Pillars of Ita

Chapter 1178 Hunting Ground

Fang He gradually stopped and raised his head, his sight coming into view of the twisted silhouette of the disaster-level gray branch. It towered into the clouds, and its dark branches extended in every direction above the forest, almost blocking out the sun.

He couldn't help but stop. This was completely different from what he had seen in Silver Wind Harbor - it was like a grayish-white carbuncle on the ground, oozing black pus. How could such a thing be removed?

The elven scholar Arian at the side seemed to see through his thoughts and spoke gently: "This is the ash branch of disaster. Of course, the one in the Morning Mist Forest has grown longer. Ordinary means can hardly do anything to it. Generally speaking, the only way is to use airships--"

"You haven't seen Ninimer yet. It's... how should I put it... it's more like a mountain, blocking out the sky and the sun," Marianne also said, "The two main fleets of Linoril have gathered there, but it's not enough to just attack its main body. We have to go deep underground to deal with its roots."

She also raised her head, staring at the gray branch with her green-brown eyes, with a hint of fear and full of hatred - it was this thing that destroyed her hometown. They grew wildly without warning, spreading gray spores, and finally crystallized the land, bringing deathly silence.

She joined the Geological Society in order to remove the dead branches of these sacred trees, but she didn't expect that not only was the 'death plague' spreading, but there were also traitors inside Silver Wind Harbor.

Marian said bitterly: "One day, I will find those people one by one and make them pay for their actions."

"You will." Fang He could understand her feelings. The Paparar lady's regret for this land was beyond words. She also told them the reason why she joined the Star Ring.

He also wanted to find out those people who secretly attacked the Elf Lady. He originally thought that the conflict in Giant Tree Hill was only a conflict between the Elf Court and the Council of Elders, but now it seems that it is far from the case.

The crowd gradually stepped into the depths of the woods, passed through the morning mist forest, and entered the valley. The ground under their feet was becoming softer and softer, as if covered with a thick layer of gray-white spores.

The gray environment is becoming increasingly dense, as if entering another world. Under the spore layer is crystallized land, which makes a crackling sound when stepped on.

Tianlan felt a little creepy and couldn't help but shudder, "How long will it take?"

A light mist began to fill the air, and it was so cold that it felt like a ghost was wandering in it. Her voice seemed to be covered with a layer of frost in the mist, and she was shivering.

"Shh-"

Miss Nightingale looked solemn and put her hand over her mouth.

The slopes on all sides were gradually slowing down, the forest floor was becoming flat, and a dark river was rushing out of the valley. The water was flowing in the crystallized surface and spore-filled environment, reflecting a dim light.

The gray trees are deeply rooted in this land, like giant arms stretching out from the ground to form a natural barrier - and on the other side of the river, between the trees, a few vague shadows are floating.

"One, two... three, four... six, seven," the poet lady stared in that direction with wide eyes, "Tree shadows...?"

"This is just the periphery," Marianne whispered, "Keep your voice down. Those things use sound to identify directions. Let's move closer to avoid them."

"Look at that!"

Tianlan suddenly let out a low cry.

Fang He looked in that direction and found a vague hill in the gray fog that was slowly moving. It was a headless and tailless insect, at least six or seven stories tall, with six long and thin legs.

It moved slowly, slowly moving towards the side of the valley.

Below it were countless withered tree men, wriggling in the crystallized forest like a tide, making rustling sounds, and soon disappeared into the mist together with the insect.

"Wandering spirit," Marian's face became serious, "We can't go any further. This is the edge of the core area of ​​Necrobranch. We can't deal with the gray monsters inside."

"Necrobranch?"

"We gave it that name. Although only the three major branches of disaster, Ninimer, Gus, and Nianlot, have names outside, we also gave other branches of disaster some code names. Necrobranch is the most powerful of the three branches of disaster in Morning Mist Forest."

Marian looked at the ash branch silently, "It's very close to the nightmare ash branch."

"What is a lingering spirit?" Miss Nightingale still couldn't forget the insect from before. No matter whether it was big or small, it made her scalp tingle.

"We also divide the gray creatures into twigs, elites, disasters, and nightmares. For example, the withered tree man is a twig-level monster, and the gray spirit and tree shadow are elite monsters. They are the products of the disaster-level gray branches, and the disaster champions—"

Marian sighed. She had experienced the battle to eliminate the disaster-level ash branches and still remembered the nightmarish scene vividly. The scene just now awakened the stagnant memories in her heart.

"The most terrifying thing about these disaster creatures is their regeneration ability. Before the ash branches that gave rise to them fall, they are almost immortal. They also have a certain command ability. Often, a large number of gray creatures will act together with these disaster champions and obey their orders."

"This is just one of them. There will be more inside. There will be more terrifying things near the Calamity Ash Branch. We must stop here. If we want to fight those people, it is better to go further outside."

Fang He nodded. Marian and the investigation team's understanding of the gray matter area had been proven before. He was not the kind of person who insisted on his own way, so he chose to follow the other party's advice.

"Then we will set up the battlefield outside the valley."

As he spoke, he took out an information crystal and handed it to Marian and Arian.

"What is this?" asked the elf scholar.

"There are some small props in it. Give them to everyone in the investigation team. I will let Cui Xisi tell you how to use them later." Fang He replied.

Arian nodded and took the information crystal.

Fang He handed the same thing to Alyssa who was standing beside him. Miss Nightingale looked at the thing with some disdain, "Engineering Life Box?"

She frowned. This thing was quite useful. It could save lives at critical moments, especially when the attacker was not prepared.

But it is too bulky. On the one hand, it will reduce the efficiency of the magic furnace, and on the other hand, it will affect the balance and flexibility of the user. It occupies the overload slot of the magic furnace - and the overload plug-in is generally the most critical plug-in.

Moreover, as an additional component, it comes with an independent magic circuit and will also affect the spellcaster's spell success rate. Therefore, this thing is not worth the cost for all professions except craftsmen.

However, she immediately understood what Fang He meant. After hesitating for a moment, she took it over, removed the swift burst plug-in on the magic furnace, and plugged this thing in instead.

"You can summon the Siren Construct now." Fang He said.

"Now?"

Fang He nodded, "There's only one chance."

Elisa nodded, hung a small magic furnace on the magic furnace, pressed her gloves on the information crystal on her chest, and then projected a faint blue light curtain around her.

A nautilus-shaped construct gradually emerged in the light, suspended in mid-air, waving its mechanical tentacles.

After leaving the Storm Islands, Fang He gradually popularized the Siren Construct Class to everyone in the Seven Seas Brigade. Since this thing requires a huge amount of magic power, in order to minimize the burden, he set up a special magic supply system on the improved model.

But even so, the user still needs to connect an external magic source to the magic furnace to use this thing, and the built-in magic sources of the magic furnace and the Siren Construct Class are both disposable, so this thing is currently a decisive battle weapon for the Seven Seas Brigade.

But now is the moment of the decisive battle——

In order to facilitate carrying, everyone in the Seven Seas Brigade also learned how to use the information crystals. However, since they only needed to store the Siren constructs, they did not need to spend much extra experience points.

Fang He looked in other directions.

In the woods, Daryl, Box, and the Paparars have each stood in different positions, forming an arc-shaped circle with a distance of about thirty to forty meters, and summoned their own Siren constructs.

The ship's stewardess was a little further back, closer to May. She was squatting on the ground, checking her magic guns - one was the standard magic gun she often used, and the other was the Azure-S magic hand cannon.

She had seldom used such heavy firearms in the past, but that did not mean she was unfamiliar with them. All her gunnery skills were taught by the sailors on the ship, and the firearms used on the ship were of all kinds.

However, because the magic furnace in the past was not enough to power it, and the ship officer rarely participated in battles, she didn't care much about these things.

The equipment upgrade and daily maintenance of the Seven Seas Brigade had almost always relied on Fang He alone. Even though Cui Xisi joined later, the two of them immediately started upgrading the Siren's equipment, which was a huge project.

Sylvie was a thoughtful person, so she naturally wouldn't bother him with such a small matter. She had only replaced her own magic gun when she was in the Empire.

She had picked it out in a magic shop in Einbrok.

This magic hand cannon was provided by the investigation team. It is the only heavy weapon among the two teams of Chosen Ones. It was the spoils of a mission, but it was kept in their hands because they had never dealt with it.

A bit old, but at least it works.

The ship officer used a little force to pull the bolt of the hand cannon, opened the magazine, and reached down with her slender fingertips to check the firing array. Finding that there was no major problem, she took out a charging crystal and pressed it into it.

A silver text popped up in her system:

"Be careful in the battle later."

Sylvie was slightly startled, and a smile could not help but appear in her eyes that were as bright as the light of a lake.

She savored the text carefully before saying to May and Tianlan, "Ed asked you to be careful." May's face was a little pale. Although she had woken up not long ago, she was still very weak. Her broken bones were not affected by the fruit of Eden, and any movement would cause her pain like a needle prick.

Fang He originally suggested that she retreat to the second line, but the knight lady still insisted on joining the battle. "If the captain insists, then May will have no choice but to commit suicide and reunite with everyone later."

Fang He had no choice but to let her sit a little further back from the crowd to protect Hilvid and Tianlan.

Seeing that Miss Knight was still about to refute, he said, "Your main goal is to protect Tianlan, Miss May."

May was slightly startled. She thought the ship officer was more important.

"Tianlan is crucial in this battle. She has her responsibilities, and your responsibility is to protect her."

Mei was originally an ancient knight who preferred protection. She didn't quite understand what Fang He's plan was, but just nodded silently.

Our poet lady was standing aside with a sad face, thinking of the previous conversation.

"Tianlan, did you listen to what I said to you?" Fang He stared at the little girl and confirmed it again and again, "I don't want to add burden to you, but this is the fact. Now I can only rely on you——"

"Ah?" She was dumbfounded. "I'm going to deal with the Silver Stage?"

"I'm not asking you to deal with Silver Level," Fang He shook his head, "but you are the only one who can find him in that environment. You only have one or two chances at most."

"This..." Tianlan blinked, "Is this right?"

"correct."

Fang He nodded, "That's right, did you understand what I just said?"

"I... Hey, Brother Ed, I'll try my best."

Fang He looked at the poet lady. Although she was not very reliable most of the time, she always showed courage at critical moments.

  If she hadn't risked her life to rescue Cui Xisi from the hellhound, she would have turned into a cold corpse. Could she be a match for the hellhound?

Traci saw with her own eyes the little girl screaming and fighting desperately with the hellhound. If AshClaw hadn't made a wrong move at the last moment, she would have been resurrected as well.

What gave her the courage? Fang He knew very well that Tian Lan liked this team and everyone in it.

He reached out and gently patted the little girl's shoulder.

Tianlan was brought back to reality by Sylvie's words. She looked at the knight lady who was staggering beside her. May changed to a new shield and summoned the Siren Construct at the same time.

She looked at the seven-stringed feather harp in her hand again and couldn't help but sigh again.

"I'm a little scared, Sister Sylvie."

Even if she died here, it wouldn't be a big deal. She could just be resurrected. But she was afraid that she couldn't take on the responsibility and put the safety of the entire group in her own hands.

"Don't worry, Skyblue."

Sylvie smiled at her.

Behind the three of them were two teams of Chosen Ones. They formed a circle with carriages behind them and installed armor plates on it.

This thing is almost like air to the Silver Rank, but it is more than enough to protect against stray arrows. Fang He asked the members of the investigation team to stay inside just in case.

Then he asked two teams of Chosen Ones to stay inside the position, to protect these people and fight alongside Tianlan and the others.

This time, he no longer needed scouts and spies.

Fang He was looking at Cui Xisi who was not far away - and the fairy lady's eyes also met his and she nodded slightly to him.

Her injuries seemed to have recovered almost completely. Although she was the most seriously injured before, her health was relatively low, and she recovered faster under the effect of the Fruit of Eden.

Although she was still a little weak, she was a fairy user and it didn't affect her combat performance much.

Not far away, Argen and others were running towards the two of them. He seemed to want to shout, but the girl next to him punched him. Argen reacted and quickened his pace to Fang He's side, whispering:

"Everything is ready, Mr. Ed."

Fang He nodded to him. All the mirror images were in place, so the hunting ground was ready. "Let your friend stay with the others and come back to join us after the battle is over."

"I know," Argen said, "They all followed your instructions and were resurrected in the nearest chapel. That place has been abandoned for a long time, and the other party didn't expect us to be resurrected so close."

"But they are still a little far away from us, about three miles away, and it will take some time to get over here—"

"There is another piece of news, Mr. Ed," Argen continued, "the Chosen Ones have explored outside and have discovered traces of the advance team."

"Just as you thought, with Dawn Glade as the center, the fourteen nearby Emaya shrines should have been controlled by the enemy."

But the Chosen Ones still have ways to break through the blockade. They can be resurrected at a distant point, but they will have to consume more starlight in the process.

But there is no way that the other party will let go of several core members of the investigation team, Ms. Marian and the elf scholar Arian. They might have a way to locate the two through the shrine.

Those costs are a bit high, but not unaffordable.

Fang He's gaze passed over Algen and the others.

Meryl, Ailuoya and Princess Lian Kuiya Alsana were also with them, and the two elf guards Faela and Ailowin were closely guarding the elf princess.

The surrounding environment made the two men feel a little creepy, and they wanted to take Her Royal Highness the Princess away immediately.

Although the shadow of decay is also spreading in the Elf Court, the Holy Guards of the Court of Glory have protected the Autumn Forest with a barrier, and the Unicorn Knights patrol the woods day and night, making the situation in that area much better than Linoril.

The two of them couldn't help but look at Fang He. If he wasn't here, they would never allow the princess to act so willfully here. It was just that the scene at the Holy Secret Meeting was so shocking that it made them waver.

"Lord Ed," Faela couldn't help but say, "Her Royal Highness the Princess is right here. Her safety depends on you."

"If the battle doesn't go well," Fang He replied, "you two can take Princess Lian Kuiya Alsana and flee first. I will give you a chance."

Faela was a little surprised to hear that, but she still bowed to him respectfully.

Fang He looked at the elf girl, but Lian looked indifferent and shook her head firmly at him - this was her choice, and she would never abandon anyone here easily.

But Fang He had his own ideas. If the investigation team and they would be trapped here, then at least Her Royal Highness the Princess could serve as a last resort.

The advance team seems to have not yet realized her identity. As long as she escapes, she will be the greatest persuasive force.

Of course, that was the last resort.

"Your Highness, Miss Merrill," Fang He said, "I will leave the matter of Gray Branch to you."

Lian Kuiya Alsana, Meryl and Ailuoya looked at him. Their expressions seemed a little solemn, and they all nodded slightly to him.

Fang He asked a few people to leave first, but when Aljan walked back into the circle, he suddenly heard a strange low humming sound, and he turned back with some curiosity.

Then the young man couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking in surprise at the glittering silver net that appeared between Fang He and the fairy girl named Cui Xisi.

And countless strange constructs are emerging from that network. Their structures are extremely simple, like clockwork fairies, but they do not have the round appearance of clockwork fairies.

They weren't even made of bent copper sheets for the shells and thin silk mesh for the wings.

Instead, they flew directly into the air from the crystallized land. The gray-white crystals condensed directly into their shells and formed their wings, and then they flapped their wings and flew into the air with a buzzing sound.

What made all these feats possible were the two glowing Siren constructs beside Fang He and Cui Xisi.

Argen couldn't help but secretly exclaim "Fuck!", he was the Chosen One, but he had never seen such alchemy - printing cards on the spot, was there any law against this?

The overwhelming clockwork goblins slowly flew off into the night as he stared in shock.

A war has officially begun.

……