Pillar of Yita

A gentle breeze stirred the Cloud Sea, undulating like ripples and softly scattering the cotton candy-like clouds. It blew against Fang Hong’s face, messing up the hair on his forehead.

He looked at the dark Communication Crystal in his hand, from which Hilveld’s voice, disturbed by Magic Power, came through with a rustling sound: ”Be careful.”

”I will.”

Hilveld responded softly: ”Waiting for your return.”

The delicate voice sounded as if it whispered into his ear, making Fang Hong’s heartbeat quicken slightly.

He closed the communicator, looked up in one direction, where everyone was putting on their Winged Backpacks and retreating into the cave to avoid being spotted by enemies suddenly appearing on the pier. Outside on the platform, some people were designated to monitor the pier; there was no movement yet, but a few minutes ago, someone patrolled the pier.

Wu Xiaopang and the others had brought binoculars—through the brass telescope, Fang Hong saw what those patrolling people looked like—from their outfits, they seemed like Smugglers’ Guards, with their heads wrapped in scarves, thick robes over Magic Guided Leather Armor, and Magic Guided Reactors strapped to their backs. Though it was too far to see the exact model, he could make out they were agility-oriented.

Since only agility-oriented Magic Guided Reactors prioritize being compact and lightweight, minimizing weight is crucial.

He retracted his gaze and took two steps forward to the cave’s edge, resting his elbow on a stalagmite while leaning forward to observe the situation outside.

A voice came from behind him: ”Captain, have you had similar experiences before?”

Fang Hong didn’t need to turn around to recognize Elisa’s voice. As he silently watched the ’strait’ below, letting the wind play with the collar of his Alchemist’s Coat, he shook his head gently.

It’s bizarre, but when he first heard Wu Xiaopang’s daring plan, his initial reaction was not about worrying what would happen if they fell but rather pondering the plan’s feasibility. When he snapped out of it, he couldn’t help but ask himself, have I experienced this before?

The last similar scene seemed to be in Morning Dawn Star, but that time it was only a few dozen meters, and the circumstances didn’t allow much thought. But this time, he would traverse a strait over a mile long with a Flapping Machine, with a blue, bottomless abyss below—a daunting task that should deter anyone, yet he felt an unusual calmness inside.

Perhaps it was due to the burden of responsibility. The weight of being the captain left him no time to consider fear; if there was anything to worry about, it might be the concern of endangering everyone due to his mistakes.

He worried about everyone on the team, about Hilveld, about each individual.

He knew he lacked experience and still had much to learn, even admitting his own carelessness. Precisely because of this, he couldn’t relax—there was already enough to think about, so much so that he forgot the emotion of fear.

He didn’t answer, but his furrowed brow and tightly pressed lips seemed to let Miss Nightingale see through his thoughts, a faint line of a smile inadvertently appearing on her lips, admitting that a matured man indeed had his charm.

Unfortunately, the ’flower’ is spoken for.

”I’ve never flown this far,” Fang Hong finally spoke up, ”but as an Alchemist, I have some research on Flapping Machines. If you’re really worried, you can stay close to me later, and I’ll find a way to guide your flight.”

Elisa smiled: ”Rather than worrying about me, you should worry about Gita. She’s trying to be brave, can’t you see that?”

Fang Hong nodded: ”Gita is more earnest than any of us. Keep an eye on her for me later.”

Elisa looked at him with some curiosity: ”Wait, you really think so?”

Fang Hong turned back: ”What else?”

Miss Nightingale’s eyes flickered, finding it a bit amusing, but after thinking for a moment, she didn’t say anything further.

Fang Hong noticed she wasn’t speaking anymore. Although a bit puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it. He merely extended his left hand, and a beam of Silverlight shot from the Information Crystal at his chest, intertwining on his glove to form two Silver Shuttle-like Constructs.

Elisa recognized them as a new design of his, an Alien Clockwork Fairy, whose six pairs of silver wings fluttered gently, glistening with enchanting allure, truly magnificent.

Supporting them with his hand, the two Clockwork Fairies transformed into two streaks of silver light, flying into the canyon above, causing her eyes to flicker slightly: ”The speed is much faster than before.”

”That’s because the power is stronger, but it’s at the cost of maneuverability,” Fang Hong replied as he lowered his Wind Goggles, ”The classic model of the Flexible Construct is a product proven in countless battles. Although it may not be perfect, it doesn’t have obvious shortcomings.”

”The Variant Constructs designed by later generations are usually specialized to enhance specific traits, but breaking that balance often leads to weaknesses in other areas.”

”Of course, there are also classic designs among Variants.”

”Like the Energy Angel?” Elisa inquired.

Fang Hong nodded: ”The Energy Angel is indeed a very perfect Variant, but its cost is higher calculative power and energy consumption, and the required Level is higher than that of a regular Sword Bearer. Compared to a Type III Sword Bearer, it’s somewhat unfair.”

He paused: ”’Hornet-I’ is similar.”

Each time Elisa heard the name, she couldn’t help but think of Parker’s pitiful fate, finding it a bit funny; the Captain indeed had no talent for naming things. She even remembered the joke about ’Gita’s Big Bomb.’