Floating Island - Triple S Talent

"Excuse me, Sir... did you ask about them earlier?"

Aurora, who had just regained consciousness, stood not far from Lein. Her eyes, filled with doubt and fear, looked at the leader, seeking confirmation of her previous question.

Lein turned, his gaze calm yet sharp, observing Aurora, who seemed to be trying hard to maintain her composure. In an instant, he realized the girl was attempting to conceal her nervousness.

"Yes," Lein finally replied, his voice low but commanding. "Do you know them?"

Aurora swallowed hard as Lein approached, the distance between them shrinking. Her body trembled slightly, but she forced herself to stand tall.

After taking a deep breath, she answered cautiously, "Yes, Sir, I know them."

Aurora began her explanation, trying to recall the details she once knew.

"They are Guardians who ruled centuries ago," she said, her eyes glancing briefly toward Hanes and Kaelth, still locked in a fierce battle.

"Kaelth, the scaled Guardian, comes from the realm of Drakmorath—a place where the mighty dragon race ruled with power extending to various corners of the cosmos."

Aurora paused briefly before continuing, now pointing toward Hanes.

"And the man with the golden brush is Guardian Hanes, protector of the Arcathar realm. A realm where the Arcathar race, cultivators with extraordinary abilities, are the rulers."

Lein listened intently, occasionally nodding slightly while envisioning the two realms described. His eyes stared into the distance, trying to piece together this new information in his mind.

"You know quite a lot," he finally remarked, his tone reflecting deep curiosity.

"How long have you been a Guardian?"

Aurora did not answer immediately. She appeared to be thinking, her brows slightly furrowed as if digging up long-buried memories. After a moment, she opened her mouth, a sorrowful expression reflected in her eyes.

"I... am not actually an original Guardian," she said, her voice trembling.

"Our former Guardian fell in a great battle, and as the strongest in my realm, I was forced to take on the role. To become the new Guardian, leading the Cryon race."

As she spoke those words, Aurora\'s posture changed. Her shoulders, which had been slightly slumped, now lifted, and the look in her eyes showed extraordinary determination.

Lein could clearly see that this girl, despite being wounded and burdened with great responsibility, had endured with remarkable strength.

"Thank you," Lein said in a flat tone, yet full of meaning.

Aurora\'s answer made his thoughts drift, imagining what the Divine Sky Realm would become without him.

With the unification of realms and the threat posed by the Guardians who were ready to invade, he knew for certain that humanity was on the brink of extinction.

His anger flared up once more. Lein would not allow these Guardians to return to their realms without his permission. With a sweep of his awareness, he sensed the presence of other Guardians hiding around the battlefield, watching the duel between Kaelth and Hanes.

Lein shifted his gaze back to the battlefield. Hanes now stood firm, both hands clasped in front of his chest. From a distance, Lein could feel an immense concentration of energy swirling and gathering in Hanes\'s hands.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the air right above Hanes, slowly expanding as if the very dimension itself was about to break open.

Lein refocused his attention on the battle in the void.

Hanes, standing tall in the center of the arena, slowly clasped his hands. The movement radiated an intense aura that rippled around him, as though summoning great power from beyond the dimension.

Within seconds, the air above him fractured like a shattered mirror. The rift widened, and from within it, a massive altar slowly emerged.

The altar was grand and intimidating, surrounded by twelve towering golden pillars. At its center stood a majestic golden throne, emanating a pressure so overwhelming it seemed to crush the surrounding space.

"You\'re getting serious now?" Kaelth, standing in the distance, stared at Hanes with sharp eyes.

He showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a faint smile played on his lips. Not wanting to be outdone, Kaelth began performing intricate hand movements. His fingers danced in the air, forming mysterious patterns until both hands came together in a clap.

"Come forth..."

The sky above Kaelth began to crack slowly, mimicking what had happened to Hanes earlier. A similar altar appeared through the rift, radiating an equally powerful aura. The altar descended slowly, each of its movements seeming to shake the space.

"Hahaha... this is getting interesting!" Kaelth laughed, his voice echoing throughout the void.

"Who will die this time?"

From the edge of the battlefield, an old man with dark skin, who had been watching without interest from the start, slowly opened his eyes. His once drowsy gaze now sharpened, observing Hanes and Kaelth with a look of pity.

"They are both so unaware," he muttered softly, his voice barely a whisper. "They are fighting in the presence of a monster."

Zkeron, the old man, then glanced briefly at Lein, who sat calmly atop his energy bubble.

"What?!" Zkeron was suddenly startled. In an instant, Lein had moved to stand before him, calmly balanced atop his dreamlike bubble.

"Hi," Lein greeted softly, his smile relaxed yet full of meaning. The energy of the large bubble surrounding him began to glow softly, but beneath its calm exterior, there was a piercing sense of threat.

Zkeron, momentarily shocked, took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself.

"Hello, Young Master. A pleasure to meet you. I am Zkeron," he said, regaining his casual demeanor.

Lein wasted no time. "Are you interested in a proposition?" he asked directly, producing a white parchment adorned with ancient writings. The parchment floated gently toward Zkeron.

Zkeron\'s eyes narrowed as he caught the parchment. He read it carefully, and his initially relaxed smile turned into a wide grin. After a moment, he let out a booming laugh that echoed throughout the space.

"Hahaha... do you truly understand the consequences of this?"

Zkeron asked, his tone now sharp and threatening. His cold, piercing gaze locked directly onto Lein.

Lein merely gave a faint, enigmatic smile. "There\'s no need," he replied casually, "because you will die right now."

As Lein uttered those words, a crystal suddenly materialized out of thin air beside him.

The crystal emitted a soft yet sacred glow, with a symbol of a clock spinning slowly at its center. Its aura was both soothing and intimidating, as if it embodied destiny and death simultaneously.