Once their airplane fell, they managed to jump in the last moment and escape the explosion, but then the fire drakes approached. The invisible enemies, skilled in covert tactics, took advantage of the distraction caused by the fire drakes. They struck swiftly and efficiently, targeting the guild masters when they least expected it. The element of surprise proved to be a formidable weapon, causing confusion and chaos among their ranks.

Tragically, some of the guild masters fell victim to the invisible attackers. Their lives were cut short, and their bravery and expertise were snuffed out by this treacherous assault. The loss weighed heavily on the survivors. Their grief was evident in their somber expressions.

"They used elemental magic and invisibility... they are high ranked spells and traits," Vanessa said while furrowing her eyebrows. "What they said about receiving power from something wasn’t a lie."

Vanessa explained to the guild masters what they overhead, and they didn’t find it odd... it was clear that the fire drakes were on those guys’ side. That was a first... never mind controlling monsters. No one heard of monsters ignoring some humans and attacking only others.

"I am pretty good at surprise attacks, but it took a while to master them even considering my traits and the skills I learned," Samuel explained. "I can say for a fact that their skills are unnatural, no one can become a master of all in situations like this. They also were too young for them to be that skilled in two arts."

One could think that Samuel was just trying to make himself look less bad in that kind of situation, but no one could say that considering the things that they learned.

As the guild masters gathered, it became apparent that only a handful of them had joined the mission. The reason for this was twofold. Firstly, some guild masters lived far away from the border where the attacks were occurring. The distance made it difficult for them to quickly mobilize and provide immediate assistance. Secondly, there were guild masters who resided close to the other border, facing their own set of challenges and responsibilities in protecting their territories.

As the discussion continued, the guild masters deliberated on whether they should press forward or retreat in light of their weakened state. The poison that had been inflicted upon them had taken its toll, draining their strength and leaving them vulnerable. Their bodies were weakened, their movements sluggish, and their minds clouded.

"We might need a few days to recover completely, the poison was nullified, but it still is inside us as toxins," Joan said after she crossed her arms.

The decision weighed heavily on their minds, as the risk of continuing in such a weakened state was apparent. The guild masters knew the importance of their mission, the urgency to uncover the truth behind the attacks and protect their guilds. They understood that retreating would only invite further danger and potential destruction upon their territories and yet, moving ahead seemed even more dangerous with their numbers and current situation. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In the midst of the deliberation, voices rose and fell, arguments and concerns intermingled. Each guild master shared their thoughts and fears, grappling with the difficult decision before them. It was a moment of introspection, where the balance between their own safety and the greater cause hung in the air.

"What do you think we should do?" Vanessa asked. "I am not even sure why I am asking that knowing you."

"Then don’t ask, if I am going alone, then I will get the portal for my own nefarious purposes with one hundred percent of chance of success," Terry declared. "Muahahahaha."

The guild masters, well aware of Terry’s incredible skill and power, recognized his past achievements in defeating formidable foes that had proven insurmountable for them. But the audacity of his declaration left them bewildered. It seemed like madness to face such a dangerous and treacherous mission alone.

Their faces showed a mix of surprise, concern, and admiration as they exchanged uncertain glances. They understood Terry’s unmatched capabilities and his unwavering determination, but they also feared for his safety. They knew the risks involved in confronting a formidable enemy without the support and unity of the guild.

Voices of concern arose, urging Terry to reconsider and emphasizing the importance of collective strength and teamwork. They highlighted the value of their combined experience and the power of unity in facing such a daunting task. They couldn’t fathom the idea of Terry shouldering the burden alone.

"Do you want to go alone?" Vanessa asked.

"It is fine either way," Terry shrugged.

"You will lose a bunch of materials and magic stones, it will take a while to gather them and if you don’t know, magic stones evaporate after a few days," Vanessa explained.

"Cut to the chase, will you?" Terry said and then sighed. "It would be a waste, but it couldn’t be helped."

"We can work together, even if they are a bit weakened, your trait can make up for it," Vanessa explained.

She had a point, but Terry didn’t want to give them powered up weapons. Only to loyal guild members, leveling up their weapons also wasn’t something that he wanted to do, he had no reason to help those strangers more than he already did it, after all.

Then again, Terry couldn’t communicate with the others while he was in that area. He will need some help for that... to open a branch of his guild beyond the border. It was a troublesome situation all in all...

"Louis said that only those that participate in the mission will have the chance to use the portal afterwards, so we need to cooperate," Vanessa added. "It will be hard, but the materials that we can get from fire drakes definitely will improve the whole country."

She has a point again. Terry felt like rolling his eyes thanks to that, but he could imagine his armor getting a lot cooler by adding the scales of those beasts. Hopefully, they will add some extra effects as well.

"All right, but on one condition, everything that we will find in this mission will be mine," Terry declared.