Pillars of Ita

Fang He seemed to have walked into a dense black fog. It was pitch black all around him. He could not retreat - there seemed to be a solid wall behind him. He had to move forward. Gradually, he could hear the crackling sound of burning flames all around him. Sparks fell from the sky like a flaming snow.

A pair of golden eyes parted the smoke and dust, looking down at him condescendingly. There was a hint of hostility in the fire-ring-shaped pupils, but also a hint of familiarity, as if they were examining him. The surrounding environment was like a burning hell. Flames were rising from the town, and the surrounding buildings were collapsing one by one with loud noises.

The tall shadow was standing in the square like a mountain, flapping its dark wings, like the shadow of doomsday covering the entire world - Fang He finally remembered, this was Dolifin, the burning hell, his first encounter with the Dragon Queen.

"You win, little one," Nicol Bolas looked at him. "You killed my past and completely destroyed my plan. My army of dragon beasts was also taken by that woman, and my revenge was completely in vain."

"Your revenge has already been completed, Dragon Witch... Miss Eve," Fang He raised his head. He could now calmly look at this former enemy - the phantom in his heart. "It's just that hatred has blinded your heart, and the dragon blood is boiling in your heart, causing you to do many wrong things. But you are not a monster, and the power of the Dragon King no longer restrains you..."

Nicol Bolas sighed softly, and uttered a long sigh: "Yoshud, Yoshud..."

The silhouette of the giant dragon gradually faded, and finally turned into the girl in white, floating in the sky above the square and slowly falling down. She stepped barefoot on the scorching land, and the flames caused her white skin to crack, revealing golden textures, but she seemed to feel no pain.

Only then did Fang He realize that the girl in front of him looked almost exactly like the Dragon Queen Alessa. He had seen Eve before in the underground of Idus, but she did not look like this then.

"The elves used the root of Etrasis, dragon blood, and cold steel to forge legendary holy swords. The five holy swords went down in history—"

"Galapeia killed the ancient dragon 'Infernal Fire'."

"The one who destroys the enemy will kill the seven dragons."

"The Holy Sword Morning Light enters Dragon Country three times."

"Black Steel is known throughout the world as the Dragon's Bulwark."

"Finally, it is the holy sword Moya that drank the blood of the Dragon King."

The girl looked at him with her golden eyes. "My revenge is not complete. Lifgard just escaped, not punished. All my pain comes from them. I hope to see them wailing in the golden flames. Can you help me complete it?"

She continued: "…but, you know what this means."

"To slay the evil dragon, you must drink its blood. If you agree, you will become the last person to keep the oath. From now on, you will remain silent and abide by the oath. You will build a barrier with your blood and bones to keep the former enemies who have returned at the other end of the wall."

There was silence in the hall.

Angela's gaze was gone, and the heavy feeling on everyone's heart was no longer weighing on them. The altar was as quiet as before, and there was no trace of sparks and sulfur in the air. Everything seemed as if nothing had happened.

On the platform, Sarona was looking at Victor.

"Dragon Queen Nicol Bolas," Victor said in a calm tone, so that only the two of them could hear, "This was his first encounter with her. Read on."

There was some movement among the audience.

The lizardmen were as calm as ever, guarding the platform with spears in hand, like rows of stone statues.

The Moon Elves held the Eye of the Tree in their hands and watched the scene quietly. They felt nothing, but were not in a hurry. The royal guards on one side seemed a little uneasy. "Only Anjian?" they asked in a low voice.

The elf girl said nothing.

The poet lady was looking around, "What's wrong? What happened? Do you feel that feeling disappear?"

"Sky Blue, shut up."

“Sister Alyssa, will Brother Ed be in trouble?”

"Tianlan, shut up."

Miss Nightingale interrupted Tianlan's divergent thoughts with a cold voice, and at this moment, the box beside her fell to the ground with the magic sword in its arms like a piece of wood. The latter was frightened and Miss Poet almost screamed: "Box, what's wrong with you!?"

The magic sword 'Gwendres' fell down the stairs and out of the boy's arms, and it broke away from its sheath and flew into the sky, hovering in the air.

  Its entire body was emitting purple-black demonic flames, and it roared at Tianlan and the others:

"Protect him!"

Before Tianlan could react, the elven princess Lian Kuiya Alsana and her holy guards had already glanced in that direction. The moon elves also looked in this direction, and the giant tree druid even looked at the Eye of Tree in his hand.

Daryl drew his sword, but a figure stood in front of them. The tall Cork bartender, Juniper Gaunt, stood in front of the box, while old Roger raised his hand to everyone and said:

"Please don't worry, everyone."

Fang He was looking at the illuminated face of the Dragon Witch Eve from within the flames——

But at this moment a voice came from behind him, "I can."

  Fang He looked back in surprise, only to find that the black-haired boy had parted the flames and walked out. He was usually taciturn, but at this moment, holding the magic sword, he was looking firmly at the dragon witch in front of him and repeated his words:

"I can kill the Dragon King Lifgard."

"Box?" Fang He asked in surprise, "Why are you here too?"

Box looked at him and shook his head to his leader, indicating that he didn't know either.

"You are..." The Dragon Witch spoke unexpectedly, looking at the magic sword 'Gwendes' in the box in surprise, "...'Black Steel Blade' Gwendes, how did you become like this?"

Gwendes snorted grimly.

But this time, even Fang He understood what it meant. However, the mumbling magic sword rarely responded. Instead, the box beside it answered for it, "I can drink the dragon's blood, complete your revenge, cut off the head of the Dragon King, and inherit the fate of the oath."

The girl turned around and looked at Fang He.

Fang He was looking at the box, and the boy looked over and said, "...Captain, I just received a mission..."

Fang He glanced at Gwyndros in his arms. In fact, he already understood the whole story. He then looked at Eve. After a moment of silence, he nodded slightly to the girl, "But I have another question, Nicol Bolas."

And this question.

It was a question to the dragon witch who had the fire of Venus and fell into dust, bringing the end of the world.

He spoke—

……

The box woke up slowly, opened its eyes and looked at the dome in a daze.

Tianlan's somewhat anxious voice came from the side, "He's awake! He's awake! Box, box, are you okay? Box, what's wrong with you?"

But the young man said nothing, just moved his hand away from his heart. He raised his arm and saw a drop of dragon blood in his palm, red like a flame, swaying and burning, like a spark in the night sky.

Box raised his head and met the gaze of the tall bartender. Juniper Gunder turned around and looked at the young man. His eyes became much gentler and he nodded slightly to him - the bloodline of the Oath Keepers had been cut off since the Dragon Witch.

And thirty years later, it reignited again——

Old enemies will surely return, but those with swords will also come and go.

"What is Nini's origin...?"

  But the Dragon Witch Nicol Bolas did not answer him directly. Instead, he saw a picture:

Fang He recognized the ancient castle that was silent in the night at a glance - it was the Blood Thistle Woods, the Castle of Emmaus - his eyes passed through the dark basement and rested on a painting hanging there.

The gentle and elegant daughter of a noble family, wearing a black veil, was looking at them with a gentle gaze, but a spark was born in her dark eyes, as if it fell into the dust, turned into a sea of ​​fire, and burned everything.

Under the ashes, fiery red sprouts ushered in new life, and the blood buds produced red gems. In the gems, a tiny human figure was sleeping, like a swaying flame - he saw the lich Tangde's sister, the gentle noble daughter of the Grosser family, and saw Delis - the sharp-eyed cat lady.

Finally I saw Eve.

For every painful soul imprisoned in the Dragon Witch's oath, the shackles on these souls disappeared one by one, and the new Nini was born from the depths of the purest soul.

She is them.

But she is not them.

"She is unique, a golden flame that belongs only to you," Nicol Bolas' figure was disappearing bit by bit, "protect her well, don't let her get hurt, and repeat my tragedy - our tragedy."

The golden flame ring on Fang He's chest flickered slightly, then dimmed, and finally turned into an ordinary ring.

That was its last flash—

Sarona looked at the young man in front of her silently.

"Next," Victor whispered, "is Fenris, Mirella's gaze."

That look was very calm.

"He guarded Mirella's sacred objects there. The goddess of life was a simple-minded god who loved everyone equally. He adhered to her creed and guarded Fenris and Cloud Harbor, thus gaining her attention."

Victor's voice was quiet, and it was obvious that he had expected this. A faint favor surrounded the temple, almost imperceptible.

There was something else entangled in that gaze. Sarona discerned the serious, military atmosphere. It was the fair lady Marlan. It turned out that she had cast a glance at him since then. Then what happened next -

"It was after the Southern Territory Competition..."

After leaving the Elffindor Council, the Seven Seas Brigade headed south into the Silver Sand Sea. Since the Istania people never talked to outsiders about what the Seven Seas Brigade experienced there, few people knew what happened in the desert country more than a year ago.

But astrologers have observed at least one thing: someone in Istania triggered an oracle.

The Oracle of Marlan.

However, the two of them sensed a hint of discord first. "Dragon King Lifgard," said the Tada priest at the side. "After Tolagatos escaped, the seal of Lifgard was loosened. They had fought with it there before."

A legendary experience.

Sarona and Victor looked at each other. Even among the Chosen, this was a legendary experience. From Fenris to the Silver Sand Sea, from the Dragon Witch to the Dragon King Lifgard, how many people had experienced such a life-and-death test? And that was just the beginning.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually became solemn. Not only the three people on the podium, but the audience in the hall also gradually felt the strange breath, as if a sharp sword flashing with cold light was hanging alone over everyone's head.

A stern gaze was examining everyone present.

Such a quiet gaze made the elves bow their heads and touch their chests with their hands - that was the arrogant gaze of Malan, the goddess of war and athletics, lady of courage and justice. The three goddesses alliance of Aimaya, Mirella and Malan was also one of the three main gods of the elves.

Tianlan couldn't help but fall to the ground with a cry of "ouch".

Fortunately, Daliel was quick to support her, but the cat lady raised her head and looked at the scene in disbelief. She had heard about the oracle. As a paladin of Marlan, she had never thought that this look would be so strong...

"Such an intense gaze," even Sarona was slightly surprised, "Is this... God's Chosen One?"

"Gwanghae chose him," Priest Tada said, "It's normal for Maerlan to be attracted by his qualities. The Son of the Stars is a brave man who fights against fate. His path coincides with that of Ms. Maerlan."

But the words just fell.

Suddenly, another more powerful force descended from nowhere, and the huge pressure pressed everyone to the ground. The elves knelt on the ground and raised their heads in shock, "Ai... Lady Aimaya?"

The two White Guards almost cried out in shock. The 'Eyes of the Tree' in the hands of the giant tree druids lost control and flew into the air. A new green light spread in all directions, and the plants in the hall were growing wildly.

The withered vines sprouted new buds, grew tender branches, covered with green leaves, and opened flower buds. The fruits ripened and fell off the stalks, and the seeds fell into the soil, giving rise to patches of green. The grass and trees flourished, and colorful flowers grew from them. Finally, the light of new green all poured into the high platform.

It turned into a faint light and sank into Fang He's chest.

For the first time, an expression of surprise appeared on Victor's face, and he looked at the scene in shock.

"Aimaya!?" Sarona cried out in surprise, "Why would Aimaya be looking at him? This is... in the Silver Sand Sea...?"

The elf girl, Lian Kuiya Alsana, was also looking at the platform in great shock. It was not her fault - the elders of the Holy White Council announced that after the white tree grew gray branches, Lady Aimaya fell into a deep sleep and never responded to any of their prayers again.

There was even an unhealable crack on her statue in the Silver Sea. The priests of the forest goddess tried their best to repair the statue, but to no avail. Some even claimed that this was a divine punishment from nature.

  But how could this happen?

One year and seven months after losing contact with the goddess, she descended once again - but not in her own sanctuary, nor in the magnificent cathedral of Tanalia, nor even in the Holy White Woods.

She is the heir of the Unicorn Girl, the daughter favored by the goddess, but even Her Majesty the Saint cannot communicate with the goddess, so why... did she come here? That gentle look, as if she was looking at her own child.

Obviously just a mortal.

The Tree Eye, having lost its power, fell to the ground.

The moon elves from Mistville got up from the ground in a daze, looking at the young man on the platform with extremely complicated and respectful eyes. The goddess had already issued an oracle.

He is the one who took the oath.

The old giant tree druid, the elf elder, gently placed his hand on his chest, looked at Fang He, and knelt down.

Behind him, the moon elves lowered their heads and knelt down in unison.

Victor looked back at this scene, and the feeling in his heart was a little bit difficult to describe. He thought he knew this young man well enough, but he didn't expect that they had signed another contract with Lady Nature in that silver sand.

He sensed a strange aura, like ash spreading in the sand, and a resentful look swept across everyone present, "An evil god," said the Tada priest, "I am somewhat familiar with its aura."

"It's Deca, the God of Death."

Victor remembered the rumor about the Kingdom of Sand. "It has been sealed once again... the legendary hero. It turns out that the Princess of the Desert Kingdom saved them for this reason. They are the saviors of Istania."

Sarona was suddenly a little surprised: "This breath?"

"Crow God," Emaya's breath gradually faded, and Victor's voice regained its calmness again, "El Pashin, the Battle of the North... There are so many old acquaintances, another one of the Dark Saints."

Then their looks turned serious.

He and Sarona felt a hint of obscure aura at the same time, which even the Tada priest beside him did not notice. It was like the faint light in the lake, the shadow of the tree, and a golden thread hanging down, connecting their destinies.

"Dragon Queen, Alessa..."

"And she..."

  Is it this time?

Fate cast a glance at him during the War in the North?

The coin of fate was tossed at that moment?

The two looked at each other and were about to concentrate their minds to peel off the breath of fate from Fang He in order to witness something.

But at that moment, the obscure aura suddenly dissipated, and disappeared without a trace after a feint.

Victor was slightly startled, but then it was a smooth transition, and the aura of the Holy Land of the God of Knowledge became strong again.

Fang He's memories came to the hometown of mortal civilization - Oshur. Sarona and Victor immediately understood what would happen next - the Great Judgment.

The gazes of Oli, Anjina, Mirella and Marlan fell one by one.

But it was far less intense than before and only lasted for a brief moment.

Anjiana's eyes began to dim.

The Continental League has come to an end. Victor frowned. The girl of destiny has not appeared yet - why? How long will Ms. Elaine wait? She left a mark of destiny on him, but never let them touch him -

Then he smelled a strong smell of the sea, mixed with the breath of storm.

The God of Nagas, Narsuyu.

We have arrived at the Storm Islands.

  But what about the silver coin of destiny?

The two couldn't help but look at each other.

But at that moment, a ray of starlight fell from the sky, passed through the dome of the sky, landed on the church, and landed on Fang He. At that moment, almost everyone saw the vision of a scale.

Fang He opened his eyes, just in time to see a silver coin rolling out of his pocket. It made a crisp sound and fell to the ground. It rolled down the stairs and landed on the last step, spinning.

He recognized the silver coin at once.

That was Ms. Roman's destiny silver coin.

  But has it not been given back to the Lady of Commerce, Trade, and Contracts?

A pair of beautiful little leather shoes walked out of the darkness and stopped in front of the silver coin. She bent down, picked up the silver coin from the dust with her white fingers, then raised her head and looked at the young man in front of her with a smile.

Victor and Sarona, who were on the platform, knelt down and lowered their heads, not daring to look the girl in the eye.

Under the altar, the bartender Juniper Locke, an old man also put his hand on his chest, bowed his head, and knelt on one knee. The elven holy guards and moon elves knelt on the ground. The only sound in the air was the light panting. Even the lizardmen knelt down one by one.

The one who appeared before them was a true god.

"We meet again, little one," Ms. Roman smiled faintly, "Remember, I told you long ago that we will meet again."

"Did you...say that?" Fang Yu was stunned for a moment.

  He didn't expect that Ms. Roman would place a silver coin of destiny on him and choose to show up to meet him at this time, but couldn't she say whatever she wanted to say there and then?

"Didn't I?"

The business lady was stunned. "Forget it, it's not important, but I left a silver coin with you, naturally in order to see you again. I didn't expect that you would meet her servant. Well, I will give you that thing here-"

Victor lowered his head, his heart pounding as if it was about to jump out of his chest. He could hardly believe it. The silver coin was placed on him by Ms. Roman herself. Ms. Business blocked all sounds, so that he could only hear the last conversation:

"what?"

"Didn't I tell you that her gift has already been given to you, and Oli's reward will be given to you personally, and this is mine—"

The girl walked over to Fang He with one hand behind her back and looked him over with a smile: "Ah... Of course my gift is not just an answer. You underestimate me too much. I am the goddess of commerce and fairness."

"But if he were still here, he would definitely like you."

She said something without beginning or ending, stretched out a hand, and pressed the silver coin on Fang He's chest with one finger, turning it into a silver light and merging into Fang He's body.

Roman then turned around and looked at the others.

She didn't say much, just smiled slightly, and then her figure gradually faded away.

The hall was so silent that even after a long time, when people looked up, they still couldn't believe what they saw.

Lian Kuiya Alsana stared at the man in the center of the platform in a daze, as if her feet had grown roots and she had turned into a stone statue, until the two holy guards beside her whispered to remind her, "Your Highness, what happened just now..."

"I know," the elf girl whispered, "Don't tell anyone else. I must pass this news... back to the Court of Radiance."

Aimea's Chosen One.

The person personally appointed by Ms. Roman, could the rumor be true? She looked at Victor, then at Sarona, and couldn't help biting her lip. For the first time, her opinion of the young man was shaken.

"Saint...Mrs..."

"I……"

...(End of chapter)