Chapter 9: The Garden’s Guardians

The towering figures of the ancient gods moved with the weight of centuries, their every step resonating through the air with divine authority. Lin Mu stood at the ready, the golden plains around him now a battlefield. The marble statues had come to life, their eyes glowing with divine energy as they prepared to test him. Each guardian was a representation of a long-forgotten deity, their power woven into the very fabric of Elysium. This was the Trial of the Gods, and if he was to ascend to godhood, these guardians were the first obstacle.

The first guardian, a massive figure wielding a spear of light, advanced with slow, deliberate steps. Its body was carved from pure marble, but the spear it held was different—glowing with divine light, humming with raw power. Every step the guardian took shook the ground beneath Lin Mu's feet, a reminder of the immense power he was about to face.

Lin Mu's heart raced as he activated his Bone Armor, feeling the protective layer form around him, but even with his new enhancements, he knew this fight would be like no other. These were not simple beasts or shadow creatures. These were the gods' chosen defenders.

The guardian raised its spear, and in a flash of light, it struck.

Lin Mu barely had time to react, diving to the side as the spear's radiant tip slashed through the air where he had been standing. The light burned through the ground, leaving a searing scar in its wake. Lin Mu could feel the heat radiating from the strike, his heart pounding as he realized just how dangerous the divine energy was.

This wasn't just a fight of strength—it was a battle against powers that transcended mortal understanding.

As the guardian pulled back for another strike, Lin Mu quickly assessed his options. He couldn't win this fight with brute force alone. The system had warned him that Elysium's trials would push him to his limits, and this was exactly what it had meant. He had to outthink the guardians, not just overpower them.

His eyes flicked to the glowing trees on the edge of the battlefield, their light a stark contrast to the divine energy of the guardians. He remembered how the light had disrupted the Shadow Sovereign's dark energy, and while this was a different kind of light, it was still energy he might be able to use.

As the spear came down again, Lin Mu rolled out of the way, feeling the wind rush past him as the guardian's weapon missed by inches. He needed to get closer to the trees, to see if their light could weaken the guardians' divine power. But the marble titan wasn't giving him any openings.

With a burst of agility, Lin Mu darted forward, aiming for the guardian's exposed leg. His weapon, still imbued with the dark energy of Abyssal Strike, crackled as it met the guardian's divine essence. The impact sent a jolt through Lin Mu's arm as the weapon clanged against the marble skin. The dark energy collided with the guardian's divine light, causing a brief flicker of instability in the statue's form.

The guardian let out a low growl, its eyes flaring as it turned to face Lin Mu again. It was still standing strong, but the strike had caused a reaction. Lin Mu's pulse quickened—there was a way to disrupt them after all.

The second guardian was already on the move, its enormous shield and sword gleaming with divine radiance. It moved slower than the first but with a terrifying grace. Lin Mu watched as it closed in, every step calculated, every move precise. He knew he couldn't let himself get surrounded, but facing two of these gods at once was becoming inevitable.

With a quick mental command, he activated Divine Senses, feeling his awareness sharpen. The pulsing energy of the guardians became clearer to him, their movements more predictable. But even with his enhanced perception, the power they exuded was overwhelming. These were ancient beings, their very essence forged in the fires of creation. Lin Mu had no room for error.

The second guardian raised its sword high, and in a brilliant flash, brought it down with devastating force. Lin Mu dodged just in time, the blade smashing into the ground with a shockwave of light that sent him sprawling. His body rolled across the golden plains, the impact leaving him gasping for breath. The blow hadn't hit him directly, but even the aftershock of the divine attack was enough to knock the wind out of him.

Lin Mu forced himself to his feet, his mind racing. He couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed to turn the tide of this battle, and fast.

The glowing trees. They were his only hope.

He sprinted toward the nearest tree, feeling the guardians' gaze lock onto him as they gave chase. The first guardian's spear gleamed as it moved to intercept, but Lin Mu was faster. His Advanced Agility Enhancement allowed him to dart between the attacks, his body moving in a blur as he closed the distance to the tree.

The light from the glowing leaves was warm, almost comforting, and as Lin Mu reached out, he felt a surge of energy flow through him. The tree's light intertwined with his Abyssal Strike, the dark and light energies merging into something new—something powerful.

With a shout, Lin Mu turned and swung his weapon, the combined energy blazing in a brilliant arc. The strike slammed into the first guardian's chest, the force of it sending cracks spider-webbing across the marble. The divine light in the guardian's eyes flickered, and it stumbled back, weakened by the blow.

It was working. The light from the trees could disrupt the guardians' divine power, just as he had hoped.

But he couldn't let up now. The second guardian was already moving in, its sword raised for another devastating strike. Lin Mu gritted his teeth, activating Bone Armor once more as he braced for the attack. The shield-bearing guardian swung its sword down with crushing force, but Lin Mu was ready. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with another empowered strike.

The combination of light and shadow energy from the tree and his Abyssal Strike collided with the guardian's shield, and this time, the effect was even stronger. The shield cracked under the force of the blow, the divine energy within it faltering.

Lin Mu's heart raced as he saw the opening. He couldn't hesitate. With everything he had, he pressed the attack, striking again and again, each blow infused with the light from the trees. The second guardian staggered, its divine form crumbling as the light overwhelmed it.

With a final, desperate roar, the guardian collapsed, its body dissolving into fragments of marble and light.

Lin Mu barely had time to catch his breath before the first guardian moved in again, its spear flashing with divine light. But Lin Mu was faster now, his movements more fluid, more precise. He dodged the strikes with ease, the light from the trees still flowing through him, enhancing his abilities.

The first guardian swung its spear in a wide arc, but Lin Mu saw the attack coming. He ducked low, the spear passing harmlessly over his head, and with a powerful leap, he brought his weapon crashing down onto the guardian's exposed back. The combined energy of light and shadow shattered the guardian's marble form, sending cracks racing across its entire body.

With a deafening crash, the guardian fell, its form crumbling into dust.

Lin Mu stood in the silence that followed, his chest heaving, his body trembling with exhaustion. The battle had been brutal, but he had won. The first two guardians had fallen, their divine essence scattered to the winds.

But it wasn't over yet.

System Notification:

Two Guardians Defeated. Final Guardian Awakened.

Lin Mu's head snapped up, his heart sinking as he saw the final guardian stepping down from its pedestal. This one was different—larger, more imposing, with an aura of power that made the others seem like mere shadows. Its entire body was covered in glowing runes, and in its hand, it held a massive hammer that crackled with divine energy.

The final guardian.

Lin Mu gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He had come too far to fail now. The light from the trees had been his salvation so far, but this guardian radiated a power that seemed to defy the light. He needed to think fast, to find a way to defeat this last challenge.

The final guardian raised its hammer, and the ground trembled beneath its weight. Lin Mu tightened his grip on his weapon, knowing that this battle would push him to the very limits of his abilities.

But he was ready.

With a shout, Lin Mu charged forward, his body blazing with the light of Elysium and the shadow of his Abyssal Strike. This was the final test, and he would face it head-on.

The Trial of the Gods had reached its climax.