The Heart of the Lord trembled faintly, and the invisible barrier ahead became vaguely discernible.
A faint glow of civilization emanated from it, illuminating the ancient platform.
Lucien stepped forward, observing his surroundings carefully. Information flooded into his mind, confirming the significance of this location—it was indeed a civilization relic.
Mysterious Territorial Building
Description: Destroy the Illusion of Fate tied to this civilization to obtain its light of recognition. This relic can then be converted into a building for your territory.
"A territorial building?" Lucien muttered, his gaze lingering on the decrepit tower. "Could it be... the entire tower?"
Lin Daiyu approached, her eyes narrowing slightly. In her palm, a gentle Innate Energy swirled, seemingly ready to strike.
"Is this it, Young Master?" she asked.
Lucien shook his head. "Attacking it won't help. This is essentially a trial—only by completing it can we obtain the treasure."
His explanation drew understanding nods from the others.
"Your Majesty, let us try to break through first!"
A group of Great Qin warriors stepped forward, their expressions resolute.
Lucien chuckled. "Relax. It's just an illusion—you won't lose your lives. Stand down for now."
The warriors hesitated briefly before stepping back, awaiting orders. Lucien, meanwhile, instructed everyone to remain vigilant as he approached the shimmering barrier.
As he moved closer, the mysterious white-robed figure kneeling on the platform slowly lifted its head, its hollow eyes locking onto Lucien.
Illusion Triggered: First Fall
Description: As a world crumbled into fragments and fell into the Endless Void, a city belonging to the Nightstar Clan was swallowed by desolation. Darkness descended, threatening to devour all.
Warning: Collecting the light of this civilization will increase your Doom Meter.
"Proceed."
Lucien didn't hesitate.
The barrier rippled like water, releasing waves of energy outward that transformed the surroundings.
The desolate, crumbling city was revitalized.
Broken streets, ruined buildings, and oppressive silence gave way to a bustling metropolis teeming with life.
What was once a dead city became a thriving civilization, brimming with activity.
But this prosperity was an illusion.
The End Approaches
The voice of a white-robed high priest echoed from atop the tower. His long beard swayed as he raised a staff, pointing to the darkened sky.
"The end is upon us! The world crumbles! The stars above lie, the sun sets, the moon fades, and the heavens are swallowed by darkness. The land will turn to ash and dust!"
Despite the impending doom, the priest raised his staff high and bellowed:
"We will not yield! The dark claws seek to devour us, but we shall stand against them!"
Below the platform, an army roared in unison, their cries shaking the heavens.
Bloodlust surged like a tide as the warriors prepared for battle.
With a thunderous shout, their forces charged into the gray wasteland beyond the city.
A Battle for Survival
The wasteland teemed with horrors. Monsters slithered and crawled from the shadows, their malevolent eyes fixed on the warriors of the restored city.
The horns of retaliation sounded, igniting a desperate battle for survival.
Mages took to the skies, their magic illuminating the battlefield. Fireballs and serpents of flame rained down on the monstrous horde.
Shield-bearers roared as they held the line, spell-breakers shattered dark curses, and knights charged valiantly.
Yet despite their might, the army was slowly overwhelmed.
The dark monsters seemed endless, grinding the defenders down until even the towering city walls were breached.
A Last Stand
At the critical moment, the city's seven-tiered tower erupted with radiant light.
The high priest raised his staff, his voice booming: "We are the children of the stars! We shall never perish!"
Seven elemental rings emerged from the tower, their forces combining into a pillar of light that pierced the heavens.
The light washed over the land, dispelling the darkness.
It was so potent that it seemed to shatter the barriers of time itself.
Lucien felt himself and his army enveloped in the light.
The past and present collided, and they were dragged into this ancient battlefield.
The Illusion Becomes Reality
The ground trembled as explosions echoed, the cries of the Nightstar people mixing with the roars of the dark monsters.
Lucien's sudden arrival with his troops drew the attention of both sides.
The Nightstar warriors and the dark creatures paused momentarily, their gazes fixed on the new arrivals.
Lucien quickly scanned the battlefield, identifying various enemy types:
[Briar Clan Fighters] – Level 17
[Elite Assassins of the Briar Clan] – Level 24
[Voidming Warriors] – Level 12
Among them, a towering Level 32 Leader wielded a massive greatsword, shattering the earth with its swings.
Mission Objective
[Objective]: Defeat the enemies that destroyed the Nightstar city.
Success Reward: Territorial Building: Seven-Ring Tower
Failure Penalty: Doom Meter increases, but the trial can be retried.
"Understood."
Lucien's pupils contracted as he barked his command.
"Form ranks! Attack!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The troops immediately sprang into action.
The Bright Moon disciples floated into the air, their artifact lights radiating.
The Great Qin warriors formed tight formations, their halberds gleaming like forests of steel, while their swords emanated waves of Qin energy.
A Dire Battlefield
The remaining Nightstar forces were reduced to only a few hundred warriors.
But the dark monsters numbered in the tens of thousands—a crushing disparity that would terrify most lords into abandoning the challenge altogether.
But not Lucien.
His troops had faced worse odds during the Beginner's Trial.
"Advance!"
The Great Qin warriors roared, moving like phantoms. Their speed and precision overwhelmed the lumbering monsters.
Arrows rained down like a torrential storm, piercing through the monsters and leaving countless in pieces.
Sword energy swept across, cutting through thousands of creatures with a single strike.
Halberds drove forward, smashing everything in their path to fragments.
The army tore a path through the dark tide, pushing forward with relentless efficiency.
The Bright Moon Disciples
Lucien gave the command.
"Girls, your turn. Show them what you've got."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The disciples activated their techniques.
"Blood Moons" descended from the sky, crushing swaths of monsters under their massive weight.
Cascades of radiant moonlight followed, striking and disintegrating enemies.
The disciples became living artillery platforms, unleashing waves of devastating spells. Each attack cleared massive portions of the battlefield as if swatting away flies.
Turning the Tide
Despite being outnumbered, Lucien's army decimated the horde.
Wherever they passed, the dark tide crumbled.
The battlefield, once filled with despair, now carried a glimmer of hope.
And Lucien stood at the rear, watching his forces mow down the enemy with cold determination.
"Two hundred soldiers reversing a doomed battle…" he murmured with a smirk.
"Impressive."