Pillar of Yita

Arriving at the designated location a step ahead of the Dragonfire Guild, the members of the Seven Seas Brigade were pleasantly surprised to find that the area was not only flat and offered an expansive view, but the forest was no longer covered in spider webs. Although they had become somewhat accustomed to it, having spiders crawl around them was still enough to give anyone goosebumps.

The small basin within the canyon had higher terrain to the north and south, overgrown with lush pines and cypresses, making it a perfect hiding place. The center was flat with sparse trees, covered with a shallow layer of yellow marigolds, the scenery picturesque, with unobstructed views.

This place seemed tailor-made for them. Fang Hong made a quick decision, instructing the Seven Seas Brigade members to hide on the southern heights and then released the Clockwork Fairy to scout down the slope, carefully noting the details of the terrain in his mind.

Before long, traces of the Dragonfire Guild appeared in the eastern forest.

The first to arrive were two groups; one was dragging a dying Spider Mother, and the other seemed to have lost its way, fleeing in panic under the attack of the Panier Cunning Spiders.

The two groups merged, wading across the central riverbank of the basin and after gaining a foothold, engaged in battle with the army of giant spiders following them.

Fang Hong observed closely and realized that they did not recognize the first two groups, presumably members of the Dragonfire Guild coming from other directions.

The combat lasted only a moment before other teams of the Dragonfire Guild arrived one after another.

Some of these teams still carried Spider Mothers, while others had already lost them. However, they all had numerous giant spiders trailing behind them.

Upon reaching the battlefield, the giant spiders also merged, increasing the scale of the battle in the basin. Gita watched for a while, wiped the mist off her glasses with her sleeve, and softly said to the others, ”The giant spiders seem to be holding them back...”

”What do you mean?” Fang Hong asked, though he also vaguely had this feeling in his heart.

”I can’t quite explain it, Brother Ade. It’s just a feeling that the giant spiders are not going all out.”

A thought flashed in Fang Hong’s mind, and he finally understood where his unusual feeling came from.

The giant spiders were waiting for something.

And so was the Dragonfire Guild.

The teams they had been following were the last to arrive on the battlefield—those two teams appeared to have lost their Spider Mothers in the subsequent battle and looked rather disheveled at the moment.

However, once these two teams crossed the riverbank, they filled the last two gaps of the Dragonfire Guild. Hundreds of people formed a line on one side of the riverbank, blocking the giant spiders wading through the water. Both sides tangled together, layers of corpses piled up on the shore, the crimson and green blood flowing down, staining the river water.

But from the southern high slope, the Seven Seas Brigade could only see the eastern forest filled with countless enormous spider figures, too numerous to count.

At least a thousand.

The Dragonfire Guild seemed to have stirred up a hornet’s nest.

Suddenly, a long and unceasing howl emanated from the forest—it reminded Fang Hong of the mighty steam whistle of an old factory near his uncle’s house before they moved, before the start of the factory shift.

Heavy and deep, extremely penetrating.

The sound was almost tangible, sweeping over the canopy, the forest waves rolling, even several miles away, Fang Hong could feel the pine needles overhead rustling.

Everyone’s face turned a bit pale.

A flock of birds took off in fright in the valley—

Though this was limited to the southern woodland, since no birds could possibly exist within the eastern canyon.

Clouds passed over the canyon.

As the massive shadow drifted by, it revealed a patch of emerald sea in the sunlight, above which floated a white mist—it was spider silk, and a silver ridge was parting the ’thin fog,’ shivering as it rose from the emerald sea.

”What is that?”

The Papalarians couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.

The silver ridge kept rising, gradually lifting, growing eight long silver legs beneath it, supporting a mountainous monster. The afternoon sun fell upon its broad back, each silver mane shimmering.

The members of the Seven Seas Brigade were dumbstruck.

It was undoubtedly the Spider Queen of the Panier Cunning Spiders.

The name of the Silver Mane Giant Spider came as no surprise.

How could they fight this?

The Spider Queen was almost certainly a World Boss Level entity, not even inferior to the Fishman God ’Koras’ they had encountered in Fanric—but there was no Elfendo Spire here, and no one believed the Dragonfire Guild could last a few rounds before this ’Giant Mountain.’

Only Fang Hong was entirely focused, placing his hand on the ground, sensing the faint vibrations emanating from beneath the soil, not aligning with the Spider Queen’s strides.

A layer of dust floated over the soil.

He lifted his head, looking towards the western canyon.

Then he turned back and said to the Papalarian beside him, ”Parker, give me the binoculars.”

”Huh?”

”Quickly.”

Parker finally took out his brass-shelled binoculars from his pocket and handed them over.

Fang Hong accepted the binoculars, extended them, and looked westward. Through the hazy lenses, he saw a cloud of smoke and dust. Only then did he retract the binoculars, suddenly realizing what it was.

Everyone observed his expression and understood as well.

”The Hill Giants have arrived?” Elisa asked softly.

Fang Hong nodded.

Clearly, the Dragonfire Guild’s plan was perfect, with impeccable timing.

He gazed into the valley below.

By now, the situation below had changed again, with a part of the Dragonfire Guild beginning to retreat. Yet the number was small, just about seven or eight teams, insignificant compared to the hundreds on the riverbank.