Pillar of Yita

A sharp scream was coming from the south of the city, several miles away, yet it was enough to make the plaza tremble. Only then did the people raise their heads, seeing a whirlwind carrying countless objects into the sky.

Amidst the protective shield slowly unfolding above, twelve light arrays suddenly opened up, and crimson beams surged out from within, pouring downwards from the top of the sky like hanging chains.

Twelve crimson spears from heaven intersected each other, piercing straight into the earth.

And the direction they were aimed at—

”...is towards Cold Raven Street!”

Upon witnessing this scene, Sophie’s face changed suddenly, and she was the first to turn and sprint in that direction. She activated the Agility Plugin midway, her cloak spreading like wings to the sides, with a flash of silver light on the Magic Guided Reactor and Armor. Within several leaps, she vanished among the buildings.

A trail of flickering silver light was left behind, gradually dissipating as the Ether Magic Power faded away.

Behind her, Xi glanced back at everyone, silently grabbed her cyan spear, and left, following her Main Star Knight.

But moving against their direction, the citizens of Fanric seemed only then to realize what had happened, screaming as they scattered in all directions. A few adventurers were also fleeing among them, after all, it was the city’s autonomous defense mechanism, and who knew what had happened in the south. No one wanted to throw away their life without reason.

Only a few who truly had confidence in their own strength, or who were excessively bold, would rush towards that direction immediately, each activating their Agility Plugin, with faint cyan or silver patterns intertwining above the buildings.

At this time, Fang Hong also realized that there had been an incident, but he first turned back, ordering: ”Tianlan, Luo Yu, Gita stay here, Hilveld, protect Delice and Mr. Uncrowned,” then his gaze swept across the others, ”The rest of you, come with me— ”

Before he finished speaking, a ghostly blue light unfolded at his side.

Fang Hong turned, raised his right hand, gently touched his Construct, and his whole body turned into a streak of silver light, vanishing before everyone’s eyes.

With three Blinks, he reached the edge of the plaza, where after the citizens had fled, there was only desolation left. But before Fang Hong landed, a black shadow leaped towards him. Before he could react, a gleam of a sword flickered at the corner of his eye— the grey-white sword light perfectly split the shadow from lower left to upper right.

The shadow rolled far away, allowing Fang Hong to see that it was a skeletal vulture, an eleventh-level undead creature, just a minion after all.

Though the monster was cut in two, it still flapped its bare bone wings in a struggle before the phosphorescent fire in its eye sockets gradually extinguished. Only then did Fang Hong look to the other side, just in time to see the Silver Weslan Princess sheathing her sword and walking over:

”Be careful, these undead are coming from the south.” Sophie responded.

”The south?”

Sophie nodded, indicating it was indeed in the direction of Cold Raven Street.

”In broad daylight, how could there be undead in Fanric?” Fang Hong asked, ”What kind of accident happened over there?”

”Not sure.” Sophie shook her head.

”What should we do now?”

”Go over there to take a look,” Sophie replied, ”though I have a bad feeling, Ade.”

Fang Hong said nothing; there couldn’t possibly be such a coincidence in this world. He also felt that this incident might be related to the officer they were investigating. However, this situation certainly needed a personal investigation:

”Fight our way through?”

Sophie nodded.

”Where’s Xi?” Fang Hong asked again.

”She’s gone ahead,” Sophie replied, ”what about the others?”

”Still behind,” Fang Hong said as seven or eight golden Clockwork Fairies rose from behind him. Without any visible action from him, a group of golden spheres hovered in the air, beating four wings and reflecting sunlight as they flew into the sky. Only then did he glance back at Sophie and said, ”Then you lead the way, I’ll support you—”

Despite the experience at the Hall of Thousand Doors, Fang Hong never forgot his role—in combat, before reaching Level 30, a Combat Artisan mainly acted as support. Especially since, between him and the Silver Weslan Little Princess, she was certainly more skilled in the main attack.

But Sophie seemed not to hear him, looking up at those glittering little things flying into the distance. After a moment, she turned back with a sigh, ”You’ve improved again.”

She sheathed her sword while suddenly tilting her head to ask him, ”I heard you went to the Hall of Thousand Doors?”

”You know about it too?”

”Don’t forget, our Chairman went there too.”

Fang Hong nodded in acknowledgment.

Sophie suddenly grew curious, ”How many doors did you pass?”

Fang Hong thought for a moment, then answered, ”Almost cleared them all.”

”Haha, even you joke now, Ade.”

The Silver Weslan Princess couldn’t help but laugh.

But halfway through her laugh, Sophie saw Fang Hong’s serious expression, and she opened her mouth in surprise, ”…it’s not true, is it?”

Fang Hong nodded, having a very good impression of this ”Princess” and not intending to hide such matters from her.

Sophie pondered for a moment, couldn’t help but take a light breath.

But she did not ask how many specifically Fang Hong hadn’t gone through—because it was a meaningless question. The girl just cast a black and white glance at Fang Hong and then turned to walk forward, lightly kicking a small stone on the ground.

The stone hopped and rolled into the alley in front.

”Let’s take a shortcut,” she said while pressing her hand on her sword, suddenly speaking out, ”Cover me, Ade.”