Pillar of Yita

Communication with the other world has been cut off for thirty-six hours.

Standing before the officer was none other than the Ambassador himself, in formal attire. Ambassador Liao was flipping through electronic documents in his hand, intermittently inquiring about the progress of the incident.

”How’s the questioning going?”

”We’ve gotten some information, but on key issues, the other party always hesitates.”

”Have you figured out their origin?”

The two were in a hall, clearly not alone; people were continuously entering through eight corridors in the hall—mostly military personnel, and also staff from various countries stationed at the Stargate Port. People were looking up, through the A-4 alloy framework and glass dome, at the giant ring outside, flickering with changes.

But the officer didn’t avert his gaze, continuing to answer the previous question:

”From the data we received, both parents are Invokers.”

”Are there files on them?”

”There are some, not many. They were Free Summoners, not very well-known, just ordinary.”

”Is the time they entered and left the Stargate confirmed?”

”Their entry was quite a while ago, and they left thirteen years ago, on July 11th.”

”Both together?”

”Together.”

”Soon after, there was an air accident.”

The officer nodded.

Ambassador Liao asked again, ”They must have returned to Earth several times before?”

”Yes, the first time was before the target was born, that stay was the longest, a year and four months, at a hospital recorded by the authority. There were two more times, but both were brief. After that, Mr. Fang was fostered with his uncle and aunt until he went to Eteliria.”

”Did his parents indeed leave him some money?”

”Yes, and a property, but not much cash.”

”Is there any connection with that person?”

The officer shook his head, ”At least for now, there’s no clue suggesting a connection between them.”

”But a technical officer working at Stargate Port wouldn’t risk himself for merely tens of thousands. Does he have any bad habits?”

Upon asking this, Ambassador Liao gently shook his head, realizing he was mistaken in haste. Those chosen for Stargate Port couldn’t possibly have any bad habits.

In earlier years, the vetting was even stricter. Now, although not as extreme as investigating three generations back, it would still never be anyone unworthy of the position.

While the two were conversing, a low, wailing sound suddenly came from above.

It was like the resonance produced by the bending of a massive metal structure, akin to a huge beast howling in the deep sea—

Sending chills down one’s soul.

Ambassador Liao and the officer simultaneously looked up, watching as the circular ring representing the Stargate suddenly disassembled and dispersed in all directions—each component shimmering in the sunlight with silvery-white brilliance, aimlessly drifting through space as if it had lost power.

But that was just the appearance—

On the back of the outer ring, which stretched several thousand meters, countless small ships were slowly pushing it, guiding it to a predetermined orbit.

The fluctuating, mystical light at the center of the Star Ring suddenly emitted a strong flash of light.

The intense flash caused a series of low exclamations within the hall.

Everyone couldn’t help but turn away, closing their eyes.

And the next moment, as they looked back in that direction—the Star Ring suspended above Earth, after nearly a century of operation, the opened Stargate finally disappeared. It seemed to transform into a flickering silvery glow, gradually descending from mid-air, covering the giant dome of the A-4 area.

The history of Ring One had ended.

Ambassador Liao gazed in that direction for a long time. Their generation had accompanied this giant Star Ring’s growth, witnessing its rise and decline, thus a faint emotion arose in their hearts at this moment.

”The Stargate has entered its second phase.”

After a while, he turned back to mention this to the officer.

The officer expressionlessly watched this scene, then nodded.

Actually, at this time, Liao Tianhua wanted to talk with his old friend, but unfortunately, Su Changfeng was currently in Eteliria. The connection between the two worlds had been down for a day and a half, the only time since the Stargate Port plan started that communication had been lost for over twelve hours.

The community remained under control.

But it seemed the core network was already out of control.

Some might have guessed that Phase Two had started, yet few understood the real reason behind it.

He sighed deeply, then said:

”From now on, there’s no turning back for us—”

”But in fact, ever since we chose to take this step, we were destined to keep moving forward.”

...

When Fang Hong awoke, he found himself in a pitch-black environment.

His mind was still a bit foggy, as if he had just had a long dream, though he couldn’t quite recall the details; it seemed to involve a raid, a battle, he remembered some scenes that excited him, like an unexpected windfall and similar situations.

But after a while, he finally came to his senses, realizing what he remembered wasn’t a dream, but everything that had really happened.

Fang Hong smacked his lips, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

The feeling of having worked hard for a windfall, only to find it was just a beautiful dream upon waking up, was indeed a bit bitter, especially since it wasn’t even a beautiful dream—it was more like a nightmare.

He raised his hand, metal clanking, the heavy feeling in his hand told him he was shackled to something, the same was true for his feet. Fang Hong then lifted his head to look around, the strength granted by the Dragon King’s Heart helping him see his surroundings in the dark.

This was clearly a prison.

Not far away were arm-thick iron bars, closely arranged, separating him from the outside space.

Not only that, he was shackled heavily on both hands and feet, with the chains connected to the stone wall at one end—he instinctively clenched his hand, the responding sensation made his heart grow cold, evidently, the opponent had taken his Control Gloves, as well as the Alchemist’s coat.

The Information Crystal pinned on the coat had also disappeared.

Along with various sizes of Clockwork Fairies and some potions, materials.

The first thought in Fang Hong’s mind wasn’t how to escape from this place, but rather how great his loss was. If he couldn’t retrieve his Equipment, the mere thought of this possibility nearly made Fang Hong black out again.

He looked at the shackles on his hands, clearly not made of metal, yet this didn’t reassure him, instead sending an icy chill through his heart—it reminded him of a certain material—Anchor Stone. The opponent clearly wouldn’t use Anchor Stone for shackles, but it was probably made of something with a similar function.

Otherwise, they could’ve just used the most common iron chains, no need to go to such lengths.

And if that’s true, it means even suicide might not help him escape this place.

With that in mind, Fang Hong looked up at the outside.

”What kind of place is this?”

”The basement of Cloud Lighthouse?”

”The headquarters of Eye of Revelation?”

He forced himself to calm down, the dungeon was silent, in the darkness there seemed to be a fluctuating low sound—after listening for a while, Fang Hong determined the source of that sound.

It was the sound of the wind.

The howling wind outside scoured the stone wall, occasionally stones clattered against the wall, which at least indicated that, even though underground, he was likely quite close to the surface.

Just as Fang Hong was intently listening, he suddenly heard the sound of chains unlocking from the front, followed by the creak of a door opening.

It seemed someone had come in.

...