In Xinsas, religious authority has always been superior to royal authority; thus, the Main Holy Temple was undoubtedly the core of this relic cluster.

"Miss Hilveld, does your map mention this pyramid?" Sophie asked.

Hilveld nodded and answered, "That's the last checkpoint to the thirteenth floor. I've heard that the Xinsas Serpentfolk have left some trials there—"

Fang Hong relayed her words.

This further confirmed his previous speculation. The other party could pass through so smoothly either because the Night Lizard People were helping—which they hadn't—or it must have been Toragotos' doing—fortresses are always breached from within, and Toragotos merely needed to use his pawns.

That figure flashed through his mind.

"It seems the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team is nearing their destination," Virus said.

"But the good news is, we aren't too far from them either," Dianmo Ran Qingzhu said optimistically on the channel.

Fang Hong suddenly stopped. They had completed three-fourths of the Light Bridge—the densely packed enemies were now clearly visible at a distance. They had left only the final stretch to charge at, led by the Night Lizard Warrior Leader controlled by Salrutaka who stepped forward and turned around to look at him with his tawny vertical pupil.

"Hiss, you need to hurry," it said hoarsely, "otherwise, by the time those people enter the core area, you'll be powerless to turn the tide, and all of you will die here. But at least everyone on this island will be buried with you—"

"And you'll be obliterated too," Fang Hong replied.

The Night Lizard Warrior Leader looked dissatisfied, but a sinister gleam flashed in his eyes, and he said no more.

Fang Hong glanced at him and said, "Next we'll launch the attack, but there's always been one question on my mind—after all, isn't all the dark force beneath this land yours, Salrutaka? So where exactly do those Dragon's Claws come from?"

"The Dark Giant Dragon," Salrutaka answered.

"The Dark Giant Dragon?" Fang Hong was somewhat surprised.

"How do you think the Dark Giant Dragon originated?" Salrutaka responded coldly, "It was we who endowed them with strength, those ridiculous siblings of Toragotos, who made a deal with me using their souls."

Fang Hong hadn't expected to hear about the origins of the Dark Giant Dragon, a rare piece of information, as opportunities to form an alliance with a Dark Deity like him were incredibly rare, and the Dark Deities typically only shared such secrets with their believers.

He wanted to further inquire about what exactly the Dark Deities were and how they related to the Verdant, but the question was irrelevant to the situation at hand, and he vaguely felt that the other party would not answer him.

Though they were collaborators at the moment, each was merely using the other, neither having more advantage than the other.

Fang Hong thought for a moment, then retorted, "So the great lizards you look down upon, you never expected to be outsmarted by them?"

Salrutaka snorted, "Hold your irreverent thoughts, mortal. I just didn't anticipate that the Sealing's strength would be so formidable."

Fang Hong decisively closed his mouth, not pursuing further, but he had subtly captured some information.

He looked ahead, while the Light Bridge did connect every pillar underneath the Abyss, they truly needed to pass through only five arches and four islands, and they had to cross this Sea of Lava within twenty minutes.

And there was hardly a second chance to do so.

Fang Hong took a gentle breath.

At his side, Hilveld seemed to perceive something, turned her head, and naturally saw Fang Hong's left hand dangling, which was trembling slightly as the Reinforced Gloves had been lost earlier, prompting him to remove them altogether.

The girl's eyes, clear as shallow seas, flashed with surprise as she remembered that he was just a young man under seventeen, though something she was unclear about was keeping this young man standing testily poised to shoulder all expectations and responsibilities at such a moment.

But that didn't change one fact—

How long had he gone without rest? The thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Being a Combat Artisan was a role that demanded constant high concentration, not to mention the method of control, even an iron man would have a breaking point. Fang Hong's eyes were slightly red, his silence unnoticed by others as he kept pushing himself hard.

But this minor detail made Hilveld realize that this young man was indeed struggling on mere willpower.

The heavy burden on all the people of Fenris hanging by a thread made even Hilveld feel gravely, let alone him.

She hesitated for a moment before quietly reaching out to grasp his trembling fingertips. She was already standing by Fang Hong's side, so others didn't notice this detail—the young man's hand was not particularly broad, even rather cold.

Only Fang Hong paused briefly.

He turned his head back and met the delicate and pretty eyes of Miss Ship's Officer, calm yet filled with a distinct confidence, as if Fang Hong could feel the warmth from her palm reaching all the way to his heart.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.