Chapter 182: Guardian of the Twelve Palaces

Although the instructions claimed that weapons couldn’t be used at the same time, it only meant that attributes and passive skills couldn’t stack. With that, Miss Vilyric held the 【Eternal Staff · Heart of the World】 in one hand, while a black orb floated beside her, and she continued to take steps forward.

The large temple door connected to what seemed like a reception hall, with two rows of black stone pillars supporting the dome, stretching forward. The ground, like translucent crystal, reflected the solitary figure of the White Robed Girl. Further away, to both sides, was an endless abyss of darkness, obscuring whatever lay beyond.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

Miss Vilyric walked forward step by step, the short boots from 【Feather Dress · Glarya】 tapping melodically against the smooth floor, creating a crisp sound that reverberated in the empty, tranquil hall, like a fantastical note signaling mystery and the unknown.

Until…

As she took another step, the moment her foot landed on the crystalline ground, the world shifted drastically!

“Ding!”

Miss Vilyric calmly raised her hand, using the staff wrapped in golden light to block the incoming strike from a greatsword. The magical gem shot out black beams like a floating cannon, easily piercing through the enemy’s body. The Avatar of Light behind the girl swiftly followed up, brandishing a spear in a diagonal cut, cleaving the Black-armored Knight that had suddenly appeared beside the Priestess in two pieces.

However, the towering knight, over three meters tall and clad in pitch-black armor, did not collapse to the ground. Instead, after being sliced in half, he quickly dissolved into wisps of smoke, reappearing about five to six meters away from the Priestess, raising his greatsword and glaring menacingly at the White Robed Girl.

“What the hell?”

The Priestess tilted her head in confusion, watching the suddenly appearing enemy. Then, sensing something, she turned to look around.

Unbeknownst to her, more than a dozen high-level warriors, resembling the earlier Black-armored Knight, had encircled her. Each bore different weapons, and the patterns on their armor varied noticeably. To be honest, Miss Vilyric couldn’t help but feel a bit like…

“We are the guardians of the Twelve Palaces under the Pseudo-God! Beings who enter the temple without a token or qualification will have to pass our trials if you wish to continue!”

Wow! There really are twelve of you! By the way, do any of you know the Pegasus Meteor Fist?

Okay, it felt a bit ridiculous, but they were clearly serious. The earlier movements and momentum of that greatsword knight were clearly aimed at taking the enemy’s life, and the surroundings shifted dramatically when they reached a certain distance in the temple.

In short, this place was a sealed ancient arena.

Miss Vilyric was actually quite familiar with arenas. Her holy accessory set, 【Iron-Blood Arena】, had a similar ability, but this place seemed more humane; it didn’t restrict the entrants’ abilities. In other words, they could go all out and fight freely inside.

It was evident that they were still within the temple, but Miss Vilyric had noticed earlier that, while the inside seemed normal in size, it had actually been specially divided into several independent spaces by a powerful presence. Just stepping in would instantly transport one to another area.

Thus, in other words, this was the necessary passage to the deeper parts of the temple. Anyone wishing to uncover the hidden secrets within the temple would inevitably have to traverse through this arena.

“The trials left by the Pseudo-God, huh? He sure is harsh on heirs ~”

Shaking her head helplessly, the Black-haired Girl stepped forward.

Although the Priestess had no intention of inheriting any divine title, these twelve peak Pseudo-God guardians were clearly not ordinary opponents. For example, the strongest one she currently knew of, the 【Gatekeeper】 Min Chen, might handle three or four at once, but taking on all twelve was definitely a losing battle.

Similarly, Miss Vilyric didn’t think Sylvester had the ability to defeat all twelve guardians simultaneously; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so hesitant and always acted from the shadows.

It appeared he had avoided the trials here by using the 【token】 the greatsword knight mentioned earlier. This guy really came prepared.

“Hey, I say, have you seen this ball? It’s also one of the Pseudo-God’s artifacts; can’t it count as a token?”

Pointing at the floating 【Gem of the Pseudo-God】 beside her, the Priestess seemed to have gotten through to the guardians, who all turned to look at it and exchanged glances.

However, they did not back down.

“The only token permitted by our master’s decree is the 【Pseudo-God’s Sigil】. In any other case, even a holder of one of the six artifacts cannot make exceptions; the trial must proceed!”

After delivering the declaration emphatically, the greatsword knight pivoted and continued.

“However, since you possess one of the master’s six artifacts and have received his recognition, according to the rules, we can make a slight concession. If you abandon your advance and exit the temple, we twelve guardians will not pursue further, at least sparing your life. Otherwise, if the trial begins, life and death will be decided!”

“Quite humane, huh… Alright, alright, you’ve done your duty, but I refuse!”

After smiling and making her stance clear, the Priestess raised her staff, abandoning any last attempts at negotiation.

Since a fight was inevitable, then let’s fight. Although Miss Vilyric wasn’t a fan of battles, she had never feared facing an enemy.

Moreover…

“By the way, not to brag or anything, but you think a bunch of you Pseudo-Gods can just block me? Do you really think that just because you can’t take me down, you’re unbeatable?”

“Well then, the trial begins!!!”

Ignoring the Priestess’s deliberately tactical taunts and provocation, the leading greatsword knight shouted loudly, and the twelve guardians stepped forward simultaneously, raising their weapons high!

Beneath them, twelve different patterned magic formations glowed, transforming into pillars of light that shot up into the sky, perfectly surrounding Miss Vilyric in the center!

“Forbidden · Guardian Formation of the Twelve Demon Gods!”

“Boom!!!!”

Twelve dazzling pillars of light erupted, intertwining and connecting in a massive cylindrical barrier that enveloped the entire arena.

Magnificent and complex formations emerged beneath her feet and in the sky, unleashing a tremendous pressure centered around the twelve pillars. A strong wind billowed, making the edges of the White Robed Girl’s outfit flap violently, while her beautiful black hair danced in the wind, creating a scene of overwhelming hostility.

Miss Vilyric frowned, her expression surprised.

“Divine Kingdom?”

She wouldn’t mistake this feeling of repulsion and pressure; at least in “form,” the formation unleashed by the twelve guardians was strikingly similar to the divine power of a divine kingdom.

“Sword of Divine Punishment of the Twelve Palaces!”

The black-armored knight’s roar echoed through the air, as the formation swirled, a gigantic sword, exceeding its original dimensions a thousandfold and resembling dark clouds looming over a city, descended upon Miss Vilyric!

   

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