Pillar of Yita

”As for Nogness,” Elisa continued, ”if the Heart of Chongshan is taken away, what does the Lord Captain think will happen? Haven’t you noticed that the current Colin Ishurian really is ’smoke rising everywhere’.”

Miss Nightingale spoke while deliberately watching him.

In the traditional sense, Colin Ishurian is divided into seven regions, four kingdoms; the core kingdom is the Colin Kingdom (region), the political heartland, centrally located, surrounded by Elpaxin, Rodell, Southern Kalin (Southern Region, Long Lake District), Eis, Scepter Coast, and Nogness, the five major regions.

Lastly, there’s Fenris, this autonomous territory, along with three allied kingdoms – the Dwarf Kingdom, Eldron; the Elf Court, Aquen; and the Desert Kingdom, Istania.

Upon careful reflection, among the kingdom’s eleven core regions, Nogness, Southern Kalin, Istania, Elpaxin, and Fenris seem to have all encountered problems one after the other. Southern Kalin and Elpaxin might just be trivial, but if Fenris and Istania aren’t because of him, then the whole Colin Ishurian really is a scene of ’smoke rising everywhere’ right now.

Think about it?

Fenris submerged, Elpaxin besieged by Nikopolas and the Dragon Beast Army.

Rebellion rises in the Southern Region, constantly threatening the Dulun frontier.

The royal capital of Istania falls, the King of Sand, the Princess, and the Crown Prince all trapped in the hands of the Blind Followers, while the Ether in Nogness drains away, and everything gradually falls into withering.

By then, how many good places are left in the kingdom?

Fang Hong froze for a moment, then vaguely realized the source of his unease, it seems the Dark Followers have done quite a lot in this past year. He hasn’t been to Eis, Aquen, or Eldron, the Scepter Coast was just an intention to go.

There are several heroes from the Battle of Bain over in Aquen, Princess Briana seems extremely shrewd, and her father must be no less competent. There should be few problems on the elf side. The dwarves similarly.

He doesn’t recall any major issues over in Rodell, but the Scepter Coast and Eis always give him a sense of something bad.

”The Dark Followers’ operations are already far exceeding the scale of the incident with the Dragon Witch. If everything goes their way, the entire Colin Ishurian is at risk of upheaval.” Elisa replied, ”What the Lord Captain worries about is precisely this, isn’t it?”

Fang Hong nodded.

”Actually, I’ve been pondering this issue these days,” Elisa removed the curl of her hair from the heat pipe and straightened up, ”What exactly is this ’grand banquet’ the Dark Followers are hosting for? But after hearing Mr. Shayek’s words, I suddenly understood.”

After listening to this, Fang Hong seemed to have a sudden epiphany.

”Are they welcoming the arrival of the Star of Calamity?”

Elisa seldom showed seriousness, she nodded.

Fang Hong remained silent, as if his deepest concern had been touched.

With the impending arrival of the Star of Calamity, chaos reigns, and the Dark Followers seemed to have foreseen this event through unknown means and prepared for it well in advance.

Yet they don’t even know what the Star of Calamity is, not even Mazak’s old steward could give them the answer, given that, as described – the destiny of the Oathkeeper Clan is ultimately just a confrontation with the Dark Giant Dragon.

But now the story of the Dark Giant Dragon and the Dragon Slaying Holy Sword, this legend from a previous generation, has already reached its end in this era, with Nikopolas being merely the final lament of this historical upheaval – it began with Galapea, and will end with that Fairy Holy Sword.

What lies beyond, however, remains unknown.

Is the history of Eteliria merely a cycle alternating between disaster and governance, what is the meaning of all this?

These profound questions seemingly have no connection to their little Adventure Group. Because, as Shayek said, the mission of the Dragon Witch has already ended with him, neither Mazak nor Lucius have told them where to go next.

They seemingly ought to be able to let everything go.

To consider everything that happened this past year merely a task.

But within the Seven Seas Travel Group, except for someone like Parker who is carefree, no one seems able to merely treat all this as – a ’task’ alone.

In the community above, people are enthusiastically discussing all this, a virtual world, an iteration of a version, what follows will be an even more thrilling adventure, abundant opportunities, with possibly many getting rich overnight in this change.

Some might even become heroes of their region.

But –

Is it really the case?

Perhaps it is, for most of the Invokers, Eteliria is just one of their choices.

Even in the direst situations, they can still retreat back to Earth.

Therefore, everyone can navigate smoothly within the community above.

”Do you think pondering about these matters makes us seem foolish, Lord Captain?” Elisa turned back, silently watching the airflow and clouds passing through the ship’s hull.

After a while, she unexpectedly asked this question that surprised Fang Hong.

”What difference will the arrival of the Star of Calamity make?”

”We’re just Invokers, chaos brings opportunity, while times of peace only solidify class structures, don’t you see through the actions of the Grand Guilds?”