Pillar of Yita

The conflict between the Blood Oath Alliance and the Rain Listener unfolded at the base of a floating pyramid, with brilliant flashes of magic intermittently cutting through the darkness, illuminating the mirror-like surface of the obsidian on the ground.

The battle had reached a stalemate, with various spells shattering against the barriers erected by each side’s Shield Masters, producing no effect other than colorful fireworks. On the ground, it was a back-and-forth battle, and although the Rain Listener’s side had more Great Swordsmen, endowed with strong assault capabilities, the Blood Oath Alliance’s Iron Guards responded in kind, with neither side able to break through the other’s defenses.

Outside the Trial Grounds, the Rain Listeners were clearly no match for the Blood Oath Alliance, but here, both sides had members at level 15, and neither side was inferior to the other. Fang Hong, seeing this, couldn’t help but think that perhaps this was where Grant’s confidence came from.

However, he also understood that the current situation was only temporary. The Blood Oath Alliance had brought in a large number of level 8 and 9 members who were now scattered across the entire fifth floor in small teams. Once these forces converged, the balance of the war would shift accordingly.

But the Rain Listeners were not without opportunity.

Their chance lay in the colossal statue at the center of the battlefield, an ancient divine weapon of Xinsas now swinging between the intertwined front lines of both sides. Sometimes it was caught up in an assault of the Blood Oath Alliance and at other times encircled by the Rain Listeners.

It resembled a beast besieged by ants, large yet swaying like a solitary boat in a storm. If the statue had the capacity to feel, one would wonder if it felt anger and helplessness.

The Blood Oath Alliance fired claw hooks, then tried to topple Kukulkan’s Remains using a swarming tactic, but the colossal statue suddenly let out a moan like a train whistle, pulled its hand back, and with a burst of immense strength, sent more than a dozen men flying into the air.

It then raised its obsidian great sword and slashed down, turning three Iron Guards, men and shields together, into flashes of white light. The sword struck the ground heavily, raising a wave of obsidian that spread in all directions, resulting in many of the Blood Oath Alliance falling instantly.

Taking advantage of the situation, several agile Nightingales from the Rain Listeners rushed to the foot of the statue, climbing up like ants. Their target was a shimmering Core Crystal at the chest of the statue.

But before these men could get halfway up, the Magic Guided Conductor Corps of the Blood Oath Alliance suddenly began chanting spells aloud, raising their magic guided wands. A storm of spells lashed out, scattering the attackers.

The remaining attackers were also caught one by one by the statue’s claws and thrown back into the crowd, returning both sides to the starting point, angrily hurling spells at the statue which were all blocked by a suddenly emerging prismatic barrier before they could touch it.

At the outskirts of the battlefield—

Fang Hong and his companions stealthily took cover behind a nearby spire, unseen amidst the heated battle. After concealing themselves, they peered out just in time to witness the scene unfolding above. Aside from Tainaric, all three involuntarily inhaled sharply.

”That giant seems to possess basic intelligence. When the Blood Oath Alliance cast spells on the Rain Listeners’ Nightingales on it, that protective barrier didn’t appear, unless it has the ability to discern its main target, otherwise it must have been deliberate,” Xiangzi whispered out an assessment.

Fang Hong nodded, clearly sharing the same view.

Tainaric, watching with awe, murmured, ”Kukulkan’s Remains is a divine weapon left by Xinsas, extremely powerful. In Andasok, it is one of the core holy relics, and these giant statutes possess a certain level of thinking capability. Although this one is just a weakened replica by Lord Toragotos, it should still have some of the original features.”

”Then what should we do, take out those from the Blood Oath Alliance first?” Parker asked, pulling down a heavy crossbow from his back and with struggle, drawing the bowstring using his short Papalarian legs, while dropping the crossbow to the ground.

Fang Hong shook his head.

Both sides had half a group of level 15 Chosen, the maximum limit for max-level Chosen in the Trial Grounds. Their small group entering the fray could potentially improve the situation for the Rain Listeners, but they were not confident in ending the battle before the opposing reserve members arrived.

If the situation dragged on to that point, the outcome of the battle was uncertain.

They needed to act quickly—

He turned back to look at the Lizardman Prince, ”The target of the Rain Listeners’ Nightingales is the crystal in the chest of that giant—Is that Kukulkan’s Holy Relics’ weak point?”

Tainaric nodded. ”That’s the Sunstone, the same as the one I have. It is both powerful and fragile, the divine engine that drives the Holy Remains. However, it’s easily damaged under physical attack. Yet, ranged attacks are ineffective, the Prismatic Holy Shield blocks all ranged physical attacks; only melee can threaten it.”

He paused: ”Normally, the Sunstone is also protected by divine power, so even melee attacks do not easily penetrate its defenses, requiring at least the level of a Holy Warrior, but I believe in this place, Lord Toragotos might have weakened that aspect.”

”Holy Warrior?” Fang Hong asked.

”They are the most powerful warriors in Andasok. However, they do not exist in this world, similar to your Sky Knights,” Tainaric answered.