Pillar of Yita

At that moment, a shadow slid out from the dark depths of the forest and stood not far behind Kroid. The person was wearing filthy fur clothes, tall and thin, with greasy black hair and gloomy eyes deeply set in their sockets, cheeks almost skin and bones, holding a short sword in hand, its blade dark and lusterless.

It was a dagger made from the peculiar ironwood, commonly used by Druids in Nulinari to forge weapons and armor. His appearance was almost silent, and Kroid was completely unaware. Fang Hong, seeing this, felt an extreme anxiety and somehow mustered the strength to make a sound from his throat, but just at that moment, he felt a chill on his neck as a sharp blade was placed against his throat, a hand covered his mouth, and forcefully dragged him backward.

Fang Hong could only let out a low, anxious sound.

A faint odor surrounded him, somewhat like the air of the Kapuka wilds, where lavender grew extensively, carrying a light fragrance. Fang Hong realized that the person restraining him was a woman, who reminded him with the cold blade, "Don't move—"

Suddenly, Fang Hong grabbed the dagger with both hands and pulled with all his might. The woman was startled, not expecting him to resist so fiercely, and for a moment, she did not react. Blood streamed between his fingers, as the flesh underneath was nearly exposing the white of his bones, and taking advantage of her slight loosening grip, he opened his mouth and viciously bit down on her fingers.

He used almost all his strength, and the woman cried out in pain, throwing him aside, "Are you a dog!" she yelled furiously. Fang Hong, bloodied, opened his mouth and shouted, "Watch out!" But before he could finish, he was kicked squarely in the chest and sent flying several meters, crashing heavily to the ground.

Kroid finally realized what was happening, turned around, and the filthy man naturally came into his view. The latter, holding a short sword, stabbed at him like lightning, but Kroid blocked him with a swing of his sword, the blades clashing and emitting a sharp, trembling sound, sparking in the process.

The Druid tried to attack again, but an arrow came flying sideways. His Giant Wolf companion reacted swiftly, leaping up and catching the arrow in its jaws, crushing it between its teeth.

Sicape emerged from the mist, holding a Longbow, followed by the others—though few in number and each wounded. Sicape, seeing the situation on this side, dashed toward Fang Hong, but the woman reacted faster, grabbing Fang Hong by the hair and pressing the cold dagger against his neck.

"This is your only Alchemist, right?"

Sicape stopped abruptly. "I suggest you run," she said somewhat seriously to the woman.

The woman was about to say something when suddenly the ground quivered slightly.

Nearby, Fang Hong noticed a puddle of water; he could see it clearly, the water's surface smooth as a mirror suddenly rippled.

The Druid also paused, soothing his Giant Wolf while turning to look back into the forest.

Seizing the opportunity, Fang Hong suddenly said something to the woman. He was so weak that his mouth moved, but no sound came out.

"What?" the woman was slightly startled, leaning down confusedly to look at him. "I said watch your eyes—" Fang Hong whispered, right hand fingers together, flipping upwards like a swimming fish, the Silver Rail on his glove rattling. A buzzing sound came from his coat pocket, and a beam of golden light shot towards her eye sockets.

The woman cried out in pain, covering her eyes, and Fang Hong, without thinking, broke free and ran toward Sicape. "Damn!" The woman cursed, infuriated, hand covering her eye socket, she chased after trying to grab Fang Hong by the neck, but just at that moment, the ground suddenly shook violently.

It was as if an earthquake had occurred, both of them tumbling to the ground in unison.

The Druid looking toward the forest finally changed his expression, muttered something to himself; probably only the woman heard this remark, she turned pale and looking up, asked, "How could that thing be here, isn't this still in the outer area of the ruins?"

The Druid didn't say another word but simply told her, "Run!"

Saying this, he disappeared into the forest with his Giant Wolf, not looking back.

Fang Hong still hadn't recovered from the shock, he just managed to see the woman getting up somewhat anxiously, seemingly also planning to flee. But just at this moment, the forest ground suddenly began to shake violently again, everyone losing their footing and tumbling to the ground.

"What in the world is happening here?" Fang Hong couldn't help but ask hoarsely.

"That thing has come," Sicape helped him up, her face somewhat pale as she responded.

"That thing?"

Before the words finished, he heard a scream.

It was the voice of the Druid from before—

Everyone instinctively looked in that direction and then froze. From the distant forest, a shrill whistle sounded, and through the enveloping fog, a massive shadow loomed.

Fang Hong didn't know how to describe what he was seeing; first, he heard a deafening roar, metal clashing against metal, gears grinding against each other emitting squeaking and creaking noises, then the sharp sound of exhaust, streaks of white smoke spewing from that giant entity, blending into the dense fog around it.

A Construct 'beast' gradually emerged, parting the fog to appear before everyone's eyes.

Fang Hong felt it might be something like a centipede—a colossal creature made of countless gears, curled metal sheets, and metallic limbs, under a steel framework, numerous pistons moving back and forth regularly roaring, driving countless legs moving back and forth like sharp metal blades, propelling it swiftly forward, ancient trees under its massive body as fragile as toothpicks, snapped and broken.