Pillar of Yita

In a shrill, piercing scream, it turned to ashes.

”What a pity.”

Fang Hong still thought it was a dragon after all, even if a Dark Giant Dragon, there should have been plenty of valuable things on it; it was a shame everything had burned to ashes. He understood, though, that even if it hadn’t burned, they wouldn’t have had the time to collect any spoils of war, not to mention the problem of distribution among so many people.

The only gain was experience.

The knowledge and combat experience provided by dark beings were several times that of ordinary creatures, not to mention a Dark Giant Dragon—even though it was just a young dragon and might have only been an inferior product made by Salrutaka, Fang Hong still received nearly ten thousand experience points.

Adding up previous, continuous battles, he had actually accumulated a considerable amount of experience; however, these experiences meant little underground, everything was about surviving and getting out first.

He looked up: the remaining six Dark Giant Dragons, having witnessed this scene, seemed no longer daring to approach the Light Bridge, but they appeared somewhat indifferent, not showing much anger due to their sibling’s death by these mortals’ hands.

This kind of emotion looked more like the Dragon’s Claws minions they had seen before. Fang Hong remembered that Nikopolas’ feelings were quite rich, including shock and anger, yet also very calm and rational; by comparison, these Dark Giant Dragons felt more like former puppets.

But puppets had combat strength too, judging by how the dragons avoided danger with keenness, it was clear they were not mere zombies.

”They’re waiting for us to get on the island.” Dianmo, having observed Ran Qingzhu, noticed this as well.

Fang Hong nodded; they couldn’t just linger here as less than a third of their time remained. They had to pass the fifth Light Bridge before then, so, knowing the enemy’s intentions, he reluctantly gave the command:

”Keep moving forward.”

”There could be an ambush on the island.” Nether’s voice came through the channel.

The Construct Queen, observing through the Clockwork Fairy’s vision, had not spotted any enemies; the island’s empty ruins also looked exceptionally strange, and the veteran Invokers among them, having experienced countless situations and events, were much keener to danger than ordinary people.

On the other side, KUN and Chenxi almost simultaneously provided similar assessments.

Fang Hong followed the advice, and as he set foot on the last island, he arranged more close-combat characters on both wings. It turned out his judgment was correct; they had just ventured deeper into the ruins when several Dark Giant Dragons soaring in the sky suddenly let out a piercing scream.

In response to this melodious long scream, everyone suddenly heard a strange sound—a rumbling coming from underground—not an earthquake— although the ground was indeed slightly trembling, and in a nearby spiderweb, countless spiders scurried away in terror.

It was the sound of footsteps.

An innumerable number of people running underground, it soon reached the surface, like a black flood bursting forth from below several holy temples and pyramids. The dense mass of enemies, all Dragon’s Claws minions, made the onlookers gasp; these minions were even more robust and fierce, almost all having a pair of dragon wings on their backs—they had become even stronger.

And their numbers were also quite frightening.

”Look there!” someone suddenly shouted loudly.

Fang Hong turned his head, only to see a thick fog spreading from the right side of the relic, making everyone feel a bit colder—as the temperature seemed to be dropping rapidly, the ground frosted over, and even the air was so cold that it fell in chunks, catching with his hand, he realized it was snowflakes.

This scene was rather peculiar, as clearly below them was a world covered in lava.

After a moment, everyone then heard an ancient horn sound coming from within the fog—a sailor’s long song:

”Yo ho, yo ho, an ancient ship’s course ahoy—”

”The ancient people aboard, heading to that realm of death!”

”Yo ho, yo ho, a lantern for the dead ahoy—”

”The pale light, guiding the sailors’ way ahead!”

And in this lingering song, a huge Dragon Boat was slowly emerging from the fog.

”What on earth is that?”

Fear always stems from the unknown, causing a stir among the crowd.

”It’s that ship!” Sophie’s voice transmitted over the channel.

Fang Hong nodded.

These eerie creatures had finally all arrived.

It was at this moment that the Dark Giant Dragon, soaring in the sky, finally made a turn and swooped down toward them, ”They have all come!” the military personnel exclaimed over the channel, ”Spread out quickly, you are no match for them in a pincer attack!”

But Fang Hong was silent for a moment.

He did not immediately issue that command.

Indeed, dispersing could give them a chance to escape, but how could they break through the heavy encirclement of the fourth island by simply dispersing? Moreover, his previous plan did not include these newly joined Chosen ones, and now that he had more strength at his disposal, he was even less likely to choose that path.

Fang Hong adjusted the reinforced gloves on his right hand.

He turned back to the others and said, ”We’ll split up, I’ll draw the enemy’s attention, and you all try to break through from the weakest flank, and it’s best not to get close to that ship—”

Everyone was stunned, ”Xiaya?”

How could one person possibly draw away those thralls of Torogotos, they aren’t fools, why would they choose not to capture the main force but chase after him, a Combat Artisan. These creatures did not know that he was the commander of this team.

But Fang Hong did not explain further, only asking the others, ”Those of you who have plugins that increase strength and agility, hand them over to me.”

Although curious, the others were already accustomed to following his orders, and strength and agility plugins were not rare commodities, especially for members of Silver Weslan, where almost every warrior and ranger had them.

They detached some plugins that did not need a specific level or profession and handed them to Fang Hong.

Fang Hong took the items and nodded. As the Dark Giant Dragon flew towards them, he dared not stay longer. He immediately raised his hand and fired a Rocket Fist towards a building not far away, then leapt into the air and dived into an alley in that direction, leaving the group behind.

The members of Silver Weslan were fine, but the other Chosen ones thought Fang Hong was fleeing the battle and were momentarily stunned.

In fact, it was not just them. In Golande’s square, many people had already started jeering.

But it was at this moment.

Everyone saw in the direction Fang Hong had left, where a burst of dazzling azure light suddenly erupted in the district.

And the next moment, a miracle occurred, the Dark Giant Dragon in the sky, in the midst of a dive, made an almost ninety-degree turn, instantly chasing after the direction of that light.

And it wasn’t just the Dark Giant Dragon.

The surging dark minions also turned back towards that direction and sprinted over.

Whether it was the Chosen ones.

Or the civilians who were witnessing this scene.

They all watched in stunned silence as this unfolded.

...