From Lins' perspective, after realizing the power of the Wizards, he believed Asuna was already dead.

The entire Noen Kingdom had lost more than half of its territory; no one could stop the invasion of the Wizard Plane.

Asuna wasn't even an Official Caster, and directly entered the Wizards' lair, destined to not return.

Years ago, when Lins had just become a Knight, he ambitiously participated in the front-line battle, attempting to directly charge into the mountains to rescue Asuna.

However, reality was harsh.

Great Knights were as fragile as paper on that battlefield; even the mysterious and powerful Casters could barely cling to life.

That was the first time Lins had personally felt his own insignificance, the immense power gap almost shattered his understanding of the World.

Originally, he thought being a Knight made him formidable, able to traverse the land at will.

After surviving that battlefield by luck, Lins trained himself even more diligently, embarking on the path of an Adventurer, seeking to enhance his strength quickly.

Over the years, his power indeed increased significantly, and he encountered many adventures.

Yet, after experiencing much, the naive youth had now transformed into a weathered man.

Lins sat by the campfire, holding the freshly warmed wine, reminiscing about the past.

...

At dawn, a ray of sunlight pierced the sky, dividing the woods into two halves of light and shadow.

The camp gradually stirred from nighttime tranquility to bustling activity, as many people had risen to start packing for departure.

Lins had long been awake, directing the Adventurer Group members in their orderly tasks.

Herag lay on dry grass, ready to rise for a drink of water, when he suddenly sensed something and looked behind him.

Behind was a tall mountain with steep cliffs.

This was also why Lins and the others chose this spot as their camp, having a mountain wall akin to a high wall to avoid being attacked from all sides.

After Herag glanced at the peak, three Giant Swords descended from the sky, landing around the camp and blocking everyone's retreat.

The three Giant Swords stood around nine meters tall, broad and thick like walls, overall showing a sky blue hue.

Three people dressed in sky blue robes stood atop the sword handles, their faces obscured within the robes.

Meanwhile, an old man with a white beard appeared at the front of the camp, dressed in a cumbersome robe.

The robe was also sky blue, but covered with intricate patterns.

"Lins, that's your name, right? Where's Levi, that betrayer? Why isn't he with you?" the white-bearded old man asked.

Lins replied expressionlessly, "Elder Rayne, he is already dead."

The others in the camp quickly formed a defensive stance, wary of these four individuals.

Though there were only four of them, they exerted immense pressure on everyone.

Their years of Adventurer experience had long honed their instinct to sense danger, and these few brought a substantial sense of threat.

They felt the killing intent from these four, so intense it nearly suffocated them.

They accepted Herag because Herag was devoid of any murderous aura and showed no malice.

Nonetheless, someone watched Herag intently throughout the night.

Elder Rayne feigned surprise, "Dead? That's truly a pity; I taught him swordsmanship when he was this tall."

He gestured with his hand, wearing a regretful expression.

"Stop posturing here; you know better than I do why he died." Lins said, glaring sharply at Rayne.

"Everything he had was given by the Holy Hall; he was only asked to do something and refused. They had no choice but to take back everything bestowed by the Holy Hall, including his life." Rayne calmly stated.

"Your so-called task was for him to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives, becoming a betrayer?" Lins angrily questioned.

"Look at the bigger picture, Lins. Levi didn't understand this principle. Our lives far outlast ordinary people. It's merely a temporary loss of some lives; these lives will grow back sooner or later, like vegetables in a field. But it will bring the Holy Hall longer-lasting growth. Only by strengthening ourselves can we protect more people." Rayne justified.

"To protect more people, we must first let hundreds of thousands die? How ridiculous." Lins mocked.

Rayne said, "Alright, Lins, I'm not here to reminisce. Since Levi is dead, the Heart of the Earth must be with you."

"What Heart of the Earth, never heard of it." Lins responded.

Rayne chuckled, "You're not good at lying, just like Levi; both good kids who can't lie. You and your mentor are exactly alike; no wonder he chose you despite having poor aptitude."

"You're his only disciple, the Heart of the Earth must be in your hands."

"Give it to me, child."

Rayne seemed amiable, kindly, and spoke gently, like a benevolent elder.

"I already said, I don't know any Heart of the Earth." Lins replied.

Rayne instantly changed his expression, indifferently stating, "Lins, I know you're not afraid of death, but can you watch them die?"

Rayne finished, glancing around at the vigilant Adventurers.

Lins' pupils contracted slightly, his fists clenched tightly.

These Adventurer Group members were comrades who had lived and died with Lins; he couldn't bear to see them die, nor would he want them to die because of him.

"Leader, don't fear him. There are only four of them; we have many, we'll defeat them easily!" Someone said with a smile behind him.

Though his words were light-hearted, everyone understood the gravity of the situation.

"Oh? Is that so? Young people today really have confidence. It's natural not to regard an old man like me. But, ignoring three Sky Knights is a bit excessive." Rayne remarked.

When the words Sky Knight came out, everyone felt as if a Giant Hammer had struck their hearts.

They were seasoned, knowledgeable Adventurers and naturally knew what Sky Knights represented.

Sky Knights hailed from the Sky Temple, a mysterious and powerful organization.

The Sky Temple was a place yearned for by countless Knights from the Elf Plane; almost all Knights dream of joining the Sky Temple one day.

The Sky Temple was said to be under the protection of Gods, and the Knights within were endowed with divine power, incredibly strong.

Only, the number of Knights in the Sky Temple was extremely low and rarely appeared in the world.

But whenever they did appear, they were a force far beyond Knights of the same rank.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.