Pillar of Yita

Hilveld looked at the crystal in her hand, just about to speak.

But at that moment, a brilliant light caught the eyes of several people—

...

Even with a common language, people often find it hard to convince each other—

As the crystal army descended entirely, despair spread like rolling tides, the defense line disappeared segment by segment, and looking around the battlefield felt as if enemies surrounded on all sides. In the darkness, white light occasionally rose, and one team, then two teams, dimmed from the communication channel.

Everything seemed irreparable; people first thought about not uniting, but arguing at this final juncture.

”Retreat, retreat, where can they retreat to? Behind us is the Grey Forest, can we last a moment longer there compared to here? Holding this line means holding our last chance. If it falls, we’re all finished; it’s merely a difference between dying sooner or later— I think these cowards are just scared, a bunch of spineless opportunists!”

The Great Swordsman threw the communication crystal to the ground forcefully, as if it were his enemy. People looked at each other, as a sharp rock whistled over their heads, crashing into the burning bushes behind them, raising a spray of sparks.

People turned to look in that direction. Faced with the unstoppable monsters, they were like those burning bushes, ready to turn to ashes at any moment.

Someone quietly asked: ”...The Tree People don’t plan on retreating. Captain, what should we do?”

”That’s perfect!”

The Great Swordsman drew the great sword from the ground, looking around at everyone, eyes steadfast, ”You’ve all heard my words. Staying in this place means dying just a moment sooner. Leaving with them means dying just a moment later. But staying here, you die bravely, dying like a warrior, not like a coward. We are temporarily united, I understand you all have your own thoughts, I don’t force anyone, you can stay, or you can leave with them.”

”But I’ve decided to stay and fight alongside the Tree People. Even in death, I will face the enemy, not turn my back on them. So,” he said, ”that’s all I have to say, those who want to leave, can leave now.”

But people glanced at each other, everyone seemed rooted to the spot.

A young girl weakly held her magic wand, softly saying: ”But Captain, I, I’m not a warrior.”

The crowd couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

The Great Swordsman also couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

In the forest ablaze with fire, several teams were preparing to retreat from the Thorn Frontline.

Though retreating, they didn’t scatter in panic, leaving the line still seemed orderly. Those leaving last, looked from afar at those remaining, somewhat unable to understand.

”These savages have heads as hard as iron, what can they change by staying, when will they stop sacrificing themselves in vain and calling it bravery?”

The deputy seemed a bit frustrated: ”The Thorn Frontline has broken, why insist on fighting at a line? Gathering everyone and retreating into the Grey Forest, preserving as much living strength as possible, fortifying the second line is the way—”

The Captain looked at his colleague, shaking his head: ”Their choice isn’t necessarily wrong; the Tree People stayed too. We made this choice because I feel the Heart of Tree’s strength should not be limited to this— I’ve gathered some intelligence, just thinking if the frontline breaks, we can delay more time in the Grey Forest.”

”Planning before action is the way.” The deputy mumbled.

The former chuckled, drawing two lines in the sand with the magic wand: ”Sometimes it’s not necessary, at present it’s more like a gamble, if we lose, perhaps as that person said, we’re no different from them, only a matter of dying sooner or later.”

”But what if we win?”

”Win?” The Captain looked in that direction: ”If we win, even if we die, we can preserve the seeds, ensuring their efforts aren’t in vain,” he smiled again, turning back: ”Not so noble, just invested a lot early on, don’t want the investment to go to waste. The Heart of Tree is still here, we can continue to reclaim the cost—”

Just then, someone breathlessly ran out of the forest:

”Captain, someone has contacted us.”

The deputy turned, impatiently waving his hand: ”It’s those savages again, let them fight the monsters themselves, we’ve decided to retreat, won’t stay for any reason.”

”No, it’s not,” the person shook his head hurriedly: ”It’s that Poet.”

”That Poet?”

The deputy paused before reacting: ”Cuiye, wasn’t he and his team planning to retreat too, what are they up to?”

The Magic Guided Conductor reached out interrupting him, stepping forward, asking: ”What did he say?”

”He said that person has returned...”

...

”They’re coming again, they’re coming again, raise your shields, raise your shields and look closely!”

The stout Dwarf swung his combat axe on the battlefield, rolling like a ball, his voice thunderous roared. Every Dwarf had a loud voice, regardless if they were native or Chosen Invoker.