The third phase began as the team stepped through the towering stone archway, leaving the relative familiarity of the middle area behind. The outer area was a sprawling, unfamiliar landscape, shrouded in darkness and filled with unknown dangers. Liam's rough layout was all they had to guide them, and even that was incomplete, based on fleeting glimpses he had caught during his previous quests.
The air was thick with tension, and the silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant sounds of unseen threats. The team moved cautiously, their footsteps light and careful, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. The path ahead was unpredictable, winding through dense thickets of trees and over uneven, rocky terrain.
"Stay close," Liam whispered, his voice barely audible. "We don't know what's out here, so be ready for anything."
The team nodded, their expressions tense and focused. They moved in a tight formation, their weapons at the ready, their senses heightened. The night air was cool and damp, the scent of earth and pine heavy in their nostrils. The moon cast faint, dappled light through the canopy above, providing just enough illumination to navigate by.
As they pressed deeper into the outer area, the landscape grew wilder and more treacherous. The path narrowed, forcing them to move in single file, their backs pressed against the rough bark of towering trees. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig or the distant hoot of an owl.
Suddenly, a figure dropped from the trees above, landing silently in front of the group. The team froze, their weapons raised, as the figure stepped into the moonlight.
It was a guard, but unlike any they had faced before. His armor was sleek and black, adorned with intricate silver markings that seemed to glow in the dim light. His eyes were cold and piercing, and his stance was that of a seasoned warrior.
"Who are you?" the guard demanded, his voice like thunder in the still night air.
Liam stepped forward, hiding the dagger in his hand behind his back. "We got lost," he replied.
Liam's plan was to get as close to the guard as possible and attack him. The key to one hit, one kill, was an element of surprise. If he failed that, then winning the battle was impossible.
The guard's eyes narrowed, and he let out a low, mocking laugh. "You got lost? In the restricted area? I don't think so."
Before Liam could react, the guard's hand flashed out, a blade glinting in the moonlight. Liam dodged the strike, his reflexes honed by countless training sessions in the real world. The guard pressed his attack, his movements fluid and precise.
The team sprang into action, their weapons flashing as they engaged the guard. The clash of steel echoed through the night, sharp and jarring. The guard was skilled, and his every movement was calculated and deadly, but the team fought with the desperation of the cornered.
It was just one versus the team, but they were still struggling to even land one strike.
Rin's sword flashed as she darted in. Kai and Joon Ho fought side by side. Mi-Na moved with the grace of a dancer, her strikes fluid and effortless. Soo-Min hung back as her dagger trembled in her hand as she watched the chaotic scene unfold. Joon Seok was covering Liam from the side.
The guard fought with the ferocity of a cornered beast, his blade a blur of motion as he parried and struck. But the team was relentless, and their attacks were well coordinated. With a final, desperate strike, Liam's dagger found its mark, and the guard crumpled to the ground, his body still.
The team stood panting, their weapons dripping with blood, as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle. They had won, but the fight had been costly, their energy and stamina drained by the intense struggle.
"Is everyone okay?" Liam asked, his voice breathless but firm.
The team nodded, their faces flushed with exertion and adrenaline. They knew they couldn't afford to rest, not with the unknown dangers that lay ahead.
'Fuck! That was probably one of the elite guards. Even the six of us couldn't handle one of them. I don't think we will be able to win if two or more appear at the same time.'
'Should we head back?" Liam asked himself. But when he looked at Rin, his confidence returned. 'No. We are almost there!'
The team pressed on, their movements quicker now, fueled by the urgency of their mission.
The path grew steeper, and the terrain more treacherous. They climbed over jagged rocks and navigated narrow ledges, their footing precarious and uncertain. The air grew colder as the wind whipped through the trees with a mournful howl.
Everything was natural as it acted as a defense mechanism. It was hard to get in or out of the area. And one wrong step could make them taste their death.
As they crested a hill, they found themselves face-to-face with a group of elite guards, their armor gleaming in the moonlight. The guards were not ordinary soldiers, but cultivators, their bodies imbued with the power of Qi. Their eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and their stances were those of warriors born and bred for battle.
"Halt!" the lead guard barked, his voice like thunder. "You are trespassing in a restricted area. Surrender now, and we may show mercy."
'I don't think they are gonna spare us even if we surrender. They are strong enough to easily defeat us without harming us, but I can clearly smell the hostility coming from them. They are going to kill as soon as they see an opening.'
Liam's mind raced as he assessed the situation. They were outnumbered and outmatched, their exhaustion and injuries weighing heavily upon them. But he knew they couldn't afford to surrender, not after everything they had been through.
"We can't fight them," Rin whispered, her voice filled with desperation. "They're too strong."
Liam's jaw set in determination. "We have to. We can't let them alert others. We fight, and we fight to win."