Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong turned over and climbed up the broken edge, then looked down and saw that several Sky Pirates seemed oblivious to the commotion above their heads, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He carefully withdrew.

Though his stealth skill was not high, in a battlefield environment, creating a sound above gunfire and explosions was quite difficult. Moreover, the Sky Pirates must constantly beware of Descendants of Flor ambushes ahead, so it was understandable that they hadn’t discovered him momentarily.

Originally, he could have come up using a more secure method.

For example, fully activating the Flying Claw or using Energy Angel’s Blink was among the options. But the Strength that Eve endowed him with was spent, so conserving Magic Power was necessary.

Even though he had just exchanged spare Magic Crystals with Miss Atira, Elf Miss couldn’t have brought too many spare crystals. Both of them were deep behind enemy lines now, making careful management essential to avoid previous predicaments.

Fang Hong eyed the broken edge he was now upon.

Originally part of a subterranean passage, it now lay exposed outside a cliff after a fault, resembling a suspended footpath. He crouched and proceeded along the path toward an entrance he had targeted earlier.

And Atira, transformed as a Paradise Bird, awaited him there. Upon his arrival, she formed into a human shape amid a mist.

Fang Hong was about to ask, but Elf Miss raised a finger to her lips, shaking her head to indicate someone was inside.

Fang Hong reached the path’s end and peeked into the crack leading into the cliff, finding it pitch black. He turned back to Miss Atira, silently asking what she discovered.

”Descendants of Flor,” Atira whispered softly.

It wasn’t surprising to Fang Hong since he was pursuing them.

He said little, focusing instead on Elf Miss’s gestures — about ten meters inside the passageway’s entrance, there were two persons.

Unfortunately, having not learned specialized sign language, that’s about all he understood.

Atira, perhaps realizing it, added via mouthing: ”An Iron Guard, a Spellcaster.”

Elf Miss herself wasn’t sure about the Spellcaster’s affiliation.

Fang Hong nodded, indicating comprehension.

He had dealt with Descendants of Flor before and knew they were formidable. Now, without the Dragon’s Golden Eyes strength from Eve, the first encounter was crucial.

He raised his hand, quietly summoned Energy Angel, closed, and reopened his eyes. The power he had gained earlier from Dragon’s Heart reemerged, illuminating the cavern as though daylight.

Fang Hong grasped his Reinforced Gloves and proceeded inside with Energy Angel.

Though the cavern stemmed from a fracture line, originally being a passage part, it was still relatively straight. Shortly, they spotted two Descendants of Flor on guard.

The two, in tandem, leaned against a stairway section. The Iron Guard, seated in front, focused on smearing grease across his sword, maintaining his weapon.

The other Spellcaster, eyes shut and murmuring, apparently was enhancing spell memory.

Their lax vigilance starkly contrasted prior Descendants of Flor’s alerts, surprising Fang Hong. He suspected a trap, scanning around, but found no one else.

He pondered the Clockwork Fairy in hand. Being a narrow site, the Fairy’s minuscule flapping would surely alert them if released for scouting.

Upon further scrutiny, Fang Hong sighted a Magic Guided Wand resting by the Spellcaster. There was a significant difference between a Magic Guided Conductor’s Wand and an Elementalist’s Elemental Magic Wand, indicating the person was a genuine Magic Guided Conductor.

However, a Magic Guided Conductor spells slower than an Elementalist, who can prep Elemental Crystals. And the remaining Iron Guard seemed ill-suited for sudden assaults.

Fang Hong, silent, realized he found an opportunity.

Despite resembling a trap, he couldn’t be overly cautious. If Miss Eve were abducted, time left for him was minimal.

He gently flicked his wrist, directing Energy Angel to meld into darkness, moving stealthily toward them.

Theoretically, in surprise attacks, focusing on targets with low defense yet high attack is paramount, thus targeting the Magic Guided Conductor initially was logical.

Yet, Fang Hong had alternative concerns—

Knowing those present merely acted as lookouts, other Descendants of Flor members lay within City Hall.

To avoid alerting or exposing identity, rapid execution was essential.

And the optimal quick-strike plan, if feasible, entailed targeting the Shield Bearer first. Should the Shield Bearer fall, what mischief could a frail Magic Guided Conductor ignite?

Fang Hong decisively fixed his sights, signaling Energy Angel to accelerate, storming toward the Descendants of Flor members.