[Godmandate Trial Countdown: 02:59]
The ruined divine sanctuary groaned beneath the pressure of opposing forces.
Flames twisted in midair, licking at shattered archways, while emerald vines glowed and pulsed like living veins of light. The battlefield was no longer just broken stone and scorched earth—it was a war between two realities: destruction and renewal.
Lin You stood at the center of the vinebound domain, the last bulwark of the Light faction. The glowing vines formed a spiraling dome around him, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat, shielding the last fragments of their team.
Behind him, only two allies remained:
—Y2189, the Light-Water healer, her breathing shallow as she channeled the last charges of her **Tidal Blessing**
—L3284, the Light-Fire gunner, his body scorched and armor cracked, gripping a single remaining **Solar Burst Shell**
Before them, the enemy remained strong.
Four Dark-aligned Faithholders still stood. At their center: Y0711, the Dark-Fire Executor.
Untouched.
Unshaken.
Unimpressed.
He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His presence filled the crumbling temple like smoke—suffocating, inevitable.
> **[Godmandate Executor Lock-on Confirmed]**
> **[Trial Core Engagement Phase: Final Clash Initiated]**
> **[Victory Condition: Executor vs. Executor · Outcome Determines Faith Supremacy]**
Light-Fire coughed blood and grunted, "Why can't the system just judge who has more faith and let that side win?"
Light-Water's reply was softer, almost reverent: "Because true faith isn't judged by code."
Lin You took a slow breath, eyes fixed on the dark flames beyond the dome.
Then the system chimed again:
> **[Skill Evolution Activated · Vinebound Grace: Phase 2 Unlocked]**
> – **Skill: Verdant Offering**
> • Target a single enemy
> • Upon impact, one of two effects trigger:
> – *Healing Seal*: against Light-aligned or neutral target
> – *Binding Thorns*: against Dark-aligned or countered attribute
> • Trigger based on alignment + elemental relationship
Lin You stepped forward, each motion steady.
Facing Y0711, he called out—not with anger, but with conviction:
"You ever think about what you've burned?"
Y0711 raised an eyebrow, then gave a slow, mocking smile. "What we burn?" he echoed. "We burn weakness. Illusion. All that pretends to be Light but fears to ignite."
Flames surged from his palm.
> **[Skill: Scorch God's Wrath]**
A great ring of fire ignited around them, sealing the heart of the battlefield in a death circle. The very air shimmered with combustion.
"Come, little Messenger," he whispered. "Let's see your Light."
Lin You didn't flinch.
He placed a hand against the ground. Vines exploded outward, spreading beneath the temple floor, crawling toward the edge of the fire ring. The flames licked at them—but this time, they did not wither.
"I've run before. Lied. Cheated."
He looked over his shoulder—at his fallen, bleeding, and burning allies.
"But they stood for me. Shielded me. Believed."
"I'm done running."
He slammed both palms to the floor.
> **[Skill: Verdant Offering · Target: Y0711]**
A web of vines erupted beneath the Dark-Fire executor, snaring his legs. A single second of hesitation—just enough.
He slashed the vines, but Lin You was already in motion.
He blurred forward, empowered by Light-Wood's reactive surge, his palms glowing with sacred force.
> **[Faith Surge: Light-Wood Barrier Formed]**
> **[Executor Clash Sequence Triggered]**
Lin You's strike connected—vines spiraling around his arms, forming a massive coiled gauntlet as he slammed his palm into Y0711's chest.
> **[Status: Attribute Restraint Bonus · Elemental Clash: Wood vs. Fire]**
> **[Effect Applied: Binding Thorns ×3s]**
> – Target: Silenced, Movement and Burst abilities delayed
Y0711's eyes widened.
His body locked. Flames sputtered from his fingertips—but could not ignite.
"Over."
Lin You's voice rang out as he unleashed his final burst of Light-Wood power.
> **[Skill: Bloomlight Detonation]**
> – Compress remaining faith energy into one divine pulse
> – Detonates at executor contact point
> – Faith collision outcome determines system resolution
He pressed his hand to Y0711's burning sigil.
A pulse of green light exploded across the battlefield.
The dome of vines ruptured into a column of radiance. Cracked stone lifted from the floor, twisted into vines, and burst into motes of light.
> **[Faith Collision Achieved]**
> **[Godmandate Evaluation Sequence: Finalizing...]**
Y0711 was thrown backward, landing hard on one knee.
For the first time, he was panting.
Shaking.
Wounded.
Lin You collapsed in the opposite direction, armor blackened, skin charred, body spent.
> **[Health: 3% · Skill Slots Overloaded · Divine Flow Burnout Detected]**
The system chimed—this time, with solemn clarity.
> **[Countdown Complete: 00:00]**
> **[Trial "Gate of the Fallen God" Concluded]**
> **[Victory State: Evaluating...]**
The silence that followed was sacred.
No one moved.
No one dared breathe.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was belief made manifest.
And the system was deciding which belief... would live on.