Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

The shadow legion had taken shape at the edge of the basin, with countless dragon-man berserkers arrayed in formation, their black armor gleaming coldly in the dim light.

The shadow battle axe in his hand hung at his side, exuding a chilling aura of malevolence; dozens of shadow shamans stood at the rear of the formation.

The shadow crystal on the staff in his hand flickered with an eerie black light, the obscure incantation chanting became more and more urgent, and the shadow power in the air became more and more concentrated.

The three high-ranking commanders remained firmly at the front of the group, their shadowy power concentrated yet not overflowing, their gazes as cold as blades locked onto the ancient tree and the main characters in the center of the basin.

His aura was calm yet stern, and every breath he took carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.

"Humble humans and this traitorous beast who betrayed the shadows, how dare they stop the Dragon Demon Alliance from seizing the core of the ancient tree? They are simply courting death."

The high-ranking commander on the left spoke first, his voice icy and chilling, like the wind of winter, and a slight surge of shadow power emanated from him.

"I am the Crimson Shadow Commander of the Dragon Demon Alliance. I have come here on the orders of the Alliance Leader to seize the core of the Ancient Tree Spirit. If you know what's good for you, hand over the core and the fragments of the Eternal Tower obediently, and perhaps I can spare your corpses."

This Crimson Shadow Commander was slender, clad in tight-fitting black armor, and his face was covered in black runes.

His eyes were pure black, without any pupils, and he held a slender, shadowy rapier in his hand, the blade shrouded in a faint mist of deadly poison.

His aura was even more composed than Moke's, clearly indicating that he was a seasoned warrior who had fought for many years.

"And me, Commander Black Wind."

The commander in the center spoke, his voice booming like thunder. His physique was even more imposing than the dragon-man berserker, his entire body covered in heavy shadow armor. In his hand he gripped a massive shadow warhammer, its blade engraved with twisted runes.

"The core of the ancient tree is the perfect vessel for the power of shadow, and it is also the target designated by the Alliance Leader. Today, you have no chance of escape!"

The commander on the right remained silent, his surroundings radiating the most intense shadow power, even carrying a faint, eerie stillness. He wore a wide, jet-black robe, the hood obscuring his face except for a pair of scarlet eyes. In his hand he held a staff inlaid with a skull, and a faint aura of death emanated from him.

—He is the Ghostly Commander of the Dragon Demon Alliance, skilled in manipulating the shadows of death, and the most powerful.

The Shadow Bear let out a low growl, its body a fusion of light and residual shadow power, its brown fur glowing with a faint golden light, and its sharp claws gleaming with a cold light.

"You will not harm the spirit of the ancient tree, nor will you seize its core! I was once corrupted by the shadows and turned into a puppet, but now that I have awakened, I will never let your schemes succeed again!"

Lynn stepped forward, blocking the Shadow Bear and the ancient tree. The two fragments in his palm shone brightly, golden chains of light wrapped around the Judgment of Light, and the creation patterns on the blade became clearer.

His mid-to-late stage aura fully unfolded, colliding with the shadow auras of the three high-level commanders, causing subtle energy ripples in the air.

"Dragon Demon Alliance's minions, if you want to seize the core, you'll have to get past us first!"

Gavin gripped the Staff of Light tightly, his body brimming with the power of light. A soft barrier of light unfolded, protecting Lina and the ancient tree behind him.

"Lynn, you are keeping Commander Youji in check. He is the strongest, so be careful."

Shadow Bear, you deal with Black Wind Commander and use your power to restrain his warhammer offensive.

Lina and I joined forces to fight against the Crimson Shadow Commander and the Shadow Sorcerer. We divided our tasks and cooperated effectively, avoiding prolonged battles!

"Understood!" Everyone responded in unison, instantly entering battle mode.

"Since you are so stubborn, then you will all become sacrifices to the shadows!"

The Crimson Shadow Commander sneered, his figure flashing as he charged towards Gavin and Lina like a ghost. The Shadow Rapier in his hand, carrying a deadly poisonous mist, stabbed towards Gavin's chest with lightning speed, almost impossible to catch.

Gavin's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly swung his staff, instantly creating a barrier of light in front of him.

"Guardians of Light!"

The Shadow Rapier struck the barrier with a piercing clang, and the black, poisonous mist instantly corroded a small hole, causing the barrier's light to dim slightly.

Gavin seized the opportunity to unleash his power of light, slashing a condensed blade of light towards the Crimson Shadow Commander.

"Light Slash!"

Lina simultaneously exerted her power, her staff gleaming with dazzling golden light, and several golden ropes of light coiled towards the Crimson Shadow Commander.

"Light Binding!"

The light ropes, imbued with pure light, tightly bound the limbs of the Crimson Shadow Commander, attempting to restrict his movements.

But the shadow power surrounding the Crimson Shadow Commander erupted instantly, easily shattering the light rope. With a flash, he dodged Gavin's light blade, reversed his rapier, and stabbed towards Lina's back. His move was ruthless and merciless.

On the other side, the Black Wind Commander roared and swung his massive Shadow Warhammer, smashing it down towards the Shadow Demon Bear.

The warhammer, imbued with immense shadow power, smashed into the air with a deafening roar, carving a deep trench into the ground.

Undeterred, the Shadow Bear dodged the warhammer's attack with a swift movement, simultaneously wielding its sharp claws and striking towards the Black Wind Commander's chest.

A faint light energy swirled around the claws, which collided with the Shadow Hammer, producing a deafening roar. Both were simultaneously thrown back two steps by the impact.

The most intense battle was the duel between Lynn and the Silent Commander.

The Silent Commander remained silent, only slowly raising his skull staff and gently tapping it.

Several pitch-black shadows of death burst forth from the ground, coiling towards Lynn like venomous snakes. Wherever the shadows passed, the fallen leaves on the ground withered instantly, and even the air became deathly still.

Lynn's eyes sharpened, and the power of light and the power of creation within him instantly merged. The two fragments in his palm shone brightly, and a golden barrier of light unfolded, blocking the attack of the Shadow of Death.

"Purification of Light - Break!"

He wielded the Judgment of Light, and a thick golden blade of light swung towards the Silent Commander. The blade carried the power to purify everything, attempting to dispel the surrounding shadows of death.

The Silent Commander slightly shifted his body, dodging the attack of the light blade. He swung his staff again, unleashing even more shadowy figures of death.

At the same time, he chanted obscure incantations, and a jet-black beam of death shot out from his staff, heading towards Lynn.

Lynn gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, channeling all the power of the two fragments into it. The blade of the Judgment gleamed with a dazzling golden light as he slashed fiercely at the beam of death.

The golden light blade and the death beam collided violently, and the energy shockwave spread out, sending the surrounding rocks and fallen leaves flying everywhere.

Lynn could clearly sense that the Silence Commander's strength far surpassed that of Moke, and was even several times stronger than Lynn himself.

That deathly shadow power could not only corrode the body, but also erode the spirit. If it weren't for the protection of the two fragments of creation power, he would probably have been corrupted by the shadow long ago.

But he did not back down. His mid-to-late stage strength, coupled with the enhancement of the fragments, gave him the ability to contend with the Ghostly Commander. Every attack he made was a testament to his determination and resolve to protect.

On the battlefield, golden light and black shadow clashed fiercely, the sounds of fighting, weapons clashing, incantations being chanted, and roars intertwined, causing the entire basin to tremble violently.

The dragon-man berserkers kept charging towards the main characters, but were constantly repelled by Gavin and Lina's light magic.

Although the Shadow Shaman's incantation was bizarre, it was suppressed by Gavin's light incantation and could not unleash its full power.

The Shadow Demon Bear and the Black Wind Commander were locked in a fierce battle, their strengths evenly matched. Each collision was accompanied by a powerful energy impact. Although the Black Wind Commander's warhammer was formidable, it could not break through the Shadow Demon Bear's defenses.

The battle between Lynn and the Silent Commander intensified. Lynn gradually gained control of the battle rhythm, using the power of creation from the fragments to continuously purify the Silent Commander's shadow of death and suppress his momentum little by little.

"Impossible! How could a mere late-stage mid-level brat like you possibly suppress me!"

The Silent Commander finally spoke, his voice hoarse and deathly, tinged with an incredulous rage. The shadow power around him surged wildly, and the shadows of death rushed towards Lynn like a tidal wave.

"Shadow of Death - Global Aspect!"

The pitch-black shadow of death instantly enveloped the entire basin, preventing even sunlight from penetrating. Gavin, Lina, and the Shadow Bear were all enveloped in the shadow, causing their ethereal energy to become disordered and their mental power to be eroded, gradually slowing their movements.

Lynn's heart tightened, and he immediately activated the full power of the two fragments. A dazzling golden halo emanated from his body, and the protective mark between his brows shone brightly.

"Light of Creation - Purification of the Entire Domain!"

A powerful golden beam of light erupted from Lynn's body, instantly piercing through the shroud of deathly shadows. Wherever the golden light passed,

The shadow of death dissipated rapidly like melting snow, and Gavin, Lina, and the Shadow Bear, who had been corrupted by the shadow, instantly regained their clarity, and the ether within their bodies also became stable.

This light of creation not only purified the shadow of death, but also nourished the three people's bodies, instantly restoring some of their power.

The Silence Commander was struck by the light of creation, letting out a shrill scream. The shadow power around him instantly became chaotic, and his hood was shaken off by the light, revealing a scarred face. The curse marks on his face were being purified by the power of light and were becoming fainter and fainter.

His eyes were filled with resentment and anger. He swung his staff again, gathering the last trace of deathly shadow, and shot it towards Lynn, attempting to perish together with him.

"it's over!"

Lynn's eyes were resolute. He gathered all the power in the Light Judgment in his hand, and the light from both fragments merged into the blade.

A golden blade of light slashed fiercely towards Commander Youji's chest. The blade, imbued with the power of creation, instantly pierced through Commander Youji's chest, purifying the shadow power within his body.

Commander Youji shuddered; the shadow power within him was completely purified. He looked at Lynn, his eyes filled with despair.

"Leader... I've failed... The fourth fragment... is right here..."

Before he could finish speaking, his body was completely purified by the power of creation, turning into a wisp of black smoke and dissipating into the air, leaving only the staff inlaid with a skull, which fell to the ground and was instantly corroded by the power of light.

The defeat of Commander Youji plunged the Shadow Legion of the Dragon Demon Alliance into chaos.

Seeing this, the Crimson Shadow Commander panicked, and his moves became chaotic. Gavin seized the opportunity, and a blade of light pierced his back.

Lina simultaneously swung her staff, and several light blades struck his chest. The Crimson Shadow Commander let out a scream as his body was gradually purified and completely dissipated.

Seeing his two companions fall one after another, the Black Wind Commander's fear intensified, and his moves became hesitant.

The Shadow Bear seized the opportunity and pounced forward. Its sharp claws, imbued with the power of light, slammed into the chest of the Black Wind Commander. The Black Wind Commander was forced to retreat, spitting out black blood, and the shadow power around him instantly became chaotic.

Lynn seized the opportunity to rush forward, and a blade of light struck his neck. The Black Wind Commander let out a final roar and was completely purified.

Without the command of their high-ranking leaders, the Shadow Legion of the Dragon Demon Alliance completely collapsed. The dragon berserkers were either purified by Gavin and Lina's light magic or scattered and fled. The shadow shamans were also eliminated one by one.

Before long, the Shadow Legion within the basin was completely wiped out, leaving only a ground covered in shadow mist, which was slowly purified by the fragments in Lynn's palm.

After the battle, the three humans and the bear were all slightly out of breath, with new wounds on their bodies and most of their ether energy depleted. However, they showed no signs of fatigue, but rather exuded a sense of determination as if they had survived a calamity.

Lynn walked to the spot where the Silent Commander had vanished, his brow furrowing slightly. The Silent Commander's dying words still echoed in his ears—

"The fourth fragment...is right there..." Clearly, he hadn't finished speaking; the clue to the fourth fragment was hidden in that sentence.

"Commander Youji mentioned the fourth fragment on his deathbed. What was he trying to say?"

Lina walked up to Lynn, her face full of confusion.

"Could the fourth fragment be located in this misty forest?"

Gavin pondered for a moment, then walked to the ancient tree, stroked its trunk, and felt the essence of its spirit.

"Very likely. Commander Youji said, 'The fourth fragment is...'"

Considering his purpose in coming to seize the ancient tree's core, perhaps the fourth fragment is related to the ancient tree's spirit core.

Furthermore, the core itself is part of the fourth fragment, only hidden by the spirit of the ancient tree and not yet fully revealed.

The Shadow Bear slowly walked to the ancient tree, its eyes filled with awe.

"That's right. In ancient times, fragments of the Tower of Eternity fell on the ancient tree, nourishing its spirit. The energy of the fragments merged with the core of the tree spirit, becoming the power that protects the Misty Forest."

Later, the power of shadow invaded, and the spirit of the ancient tree, in order to protect the fragment's energy, hid it deep within its core. Only by completely purifying the shadow power and repairing the ancient tree can the fragment reveal its complete form.

Lynn nodded, gripped the two fragments in his hand, walked to the ancient tree, and gently placed the fragments on the trunk of the tree.

The two fragments instantly burst forth with dazzling golden light, and a golden chain of light extended from the fragments, merging into the trunk of the ancient tree and heading towards the core of the tree's heart.

As the light chain merged, the white light emanating from the ancient tree's heart grew increasingly dazzling, and the black cracks on the trunk gradually healed.

The withered branches and leaves began to sprout tender green buds, the black sap stopped seeping out, and a rich life force burst forth from the ancient tree.

Resonating with the primordial power of the fragments, the air throughout the basin became fresher.

A moment later, the white light within the ancient tree's core suddenly surged, and a golden fragment slowly emerged from it. This fragment was slightly larger than the previous two, its surface covered with ancient creation patterns, radiating a powerful yet gentle energy.

—This is the fourth fragment of the Tower of Eternity!

The fourth fragment slowly floated to Lynn's front, instantly resonating with the two fragments in his palm. Three golden chains of light intertwined in mid-air, firmly locking the three fragments into one.

Ancient creation patterns flowed rapidly along the light chain, radiating a sacred pressure that shook the entire basin.

The immense, almost scorching power of creation surged into his limbs and bones like a flood bursting its banks. The etheric sea, which was originally overflowing to its limit, was instantly broken free of its restraints, and the barrier of the mid-to-late stage shattered in response.

Lynn suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, and fine dust of light surrounded him like stardust. His previously restrained aura was completely unleashed, and a calm and vast early-stage high-level pressure spread out and surged, even lifting up the pebbles on the ground with the shockwave.

The protective mark between his brows lit up completely, transforming from a faint trace into a solemn and clear golden imprint, its light shooting straight to the top of his head.

The Light Judgment in his hand emitted a series of clear and melodious sword sounds. The entire blade was completely soaked in the golden light of creation, and all the patterns were lit up. The faint sounds of wind and thunder lingered around it, and its power underwent a complete transformation.

The surrounding air rippled under the immense pressure, and Gavin, Lina, and the Shadow Bear instinctively stopped in their tracks, their eyes filled with shock and relief.

This shock stemmed from Lynn's rapid growth, and this relief came from the fact that they had gained more confidence to fight against the Dragon Demon Alliance.

Lynn subconsciously raised his hand, his fingertips gathering power, and gently swung a blade of light towards a boulder about half his height beside him—not with his full strength, nor having fully controlled the newly surging power.

Where the golden blade of light swept past, the boulder was instantly cleaved in two, the cut smooth and clean. A faint aura of primordial power lingered at the break, making the fragments appear slightly white. This unintentional display of power...

This perfectly proves that he now has the confidence to directly confront the top experts of the Dragon Demon Alliance, and it also quietly declares that the boy who once needed to rely on his mentor for protection has grown into a guardian who can stand on his own.

"Great! We've found the fourth piece!"

A joyful smile appeared on Lina's face, and her tired face finally radiated a bright glow.

Gavin also breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"With these four fragments, our strength against the Dragon Demon Alliance has increased significantly."

"Lynn, you've successfully broken through to the early stage of the advanced level; this is our biggest achievement."

The Shadow Bear stared at the three fragments in Lynn's hand, its eyes filled with awe.

"The power of the fragments is growing stronger. Once all the fragments are gathered, the Tower of Eternity can be rebuilt, the shadow power of Atreia can be completely purified, and the peace of this land can be protected."

Lynn gripped the three fragments tightly in his hand, feeling the resonance and immense power emanating from them, and his resolve grew stronger.

He knew that the leader of the Dragon Demon Alliance would not give up easily. Their plot to seize the fragments was not over yet. More dangers awaited them, and more fragments needed to be found.

But he was no longer afraid, for he had his mentor by his side, Lina fighting alongside him, the Shadow Bear to help him, the power of the three Eternal Tower fragments, and his unwavering determination to protect Atreia.

Just then, the three fragments in Lynn's palm suddenly became slightly warm, their light flickering and emitting a faint yet clear resonance.

—The resonance came from the distant west, carrying a strong aura of fire and a faint shadow power. Clearly, the fifth fragment of the Tower of Eternity was in the Flame Domain of the west.

"We've found a clue to the fifth fragment."

Lynn raised her head, looking at Gavin and Lina with a determined gaze.

"It is located in the Blazing Domain in the west, a place enveloped in flames and guarded by powerful fire-type shadow monsters. After we have rested, we will head to the Blazing Domain to seize the fifth fragment."

Gavin and Lina nodded simultaneously, and the Shadow Bear let out a low growl, its eyes filled with determination.

"Gavin will protect the spirit of the ancient tree and keep an eye on the movements of the Dragon Demon Alliance. If they invade again, he will definitely defeat them completely."

"I wish you a safe journey and that you will soon gather all the fragments to purify the shadow power of Atreia."

After bidding farewell to the Shadow Bear, the three sat on the open ground in the basin to rest, replenish their etheric energy, and treat their wounds.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting a warm glow upon them. The ancient tree's life force surrounded them, bringing a sense of peace.

They knew the journey to the Realm of Flames would be even more perilous, and that the leader of the Dragon Demon Alliance would surely have laid an ambush there, but they were fearless.

The belief in protecting Atreia was etched into their very bones, guiding them forward with unwavering determination toward their goal of collecting the fragments and dispelling the shadows.