Pillar of Yita

The light swirling on the crystal pendant was gradually fading.

A flicker of self-satisfaction crossed Guzhou's face, his furrowed brow relaxed, and he looked up at the others. "Our Liaison Officer Miss has sent news, they have entered the ruins from the southwest and have already clashed with a main group from the Silver Forest Spear," he said, chest puffed out. His dark red silk robe emitted a soft glow, each scale gleaming brightly, the belt spotless, and the longsword hanging from it had its gemstone pommel twinkling.

From the moment he became a tactical analyst at the branch, many had told him tales of the three great tactical masters within the realm, especially the All-Seer KUN—the Silver Forest Crown's brigade is one of the weakest links of the top ten guilds, yet under his command, defeats were rare. People tirelessly spoke of the others' miraculous battlefield intuition, but Guzhou had long since grown weary of it. To him, their fame was merely a product of the circumstances.

He naturally respected Eteliria's first generation Pioneers like everyone else, but had utter disdain for the successors, whom he referred to as a generation lacking in education. The barbaric era of Eteliria was over, and the future would surely belong to formally educated Invokers like himself—endowed with both talent and solid theoretical knowledge.

As for those so-called 'Seniors' seeking only fame, they were merely a bunch of has-beens subsisting on their past glories.

"In an age devoid of heroes, mediocrities rise to fame," he mused.

The forest was spread with ancient white oak trees, these aged and dense tall trees were rumored to be the final resting place of the Numelin Elves' souls. Their branches intertwined intricately, their trunks forming visages that seemed elderly, under which grew shy mimosa pods and clovers that coexisted with them.

The twilight created many faces.

Everyone's attire was similar to his, embroidered with a Golden Dragon spreading its wings on their dark red cloaks, waiting for him to continue. But a voice unexpectedly interjected, "And what about the Silver Forest Spear?"

Guzhou seemed to have anticipated this question. "The progress on the Silver Forest Spear's side is also very smooth. An insider had earlier sent a message that that 'Mr. Legend' has entered the ruins. However, 'Mr. Legend' has quite a sharp instinct, seeming indifferent to the two main groups on the Golgon Riverbank," he said, looking pleased with himself.

Qiaoli was emotionless, yet argued logically, "Entering the ruins doesn't necessarily mean they went to Area A2. The opposition is the All-Seer KUN; I recommend we still proceed with caution."

Guzhou frowned, looking displeased at the old-fashioned Knight. The knight was rather old, about forty, with a gaunt appearance but a determined expression. His robe was worn and threadbare in many places, bleached from being washed, with one gold and two silver tassels on his left chest—emblems of his participation in the three famous combats since the establishment of the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, earning him honors, with the gold representing his renown in the Lion War.

This alone was enough to drive Guzhou insane with jealousy. He looked at the knight's long, withered palms and spitefully wondered if the man could still hold his sword steady. After the age of thirty-five, an Invoker's compatibility with the Glow Device dramatically declines, as does their reactivity and energy, crossing past their prime. Most Invokers choose to retire at this stage.

The Guild retained Qiaoli for his experienced and steady hands, but Guzhou saw it as a constraint on himself, and he felt very displeased, therefore, he always targeted him.

"If not Area A2, where else could they go? Don't forget our cannon fodder is heading towards the 'Dragon Knight.' 'Mr. Legend' isn't aware of the ins and outs here unless there's another mole among us," Guzhou said, stressing his words as he stared at Qiaoli, "No one would suspect an enemy that doesn't exist, theoretically speaking, Mr. Qiaoli, wouldn't you agree?"

Qiaoli shook his head. "It's only theoretical, but not necessarily for the All-Seer KUN. Assuming he isn't fooled, he might completely guess our intentions—there are only three paths into the ruins, he could set up ambushes or at least leave spies along the essential paths. I've seen many such battle examples; normal patterns don't exist for the All-Seer."

Guzhou smirked, "Sounds like you know quite a bit about tactics, why don't you command?" His malice didn't stop there as he taunted further, "I guess it wasn't cowardice that won you that Golden Ribbon in the Lion War, or perhaps after the compatibility with the Glow Device declined, even your courage shrank?"

His words caused most present to change their expression; the irreversible decline in compatibility with the Glow Device is a taboo among all Invokers, especially for veterans, and rarely do people so blatantly mock someone's weakness.

Qiaoli was trembling with rage, but he eventually calmed himself down, held his dignity, turned around, and wiped his hand across a tree trunk, leaving his palm dampened with dew, "I'm merely advising caution, I'm not hindering your command," he then turned his palm to the others, "The temperature is dropping tonight, that thing might appear as well, and the situation inside the ruins will be very complicated."

"That thing will be our ally," Guzhou said dismissively. "Alright, I've had enough talk. Since you agree, let's proceed as planned. We'll avoid Area A2, get the item, and orderly retreat—if all goes well, by the time we return to the Holy Serpent, 'Mr. Legend' won't even have realized it," he concluded.