Deep within the ruined divine temple, flames still flickered, their echoes dancing across cracked walls and shattered pillars. The battlefield was reduced to cinders and silence.
Lin You knelt, chest heaving, his fingers trembling against stone scorched black. His Tree Spirit was gone—burned out completely. The glowing vine sigil on his chest pulsed weakly, dimming with each heartbeat.
> **[Current Health: 22%]**
> **[Guardian's Seal: Expended]**
> **[Godmandate Status: Critical Condition]**
He could barely breathe.
"Another hit… and I'm done," Lin You muttered, his voice hoarse, lips cracked from heat.
Footsteps staggered toward him—barely audible over the embers.
Light-Water, Y2189, collapsed beside him, blood trickling from her temple. Without a word, she pressed her palm against his back.
> **[Skill Activated: Tidal Blessing]**
> – Immediate health stabilization
> – Vital threshold reinforced
> – Regeneration rate enhanced for 12 seconds
Water rippled outward in a soft, circular pulse, bathing Lin You in healing light.
"Don't die," she whispered. "You're the Godmandate Executor. We're the Light… and we protect our own."
Lin You didn't reply. His eyes burned—not from pain, but something deeper.
It wasn't the system prompt that struck him.
It was her voice.
Her belief.
—Faith required sacrifice.
**
A blast shook the platform.
On the far end of the temple, Light-Fire had entered a duel of annihilation with one of the Dark-Fire enforcers. Flame collided with flame—searing gold clashing with abyssal red.
Blazing tongues curled through the air like serpents.
Sunflare met Scorchbrand.
> **[Skill Clash: Blazing Cross vs. Bloodfire Cleave]**
A direct hit threw Light-Fire back, his weapon scorched, aura flickering. He dropped to one knee, coughing up blood.
"I'll handle it," came a low voice.
Light-Metal stepped forward.
No flashy spell.
No chant.
Only a battered golden shield, raised between Lin You and the incoming chaos.
"I once heard a phrase from the Church of Judgment," he said quietly. "If you can't uphold justice…"
"…then let your body become the wall."
> **[Skill Activated: Final Verdict – Aegis Core]**
> – Convert user into absolute defense node
> – Duration: 10 seconds
> – Redirects all incoming damage toward self
> – Cannot move or heal during activation
The Dark-Metal Executor on the other side saw through the ploy. He grinned coldly and launched his ultimate.
> **[Skill: Razor Edge · Triple Execution]**
> – Three fatal strikes delivered in sequence
> – Pierces all standard armor
Steel clashed against steel.
> **[Aegis Integrity: 68% → 29% → 0%]**
The shield shattered.
Blood exploded behind it.
> **[Faithholder S0319 · Status: Fallen]**
Lin You roared. "You didn't have to—!"
But the man didn't respond.
He had already chosen.
He had become the wall.
**
The world slowed.
Lin You's body screamed. His soul screamed louder.
Across the battlefield, Y0711—the Dark-Fire Executor—strode calmly forward, flames dancing across his shoulders. His gaze was calm, amused.
"This is the end, little apostle," he said. "Your wall is broken. Your healer is bleeding. Your fire's gone dim."
Lin You rose slowly, one final Tree Spirit seed clenched in his palm.
The sigil on his chest flared.
"No…"
"It's not over yet."
> **[Triggering: Faith Resonance]**
> **[You have awakened the second phase of your Divine Mark]**
> **[Qingshen's Blessing: Vinebound Sanctuary] Activated**
> **Skill Evolved: Tree Spirit Summon → Verdant Domain**
> • **Effect**: Creates a healing field across the entire zone
> • All Light-Faith allies receive continuous regeneration
> • Central Executor gains "Blooming Immunity":
> – Immune to Burn, Poison, Crowd Control
A surge of green erupted from Lin You's feet.
Vines coiled outward in spirals, wrapping the platform in light.
The dead tree was reborn—this time as a forest.
His spirit didn't return as one guardian—it returned as hundreds, woven into a dome of life, shielding everything behind him.
Y2189's wounds closed.
Even the fallen Light-Fire stirred.
"What the…" she gasped. "You… evolved?"
Lin You stepped forward, eyes glowing faint green, voice steady despite the blood in his throat.
"I'm not just trying to survive anymore."
"I want to win."
Above them, the system issued the final countdown:
> **[Godmandate Trial: Final Countdown – 03:00 Remaining]**
> **Victory Conditions Calculated by Survival, Mission Fulfillment, Faith Resonance Strength]**
Lin You moved past the shattered shield.
He no longer stood behind the wall.
Now—he was the one holding the line.
The Light they'd protected… had become the blade.