Pillar of Yita

But if it were just him alone, the opposing side’s little trick might have worked, leveraging their numerical advantage to its utmost, a thoughtful approach. Unfortunately, Fang Hong’s command of his Clockwork Fairies was not so rigid; whenever someone entered another area, the Clockwork Fairy responsible for that different area would automatically take over the division of work.

Each area was demarcated clearly, as if they possessed their own intelligence, clarifying their assigned duties without overstepping boundaries. In fact, as early as the era of the Dual Swords, the Combat Artisans of the Emerald Sword had mastered this set of theories.

Llater, this theory was further developed and, when it fell into Fang Hong’s hands, it had become more refined than its ancient predecessors, allowing him to use it more adeptly since he did not need to coordinate with others.

However, this was not a skill that could be managed by a single person.

But there was still Miss Tata.

The two were already in perfect harmony, sharing one mind and emotion—Fang Hong stood on the platform, his raised right hand seemed to be manipulating invisible strings, while Miss Fairy controlled Meimei, standing back-to-back with him, her round-toed shoes adorned with rose-like stars, one tall and one short, leaning against each other.

Miss Fairy raised her left hand while Fang Hong raised his right.

Both slightly bowed their heads, each gazing at the non-existent ’Marionette’ in front of them. Under the young fairy’s frilly lady’s hat were eyes interwoven with blazing silver and moonlight, and a face as pure metallic silver.

With a slight lift of their sharp fingers, no need for communication, they already understood each other’s intentions, like two people seated at the same piano, one playing with the left hand, the other with the right, but when their fingertips pressed the piano keys.

The melodious music naturally trickled out.

Streams of silver light from the Dragon Soul separated from Fang Hong’s hand, connecting to Miss Fairy’s slender fingertips, dividing and merging with each other. They alternately switched between the two’s fingertips, like conveying a silent understanding.

The fairies strictly obeyed orders, as organized as an army.

Gita looked at this scene with some shock, then turned her head to look at Luo Yu beside her, the young man also showing a surprised expression. ”Have you seen such a performance at your brother’s place?” he asked.

”No, I don’t know,” she replied, ”but I think Brother Ade isn’t like an ordinary Fairy Master.”

”So the people from the Twelve-Colored Iris, do you know them?”

Tianlan shook his head, ”They would never show me this stuff.”

”But Brother Ade is really amazing, he’s one of us.” This French girl said carefreely, ”He probably meets the standards of those top newcomers in the Second World; those old antiques keep nagging at me not to mix with lower-level people, psh, those newcomers they’re training aren’t at this level yet.”

From atop Saddle Bridge, Atira glanced at Reed.

The Lion People exhaled a puff of smoke, shaking his head, ”That kid.”

Among everyone, probably only Hilveld kept her usual demeanor, with just a faint smile.

Fang Hong’s attention was unwaveringly fixed on the battlefield.

He raised his vision once again.

”Miss Elisa, thirty feet to your right,” he said.

”Next, your sister will cover you.”

”You can try using Shadow Dance to escape from sight behind those patches of White Hazelnut Forest.”

”They are conducting a reverse search.”

”But they haven’t escaped my sight.”

”Do you see at eleven o’clock? Only the Iron Defender is left, everyone else has been circumvented by you. The nearest is at position A23, 19, 6; that archer’s speed isn’t fast, you have a safety period of thirty-three seconds.”

The team channel was utterly silent.

The two relatively low-level Miss Nightingales were now fleeing, surrounded by seven members of the Blood Oath Alliance, whose levels were not inferior to theirs, and they had already killed two of them; it seemed escaping wasn’t far off.

On the other side of the forest, all was deadly silent.

Anlan’s captain quietly listened to the last sounds of the Iron Defender falling to the ground. On the other end of the communicator, his sword was struck and fell onto the rocks, emitting a sound like metal clashing against stone, followed by a burst of static.

All around became silent.

He looked up at Kaka beside him.

Kaka, equally serious, wore a rare earnestness on his usually lazy face, and his dark eyes seemed to be recalling something: ”I always feel like I’ve seen this person somewhere. Such skills using a Clockwork Fairy up close are very rare.”

Then no one else spoke.

The night gradually deepened, and the wind blowing from the north of the valley grew stronger, gradually bringing with it the scent of rain. Soon, only the rustling of the wind could be heard in the forest.

The people of Anlan had already scattered throughout this valley.

Within the decimated squad, Xia Sheng held the Communication Crystal in her hand, remaining silent for a long time. She suddenly understood why they had to leave this place, as if she suddenly saw the chasm-like gap.

She lifted her head, her gaze passing through the treetops.

Those stars shining brightest in the night sky, just like their reputation, were genuinely no farce. Were these people truly members of Elite? That guild which had comfortably held one of the top three spots in the China Competition Region even before the Battle of Bain, and had been steadily rising over the last decade.

Its strength, just like this enigmatic genius, revealed itself before everyone’s eyes.

The Great Guilds.

But Fang Hong was utterly bewildered.

He finally sighed in relief, rubbing his tense forehead. Controlling so many Clockwork Fairies and directing the battlefield wasn’t easy for him, it was especially draining on his mind.

This was just directing the two Elisa sisters. If he had to command the entire Storm Brigade, he might not be able to cope. Of course, normal combat didn’t require such detailed direction, and such unjust opportunities were rare, especially when facing those real Combat Artisans.

Even a Combat Artisan Group.

The channel that Elisa had invited him to join was quiet, save for the panting of the two sisters. He had always thought it was just a private channel, but just as he was about to leave, a somewhat unfamiliar voice came through:

”Mr. Ade, you hide quite deep, stealing away our finest sisters from Rain Listening without explanation, huh?”

”Huh?”

Fang Hong was startled, wondering how there could be other people in this channel?

But the tone of the stranger wasn’t very harsh; rather, it seemed more like teasing. It sounded like someone from Rain Listening, but it was not the voice of Grant he had heard before.

Then he heard Elisa’s slightly flustered voice: ”Captain—”

She was blushing, having realized early on that she had opened the wrong channel and invited Fang Hong into the Storm Brigade’s team channel. This was the series of actions listened in on by their entire remaining squad until everything finished, and their captain spoke for the first time.

The voice in the channel laughed.

”Let me introduce myself. My name is Lonely White Field, the captain of the Storm Brigade. Is Mr. Ade a member of Elite’s Youth Training Team?”

”Elite?” Fang Hong was taken aback, ”Wait, Lonely... is that you?”

”Me?” Lonely White Field was taken aback.

”You are Lonely White Field, I know you, I’ve seen your matches!”

Fang Hong suddenly said with a little excitement, his tone much like a fan finally meeting a legendary star in person.

...