Pillar of Yita

He gasped for breath and then gritted his teeth, ”The vice-captain is dead, Mr. Xiaya, he told us to stop these monsters at all costs.”

He paused, ”So leave this place to us, boss, you get going and stop Toragotos, please.”

Fang Hong was slightly taken aback.

He couldn’t help but think of that leader of the Silver Weslan Knights from the top domestic guild—a man who seemed to have no pretentious airs or presence and always followed Sophie’s orders, coordinating with these young knights of Silver Weslan—but he must have been an excellent Invoker, a qualified Knight.

Fang Hong felt a twinge of regret in his heart; he probably hadn’t expected the man to die in this place, possibly with no second chance to return, and he didn’t even know the man’s ID until now.

But at this moment, ID was no longer important. Fang Hong silently nodded his head.

”Be careful, there may be Dragon’s Claw minions nearby,” Ran Qingzhu warned again.

But Fang Hong didn’t look back; he started running in another direction, where a long narrow alley lay—the Dragon Head giant ship had cut off the street, forcing him to detour to his destination. As he passed through the narrow alley, the sounds from outside gradually lowered, and Fang Hong didn’t know how much longer Ran Qingzhu and Hilveld’s men could hold on, but he knew the faster he was, the better.

Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him into the darkness beside him. Fang Hong was startled and ready to resist, but a cold and delicate hand held down his gun-wielding hand from behind, and another reached from behind to cover his mouth. Fang Hong calmed down, grasping that the owner of the hand knew who he was. From not far came the rustling of footsteps, a group of Night Lizard People emerged from the front of the alley.

Fang Hong immediately realized that these Night Lizard People had been attracted by the loud noise created by the Dragon Head giant ship. That was close; his Clockwork Fairy was still further away, unretrieved. He hadn’t expected to bump into these cold-blooded reptiles here.

The Night Lizard People turned their gaze in this direction, but as if a dark curtain obscured their vision, they saw nothing.

”The spell won’t last long; they will find us soon,” a cautious and delicate voice came from behind him, ”Lord Captain.”

The person behind him then released him and no longer clung to him. Fang Hong turned around and, sure enough, saw the Noble Lady, whom he hadn’t noticed approach from behind, watching him with bright eyes. Her features were exquisite, and her shallow blue-green eyes were like a pair of twinkling stars in the darkness. ”Miss Hilveld?”

Hilveld nodded at him, ”Follow me.” She then dashed into the shadows.

Fang Hong noticed a small path there and, without hesitation, followed her alone. As soon as they moved, the Night Lizard People indeed noticed, letting out shrill cries and immediately chasing in that direction.

Fang Hong could feel the Night Lizard People gathering; these hunters of darkness had their ways of communicating with each other. They hissed and shrieked incessantly, so he dared not slow his pace for a moment, maintaining close pursuit of Hilveld through the path. Fortunately, the dusty and cluttered path was not too long, and they soon approached the faintly blinking light of the Beacon.

Almost there!

Fang Hong thought.

But just then, a dark shadow lunged from the air above; he instinctively rolled aside and drew out his Lion Handgun, firing directly at the figure. At such close range, there was no room for the diving shadow to evade, and it took the shot squarely, screeched, and flew out.

Fang Hong looked closer and realized it was not a Night Lizard Person but a Dragon’s Claw minion. He then remembered Ran Qingzhu’s warning; these ghastly things were indeed nearby.

Dragon’s Claw minions usually swarmed together; he had no idea how many more were in the vicinity. And the one he shot in the shoulder, though it bore a large hole, was still struggling to rise. Fang Hong didn’t think twice; he fired two more rounds, emptying the bullets from the chamber to completely disperse the foe into smoke and dust.

Just then, he suddenly heard a gunshot from ahead and was almost certain it was Hilveld firing. Alarmed, Fang Hong hurried in that direction.

But after taking just one step, the ground violently shook, flipping him onto the ground. Fang Hong tumbled and, looking up, saw the towering skeleton of Salrutaka—the Giant Mountain had risen and pressed its claws against the Pyramid fortress.

It slowly pushed back and then slammed fiercely into the net of Light. The net glowed brighter than ever before and, after a moment, dimmed completely, as if it would disappear at any moment.

As Salrutaka had said, without the protection of Light’s Sea, the vibrations from beneath Fenris began to affect the Holy Sanctuary’s Central District. Waves of violent tremors, like ocean waves, rolled in, causing buildings on either side to collapse.

Fang Hong paled with shock, dodging left and right, barely avoiding the tumbling rocks, but he hadn’t forgotten Hilveld might be in danger. While rolling forward, he leaped up to evade a crack spreading on the ground.

Beyond the crack, he finally saw Hilveld. A Dragon’s Claw minion was advancing on the prone Noble Lady. Without a second thought, Fang Hong charged and knocked it to the ground.