Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

When consciousness broke free from the darkness, the piercing pain had already been soothed by a gentle force, replaced by an unprecedented lightness flowing through my limbs and bones.

Lynn slowly opened his eyes, and what came into view was a pure white tent ceiling. Fine patterns of light flowed slowly across the tent fabric, emitting a faint warmth that dispelled the chill of the border night. The air was filled with a bitter yet calming medicinal fragrance, mixed with a faint, ethereal aura of light, pure and holy.

He moved his fingers and found himself lying on a stone bed covered with soft velvet. His wounds had long since healed, leaving only faint pink marks. The burning sensation in his chest was still there, as if a small flame was quietly burning in his chest cavity. With each breath, he could feel wisps of golden energy from the world entering his body through his pores and merging with that flame.

This is... the power of ether after awakening?

"You're awake."

A cool yet gentle voice sounded beside him. Lynn turned his head and saw the Celestial Guardian clad in pure white armor.

He sat on a stone bench not far away, one hand supporting his chin, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. A faint golden aetheric halo surrounded him, and his pair of pure white wings were folded behind him, the tips of the feathers shimmering with light. Each feather was spotless, exuding an inviolable holiness. Hearing a sound, he slowly opened his eyes, his golden pupils like warm sunshine, yet also carrying the sharpness of someone who had weathered the storms of war.

Lynn struggled to sit up, but was stopped by the other person raising their hand.

"No need for formalities. Your etheric bloodline has just awakened, and your body has not yet fully adapted. You need to rest and recuperate." Cecil stood up, walked to the stone bed, and condensed a strand of light ether the thickness of a hair at his fingertips, gently touching it to Lynn's brow.

A cool and powerful force surged into his mind instantly, clearing his previously drowsy head. The restless ether within him calmed down, and his previously sore body quickly regained its strength. Lynn could clearly sense that his body was undergoing a tremendous transformation. His senses were amplified to an infinite degree; he could clearly hear the sounds of the wind rustling through the grass and the crawling of insects in the distance. His vision could penetrate the tent, allowing him to see shadows swaying in the grass a hundred meters away.

"This is..." Lynn said in shock, his voice no longer hoarse, but clear and bright.

"This is the Guardian's basic ability. The power of ether will constantly temper your body, enhancing your senses, strength, and speed. As long as the power of ether does not run out, you will possess a vitality far exceeding that of mortals, and even... immortality." Cecil withdrew his hand, his tone calm, yet carrying a power that could overturn mortals' understanding.

Immortality.

This is a dream that mortals pursue their whole lives, but for guardians, it is an innate mission, as well as a heavy shackle.

Lynn wasn't caught up in the joy. The blood-red sunset over Fallingwind Village, his parents' fallen figures, the villagers' desperate cries flashed through his mind. His heart felt like it was being violently clenched, the pain making it hard to breathe. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white, and looked up at Cecil, his eyes filled with crimson hatred and unwavering resolve: "Those scaled beasts, they were sent by the dragons, weren't they?"

"Yes." Cecil did not hide anything, his expression becoming solemn. "For nearly a hundred years, the dragons have been recuperating in the Dragon Realm, their power constantly expanding. The five Dragon Emperors, their ambitions undiminished, have been sending scaled beasts and Drakhan warriors to infiltrate the border between the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm, slaughtering mortals, absorbing the essence of living beings, and expanding their forces, intending to ignite war again and annex the entire Atreia. Falling Wind Village, located in a remote area with weak defenses, has become their target."

"Dragons...Dragon Emperor..." Lynn gritted his teeth, uttering those two words, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he didn't even notice. "I will take revenge! I will kill all the dragons! I will become the strongest guardian!"

He was once an ordinary boy who only wanted to live a peaceful life with his family, but the iron hooves of the dragons crushed everything he had and destroyed all his hopes. From the moment he awakened the power of the ether, he was no longer a little hunter from Fallingwind Village; he was a guardian, a warrior burdened with a blood feud, determined to fight the dragons to the very end.

Cecil looked at the almost obsessive determination in the boy's eyes, and instead of trying to dissuade him, he nodded, his eyes showing a hint of approval: "Hatred can be a source of power, but remember, never let hatred consume your mind. The mission of a guardian is never just revenge, but also to protect the life of Atreia and prevent the tragedy of a thousand years from repeating itself."

He raised his hand and waved it, and a golden light membrane unfolded inside the tent. On the light membrane, the complete map of Atreia appeared—in the center was the ruins of the long-collapsed Tower of Eternity, split into two realms, the upper one radiating brilliant light, the celestial paradise, and the lower one shrouded in shadow, the Demon Realm's Demon Subduing Palace. And in the gap between the two realms, a region shrouded in darkness and flames was the Dragon Realm, where the dragons resided.

"After the Tower of Eternity collapsed, the complete Atreia was shattered. The Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm were separated by a spatial rift. For thousands of years, the Celestials and Demons have harbored deep misunderstandings and hostility towards each other, engaging in constant warfare. This gave the Dragons an opportunity to exploit the situation." Cecil pointed to the location of Elysium on the map, his voice solemn. "The Celestial Realm is the home of the Celestials and the training ground for all Celestial Guardians. There, you will find a complete system of Aetheric cultivation, the legacy left by the Supreme God, and an elite legion to fight against the Dragons. You possess the innate bloodline of a Guardian. If you wish to truly become stronger, you must go to the Celestial Realm, enter the Guardian Academy, and systematically cultivate the art of Aetheric magic."

"I'm willing to go!" Lynn replied without hesitation.

No matter what lies ahead, whether it be a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire or endless battles, as long as it allows him to become stronger, to take revenge, and to protect others, he will go without hesitation.

Cecil looked at him, a hint of relief in his eyes, and continued, "The teleportation array to the Celestial Realm is at the Light Fortress on the border. My mission during this border patrol is to investigate the movements of the dragons. I will return to Elysium in three days, and I will take you with me. During these three days, focus on recuperating and familiarizing yourself with the etheric power within you. I will teach you the most basic methods of etheric condensation so that you can begin to control this power."

After saying that, Cecil transmitted a basic incantation for condensing ether into Lynn's mind.

The obscure yet profound incantation seemed to be etched into his soul from birth, and in just a moment, Lynn memorized it completely. Following the incantation, he calmed his mind, cleared his thoughts of distractions, and sensed the golden ether particles floating in the world. He guided them along his meridians, slowly flowing towards the light and fire in his chest, refining and condensing them little by little.

Time passed slowly, and Lynn became completely immersed in her etheric practice.

He could clearly feel strands of ether particles being absorbed into his body. The originally scattered power gradually became orderly, flowing slowly through his meridians. With each cycle, his body became stronger and his power increased. The originally faint light and fire also became brighter and brighter after absorbing ether, and the warm light spread throughout his body, repairing the hidden injuries and strengthening his soul.

Cecil sat quietly by his side, watching Lynn's progress in cultivation, his shock growing stronger.

Even the most talented guardians born in the Celestial Clan need at least a day to master the basics of condensing ether for the first time. Yet Lynn, a mere mortal who had just awakened his bloodline, was able to guide ether particles with ease and complete the first round of meridian tempering in just one hour. This talent is nothing short of heaven-defying.

"Perhaps, in this chaotic world, someone will truly emerge to change fate..." Cecil murmured softly, gazing at the sky with a complex expression.

A thousand years of grudges, the clash between the celestials and demons, the encroachment of the dragons—Atreia has long been teetering on the brink of collapse. The twelve Olympian gods have fallen silent, the Tower of Eternity has crumbled, and countless guardians have perished in the flames of war. The Celestials of today are a far cry from their former glory. Lynn's appearance may be the only variable that breaks the deadlock.

For the next three days, Lynn devoted himself entirely to his spiritual practice.

Cecil imparted all his knowledge to him, teaching him not only the method of condensing ether, but also basic combat skills, the methods of ether manipulation, and basic common sense about dragons, celestials, and demons. Lynn was exceptionally talented and driven by a deep-seated hatred, so he learned extremely quickly. In just three days, he had mastered the basic manipulation of ether, able to condense ether in his palm and unleash a faint light impact. His strength, speed, and senses were far beyond what they had been before, completely transforming him from a mortal into a prospective guardian.

Over the past three days, Cecil led his men to clear out the scaled beasts around Fallingwind Village and properly buried the villagers who had tragically died. The small village is now reduced to ruins, with the wind blowing through it carrying endless sorrow.

Lynn stood before her parents' graves, without shedding a tear, but bowed deeply.

"Father, Mother, wait for me. I will personally annihilate the dragon clan to avenge you and all the villagers."

His voice was soft, yet carried immense weight; it was a vow, and a lifelong mission.

The three-day deadline has passed.

Cecil approached Lynn, his wings slowly unfurling, golden ether enveloping him: "Let's go, to the Fortress of Light, to return to the Celestial Elysium. Your path as a guardian begins today."

Lynn took one last look at the ruins of Fallingwind Village, turned around, and resolutely followed Cecil toward the border fortress of light.

As the sun sets again and night falls, two figures walk one after the other across the vast grasslands of the border region.

Ahead lies the unknown celestial realm, a cruel path of cultivation, endless war and strife, and the inescapable entanglement of fate between the Heavenly Demon and the Dragon.

Lynn looked up at the sky, towards the radiant light that stretched towards the heavens, the realm of hope, and the starting point of his revenge and protection.

A wisp of golden ether quietly condensed in his hand; though its light was weak, it was unwavering.

The winds of Atreia are stirring once again because of this young man's journey.

The echoes of the Tower of Eternity reverberate slowly through the heavens and earth, awaiting someone to once again play the symphony that reshapes the world.