Pillar of Yita

The first priority in hunting is to find suitable targets.

But combat is different; Rotao’s people regard the act of challenging powerful prey as an honor. The scars left from brutal battles seem like medals to them.

Every lion on the grassland has at least experienced such a battle, marking the moment they transform from a cub into a man’s lionhood.

Reed was hiding in the shadow of a rock, watching the battle below—he squinted his eyes, and after experiencing such battles many times, he lost the passion he once had, leaving only warmth and calm in his silver-gray gaze.

He grew up first, then learned how to distinguish between truth and lies, gradually comprehending many things after that.

He slowly stood up, the metal rings engraved with glorious family names chiming due to the shaking on his mane. Reed extended his claw behind him and firmly gripped the hilt of the Holy Sword, inch by inch pulling it out.

Short Beard was swinging his long arms, flinging away the disorderly minions. Grey Treant’s strength rating was very high, almost reaching A+, giving them overwhelming advantages against these small creatures. However, their movements were very clumsy, and every limb swing could only slightly push back those elongated shadows of blue and green.

Only a few monsters were hit by its branches, sent flying to crash against the rock wall, shattered into pieces.

The cracked crystals scattered across the ground, but no one would spare them a glance. They gradually lost luster, becoming inconspicuous gray stone fragments, resting eternally among the dust.

At this time, a flash of gray light in the darkness, a sharp rock ascended into the air, guided by the crab-shaped monster.

Those disorderly minions seemed intent on luring Short Beard to strike. The tall Grey Treant swung its branches, sending three crystal monsters flying high. But before it could rejoice, the sharp rock in mid-air suddenly streaked in a zigzag towards them, piercing between their unretracted arms and striking its chest.

The Tree People let out a painful roar, lost its balance, and fell backward.

At that moment, the crystal monsters in the canyon seemed to find their opportunity, surging forward like a ghostly blue tide.

”Protect it!” Amatoran shouted loudly upon seeing this.

The Invokers immediately surrounded the fallen Short Beard, raising their Great Shields to form a line. ”Switch to flails!” The warrior squad captain issued the order, and the Iron Guards, skilled weapon masters, dropped their spears and took flails adorned with Meteor Hammers from behind.

In a defensive battle, compared to spears, chain weapons pose a greater threat to these agile creatures. After some time of combat, they finally grasped some tactics to fight these monsters.

The strategy quickly proved effective. Once the swinging chain hammers entangled the enemies, the Iron Guards behind forcefully pulled, disabling them. Others immediately stepped forward, crushing their crystal-like skulls with hammers.

Compared to the astonishing agility of these monsters, the strength their size provides is merely average. In front of the strength-oriented Iron Guards, this is an obvious weakness.

And the Rangers also switched to cone-shaped arrows with armor-piercing capabilities—

”Magic Guided Conductors, come forth.”

Amatoran, with an axe, cleaved a crystalline monster flying away and shouted again as he turned back. He saw the Construct Giant Crab stepping out of the canyon; that was their true threat.

While the team’s few healers gathered together, casting several recovery magic upon the fallen Short Beard, Holy Ether proved minimally effective for the Tree People. Everyone exchanged glances, Ameya does not accept false believers, and they didn’t have a Druid among them.

Short Beard slowly shook his head and used one arm to support himself as he sat up from the ground, ”Humans, you are not their match. Let me hold off these things; you keep escaping down this canyon—”

Elisa turned her head upon hearing this.

The towering Tree People spoke while pressing their hand against their chest, a green light seeping from beneath its grayish-white bark.

This scene seemed familiar to the Holy White Stone Guild members. The distant Hydra members also noticed the activity here and couldn’t help but look over.

Everyone momentarily fell silent. Though acquaintances for only a moment, both Grey Treants either already or prepared to sacrifice their lives for them. If they were stronger, would it be necessary to do so?

But they knew even if they could fend off the attacks of a wave or two, what’s the point?

People couldn’t help but look towards Amatoran, their Captain.

”Perhaps we still have a way?”

Amatoran sighed, looking at the tall Grey Treants. He had a mind to step forward and stop them, but he knew they could not.

Short Beard shook its head, ”You must leave before the Supervisor arrives, otherwise it will be meaningless. But remember, we are not doing this for you, but for the continuation of this area. If you want to survive, keep walking down this canyon—”

”Supervisor?”

Short Beard was just about to speak, but at that very moment, it saw a beam of silver light.

Not only Short Beard but also the front-line Shield Guards of the Holy White Stone saw, in the darkness, the descending point of light—the Construct Giant Crab was sluggishly moving its steps, moving through the canyon’s narrow opening, slowly approaching them.

It was like a spear tip gleaming with cold light, directly penetrates from above the cliff into its back.