightness over them.
[You have received a buff: Strength in Unity!]
[Description: Unite to combat the beasts! Damage increased by 100%! Mind power immunity boosted by 100%! MP recovery speed increased by 100%! Skill damage includes a bleeding buff that stacks and cannot be dispelled!]