A dense network of pipes extended to the back of this monstrous creature, where numerous exhaust flues protruded from beneath its carapace, forming a ghastly and terrifying forest. Four pairs of compound eyes flickering with red light pierced through the pervasive forest mist, landing on every person present.
Fang Hong didn't know whether this was a Magic Guided Conductor, but he had never seen one in this form before.
The air around them seemed to grow even colder, as a thin layer of white frost started to form on the trees.
Suddenly, the behemoth raised its head, emitting a long, wailing sound—it was the roar of a steam whistle. It opened its mouth, filled with circular teeth, and Fang Hong noticed a piece of greasy fur hanging from its lower jaw, still sticky with blood, seemingly the attire of the Druid from before.
Below its oral apparatus were three aligned nozzles, from which wisps of white smoke were still emerging. He suddenly changed color and yelled, "Quick, get out of the way!"
But it was too late, a shrill screech sounded as three white frost arrows, sharp as arrows, shot out. Only Sicape managed to roll forward in time; the frost arrows swept through the crowd, leaving behind three or four ice sculptures.
Everyone couldn't help but feel their scalp explode, "Quick, into the buildings!" someone shouted, and only then did they discover the remains of some ruins not far behind them. They hastily took refuge inside.
Sicape also helped Fang Hong up and followed him inside. Kroid was the last to enter, but not long after, the woman from Silver Shadow also came in—the entire forest seemed to be roaring—Fang Hong turned his head and saw the rising dust behind them, only then realizing that the damn thing was doggedly pursuing them.
"What in the world is that thing?" Fang Hong couldn't help but stare, "...Blade of Tara?"
"If that were the Blade of Tara, the Rainbow Alliance would've been turned to ash long ago," Sicape said with a bitter smile, making a joke in her misery. Then she couldn't help but curse, "Those damn people from the Grand Guild must have known all this, using us as nothing but cannon fodder."
Upon hearing this, Kroid suddenly held his sword horizontally in front of the Silver Shadow woman, "Do you want to die, or do you want to live?"
The woman looked at him as if he were insane and almost burst into laughter in frustration, "Are you out of your mind? You combined aren't a match for me!"
"Indeed," Kroid nodded, "but dragging you down with us won't be a problem."
The woman was stunned for a moment, turned her head to look at the approaching cloud of dust, and couldn't help but stamp her feet in irritation, "Alright, what do you want exactly?"
"Tell us what that thing is, where we are, and what you're really looking for," Kroid said succinctly.
"There's no time to tell you all that!" the woman screamed.
"We can talk while we walk."
"Deal."
Only then did Kroid turn back to the few remaining members of Morning Dawn Star and said, "Leave two people to keep it busy, the rest follow the group."
"Hold on," Fang Hong finally spoke up, "That can't be done, this is Dead Silence Zone, Mr. Kroid."
Kroid was taken aback, his expression turning particularly grim. Sicape even burst out with a curse, "Damn that Jiefulite Red Cloak Team, knew they were up to no good!" The others also started cursing.
But moments later, Kroid still turned to the two who had decided to stay behind. One was a warrior, the other a Wanderer; the two just nodded at him, silently turning to head in that direction to meet their fate.
Fang Hong watched this scene in surprise.
```
"We've fought in the Dead Silence Zone before," Sicape said softly, looking at him, "Sacrificing two people is better than all of us staying here. That's what a team is about. Besides, don't you want to go to the second world? I remind you—the only way there is through the Dead Silence Zone on the Continental Bridge."
Fang Hong was rendered speechless.
"Tell me, what is that thing?" Kroid finally turned back to ask the woman.
"That is a Guardian, a crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient Alchemists, to be precise, the legacy of the Numelin Elves."
"Is that what your goal is, to fight over this thing?"
"Unless we're insane," the woman rolled her eyes, "Guardians are of the same kind as the ancient Dragon Knights, but their Control Crystals have been destroyed. They only obey the last command they received, to attack any creature that prevents them from carrying out that command."
"And what is its command?" Fang Hong couldn't help but ask.
"That's a Guild secret. I can't tell you." the woman replied.
Kroid glanced at her but did not press further.
It was only then that Fang Hong began to feel pain. Every wound on his body hurt, but the most intense was the throbbing pain in his hands, which made him groan. "Bear with it a bit," Sicape said softly, giving the woman an irritated look.
The woman looked at her own blood-stained dagger and then at Fang Hong's mangled hands, and couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed. "It wasn't my fault," she answered somewhat dejectedly, "I didn't intend to do anything to someone with a life profession, just didn't expect him to be so..."
Fang Hong gave the woman a displeased look.
But it was at this moment that everyone suddenly saw the Wanderer who had left earlier, running back. He yelled at Kroid with a face full of panic, "Captain, we can't lead it away!"
"What do you mean?" Kroid was taken aback.
He immediately understood what this meant.
With a thunderous boom, a nearby building suddenly collapsed entirely. Amidst the dust cloud, the giant head of the Construct Behemoth appeared in that direction. Whether it was an illusion or not, Fang Hong felt as though the terrifying creature's eight lamplike eyes were all focused solely on him.
"What's going on here?" Kroid seemed to have noticed this too and whispered to the woman.
The woman looked even more lost, her face pale as she shook her head and said, "I don't know, this thing usually never leaves the inner area of the ruins. It's acting like it's gone mad today..."
"Ade."
Fang Hong suddenly heard Sicape calling his name.
Sicape stared intently at his backpack and asked, "What's in your backpack that's glowing?"
...
```