Several thousand Wizard Apprentices from Noren Academy, swept up in the blind confidence brought by their earlier false victory, surged grandly into the valley intelligence had identified as the location of the "Native leaders."
Their eyes gleamed with desire for high scores and glorious achievements, utterly unaware that they were plunging headfirst into a hunter's net.
The dense hordes of Magic Beasts outside the valley posed no obstacle at all to the clustered Wizard Apprentices. They swiftly crossed all manner of traps and entered the valley.
Deep within the valley, several Native "leaders" clad in fine armor, along with a seemingly small but fully armed army of extraordinary individuals behind them, appeared in the apprentices' sight.
"Enemy! Those must be the leaders mentioned in the intelligence!"
"Watch the surroundings! There should be an ambush. Activate your shields first, just in case!"
"Charge! Kill those leaders!"
The apprentices erupted into excited roars. Led by Augusta and Horn, they charged fiercely toward the enemy.
Lightning danced around Augusta's body, making her as swift as a bolt of lightning, while rocks rolled beneath Horn's feet like an advancing tide of earth.
The other apprentices also cast their spells one after another. Torrents of various elements gathered within the valley, all aimed at the enemies not far away.
Yet just as the two sides were about to collide, a sudden change erupted!
Rustle, rustle, rustle...
Countless dark figures abruptly emerged from the previously silent slopes surrounding them.
They were an overwhelming number of Native warriors, dressed in all kinds of animal hides and grass leaves, gripping longbows or throwing spears in their hands.
These soldiers had concealed themselves with animal hides and grass leaves, while using the powers of priests and Shamans to suppress their life fluctuations. They had hidden themselves perfectly, fooling the