After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Lia resolutely faced the Serpent Leader's scimitar, did not dodge, and slashed out with the Blazing Swordsman's level 20 Ultimate Skill, Explosive Flame Slash.

Bright crimson blood bloomed like flowers, even more vibrant than the girl's red hair.

The Serpent Leader let out a piercing scream, his body cleaved in two by the Explosive Flame Slash.

Blue blood spurted into the air.

The trident scepter fell to the ground from his hand.

A globe of light burst from the body of the Serpent Leader and showered onto the members of Snow Goose.

By conquering the twelfth layer of the Mystic Realm, they received a Divine Gift from the World Tree Goddess.

Each of them gained a level and they also obtained three pieces of Purple Gear.

However, Aiko and the others felt no excitement.

Each team member's heart was in their throat, anxiously looking towards the girl standing still, her greatsword bloodied.

"Li, Lia, are you... okay?"

Aiko's voice shook a bit.

Looking at Lia, it seemed there was a serious problem no matter how one thought about it.

Yet besides those dry words, she couldn't find any other comfort to offer.

"Captain..." Klyne covered her mouth, her eyes filled with a hint of unbearable sorrow.

Klrona stood dazed for the first time feeling that adventuring wasn't a 'game'; it truly involved life-threatening risks.

Oru blamed himself for not convincing Klyne that night to lend the money to Lia.

Otherwise, the Serpent Leader might have fallen earlier.

"Oh, this young lady is fine, just a minor injury," Lia said.

She touched her left eye where the blood was thick and warm, covering her vision so that she couldn't see clearly for a moment.

Though her words were casual, she felt fear too. What if she became blind?

But the sensor ladybug was directly facing her, and beyond the screen were many adventurers, probably including Lin Da, she couldn't show any weakness.

"Sorry!" Phyllis hurried over, casting Healing Art on Lia's face repeatedly.

Lia didn't know the current situation, but the others could see it clearly.

There was a three-centimeter-long gash that was bone-deep, crossing diagonally over Lia's left eye, with blood pouring profusely.

Standard Healing Art could only stop the bleeding, accelerate wound healing, and restore the thickness of the Life Barrier.

It was powerless for already damaged human organs.

Phyllis guiltily slapped herself twice in the face.

If he hadn't been so clever and altered Lin Da's strategy... Lia wouldn't have gotten hurt. Discover stories with empire

Ah?

Lia, seeing the reluctant expressions of those around her wanting to speak but hesitating, showed a slight panic on her delicate face.

Even with Healing Art to stop the bleeding, her left eye was still painfully burning.

Barely managing to open it, she saw only darkness.

On the belly of the sensor ladybug, a flood of suggestions came pouring in:

"Congratulations to the Snow Goose Adventure Team for conquering the 12th layer of the World Tree!"

"Amazing, that final strike was something I couldn't have achieved."

"It seems like they got three pieces of Purple Gear? Snow Goose is quite lucky."

Some people were concerned about whether Lia's eye would become blind.

But to most adventurers, injuries like Lia's were commonplace.

Six people entering the Mystic Realm, it's usual for someone to leave something behind.

Broken legs or arms were too common.

Losing an eye, on the other hand, was considered a 'minor injury'.

But it was different for the members of Snow Goose.

They were a group of young ladies who were nurtured in comfort and not accustomed to being injured.

The worst injury Lia had sustained was a cut on her arm on the ninth layer.

'Blind? Will I never be able to use this eye again?'

Lia felt helpless, touching her left eye and trying hard to purse her lips, not wanting to expose her vulnerability.

"It is just an eye," she said,

flinging the blood from her hand and shakingly wiping it on her trousers, trying to appear indifferent. "It's nothing serious."

Any member of Snow Goose could see that Lia was putting on a brave face and being stubborn. The tears in her eyes were the size of peas.

This time, no one had the heart to scold her.

"Foolish captain," sighed Aiko, pulling Lia into her embrace.

Klyne turned off the connection between the sensor ladybug and the screen.

Snow Goose Adventure Team needed some time for themselves.

...

...

When Lin Da and the others returned from Breeze River Beach, it was already evening.

Six hours had passed, and there were still no investigators from either the Guild or the Imperial Knights.

The only consolation was that there were still two days before the Monster Tide erupted.

There was still ample time.

The lights of the Inner City District shone brightly at night, with a Magic Guided Streetlamp every few meters along the main street.

But the view in the distance looked like a flickering flame, only vaguely revealing an adventure team of about six people.

Lin Da was deep in thought.

How to persuade the Adventurers' Guild to organize a large number of adventurers to station at Qingfeng River Beach.

He rested his chin on his hand, slightly bowed his head, and looked downward.

The streets at night were not very crowded; even if he didn't focus entirely on what was ahead, there would be no problem.

But Lin Da stopped in his tracks.

What he saw was a pair of brown boots covered in mud.

The black stockings were torn in several places, revealing skin with extensive abrasions. Above, a red miniskirt with many magic potions hanging on the belt.

He came to his senses and looked up in surprise.

Standing before him was a girl with fiery red short hair, wearing a white eye patch over her left eye, her lips pursed, looking at him with a slightly hostile gaze.

The girl wore a brown, high-collared coat concealing her petite figure, with her hands in the pockets.

Lin Da was momentarily stunned, looking at the companions behind the girl:

Aiko smiled at him, though she looked very tired. Klyne nodded slightly, restrained, Oru raised his healed arm greening him.

Klrona was looking down, poking the ground with her toe as if she were stepping on ants.

Meanwhile, Phyllis, shaking and clutching her fists, looked as if she had done something wrong.

At first glance, the Snow Goose Adventure Team appeared disheveled. Each member was dirty and grimy, indistinguishable from those teams that had returned defeated from the Mystic Realm.

Yet the strategy Lin Da had given Phyllis should have meant there were absolutely no problems.

What made him feel a mix of emotions was the fact that facing these old teammates, after just over half a month, there was already a subtle sense of estrangement.

Behind him were Kafni and Monica. This chance meeting was also a meeting between two different adventure teams.

The streetlamp between them cast a clear light.

Each team's leader, with their members, encountered each other.

"Young Lady has cleared the 12th level," Lia said, raising her little head first, "Did you see? Young Lady's performance?"

Aiko blinked hard as if giving some kind of hint.

Lin Da naturally understood what Aiko meant, but today… he didn't want to 'understand'.

"No," he shook his head, "I just got back from the wilderness."

Lia looked at him in astonishment.

"Your eyes…" Lin Da hesitated before asking.

"Oh."

"It's nothing serious, pretty normal for adventurers."

"Just blindness."

Lia said nonchalantly as if discussing someone else's problem.

"Blindness?"

Lin Da frowned.

Lia had expected him to panic immediately, thinking of solutions,

but after a moment of shock, Lin Da thought: it seems the game is back on track.

The Lia he knew in the game was a red-haired, one-eyed swordsman.

Mature and steady, a powerful swordsman who led The Mandalas to their peak.

But the Lia he met after crossing over was a lot weaker.

He also reflected on whether it was his fault, having taken on too many tasks meant for the team leader, leading Lia to become a giant baby who only complained about others.

After he left the team, the game seemed to get back on track.

This way, there was still hope for Lia to become the respected "Bursting Flames."

People don't stay the same forever.

Having walked past the crossroads, each going their own way could be considered a good thing.

He would lead his own team with defeating the Demon King as the ultimate goal.

And Lia, too, would transform from a giant baby into the reliable swordsman from the game.

"If you don't rejoin the team,"

to his surprise, Lia seemed to be trying to salvage something, saying word by word, "More people will get hurt."

"Maybe even die."

Lia felt a surge of heat in her chest.

She bet Lin Da couldn't let go of Snow Goose.

She didn't believe Lin Da could forget three years of adventures together.

If Lin Da didn't care about her, why did he spend much more energy on her than on Aiko and the others?

Now, Lia was giving Lin Da an opportunity.

The young girl raised her head, her demeanor proud.

"You know, I'm in a rush."

Lin Da didn't look at her but spoke to Aiko, "Snow Goose, it's on you now. You guys can become great adventurers."

A polite remark that made both girls turn pale.

"Let's meet again when we have time," Lin Da said. "I still have unfinished things to deal with."

Having time to meet again,

The biggest lie of adult adventurers.

A complete evasion.

Aiko's mouth felt bitter as she awkwardly responded, "Okay."

Lia watched as Lin Da and his team members passed by, seemingly heading towards an unreachable place,

and suddenly felt an impulse, biting her lip and grabbing Lin Da's wrist.

Aiko and the rest looked at Lia in surprise.

Could it be,

About to speak up?

The Powder Keg?

Lia, who had been slashed by the Serpent Leader, might have been thinking clearer.

But Aiko felt sympathy.

It was already too late; she could even guess Lin Da's response.

Lia slowly said, "If I invite you back..."

"Will you return to Snow Goose?"

Lin Da's steps halted.

Monica's small, anxious hand grabbed his coat, and Kafni squinted at him.

Without any hesitation, Lin Da shook his head: "My team members are in Phoenix Tail Flower."

Lia's eyelids twitched as she took a half-step back.

"Lia, I have thought about it,"

Lin Da looked towards the large tree standing in the city center, "Taking everyone from Snow Goose to the top of the World Tree."

"Then why did you leave the team?"

Lia was full of confusion.

The original members of the Snow Goose Adventure Team, too, had stood on a road curb by a shabby street one night, looking up at the World Tree under the stars, sharing their dreams.

If Lin Da promised to take them to the top of the World Tree, then why leave the team?

Thinking carefully, they had never calmly sat down and talked through things.

"The initial purpose of Snow Goose changed," Lin Da said.

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