In the morning light at Blackstone Outpost, the dwarven craftsmen were busy around the sacred warship-the cracks in its fallen star iron deck were filled with molten iron, and six specially made dwarven "steam rune cannons" had been added along its sides. Holy Spring Crystals were embedded in their muzzles, allowing them to fire iron cannonballs with a purifying effect; meanwhile, the Elf Guard inscribed "Nature Early Warning Runes" around the camp. Vines spread along the lines of the runes; whenever evil power approached, they would turn blackish-purple and emit a faint alarm.
Loran stood outside the fallen star iron chamber, watching Liya paint protective talismans on the cabin walls with sap from the Tree of Life. The instant the sap seeped into the metal, pale green light intertwined with the core's pale purple glow, forming a denser barrier around the core. "What condition is the core in now? Can it still sense the Matriarch's presence?"
"It's been thoroughly purified. The fragments of the Matriarch's consciousness have completely dispersed." Liya put away the jade bottle and brushed her fingertips over the light on the cabin wall. "But it can sense fluctuations from the abyssal rift-just now, I could clearly feel the core trembling slightly, as though it were giving a warning. The rift is getting closer and closer to us."
As soon as she finished speaking, a pale golden pillar of light suddenly lit up the distant horizon-it was the Holy Spring Guard's signal! Loran hurried up the outpost's watchtower. Through the telescope, he saw Elder White leading a hundred Holy Spring Knights galloping toward them. Behind the knights came Elder Aila's elven archers, along with more than a dozen dwarven wagons loaded with supplies, the Copper Hammer Tribe's emblem stamped on their sides.
"Reinforcements are here!" Loran shouted excitedly. The Icefield Wolf leaped onto the watchtower as well, its golden eyes full of anticipation. Moments later, the Holy Spring Knights' horses trod onto the outpost's stone-paved road. Elder White swung down from his horse and strode toward Loran, the Holy Spring Crystal in his hand glowing steadily. "We received Copper Hammer's message and immediately brought half the temple's guards here! Elder Aila also contacted the druid tribe in the east. They'll arrive in three days to support our defenses."
Elder Aila brought even more crucial news. "The Tree of Life in the Elven Forest sensed an unusual movement of abyssal energy. The Matriarch is expanding the rift at the edge of the Rotting Soul Abyss. Her goal is probably to open a 'Planar Gate' large enough for an abyssal legion to pass through, and the core is the key to opening that gate-as soon as she gets the core, the gate can take shape immediately."
"Then we absolutely can't let her succeed!" Chief Tongchui approached with a newly forged warhammer over his shoulder, its head covered in water ripple and flame runes. "There's still enough fallen star iron in the outpost's underground storehouse. We can build ten more steam cannons and dig three more defensive trenches, then fill them with the Swamp Spirit Clan's 'Soul-Purifying Water.' Any Evil Bone Insects that fall in will be purified instantly!"
A Ze immediately responded, leading the water speakers toward the storehouse. "We can use Soul-Purifying Water to set up a 'Water Ripple Barrier' over the defensive trenches. It can both block evil power and supply energy to the steam cannons-the resonance between water elements and Holy Spring Crystals can make the cannonballs leave the barrels faster and give them greater purifying power!"
Over the next two days, everyone at the outpost prepared for battle. The dwarven craftsmen forged weapons day and night, and the roar of steam cannons echoed through the valley; the elven archers built arrow towers beside the defensive trenches and coated their arrow fletching with sap from the Tree of Life; the Holy Spring Knights set up a "Holy Spring Purification Formation" in the center of camp, with the Holy Spring Core Crystal embedded at its focal point, ready to heal wounded companions at any time; the Swamp Spirit water speakers channeled Soul-Purifying Water into the trenches. The Water Ripple Barrier shimmered pale blue in the sunlight, intertwining with the green glow of the nature runes and the golden light of the Holy Spring Formation to form three tight lines of defense.
On the morning of the third day, the druid tribe's reinforcements arrived as scheduled. The druid elder leading them leaned on an oak staff, the acorn at its tip shining with a vibrant green glow. "We've brought the 'Nature Symbiosis Formation.' It can link with the elves' warning runes. Once the enemy breaks through the first defensive line, the formation can summon giant vines to entangle them and hinder their movements!"
Loran was discussing defensive strategies with everyone when the Nature Early Warning Runes around the outpost suddenly turned blackish-purple-the vines writhed violently, sounding a rustling alarm! The Icefield Wolf sprang up at once and charged toward the source of the warning. Moments later, its roar rang out in urgent warning. "Something big is coming! It's... an abyssal monster with evil bones!"
Everyone immediately grabbed their weapons and climbed onto the fortifications. In the distant valley, a blackish-purple figure slowly approached-it was an "Abyssal Evil Bone Lord" five meters tall. Its torso was made of abyssal rock, but its limbs were pieced together from giant evil bones. Burning evil mist coiled around its joints, and it gripped a massive axe forged from evil bones and abyssal metal, its blade dripping black liquid that could corrode rock. Behind the lord followed hundreds of Evil Bone Insect Husks. Their shells shone with the eerie glow unique to the abyss, clearly a new variety strengthened by the Matriarch.
"It's the vanguard sent by the Matriarch!" The Snow Spirit Qilin's ice talisman flashed violently, revealing the lord's weakness in its luminous white light. "Its core is inside the evil bone crystal in its chest! Only by shattering that crystal core can we kill it completely! But its evil mist is corrosive, so be careful when you get close!"
"Steam cannons, ready! Aim for the Evil Bone Lord's chest!" Chief Tongchui ordered. Six steam cannons charged simultaneously, the golden light of the Holy Spring Crystals pouring into their barrels as the iron cannonballs took on a pale golden glow. "Fire!"
Boom! Six iron cannonballs fired at once, hurtling toward the lord with a shriek of wind. But the lord swung its massive axe, and blackish-purple evil mist condensed into a barrier before it. The cannonballs struck the barrier, erupting in dazzling golden light. Most of the evil mist was purified, but two cannonballs were still deflected, slamming into the ground and blasting deep craters.