Pillar of Yita

The ground was trembling slightly, and the streets were still tilting continuously.

The Giant Construct was rising segment by segment from the ground, and each of its limbs gleamed like blades, flashing with cold light. Inside its massive body was a city working with precision, each gear, each rotating rod formed part of this intricate instrument, resembling a forest of machinery from afar.

The Construct beast shook its huge head, the clashing metal made a deafening roar, and four pairs of dark red eyes converged towards the center, looking down at Fang Hong from a height of six or seven stories.

The remnants of that warrior hung in its mouthparts. A hand fell off and hit the ground with a crack, shattering into pieces, and the crisp fingers flew several meters away, covered with a layer of thick frost.

Cold sweat covered Fang Hong's back, but he still forced himself to remain calm. Suddenly, he looked at the Wanderer not far away, had an idea, and moved his lips: "Attack!"

Indeed, the Wanderer had been watching in that direction, and upon seeing the shape of his mouth, was scared out of his wits and turned to run without understanding why.

"That's not his Dragon Knight, don't move!" Kaka's exclamation came from the sky.

But it was too late.

The Construct beast's four pairs of eyes whipped backward, catching the Wanderer's presence. It suddenly raised its body, emitting a sharp whistle like a steam siren, and its massive form hammered down onto the ground like a falling mallet.

The Wanderer only felt a shadow engulf the top of his head and looked back in despair as a wall of copper and iron bore down on him. He managed only a startled scream before the ground shook, and dust enveloped the area.

From within the dust, the Construct beast slowly turned around, revealing the rotating teeth and ejectors in its mouth. The Clockwork Fairy, caught in midair, realized too late the danger and that the previous sound had given away its presence.

It shot upwards, but a snow-white frost arrow flew out of the mist, striking its brass shell. The frost shattered three metal wings and the Fairy's exterior, scattering parts in all directions.

"Ah—"

Kaka let out an annoyed groan, flipping his wind goggles open, his face still pale.

He was still dazed, but Qiaoli yanked him away just as a flying rock rolled past where he had been standing. The young man only then noticed that the surroundings had drastically changed, the ruins were wobbling, beginning to collapse, and the original streets were almost unrecognizable.

"What happened?" Guzhou asked, walking over to him.

"Three thousand Lycels are gone," Kaka sat on the ground, ruffling his messy hair with great frustration. "Ah, I really want to die!" Then he lay on the ground, sprawled out in the shape of a 大 character.

Used to his antics, Guzhou couldn't help but roll his eyes: "What about that man?"

"Let him get away," the young man replied listlessly from the ground: "But he ran into that thing, so he's probably not getting away."

Guzhou had his doubts about the word "probably."

"Should I take a look?" Qiaoli asked.

Guzhou glanced at him but shook his head. "Forget it, we can't stay here long." He turned his head, and the remnants in the distance presented an apocalyptic scene with the shaking earth, flying dust, sinking ground in sections like waves, forming a chaotic pattern. The entire ruins were caving inwards, creating a funnel shape pulling everything towards the center.

The sinking quickly reached in the direction of the lake. The lakeshore collapsed, and the lake water burst forth, like a glistening silver line under the moonlight, then gathering into a shimmering mass, swirling back into the ruins.

The surging noise of the lake water was deafening.

The fracturing ground continued to spread outward, making even this direction unstable. Guzhou grabbed Kaka, who was still on the ground, and retreated.

"Let's go," he said to the others: "We need to leave this place."

"What's happening?" Kaka asked as Guzhou dragged him by the collar without concern. Instead, he was fascinated by the sight in front of him.

"The Witch of the Sea has entered the core area, causing the upper layers of the ruins to collapse."

"And what's that thing?" he asked.

The last word turned into a low exclamation.

From the continuously sinking ruins, a Construct dragon suddenly rose, the very Construct beast Kaka had seen earlier—but that was just a part of it. Because soon, with a loud noise, another 'dragon' rose.

"Two of them?" Kaka rubbed his eyes.

"No, one," Qiaoli shook his head, correcting him.

Kaka looked back at the stolid knight, puzzled, but quickly he understood the meaning of Qiaoli's words.

Two Construct beasts climbed atop the tallest nearby ruins like two tentacles. Quickly, more 'tentacles' rose from the ground, pulling a gargantuan Construct creature from the center of the depression.

It was a massive head, shaped like an octopus, almost a third the size of the entire ruins. The flickering red light from its gigantic eyes was as high as a building.

It rumbled skyward, like a small mountain.

The roar drowned out everything else, including Kaka's own voice. He saw birds take flight from the forest, filling the sky, and not far away, Guzhou and the others' mouths were opening and closing as if performing a silent play.

But at that moment, people were too concerned with fleeing for their lives.

"What in the world is that?" Kaka shouted.

Nobody could hear him speak. Only Qiaoli read his question from his expression and answered: "A Giant Construct—the early form of a Dragon Rider."