Pillar of Yita

But then Elisa pulled him from behind and shouted, ”This way!”

Only then did Parker snap back to reality. He looked back and realized there was an intersection ahead. After all, he was also half a Nightingale. Seeing this intersection gave him a sudden shiver, and he asked, ”Wait a minute, haven’t we been here before!?”

Elisa nodded—the intersection had no markings of theirs; they indeed had not been to this place before.

”Left or right?”

”There are traces of chains being dragged on the right.”

”Then it’s left.”

Without a word, Parker took the lead and charged forward.

It was only after he had run with his short legs for a good while, almost out of breath, that he suddenly realized one thing—there was no sound from behind. He looked back and was almost scared to death—in the pitch-black corridor, Elisa was nowhere to be seen.

He broke into a cold sweat. He was a bit afraid to turn back, but he didn’t dare to continue alone. After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth and muttered, ”What’s this supposed to be, can it possibly compare to Gracis of the Hill of Trees? That damn little she-dragon—”

The Papalarian muttered to bolster his courage and turned back, but was stunned.

It turned out that he found Elisa standing perfectly fine there, looking into the distance. He walked over, and Miss Nightingale turned to ask, ”Where did you run off to?”

Parker, still a bit nervous, asked, ”Where, where’s that thing?”

Elisa looked forward again and just pointed in that direction.

Only then did Parker see that the old man, dragging heavy shackles, was standing not far away, snarling at them. But the figure dared not cross the line, as if there was an invisible line holding him there.

The Papalarian was extremely shocked by this scene and couldn’t help but open his mouth wide, ”What is it doing?”

Elisa shook her head.

”What exactly is that thing?”

”Mr. Parker, if you ask me, who should I ask?”

”I thought you would know.”

Elisa replied, amused, ”You better ask Miss Tang Xin.”

”Why her?”

”Because she’s Milaila’s Priest.”

”You mean it’s the Undead?”

Elisa nodded, ”Most likely.”

Parker swallowed and then asked, ”So what should we do now?”

”Of course, move forward.”

”Move forward?” Parker looked at the old man, a bit lacking in confidence, ”I always feel there’s something ominous ahead.”

”What else?” Elisa’s eyes twinkled, ”Do you want to go back?”

Parker immediately changed his tune, ”Then let’s hurry up and move forward.”

As they were about to turn around, they heard a voice coming from behind. ”Who are you two, and why are you here?” Elisa was startled and looked in that direction, only to see a small light appearing in the darkness. A middle-aged man in a long robe, holding a lantern, walked toward them, looking at the pair.

He wore a gray Scholar’s Robe. It was of no notable rank, yet not of apprentice style either. His temples slightly graying, but his appearance rather handsome, showing hints of his past glory, especially with eyes full of gentle wisdom.

It was as if he naturally garnered goodwill.

The middle-aged man holding the lantern looked at them, a hint of confusion in his expression but gradually understanding, ”Holy Chosen, it seems someone brought you to this place.”

”Wait,” Elisa asked softly, ”Who might you be?”

”Just a recluse,” the middle-aged man replied, ”As for a name, I have almost forgotten, though many years ago, I seemed to be called ’Kalatu’.”

”Kalatu!?”

Elisa was surprised, ”Wait, are you the Archmage Kalatu?”

The middle-aged man glanced at the two again and gently nodded.

...

The tremors underground finally gradually subsided.

Fang Hong then illuminated the Crystal in the darkness and inspected the surroundings—they were lucky not to be buried under the sand and stones, but unfortunately, the collapsed rocks had blocked both sides of the passage, making this place a dead end.

After settling Atira, he put on the repaired ’Pride of the Lonely King’ and commanded the Energy Angel to slowly move the fallen sand and stones to the other end. However, in the dim tunnel, he was not the only one doing this work. On the other side, Rolin’s Sword Bearer was repeatedly doing the same labor.

The two worked silently for a long while.

Finally, Fang Hong broke the silence; he looked back at the other person and couldn’t help but ask, ”Why save me?”

Rolin also turned around, making a fist at his mouth and lightly coughed before straightening up and smiling, ”Why not?”

”But aren’t we enemies?”

”Enemies can also become friends.”

”I won’t make friends with someone like you.”

”Because I’m a Dragon Worshipper?”

Fang Hong nodded.

”But is identity important for an Invoker?” Rolin smiled and replied, ”I joined the Dragon Worship Sect, that’s all, but as for other matters, I didn’t participate much. In fact, Toragotos still died by my hand, didn’t he?”

”But you can’t explain away what happened with Fanric?”

Rolin coughed twice and laughed but then shook his head, speaking no more.

...