When morning came, the group began to prepare for the invasion... the cold had gotten better, so they imagined that things on the other side would be fine. At the same time, George decided to call anyone to come with them; his excuse was the fact that they might waste too much time retreating with a lot of people on their side.

"I don’t think that the enemies will be able to fly on the other side, not even the overlord," Terry said. "So, I think it would be better if you guys attacked from above while staying on Rebecca’s platform."

"Only half of us can attack from a distance, and leaving a smaller group on the ground would be dangerous," Rebecca said. "I can use that mana to stop the enemies instead and prevent that we will be overwhelmed by their numbers."

Rebecca’s suggestion to let her fight instead of just offering support made sense to Terry. After all, she was more than capable of holding her own in battle with her powerful earth magic. It would also allow him to focus on other aspects of the mission, like strategy and coordination.

Yet, he knew that this mission was different. Dealing with an overlord was a whole new level of danger, and he couldn’t let his pride cloud his judgment. If letting Rebecca take on a more active role in combat would increase their chances of success, he had to consider it seriously.

Deep down, Terry realized that he couldn’t do it all on his own. He had to learn to trust his team and delegate tasks when necessary. Rebecca’s abilities were an invaluable asset, and he needed to recognize that.

"Well, we can always retreat if that fails, probably," Terry said and then shrugged.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Rebecca forced a cold smile.

"Let’s just not always imagine the worst-case scenario," Vanessa said.

Despite the tension and uncertainty surrounding their mission, Vanessa tried her best to stay positive and keep everyone’s spirits up. She knew that they needed to maintain a sense of hope and optimism to face the challenges ahead. However, George, ever the cautious one, took a more practical approach.

George made sure that his team was ready for any unexpected turn of events. He instructed them to be prepared to flee at a moment’s notice if a powerful monster were to emerge from the portal. Vanessa tried to keep the conversation light, sharing stories and cracking jokes to alleviate some of the tension. On the other hand, George remained vigilant, constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

It was a delicate balance between optimism and caution. Still, the group knew they had to be both realistic and hopeful. They couldn’t let fear paralyze them, but they also couldn’t afford to be reckless.

Without wasting any more time, everyone nodded and then began to cross the portal; with their weapons in hand, they reached the other side and opened their eyes widely.

As the group emerged from the portal, they found themselves in the heart of a massive troll army. Thousands of trolls stood before them, their menacing eyes fixed on the intruders. The ground shook with their heavy footsteps, and the air was filled with a palpable sense of danger.

Terry’s heart raced as he took in the daunting sight before him. The sheer number of trolls was overwhelming, and he knew that they were vastly outnumbered. Still, he couldn’t let fear paralyze him. He tightened his grip on the black steel Destroyer and took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay ahead.

At the same time, rising before them was a massive ice castle, its spires reaching toward the sky like frozen fingers. The castle was a marvel of ice and snow, its walls glistening in the moonlight.

The castle’s intricate design was unlike anything they had ever seen before. It seemed to be carved from pure ice, with delicate patterns etched into its surface. Towering ice sculptures adorned its exterior, depicting fearsome creatures and ancient symbols.

The castle’s main entrance was a set of colossal ice doors adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to come alive in the flickering light. It was an imposing sight, and the group couldn’t help but feel a mixture of awe and trepidation.

While everyone was surprised, Terry charged forward and swung his weapon, the Blacksteel Destroyer smashed the heads of five trolls at once, and he exploded their heads with Fire Swords. The overlord wasn’t around, so he was planning to level up his weapon like crazy and make the boss regret that.

"Stay close to the portal and watch each other back!" Vanessa shouted.

As Vanessa’s urgent shout pierced the air, the group sprang into action with impressive speed and coordination. Their training and experience kicked in, and they responded to the impending threat without hesitation.

"They are ignoring Terry... are they thinking that getting rid of us first is the best option?" Vanessa thought.

When Vanessa was about to attack the nearest trolls, she saw them falling on the ground after their feet were pierced by earth stakes... Rebecca was making sure to Spawn them where the monsters were stepping in. Still, their numbers were too big.

"I can’t hold back even a bit..." Vanessa thought.

Vanessa’s eyes glinted with determination as she focused her energy on the approaching trolls. With a swift movement of her fingers, she unleashed a torrent of lightning bolts that streaked through the air like deadly serpents seeking their prey. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The crackling electricity arced from her outstretched hands, targeting the trolls’ heads with unerring precision. Each bolt found its mark, and the thunderous impact of the lightning hitting its target resonated through the battlefield.

The trolls stood no chance against the unleashed power of Vanessa’s lightning. One by one, their heads were enveloped in blinding flashes, and their bodies convulsed with the electric shock. The air filled with the acrid scent of burning flesh as the lightning bolts seared through their bodies.