Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong was also somewhat undecided at the moment, wondering whether the change was triggered by the small butterfly wings Parker had crafted that afternoon, or if this place had transformed into its current state since last night’s tide of the undead.

He couldn’t help but look back at Hudi and ask, ”Hudi, have you been here all this time?”

Hudi still looked somewhat absent-minded; indeed, he had appeared this way from the start. Seeing Hudi’s pale face and distracted demeanor, Fang Hong thought he might be worried about his cat and offered some reassurance, ”Don’t worry, I think Miss Spoon will be fine.”

”Miss Spoon, you say Hil...” Hudi was confused for a moment before he caught on and quickly nodded, ”I... I understand, but I’m still worried. With Dolifen like this, I really don’t know what to do.”

”Dolifen like this?”

Hudi gazed somberly at the ghosts continuously emerging from the end of the corridor and colliding with the Iron Guards in front, sighing before speaking, ”These undead have been flowing out from somewhere, and it’s been like this for days. This place is no longer suitable for the living.”

”Do you know something, Hudi?” Fang Hong asked.

Hudi shook his head nervously.

Seeing this, Fang Hong had no choice but to drop the issue, yet Hudi’s words reminded him that Dolifen’s condition was likely not a recent occurrence and he wondered if it had any connection to the activities of the Dragon Worshippers’ believers.

It was at this moment that the team finally reached the end of the corridor.

A flicker of light in the darkness led Fang Hong to retract one of the Clockwork Fairies. That’s when Hansen returned to the front and said, ”What now, brother Ade? We’re almost at the end, they won’t give us the chance to leave through the windows one by one—unless we leave behind those covering our rear.”

That was indeed one possible solution.

In Eteliria, where most people could resurrect, leaving someone behind to cover the retreat during a fight or encounter wasn’t unheard of. Fang Hong’s bearing had impressed Hansen, prompting a warmer tone from him.

Fang Hong glanced back; the other end of the corridor was only about a hundred feet away. Through the pitch-black passage, he could clearly see the window at that end. He turned back and simply answered,

”Let the Trainees leave first, followed by your men, Mr. Hansen... I’ll cover the rear—”

Before he’d finished speaking,

A sharp clang resounded from the other end of the corridor and everyone’s vision blurred for a moment. Before they could see clearly what had happened, an Iron Guard was sent flying through the air.

With a loud ’bang’, the guard crashed into several people before finally coming to a halt.

As everyone turned, they saw a blood-red long spear embedded in the Tower Shield of the Iron Guard lying among the crowd, which after piercing the inch-thick Great Shield, nailed him and another Archer to the ground. Both men were beyond help.

On witnessing this scene, Hansen abruptly closed his mouth.

”Brother Ade!” Tianlan called out anxiously—the Morning Knights had returned, and staying to cover the rear now would be tantamount to suicide, wouldn’t it?

But Fang Hong didn’t even glance at the French girl. Instead, he simply addressed Miss Atira, ”Miss Atira.”

The Elf Girl nodded at him, then walked over to open the window before grabbing the struggling Tianlan. ”Let me go!” Tianlan shouted desperately, but Atira paid her no heed and carried her and Gita out.

Parker paused, looking at the departing Atira, then at Fang Hong, seeming hesitant.

”Are you ready on your end?” Fang Hong asked him.

The Papalarian promptly nodded.

”Then go ahead and leave first.”

Relieved, Parker quickly followed the others.

Next was Miss Hilveld, the Noble young lady who steadied her maid before looking at him and asking, ”Do you need me to stay and help you?”

”No need.”

”Well, be careful then. But since you can be resurrected, I guess I don’t need to worry that you’ll break your promise.”

”Miss Hilveld...”

With a slight smile, Hilveld left with Xiesta.

Fang Hong then turned his gaze to Diket standing beside him, but the older Knight didn’t so much as look at him, simply standing there with his sword in hand. Fang Hong shook his head, knowing he was a Knight of Marlan and wouldn’t desert the field at such a time, even less likely to leave him alone.

Without further discussion, he turned and ordered his ”Fortress” to line up, commanding two of them to open fire into the passage. At this critical juncture, he was no longer conserving ammunition; two streams of gunfire interwove into a net, bringing down the ghosts in front.

However, further down, he could see sparks flying, forming a larger silhouette getting closer and closer—Fang Hong knew it was the Morning Knights.

He felt somewhat relieved; fortunately, they had thrown their long spears. Otherwise, it would be him flying through the air now.

Hansen’s men began to orderly leave.

First went the Longbowmen and Gunslingers, each of them casting admiring glances at the young man before bowing and departing.

Finally, the Halberdiers were left, but they seemed hesitant, exchanging glances—the Combat Artisans were often seen as the core of a team, and since they generally weren’t as capable in combat, they were usually the ones protected.