Chapter 77-The Eye of the Storm

The storm around Elias crackled with unrelenting fury as the battle against the enigmatic storm god escalated. The air was thick with the scent of ozone, and the relentless wind howled, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Elias could feel his heart pounding in his chest, each beat a reminder that this wasn't a normal fight-it was a trial unlike any he had faced.

The armored figure before him, still shrouded in the dark tempest's wrath, raised both hands, summoning a mighty vortex of wind and lightning. The sky seemed to shudder with power, the very earth trembling beneath the force of the storm. Lightning arced down from the swirling clouds, splitting the ground beneath Elias's feet as he moved.

With his Divine Dagger in hand, Elias moved with speed and precision, avoiding each strike with his Phantom Step. But each time the storm god raised its hands, the winds roared, forcing Elias back. The figure's movements were flawless, as though it was drawing directly from the storm itself-its power inextricably tied to the violent forces around it.

But Elias was no stranger to overcoming overwhelming odds. He had been forged in the heart of the Trial, and though this battle was unlike any before, he refused to back down.

Suddenly, the storm god twisted its arms, creating a massive vortex of lightning. The winds howled, and before Elias could react, the bolt of lightning tore through the sky, hurling down at him with unbridled force.

He raised the Divine Dagger, the energy in the blade growing to a fever pitch, and slashed through the air. Divine Judgment erupted from his body once again-a radiant burst of light that collided with the lightning, creating a deafening explosion of energy. The world around them was consumed by the clash, a brilliant flash that lit up the entire storm-swept battlefield.

When the light subsided, Elias stood tall, breathing heavily but unscathed. The storm around him had begun to calm, the winds losing their intensity, the lightning no longer striking with the same ferocity.

The figure before him, once standing in all its stormy grandeur, faltered, a low groan escaping from its metallic form. The storm began to subside, the winds dying down as the clouds overhead began to dissipate, leaving behind a sky that was clearing bit by bit.

"You... you are stronger than I imagined, Elias Vaelthorne..." the storm god rasped, its form flickering as if it was slowly losing its strength. The storm god's figure shuddered, as if it was fighting to maintain its corporeal form, before finally crumbling into nothingness.

The silence that followed was almost deafening.

Elias lowered his weapon, breathing heavily, his mind racing. What had just happened? This god had been formidable, no doubt, but it was not the full force Elias had expected. Something wasn't right. The storm god had crumbled so easily after their final clash-too easily.

Was this really Zephiron? The god of storms, the mighty tyrant of the skies? This figure had been powerful, but something about it felt... wrong. This being hadn't felt like the true Zephiron-no, this was just a manifestation. It had been a challenge, yes, but not the true trial.

The winds had settled, and with them, Elias felt the oppressive weight that had been crushing the city lift. The once-turbulent skies now seemed eerily calm, a strange silence hanging in the air.

Elias wiped the sweat from his brow, his thoughts tumbling over each other. "That wasn't the real Zephiron," he muttered to himself.

The storm god's final words echoed in his mind. "You are stronger than I imagined..."

But what did that mean? If this was not the true Zephiron, then who had he just faced? Was this some kind of test from the Trial, a prelude to the god's full power?

Zephiron-the name sent a shiver through Elias's spine. He had heard of this god in passing-his name whispered as one of the most dangerous entities in the heavens, a being who commanded the very elements and could shape the skies themselves with a thought. If the god standing before him had been only a manifestation, a fraction of Zephiron's true power, then Elias could only imagine the devastation the real Zephiron could unleash.

The pieces were falling into place, but they didn't make sense.

"Elias?" Althea's voice cut through his thoughts. She and Lyra had approached cautiously, their faces painted with both concern and awe. They had seen the storm rage, but the battle had ended so abruptly. Elias could see in their eyes the same uncertainty he felt.

"It's over," Elias said, his voice steady, though there was an underlying tension. He turned to face them. "But it wasn't the real Zephiron. That was just a manifestation, a trial. The true Zephiron is far stronger."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? If that was a test, then what awaits us in the Trial?"

Elias shook his head, his gaze narrowing as he thought about the storm that had ravaged the city, the god that had appeared out of nowhere. The storm had been something he couldn't ignore, and he realized now that it was a sign-an omen of the true challenge ahead.

"There's something more to this," he murmured.

"The Trial's real challenge isn't just within the

Tower. It's out here. Outside the Tower's walls. I've felt it... that god wasn't the real Zephiron. It's possible this trial was never meant to test us inside the Tower alone. We need to prepare ourselves. The gods of this world are moving, and they're not just waiting for us to climb the

Tower."

Althea and Lyra exchanged a glance, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and determination.

Elias could feel the weight of their gazes upon him. The storm outside had been a trial-one

that could not be ignored. It was a warning.

But more than that, it was a challenge. And Elias had no intention of backing down.

The storm had passed, but the real battle was just beginning.