As the expeditions continued forcing themselves deeper through the corrupted regions, the emotional pressure inside the advancing formations gradually began reaching its limit.
At first, it only appeared through quiet murmurs spreading between exhausted soldiers and mages. But eventually, the fear and anxiety they had desperately tried to suppress finally exploded openly.
One of the knights suddenly slowed his steps before finally stopping completely.
"What are we even doing anymore?" he shouted angrily beneath the storm.
The soldiers behind him also slowly stopped moving.
Another mage clenched his fists tightly while his face twisted with frustration and fear. He said, "Our kingdoms are under attack right now! Our families could already be dying while we keep running deeper into this wasteland!"
"We should go back!" another soldier shouted.
"Yes!"
"What if this entire mission is already pointless?"
"What if the capitals already fell?"
