Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

The collision of the golden light blade and the black dragon flames generated a shockwave that swept across the entire valley. Even Lynn and Lina, who were far away, were forced back by the shockwave and had to reassemble their Light Barrier to withstand the impact. The two stared at the figures locked in combat in the center of the valley, their eyes filled with shock. The power of a full-force duel between high-level guardians far exceeded their imagination.

Moloch, now a colossal dragon, launched an increasingly fierce attack. His massive claws lashed out, each strike carrying devastating power. Black dragonfire erupted, turning large sections of the valley into a sea of ​​fire. The corrupted ether, like a black storm, relentlessly eroded the surrounding light ether, suppressing Gavin's aura. Gavin unfurled his golden wings, nimbly dodging in the air. His Holy Sword of Light flashed, unleashing a barrage of golden blades that rained down on Moloch. The power of light continuously purified Moloch's corrupted ether, and the two were locked in a stalemate.

"Gavin, you can't outlast me!" Moloch roared arrogantly, his eyes filled with savagery. "My true dragon form can continuously absorb the impure ether from heaven and earth, while the luminous ether within you will eventually be exhausted. When that happens, not only will you die, but Lynn and Lina will also be completely annihilated by me!"

Gavin's expression turned grave. He knew Morlock was telling the truth. The dragon form was a dragon's innate ability, allowing them to replenish their power using the impure ether of the world. His power of light, however, relied entirely on the accumulation within his own etheric sea. If the fight dragged on, he would inevitably be put on the defensive. But he couldn't back down. He had to protect Lynn and Lina, and he had to kill Morlock and eliminate this threat completely.

"Morok, you colluded with the demons and wreaked havoc on Atreia! Today, even if it costs me my life, I will not let you succeed!" Gavin roared, a resolute glint in his eyes. He suddenly concentrated all the remaining ethereal light within him onto the Holy Sword of Light, the golden light around him dazzling to the extreme, even overshadowing the black dragon flames. "Profound Mystery of Light—Holy Radiance!"

With Gavin's low shout, the Holy Sword of Light suddenly erupted with a massive golden pillar of light, enveloped in a dense aura of holiness, carrying the power to purify all impurities and destroy all evil, as it shot fiercely towards Morlock. This was Gavin's strongest move, utilizing most of his ethereal power. Once unleashed, while it could unleash world-destroying might, it would also severely injure Gavin himself.

Moloch's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with terror. He could sense that the power of this golden pillar of light far exceeded his expectations; even his dragon form would find it difficult to withstand. He dared not be careless in the slightest, immediately circulating all the impure ether within his body to condense a massive black barrier, while simultaneously unleashing his strongest black dragon flames to meet the golden pillar of light head-on.

boom--!

A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth as the golden beam of light collided violently with the black barrier and black dragon flames. The golden light instantly pierced through the black barrier and dragon flames, shooting towards Morok. Morok let out a mournful dragon roar as his massive body was struck by the golden beam of light. His black dragon scales fell off one by one, blood gushed out, and the turbid ether around him instantly became chaotic. His aura rapidly weakened, and his dragon form began to become unstable, gradually reverting to human form.

Moloch, covered in wounds and with black blood spilling from his mouth, staggered back several steps, his eyes filled with pain and resentment. He stared intently at Gavin and said in a sinister tone, "Gavin... you actually... used the arcane arts of light... you just wait... my dragon race will not let this go... Atreia... will eventually become my dragon race's domain..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Morlock suddenly raised his hand and threw out a black teleportation crystal. The crystal shattered instantly, and a black light enveloped his body. His figure gradually became blurred and sped away into the distance, quickly disappearing into the valley, leaving only wisps of black mist to prove that he had been there.

Gavin watched Morlock flee in the direction he had fled, his eyes filled with solemnity, but he did not give chase. He had just used the Arcane of Light, exhausting most of his ethereal reserves and suffering severe injuries; he had no strength left to pursue Morlock. He slowly sheathed the Holy Sword of Light, his golden wings gradually dissipating. He staggered, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his face turning ashen.

"Mentor!" Lynn and Lina rushed forward to support Gavin, their eyes filled with worry. "Mentor, how are you? Are you alright?"

Gavin shook his head, his voice weak but still steady: "I'm fine, just a little injured from overexertion of ether. I'll be fine after some rest." He looked at Lynn and Lina, his eyes full of relief, "You did a great job. You managed to hold out until I arrived while Morlock was chasing you. You didn't let me down."

Lynn was filled with guilt and bowed, saying, "Master, I'm sorry. It's all our fault. You were seriously injured while trying to save us, and Morlock escaped."

"Fools, this isn't your fault." Gavin gently patted Lynn's shoulder and said softly, "Morlock is extremely powerful. Even I would have a hard time completely killing him. You've done very well to survive against him and even kill the Shadow Warriors he sent. Moreover, through this battle, you've also felt the power of high-level combatants and understood that you still have a long way to go and need to keep getting stronger."

Lina nodded, her eyes filled with determination: "Master, we will definitely work hard to cultivate and improve our strength as soon as possible. In the future, we will definitely help you fight against the dragons and protect Atreia, so that you will never have to worry about us again."

Gavin smiled with satisfaction and nodded, then his gaze fell on the black ether core in Lynn's hand, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes: "Lynn, this ether core belongs to that Shadow Warrior, doesn't it?"

"Yes, mentor." Lynn nodded and handed the black ether core to Gavin. "This ether core contains a rich amount of shadow power and tainted ether. We suspect it is evidence of collusion between the dragons and demons, so we kept it and planned to give it to you for research after the trial."

Gavin took the black ether core and examined it carefully. A wisp of gentle light ether swirled around his fingertips as he cautiously probed the power within. After a moment, his expression grew increasingly grave, and he said in a low voice, "That's right, this is indeed a product of the collusion between the dragons and demons. This ether core was forcibly fused together with the demons' shadow ether and the dragons' corrupt ether. It also contains a strange array that can enhance the strength of shadow warriors, but it will also cause them to lose their self-awareness and become puppets of the dragons and demons."

He paused, then continued, "It seems that the Dragon Clan and the Demon Clan have reached a formal alliance. They want to join forces to deal with the Celestial Clan and control Atreia. The civil war between the Celestial and Demon Clan back then was indeed a carefully planned conspiracy by the Dragon Clan. They wanted to weaken both the Celestial and Demon Clan so they could reap the benefits. Now, they are colluding with the Demon Clan to cultivate Shadow Warriors, hoping to completely eliminate the resistance forces within the Celestial and Demon Clan and unify Atreia."

Lynn and Lina were shocked, their eyes filled with astonishment and anger. Although they had long suspected that the dragons and demons were colluding, they never expected that the two had actually reached a formal cooperation and were even secretly training shadow warriors. Their ambition was outrageous.

"Master, what should we do now?" Lynn asked gravely. "The Dragon Clan and the Demon Clan have colluded, greatly increasing their strength. Can our Celestial Clan withstand their attack?"

Gavin sighed softly, his tone grave yet resolute: "It will indeed be difficult to withstand the combined attack of the dragons and demons, but we cannot give up. Atreia is our home, the home of all Celestial beings, and we must fight with all our might to protect it." He looked at Lynn and Lina, his eyes filled with expectation, "You are the hope of the Celestials' future. Your growth is crucial to the future of the Celestials. This trial, though dangerous, has also greatly tempered you, and your strength has significantly improved. Going forward, you must cultivate even harder, enhance your strength, and at the same time, learn more about the secrets of the dragon-demon alliance, find their weaknesses, and make full preparations for future battles."

"Disciples will remember Master's teachings!" Lynn and Lina bowed in unison, their eyes filled with determination. They knew that they bore the mission of protecting the Celestials and Atreia, and they had to constantly grow stronger in order to cope with the various dangers of the future.

Gavin nodded, raised his hand, and a golden light flowed into Lynn and Lina's bodies, relieving their injuries and fatigue once again: "Alright, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Although Morlock has escaped, he may send more people. We can't stay in the trial array any longer. Leave here as soon as possible, return to the academy, rest properly, and continue your cultivation."

"Okay!" Lynn and Lina nodded, helping Gavin walk towards the exit of the trial array. After this thrilling battle, the depths of the Beast Trial Array were in ruins, with rubble and the bones of magical beasts scattered everywhere. The shadow power and tainted ether in the air had not completely dissipated, exuding an eerie and violent atmosphere.

Along the way, Lynn and Lina carefully supported Gavin, remaining vigilant for any sounds from their surroundings, fearing another enemy attack. Fortunately, after Morlock escaped, the other two Shadow Warriors he sent seemed to have also learned of the situation and had already fled the trial array. They encountered no other dangers along the way.

Before long, the three arrived at the exit of the Trial of Ten Thousand Beasts Formation. Gavin waved his hand, and the trial token emitted a golden light, resonating with the light barrier at the entrance of the trial formation. The light barrier slowly opened a gap, revealing the scene outside. Sunlight shone through the light barrier, falling on the three of them, dispelling the chilling aura around them, and gradually relaxing their tense nerves.

Leaving the Trial of Ten Thousand Beasts Formation and returning to the entrance of the secret realm behind the academy, Gavin took a deep breath, feeling the rich luminous ether within the realm, and said gently, "Lynn, Lina, although you didn't complete all the trials in this Trial of Ten Thousand Beasts, you encountered ambushes from dragons and demons. Relying on your strength and unwavering faith, you not only survived but also killed a mid-to-late stage Shadow Warrior, and even held out against Morlock until I arrived. This gain is far more precious than completing the trial itself."

He paused, then continued, "Next, return to your respective cultivation chambers to rest and recuperate, taking elixirs to heal your injuries and restore your ether. Come back to me in three days, and I will devise a new cultivation plan for you based on your performance in the trial. I will also explain more about the secrets of the dragon-demon collusion and the high-level combat techniques of the Celestial Race to help you improve your strength more quickly."

"Thank you, Master!" Lynn and Lina bowed deeply in gratitude, their eyes filled with thanks. They knew that although Master Gavin was severely injured, he was still thinking of them and working hard for their training.

Gavin nodded slightly and waved his hand: "Alright, you can go back now and get some rest. Don't let me down." After saying that, he turned around and walked towards his cultivation chamber. His figure was still a little unsteady, but he still carried the composure and determination unique to a high-level guardian.

Lynn and Lina watched Gavin's departing figure, their hearts filled with admiration and gratitude. They exchanged a glance, a resolute glint in their eyes, before each heading towards their respective meditation chambers.

Back in his meditation chamber, Lynn sat cross-legged on the ground, took out high-grade healing pills and ether-restoring pills, and swallowed them. The effects of the pills gradually took hold; his injuries were rapidly healing, and his depleted ether was steadily recovering. He closed his eyes, his mind replaying the battle in the Trial of Ten Thousand Beasts array, recalling Moloch's formidable strength, Gavin's profound teachings of light, and his teamwork with Lina.

This trial made him acutely aware of his own shortcomings and the significant gap between him and high-level guardians. While his Judgment of Light was nearing the peak of the intermediate level, it was still utterly ineffective against Moloch; and although the Barrier of Light had reached the minor level, it was still insufficient to withstand attacks from high-level combatants. Furthermore, his understanding of the power of Judgment was not yet profound enough, and his control over the ether still had room for improvement.

"I must improve my strength as soon as possible." Lynn secretly vowed in his heart, "Morok has escaped, and he will definitely come back to seek revenge on me. The dragons and demons will continue to collude, posing an even greater threat to the Celestials. I can no longer let my mentor worry about me, and I can no longer let Lina get hurt. I must break through to the intermediate-level guardian as soon as possible, master stronger combat skills, and have the power to protect myself, those around me, and the Celestials."

He slowly circulated the ether within his body, refining his etheric foundation according to the methods taught by his mentor, Gavin, to improve its purity and control precision. At the same time, he constantly recalled the moves of the Judgment of Light, refining the details of his combat techniques and comprehending the essence of the Judgment's power. He knew that there were no shortcuts on the path of cultivation; only by being down-to-earth, enduring hardship, and persevering could he truly achieve something, realize his goals, and fulfill his mission.

Meanwhile, Lina returned to her training chamber. She took some medicine to heal her injuries and replenish her ether while reflecting on the battles during the trials. She clearly realized that her strength was still far inferior to Lynn's; against a high-level combatant like Morlock, she was almost powerless. She secretly resolved to train even harder, break through to the peak of the initial stage as soon as possible, condense a stronger barrier of light, improve the precision of her ether manipulation, catch up with Lynn, and fight alongside him to protect the Celestials and Atreia.

Meanwhile, in the palace of Black Dragon City in the Dragon Realm, Morok sat on a stone bed, consuming high-grade healing pills. His wounds were slowly healing, and the tainted ether around him was gradually returning to normal. His face remained gloomy, his eyes filled with killing intent and resentment. The thought of being repelled by Gavin and failing to kill Lynn fueled his rage.

"Gavin, Lynn, you just wait!" Moloch muttered, his eyes filled with rage. "I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold! Once I recover, I will return to the Guardian Academy and personally slay Lynn and Gavin, making the Celestials pay the price! The alliance between the Dragons and the Demons will surely bring complete control over Atreia, and I will let everyone know that the Dragons' majesty is inviolable!"

The alliance between the Dragon Clan and the Demon Clan is growing ever stronger, plunging the Celestial Clan into an unprecedented crisis. Lynn and Lina, as the future hope of the Celestial Clan, are diligently cultivating their skills and constantly improving their strength. They know that the battles to come will be even more brutal, but they will not back down. With unwavering faith, they will forge ahead, using their power to protect the peace of Atreia and write a legend belonging to the guardians of the Celestial Clan.