Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

As dawn broke, Lynn and Lina, carrying their packs, bid farewell to their mentor Gavin and embarked on their journey to the border fortress. They sped off, using their Instant Step technique at full speed, racing towards the Celestial border. A faint aether of light surrounded them, both to increase their speed and to remain constantly vigilant—they might encounter scouts from the Dragon-Demon Alliance along the way, and a single misstep could plunge them into danger.

The scenery along the way grew increasingly desolate. The once lush forests were now scorched black, littered with broken trees and dried blood. The air was thick with the stench of foul ether and blood. Scattered weapon fragments and the remains of guardians could be seen here and there. Every trace told of the brutality of the border battle. Lynn and Lina's hearts grew heavier, and their steps quickened. Anxiety and anger mingled in their hearts; they only wanted to reach the border fortress as soon as possible and join the fight.

After a day and a night of rapid travel, the two finally arrived at the border fortress—Blackrock Fortress. From afar, this colossal fortress, standing on the border of the Celestials, was riddled with cracks, its walls charred black by dragonfire. The city walls were covered with Celestial banners, many of which were damaged and fluttering in the fierce wind. Below the fortress, a dense, dark mass of the Dragon-Demon Alliance army lurked, their roars, the clash of weapons, and screams filling the air. The pungent stench of blood mingled with the foul ether, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

"That's Blackrock Fortress. The battle is even more brutal than we imagined." Lynn stopped, his gaze fixed on the distance, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the Light's Judgment at his waist. "Let's hurry in, find the fortress commander, and follow his orders."

Lina nodded vigorously, following closely behind Lynn. Taking advantage of a lull in the Dragon-Demon Alliance's attack, the two darted forward, using the city walls as cover, and quickly reached the fortress gate. The gatekeeper, seeing their academy attire and the pure light ether they exuded, showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then asked urgently, "You're from the Guardian Academy? Do you have any token?"

Lynn immediately took out the letter written by his mentor Gavin and handed it over: "We are Lynn and Lina, sent by Grand Master Gavin to support the border fortress. This is the letter from our mentor."

The gatekeeper took the letter, quickly glanced through it, and after confirming that it was correct, immediately opened the city gate and stepped aside to let the two in: "Go in quickly, the fortress commander is directing the battle. Go to the council hall to find him and explain your purpose."

After thanking them, the two quickly entered the fortress. Inside, busy figures could be seen everywhere. Wounded guardians lay in makeshift tents, where medics were busy treating them; the remaining guardians were rapidly replenishing their ether and sharpening their weapons, preparing for the next attack. Everyone's face showed exhaustion, but their eyes remained firm, showing no sign of retreat.

Following the gatekeeper's directions, Lynn and Lina quickly found the council chamber. Inside, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Several armored generals were gathered around a map, discussing battle plans with grim expressions. Leading them was a tall, resolute middle-aged guardian, surrounded by a dense aether of light, his aura steady and powerful. He was none other than Raymond, the commander of Blackrock Fortress, a high-ranking guardian.

"Commander, Lynn and Lina from the Guardian Academy have come to provide support, carrying a letter from Grand Instructor Gavin." A guard entered the council chamber and bowed to report.

Raymond looked up, his gaze falling on Lynn and Lina, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He then gestured for them to come in.

Lynn and Lina bowed and handed over Gavin's letter: "Your subordinates Lynn and Lina, on the orders of Grand Instructor Gavin, have come to support Blackrock Fortress and await your command!"

Raymond took the letter, read it carefully, and nodded slowly. His tone was solemn yet gentle: "I have read Grand Instructor Gavin's letter and understand your purpose. You are still young, yet you have such courage to volunteer to come to the border, which is commendable. However, you must understand that Blackrock Fortress is now in imminent danger. The Dragon-Demon Alliance is powerful, with two high-ranking dragon generals and one high-ranking demon general among them. The battle will be extremely brutal, so you must be careful."

"Understood!" the two replied in unison, their eyes filled with determination. "Please rest assured, Commander, we will do our utmost and will not hold you back!"

Raymond, seeing the determination in their eyes, felt a surge of relief. Pointing to a gap on the map, he said urgently, "A crack has appeared in the western wall of the fortress. The Dragon-Demon Alliance is repeatedly concentrating its forces to attack that area, and the guardians stationed there are suffering heavy casualties and are on the verge of collapse. You two are quite strong and skilled in light combat techniques, which are effective against shadow and corrupting forces. Go to the western wall to provide support and help the guardians defend against the enemy's attack. Remember, do not pursue them recklessly; holding the wall is your primary task."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Lynn and Lina bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly walked out of the council hall, rushing towards the west city wall.

Upon reaching the western city wall, the battle had reached its climax. At the cracks in the wall, dozens of Celestial Guardians were fighting fiercely, their bodies riddled with wounds and their ether severely depleted, yet they stubbornly held their ground. Below the wall, dozens of Shadow Warriors and Dragon Warriors launched a frenzied attack, the power of shadow intertwined with corrupted ether, relentlessly eroding the Guardians' bulwark of light. Each attack inflicted heavy losses on the Guardians.

"Oh no, the city walls are about to be breached!" a guardian cried out in alarm. His Light Barrier was shattered by the Shadow Warrior's claws, and he was struck hard in the chest, flying backward and crashing heavily onto the city wall, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth.

Just then, Lynn and Lina arrived in time. "Hold on, everyone, we're here to support you!" Lynn shouted, his figure flashing as he instantly rushed to the breach in the city wall. His ether was circulating wildly within him, and the Judgment of Light instantly condensed. The golden lightsaber, carrying the sharp power of judgment, slashed fiercely at the Shadow Warrior at the forefront.

The shadow warrior was attacking a wounded guardian with all his might when he was caught off guard and struck hard by the Judgment of Light. His body was instantly torn apart by golden light, and the shadow power within him was completely destroyed by the power of the Judgment. He fell to the ground, turned into a puddle of black mist, and disappeared without a trace.

"It's a Light Combat Technique!" Upon seeing this, the guardians stationed there had a glimmer of hope in their eyes, and their morale soared instantly. They fought back fiercely to resist the attack of the Dragon Demon Alliance.

Lina immediately joined the battle, her etheric energy rapidly circulating within her body. She unleashed a barrage of light strikes, several golden blades whistling through the air as they slashed fiercely at the dragon warriors charging ahead. Though the dragon warriors' scales were tough, they couldn't withstand the power of the light strikes. Several blades shattered the scales of several dragon warriors, leaving deep wounds on their bodies, as they screamed and collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, Lina also released light ether, condensing small barriers of light to protect the wounded guardians around her, while using the power of light to heal their injuries. "Everyone, hold the line! Don't let the enemy break through the walls!" Lina shouted loudly as she fought, her tone firm, which greatly encouraged the guardians.

Wielding the Judgment of Light, Lynn moved nimbly across the battlefield, each swing slaying a Shadow Warrior or Dragon Warrior. His Judgment of Light had reached the peak of intermediate level, its power incredibly sharp. Combined with his fundamental application of Light Purification, each blade of light cleansed the filth and shadow power from his enemies, significantly weakening them.

Upon seeing this, a mid-level early-stage Shadow Warrior's eyes flashed with anger. His shadow power surged, condensing into a massive shadow claw that lunged at Lynn, aiming to kill this suddenly appearing Celestial Clan student. Lynn's eyes narrowed. He neither dodged nor evaded. His ethereal energy circulated again, and he instantly activated Light Purification. A pure golden ball of light condensed in his palm, which he slammed down towards the shadow claw.

Bang! The golden ball of light collided violently with the shadow claws. The shadow power was instantly purified by the power of light, and the shadow claws shattered. The shadow warrior was forced back by the shockwave, his shadow power within him becoming chaotic, and his aura greatly diminished. Lynn seized the opportunity, his figure flashing as he used Instant Step to rush in front of the shadow warrior in an instant. He unleashed a powerful strike of Light's Judgment, piercing straight into the warrior's chest and ending his life.

"So powerful!" The guards stationed there were shocked to see Lynn kill a mid-level Shadow Warrior, and their morale soared. With the support of Lynn and Lina, the defensive line, which was on the verge of collapse, gradually stabilized, and the Dragon Demon Alliance's attack was temporarily halted.

However, the Dragon-Demon Alliance's forces were simply too overwhelming. One wave of attacks was repelled, and another immediately followed. More and more Shadow Warriors and Dragon Warriors rushed up, the cracks in the city walls grew wider, and the tainted ether and shadow power became increasingly concentrated. Lynn and Lina's ether was also being rapidly depleted, and they gradually developed several wounds on their bodies, their breathing becoming increasingly rapid.

"Lina, step back and replenish your aether. I'll hold them off here!" Lynn shouted to Lina while fending off the enemy's attacks. He could sense that Lina's aether was almost completely depleted, and if they continued fighting, she would likely get injured.

"No, I can't back down, we must fight side by side!" Lina shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. She gritted her teeth and once again channeled the remaining ether within her body, unleashing the Light Slash once more. Although the power of the light blade was somewhat weakened, it was still able to restrain the enemy's attack.

Just then, a dark figure burst out from the Dragon Demon Alliance, moving with ghostly speed. A dense aetheric mist surrounded him, his aura far surpassing that of ordinary mid-level warriors—he was a late-stage mid-level dragonman general. His gaze was fixed on Lynn, his eyes filled with killing intent, clearly enraged by Lynn's slaughter of several Dragon Demon warriors.

"A mere Celestial Clan student dares to kill my Dragon Clan warriors? Today, I will make sure you die a gruesome death!" The Dragon Clan general sneered, his figure flashing as he instantly rushed in front of Lynn. A huge dragon claw condensed in his palm, surrounded by dense, filthy ethereal energy, carrying a sharp killing intent as he thrust it straight at Lynn's chest.

Lynn's expression changed drastically. He dared not be careless in the slightest and immediately circulated the remaining majority of his ether, unleashing the full power of the Judgment of Light. The golden lightsaber, imbued with the strongest power of judgment, slashed fiercely at the dragon claw. At the same time, he also condensed a barrier of light in front of himself to guard against any sneak attacks from the enemy.

Bang! With a deafening crash, the golden lightsaber clashed violently with the black dragon claw. Lynn was blasted back several steps by the shockwave, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The Judgment of Light nearly slipped from his grasp, and the ether within his body instantly became chaotic, cracks appearing in the Barrier of Light. The dragon-man general, however, merely took a step back, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"With your meager strength, you dare to show off your skills in front of me?" The dragon general sneered, and once again flashed forward, pouncing towards Lynn. With each swing of his dragon claws, streaks of dark claw wind attacked Lynn fiercely. Each claw wind was powerful enough to severely injure Lynn.

Despite his injuries and exhaustion, Lynn used his full power in his Instant Step, dodging attacks with agility while continuously wielding the Judgment of Light in his hand, barely managing to withstand the dragon general's fierce onslaught. He knew that his strength was still far inferior to that of the dragon general, and that a direct confrontation would be no match for him. He could only rely on his agile movements to restrain the enemy and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.

Seeing Lynn in danger, Lina was filled with anxiety. Ignoring the depletion of her ether, she gathered the last bit of ether and unleashed the full power of her Light Slash. Several golden blades slashed fiercely at the dragon general's back, trying to restrain his attack and buy Lynn a chance to catch his breath.

The dragon general sensed the attack from behind, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. As he dodged the light blade, he raised his hand and unleashed a jet of dark energy towards Lina. Lina, already exhausted of her ether, was unable to dodge and was struck hard by the black energy. She was instantly sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the city wall. Blood gushed from the corner of her mouth, and she was too weak to stand up.

"Lina!" Lynn's roar shook the city walls, his eyes bloodshot like a spiderweb, tears mingling with the blood on his face. Seeing Lina crash heavily against the city wall, barely breathing, his anger and despair surged like magma, his muscles tensing with extreme emotion, his knuckles white, even the Light Judgment in his hand trembling slightly, emitting a buzzing resonance. The ether within him, previously on the verge of depletion, was ignited by this desperate will, instantly turning the calm etheric sea into a raging torrent. The pale golden ether became scorching and violent, surging through his meridians, even radiating a layer of intense golden light on his skin, leaping and spreading like wildfire. His meridians were being torn apart by the raging ether, sending piercing pain through him, but Lynn was oblivious. His teeth were clenched, veins bulging on his forehead, only the obsession in his eyes burned ever brighter—protect Lina, protect this line of defense, he could not let the dragon demon step over the city wall! The ether surged faster and faster, the aura of light around him grew thicker and thicker, forming a solid golden light shield that forcefully pushed back the surrounding filthy ether several feet. The bloody smell in the air was instantly dispersed by this pure power of light, and even the bricks of the city wall beneath his feet were stained with a layer of golden light; the light of the Judgment of Light in his hand surged, the golden patterns on the sword seemed to come alive, emitting a piercing buzz as they flowed, the sharp power of judgment and purification intertwined and condensed into a point of dazzling golden light at the tip of the sword, the surrounding air was distorted and scorched by this power, emitting a sizzling sound. An invisible aura emanated from his body, forcing the surrounding dragon warriors to retreat repeatedly. Some low-level shadow warriors were even paralyzed by the aura and collapsed to the ground, letting out painful howls.

"Not good, he's about to break through!" The dragon general's shout was filled with barely concealed panic. His body was forced to lean back slightly by Lynn's spreading aura. He could clearly feel Lynn's aura surging at an alarming rate, climbing from the composure of the initial peak to a whole new level like a volcanic eruption. The awakened power of light was even causing the impure ether around him to violently become chaotic and continuously dissolve. He dared not delay for a moment. His entire body of black dragon scales stood on end, and all the impure ether within him surged wildly to his palms. His already enormous dragon claws grew several times larger, the black tips wreathed in chilling dragon flames that scorched the air with a hissing sound. With a world-destroying killing intent, it was like a black lightning bolt, piercing straight for Lynn's heart—he had to completely nip this potential threat in the bud before Lynn completed his breakthrough. At this moment, Lynn was on the verge of a breakthrough. The golden light around him grew increasingly intense, and the raging ether surged wildly within him, seemingly about to break free of his body's constraints. Yet, his consciousness remained exceptionally clear, his mind locked onto the approaching dragon claw. Images of Lina's injury, Gavin's instructions, and the border guardians' valiant fighting flashed before his eyes. All his convictions coalesced into a powerful force, supporting him as he fiercely attacked that barrier. His aura grew increasingly powerful, causing the entire western wall to tremble slightly. Gravel slid down from the top of the wall, and the Celestial Guardians stopped fighting, staring at Lynn in shock, their breathing becoming cautious, as if drawn and intimidated by an invisible force.

Just as the dragon's claws were about to touch Lynn's chest, Lynn suddenly opened his eyes, two golden beams of light shooting out from the depths of his eyes, piercing the gloom of the battlefield and soaring straight into the sky. "Hah!" A deep and powerful shout erupted from his throat, resounding like thunder throughout the entire Blackrock Fortress, making the eardrums of the Dragon Demon Alliance ring, and many warriors were directly shocked, spitting blood and flying backward. The raging ether within him instantly calmed, but within that calm condensed into an even stronger, more refined power. The etheric sea was completely expanded and solidified, and the aura of the mid-level guardian swept across the entire battlefield like a tsunami. Wherever it passed, the dragon demon warriors let out shrill screams, their impure ether instantly purified and dissolved. Low-level warriors were even directly reduced to a pool of black mist, unable to even approach within three zhang of Lynn. The city wall beneath his feet trembled violently, the cracks widening again, and rubble flying everywhere. A gale carrying golden light swept across the entire battlefield, completely clearing away the filth and blood in the air. The golden light around him exploded completely, like a small, blazing sun hanging on the city wall, its radiance so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it. It illuminated the western city wall and even the entire western side of Blackrock Fortress as if it were daytime. Nourished by the pure light ether, the wounds on his body healed, scabbed over, and fell off at a visible speed, and his fatigue instantly dissipated by more than half. He gripped the Judgment of Light tightly in his hand, the golden blade of light growing several feet larger. The power of judgment and the power of purification completely merged, forming a dazzling golden-white blade of light. Wherever the blade passed, the air was torn apart, leaving a long golden trail, and even space itself rippled slightly. Lynn leaned forward slightly, the ethereal light around him swirling like a rushing river. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, carrying the power to judge all evil, as he fiercely slashed down at the dragon general's black dragon claw—this strike, carrying the immense power of breakthrough and the unwavering belief in protection, was so powerful that it plunged the entire battlefield into a brief silence, shocking everyone present.

boom--!

A deafening roar erupted as the golden blade of light shattered the black dragon claw and slashed fiercely at the dragonman general. The dragonman general's face turned deathly pale. He tried to dodge but it was too late. He was struck hard by the Judgment of Light, his body instantly torn apart by the golden light. The impure ether within him was completely purified, and he collapsed to the ground, turning into a puddle of black mist that dissipated completely.

Lynn broke through to the mid-level guardian level and instantly swept across the entire battlefield. The warriors of the Dragon-Demon Alliance were filled with fear when they saw this, and their offensive momentum weakened instantly. Meanwhile, the Celestial Guardians were greatly encouraged and shouted as they fought back fiercely, launching a counterattack against the Dragon-Demon Alliance.

Without pausing, Lynn rushed to Lina's side, gently helped her up, took out the healing pills given to her by Instructor Gavin, and fed them to her: "Lina, how are you? Are you alright?"

Lina slowly opened her eyes and saw Lynn's appearance after his breakthrough. Her eyes were filled with surprise and joy. She said weakly, "Lynn, you...you broke through? That's great...I'm fine, I just ran out of ether. I just need to rest for a while."

Lynn nodded gently, helped Lina to a safe area behind the city wall, and conjured a barrier of light to protect her: "Rest well and replenish your aether. I'll stay here. I will definitely hold the city wall and won't let the enemy break through!"

Having said that, Lynn turned and charged back into the battlefield. The Judgment of Light in his hand shone brightly, revealing the full power of a mid-level guardian. With each swing of his sword, he slayed a group of dragon demon warriors. Under his leadership, the Celestial Guardians fought bravely, gradually suppressing the dragon demon alliance's offensive. The defensive line on the western city wall was finally completely secured.

Lynn knew in his heart that this was only a temporary victory. The Dragon-Demon Alliance was powerful, with high-ranking combatants stationed there, making it no easy task to completely defend Blackrock Fortress. Moreover, he could clearly sense that outside the fortress, an extremely powerful aura was slowly approaching, an aura several times stronger than the dragon-man general from before, most likely a high-ranking general of the Dragon-Demon Alliance.