On the other side, Lin Hao and his team were nearing the enemy's stronghold.
The mountainside was dotted with about twenty houses, the sound of metal clanging echoing through the air, "Dangdang!" This settlement could easily be described as half the size of a small village.
Even more concerning was that the mountain was surrounded by rivers, which meant anyone wishing to approach would need to cross them.
"These robbers are really bold! Don't they think they're aiming to become kings of the mountain?" Magna grumbled, standing on the opposite side of the river, his veins visible with frustration as he eyed the house halfway up the mountain.
"Isn't the scale too large for just two wizards?" Lin Hao asked, his curiosity piqued.
From their vantage point, Lin Hao could see the mountainside was teeming with people—moving around like ants. There must have been at least 200 individuals there!
"I don't buy it either. It's strange that only two wizards could manage such a large group. Maybe there was a mistake in the intel?" Yuno observed, sensing something wasn't right.
"If the village chief hadn't called them bandits, I would've thought this was just another village," Asta said, bewildered by the sheer scale of the operation.
Magna fell silent, clearly agreeing with their concerns.
"Damn it! That old man doesn't look trustworthy. Now he's sending us on a wild goose chase with false information to get the Knights to rush in!" Magna growled under his breath, clearly frustrated.
The Magic Emperor typically assigned different levels of Knights to missions based on their difficulty. With the sheer size of this group—more than 200 people—and only two so-called first-level low-tier mages, it was clear to Magna that this wasn't a task for him and four newcomers. There was no way this mission should have been assigned to them.
"There are too many enemies, and we have no idea what their abilities are. Acting recklessly will get us killed," Lin Hao said, his brow furrowed with concern.
"So what now?" Asta asked, looking at Magna.
"What else can we do? Charging in will only get you killed. Our best bet is to head back to the Four-Leaf Clover Kingdom, report what we've found, and send someone stronger to handle it," Magna replied, his face grim.
Suddenly, behind them, the sound of footsteps caught their attention.
As Lin Hao turned, a voice called out, "A member of the Knights? A rare guest! You're here, don't be rude—why not come for a cup of tea before you leave?"
Lin Hao immediately went on high alert, spotting five burly men blocking their path.
Apart from the two standing at the front, who appeared to be the leaders, the other three were carrying large sacks, clearly fresh from looting another village.
The two leaders were Moss and Joze, the notorious bosses of this bandit group.
Magna's face instantly soured. "Damn it! Just when I wanted to avoid this, they show up."
Lin Hao and Yuno stayed alert, while Magna gave them a terse command, "Lin Hao, take them and go. Head back to the Four-Leaf Clover Kingdom."
"What about you, Senior?" Lin Hao asked, his concern evident.
"I'll buy some time. Once you guys are far enough, I'll escape on my own," Magna replied, his brows furrowed in determination.
Moss, seeing their tension, grinned maliciously. "How can you say that? Of course, we'll welcome guests properly. Don't you want a drink before you leave?"
Moss snapped his fingers, signaling one of his men, who was carrying a large bundle over his shoulder. "Send the signal! Let the brothers come out and say hello!"
"Understood, brother!" the man replied.
With that, he dropped the bundle to the ground and pulled out his Grimoire.
"Fire creation magic: Fire Impact!" he yelled, raising his Grimoire high.
A massive pillar of flame shot up into the sky, roaring as it ascended. After reaching a certain height, it lingered in the air like a beacon.
"Go!" Magna yelled, and the group immediately hopped on their magic brooms, preparing to make a quick getaway.
But before they could take off, two men on flying brooms appeared, blocking their path—one of them was Joze.
"Is this... really just two mages?" Asta asked, still skeptical.
After all, they had only encountered five people, but they were all using magic.
Magna's face hardened even further. "Damn that old man!"
Moss couldn't hide his amusement as he saw Magna's discomfort.
Without hesitation, Moss opened his Grimoire. "Strengthen creation magic: Bear's Wrath!"
His Grimoire glowed with intense light, and in an instant, Moss's body expanded, his muscles bulging as his frame doubled in size. He had become a true behemoth, towering over them.
"Now, it's time to play!" Moss growled, his eyes blazing with malicious glee.