Pillars of Ita

Chapter 1314 The Beginning of the Year of the Fallen Star VIII
Sophie nodded gently. "They are preparing for that day. Each country has contingency plans to try to send as many people as possible to the Second World before the continents sink. But some people in the Empire have their own plans."

"Is this why they started the war?" Hongye asked incredulously. "What is the Empire's plan...?"

“It’s about leaping to the Second World,” Fang Zheng finally spoke, having already understood everything. “It’s similar to a floating fortress like Vol-Salastiel, only much larger. The Empire’s ambition is to raise the entire continent of Sintaan.”

"But the Guy Crystals inside the continent of Sintaan are constant, and the Imperials are also facing the fact that the Guy Crystals are depleting. I originally thought their plan was to modify the etheric veins that flow through Sintaan, but I didn't expect that His Majesty the Emperor's plan to be even simpler."

He said, slowly and deliberately, "Since we don't have enough Guy Crystals in Sintaan, we can just plunder them from other continents."

"So that's how it is," a realization flashed through Fang Zheng's mind.

This was the true purpose of the Empire's attack on Heimwald. Taking the shards was only part of the plan. The Ossyans' real intention was to cause Terraka to wither and die, causing the Elven court and the fairies to collapse without a fight. At that time, all the resources on this continent would naturally be at their disposal.

“That’s right,” Sophie nodded solemnly. “Letting the Empire succeed will only hasten the decline of the First World. If the Hill of Giant Trees sinks, it will have a chain reaction throughout the entire Sky Sea. How much time we have left depends on the Empire’s timetable. The longer we delay the Ossyans, the more time we will have left for this world.”

She looked at Fang Zheng and Hongye, "That's why the frontline fortress of Vo-Salastiel is so important. It's not just that the Imperials haven't yet discovered this hidden personnel and supply node in the Sea of ​​Mist, but more importantly, it can serve as a transit point between the First and Second Worlds."

"The next step—whether it's a year and a half or three years—is up to you."

Fang Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he roughly guessed the military's plan. In fact, Su Changfeng and Shang Wangyou had revealed part of it to him not long ago. If the disaster was not far away, Xingmen Port should have already been preparing the final evacuation plan.

The military must have been preparing and mobilizing resources long ago. No wonder the forces of Corin-Ishrien and Stargate Port were so weak in the North when the Shadowmen invaded, and it was only by relying on them and the Chosen Ones that the Shadowmen's vanguard fleet was repelled.

At this critical juncture, the presence of a transit port like Vol-Salastiel near the Gates of Heaven carries immense significance. Not to mention, the floating fortress itself is mobile.

So that's how it is. No wonder the military had that attitude towards their search for this legendary floating fortress not long ago. It seems that Stargate Port must have been planning this all along.

He couldn't help but exchange a glance with Red Leaf beside him, both looking at each other somewhat bewildered. How many people lived in Aetaria? Including the Chosen Ones, there were over a hundred million people in Corin-Ishri alone, not to mention the rest of the continents?
And what is the combined transport capacity of all the factions in Aetaria? If you include all the transport ships and warships, packed to the brim, can each ship carry an average of a hundred people? Don't be fooled by the fact that the Empire's first and second-class battleships often have nearly a thousand crew members; how many battleships are actually classified as high-class?

The majority of ships were merchant ships, civilian vessels, transport ships, and various small boats and dinghies. However, passing through the Gate of Heaven was not an easy task, and more than half of these ships had to be scrapped. How many of those that weren't scrapped would survive?
Of these ships that weren't eliminated, how many actually managed to pass through the Gate of Heaven? The dangers of crossing the continental bridge are no joke; otherwise, there wouldn't be any such thing as a quota for traveling to the Second World.

Fang Zheng did some rough calculations and came up with a somber figure, based on the most optimistic estimates: Even if all the continents cooperated and started operating now, could even one percent of the population be saved?
The two fell into a long silence.

After a long while, Fang Zheng finally managed to ask with difficulty, "Since Stargate Port already knew that this world's time was running out, why didn't they make preparations earlier?"

“It’s not as early as you think,” Sophie sighed and shook her head. “The readings of Guy’s Crystal started to drop three years ago and gradually accelerated. Since the readings themselves fluctuate, it didn’t attract much attention at first.”

"By the time the Stargate Port realized something was wrong, there wasn't much time left," she continued. "But at that point, it was unlikely we could directly launch 'Project Ark,' and we also spent a lot of time communicating with the indigenous nations, plus each region's political system had its own problems."

"Next, we need to ensure that supplies are delivered to the Second World, because the number of Chosen Ones in the Second World is not large, and the world we have opened up cannot support so many newborns. The military must ensure that production can resume when the refugees arrive, and all of this requires a huge amount of supplies."

"Not prioritizing the transfer of people is a conclusion reached after careful consideration. 'Goods' that cannot speak are often better at keeping secrets than people. Once a large-scale population migration begins, it will be almost impossible to keep secrets. We can only carry out the plan openly or semi-openly."

She glanced at Fang Zheng, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes. "By then, there will be no turning back once the arrow is released. Faced with such a sudden disaster sweeping across the entire world, the military doesn't have many options. Ed, you don't need to blame them."

Fang Zheng let out a long breath. "What exactly is going on with the readings of the Guy Crystal? The floating continent has remained stable for thousands of years, so why did the Guy Crystal suddenly become inactive in such a short time?"

He originally thought it was due to the Empire's plan, but now it seems that the people of the Empire are also suffering from it. But the calamity has not yet arrived. Why has such a big change suddenly occurred in Aetaria?

Although the prophecy foretold a calamity before Zhan Qing's arrival, it seems that the war that swept the world was caused by the deactivation of the Guy Crystal, rather than the other way around.

Sophie shook her head. "It's still unclear. Geological associations and artisan associations in various countries are investigating this matter with all their might. Not long ago, the military sent you to the Empire to investigate the readings of the Guy Crystal for this very reason, but there is still no sufficiently authoritative and reliable evidence coming back."

Fang Zheng could only shut his mouth, at a loss for what to do. He had originally thought that there was still plenty of time left, whether it was ten or thirty years, there was still time to make amends and prepare, but he never expected that a life-or-death crisis would be upon him overnight.

“I shouldn’t be telling you these things,” Sophie said, “but the military has strict confidentiality regulations, and given the way you’re cooperating with Stargate, you’re not really qualified to know these things.”

“But whether you are qualified or not is one thing, whether you have the ability is another,” she shook her head. “I can see that some people over there think highly of you, but they can’t get around the regulations. Fortunately, I can still do it through my channels. The information I’m telling you is not from the military; it comes from the internal secrets of the Silver Vislan and the Rose Crusade.”

Fang Zheng then understood why it was Sophie, and not the military, who had contacted him. However, he looked at Sophie and asked, "Is everything alright with Silver Vislan?"

“It’s not a big problem. We’re much more loosely organized than official agencies,” Sophie said, indicating that it was fine. “Besides, I’ve already consulted the chairman about this matter. Hehe, he seems to think highly of you, Ed.”

Fang Zheng paused for a moment before remembering that the current president of Silver Vislan was Chen Xi. He had met Chen Xi once in the Southern Territory. Although they hadn't spent much time together, Chen Xi had taught him a lot.

He couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Although the Rainbow Alliance and the Descendants of Flor played a less than honorable role in the Mount Covenant incident, there were still people like that pioneer within guilds such as BBK, Ragnarok, and Silver Vislan.

He thought of Odin, of Hades, and of the Silver Vislan's leader.

“Alright,” Sophie concluded, “that’s all I have to say, Ed, Miss Red Maple. Besides what I’ve mentioned, you should also make your own preparations. If Etalia is destined to perish one day, then the Second World will be humanity’s last hope.”

Fang Zheng and Hongye nodded silently.

Fang Zheng's thoughts drifted to the Empire's invasion of Wohlheim. He had initially seemed to harbor some hope, but now it appeared he had no choice but to go all out. In any case, having three years left was vastly different from having only one year.

If the final deadline could be extended to three years, then the number of people who survived would undoubtedly be much, much greater.

Imperial people...

Red disaster.

He muttered to himself for a moment.

……

Miya stared at the screen in front of her going out, as if a flickering light had been cast in her silver eyes. She was stunned for a long time, not knowing what she was thinking.

Perhaps she was thinking of a long, long time ago, when she was far from being as famous as she is now, and had not yet transformed into the Sea Witch she later became—the Rose Alliance still exists, and people still believe in the glory of the past decade.

Later, the alliance broke down, former comrades became enemies, and a cold blade was thrust at her from behind. She did not yearn for the glory of being a pioneer, but she could not stand idly by while deception and conspiracy were rampant. In the end, she personally returned those woven lies to them, one by one, with the blade.

She thought back to that desolate forest, to the first time she saw those eyes, those clear gazes belonging to people utterly different from her own. But in the end, she had used the child; she had only intended to give him fair compensation.

But that compensation gradually turned into many memories. When she saw the other person nod at her and not look back, her heartstrings fluttered for the first time. She realized what she had missed and what she had lost.

It's not just about the Crown of Hailin or a chance for revenge.

But so what? The wolf-like girl scoffed at this—she had always been this way. She was the witch of the sea, and witches don't beg for others' mercy. What she wants, she will take herself. As for whether he agrees, she doesn't need to ask his opinion. Perhaps it wasn't love, but hunting, because it was hers, because it belonged to her.

This has always been the case.

The future would have been the same.

But not long ago, the boy suddenly mentioned wanting to rebuild that organization—Mount Covenant.

She finally realized that the potential shadow might actually have the potential to come back to life.

It wasn't until that moment that she realized she wasn't as carefree as she thought. All those memories seemed to flood back to her mind—all the suffering she had endured while hiding in the First World, the hatred surging in her heart, all instantly transformed into a gentle stream in the flow of time, like a soft moonlight.

It took Miya a while to come to her senses. She realized that the moonlight that had shone through the window was already in front of her, pure white and cold as frost. She stared blankly for a moment before picking up a communication crystal, tilting her head, resting it on her cheek, and murmuring:

"noob--"

After a long while, the crystal finally lit up, and a somewhat impatient voice came from the other end:
"What's wrong now?"

"Let's take everyone back to the First World."

"Wait, what's wrong with you now?" The person on the other end paused, somewhat puzzled.

"Sigh, this time he's really not going crazy," Mia frowned as she looked at the crystal in her hand. This brat, talking to his older sister like that, but her tone was still soft. "Do you still remember Ed?"

"Him?" The person on the other end seemed to remember something, and said in an indescribable tone, "I don't remember."

"Whether you remember or not, go find him first."

She twitched her wolf ears, extinguished the crystal in her hand, and just then someone knocked on the door. After receiving her permission, the person pushed the door open and entered. A female sergeant entered, wearing the uniform black trench coats of Stargate Port. She looked at her before saying:
"Ms. Miya, it's time for the experiment. Are you available now?"

Miya put away the crystal and nodded gently. "Let's go."

……

The Wilderness of the Four Borders —

Even from the towering Mithril, a faint glimmer can still be seen on the distant horizon, though only a sliver remains. Countless stars hang in the night sky, and the moon, shrouded in light, is rising. In the secrets of the stars and the moon, this symbolizes the end of September and the beginning of October.

However, this is not the real world, but an independent space carved out by the Silver Library from a narrow gap in space. Beyond that small dome lies boundless chaos and flashing lightning, powerful enough to tear the entire world apart.

From there, one can see a corner of the tower, like the foundation of the world. Countless chaotic worlds have scattered into fragments, and the towering tower has split into three, one of which has gradually sunk into the darkness.

There stood a tall figure dressed in a brown robe with silver and black patterns, and with gray hair. If one did not look at his silver-gray eyes without pupils, one would almost mistake him for a scholar or an astrologer.

But He truly is.

He was the world's first scholar, the first astrologer, the first wizard, and the first alchemist. His followers reverently called him by his name in the starry sky, and bestowed upon him the title—

Angela, the goddess of books and knowledge.

But what this 'scholar' saw at this moment was not the world that was on the verge of collapse; its fragmented state had persisted for thousands, even tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of years.

Its outer layer, with its four elemental quadrants—mountains and shallow seas, flowing winds and blazing flames—finally lies the solitary mountain peak, the flow of magical power, which, countless millennia ago, was called the ultimate by the people of that era.

The final mountain.

A towering tower in the sky.

But His gaze fell upon the point where the tower met the sea, where a new star rose, shining brightly, high above the shallow sea, just as everything in the material world leaves its reflection on the mirror of the water element.

"The first star has risen."

After a long while, some faint sounds began to ring out; it was a young girl's voice, somewhat clear and melodious.

"It is..."

"Golden Moon."

The god of knowledge did not speak, but the answer had already emerged.

A moment later, a small figure emerged from behind the goddess of knowledge. The girl was described as small not because she appeared as insignificant as a speck of dust compared to this Titan-like deity.

Even compared to ordinary mortals, she was tiny, about... about the size of a palm. Yes, like a fairy in a story, she was a fairy lady.

The girl wore a cloak, her face hidden by the hood, revealing only the edge of her pointed ear. She held a book in one hand and a silver pen—a quill pen—in the other.

Angie turned around and looked at the fairy-like girl who looked like dust, and asked, "Great Holy Maiden of Fairies, what are you doing here?"

“Oh dear,” said the fairy, “how come Lord Angie calls me Great Saintess? I dare not accept that title. It is merely a mortal position. Besides, this position did not originally belong to me.”

That belonged to the owner in her memory.

The elven girl named Quel'Dra.

Angela remained noncommittal, and the fairy lady spoke again, "It was the three goddesses who sent me. They observed the changes in fate above the Sea of ​​Light, but they didn't expect that you, Angela, would be here as well."

Having said that, she didn't wait for the master of the scrolls to reply. In the long records of history, the gods of knowledge are taciturn, and she was already somewhat flattered that the other party was willing to say a few words to her.

It's probably because of the current situation.

The fairy looked up at the scene before her—a light blue sea, originally part of the shattered water elemental plane—the Shallow Sea. And on that shimmering surface, a star was rising slowly.

The fairy then opened the book and wrote on page twelve:
"The beginning of the year of the falling star."

……