Pillar of Yita

Lady Tengye’s inn door was flanked by Morning Knights who, as soon as they appeared, filed through the pervasive dust into the lobby. Covered in Magic Guided Armor, they looked much taller than ordinary people, like a moving fortress; their steps were heavy and forceful, as if hammering on everyone’s hearts. Their gauntlets were covered in blades, and with a slight downward pressure on their wrist joints, they ’clanked’ and lowered the Imperial Spears in their hands.

Seeing this, Fang Hong’s heart sank slightly, and he gave up on any last sliver of hope. The average level of the Morning Knights was above Level 20, far surpassing everyone present, but fortunately, there were only four of them.

He remained calm, lowering his voice to the others, ”Miss Atira, Miss Xiesta, leave this side to you, I’ll handle the smaller fish. We shouldn’t fight long, but focus on breaking out.”

Hilveld looked at him with a slight surprise.

Atira nodded, took the two sections of the long spear from behind her, twisted them together with both hands, and held it in front of her chest. Xiesta looked back at her mistress who nodded in return, only then did she stretch her steel palm behind her back, inserting it into a pair of iron gauntlets on either side of the Magic Guided Reactor.

The specially-made Magic Guided Reactor brightened slightly, the iron gauntlets fitting seamlessly over her hands, their split gauntlets meeting at the sides like fishtails, folding over layer by layer until they completely covered her arms.

Fang Hong had seen Xiesta and her unique weapon more than once, but each time there was a unique beauty to it, created by some unknown Alchemy Master.

On the other side, Hansen was also deploying his troops.

Several Iron Defenders quickly stepped out from the crowd, raised their Great Shields, and faced the charging Morning Knights.

As the knights strode forward, past the lingering dust, their capes trailing behind them like a stretched flame. ’Morning Light dawns, darkness dissipates—’ Colin’s knights, born in the late Numelin Era, the moment before dawn finally arrives, humanity’s rise—endowed with the twin blessings of Morning Light and Stars.

Morning Light is the Holy Sword, Stars fell into the Crown.

As the knights charged, Fang Hong fleetingly saw that ancient kingdom, knights in flaming capes emerging from the dark forests, crossing paths with elves in Numelin silver armor.

Under the Unicorn flag, the inscriptions narrated the onset of an era.

’As Starlight hides its light, the Crown still retains its afterglow, kings have passed, yet the homeland endures forever—’

But the knights were cold and merciless, their hollow eyes seemingly reflecting the remnants of days past, their hands steady, the spear shot forth like a rainbow. Piercing armor, sharpening, flame attachment, bursting power enhancement, swiftness enchantment, their momentum fierce, different Alchemy Arrays on Magic Guided Reactor brightened in sequence, stacking one on top of the other, the intense glow converging at the spear tip.

”Be careful, they are close-range burst units!” Fang Hong turned back, shouting loudly.

The spear cleaved through the air, clashing against the Great Shields, sending two Iron Defenders flying like paper figures. The knight took only one step back, the spear tip slightly raised, the Magic Guided Armor’s back opened like beetle wings, releasing streams of steam.

Smoke turned into banners, swirling around the long spear, looking up at the crowd, towering like a mountain.

Hansen felt a toothache.

Level A Dragon Spear Skill, doubled strength, Iron Defenders below Level 15 were as flimsy as paper mâché in front of them, blown down by a breath. He turned his head; two more Iron Defenders were ready to step in, and he himself lifted his shield, steeling himself to follow through.

This was a third-tier Elite Knight.

He turned back, issuing orders. ”Smao, take your men and block those things behind us.”

”Understood, boss.”

A Balshi took off his hat and saluted him, leading a line of men into formation, stationed at the center of the lobby. Swords reflected off each other, spears formed thick as a forest, a row of archers stepped forward, raising their Longbows.

Fang Hong also turned around.

Behind him, Xiesta raised both hands, while the Elf Girl crouched in front of her, pressing her hands on the floor of the inn. Green light emerged from Atira’s hands, gradually seeping into the ground, her eyes flashing coldly as she looked up.

In her gaze, reflected the red cape approaching like a flame.

”Wall of Nature!”

Divine Ether was gathering, one of the few powers in Eteliria that mortals could wield without a Core Crystal because they relied on Deities as their medium, promised to their believers.

Divine Strength, Divine Power.

The ground burst open, green vines crazily grew under the divine influence forming a wall of vines that swept the charging knights within.

The Morning Knights, caught off guard, lost their balance among the vines.

Becoming Undead seemed to also rob them of the wisdom of the living; although the shells driven by Negative Energy and persistence retained the strong forces from their living days, their hollow eyes could no longer recall Knowledge or experience.

”Miss Xiesta,” Atira called out, her face pale but still composed.

”Understood.”

The maid nodded, stepping forward, raising her right hand level with her gaze—palm facing the knight. ”Seventh form, Wind Coming—” a deep humming sound, as if a compressor was working under the huge Construct gloves, a wave of distortion in the air as it gathered into the Magic Guided Conductor.

The female Morning Knight let out a deep roar like a beast, the vines surrounding her snapped one by one.

A light flickered in the center of Xiesta’s palm, and a white Light Cocoon flew out with a ’bang’—the recoil sending her right hand backward, the Light Cocoon tracing an arc, already hitting the knight.