Pillar of Yita

But that Twilight Alchemist seemed as if he were petrified. He had never seen so many Flexible Constructs, let alone ones that could shoot fire. Even the few Survivors crashed into tree branches under his drunken-like control, shattering into pieces.

The man turned his head, seemingly wanting to ask something, but seeing the Alchemist’s distraught expression, he refrained. The Magic Guided Conductors also realized that their opponents were on a completely different level from their Combat Artisans, so they murmured to each other:

”Mage’s Eye.”

”Divination.”

They needed to find the others, as they weren’t skilled with Constructs but didn’t fear the ones behind them.

However, just as the Magic Guided Conductors raised their Magic Guided Wands, they found themselves hesitating. Mage’s Eye required a Detection Barrier to be constructed in that Forest, much like what Divination needed.

But the Wands they raised couldn’t detect any Ether flow in that Forest—it seemed like a magical dead zone, an Ether spectacle where everything was devoid of Ether, Elements, Substance, and even Spell Power.

Like a black hole absorbing all light.

If it were a native Magic Guided Conductor, they might have realized it by now, but these Invokers searched their basic training memories in vain for a good while before showing expressions as if they’d seen a ghost. They seemed to finally recall the description in the history of Magic of such enemies—

Tasked with parsing spells and delving into the nature of Ether, aided by ancient Magic Guided Books, they had an extraordinary understanding of Ether. Their Knowledge and Power passed down through generations; don’t easily provoke them in their areas of expertise.

They are the elected by Angina, the Masters of the Magic Guided Books, the darlings of Knowledge, holders of Magic Spells, the Natural Historians.

”Like seeing a ghost.”

The Magic Guided Conductors exchanged glances, their Magic Guided Wands raised, unable to advance or retreat.

The man also felt like saying he’d seen a ghost. A High-level Battle Craftsman was rare enough, but how was there also an orphaned profession Natural Historian? To them as mantises hunting cicadas, how had such an oriole come to exist? But he finally recalled a warning he’d received not long ago—the Natural Historians were these people, the reinforcements brought back by that Nightingale.

He eventually calmed down, turned and gestured to the two people at his side.

If he didn’t need to protect the box, he would have liked to confront them himself, but for now, he had to leave it to his two deputies. The three of them were the highest Level and strongest in the team; they were the only three members of the brigade.

When Magic cannot solve the problem, use sword and blade.

The two emerged side by side, splitting left and right, attempting to bypass the four Dragon Hunters and enter the Forest. The Big Cat folk’s silver-gray eyes reflected the scene—they shook their crimson mane slightly, the decorations on their whiskers jingling, gripping the Holy Sword’s hilt and even having time to pat Miss Natural Historian softly on the shoulder.

They glanced back, winking at her: ”Don’t worry, you know they’re all show.”

Gita, with a small, tense face, took a gentle breath and nodded, seemingly relaxing a bit.

Only then did the Big Cat take a step forward, about to extend their paw to cast a Holy Barrier to block an approaching Nightingale and Dual Swordsman. But just at that moment, everyone heard a cold, clear call from the side:

”Utn’s Oiamuns! (Ancient Tower language: Holy Virtue!)”

A silver barrier spread from the edge of the Forest, like the light of dawn, the twilight Ghost Fire, expanding like a ripple sweeping far away. The Nightingale and Dual Swordsman shrieked at the sight, retreating: ”Sword of Paradise, Oly Knight!”

”It’s her!”

The man’s expression changed drastically, as if facing the most troublesome opponent.

And from within the Forest the cold, clear voice changed once more: ”Oigmu Kaste! (Ancient Tower language: In the Name of Honor!)”

The silver flames turned into a sharp sword, like the handle of Heaven’s sword, wielded by the Arbiter, sweeping forward. In that instant, the Iron Defenders of the Twilight Guild turned, their expressions changing drastically, lifting their Great Shields to protect the Spellcasters from the silver flames.

But the girl’s cold voice shouted: ”Vaen’Luam Roh’vk, Meus Roh’vk——(Ancient Tower proverb: The more the enemies, the stronger I become——)”

The silver flames suddenly brightened for a moment, like the Lord’s spear, replicating the earlier scene but this time against the Twilight Guild, sending the Iron Defenders flying, landing on the ground.

The light weakened, and only then did they see a short Lady emerge from the Forest.

Clad in snow-silver armor shimmering with light, her petal-like plate armor skirt accented with lace trimmed battle skirt, beneath small pretty boots, both hands grasping a War Halberd, stepping out from the Forest—on her petite chest was an engraved two-headed Griffin; roses on her shoulder armor bloomed like stars opening petal by petal.

It was a Papalarian girl, but Fang Hong had never seen such an exquisite and noble Papalarian girl, incomparable to Parker. The girl turned back, calmly saying in their direction:

”Friends, I don’t know who you are, but it’s a pleasure to fight alongside you. Now move your Constructs, I’ll cover your advance, let us punish these villains together!”

Fang Hong immediately recognized the girl as an Invoker, though he’d never seen such a veraciously speaking Invoker before, truly a Paladin, incomparable to the Big Cat. He couldn’t help but glance at the Lion Paladin beside him, who had already sheathed his sword, shrugging.

”I know her,” said the Big Cat, squinting.

”We’ll discuss later,” Fang Hong replied.

Fang Hong raised his head, responding toward that direction: ”Madam, thank you very much—but they’re not what you need to cover.”

The Papalarian girl looked somewhat surprised in that direction; in her eyes, the four Dragon Hunters were strong, while her own offensive capability lagged, but they made a perfect defensive team capable of great synergy.

Nonetheless, Fang Hong paid no mind to her surprise, looking toward the Twilight Guild’s direction, softly placing his hand on the Information Crystal. Without this unexpected factor, he would have used this move anyway—otherwise, just four Dragon Hunters could not win alone.

So under the Papalarian girl’s slightly astonished gaze, a series of heavy, long-lance wielding, knight-like Constructs emerged from the flickering Light Gate, one by one appearing at the Forest edge.

As she began to count them quietly but eventually widened her beautiful eyes.

She politely remarked, ”It seems I may be a bit redundant, my lord.”

”Not exactly,” said Fang Hong with a smile.

They looked numerous but weren’t that formidable.

But the Twilight Guild’s people didn’t know that.

They stood staring in horror at the twenty-three towering Constructs appearing at the Forest edge. For the first time, the man’s mind felt a bit chaotic—they were supposed to just retrieve the Heart of Chongshan, but who exactly were they up against?

Suddenly he couldn’t conceive, just what Level of existence was that Combat Artisan in the Forest.

”Boss...” the Twilight people felt the urge to retreat for the first time.

But the man sensed that perhaps they were already unable to leave.

...