Shrouded in morning mist, Zeb'Nowa lay silent. Embraced by the night, a scout team infiltrated the forests of Zeb'Nowa.
The team's members moved with remarkable agility, like fish released back into the sea, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
The scouts included four rangers, a warrior, and a mage. They were uniformly dressed, each wearing a black cloak that concealed their form.
"According to the map, we'll find a troll camp further ahead. The soldiers stationed here are trolls of the Nalorakk Camp," the leading elf said.
In the dim moonlight, the six team members gathered together, awaiting further instructions.
"Beyond the planned plan, we need your help, Magister Leylin." Sanguinar spoke more like a request than an order. As the team leader, he knew the exploits of the human mage, Leylin, and his abilities were far greater than any other member of the team.
Perhaps due to a lack of confidence in his leadership, Sanguinar could speak in such a tone.
Leylin, aware of his responsibilities, nodded and accepted the order, "No problem."
It had been some time since he entered the forest, and this was his first time sensing the magical aura here.
This task was extremely demanding, requiring the use of magic to expand his mental observation range.
Closing his eyes, Leylin extended his mental observation to infinity. With his unique control over his surroundings, he sensed the strongest magical aura in the southeast. A magical altar, used for sacrificial offerings, must be built here.
"Southeast, but the wind's unsteady today, so this direction might be off." Leylin shook his head, a little unsure of his conclusion.
The leading elf, Sanguinar, said, "That's not a problem. We'll bypass the camp ahead and sneak southeast."
As they skirted the troll camp ahead, all members of the team remained extremely cautious. This was the troll camp's most advanced outpost. Besides serving as a defensive measure, it also served to prevent foolish elves who might believe they could freely traverse Zeb'Nowa and gather intelligence through magic.
Outside the troll camp, numerous magical traps lay hidden.
These traps, through small explosions, not only alerted the surrounding trolls to intruders but also released a disorienting mist, temporarily plunging them into a coma.
Casting his [Far Sight], Leylin carefully surveyed the target ahead. With the help of a mage, navigating these areas was much easier than relying solely on experience as a ranger.
Silently passing the Nalorakk's camp, the scout team infiltrated Zeb'Nowa. To put it bluntly, entering this place, a moment of carelessness could mean instant death.
Foreseeing the dangers ahead, Leylin's magic bag contained a miniature scroll of teleportation. This was their only means of escape in the face of danger.
After a full night of stealth, dawn quietly arrived. Feeling the damp chill against his body, Sanguinar gestured. Sure enough, within sight, there lay an altar: the place where the troll witch doctors performed their magic rituals.
"Draw coordinates and mark the way. We need to leave this place quickly," Sanguinar warned the three rangers.
"We need to get a little closer. The line of sight here is limited, and the details may not be clear enough," the ranger suggested.
Leylin waved his hand, indicating, "Leave it to me."
Using [Far Sight], Leylin's eyes emitted a faint blue light, greatly expanding his field of vision.
Surrounding the sacrificial altar were the bodies of a dozen elven soldiers, their blood dried. Leylin recognized the troll witch doctor standing in the center of the altar. It was this troll shadow caster who met Leylin on his first trip to Zul'Aman.
Leylin later learned that his name was Zul'ajik, was also the leader of all the troll witch doctors in Zul'Aman. A troll skilled in large-scale witchcraft.
Not paying much attention to Zul'ajik, Leylin verbally described the markings and distinctive buildings around the altar to the ranger who was drawing the map.
After the mission was completed, the entire team prepared to retreat.
However, just as the team prepared to evacuate, a pervasive sorcery aura began to envelop them, like an invisible hand, a sign of danger closing in.
"We've been discovered!" Alerted, Leylin reacted immediately.
Quickly unwrapping his magic wrapping, he pulled out a miniature magic scroll, silently chanted an incantation, and activated the teleportation circle!
Without further ado, Sanguinar and Lethvalin quickly prepared for battle, knowing the mage had foreseen the danger.
Zul'ajik, with two troll warriors, approached the team and, using sorcery, shrouded the surrounding dark forest in a white mist.
Leylin's decision to retreat immediately was a good one; escaping now would have left them lost in the thick fog.
"Place the map in Magister Leylin's magic bag. From now on, we will fully protect him," Sanguinar said.
Zul'ajik's vision, unaffected by the white mist, clearly captured the composition of this remarkably powerful elven group.
However, the other elves didn't inspire him to kill until he saw Leylin, the human mage who had once toyed with him in Zul'Aman!
"Don't go, cunning human mage, you must die here!"
Leylin ignored Zul'ajik and continued to infuse energy into the teleportation circle.
At the same time, Aminel and Tyr'ganal within the Sanctum of the Moon reacted immediately. The scout team was in danger.
The trainee mage nearby relayed this information to the Grand Magister, while Tyr'ganal and Aminel coordinated with the team's teleportation.
A massive arcane circle above the Sanctum of the Sun activated, and the teleportation began.
Leylin activated the teleportation circle with remarkable speed, and in less than a minute, it was operational.
"Move closer to the teleportation circle!" Leylin shouted.
It was too late. Zul'ajik had already pinned the two rangers to the spot, preventing them from escaping.
Leylin didn't immediately teleport. Instead, he continued to channel his magical energy, attacking Zul'ajik.
A narrow streak of flame pierced Karlsson, while Sanguinar and Lethvalin slashed at him with their swords.
However, the experienced and vicious witch doctor leader cast a spell of pain upon every member of the team.
"We can't be wiped out here!" The three rangers at the forefront made the final sacrifice.
Lethvalin, convinced of his own mortality, tried to resist, but Sanguinar refused to give him a chance. With a single punch, he sent Lethvalin careening into the teleportation circle, pulling the helpless Leylin into the circle as well.
Zul'ajik, witnessing their escape, showed no anger. It seemed as if a mage was required to bring back the information from this place.
With a wave of his hand, the brutal Zul'ajik dispelled the mist. He held the head of a ranger in his hand and dropped the remaining body into the sacrificial circle.
"The elves thought they were clever enough, but I don't want to give them this opportunity."