Pillar of Yita

The final one, ’Sever the Past’. This was not there before, and is one of the changes in the quest line at this moment.

Thinking back, it must have been generated from the moment when he encountered Nikopolas at the top of the Elfendo Tower. Thus, this task should be related to the severed claw of Nikopolas. However, Fang Hong was puzzled that after defeating Nikopolas in battle, the progress of this task only increased by a mere twenty percent.

The text above describes it like this:

’In the battle of the past, the Dragon’s Witch’s claw was severed by Xiuyuede, yet its desiccated Dark Magic Power has now revived...’

’This seems to confirm the ancient adage: ”Do not forget the enemies of the past, for they will invariably return.”’

’Through Your Excellency’s efforts, once again thwarted the plot of the Dragon Worship Sect, causing Nikopolas to flee at Fanric.’

’Yet the past sorrows still brood beneath the sands.’

’And now all clues seem to point towards that western city, Idus.’

However, Fang Hong knew that this task description was actually based on his own knowledge and speculation, forming a textual record narrated by the system, not to be taken literally. Such as supposedly foiling the plot of the Dragon Worship Sect, did it really get thwarted?

The fact is that the severed claw of Nikopolas has vanished without a trace.

As for the last few lines, they are also based on existing clues, pointing to one of the greatest possibilities, but not the only one, and Fang Hong certainly did not feel that his inference must be correct.

Fang Hong tasted these few lines again carefully; they are not entirely without merit. The system’s ingenuity lies in possibly harboring subtle hints within the description that even they may have overlooked. These words cannot be taken as truth, but can serve as a starting point for a series of conjectures.

For instance, what exactly are the sorrows brooding beneath the sands?

He couldn’t help but recall the diary of the missing official from the Adventurers’ Guild he had obtained while tracking them before, which had abundant records about Idus. Whether this city, destroyed under the fiery flames of Nikopolas, indeed harbors some unknown secret?

He remembered that following the diary’s guidance, he had found something from the bookshelf, which was actually a crumpled page of a map. The position indicated on it was not yet clear if it was located within Idus. However, given its importance, it must have been of considerable value.

This made Fang Hong feel that the journey to Idus seemed to have become urgent.

But he snapped back to his senses and suddenly realized the room was somewhat quiet—

He looked up, only to find Hilveld slightly lowering her head, her lashes gently drooping, hands holding a cup resting on her legs, breathing steady, as if asleep.

Fang Hong opened his mouth, suddenly realizing something, carefully suppressing his voice back. Unable to get up, he quietly observed Miss Ship’s Officer’s serene, tranquil sleeping face, cherishingly as if looking at an invaluable treasure.

However, Hilveld seemed to sense his gaze, her lashes fluttered slightly, unexpectedly awakening. She habitually smiled faintly, gently reaching out to entwine fingers with his—but inadvertently touched the ring there.

She was slightly startled.

She couldn’t help but frown her pretty brows, silently looking at the ring for a moment, then softly said, ”Next time, don’t be so foolish, Lord Captain.”

Fang Hong glanced at his ring.

Saint Dilac’s Ring shimmered with a gentle sheen under the sunlight, appearing quite beautiful, though it was a deadly beauty.

He is a stowaway, originally having fewer opportunities for resurrection than the average person. In terms of the number of Starlights, he only had 2.5 times (actually could only resurrect twice). And in the Elf Ruins, he had already used it once, leaving only 1.5 times at the time.

Later, Miya shared some Starlight with him, bringing the number of Starlights back to three times—until he wore this ring. Fang Hong silently calculated, realizing his current resurrection count seemed to have returned to pre-liberation times.

With only two times left, it could only be described as slightly better than the previous dire situation.

Fang Hong couldn’t help but explain, ”But at that time...”

”Hilveld doesn’t desire a hero,” Hilveld faintly smiled, ”but merely wants her own captain.”

This was a request, yet also the most wonderful love words in the world.

The room fell into extreme silence for a moment.

The subsequent recovery process unexpectedly took much longer than Fang Hong anticipated.

He initially thought that in that battle, he had only suffered from mental exhaustion and fatigue, and after being unconscious on the bed for three days and nights, he should have quickly recovered. But in reality, after laying in bed for a week, he could barely move.

During which Hilveld alone cared for him for a few days, soon replaced by others.

Like right now—

Fang Hong was watching Tang Xin holding a spoon, waving it back and forth in front of him.

”Ah,” Tang Xin made a long sound, ”Open your mouth.”

Fang Hong looked awkwardly at his cousin.

He moved his right hand, saying, ”Tangtang, I can do it myself.”

”Shut up, spare me the nonsense,” Tang Xin responded peevishly, ”Do you want to eat or not?”

”Eat, eat, eat.”

Fang Hong was sweating profusely.

However, what surprised him was that Tang Xin did not harp on about the crybaby incident—something Fang Hong recalled as practically a tall tale—and he once suspected if she had been replaced by a doppelgänger.