Terry’s assumption was correct, and he recognized the woman as a fellow mage who wielded the power of ice. Her aura exuded a sense of confidence and authority, and it was evident that she was the leader of this group of hunters.

"Welcome and thank you for accepting our request," The redhead said while slightly bowing her head. "My name is Rosalia, vice guild leader of the Royal Mages guild."

"I am Vanessa, this is Terry and Rebecca," Vanessa stepped forward before Terry could leave a bad impression. "Did Louis explain the situation to you all?"

"Yes, we can understand that you are facing difficulties as well, but you still came and he highly recommended you all," Rosalia said while smiling. "We will be looking forward to working with you all."

As the group made their way in a Jeep toward the center of Rome, Terry couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger whenever Louis’ name was mentioned. The mere thought of him was enough to make Terry’s blood boil. However, he knew that dwelling on his frustration wouldn’t help the situation, so he tried to focus on the task at hand.

As they drove through the streets of Rome, Terry was surprised to see that the city looked relatively unscathed despite the dire conditions of the world. It seemed that Rome had managed to maintain its resilience even in the face of the monsters invasion. The buildings still stood tall, and the people moved about with a sense of determination and unity.

"So, why do you think that the overlord is targeting Rome?" Terry suddenly asked.

As the question hung in the air, Terry’s friends, including Rosalia, fell silent, each lost in their thoughts. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on their minds, and it was evident that none of them had a clear answer.

"In one of our explorations in another world, we found a certain magic relic... since we stored it in our guild, a lot of monsters have been targeting us and our country, that is all I can say," Rosalia replied.

"I can respect that much honesty," Terry said while furrowing his eyebrows. "Still, can’t you tell how you came up with that relic? The situation, if it was being guarded by an overlord or something?"

"No, it wasn’t," Rosalia replied. "Louis told us of what you had learned, and that world that we found the relic didn’t have a overlord, only numerous tribes of monsters."

As the night settled over Rome, the group of mages and hunters from Rosalia’s guild remained vigilant, standing guard around their headquarters. Terry, Vanessa, and Rebecca stood among them, ready to assist in any way they could.

The city streets appeared calm, despite the chaos of the world outside. The guild headquarters, a beacon of strength and unity, exuded an aura of resilience even amidst the looming threats.

Terry couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, pondering the puzzle of the relic’s discovery in a world filled with monsters. He knew that it didn’t make sense, and his instincts warned him that something was off.

The tension was palpable, and Terry’s mind raced with thoughts of how to approach the upcoming challenges. The possibility of confronting an overlord on Earth added an additional layer of complexity to their mission.

"I guess this relic of theirs is no joke," Terry thought.

As Terry and his companions entered the guild master’s office, they saw a man sitting in meditation, his eyes closed in deep concentration. When he sensed their presence, he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a gaze that held both wisdom and strength.

The guild master had a commanding presence about him. He had a strong, chiseled jawline and piercing dark eyes that seemed to see through to the core of a person. His salt-and-pepper hair added a touch of maturity to his appearance, and his aura exuded a sense of calm and experience.

He was dressed in simple, yet elegant, attire, befitting a guild master of his status. A dark blue robe adorned with intricate silver symbols and a matching pair of bracers adorned his figure. Despite his composed demeanor, there was an air of authority around him, an unmistakable sign of a seasoned leader.

As the guild master rose from his meditation, he regarded Terry, Vanessa, and Rebecca with a keen gaze. There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes, as if he was trying to assess their abilities and intentions. Terry could sense that this man was no pushover and held considerable power.

"Welcome, and thank you for coming," The man said. "My name is Francis and it is nice to meet you all."

Vanessa, being perceptive of Terry’s mood, took charge of the conversation and got straight to the point. She spoke with a sense of urgency and concern, conveying the gravity of the situation they were facing.

"Mr Francis, what are you planning to do regarding this operation?" Vanessa asked.

"Just Francis is fine, truth to be told, I didn’t want to fight the enemies to close to the city, but when we tried to fight them, we only lost our people," Francis replied after he made his chair turn to the side a little. "Their numbers don’t stop growing, so we need to fight them where we have the upperhand and this is here... we have thousands of mages in our side, so we will bombard them from the walls."

As the first light of dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, the group continued their preparations. Terry, Vanessa, and Rebecca discussed their plan of action in hushed tones, ensuring that their strategies were well-thought-out and efficient. The atmosphere in the guild headquarters was tense, with everyone aware of the gravity of the situation.

Antonio Banderas, the guild master of Rosalia’s guild, listened carefully to their discussions, occasionally interjecting with his insights and suggestions. He appeared to be a composed and wise leader, with a demeanor that inspired confidence in his guild members.

The guild members of Rosalia’s guild moved about the headquarters, preparing their equipment and getting ready for the upcoming battle. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of determination and unity, as everyone understood the importance of their mission in protecting Rome and its inhabitants.

"This might be the best option, but it is also pretty risky... how do you think that the overlord learned about this relic of yours?" Vanessa asked.

"... I also considered that someone leaked the information to some enemies, but I doubt that my people did that," Francis replied. "Therefore, I don’t think that one of them or several of them will attack the city from inside to make the enemy have an easier time."

As the group moved through the city of Rome, Terry couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration and annoyance with Francis. While it was admirable that the guild master had so much faith in his people, Terry couldn’t help but see it as almost blind faith. The fact that the guild members were the first to learn about the relic and chose not to reveal that information to other guilds was concerning.

Terry knew that in such a dire situation, cooperation and information-sharing between guilds were crucial. However, it seemed that Francis’s trust in his guild members led him to believe that they would always act in the best interest of the city and its people.

It was this naivety that bothered Terry the most. He knew from his own experiences that not all hunters were noble and selfless. Some might be motivated by greed, power, or other ulterior motives. Without proper communication and cooperation between guilds, the city’s defense could be compromised.

Despite his irritation, Terry knew that now was not the time to confront Francis about his approach. They had a more pressing matter at hand – the impending attack by the overlord and the army of Stone Knights.

"We respect your decision, in that case, I think it will be better if we operate apart from each other," Vanessa said. "Terry here, probably will cause too much of a headache if you two were to work together. He has a more practical way to deal with the situation."

Vanessa’s understanding of Terry’s thoughts brought a small smile to his face. It was true that operating independently and not relying on Francis and his guild seemed like the most logical choice. The situation demanded swift action, and they couldn’t afford to be passive, especially when faced with an enemy who was constantly bringing more minions to Earth through the portals.

As they approached the city walls, Terry’s mind was already formulating a plan. He knew that the enemy was likely to strike soon, and they needed to be prepared to defend the city. Splitting up into smaller teams and covering different parts of the city would allow them to respond quickly and effectively to any attacks.

Vanessa’s suggestion to work with the other mages in the city was also a sound one. Their combined magical abilities could create a powerful defense against the Stone Knights and the overlord. It was essential to make use of all available resources and strengths in such a dire situation.