Pillar of Yita

The Royal Guards had to retreat for the first time, but once they did, they couldn’t stop. Princess Rupert gritted her teeth and pressed on, but it was to no avail. Very soon, there were several cuts in places not covered by her armor, blood gushing out, staining her garments and armor red. At that moment, an arrow flew by, striking the Grand Princess in the chest.

She grunted, leaning back. Not far away, Tianlan was so frightened that she let out an ’ah’, picked up her Magic Guided Piano, and struck a note with force.

The bouncing note fell among the Sand Thieves, exploding into a violent sound wave. The Sand Thieves, who were charging forward to capture the Princess, immediately staggered under the impact.

But before Tianlan could rejoice, she saw the Sand Thieves turning their gaze towards her, which scared her so much she dropped the Magic Guided Piano and turned to run. However, after just a couple of steps, she was caught by someone. The Sand Thief grabbed her, and the young girl immediately screamed in an off-pitch voice.

But a silhouette crashed into her; it was the Grand Princess getting up from the ground.

Tianlan tumbled to the ground, screaming in fear:

”Grand Princess, we’re going to die!”

She was this scared for the first time, tears falling like rain, thinking she would never again dare to disobey Captain Ade’s orders. She would stay in the back and never cause trouble again.

But Princess Rupert only pressed a comforting hand against her heart, softly soothing, ”Don’t worry.”

How could she not worry?

But the sounds of battle seemed to actually quiet down for a moment.

Tianlan opened her eyes somewhat unexpectedly and realized that the Sand Thief was already dead—Princess Rupert had pierced his heart with a sword, cooling it all the way through.

In the distance, a group of Knights clad in robes as white as snow rushed over the bridge in their direction. Their vanguard had arrived, like a sharp sword, piercing the backs of the Sand Thieves. The young girl blinked, finally recognizing the symbol on the Knights’ banners. That sparkling sword had a resounding name in this Kingdom—

Morning Light.

She recognized those Knights, just like seeing the Big Cat People.

Those were the Hall Guard Knights of Marlan.

The renowned name of the Marlan Knight had clearly reached the Sand Thieves as well. Confronted with attacks from both front and back, they finally lost their will to fight and retreated in droves. Watching the retreating enemies, Tianlan realized that this battle was finally brought to a halt, thanks to the reinforcements of the Marlan Knights.

She exhaled a sigh of relief, her eyes spinning as she reconsidered her previous oath, deciding it should take effect next time.

She had no intention of listening to Captain Ade’s silly orders.

She clasped her hands together and secretly offered a prayer to Lady Marlan.

But while Tianlan was slyly breaking her promise, Princess Rupert sighed lightly. She understood all too well whether the battle was truly over.

She turned back to ask:

”Where is Mahazar, did anyone see the King of the Sand Thieves?”

No one answered around her.

...

As the Sand Thieves scattered into the city, Mahazar did not move.

This King of the Sand Thieves was like a wolf king with cold eyes, watching the large and small Sand Thieves scatter, setting fires, committing murder, and looting, but those were originally just a mob. He never expected much from these so-called ’allies’ ’United’ together. He still had a well-disciplined group of his old subordinates by his side, which was enough—

His target was only one, the wealth within the Royal Palace and that woman.

Besides, whether these people could leave alive was still a question.

He had already received intelligence from the front line; the Royal Guards had already broken through.

Very brave—

But also very foolish.

He held the reins in his hands, ready to give an order, but suddenly, a commotion came from behind the team.

Mahazar was slightly taken aback and couldn’t help but look in that direction.

An anxious voice came from behind:

”What is that...?”

”There’s something in the sky!”

”The clouds are splitting open...”

...

In the darkness, Elisa glanced at Kashan Palace overhead, which was likely the only place within the Royal Palace currently ablaze with lights.

It must be lively there, just like before—she thought to herself.

But the squabbling of the ministers above and the deafening cries of battle outside could not reach this place. It was temporarily quiet in the darkness, with only the bright lake under the starlight in the distance and occasional rustling from within the Crystal. After about a quarter of an hour, she sent another message and waited quietly for a response.

Not far away, something suddenly caught her attention. There were some collapsed stones there, which was where Achilles had fallen from before. The body had long been taken away by the Guards, leaving only a scene of chaos.

Miss Nightingale walked over and bent down to pick up the object from the ground.

She silently looked at the object, her eyes momentarily dazed, until a voice came from behind:

”Being alone in this place, are you a bit scared?”

Elisa turned back to see it was Hilveld.

”Any news from the Captain’s side?”

Hilveld gently shook her head.

Elisa was a bit surprised. ”Miss Hilveld, aren’t you afraid?”

”What should I be afraid of?”

Hilveld chuckled lightly. She had met Florence earlier, her childhood playmate who was already scared nearly out of her wit.

But, interestingly, she felt no unease in her heart, perhaps simply because she knew that person would certainly return.

If even he couldn’t resolve the issue, then what was there for her to worry about?

Elisa was taken aback and then suddenly smiled at Hilveld’s expression:

”You really have faith in the Captain.”

Hilveld responded with a gentle smile.

Miss Nightingale stayed silent, clutching the object, quietly gazing at the flames on the horizon. But after a moment, a hint of awe suddenly filled her eyes.

She turned sharply, just in time to see Hilveld frowning at her.

Before them, Quistack’s night seemed to split open.

But—

”...What is that...?”

...

Looking at the entity descending in mid-air.

Kashan Palace fell entirely silent for the first time, with ministers pale-faced, looking at one another.

Aleph also stepped forward, almost reaching the terrace outside. He looked up, quietly watching the entity emerging in the sky.

It was a gigantic, blood-red, eye-like entity, nearly covering half the sky over Quistack, slowly emerging from the clouds—motionlessly gazing at the city. The fierce winds from the flames below swept over the platform, making everyone’s robes and hair fly about chaotically—

But no one reacted to this. Even the ministers, who usually cared most about ceremonies and etiquette, stood frozen like stone sculptures.

”That, what is that...?”

”Is that a monster...?”

Ai Xiaoxiao also looked up at the giant blood-red star in the sky.

The terrifying pressure encircled everyone’s heart, almost suffocating them.

For the first time, she realized that this world wasn’t only filled with the beauty and interest she imagined. There also existed fearful and unsettling things like what was right before her.

But would her older cousin come back to save them?

At this moment, Tang Xin grabbed her friend’s hand. ”Xiaoxiao, go to the back.”

Ai Xiaoxiao turned back to look at her, her face slightly pale, ”But Tangtang, what about you?”

”I have to stay here. If communications resume, my brother can find us.” Tang Xin’s face remained as pale as after a severe illness.

Her tone was somewhat weak and her voice not very loud.

Ai Xiaoxiao looked at her with some concern. ”But Tangtang, you’ve just recovered from your illness... And those people...” She glanced at the ministers in the hall: ”They don’t seem to be very nice to us, except for Lord Saisheer and Prince Aleph...”

”Don’t worry...”

Tang Xin looked at the entity in the sky, saying this, though her heart lacked any confidence.

She actually recognized that thing.

That was abomination—

The twisted embodiment of God upon the earth.

...