"The sky pirates are coming!"
A loud shout interrupted the group's train of thought.
Before long, they saw Luo Hao rushing over from that direction.
Hilveld turned off the Communication Crystal and glanced over. Fang Hong had just warned them that someone might have discovered their whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, their enemy arrived so quickly.
Without hesitation, she signaled to Xiesta and Bakins, and both of them loaded their Magic Guided Firearms.
Just then, another rumble echoed from the ground.
The tunnel shook violently.
"It seems time is very tight. We should leave this place first." The Lion Paladin looked toward the tunnel's other end, his silver eyes flickering softly.
He walked forward, placing the Scepter of Authority into the latch of the Magic Guided Reactor, letting it hang there, then lifted the lion-headed Great Shield, bracing it against a collapsing pillar, before turning to the group to speak.
As if to confirm his words, several Blood Shark Sky Pirates poured in from the other end of the corridor. Bakins and Hilveld fired simultaneously, and after two flashes of firelight in the darkness, a deafening roar swept through their hearts—
In the distance, two sky pirates immediately fell, and the remaining ones rushed over chaotically, stepping over the fallen.
Luo Yu glanced in that direction and immediately raised his Magic Guided Wand, extending his left hand.
A silvery light formed on his glove—it traced an arc, then formed into a hexagram, the Alkafang's four pillars, the Realm of Earth Element—all converging into dual arrays before him.
The hexagram array rotated slowly, its silver light shimmering slightly.
Xiangzi stepped forward to stand beside him, raising his Magic Wand with his left hand: "Magic Power, detect hostility, Third Law, disperse, gravity—"
An invisible ripple emanated from his wand like water, spreading over the corridor, causing the sky pirates' movements to slow instantly.
Just as quickly, Xiangzi stepped forward with his right hand drawing his sword, like a commander brandishing a sword: "Magic Power, detect area, Seventh Law, burst, force field—"
A second ripple shot explosively forward, sending the struggling sky pirates within the gravity well flying backward as if struck by a speeding train.
Only two bosun-garbed individuals hesitated slightly, tearing forward forcefully—as if ripping open a wave—'pop,' a soft sound erupted as they each pushed through the Gravity Field.
One of them hurled a curved blade from his hand, spinning towards Xiangzi and Luo Yu. Just then, with a 'clang,' a flash of fire swept past, the curved blade clashing against Luo Hao's Great Shield, which had appeared in front of them.
The hefty man staggered backward five or six steps before stopping and, upon flipping the shield, couldn't help but gasp. His Iron Guard's Tower Shield had been sliced with a deep gash almost half an inch by the forceful throw.
And at that moment, Luo Yu finally completed his spell.
He raised his Magic Guided Wand, lightly tapping downward with the wand's tail. At that moment, it seemed the group heard an inaudible sound echoing from the Nether Elemental Realm—
In the darkness, a ring of glowing phosphorescent ripples spread from his wand's tail like an expanding ripple.
That ripple gently passed beneath the two sky pirate bosuns' feet; unsuspecting, an Elemental Crystal had already formed in Luo Yu's hand.
Luo Yu pointed forward.
The multi-colored Elemental Crystal shot toward that direction, embedding beneath their feet.
Gita flipped open the Magic Guided Book.
Her slender, verdant fingers pointed to one section—
Depicted on the book were endless peaks, as if hanging upside down at cloud's edge, jagged pinnacles stabbing skyward. Above the mountains, atop the cloud wall, a muscular deity, with hair bound by a Silver Ring, hair cascading to the ground.
In one hand was a massive hammer, in the other a treasured sword, gazing indifferently at the earth.
He was none other than the Dwarves' Shelter Protector, the King of the Earth, the Lord of the Mountains, Tarot.
She spoke.
Her voice carried a child-like clarity, echoing mysteriously in the dark:
"Endless peaks listen to the echo, the valley of the Holy Mountain magnificent and foreboding, the cold wind howling and breaking the sword, when will my wings and Silver Helm shine?"
She closed the book, her gaze imbued with the silvery light of Ether, casting a glance forward. In the dark, her tone gentle, she uttered the final verses:
"Ancient kings of old, hear my prayer."
"All Saints of Chongshan, grant me my soul's return."
At the instant Luo Yu's crystal touched the ground, an earthen yellow light surged up from beneath, dense and nearly tangible, a force almost like a domain.
Luo Yu gave an upward motion, and within that Domain of Earth, a long wall rose up, with a thunderous sound, separating them from the sky pirates.
"Well done." The Big Catfolk generously complimented the three of them.
Beside them, Affia watched, her eyes sparkling. She wasn't oblivious; although these people weren't as impressive as her father's imperial guards, they were young.
Moreover, talent isn't laden with experience; some things are clear at a glance. The young girl instantly felt she had discovered a treasure, needing reliable aides compared to her sister or father.
Otherwise, would she still be trapped here?
But the Big Catfolk couldn't fathom the little girl's cunning thoughts, merely holding his shield against the pillar, saying, "Get your servants to take Diket and let's leave this place first."
"Oh, oh." Affia nodded repeatedly, no longer objecting.
She immediately commanded her servants to carry Diket and simultaneously inquired covertly, "Lord Holy Chooser, are you an Elementalist?"