Chapter 5: Elder Iolas of Zereta (1)

Back at home, where the light was gently sprinkled in every corner, Alex and Lina exchanged a reassuring look, a brief word, as if there was no need to say more. He gently settled her, then turned and plodded toward the study, which was full of ancient books.

The dusty atmosphere of ancient books and the thick interweaving of time, as if each page carries the secrets of the past. Alex stopped in front of his parents' belongings, running his fingers gently over the yellowed covers of the books, and finally his eyes settled on the old piece of metal he clutched in his hand. The cold sheen of the sheet metal shone in the gloom like the loneliest stars in the night sky.

In his mind, the voice of the mysterious man was like a whisper, lingering, and every word was like a sharp blade, cutting his inner peace. 'Who is he? Alex whispered to himself, his voice tinged with an imperceptible tremor. His eyes became deep, as if to penetrate the constraints of this space, to the unknown shore.

"Why does he know everything about me? Is it a coincidence? Or... Premeditation?" Every thought is like lightning in a storm, brightening and fading in an instant, leaving only darkness and doubt.

What made him palpitate more was whether the appearance of the man was just the tip of the iceberg? Is there a greater power behind him, a more formidable enemy? Alex clenched his fists and made a slight crack in his bones, a sign of his inner struggle and determination.

He knows that there is no turning back on this road, only forward. Whatever awaits him, he will face and destroy. Because he is not only Alex, but also the eagle that is destined to soar in the wind and rain, even if the road ahead is difficult, but also to soar until it touches the sky that belongs to them.

Just as he was thinking, the ancient piece of metal that had been silent for a long time, like the eyes of a sleeping dragon, suddenly flashed a faint light, weak enough to penetrate the fog in Alex's heart. He sat up straight, his eyes burning, and stared at the slowly rotating sheet of metal, as if he could feel an ancient and mysterious force calling him silently across the boundaries of time and space.

"This is... The guide of fate?" Alex murmured, his heart racing, an indescribable rush of excitement. He knew that this was not just a piece of metal flashing, but a secret passed down from generation to generation in the family, at this moment, quietly awakening.

Without hesitation, Alex's hands quivered as he carefully inserted the ancient piece of metal into a special groove in the family's adventure bag. This trough, through the wind and frost, witnessed the glory and desolation of countless adventures, and now once again carries new hope and mission. As the metal piece settled, a warm and powerful energy flowed quietly through his body, as if a sleeping dragon had finally opened its eyes and was ready to fly for nine days.

"This is more than a transmission of information," Alex thought to himself. "It is the key that unlocks the power that sleeps within me. It is the bridge between the past and the future." At this moment, he seems to feel the will of his ancestors, across the boundaries of time and space, and resonate with him.

Everything around seems to become blurred, only the power that comes from the depth of the blood, more and more clear. Alex knows that an unprecedented adventure is about to begin, and he will no longer be a lone traveler, but a warrior carrying the honor and mission of his family. His heartbeat resonated with the awakened force, and together they played a song of praise for the brave.

Just before Alex was about to take that fateful step again, a sudden knock on the door rang like thunder in his heart. The door opened slowly, and a huge figure stood outside the door, dressed in a strange star costume, and the metal accessories around him glinted with mysterious and seductive light, as if he had come from the depths of the stars.

"Alex Carter, I am Iolas, Elder of Zereta, traveling through the ripples of time and space just to meet you." The man's voice was steady and powerful, and every word struck Alex's heart like a heavy hammer, creating waves.

Alex's pupils constricted, and the sudden visit disrupted all his plans like a storm. The vague words in my parents' notes flashed through my mind, about the Zeretas, the guardians of the house, and the mysteries that remained unanswered. But he never expected it to come into his life in such a direct and shocking way.

"Why present yourself now? My parents... Where the hell are they? What does all this have to do with you?" Alex's voice trembled slightly, but there was an unmistakable determination.

Iolas's eyes are deep, as if they read the heart. "Your parents are not gone, they are engaged in a trial of the fate of the universe, and it is all tied up with your mission." I'm here to make sure you're ready to take over as Guardian, unlock the ancient secrets of the ruins, and lead your family to new glory. I will be your mentor on this unknown journey by your side."

The sea of doubt and weight of Alex's heart rolled like a mountain on his shoulder. But he knows that pulling back will only widen the shadow. At this moment, the line of fate seems to be slowly spreading in front of him, it is a road full of thorns and unknown, challenges and opportunities coexist.

"Guard... What am I supposed to guard?" He thought to himself, and his eyes flashed a little confused. But soon, the warmth and sincerity from the other side, like spring rain, melted the ice in his heart. "He meant no harm and was even willing to be my guide to unravel the mystery."

Taking a deep breath, Alex's voice was soft but unmistakable: "I... Willing to embark on this road!" This sentence, like the most dazzling stars in the night sky, instantly lit up his way forward, but also ignited the fighting spirit in his heart.

When Iolas heard this, a meaningful smile formed on his lips, a smile that included both the satisfaction of Alex's choice and the expectation of his infinite future possibilities. 'Very well, Alex. From now on, you will embark on a legendary journey. Trials and glories, challenges and opportunities, they will be the catalyst for your growth and make you shine in the journey of the stars."

Before he could say it, a force like never before rose from Alex's body, an ancient force from the depths of his blood, slowly awakening and resonating with him. He felt that every cell in him was boiling, every nerve was stirring, as if it heralded the adventure to come, the most dramatic chapter of his life.

Guided by the deep eyes of his mentor Iolas, Alex embarks on a journey into the unknown, to the heart of a relic - an underground temple that has been shrouded in dust for thousands of years. This temple, like a prisoner of time, quietly tells the ancient and unsolved secrets of the Earth and the universe.

"Here, Alex, is the test ground of your destiny." Iolas's voice was deep and magnetic, and every word struck Alex's heart like a hammer. "Cross this threshold, and you will touch the power that sleeps in your family's blood, and you will uncover the age-old mystery of how the Zereta and the human race have come together."

Alex's eyes cut through the gloom and fixated on the stone door, which was carved with intricate runes and glowed with light. Those runes, like the stars track, and like the universe vein, each stroke is full of majesty and power that can not be underestimated. His breathing quickened, his heart beat wildly in his chest, and a tangled web of tension and anticipation gripped him.

"Behind this door is glory? Or an endless abyss?" Alex thought, but his steps did not hesitate. He knows that this step is not only a challenge to his own limits, but also an inheritance of the family mission and a brave embrace of the unknown destiny.

Iolas saw this, the corners of his mouth a faint smile, the smile is a mixture of encouragement and hope. "Go, Alex. Use your courage and wisdom to prove that you deserve it."

As Alex slowly reached out his hand and touched the cold stone door, an indescribable wave of energy flowed from his fingertips, as if the entire temple had awakened in this moment, responding to his determination and desire.

When Alex stepped on the threshold of the ancient and mysterious temple of trials, the air seemed to freeze around him, and the light suddenly dimmed, as if he were gripped by an invisible hand. His body was gently but firmly held in his arms by an ancient and majestic force, and then his consciousness, like a fallen leaf swept up by the wind, suddenly crossed into a strange fantasy.

In this fantasy, the future unfolds slowly like a scroll, and two completely different scenes are intertwined before his eyes. One is a glorious picture of him, Alex, bearing the burdens of his family, fearlessly guarding the ancient ruins and the dusty past. Under his guardianship, human science and technology are in full bloom, and the friendly Zareta star people join hands to jointly uncover the mystery of the universe and explore the vast and endless sea of stars.

The other scene, however, was nightmarish. It was an apocalyptic ruin, the ruins were ruthlessly destroyed, and Mother Earth was black and blue, and could not be redeemed to the abyss of destruction. People are terrified of ignorance, the flame of civilization is extinguished in despair, the once prosperous world is ruined, and even the Zeta people who once coexisted with mankind are gone, as if they had never existed.

The contrast made Alex's heart beat violently, and a sense of purpose came over him like never before. He knows that all this is not only an illusion, but also a cruel reality that he must face. Protection and destruction, two completely different paths, are determined by his one thought.

"I must not allow that disastrous future to become a reality!" Alex roared in his heart, his eyes shining with determination and determination. At this moment, he seemed to hear the whispers of history, and felt the expectations and trust of his ancestors. He knew that his fate was inextricably bound up with this ancient relic and with the future of mankind.

So, he clenched his fists and resolutely set foot on this road full of unknowns and challenges. He knows that there will be endless difficulties and obstacles waiting for him in front of him, but he knows better that only by moving forward can he protect the light and hope in his heart.

"Alex, his fists clenched, his veins visible in his arms, his eyes like fire, determined to burn away the shadow of the past." He bellowed, with an unmistakable determination in his voice, "This must never happen again! I want to wake the world up and make sleeping souls witness with their own eyes the cruelty of war and the sorrow of its ruins."

"We want to remove the dust of history, so that every piece of debris, every distant cry, can clearly echo in the ears of the world." I want to use these hands to draw a heart-shaking picture, let everyone know - how peace, step by step from the blood and tears of the difficult to come."

He suddenly turned and glanced around, as if he had seen the land that was about to be awakened, "let those relics no longer be silent witnesses, but become a beacon to warn future generations, illuminate our way forward, and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past!"

Alex's words, like thunder in the sky, thundered, shaking every inch of space, striking the heart of every listener. His eyes, more steadfast than the hardest rock, vowed to imprint this desire for peace deep into the soul of every longing for peace.

However, the way to protect this faith is full of thorns. In this continent, forgotten by the light of the city of hope, is a desolate place untouched by human beings, radiation like invisible demons, lurking in every corner, crisis everywhere. If you want to stand on this land, you not only need a body like an iron wall, but also a keen mind like an eagle.

"This test is not only the exercise of my body, but also the ultimate challenge of my will and wisdom!" Alex's voice was low and strong, as if declaring war on himself and on the unknown world. He knew that only by overcoming the obstacles could he prove his resolve and open up a way of life for those who longed for peace.

As his words fell, the air around him seemed to freeze for a moment, and then the sound of firmer steps echoed across the empty earth. Alex, who vows to protect the peace of the warrior, has embarked on his journey, a battle of courage, wisdom and survival, thus begins.

In this dangerous continent, every decision can be the dividing line between life and death, but in Alex's heart, there is only that persistence and desire for peace. He believes that as long as there is light in the heart, the path under his feet will not be dark. And this trial is his first step toward proving himself, illuminating others, and moving toward peace.

Just at the moment when his faith is as firm as a rock, the illusion is like being gently stroked by an invisible hand and quietly transformed.