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"Our first destination is Qurdiff," Leon informed them before separating from the players.

With that, the group boarded their new carriage—one quite different from the one they had taken when they first arrived in Kelta.

This wasn't a standard transport vehicle.

It was a military-grade carriage, built for both speed and durability. Designed to move almost as fast as a galloping horse, it was meant for covering long distances efficiently.

The reason for this was simple—they didn't have time to waste.

Every moment spent traveling was a moment they could have spent hunting Keldars and growing stronger.

Inside the carriage, it was only the players.

Leon, Nova, and Arlon the guide had opted to travel on horseback, riding alongside them instead.

Arlon's copy, however, wasn't exactly thrilled about it.

"This better not become a habit," his Doppelgänger grumbled through their telepathic link.

Arlon smirked to himself. Riding a horse wasn't exactly easy for someone from the modern era.

But that was something his copy would have to deal with for now.

Their first stop was Qurdiff—one of the portal cities closest to Kelta.

From there, they would begin their journey toward various cities near the starting towns, clearing out enemy forces along the way.

The world of Trion had changed dramatically in the past month.

With more players reaching higher levels, the dynamics of the battlefield had shifted.

And nothing reflected that more than the leaderboards.

The biggest shake-up had come from players who had switched to the Keldars' side.

Now, with their enemies feeding them experience and resources, some had risen to power faster than expected.

Despite this, the entire map wasn't accessible yet. There were still areas that only the military could reach, places too dangerous or too far for regular players.

That was where their mission came in.

Using portals, they would be sent to these key locations, clearing out Keldar forces while making a strategic sweep around the map.

It was a deliberate move—one that served both the players and the Trionian government.

Because with every Keldar they eliminated, they weren't just gaining levels.

They were taking control of the battlefield itself.

---

Traveling from Kelta to Istarra on a horse would normally take about a day and a half for a single person.

But they weren't traveling that far. They weren't heading to a starting town.

Instead, they were making their way to one of the closest portal cities, Qurdiff—a stop along the way, where they would teleport to their true destination.

Thanks to their fast-moving military carriage, they arrived at their destination, Dita, in just half a day.

Arlon knew Dita well.

Back when he had been in Istarra, he had first learned about anti-saviors from Charon.

It had been a casual mention—almost an afterthought—but one that had stuck with him.

"A new anti-savior faction has popped up in Dita," Charon had said back then, as if it were just another piece of news.

But Arlon had known even then that it was important.

And now, here they were.

A coincidence?

Not a chance.

Zephyrion was too smart for this to be just a random destination.

Arlon was certain that sending them to Dita wasn't just about clearing Keldars.

It was a strategic move—one designed to counter the growing anti-savior sentiment in the region.@@novelbin@@

By having players personally clearing the area, it would shift public perception.

The natives would see them as warriors, not invaders.

They would witness firsthand that players weren't the villains that the anti-savior factions made them out to be.

And there was another layer to this.

The presence of Leon meant that no one could harass the players without consequences.

If any Trionians had thoughts about confronting them, they would have to think twice.

A plan that addressed multiple problems at once—brilliant.

Arlon smirked slightly to himself.

Yeah, Zephyrion definitely thought this through.

And now, it was time to see how things played out.

---

Upon reaching Dita, they didn't enter the town.

Instead, as was standard for military operations, they set up camp in a clearing just outside the city limits.

There was no need for them to stay within the town itself. The news of their presence would spread soon enough.

Still, Arlon couldn't shake a thought as he glanced toward the distant city walls.

If Zephyrion had sent them here instead of a more dangerous location, then Dita must still be filled with Keldars.

And he was right.

According to reports, the native Trionians had been unable to leave the city—trapped by the sheer number of monsters lurking in the surrounding forests.

Fortunately, they weren't Named Monsters, which meant this was the perfect opportunity for the players to focus on team coordination and battle efficiency without immediate risk.

Arlon was certain of one thing—even if their levels weren't the highest on the leaderboard, the players here were the strongest.

But leveling up wasn't the real challenge.

The real battle lay ahead, and it wasn't just against Keldars.

After preparing their tents, the group entered the dense forest, led by two NPCs, Arlon the guide, and Arlon himself.

The moment they encountered their first Keldar, the air shifted.

The unease was immediate, tension rippling through the group.

Arlon didn't hesitate.

Without a word, he killed the Keldar instantly.

A clean strike. Quick. Efficient.

This was his way of helping them—not by forcing them into action, but by showing them.

Some of the players flinched, looking away. They weren't ready.

But Carole, Maria, and June didn't.

Their expressions didn't waver.

They were ready.

So when the next Keldar appeared, Arlon didn't lift a finger.

This was their fight.

The NPCs understood the situation and stayed back. They were only here as a precaution, in case anything unexpected happened.

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The first to act was June.

She cast a spell—not her strongest, but still one meant to kill.

And she got it.

The Keldar fell, its body collapsing into the grass.

Carole and Maria followed right after, taking down the next ones without hesitation.

Watching them, the rest of the players finally stepped forward, forcing themselves to take action.

By the end of the day, almost all of them had killed at least one Keldar.

Almost.

Evan hadn't, but he had helped—providing support spells, watching their backs. And for now, that was enough.

The only one left was Carmen.

No one pushed her. No one told her "It's okay" or tried to convince her.

Because it wasn't about what they thought.

This was her own struggle.

And even if she couldn't do it, it really was okay.

But still… it had to be her decision.

No one could make it for her.

The only one who did anything at all was Evan.

Every now and then, when he noticed her shoulders trembling, he would reach out, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.

A silent gesture. No words were needed.

She could choose when—or if—she was ready.

And when the day finally ended, they returned to camp, the weight of their first hunt settling on them.

Nyx also didn't hunt anything. Arlon needed her to learn first, so she only watched. She would also watch the next day.

Before long, Arlon found an excuse to switch places with his Doppelgänger, ensuring that Arlon the guide was present while he slipped away.

But as he did, he noticed June watching him.

She didn't say anything.

She just smiled.

She knew something was off.

And their conversation from before?

It wasn't over yet.

Tomorrow, she would find a way to continue it.

And Arlon knew it too.

***

They only had three tents since the players would log out, so the camping area wasn't big.

They lit a fire and cooked some food. Luckily, Nova knew how to cook.

With that, the day ended end the players logged out.