Loran leaped aboard the warship. The power of three elements gathered along his knight's sword into a blade of light, slashing at the first Iron-Corroding Insects to approach. The light blade swept through the swarm, instantly purifying the insects, but more poured out of the darkness. Black liquid sprayed against the warship's light shield with a sizzling hiss, and the shield's glow gradually began to weaken.
"Water Whisperers, reinforce the light shield with water barriers!" A Ze shouted. Ten Water Whisperers channeled water elements at once, layering a pale blue water shield over the golden light shield. At last, the Iron-Corroding Insects' black liquid could no longer penetrate. Liya waved her staff, and emerald vines sprang from the ground to coil around the swarm. The life force in the vines temporarily suppressed the insects' activity, buying everyone time.
Lei Lin and Snow Spirit Qilin charged toward the Iron-Corroding Insect Mother. Their ice and fire energy fused into an Ice and Fire Purification Blast that slammed into the insect mother's shell. The metal plates on its shell melted instantly. The insect mother let out a piercing scream and spewed a torrent of black liquid from its mouthparts, but Lei Lin's fiery wings blocked it, burning the liquid into ashen smoke.
"Attack its abdomen! There's no metal protecting it there!" Loran leaped up and thrust his three-element light blade straight into the insect mother's abdomen. The blade pierced its shell, and purifying light spread instantly. The insect mother's body was gradually purified until it became a heap of black ash, leaving only a metal fragment embedded in its insect core-the very fragment of fallen star iron previously found at the bottom of the Severed Flow River. Clearly, the insect mother had grown so large by devouring fallen star iron.
Without the insect mother's command, the remaining Iron-Corroding Insects scattered and fled, only to be cleared out one by one by the dwarven craftsmen and Water Whisperers. Chief Tongchui inspected the warship's light shield and sighed in relief. "Luckily, the light shield and water shield protected it. The hull wasn't damaged. The Abyss Matriarch must have sent these insects. She knew we were going to transport the Evil Bone Core and wanted to destroy the warship beforehand!"
Loran picked up the metal fragment the insect mother had left behind and discovered that its evil energy fluctuations matched the black markings remaining on the Evil Bone Core. "That's right. Their target is clear. We have to move faster. Once we finish testing the warship tomorrow, we'll head straight to the Frozen Ruined Capital to collect the Evil Bone Core. We can't give the Insect Clan more chances to ambush us."
Early the next morning, sunlight spilled outside the workshop in the Blackstone Mountain Range as the sacred warship sailed slowly along the Severed Flow River. The water elemental power channeled by the Water Whisperers kept the warship moving smoothly and silently. The two qilins' ice and fire energy crystals powered the light shield and crossbow bolts. The elven runic crossbows could precisely shoot down Iron-Corroding Insects in the river, while the Holy Spring runes allowed the light shield to automatically purify evil contamination.
"The test is a success!" Chief Tongchui stood at the bow and shouted excitedly. "This warship can sail on water and fly at low altitude, and it can carry the Evil Bone Core and all the guards!"
Loran took out the Holy Spring amulet. The crystal at its tip flickered faintly, transmitting the Evil Bone Core's steady fluctuations-Elder White and Elder Aila had reinforced the seal and were only waiting for them to come and collect it. He looked toward the Eastern Sea of Clouds, which shimmered gold beneath the morning sun. That was where the Qilin Holy Land lay.
"Set out! Head to the Frozen Ruined Capital to collect the Evil Bone Core!" Loran ordered loudly. Lei Lin and Snow Spirit Qilin flew into the warship's energy core slots, unleashing their ice and fire energy at full power. The light shield surrounding the warship blazed brilliantly as it sped toward the Frozen Ruined Capital.
The warship left a faint wake on the water, which the current soon smoothed away. But Loran knew this was only the beginning of transporting the Evil Bone Core. On the journey ahead, they would face more ambushes by the Insect Clan and might even confront the Abyss Matriarch's forces directly.
Yet at that moment, looking at the companions who fought beside him and the sacred warship built through the painstaking efforts of the various races, Loran's heart was filled with resolve. He tightened his grip on his knight's sword as the power of three elements circulated slowly within him-no matter how many dangers lay ahead, they would protect the Evil Bone Core, find the Qilin Holy Land, completely purify the abyssal evil energy, and restore peace to the continent.
In the direction of the Frozen Ruined Capital, the Evil Bone Core's pale purple glow was faintly visible. A "core transport battle" that would determine the continent's survival was about to begin.