As everyone's hands touched the Heart of Light, a warm and sacred energy instantly flowed through each person's body. The light in the room grew even brighter, as if a pure and peaceful atmosphere permeated the air. However, after this moment of tranquility, the sounds coming from outside the door became clearer, as if someone was struggling to break through numerous obstacles, attempting to enter this place.
The mysterious woman stared sharply at the doorway: "No matter what's outside, we can only face it together now. The power of the Heart of Light is not easily obtained; it requires sincerity and cooperation."
Arya gripped her bow and arrow tightly and nodded firmly: "We will not give up, no matter if the outside world is friend or foe."
Karl took a deep breath, his longsword poised to strike: "In that case, let's prepare our defenses first."
Just as they assumed their defensive stance, the stone wall trembled again, slowly opening a gap. A man clad in heavy armor and wielding a giant axe appeared at the entrance, followed by several equally well-equipped warriors. Their eyes gleamed with greed and fanaticism; they were clearly competitors ruthless in their pursuit of the Source of Light.
"Ha! It seems you've found the Heart of Light." The leader sneered, waving his giant axe. "Then, let's have a 'fair' contest and let the stronger one become its owner!"
Arthur replied dismissively, "Strength is not everything. If you rely solely on brute force to seize what does not belong to you, you will ultimately fail."
The enemy was clearly enraged, and with a wave of his hand, he signaled his men to attack. "Charge!" Instantly, the sound of clashing metal echoed through the room again, and the fierce battle erupted once more.
Meanwhile, more clamorous voices arose in the distance, indicating that other teams had joined the fray. An elderly man who had been watching for some time exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, I never imagined so many people would fight tooth and nail for the same treasure. This world is truly full of desire!"
The young merchant watching the battle from the sidelines added, "To be honest, it's really exciting to watch these heroes fight so fiercely. Especially the movements of those guardians, they're so cool! I don't think I've ever seen such skilled martial artists before."
The mysterious woman frowned almost imperceptibly upon hearing this: "I hope this conflict can end as soon as possible, otherwise it may bring unexpected consequences."
Just as the two sides were fiercely clashing, suddenly the Heart of Light emitted an even more brilliant light, as if the entire space was filled with its radiance. Everyone who was fighting involuntarily stopped, staring blankly at the incredible scene before them—the Heart of Light slowly rose into the air and split into several smaller but still dazzling orbs of light, hovering above everyone's heads!
Everyone was extremely surprised, and even their previously hostile gazes turned to confusion. "What on earth is going on?" Lorenzo asked, his eyes wide.
The Guardian's figure reappeared, his tone now tinged with admiration: "Very good, the Heart of Light has finally sensed the precious trust and spirit of mutual assistance in your hearts. Now, please accept the final test: each participant will have a small orb of light waiting to be touched. Whoever can perceive this power with a pure and untainted heart will achieve true victory. Remember, only sincerity can move it."
After hearing this, everyone turned their attention to the light source overhead. Although still uneasy, they knew the most important thing at this moment was to concentrate and strengthen their willpower. The surroundings gradually returned to calm, and everyone held their breath, awaiting this moment… Who would be the first to gain recognition?
Meanwhile, certain forces lurking in the shadows are also stirring. Will they choose to intervene at this crucial moment? How will future developments unfold? All of this remains to be seen…
Just as everyone's attention was focused on the light source above their heads, a deep and authoritative voice suddenly came from inside the room: "How interesting. I didn't expect the Heart of Light to choose such a way to test everyone." This sudden voice immediately attracted the attention of everyone present, even those who had just been concentrating on sensing the light sphere were interrupted.
The mysterious woman frowned: "Who are you? Why are you here?"
A burly man with a cunning smile slowly emerged from the shadows. He wore a black robe and a hood, revealing only a pair of eyes that gleamed with a cold light. "My name is Derek," he said, his voice carrying a chilling undertone. "I come representing a powerful force that is extremely interested in this treasure. Originally, we planned to wait until you had exhausted all your strength before reaping the rewards, but now the situation seems to have changed... But it doesn't matter, in that case, let me join the game as well."
Karl gripped his longsword tightly, glaring at the uninvited guest: "You won't get away with this! We will never let you lay a finger on the Heart of Light!"
“Hmph,” Derek chuckled dismissively, “Looks like you’ve got some backbone. But you should know that in the face of absolute power, any resistance is futile.”
Just as the two sides were locked in a tense standoff, a series of chaotic sounds came from outside the door. Several people dressed in identical clothes burst into the room, clearly Derek's men. They quickly surrounded Arya and the others, forming an impenetrable defensive circle. "Master, the outer perimeter is under our control. What's the next step?" one of them asked in a low voice.
An elderly man in the crowd shook his head upon seeing this: "Oh dear, things are getting more and more complicated. What an era full of unknowns and dangers." The young man echoed, "It is indeed worrying. I wonder how these guardians will deal with such a dire situation. After all, the opponent's strength does not seem to be underestimated."
The mysterious woman turned to Arthur and the others: "Gentlemen, the situation is more complicated than we anticipated. We must find a way to break through our current predicament before we can have a chance to touch the Heart of Light."
Arthur nodded firmly: "No matter what, we cannot allow evil people to taint this pure power. We must protect it even if it costs us our lives."
Lorenzo took a deep breath and stepped forward: "Then let's unite to fight this powerful enemy! Only in this way can we achieve victory!" With that, the heroes exchanged glances and then charged towards the enemy. A fierce battle ensued, and the sound of clashing weapons echoed through the room once more.
Despite being significantly outnumbered, they managed to maintain a temporary balance of power through excellent teamwork and unwavering willpower. An elderly onlooker exclaimed in admiration, "Unbelievable! These young warriors seem far braver and more capable than I imagined. No wonder they were chosen by the Heart of Light!"
Meanwhile, another group of people were quietly observing everything from a secluded corner not far away. "Captain, do you think it's time to make our move and steal that treasure?" a team member asked in a low voice to the man beside him who appeared to be the leader.
After a moment's thought, the leader replied, "Let's wait and see. There are still quite a few potential variables. It's not too late to talk about it when the situation is clearer. Besides..." His gaze suddenly became meaningful, "...who knows, we might end up profiting from it..."
As the battle intensified, the entire space suddenly trembled violently once more. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the source of the light—the small orbs of light that had been hovering above their heads had suddenly merged into an even more dazzling entity, which slowly rose into the air…
"What's going on?!" someone couldn't help but shout.
The mysterious woman's expression shifted slightly: "Could it be... that the real test is about to begin?"
At this crucial moment, the Guardian's voice echoed throughout the space once more: "The real challenge has only just begun. May the purest heart guide your way..."
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