"If what you say is true, then we are in for so serious trouble," Lucien said, his brows drawn together as he studied the corrupted interior of the temple with growing unease.
Max nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping across the dark hall and the living red vines that crept along every surface. "Do not touch anything," he warned in a firm voice. "Be careful of everything. Even the air here may not be what it seems."
With that, Max and Lucien moved forward, taking the lead as the group advanced cautiously into the depths of the Celestial Beast Temple. This place had once been the sacred temple of the Four Divine Beasts, a sanctuary ant to preserve their legacy and authority.
Now, after being tainted by the influence of the True Origin Devil Blood, there was no telling what kinds of abominations or twisted guardians might have taken root within its walls. Every step they took echoed softly, and the oppressive energy pressing against their bodies made it difficult to relax even for a mont.
After walking through several corridors choked with crimson vines and warped stone, they arrived before an enormous hall. It was vast and circular, clearly ant to serve as the main hall of the temple. The walls on all four sides were engraved with towering reliefs of the Azure Dragon, the Golden Phoenix, the White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise.
Even in their defiled state, the carvings still carried an overwhelming pressure that spoke of ancient divine authority. At the center of the hall floated a massive blue sphere, suspended in midair without any visible support. It radiated a unique and steady energy that contrasted sharply with the dark corruption surrounding it.
"That is…" Aden muttered as he stared at the sphere, his expression filled with recognition and uncertainty.
Max turned to him imdiately. "Do you know what this is?"
Aden exchanged glances with Alexander and the other two leaders of the Four God Nation. Seeing them nod in agreent, he took a breath before answering. "We have a floating artifact exactly like this back in our world, although it is much smaller in size. It has existed since ancient tis and has always been guarded closely."
Max's eyes narrowed slightly. "What does it do?"
This ti, Alexander stepped forward to explain. "It channels the bloodline power of all four of us together. When activated, it opens a portal to a secret treasure chamber left behind by the Four Divine Beasts. Judging by the sheer size and energy output of this one, I believe it does not open a simple chamber. It likely opens a pathway to another section of the temple itself, possibly a deeper and more important area."
Max nodded in understanding, but before he could speak further, his expression changed abruptly. He turned around in an instant, his senses flaring. "Everyone, prepare yourselves," he shouted.
The seven squad leaders and the four leaders of the Four God Nation reacted imdiately, drawing power and shifting into combat stances. A low rumble spread through the hall, vibrating through the stone beneath their feet. Cracks began to form across the floor, glowing faintly before chunks of stone tore themselves free and rose into the air.
From the shattered floor, figures began to form. One rock golem erged, then another, then another. Their bodies assembled rapidly from stone fragnts, each one taking on a massive humanoid shape. There was no end to their creation, as more and more golems rose from the ground.
Each of them radiated the aura of a divine beast, so carrying the oppressive might of the White Tiger, others the burning presence of the Phoenix, the thunderous power of the Azure Dragon, or the immovable defense of the Black Tortoise. Their strength surged to the peak of the Divine Rank, making them formidable opponents even for seasoned experts.
"Seniors," Max called out sharply, his mind already calculating the situation, "you four open the portal. The rest of you keep the golems busy."
His orders only confird what everyone was already doing. The four leaders of the Four God Nation rushed toward the massive blue sphere at the center of the hall, placing their hands against it and beginning to pour their bloodline essence into its surface.
At the sa ti, the seven squad leaders surged forward to intercept the advancing golems. Blades flashed, flas roared, lightning cracked, and ice spread across the stone floor as the clash erupted instantly.
The Celestial Beast Temple shook as battle began, and the corrupted hall echoed with the sounds of war, signaling that whatever lay beyond the portal would not be reached without a fight.
Max and Lucien stood between the two fronts, neither joining the battle against the golems nor assisting the four leaders at the sphere. They simply observed.
Max's eyes followed every movent with cold clarity while Lucien kept his senses expanded, ready to react if the situation spiraled beyond control. The number of rock golems continued to rise without pause, their bodies forming endlessly from the corrupted stone floor, each one carrying the aura of a divine beast and attacking with relentless coordination. The pressure on the seven squad leaders grew heavier with every passing mont.
"Would they be fine?" Lucien asked quietly as he watched the squad leaders fend off wave after wave of golems, their figures flickering under the strain of constant combat.
"They should be," Max replied with a calm nod. "What they endured in Nullaria was far worse than this. If they cannot hold here, then they were never ant to step further into this temple."
As the battle raged on, the four leaders of the Four God Nation remained focused, continuously pouring their bloodline essence into the massive blue sphere. The artifact responded gradually, its surface shifting from a deep blue into a radiant golden hue.
The light intensified until it pulsed like a living sun, and then, without warning, it expanded outward. The golden radiance swallowed everyone present, severing the battlefield in an instant. Sound vanished. Space folded.
When sensation returned, Max and the others found themselves standing in yet another hall. At first glance, it appeared identical to the previous one, with the sa towering walls and divine beast carvings etched into the stone. However, sothing was missing.
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