After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

The casualties from the earthquake, caused by the Royal Capital's fall, were almost nonexistent for those citizens due to the New Moon Knight.

For this reason, Lin Da was willing to spare the New Moon Knight's life.

This woman still had value. Once the Demon King was defeated and peace returned to the continent, she'd be put on trial.

Another ten minutes passed. Only when not a single sound remained above ground did the people, like ants leaving their anthill, flood out of the shelter.

"What happened here? My home... where is my home?"

"Gone! Hahaha, everything is gone. I came from another province, worked fifty years in Cyan City to buy a house, and now it's just a pile of rubble! Hahaha!"

"Wuuu... Mom..."

Staring at the ruined cityscape, the despair of the citizens surged. Many helplessly knelt on the ground, quietly sobbing.

Cyan City was gone, and it was only the beginning.

They had all heard the Princess's announcement: In the days to come, only the Elf Forest would remain as the last pure land. All other cities would face attacks from the Demon King's Army.

"The Adventurer's Weekly building collapsed. Who do I submit my manuscript to now?" Kami, lugging a Magic Guided Camera, frowned in frustration.

Among the crowd, she was surprisingly the most optimistic one.

Weylon had recovered considerably and said pensively, "Everyone on the continent will head for the Elf Forest. The sooner we arrive, the better. Though it's vast, the Elf Forest can't accommodate everyone from the continent. Those who arrive later might..."

Hearing Weylon's words, many commoners and low-tier adventurers, barely level ten, paled further.

It was obvious even without thinking—only higher-tier adventurers would be accepted into the Elf Forest.

Weylon, being the chairman of the White Dove City Adventurers' Guild; Meivantes, a member of the city council; and Kami, the chief editor of the White Dove Morning News, all had the qualifications to remain in the Elf Forest.

But ordinary individuals? Not likely.

A blonde elf mother held her child, standing bewildered in the wind.

On this vast continent, she looked around, finding nowhere to go.

...

"Lin Da!"

Lia's group rushed out of the shelter, immediately flying toward the massive pit at the city center.

When they arrived and saw Lin Da alive and unharmed, their hearts finally settled.

"Teacher!"

"Captain, sir!"

"Master!"

Seeing a group of beautiful young women running toward him with concern, Lin Da's slightly weak posture immediately straightened, and a smile appeared on his face.

He opened his arms and hugged each of the girls one by one.

"I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you all!"

Lin Da gently patted Bailuo's back, ruffled Lia's hair, and kissed Monica's cheek.

Every girl received his care.

The joy was fleeting.

When the hateful curses of a Knight rang out in the distance, they all had to face reality: how to deal with the aftermath of Cyan City and... liberate the Royal Capital.

"Evelyn, you'll fail for sure!

The vast majority of Legends in the Royal Capital have pledged allegiance to the Demon King's Castle, not to mention an Angel, a 99-level Legend, guarding there. What can you possibly use to reclaim the Holy Tree?

As long as the Holy Tree remains in the Demon King's hands, no Hero will ever be born on the Mystic Continent!"

The New Moon Knight exuded a hint of smugness. "After tens of thousands of years, His Majesty the Demon King is finally uniting the two continents. My capture has meaning."

Evelyn furrowed her brows in irritation and kicked the New Moon Knight in the forehead.

"Lin Da, she's all yours. Purify this piece of trash."

The young women surrounding Lin Da all dispersed, gazing respectfully at this Legendary Swordsman.

Angel also approached, kneeling on one knee. "Your Grace, Coldmoon Duke."

Evelyn waved dismissively. "The situation is unique. From now on, no need to salute when you see me. Angel, take the trainees from the Ice Abyss and escort the civilians to the southern part of the continent."

"The south?" Angel asked in confusion.

On the Mystic Continent, the distribution of power grew stronger toward the center.

The four corners—east, south, west, north—were all weak cities.

The "south" Evelyn referred to typically meant the "White Southern Red" region.

"Evelyn's reasoning makes sense. Given the current situation, weaker cities are actually safer."

Lin Da deliberated briefly before explaining, "If the Demon King's Army succeeded in their surprise attack on the Royal Capital, then the entrance to the Teleportation Array must be located near the Royal Capital. Otherwise, their large-scale troop movements would never have escaped the notice of the Legends guarding the capital.

With the Royal Capital fallen and transformed into the Demon King Army's base, they will undoubtedly begin to erode adventurer strongholds gradually from this central hub.

The cities on the continent's edges, like Aoxia City and Red Heart City, are farthest from the Royal Capital. The lower layers of the World Tree there are of little strategic importance to the Demons.

Province capitals, on the other hand, are the most dangerous."

After hearing Lin Da's analysis, the group nodded silently.

The logic was straightforward. Still, the ability to remain calm and reason logically amidst such a formidable crisis was truly rare.

Angel stole a glance at Evelyn, noticing a faint look of satisfaction on her face.

These two really do have an unusual relationship... When the Dark Shadow was still in the Royal Capital, some rumors had already begun circulating.

Who would've thought Lin Da was the Dark Shadow all along?

Angel shook his head helplessly, recalling how he had deliberately made things difficult for Lin Da when he first joined the ranks.

In a real fight, he wouldn't stand a chance against the Dark Shadow.

After briefly discussing the evacuation of the civilians, the group returned to the main topic.

How to purify the New Moon Knight and make this Witch serve the adventurers.

Lin Da said, "Give me half an hour to recover my energy first. Also, I'll need a secluded room. Evelyn, seal the New Moon Knight's powers. Later, I'll purify her."

Evelyn replied, "Alright. My 'White Snake Silk' has already sealed her Battle Qi. Here's a bottle of Magic Potion. Recover as quickly as possible."

Taking the blue Magic Potion from her hand, Lin Da opened the cap and brought it to his nose, inhaling gently. Its refreshing scent immediately hit him.

His whole body shuddered, feeling invigorated.

What a treasure!

Lin Da examined it closely. This appeared to be the [Holy Spirit Recovery Potion], priced at 198 in the game shop.

It could swiftly restore an adventurer's magic power and stamina while in meditation. Its value was akin to a Chaos One-Star weapon.

Legendary adventurers truly were incredibly wealthy.

Lin Da didn't stand on ceremony with Evelyn and accepted it graciously.

He instructed his teammates to guard him and sat down cross-legged on the spot.

After consuming the Holy Spirit Recovery Potion, he began meditating.

Evelyn, on the other hand, grabbed the New Moon Knight by her collar and dragged her like trash to the northern part of the city.

There were a few remaining intact buildings there.

Lin Da said he needed a secluded room. Could it be the purification process couldn't be done in front of others?

Purifying a Witch was something Evelyn had never heard of. If anyone but Lin Da had suggested it, she would've written them off as a fraud.

"Fifty percent chance..."

Evelyn clenched her hand tightly.

She hoped her sword wouldn't have to sever her sister's head.

"Tafu, there's something I've never told you."

"Hmph."

The New Moon Knight covered her ears, unwilling to listen.

"That rat I gave you back then was out of my kindness. I never thought you'd actually eat it."

"..."

Distant memories from childhood abruptly burst forth.

A flash of pain crossed the New Moon Knight's eyes. She gritted her teeth, her voice strained:

"That wasn't me!

I am the New Moon Knight Tafu, a Legendary Adventurer. Those things... they're all in the past!

If not for His Majesty the Demon King, we would've died long ago in that godforsaken slum!

Evelyn, let me go, and I'll forgive you.

Even if you defeat me here, you can't change the inevitable defeat of the Mystic Continent.

Why can't you serve His Majesty with me and enjoy power second only to one person in this world?

From now on, no one will ever look down on us again."

By the end of her words, the New Moon Knight's gaze had turned utterly sincere.

But Evelyn only felt disappointment.

She thought to herself, Lin Da, please purify this hopeless woman who happens to be my sister.

Her mind is completely broken.

...

(ps: Wahhh, wahhh, wahhh, wahhh wahhh wahhh)