Chapter 21 - "Eclipse of Control"
Minutes after Valeria took flight, she reached the tower, ignoring the horrific sight of the capital. The devastation was overwhelming; people cried out in despair, and nearly half the population had perished due to the mere pressure emanating from Eira. Valeria rushed into the staff room, but the personnel in charge had fled in fear during the earthquake. She observed injured citizens being carried away by guards and approached them, her impatience palpable.
"Hey, can you tell me how to activate this tower?" Valeria demanded, her tone sharp.
The two guards, bruised and weary, exchanged worried glances. One finally spoke, "Lady Valeria, we've tried to activate the tower, but it won't respond. However, I believe the reason it remains closed is that the people inside are still alive and undergoing the trial."
Valeria nodded, dismissing their concerns as her frustration boiled over. She strode toward the waiting area, where individuals would teleport inside the tower, her mind a chaotic whirlwind as she struggled to figure out her next move.
Meanwhile, inside the tower, Mira's necklace—the Sword God's soul—murmured in confusion. "What's happening with Eira? Is she losing control? But how could she lose control? I thought she was a descendant of the primordial spirit, yet now… it seems not to be the case." The Sword God was fraught with questions, trying to grasp the unfolding chaos.
Eira, floating in the air, her body omitting an unusual blue aura, felt a tempest within. Thunder crackled, water surged, fire blazed, and wind howled, all conjured from thin air in a chaotic dance. Her pupils glowed with a terrifying force. As she stared at her small hands, tears glistening in her eyes, a hollow emptiness settled in her chest. "What's happening to me?" she whispered, the weight of despair pressing down like a heavy fog. "I only have an hour in this timeline. If I stay here any longer, I fear this timeline will break. I can't let that happen. I need to end this quickly."
A voice echoed in her mind—a familiar presence she couldn't quite grasp—leaving her feeling both comforted and overwhelmed. The chaotic energy around her heightened, and just as the tension peaked, the tower's announcement rang out.
...|"DUE TO AN UNKNOWN ERROR, THE TOWER WILL ADJUST ITS DIFFICULTY. THE TOWER WILL GENERATE ALL THIRTEEN PRIMORDIAL SPIRITS IN THEIR INFERIOR FORMS."|.......
"What the hell? Why would this tower generate more? Why is it getting harder and harder?" The Sword God stared at Mira, who stood there, devoid of life and spirit. A sense of pity washed over it; she didn't deserve this. "She's barely holding on," it thought, frustration boiling within.
Minutes later, a massive wave of clones appeared, including the inferior forms of the primordial spirits, each radiating powerful auras and pressure.
But Eira, still gazing at her hands in a daze, felt a hollow emptiness, as if she were detached from the chaos around her. The fear was like a fog in her mind, clouding her thoughts.
"Hmph, what an arrogant brat pretending to be tough. You really underestimate us," taunted Ignara, the clone of the Spirit of Eternal Flame.
"This is troubling. Why do the primordial spirits possess consciousness? This is dangerous. Eira needs to run… no, she must forfeit," the Sword God exclaimed, its tone tinged with fear as the chaotic tower continued to reveal its secrets.
As the primordial spirits materialized in their inferior forms, they appeared unique and breathtaking. Arcanis, the Spirit of Magic, manifested as a handsome young man with flowing hair and an abundance of magical energy. "What a noisy bunch," he remarked, observing the chaos.
Morsyth, the Spirit of Death and Decay, emerged cloaked in ominous death energy, resembling a skeletal figure. "Kekeke, this brat will be a great sacrifice for reviving my death army," he cackled, drawing Eira's vacant gaze.
Chronara, the Spirit of Time and Eternity, appeared as a double figure—an adult and a child, both sharing the same beautiful features. "This child is strange. Why does she have a trace of temporal energy?" she mused, intrigued by Eira.
Tempestra, the Spirit of Thunder and Storm, materialized amidst crackling thunder and swirling tornadoes, her form imposing and intimidating. Verdara, the Spirit of Wild and Forest, appeared next, holding a wooden staff adorned with leaves, her beauty evident.
Luxaria, the Spirit of Light, regarded Eira with interest, disdain etched on her face as she glanced at Morsyth.
Next to him was Umbraxis, the Spirit of Shadows and Night, whose presence was shrouded in darkness. "Get away from me, you bitch!" she exclaimed, heightening Luxaria's contempt.
Zephyron, the Spirit of Eternal Wind, observed the unfolding scene with a calm demeanor until his gaze fell upon Eira, leaving him visibly shaken as he diverted his eyes.
Two spirits materialized uniquely beside each other—Terradon, the Spirit of Earth and Mountains, and Aquamir, the Spirit of Boundless Ocean. Aquamir, swirling with water, glanced at her companion and chuckled, "Hahaha! Look at that, Frostara! Your descendant is terrifying! I didn't expect you to have such a cute little child as a descendant!"
Frostara, the Spirit of Ice and Winter, materialized elegantly, her white hair framing a perfect hourglass figure. "Hmm, not bad. This trip has proven worthwhile. I didn't want to appear in this form without my full power, but seeing my adorable child makes it all worth it. Perhaps I should have them call me Great Mother… no, that doesn't quite fit," she continued, muttering to herself as she regarded Eira with a mix of pride and concern.