Pillar of Yita

The time goes back to a quarter-hour ago.

The young girl was struggling a bit as she supported Fang Hong back to the previous natural cave. Perhaps because it was the second time she walked this path, it felt like they spent much less time than the last time. At Fang Hong’s signal, the girl let go of his arm, allowing him to lean against a cluster of crystals, the pain coming from his shoulder causing him to stifle a groan.

”Mr. Ade, are you alright?” the girl asked nervously in the darkness.

Fang Hong gently shook his head.

Then he said softly, ”Listen to me, Eve.”

”I’m listening, Mr. Ade.”

”Find a place to hide now, don’t show yourself. Later, I’ll distract the others,” he fumbled in the dark for that ring and returned it to her, taking a light breath: ”I have some questions for you. After we leave, can you wait for me here?”

The girl hesitated as she took the ring: ”But, Mr. Ade, how can I let you take such risks alone in your condition?”

Fang Hong shook his head again: ”Listen to my question, Eve,” he replied slowly, word by word: ”Will—you—wait—for—me—here?”

”This... If Mr. Ade requests it, of course, I will.”

”Really?”

”Really.”

”Good, then remember, I have taken a mission here with you, and this mission isn’t over yet—you need to wait for my return. We’ve made a covenant.”

The girl looked a bit puzzled but still nodded: ”I, I don’t quite understand... but I’ll do as you say, Mr. Ade.”

Only then did Fang Hong sigh with relief. He couldn’t explain to her that if he didn’t do this, he feared the mission would reset as soon as he left. The resetting itself wasn’t frightening; at most, he could just go through the process again.

But the problem was, if the mission reset and the Dragon Worshipper found her, then everything he had done before would be in vain. The truth about the Dragon’s Witch might also be buried forever under this dust—of course, he was still unclear about who the people outside were, but he could only assume they were related to the Dragon Worship Sect.

Fang Hong was also unsure if what he was doing would work—he didn’t know if the soul itself would have memory—but it was worth trying to buy a little more time, even if just for another minute.

He responded softly, ”Give me some time. After I draw them away, I’ll come find you—if, and I’m just saying if, I accidentally die at their hands, but I still have Starlight, it might take a bit longer, but I’ll definitely come.”

He wasn’t reassured and added: ”This is related to some matters of Mr. Yoshude, Miss Eve.”

The girl seemed to understand, and she nodded again.

This time Fang Hong’s vision gradually adjusted to the dark, and he could see her movements clearly.

He quietly pressed his hand to his left chest, hesitating for a moment. At this point, the girl couldn’t help but ask again, ”Can I really not help Mr. Ade at all? I, I also have some combat ability, Yoshude taught me before...”

Fang Hong had seen her ’combat ability’, which was unable to withstand a single blow in front of the Dragon Claw’s henchmen, but if she transformed into a Dragon, then the ’combat ability’ would be indeed formidable. However, if she truly transformed into Nikopolas, perhaps she would be the first to kill him instead.

For some reason, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind; the Tada Ritualist had warned him not to go west because he would see the ’shadow of death’ there. Could this be the shadow of death? The first time he died at Miss Miya’s hands, was he to die here the second time?

Even though Miss Miya shared half of her Starlight with him, there was almost none left after he put on the Three Elven Rings and the Soul of Shattered Stars.

The Tada Ritualist told him the Shining Sea would shelter him, but where was the Shining Sea now?

He looked at the dark natural cave, the underground river; there was no place connected to that Magical Sea here.

But suddenly, his gaze paused on those dark crystals—no, not entirely none. He mustered some strength, struggled to sit up, and said softly: ”Eve, can you find those previous crystals again?”

”I, I can try.”

”My Magic Guided Reactor is almost out of magic power, but if I had magic power, it might not be impossible to fight those people, it’s just...”

”I understand,” the girl’s voice sounded urgent, interrupting him: ”I’ll go right now, and I’ll do my best.”

Fang Hong nodded.

In the darkness, the sounds of the girl fumbling away immediately followed.

Only then did Fang Hong gently exhale, closing his eyes weakly, grateful that the enemies hadn’t chased after him, giving him a chance to catch his breath. He reversed his hand, pulling out the crossbow bolt with force and throwing it to the ground, going through the entire process without uttering a sound.

His weakness was mainly due to the Poisons causing it since the Antidote needed some time to take effect. He inwardly cursed himself for not being a warrior; if he were a warrior, the resistance generated by his physique wouldn’t be diminished by a mere Poison to this extent.

Fang Hong finally reopened his eyes.

But just at this moment, he saw a thread of glow in the darkness.

Two voices sounded, one after the other:

”Ade.”

”Kid, you’ve got yourself in quite the plight, huh.”

Both voices halted simultaneously.

Two luminous Light Pages unfolded slowly in front of Fang Hong, like reflections into the darkness before him—they were two communication Light Pages, hovering to the left and right. On the left was a face he couldn’t be more familiar with—a delicate face, eyes like flowing Silverlight, long pointed ears, a cascade of silver hair like a waterfall.