[Daily Quest: "Fierce Tacet Discords" (Challenge) completed.]
After successfully charging the three stone monuments, Noah picked up a large pile of assorted Echoes and returned to the initial altar with Carlotta.
"See that Elite class Lumiscale Construct? That Tacet Discord has now been activated."
Noah pointed far toward the Lumiscale Construct in the very center of the altar, introducing it to Carlotta beside him:
"We need to fight it now, but don't kill it—beat it to half health first. Then it'll run, and we'll chase it."
His finger traced from the Lumiscale Construct's position to the other side, all the way to the northernmost end of the Fagaceae Peninsula at the Shores of Last Breath, to the peak of the mountain right in the middle of the vortex clouds:
"There, we'll reach the endpoint of this adventure—the giant dragon I mentioned. Got it?"
"Got it."
Noah nodded satisfactorily and was about to walk toward the center of the altar when Carlotta stopped him again.
"You just said this Lumiscale Construct is an Elite class Tacet Discord, right?"
Carlotta confidently brushed aside the long hair by her cheek, her brilliant eyes gleaming with composure:
"Tall Chestnut, I've already seen your abilities. Now, let me show you mine. This guy—leave it to me!"
"Huh?!"
Noah's eyes widened, shocked by Carlotta's momentum. He stammered:
"You... have you fought this Tacet Discord before?"
"No, this should be one from your Jinzhou side. I've never seen it before."
Two opal long guns condensed in Carlotta's hands, a smile of impending victory appearing on her face:
"But it's just an Elite class. I'll cripple it in one minute!"
Hearing this, Noah was momentarily at a loss for words, the astonishment on his face growing more evident.
The Lumiscale Construct was formed from scales shed from the Sentinel Jué's body, used to purge all intruders who trespassed into the forbidden area of Mt. Firmament and might threaten Jué.
This wasn't an ordinary Elite class—it was even touching the edge of Overlord class.
Moreover, the Lumiscale Construct in this quest seemed to be one Jué gave to Imperator, carrying some of Imperator's power.
A Tacet Discord connected to both Sentinel Jué and Imperator—Carlotta actually wanted to solo it and claimed to finish it in one minute.
"You're impressive."
Noah stepped aside, a melon-eating spectator smile on his face.
Soon, Carlotta entered the altar's range, her dual guns aimed straight at the central Lumiscale Construct. Opal bullets struck true, producing the sound of metal clashing.
"It can't even dodge a probing attack—just that."
A smile appeared on Carlotta's face.
In the next moment, the Lumiscale Construct's scales danced, instantly converging into the shape of a sword hilt, producing a massive ten-meter-long greatsword of light.
Carlotta's smile stiffened.
What kind of move was this? Why was its sword so much bigger than those of patrolling knights or poisoned crown nobles? Were foreign Tacet Discords all this aggressive?
With no time to think, the sword hilt swung lightly, the ten-meter light sword slashing like lightning. Carlotta barely ducked to evade it.
Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the Lumiscale Construct spun its scales at high speed around itself, becoming a deadly gyro with blades as it rapidly flew toward her.
Seeing it closing in, Carlotta decisively jumped, but the Lumiscale Construct jumped in sync—a huge question mark instantly popped up in Carlotta's mind:
Is this reasonable?
"Bind!"
A shot fired, opal crystals rapidly spreading over the Lumiscale Construct, immobilizing it. Carlotta stepped on the central mechanism and leaped backward.
Six exquisite opal long guns floated in mid-air, muzzles aimed at the Lumiscale Construct, firing in unison at her will.
"A new era awaits!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After six shots, Carlotta confidently turned back to look at Noah, her guns dissipating:
"One minute—no overtime, right?"
Noah applauded without stint:
"Worthy of the T0 in the wheelchair—you actually beat it. But... take a look behind you."
"Behind?"
Carlotta turned in confusion, only to see the Lumiscale Construct in the altar center finally break free from the opal crystal bindings. Its scales divided and condensed into four oval orbs.
In the next instant, the four oval orbs aligned horizontally, their dark muzzles firing deadly beams in unison.
"Ah?!"
Carlotta's composure shattered—this Tacet Discord was actually mimicking her skill!
She raised an opal crystal wall to block the beams while twisting her head toward Noah:
"So many moves, and you call this Elite class?!"
Noah just shrugged:
"Not that many—you've only seen half."
"What! I've only seen half?"
But she'd already used all her moves.
Carlotta was truly out of options.
"Hey!"
Noah exclaimed:
"It's running—quick, chase!"
The opal crystal wall dissipated. Carlotta closely followed Noah's steps, chasing the fleeing Lumiscale Construct, her expression shifting.
She hadn't expected Jinzhou-side Tacet Discords to be this strong—far superior to Rinascita's.
Were all foreign Tacet Discords this fierce?
"Tall Chestnut... maybe we shouldn't chase it."
Carlotta's face twisted:
"An Elite class Tacet Discord is already this tough—the Overlord class giant dragon you mentioned later must be incredibly powerful too."
"Don't worry, that giant dragon is local to Rinascita."
Oh~ a local Overlord class Tacet Discord!
The hesitation on Carlotta's face faded.
Whatever else, she could handle local Overlord class Tacet Discords like Sentry Constructs.
Since it's local Overlord class—fine, fight!
Ahead, the fleeing Lumiscale Construct spun, whipping up strong winds that sent countless rolling stones tumbling, the ground beneath trembling violently.
Falling small stones, dust, and branches were swept away by the howling hurricane before hitting the ground, muffled thunder rumbling from the heavy clouds.
"Hey, Tall Chestnut—it can even summon tornadoes. Is this really an Elite class from your Jinzhou side?"
Noah didn't answer, flinging several sword beams from Emerald of Genesis to shatter the boulders about to smash onto Carlotta's head.
The two dashed toward the northern end of the Shores of Last Breath, altitude rising higher, the thick vortex clouds seemingly within reach.
The howling high winds grew fiercer, massive raindrops pouring down.
The Lumiscale Construct shifted form, somehow drawing several bucket-thick lightning bolts from the heavy clouds.
A Camellya vine yanked Carlotta aside, dodging the blinding lightning from the clouds. Carlotta wiped the cold rain slapped onto her face, heart still pounding:
"It can even draw lightning—is this really an Elite class from your Jinzhou side?"
The gale messed up her hair ends, vision repeatedly obstructed by strands. Carlotta couldn't help exclaiming:
"I say, do we absolutely have to meet that giant dragon? How about we head back."
"Don't give up halfway—we're already here."
The two stepped onto a stone bridge leading upward. The Lumiscale Construct intelligently turned back, reforming its ten-meter light sword and slashing the bridge.
The fracturing bridge crumbled inch by inch from the center outward. Noah wrapped an arm around Carlotta's slender waist, leaping high amid her scream, barely landing on the opposite edge.
He laughed freely, setting down the Carlotta held in his left arm:
"We're about to climb to this mountain's peak. The adventure's endpoint is right ahead—fun, right? Thrilling?"
Carlotta pushed aside the rain-soaked hair stuck to her vision, her usually calm and rational face blank for a while before forcing a strained smile:
"Fighting an Elite class from Jinzhou side... actually this exhausting..."
If a mere Elite class was already like this, just how terrifying would Jinzhou's Overlord class or Calamity class be?
She increasingly appreciated the weight behind the title "Jinzhou Hero."
"Uh..."
Seems like he overstimulated Little Potato.
Noah scratched his cheek awkwardly:
"Actually, not every Jinzhou Elite class is like this. How about you rest next? I'll demonstrate how to fight it—you watch and learn."
"Sure, you go." Carlotta answered quickly, as if relieved.
Noah silently switched his character to Carlotta.
In an instant, Carlotta felt her own Resonance energy from Noah.
This unique sensation—like she was split in two, one half here, the other inside Noah.
Why... did he have her Resonance power?
As opal crystals appeared in Noah's hands, condensing into two precise opal long guns, the feeling intensified.
"Like this!"
A bullet precisely hit the Lumiscale Construct. Opal crystals rapidly solidified it. Noah leaped high, dual guns blooming brilliantly in mid-air.
Carlotta Resonance Skill—Violent Aesthetics, Show Me Brilliance!
He stomped heavily on the solidified Lumiscale Construct, brilliant opal crystal walls rapidly spreading 360 degrees around him before suddenly exploding and shattering.
Carlotta Heavy Attack—Path Seen at Journey's End!
The Tacet Discord Lumiscale Construct was no more, replaced by a golden Echo.
Carlotta's eyes instantly widened.
Th-th-this... what could she learn! These were her moves!
If she had such solid Resonance energy, why would the Montelli Family ever worry about the Fisalia Family or the Order?
Noah's movements didn't stop. Six exquisite long guns floated around him, muzzles aligning with his will toward the high vortex clouds.
"Victory favors me!"
Carlotta Resonance Liberation—New Wave Era!
Bang!
The guns fired in unison, shots merging into one. The bullet compressing terrifying power shattered the thick vortex clouds, revealing the massive ancient dragon behind with its skeletal, terrifying form.
Sighing Ancient Dragon, Dragon King Gehinnom, Overlord class Tacet Discord.
Noah had come precisely to kill it.
Gehinnom roared, vibrating massive wings as it dove toward Noah at the peak's center—clearly viewing him as prey.
Noah's gaze cold, the six guns around him whirling, firing mercilessly again. Opal crystals compressing immense power shot out, quenched in deathly chill light.
First shot death omen—Sighing Ancient Dragon's crown shattered.
Second shot death omen—Sighing Ancient Dragon's wings torn.
Third shot death omen—Sighing Ancient Dragon's throat pierced.
Fourth shot death omen—Sighing Ancient Dragon's shell penetrated.
Four death omen shots struck precisely, each hit rendering the once-glorious ancient dragon broken.
Countless opal crystals covered its shell. It had long lost flight control in mid-air, but the cold muzzles precisely aimed at its fated trajectory.
Noah spun lightly, Death and Dance in his hand tracing a bright arc in mid-air. Red opal loaded, muzzle spewing bewitching blue light.
Seven opal bullets shot out with brilliant flame tails, merging into one in mid-air. The refracted light resembled waves raised by blue seas—breathtakingly beautiful.
Carlotta Resonance Liberation Second Stage—Death as Finale!
"Masterpiece complete!"
The final shot rang like a funeral lament. Gehinnom's broken body crashed heavily onto this peak closest to the sky, turning into a golden Echo.
The wind slowed, one gust after another. The world seemed to fall silent. Rain on the Shores of Last Breath gradually eased.
An uncalm question rose from the peak:
"You... how do you have my Resonance ability, and so strong?"
"Because of persistence and effort."
[Perilous Quest: "Winds Return to the Heights of Heaven" completed.]
[Main Quest: "Veils Off in Sun or Shadow" completed.]
[Currently possess Radiant Tide *20, Lustrous Tide *65, Astrite *6440, Shell Credits *698k.]