Pillars of Ita

The investigation society's observation points distributed across the country observed at the same time that the gray area began to become active, and the gray branches in the center of the disaster area were growing and expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Communications and reports from all over the world are growing exponentially, and disturbing news is constantly being gathered to the headquarters of the Society - the End Star Hub located in the Mountain of Oaths.

But only about one-third of the observation points sent back information, and more outposts disappeared without a trace in the first place.

The grey-robed trainee warlock climbed up the spire and stared in amazement at the countless grey creatures and strange silver-grey insects that emerged from under the forest, forming a grey wave.

"Sound the alarm--!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

The observers turned and ran towards the crystal sphere in the center of the tower, but the base of the tower began to shake, and with a teeth-grinding groan, a white branch broke through the ground, splitting the base, causing the crystal ball to fall and shatter into pieces in full view of everyone.

The last thing the warlock saw was the collapse of the tower and the gray wave engulfing everything.

The Mountain of Oaths

Gray spires stood on the top of the peaks, red lightning flashed across the sky, and in the hall, mages in blue and gray robes were constantly shuttling back and forth - everyone had a serious look on their face, as if facing the end of the world.

The crystal ball above the hall was reflecting the disaster tree 'Nianlot' three hundred miles away. The towering disaster tree was still growing, climbing higher and higher, and a rotten dragon was flying around the branches of the giant tree.

"If it continues like this, it will go deeper into the center of the sacred tree."

"Didn't the Silver Wind Warden say they had found a way to deal with Ninimeier?"

"People from the Guild Alliance cannot be trusted at all."

"Send a message to the Star-Moon Parliament. If things become irreversible..."

"Let's start the final plan and burn... the sacred tree Terraka."

The staff walked out of the hall quickly, opened the window, released the Split Crows, and watched these ravens with double pupils and divinity fly into the lightning and pass through the narrow cracks in space.

Until it disappears.

"Mr. Carandil..."

Kalandir heard Fanny calling him softly from behind, and when he looked back, he saw that most of the unicorn girls he had rescued had dispersed, with only a small number still following him.

The elf girl looked at the sky with a somewhat pale face - there stood three disaster branches.

The Silverwind Harbor Council declared that the Gray Branches would coexist with the port, that they would no longer cause any harm, and would become powerful protectors of the people.

But after only a few hours, the branches of disaster came back to life and began to grow. Dark shadows climbed up the white branches, rising higher and higher until they touched the clouds.

Insects with membrane-like wings flew over the streets, making a buzzing sound, and screams of fear were heard from the blocks not far away, further adding to the uneasy atmosphere.

A bug landed in front of Kalandir, like a locust standing upright, with its head tilted, looking at everyone with its golden compound eyes.

But before it could open its mouth, there was a flash of sword light, and the elven rapier in Carandil's hand pierced its throat and nailed it to the wall.

A yellow-green liquid overflowed from the wound and flowed down the blade. The insect struggled and screamed a few times, then stopped moving.

"Mr. Carandil..." Fanny was shaking with fear: "Can we control the disaster branch? Then Silverwind Harbor won't have to..."

Kalandir shook his head: "No, the parliament lied to you. Don't think about it. It's meaningless."

Funi was trembling and wanted to say something, but the former director of the Disaster Investigation Department had already covered her eyes with his hands: "Don't look."

He raised his head and had already caught sight of the insects' target. They flapped their wings and flew towards the port, blocking out the sky.

The Third Squadron returning from Ninimere was anchored there, and the bugs' target was the outermost ship, the Bronze Crown.

The next moment, the sky burst into dazzling light, and a shocking explosion occurred inside the "Bronze Crown". The elven girl under Kalandil trembled, and with a deafening roar, the fourth-rate battleship officially died.

It broke apart in mid-air, and the burning planks fell off the hull, turning into a dazzling rain of fire that fell down.

The girls huddled together in fear.

Silverwind Harbor is finished.

As Kalandir watched this scene, he frowned slightly and couldn't help but worry about his assistant and Elwood who was far away in Ninimere.

He had originally hoped that Arryn Ironheart could pass the information to the upper elves, but now it seems that Autumn Glade itself cannot be saved.

Is it true that the Hill of Giant Trees is hopeless? Kalandir thought of the human alchemist who had left with Meril and the others, and now there were rumors about him everywhere.

But he shook his head, thinking that he was being a little too fanciful. How could an alchemist from Corin-Ishurian possibly save the current situation?

Even though he is the Dragon Alchemist, and even though there are rumors outside that he is in a confrontation with the Guild Alliance, the former ally of the Son of Light, the Knight of the Ancient Training, has now appeared in the Autumn Glade.

Kalandir found that he still had a glimmer of hope, which was inconsistent with his usual rationality, but no one could face the end of this continent calmly.

"In short," he thought, "the plan of finding a boat to jump out of here doesn't seem to work at the moment. It's better to leave Silverwind Harbor first, hide outside, and get these innocent girls out first."

He looked at the port area which had become a sea of ​​fire. No matter what the end of Giant Tree Hill would be, he wanted to see it to the end.

……

The Holy Land Square was completely silent; no one expected the situation to turn out this way.

The officials of the Super Athletic League and their guards have been disarmed and are being guarded by the Elf Guards.

Luduk was the most conspicuous one in the crowd. He sat on the ground with a big belly and dejected look. Of course, he knew what fate awaited him.

What frightened him the most was that the voice that always responded to him disappeared, the reward promised to him by the superiors, and the master who had always tempted his will had disappeared without a trace.

Do not……

No, it shouldn't be like this.

Luduk's eyes were a little dazed. He insisted on resisting to the end and even made up his mind to push this land into the abyss. All this was because the other party promised him eternal life.

If he can get away with it, then what does the fate of Giant Tree Hill have to do with him?

But that alluring voice pushed him into the abyss without giving him the wings he promised. He watched himself fall into darkness, knowing in his heart—

I was fooled.

"I... I want to report it," Luduk found courage from nowhere, and the resentment in his heart pushed him to lose his mind, "Everyone... I am just a poor guy pushed to the front, a scapegoat, the real mastermind behind the scenes is them..."

But Halsey didn't even look at him.

The Empire's dragon knight Avani was also under strict supervision, as was the Ragnarok's dragon knight who had taken a step earlier. The dragon knights of FNC, Golden Nightblade and Night Walker were guarding the two respectively.

A Splitting Crow flew out from the space crack and landed in Halsey's hand. The young Nightingale King opened the envelope and took a look, and his brows immediately frowned.

"Gray branches everywhere have entered an activated state."

"Just as Ed said, the Council has already started the final step of the plan," Halsey raised her head and looked at her colleagues. "Next they will lose control of the ash branches, and the spreading ash disaster will completely destroy the entire Holy White Tree until everything is irreversible."

"This is the final notice from the Star Ring," he shook the letter in his hand, "The society has given up its efforts and they have begun to withdraw to the observation points in various places. The Star and Moon Council will initiate the final motion within the next 72 hours."

"We all know the result of that resolution. When all efforts fail, the End Star Hub will initiate the plan to burn the sacred tree."

"To prevent the disaster from coming early."

Halsey looked at Gonzalez with her melancholy blue eyes. The tall Knight Commander didn't seem to be too worried about the result. He said, "But the Grand Commander has given us another possible solution."

He looked at the Dragon Knight of Golden Nightblade, the Dragon Knight of FNC, the Dragon Knight of Nottingham and Night Walker, as well as Hades and Avani.

"But the club didn't give us such instructions, Halsey, the Dragon Knight cannot move without permission in the First World." Someone said in embarrassment.

"The club's orders have to be delivered through the Silver Wind Watcher, but the Silver Wind Watcher is no longer reliable," Halsey said, "Besides, now that communication between the two worlds has been restored, the club can give us orders directly without going through the Super Athletic League."

But they didn't.

All communication channels were silent.

Those present were all chosen ones, and none of them were unintelligent. They had actually guessed the reason.

The club's silence itself is a statement. Some people don't want them to take action, some do, but no one will speak easily at this moment.

Otherwise, what awaits them will be endless investigation.

But Halsey seized the opportunity, "I'll take care of everything. Wyrm, Erickson, are you willing to trust me?"

The Dragon Riders of the Blade of the Golden Night and the Nottingsh Ship nodded in unison. "Halsey, you were the commander of the battle in the Turbid Realm. The Alliance had not yet relieved you of your duties, and we are still on the battlefield now." Halsey nodded, her eyes falling on Avani and the Dragon Riders of Ragnarok standing by. "Avani, do you want to stay here, or come with us?"

Avani was a little surprised: "You can still trust me?"

"The club's instructions to you end here," Halsey said. "Avani, the next step is your own choice."

Avani hesitated, but shook his head: "Halsey, I'd better stay. Leave this place to me."

The dragon rider in Ragnarok made the same choice.

Ming stood on their side without hesitation, even though she had received news from Zukul and learned about Zuliana.

He seemed a little depressed at the moment.

However, facing Halsey's gaze, the Construct Queen forced a smile and indicated that she had no problem.

The craftsman is certainly not a real dragon knight, but as the top combat craftsmen in the third division and the best under the Ten Kings, her combat power is only stronger than that of a real dragon knight.

Seeing everyone express their opinions one by one, Gonzalez shouldered the greatsword and spoke, "Let me tell you what's next. The resolution of the Star and Moon Council will take effect in seventy-two hours, but the plan to destroy the Ethernet will be implemented in twenty-four hours. The rest of the time is evacuation-"

"The destruction of the Ether Vein is irreversible, but the Star and Moon Council must ensure that the Holy White Tree is burned before anything is irreversible. This cannot be changed."

"As expected, Ed has already entered the Gray Forest. This is our only chance. What you need to do is to delay the spread of the Gray Disaster on the continent as much as possible."

Gonzalez looked at everyone present one by one, looking a little serious. He raised a finger:

"As long as the Gray Plague has not spread to the core area of ​​the Holy White Tree, the Star and Moon Council will not carry out the plan to destroy the Ethernet vein of Giant Tree Hill in advance. Therefore, the time left for us is actually 24 hours."

"—Only for one day."

"But fourteen dragon knights have gathered here. I believe that the fate of Giant Tree Hill is not unchangeable. We can always do something."

Gonzalez turned back to look at Halsey, "The area from Norrisian to Fortier, and the Gus Disaster Area are in the charge of the Knights of the Ancient Training and the Sons of Light."

His gaze stopped at Melfina again: "Allies, the Wilderness and the Light joined forces thousands of years ago. To this day, the mountains of Lotao still echo with the ancient oath. Is that ancient covenant still valid at this moment?"

The Elf Princess clenched her sword hilt tightly with her fingertips and nodded vigorously. She took a deep breath and said, "I agree."

Halsey had already turned around, "Wyrm, Erickson, you guys go to Silverwind Harbor."

"Yongxia, Virginia, you go to Sanshak."

"Frostbane, Drake, Heimwor."

"Ming, go to Roshar."

Ming nodded slightly.

The number of dragon riders present was decreasing, and streaks of light were leaving the autumn woods and turning into stars in the sky.

"The rest of you," said Helsey, "come with me to Ravenril. We will meet the Bronze Dragon King and help the coalition forces regain their defenses."

He turned around and heard someone calling his name from behind.

"Halsey!"

He turned around and saw his Tianlan waving at him vigorously, "Look at the system, Star Gate Recruitment Order!"

The poet lady's eyes were shining. Halsey opened her dragon rider terminal and saw that the conscription order issued by the star gate was among them.

The Giant Tree Hill, which had been sluggish for a long time, finally took action at this moment.

……

"This is not what we agreed on!"

Notified by his servants, the Speaker looked at the falling Bronze Crown outside the window with a sullen face and angrily questioned the people behind him.

K shook his head at the young man and replied calmly: "This is what they promised. You know they don't care about destruction. Some small 'accidents' are nothing to those beings."

"But these things are destroying the port!" the Speaker raised his voice - what he actually meant was that this was his city.

“That’s one of the consequences.”

"You have to stop them!" the Speaker said angrily, "You promised that the disaster branches here would not grow, and they would protect this port!"

"That's how it is. If we follow the agreement," K replied indifferently, "everything should remain the same when the Gray Branch is first activated."

"But because of your own greed, now that you are about to start the Ash Branches again, it will be difficult to suppress their growth."

The young man calmly looked at the scene outside the window. The disaster branches entrenched in the port had fully entered the growth stage. They had grown intricate roots, and the gray thorny jungle passed through the city, turning everything in its path into ruins.

Countless gray creatures are emerging from under the disaster branches and then spreading to other places. Then, more disaster branches grow out from underground.

The direction of the port area has become a dazzling sea of ​​fire, while other areas are also filled with thick smoke. Everywhere there are horrific scenes and screams.

The city is like doomsday.

The Speaker finally felt that the situation was out of his control, "...I ordered them to stop, why didn't they obey my orders?"

"Gray branches need nutrients, my Lord Speaker," K said. "No matter how obedient they are, they are just twisted plants. If they grow, they will definitely bring destruction."

"No, they must stop," the Speaker said hysterically, "I don't want a ruin, no, I still have a way -"

He suddenly thought of something, but K stopped him first, "Mr. Speaker, I must remind you of the promise between you and your lady Selina."

"You were the first to break your promise," the Speaker said. "Don't treat the parliament as a fool. If we don't get anything, your plan will never come true."

He turned and walked out.

But a barely perceptible light flashed in the young man's eyes, and he did not stop him, but followed quietly.

The two returned to the underground hall, and the Speaker of the Linorel Council discovered that the place had become a mess - the gray branches underground were spreading and growing uncontrollably, and the monks guarding here were obviously stunned, and they didn't know why this happened.

Everyone looked to the Speaker for help. This was different from what the saints had agreed with them. The Speaker had already understood everything. Selina had lied to him.

They had never intended for Giant Tree Hill to continue to exist from the beginning.

Then everyone will lose the basis for cooperation.

"Stop the ceremony," the Speaker said loudly, "Take back the soul of the unicorn girl. No...maintain the status quo, but don't let the gray branches expand further!"

As long as the status quo remains, their control over the existing ash branches will be enough to control the sacred tree and even the Hill of Giant Trees.

The young man stood behind and watched the scene coldly.

He couldn't help but sneer. If these people were determined to take back the soul of the unicorn girl and completely destroy the ritual, it might cause some trouble.

But these greedy guys were still unwilling to give up their control over the gray branches when the time came, just as Selina said.

It was never the Gray Plague that destroyed the Giant Tree Hill, but the greed of mortals.

The Speaker nervously awaited the outcome of the ceremony, but all he got was a sentence that made him feel as if his heart was falling apart.

“Mr. Speaker…” The monk who delivered the message had a pale face and sweat all over his forehead. “…those souls have lost their stability. They…they…”

"Out of control..."

It was at that moment.

The gray branches in the underground hall began to grow wildly, and the gray branches almost swallowed up the monk in an instant.

“No——” The Speaker seemed to be punched in the face. His eyes went dark for a moment. He turned around and tried to escape, but his legs were weak.

But he suddenly reacted, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw, and immediately looked at the female bishop lying in a pool of blood, screaming: "Bishop Selina, save us... Save Giant Tree Hill..."

But the bishop raised her head weakly, looked at him coldly, and gave him only a meaningful smile.

And the next moment, the spreading thorns engulfed everyone in the hall.

K watched the scene indifferently, closed the door gently, and turned to leave.

...(End of chapter)