Chapter 343 The Villain Lady Arrives 172
At this moment, a gentle and clear voice sounded in their hearts: "Dear warriors, welcome to the trial field of the heart. Here, you will face your deepest fears and desires. Remember, true power does not come from the outside world, but from the purity and determination of your heart. Only by passing this test will you be qualified to inherit the power of the gem."
The voice fell, and the illusion changed again. This time, they came to a familiar scene - that was the place where they had fought together, and every inch of land carried their sweat and tears. However, on this familiar land, many distorted figures appeared. It was the deepest fear and regret in their hearts, which was infinitely magnified and turned into a physical monster, rushing towards them.
"No! I can't let these fears control me!" Rek'Sai roared, swinging his giant axe and fighting fiercely with the monsters transformed by fear. Although each attack seemed so weak, his eyes became more and more determined, as if telling those monsters that he, Rek'Sai, was never afraid of any challenge.
Fiona closed her eyes and began to meditate. She knew that this trial was not only a test of physical strength, but also a spiritual practice. She let her mind sink into the deepest tranquility, to feel the truth behind those fears and desires, to embrace them, and then transcend them.
Estella tightly grasped the staff in her hand, releasing a soft light to provide shelter for her companions. Her heart was filled with trust and love for her companions, and this emotion turned into a powerful force, gradually dissipating the fear and desire around them.
Leah followed Tariq closely, her heart full of dependence and admiration for Tariq. In this fantasy, she saw every little detail between herself and Tariq, and those warm and sweet memories made her feel extremely relieved and happy. She believed that as long as they were together, nothing could stop them from moving forward.
As time went by, the number of monsters in the illusion decreased until the last one disappeared without a trace. They found themselves back in the void interwoven with light and shadow, and the gem was still quietly suspended in the center, emitting a soft and mysterious light.
"Did we... pass?" There was a hint of uncertainty in Leah's voice.
"Yes, we passed." Tariq nodded with a smile, "This is not just a test, but also a baptism of the soul. We have proved the purity and determination of our hearts, and also found the power that truly belongs to us."
Just as Tariq and his companions were immersed in the joy of passing the trial and the sense of achievement of self-transcendence, the situation outside quietly changed. The originally quiet open space was now bustling with people, and all kinds of figures gathered here, their eyes flashing with greed and desire, aiming directly at the gem in Tariq's hands.
"Have you heard? Those demigods have found the treasure and are now immersed in the joy of victory." A wizard in a black robe and with a sinister face whispered to his companion beside him, with a sly smile on his lips.
"Hmph, a bunch of idiots, you think you can enjoy the power alone? There are so many of us, why should we be afraid of them?" Another assassin holding a double blade responded disdainfully, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
As the news spread quickly, more and more people joined this temporarily assembled group. They came from different forces and had different purposes, but at this moment they were united by their common greed.
At the same time, Tariq and others in the illusion did not notice the changes in the outside world. They looked at each other, their eyes flashing with gratitude for surviving the disaster and infinite longing for the future.
"We really did it." Estella said softly, her eyes slightly red, those were tears of joy and emotion.
"Yes, we proved ourselves." Fiona smiled and nodded. She looked at Tariq with tenderness and admiration in her eyes. "All of this is inseparable from your leadership and persistence."
Tariq smiled slightly, with humility and determination in his eyes: "It is our joint efforts that have brought us to where we are today. But now is not the time to relax, we still need to face more challenges."
At this moment, the space in the illusion suddenly began to distort, and a powerful force pulled them out of the void and back to the real world. The sun shone on their faces again, warm and real. However, when they looked around, they were surprised to find that the originally empty venue was surrounded by a dense crowd of people.
"What's going on?" Leah exclaimed, her face full of fear and confusion.
Tariq quickly calmed down. He looked around and had a rough guess in his mind: "It seems that our whereabouts have been exposed. These people are all here for the gem."
"Hmph, a bunch of greedy ants." Rek'Sai snorted coldly, clenching his fists, ready to fight at any time.
"We can't fight head-on. There are too many of us and it's not in our favor." Estella analyzed. She looked at Tariq, waiting for his decision.
Taric pondered for a moment, then gave the order: "Fiona, you are responsible for protecting Leah and Estella. I will lead Rek'Sai to open the way. We must leave here as soon as possible."
Fiona nodded in agreement, and she quickly moved to the side of Leah and Estrella, releasing a protective barrier to protect them tightly. Taric stood side by side with Rek'Sai, both of them exuding a strong fighting spirit, ready to face the upcoming battle.
"Come on, let us see how powerful you so-called strong ones are!" Rek'Sai roared and rushed into the crowd first. He swung his giant axe like a storm, and enemies fell down wherever he passed.
Tariq followed closely behind, his sword skills were precise and sharp, and every swing of the sword was accompanied by the wailing and falling of the enemy. However, the huge disadvantage in numbers made their battle extremely difficult. Although they were extremely brave, the number of enemies seemed endless.
"This is not a solution. We must find a breakthrough." Tariq thought as he fought, his eyes searching the crowd for a possible way out.
At this moment, a melodious bell sounded suddenly, which was the unique signal of the Church of Light. Tariq was delighted, he knew that the reinforcements had finally arrived.
"Hold on, reinforcements will be here soon!" Tariq shouted loudly, his voice penetrating the noise of the battlefield and reaching everyone's ears.
Sure enough, not long after, a group of knights in golden armor led by Gabriel rushed into the battlefield. Their appearance was like a divine army sent from heaven, instantly turning the tide of the battle. The knights of the Church of Light fought ten to one, invincible, and soon defeated the enemies surrounding Tariq and others.