The battle ended, and a green signal smoke symbolizing the completion of the cleanup rose spirally.
Only then were the two captured adventurers helped out of their temporary shelter.
They bore injuries of varying degrees.
There were fresh wounds from the recent battle and bruises and cuts from being beaten by the demons after capture.
The war between humans and demons has lasted for millennia, and there has never been a prisoner-of-war convention between the two sides.
Falling into the hands of demons often means becoming a slave with no hope of recovery.
For lower-level demons, torture is a common treatment for captives. This stems not only from their brutal nature but also from practical considerations.
First, they need to ensure that the captives cannot resist, and within the social relations of lower-level demon races, using violence to establish dominance is common; physical torture is the most direct means of demonstrating their control and can also break the captives’ will to resist through pain.
Of course, for higher-level demons, their means of controlling captives are often more advanced, such as intimidation, magical manipulation, and mental erosion.
Thus, it was fortunate that the rescue was timely, and the demons’ "domestication" was still in its early stages.
If they had arrived a bit later, who knows what could have happened.
Iron Arm Squad’s Druid, Cassie, took the initiative to step forward and draped clean coats over the two.
The multisection staff in her hand, adorned with holly branches, was gently raised, and a rich aura of life transformed into a soft green glow that flowed from the staff tip, enveloping the injured gently.
"Healing spell!"
Under the soothing power of nature, the bruises on their bodies faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and their bleeding wounds quickly healed and scabbed over.
Their injuries were not crippling; mostly, they were subjected to physical and mental torment, and the areas that were deliberately beaten avoided fatal injuries.
From this perspective, the elite demon in charge clearly had experience dealing with human captives, suggesting it wasn’t their first time performing such work.
While Cassie was healing, two other rescued teammates in the group also came over.
The man and woman wore expressions of dazed relief mingled with the shame of failing to protect their companions.
Perhaps because of the presence of outsiders or maybe due to unresolved trauma, no arguments broke out within this small team, only a heavy and awkward silence lingering.
The Iron Arm Squad’s Captain Quik seemed to sense this awkwardness and broke the silence.
"Let’s introduce ourselves again. I’m Quik, a Level 3 Swordsman, and our squad is stationed permanently in Gray Rock Town. Let’s stay in contact in the future if possible."
Goss’s gaze fell on the outstretched hand before him.
The Level 3 Swordsman appeared to be around thirty years old, and like most melee professionals, he was tall, with a sturdy and broad build, his steel armor reflecting a muted, peculiar glow.
Beneath his deep brown eyebrows, his gray-blue eyes were steady and sharp, exuding a reassuring sense of reliability and resilience.
Goss was somewhat surprised.
Did they not already introduce themselves the first time they met not long ago?
Though thinking this, he courteously extended his hand to grasp the other’s rough, powerful hand.
"Goss, Level 1 Mage." He continued to use his standard mage profession identity outwardly.
Quik nodded in a friendly manner.
On their first meeting, he had perceived Goss as just a typical rookie professional. Despite his caution, Goss’s youthful appearance often caused those making initial contact with him to underestimate his abilities unconsciously.
However, in the recent battle, not only was Goss observing the Iron Arm Squad, watching the cooperation tactics of this more advanced team, but Quik had also been secretly keeping an eye on Goss.
This was partly due to caution, partly concerned about unexpected situations on their side, but after observing for a while, he became increasingly puzzled about Goss’s strength.
He had some doubts about Goss’s claim of being a mage.
Smooth and precise melee swordsmanship, swift movement, strength and stamina far exceeding common levels, rapid and accurate casting, and that mysterious protective force field...
He was more inclined to believe what his eyes showed; either Goss possessed a rare special profession or was already pursuing dual-profession development early on.
Which Level 1 small mage boasts such an outstanding melee capability? Moreover, his casting strength appeared far superior to what ordinary Level 1 casters should possess.
A decade-long career as an adventurer, from initially pairing with teammates to eventually establishing his adventure squad, had honed Quik’s keen insight.
He even suspected that besides him and the Level 3 Sorcerer Sanaa, the other two Level 2 professionals in the squad might not be Goss’s match, and even in a one-on-one situation with him and Sanaa, defeating Goss wouldn’t be easy.
In a brief period, he couldn’t spot many weaknesses in Goss, making him a very dangerous opponent, especially in encounter battles with insufficient intelligence, it was challenging to find effective tactics against him.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, the urge to recruit him grew increasingly stronger.
Even with the powerful Sorcerer Sanaa already in the team, a young man with such immediate combat capability and immense potential was still highly appealing to him.
In his view, the duo of Goss and Aaliyah seemed to be a temporary combination.
If necessary, including the equally young, seemingly promising Aaliyah in the squad alongside Goss was an option worth considering.