The twin waves of condensed abyssal energy slammed into the alliance's shield wall the second the Sovereign's voice faded, a deafening crash that shook the entire first layer cavern to its bedrock. The Iron Mountain warriors grunted under the force of the impact, their boots digging into the black stone floor, their massive shields locked together to form an unbreakable bulwark. The abyssal energy washed over the golden barrier of their combined earth spiritual energy, hissing and dissolving against the chaotic light infused into every shield, but the warriors held their ground, their resolve unshakable even in the face of the two colossal guardians' overwhelming power.
The two abyssal guardians let out synchronized, thunderous roars, their massive frames towering over the alliance formation, their four arms each swinging a spiked mace wreathed in searing abyssal fire. They charged forward in perfect unison, their steps shaking the cavern floor, their maces swinging in coordinated, earth-shattering arcs that aimed to shatter the alliance's shield line in a single blow. The scar-faced elder roared in defiance, sprinting forward to meet the lead guardian's strike, his spiritual axe blazing with chaotic light as he swung it to block the mace. The collision sent a shockwave rippling through the formation, sending the elder stumbling backward a single step, but he held his ground, his jaw set in a fierce scowl.
The Flying Sword Sect disciples took to the sky the second the guardians charged, splitting into two coordinated teams, their blades glowing with infused chaotic light. One team dove toward the first guardian, slicing at its unarmored joints and the glowing runes carved into its chest, while the second team harried the second guardian, striking fast and vanishing before the beast could retaliate. Their blades sliced deep into the guardians' flesh, but the wounds closed instantly, the abyssal runes on the gate flaring bright purple to heal the beasts, just as the Sovereign had promised. No matter how many strikes landed, no matter how deep the cuts, the guardians regenerated instantly, their power undimmed, their fury growing with every passing second.
"They really are unkillable!" a young Flying Sword disciple shouted, diving out of the way of a swinging mace that shattered the stone where he had been hovering a heartbeat before. "Every wound heals instantly! We can't wear them down!"
The Azure Cloud Sect Master stood at the center of the formation, his eyes closed, his spiritual senses stretched to their limit, probing the twisted runes on the massive abyssal gate and the matching runes carved into the guardians' chests. He had spent his life studying ancient runic magic, the same magic that had sealed the Sovereign away centuries ago, and he could see the binding threads now, the invisible chains that linked the guardians' life force to the gate's core runes, and through them, directly to the Sovereign's will.
"The runes on their chests are linked to the four core runes on the gate!" the Sect Master shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of the battle. "As long as those core runes stand, the guardians will never die! They're just extensions of the gate's power! We need to shatter the four core runes at the same time—only then will the binding break, and the guardians will become mortal!"
Chen Fan's gaze locked onto the gate, his eyes sharp as he studied the four massive, glowing purple runes carved into the gate's corners, each one pulsing in time with the guardians' heartbeats. The Sovereign had designed this defense perfectly—any single rune shattered would be instantly repaired by the other three, and the guardians would never let the alliance get close enough to strike all four at once. But the Sovereign had forgotten one thing: the alliance did not fight as individuals. They fought as one.
"Listen up!" Chen Fan shouted, his voice ringing with authority, carrying to every warrior in the formation, even over the guardians' roars. "Iron Mountain Hall, hold the front line! Keep the guardians occupied, don't let them break through! Flying Sword Sect, split into four teams! Each team targets one of the core runes on the gate! Azure Cloud elders, you'll channel your runic magic into each team's blades, to weaken the runes' defenses! Flowing Water Clan, keep our warriors' spiritual energy full, keep them fighting! When I give the signal, every team strikes their rune at the exact same time! No mistakes, no delays!"
Every warrior obeyed without hesitation, shifting into their positions with flawless, disciplined precision. The Iron Mountain warriors pushed forward, their shields locked, their axes and spears blazing with chaotic light, drawing the guardians' full attention and keeping them occupied at the front of the formation. The scar-faced elder led the charge, his axe swinging in wide, devastating arcs that forced the two guardians to focus all their energy on blocking his strikes, leaving the gate unguarded for a split second.
The Flying Sword disciples split into four equal teams, each led by a seasoned elder, their blades infused with the Azure Cloud Sect's runic weakening magic, their positions perfectly aligned with the four core runes on the gate. The Flowing Water healers wove continuous waves of restorative light, replenishing the warriors' spiritual energy, keeping their focus sharp, their bodies uninjured. Every part of the alliance's machine worked in perfect harmony, every warrior knowing their role, every movement coordinated to the heartbeat of their unified strength.
"NOW!" Chen Fan shouted, channeling the full power of the restored Chaos Root, sending a wave of golden-purple light surging into every disciple's blade, amplifying their power tenfold.
The four Flying Sword teams dove forward in perfect synchronization, their blades blazing with the combined power of the chaotic light and runic magic, each team striking their target core rune at the exact same heartbeat. The four runes shattered in unison, a deafening crack echoing through the cavern, the purple light of the gate fading instantly. The binding chains that linked the guardians to the gate snapped, the runes on the beasts' chests flickering and dying, their regenerative power gone in an instant.
The two guardians froze mid-strike, their eyes widening with shock as they felt their immortality vanish. The scar-faced elder seized the opening, swinging his axe with every ounce of his strength, cleaving through the first guardian's core with a single, devastating blow. The beast let out a final, agonized roar before its form crumbled to dust, its abyssal energy purified by the chaotic light on the elder's axe. At the same time, the Flying Sword teams swarmed the second guardian, their blades piercing its core from all sides, dissolving its form completely before it could even react.
The alliance let out a deafening cheer, their voices ringing through the now-silent cavern. They had faced the unkillable guardians, had outsmarted the Sovereign's trap, and had emerged victorious, their unity unbroken, their strength still intact. The massive abyssal gate before them rumbled, its cracked and broken runes fading away, the barrier to the second layer of the rift swinging open with a low, grinding sound.
Beyond the gate lay the second layer of the Abyss Primordial Rift, a vast, twisting expanse of floating stone platforms suspended over an endless void of inky black darkness. The air was thinner here, the oppressive weight of the Sovereign's power even stronger, and the distant sound of cracking stone echoed through the void—the sound of the main seal's layers breaking apart, one by one.
Chen Fan stepped forward to lead the alliance through the gate, the Chaos Root floating at his side, its light blazing brighter to cut through the void's darkness. But as he stepped onto the first floating stone platform, a low, menacing rumble echoed through the void, and the Abyss Sovereign's massive projection manifested before them, towering over the floating platforms, his eyes burning like twin stars of abyssal fire.
"You've made it further than I expected, mortals," the Sovereign said, his voice cold and ancient, dripping with contempt. "But you're too late. The second layer seal is already broken. My forces are already tearing through the third and final layer as we speak. By the time you reach the core of the rift, the main seal will be shattered. I will walk free in your realm. And there is nothing you can do to stop it."
As the words left his lips, the void around them erupted with thousands of abyssal beasts, swarming the floating platforms from all sides, led by a dozen abyssal generals, each as strong as the gatekeeper they had defeated at the rift's entrance. The alliance was surrounded, trapped on the floating platforms, with nowhere to run, the endless void below them, the horde closing in from all sides.
Chen Fan raised the Chaos Root high, its golden-purple light blazing to full intensity, and turned to the warriors behind him. Every face was set with resolve, no fear in their eyes. They had come too far to turn back now.