Amber Sword

However, Barbara’s attempt to undermine the Princess’s confidence here made him feel quite disdainful. The witches themselves were not free from troubles, after all. In this world, who can truly escape their fate? Barbara was simply pretending to be wise with age. "Barbara, put up the crystal ball," he reminded her calmly, "Whatever you have to say can wait until we’re alive."

The old witch chuckled awkwardly, knowing her thoughts had been seen through by the Lord of the Dark Dragon. But this didn’t surprise her. She took out a crystal ball from beneath her robe—though this motion really made Brand wonder where she had hidden it before—and then placed the crystal ball on the ground.

The crystal ball soon illuminated.

On it appeared Wood’s displeasing old face. Of the Great Priest of the Flame Temple who had once tricked him, Brand truly bore little affection.

"Mr. Brand, Your Highness the Princess, how far have you advanced?" The Great Priest of the Flame Temple had no mood for pleasantries, diving straight into the point.

Brand found the question quite ambiguous, especially considering this old fellow was asking him in front of the Princess, what was his intention?

However, the explosive flashes on the crystal ball occasionally lit up the wrinkles on Wood’s face, which seemed deeper at moments like these. Although the spell had already blocked the outside noise, Brand could easily imagine that the battle over there must be highly intense. He couldn’t help but worry about Frey, Kagris, and the others. And when he thought of Frey, he also thought of the still-absent Miss Merchant, and his mind for joking quickly faded.

"We’ve arrived," Brand replied concisely. "From our position, we’re less than two thousand meters from the teleportation gate. But there are many demons there. I’ll drop an anchor point below, and you’ll figure out how to teleport the people I need."

He suddenly remembered to ask: "I might need some templars. How is it over there? Can you spare any manpower?"

"Not bad, as long as you don’t teleport the entire first fleet," Wood smiled bitterly, "There’s still a chance to hold on for a bit."

Saying this, Brand knew the battle over there must be very strenuous. With the pride of the Cruz people, they would never rely on the fleet of Erune lightly; it was apparent that the battle on the other side had reached a desperate point.

Brand understood Wood didn’t wish to add pressure on him, yet he still felt a heavy burden out of thin air—time was running out.

"Then, which people do you need, Mr. Brand?" Wood became serious, asked.

"I need those who fear neither death nor life, Lord of Priest—"

...

Curiosity Seeker Gallock stood silently at the railing of the Victory, watching the ground below where the battle unfolded into chaos. Amidst the slanting rain, Flying Dragon Knights, Pegasus Knights of the Cruz people, and Harpies tangled in melee, bursts of fiery explosion nearly illuminated half the sky. And the old wizard was in the very center of this battlefield; every time the light of a spell flashed from his hands, it seemed like an invisible ripple swept across the battlefield, shattering countless Harpies into dust.

But soon, someone called him from behind, "Mr. Gallock, is that you?"

Gallock turned alertly. As the Chief Wizard beside Duke Xifah, the Duke’s disappearance had already made him sense the danger. He took the initiative to participate in the battle to avoid being caught in that vast vortex.

"Indeed." He nodded.

"Could you come with me?" The one asking was a beautiful female officer. Gallock’s memory was astonishing; he recalled once seeing her beside the Count Yanilasu. And now the Commander of the fleet should be with the Cruz, what was their intention in sending for him?

He hesitated briefly and then nodded.

On different battleships, similar scenes were being replayed. A fully armored knight appeared beside the flame-haired Sword Master Nicholas, respectfully asking, "Excuse me, are you Master Nicholas?"

"Is it the Earl of Yan Castle? Please, come with me."

"Miss Antitina, your lord requests you to come over."

Soon, the predetermined seven candidates were already in the flagship command room of the Victory. Besides Antitina, Char, and Delphire, the other four were all strong in Elemental Enlightenment, and among them, flame-haired Nicholas and Curiosity Seeker Gallock were masters on the Side of Truth.