You’re correct; Terry wasn’t alive thirty years ago, but he had heard tales of the devastation caused by the overlords’ previous incursion. The remnants of that destruction still lingered in the world, a grim reminder of the danger they posed.

After sealing the room containing the tunnel with earth magic, Terry returned to the city through the underground passage. He then proceeded to the blacksmith’s workshop and worked on leveling up the black pegasus boots once more. He knew that mastering their usage would greatly enhance his mobility and effectiveness in battles.

As the night fell, the guild members gathered at the airplane, which was now fully prepared for their journey. Terry could sense the mix of excitement and anxiety among them. They were heading into the unknown, but they were united in their determination to face whatever awaited them.

"Let’s go then," Terry said. "Let’s bring another corpse of an overlord as well when we return."

"What a thing to say..." Rebecca said and then facepalmed.

As Terry and the guild members made their way toward the airplane, he couldn’t help but notice the crowd of people gathered outside, waiting to see them off. The entire guild and the inhabitants of the city had come to show their support, knowing that the journey ahead meant facing a formidable foe. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and concern, and Terry felt a sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders.

While he was used to being in the midst of battles and dangerous situations, being the center of attention in this way made him feel uneasy. Terry preferred to act behind the scenes and let his actions speak for him, but he understood that in times like this, the people needed a symbol of hope and strength to rally behind. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

With a determined expression, Terry mustered a smile as he approached the crowd. He greeted familiar faces, exchanged nods with others, and shook hands with those he hadn’t met before. He could see the admiration and respect in their eyes, which only added to the pressure he felt.

"I don’t want to make us worry too much in a situation like this, but I wonder how many overlords are out there..." Rebecca said when they reached the airplane.

Terry couldn’t deny that the constant battles and the never-ending stream of enemies took a toll on him. As a hunter, fighting was an integral part of his life, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there would ever be a time when he could step away from it all. The weight of the bloodshed and brutality was starting to wear down his mind.

He had seen the devastating consequences of conflicts firsthand. Lives were lost, families were torn apart, and cities were reduced to ruins. It was a never-ending cycle of violence, and Terry often found himself questioning if there could ever be a way to break free from it.

But at the same time, he knew that as long as there were threats like overlords and dungeons, his skills as a hunter would be needed to protect the people he cared about. It was a responsibility he couldn’t just cast aside.

"There must be enough for all of us to have our share of fun," Terry replied. "Just focus too much on the unknown. Otherwise, you will only burden yourself endlessly."

The military plane soared through the dark night sky, carrying Terry, Vanessa, and Rebecca toward their next mission. The tension in the air was palpable as they all knew the gravity of the task ahead. The journey was going to take a couple of hours, and during that time, they remained in silence, each lost in their thoughts and concentrating on the mission at hand.

The uncertainty of what awaited them upon landing weighed heavily on their minds. They knew that they might have to face continuous battles for several days, with multiple portals spawning dangerous monsters on Earth. The pressure was immense, and there was no telling what challenges they would encounter.

Terry, feeling exhausted from the constant battles and the mental strain, found himself yearning for a moment of respite. The prospect of nonstop fighting for days left him weary, but he knew he couldn’t let his guard down, especially during such crucial times.

As the minutes ticked by, Terry’s eyelids grew heavy, and he felt the fatigue wash over him. He decided that getting some rest would be the best way to prepare for what lay ahead. He found a comfortable spot and closed his eyes, letting sleep envelop him.

"What do you think of this?" Vanessa suddenly asked.

"About what?" Rebecca asked after she tilted her head.

"Is the timing of the mission too suspicious?" Vanessa asked. "Things in the last ten years had been quite calm, but then when someone able to change the tides in human favor shows up, things start to move too fast."

"I suppose... do you think that the enemies might be aware of Terry?" Rebecca asked after she thought for a while. "If I were them, I would do everything to kill him as fast as possible, but it doesn’t seem like they were in a hurry."

Rebecca and Vanessa were well aware of Terry’s exceptional combat abilities and his potential for growth. They knew that his weapons, especially the Blacksteel Sword of the Fire Swordsman, had the potential to become even more powerful as he continued to level up and face stronger enemies. With each battle, Terry honed his skills and acquired new experiences, making him an even more formidable force.

As they flew towards their destination, Rebecca and Vanessa couldn’t help but think about the consequences of leaving Terry alone, even for a short period. To them, it was like allowing a ticking time bomb to grow in power with every passing moment. They understood the importance of supporting him and ensuring that he didn’t face the challenges ahead on his own.

"... We didn’t face that many overlords yet, so I am guessing that if they know Terry, they don’t consider him a threat yet," Vanessa replied.

Vanessa and Rebecca couldn’t help but marvel at the uniqueness of Terry’s abilities and traits. They knew that the overlords, being from different worlds and possessing their own powers, might not have expected someone as troublesome and powerful as Terry to emerge from a planet inhabited by what they considered a weak race.

Terry’s unusual talent and potential seemed almost tailor-made for the challenges Earth faced. His resilience, determination, and combat prowess were not only exceptional among humans but also among beings from other worlds. It was as if Earth’s environment and circumstances had given rise to someone with the perfect combination of skills and attributes to face the threats they encountered.

While other worlds might have produced their own formidable heroes and warriors, Terry’s unique nature made him particularly well-suited to take on the challenges posed by the portals and the monsters they unleashed. Earth’s inhabitants might be seen as weaker in comparison to the overlords, but Terry’s existence proved that great strength could arise even in seemingly humble origins.

After around six hours, Terry woke up and found Rebecca and Vanessa resting as well, but before long, they woke up, and the pilot warned them that in half an hour, they would reach their destination.

"We received permission to land in Rome," the pilot said.

"I am thinking that landing behind the enemy’s back will be better than wasting time introducing ourselves to the people in Rome," Terry said.

"We aren’t in our backyard, so try to behave a little for a change," Vanessa said. "Our actions might incite the enemies and start a war when our allies aren’t ready, and that would be disastrous."

"If they ask for help, they will never be ready," Terry shrugged.

The distance between Florence and Terry’s home was quite significant. Florence, Italy, is located in the central part of the country, while Terry’s home was in New York, USA. The straight-line distance between the two cities is approximately 6,000 kilometers (about 3,700 miles).

Considering that they were traveling in a military airplane, the time to cross this distance would be around 7 to 8 hours, depending on the speed and route taken. The terrain and obstacles were not a concern for them in the air, but the real challenge awaited them once they landed in Florence.

Terry’s thoughts about laying low and slowly leveling up his armor and sword were reasonable. Facing an overlord and leading the invasion was undoubtedly going to be a formidable challenge. Taking some time to further enhance his equipment and abilities would be a wise move, but Terry was also aware that his black steel armor made him stand out significantly.

"We are almost there," Vanessa said while checking the cockpit and seeing the terrain ahead.

As the group left the military airplane, they were met by a welcoming committee of hunters armed with magic staff. Among them was a striking redhead woman, her shoulder-length hair adding to her commanding presence. She wore a blue robe and matching bracers, a clear indication that she was an ice mage.