Chapter 10: The Hammer of Judgment

The final guardian loomed before Lin Mu, its towering form radiating an almost unbearable aura of divine power. The hammer in its hand crackled with energy, glowing runes shifting across its surface as it pulsed with barely-contained force. Lin Mu's heart raced as he stood in the shadow of this monstrous being, his body trembling from exhaustion, but his spirit undeterred.

This was it—the ultimate challenge in the Trial of the Gods. The final guardian, a being infused with the pure essence of divinity, was unlike anything he had faced before. The earlier battles had been brutal, but this guardian's mere presence seemed to warp the air around it, making every breath Lin Mu took feel heavier, every movement more difficult.

But he had come too far to back down now.

System Notification:

Final Guardian Awakened: Hammer of Judgment.

Threat Level: Extreme

Abilities: Divine Wrath, Groundquake, Judgment's Fury

Weakness: Disruptive Energy (Light + Shadow Combination)

Lin Mu narrowed his eyes. The system's notification was clear—he had to exploit the combination of light and shadow energy, just as he had done with the previous guardians. But this time, it wouldn't be enough to merely weaken his opponent. He would need to find a way to completely neutralize the Hammer of Judgment's overwhelming power.

The guardian's glowing eyes fixed on him, and with a single, deliberate motion, it raised the hammer high above its head. The ground beneath Lin Mu's feet trembled, and the air vibrated with the sheer weight of the divine energy gathering in the weapon.

"Mortal, you stand before the Hammer of Judgment. Your trial ends here, unless you prove yourself worthy of ascension."

The voice echoed like thunder through the golden plains, sending a chill down Lin Mu's spine. But he refused to back down. He had faced the Abyssal Beast, the Shadow Revenant, and the first two guardians. This was no different. He had evolved, grown stronger with every battle, and now it was time to push his abilities to their limits.

With a roar, the Hammer of Judgment brought its weapon crashing down.

The ground exploded beneath the force of the impact, sending a shockwave of divine energy rippling outward. Lin Mu barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side just as the hammer struck the earth. The shockwave caught him, hurling him through the air like a ragdoll. He landed hard, his body skidding across the ground, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs.

Pain flared through his limbs, but Lin Mu gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. His Bone Armor had absorbed some of the damage, but it wouldn't hold up against many more of those attacks. He needed a plan, and he needed it fast.

He activated Divine Senses, feeling the guardian's energy pulse through the air. The Hammer of Judgment wasn't just a mindless brute—it was calculating, deliberate, its every move precise. Lin Mu's only advantage was his agility and his ability to combine light and shadow energy.

His eyes flicked toward the glowing trees once more. The light from the trees had helped him disrupt the earlier guardians' power, but he couldn't rely on the same strategy alone. He needed to integrate the light with his own abilities, to find a way to infuse his Abyssal Strike with the disruptive energy that could weaken the Hammer of Judgment.

The guardian raised its hammer again, preparing for another devastating attack. Lin Mu sprinted toward the nearest tree, his mind racing. He could feel the guardian's gaze following him, tracking his every movement, but he couldn't afford to stop. He had to reach the light—had to channel its energy before the next strike came.

As he reached the tree, Lin Mu extended his hand, feeling the warmth of the light wash over him. His connection to the light had deepened since the earlier battles, and now, he could feel it responding to him, merging with the shadow energy already coursing through his veins.

The Hammer of Judgment roared, and the ground shook as it charged toward him. Lin Mu could feel the weight of the divine power gathering once more, the air around him crackling with energy. He didn't have much time.

With a shout, Lin Mu activated Abyssal Strike, the dark energy swirling around his weapon. But this time, something was different. The light from the tree flowed into the strike, merging with the shadow energy, creating a swirling vortex of light and darkness.

He turned just in time to see the guardian bring its hammer down once more. But Lin Mu was ready.

With a burst of speed, he dodged the blow, the hammer slamming into the ground with a deafening crash. In the same motion, Lin Mu swung his weapon, the combined energy of light and shadow blazing as it struck the guardian's arm.

The effect was immediate. The guardian howled in pain, its marble skin cracking under the force of the blow. The divine energy in the Hammer of Judgment flickered, its power momentarily disrupted by the conflicting energies of light and shadow.

Lin Mu didn't hesitate. He pressed the attack, swinging his weapon again and again, each strike infused with the combined energy. The guardian staggered, its movements becoming more erratic as the cracks spread across its form.

But it wasn't finished yet.

With a roar of fury, the Hammer of Judgment unleashed its Divine Wrath, a pulse of raw energy that radiated outward, knocking Lin Mu off his feet. The sheer force of the attack sent him flying, his body crashing into the ground with bone-jarring impact. Pain shot through him, but his Abyssal Healing kicked in, knitting his wounds together as fast as they appeared.

Lin Mu struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. The guardian was still standing, but it was weakened. He could see the cracks spreading across its body, the divine light within it flickering like a dying flame. But it was still too powerful to take down with brute force.

He needed to end this now.

With every ounce of strength he had left, Lin Mu sprinted toward the guardian, his weapon blazing with the combined light and shadow energy. The guardian raised its hammer for one final strike, but Lin Mu was faster. He leaped into the air, his body moving in a blur as he brought his weapon down onto the guardian's chest.

The strike connected, and for a split second, everything went still.

Then, with a deafening crack, the guardian's body shattered. The divine energy that had powered it exploded outward, sending shards of marble and light flying in all directions. Lin Mu was thrown back by the force of the explosion, his body skidding across the ground as the light consumed the battlefield.

When the light finally faded, Lin Mu lay on the ground, gasping for breath. The Hammer of Judgment was gone, its form reduced to rubble, and the oppressive aura of divine power had vanished. The trial was over.

System Notification:

You have defeated the Final Guardian. Evolution Points +50.

Trial of the Gods Completed.

Blessing of Immortality Unlocked.

Lin Mu slowly pushed himself up, his body trembling from exhaustion. He had done it. He had passed the Trial of the Gods, defeated the guardians, and earned the Blessing of Immortality. But as he stood in the quiet aftermath of the battle, he couldn't help but wonder what came next.

System Notification:

New Mission Unlocked: Ascend to the Divine Realm.

Lin Mu took a deep breath, his mind still reeling from the battle. The system had given him a new mission—a new challenge. But this time, it wasn't just about survival. It was about ascension.

The journey was far from over.

And Lin Mu was ready to face whatever came next.