Deep within Withered Wood Ridge stood a valley shaped like the crater of a low volcano. Five streaks of light tore through the forest canopy like meteors before descending into the area below. The moment they landed, all five expressions shifted slightly. 0

Outside the valley, enormous white vines as thick as water barrels had already risen upright, staring at them like predators lying in wait. The Angler stepped past Saberstorm and moved to the very front. “There are quite a lot of them. Over a hundred, at least. Looks like we're in for a tough fight.”0

More than a hundred fourth-tier vines meant over a hundred early-stage Adepts. Although their abilities were crude, and they relied on little more than instinctive attacks like binding and piercing, their sheer numbers alone were enough to make the team feel a weight pressing on their hearts. Still, with the combined strength of the five of them, the situation was far from hopeless. If they avoided a direct clash and instead took their time drawing the vines apart and eliminating them one by one, this battle would not actually be too difficult. But it was obvious that the Angler...2