Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong held the Zealot’s Mark of Hes in his hand. A gossamer glow shot into the dense fog, which retreated to both sides, revealing a narrow slate path.

That path was the one leading to the Grey Oak Square. The fierce flames nearby illuminated the mists with a pink hue, and even without setting foot on the path, Fang Hong could feel the sweltering heat hitting his face.

Without hesitation, he took steps into it.

Red Leaf walked the path alongside him. Hilveld and Xiesta followed behind, with Parker, who was rubbing his back and muttering, coming next. Diket and Luen were the last, the veteran Knight and the Chairman of the Black Goat Commerce Association.

The road wasn’t long; one could even see the fiery horizon and the Grey Oak Square at its end.

Fang Hong was the first one to step out of the alleyway. He saw a graceful figure standing upon the square.

Misu lifted her head, the light of the fire reflecting off her face. Not far from her was a dragon, shadow-like—with dark scales that seemed to spread like black smoke and jagged horns beneath which, its eye sockets as deep and dark as a skeleton’s.

It seemed not yet fully awakened, but it had certainly begun to stir.

Misu turned back to look at the group, ”How come you are only arriving now, Praetor sir? Have all the citizens left? Looks like we need to have a deadly confrontation with this monster, hopes are slim, but we must still try.”

In this Phantom Realm, this lady seemed to retain memories of the past.

Praetor? Red Leaf looked at Fang Hong suspiciously, curious about what had happened before.

Misu turned towards Luen, giving a slight smile, ”Luen, I lied, I knew from the start that it was a perilous thing. But if you’re going to lose your temper at me today, can we talk about it once we are out of here?”

”I have waited thirty years; I am not in a rush this moment. But I’ve lost my sword, and I haven’t picked it back up since then,” Luen responded calmly.

The ’young merchant’ who, thirty years before, had been as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, had not started his usual complaints. Thirty years had frosted his temples white, leading him through a long segment of life, and making him quiet and contemplative.

His tone, as if he was talking about something extremely common.

Misu seemed slightly surprised, realizing such a change. She smiled gently, drawing another sword she had kept as a spare and handed it to him, ”This sword was forged by my father; take care not to lose it.”

”So, if your father finds out you are giving it to a stranger, will he beat me up?”

”Perhaps we won’t be strangers much longer—”

The lady covered her mouth and laughed, a bit mischievously.

Meanwhile, Luen pursed his lips, silently taking the sword and then turning to look at the gigantic creature above the square.

The rest pulled out their weapons as well.

Red Leaf watched this scene surprisingly and asked Fang Hong, ”Isn’t that man our employer, and who is that woman? Isn’t that knight with you all, how come they seem to know each other too?”

But Fang Hong didn’t answer her.

He just silently watched the scene; the past disaster had turned Dolifen into ruins, but the memories lingered around the once-thriving city.

This made him feel a bit emotional inside.

Thirty years later, Luen Linxiu was no longer the young man he had seen in the Phantom Realm; he was no longer young and was even aging. Thirty years, nearly half a mortal’s lifespan, had he always remembered what had happened that day?

Fang Hong finally turned back to look at Nikopolas.

That probably was the true form of the Dark Giant Dragon, even just lying there, it occupied most of the Grey Oak Square, possibly many times larger than when they had been at the Traveler’s Rest.

”That is a dragon!”

Parker seemed curious; he said, ”I think before it fully awakes, we should strike it first. You know these world bosses; sometimes a party wipes at 1% work left.”

But Nikopolas suddenly opened its eyes, amber-like with vertical pupils.

Within those dark sockets, a spark of Golden Flame.

It slowly lifted its head to look down at every person who had entered the square, ”I have been waiting for you for a while now, humans.”

That was Nikopolas’s voice.

Deep, gravelly, drastically different from before.

That meant she had found her power again.

Parker screamed and hastily put down his Crossbow as a gesture of truce, ”Ah, I just said nothing, respected Dragon Madam!”

”Can you not embarrass us?” Red Leaf glanced at him dismissively.

Fang Hong just looked at the opponent.

Nikopolas’s tone was somewhat biting, ”Look at your state now.”

”Any doubts about who will be the last victor?”

”The power of old has fully returned to me; it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this sensation—and as for you.”

It revealed its sharply Fang, sneering, ”I will give you a surprise.”

”Unfortunately, there’s no surprise, Nikopolas.” Luen raised his head, unflinchingly looking up at the big fellow and replied,

”Thirty years ago, you were defeated just like this here.” The veteran knight, holding his Longsword, said so as well.

”You must have been invincible then, but eventually, you were trapped here, weren’t you?” Red Leaf looked between the two and also raised her head to boldly address the dragon.

”Enough!”

Nikopolas roared, instantly enraged, and swept a claw at them all.

But the veteran Knight raised his right hand, a golden Shield appearing mid-air and blocking the attack. Everyone watched the scene in surprise, staring at the large golden net.