323: Ice crystal fragments

After subduing the Black-Robed Figures, the members of the Guardian Alliance did not relax. They knew that more key clues regarding that dark conspiracy might still be hidden here, and they had to uncover them as soon as possible to take the initiative in the subsequent response.

Xiao Xing carefully examined the top-floor space. He walked to the Ice Crystal Altar where the Ice-Blue Crystal Ball had originally been placed, crouched down, and gently touched some remaining Ice Crystal Fragments on the altar with his hand, trying to sense any unusual magical fluctuations or residual information from them.

"This altar looks ancient. It might have a deep connection with that Ancient Demon God and the mysterious forces behind it. Everyone, look carefully and see if you can find any written records or special markings," Xiao Xing said as he continued to search the surroundings.

Ji Ziyue cast a Detection Spell. The magical light wove through every corner of the top floor like threads, illuminating the subtle details hidden in the shadows that were difficult to perceive with the naked eye. Before long, in a corner of the wall, the light flickered exceptionally frequently, as if it had discovered something unusual.

"There seems to be something over there. Let's go take a look," Ji Ziyue said, and she walked toward the corner with everyone else.

Upon approaching, they found a slightly protruding stone slab on the wall, covered with ancient Runes. These Runes were obscure and difficult to understand, yet they exuded a mysterious sense of power.

Yin Ping scrutinized the Runes, frowning as she said, "I've never seen these Runes before, but it feels like they are telling a long-forgotten story. Perhaps the secrets we want to know are hidden within them, but deciphering them won't be easy."

Just as everyone was troubled by the Runes, one of the subdued Black-Robed Figures seemed unable to endure the pressure and spoke up, "Don't waste your breath. Even if you find out, what can you do? Everything is already irreparable. The tide of darkness is about to sweep across the entire continent, and everything you protect will vanish into nothingness."

Xiao Xing walked up to that Black-Robed Figure, staring at him with a sharp gaze, and shouted, "Stop your nonsense! Speak up about whatever conspiracy there is. Our Guardian Alliance will surely do our best to stop it."

The Black-Robed Figure sneered, "Hmph, do you think everything is fine just because you defeated a few of us and destroyed this crystal ball? This is but a small part of the plan. That Ice-Blue Crystal Ball was originally a container used to nourish even greater dark power. Although it has been destroyed by you now, the power it nurtured has already permeated beneath this ice field. Before long, it will awaken the Dark Behemoth sleeping deep within the ice field. At that time, the entire continent will fall into endless cold and darkness, hahahaha."

Hearing this, the Guardians' expressions turned solemn. Xiao Xing understood in his heart that he must not let such a thing happen. He immediately asked, "Is there any way to prevent that Dark Behemoth from awakening?"

The Black-Robed Figure only laughed sinisterly and said no more, clearly not intending to reveal anything else.

"Whether what he says is true or false, we cannot let our guard down. Let's leave this tower first, check the situation around the ice field, and then decide," Ji Ziyue proposed.

Everyone nodded, escorted the Black-Robed Figures out of the tower, and began searching around the ice field. They cast magic to probe beneath the ice field, trying to sense the traces of the so-called Dark Behemoth and the situation of the permeating dark power.

After some probing, they indeed found several areas beneath the ice field where magic was unusually dense, and that dark aura was spreading at a slow but steady pace, as if some massive creature was slowly awakening.

"It seems the Black-Robed Figure was not lying. We must find a way to contain the spread of this power, ideally cutting off its connection with the Dark Behemoth," Xiao Xing said with a furrowed brow, thinking of a countermeasure.

At this moment, Yin Ping thought of a way. "We can try to set up a large-scale Purification Magic Array, using the power of light to neutralize this dark magic. Perhaps it can delay the behemoth's awakening, and then we can find a permanent solution."

Everyone thought it was feasible and immediately began to divide the work. Some Guardians went to collect the Materials needed to set up the Magic Array, while others were responsible for selecting suitable positions for the array's foundation on the ice field. Xiao Xing, Ji Ziyue, and Yin Ping, as the stronger members, began to draw the Runes of the Magic Array, injecting their respective light magic into it to enhance the array's power.

After a busy day, a massive Purification Magic Array was finally completed on the ice field. As everyone worked together to activate the Magic Array, a dazzling white light shot into the sky. The light poured beneath the ice field like a tide. Wherever it went, the dark magic seemed to have met its nemesis and began to slowly dissipate, and the areas with unusually dense magic gradually returned to normal.

"Great, it seems this method works. I just don't know how long it can last. We still have to hurry and find a way to completely deal with that Dark Behemoth," Ji Ziyue said with a look of relief as she saw the Magic Array taking effect.

However, just at that moment, a muffled roar came from deep within the ice field. The sound seemed to come from the depths of Hell, shaking the entire ice field violently. Huge cracks appeared on the ice surface, and some places even began to collapse.

"Not good! That Dark Behemoth has been enraged by our actions. It seems it's going to awaken early!" Xiao Xing shouted. Everyone immediately became alert, gripping their weapons and standing ready.

From a large pit where the ice field had collapsed, a massive head slowly emerged. The head resembled an ancient behemoth, covered entirely in hard ice armor. The breath exhaled from its mouth carried intense dark power and freezing cold. Just this aura alone made the Guardians feel as if they were in the dead of winter, their bodies becoming stiff.

"Is this the Dark Behemoth? It truly is terrifyingly powerful. Everyone be careful, let's attack together! We must not let it break through the ice field and ravage the continent!" Xiao Xing shouted, taking the lead to charge toward the behemoth. The other Guardians also plucked up their courage and followed Xiao Xing to launch an attack on this terrifying existence.

For a time, the ice field was once again plunged into a fierce chaotic battle. The Guardians' magic and weapon attacks hit the behemoth's ice armor, only producing a few sparks and failing to cause any substantial damage. Meanwhile, the behemoth's casual claw swipes or exhaled breath forced the Guardians to scramble to avoid them, with people occasionally being injured and falling.

Ji Ziyue watched the difficult battle with burning anxiety. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate all her Mental Energy, chanting an extremely ancient and powerful light incantation. A dazzling holy light began to emanate from her entire body, growing brighter and brighter, as if it wanted to dispel all the darkness on this ice field.

"Ji Ziyue is about to cast her Forbidden Magic! Although this magic is powerful, it also consumes a great deal of her own energy. We must cover her!" Seeing this, Yin Ping shouted loudly, leading a group of Guardians to form a human wall around Ji Ziyue to block the behemoth's attacks.

Xiao Xing continued to attract the behemoth's attention at the front. He used all his skills, launching attacks on the behemoth's vital points again and again, trying to buy more time for Ji Ziyue.

Finally, Ji Ziyue finished chanting the incantation. She waved her hands forward, and a massive pillar of light shot from her hands, heading straight for the Dark Behemoth. The light power contained in the pillar was incredibly pure and powerful. Wherever it went, cracks began to appear in the ice armor on the behemoth's body, and the dark magic was continuously purified.

The Dark Behemoth felt a massive threat and let out a roar of pain. It tried to dodge the light pillar's attack, but the pillar followed it like a shadow, locking onto it tightly.

Under the continuous impact of the light pillar, the ice armor on the behemoth's body gradually shattered, and its body began to teeter. Seeing this, the Guardians seized this rare opportunity and launched their strongest attacks one after another, blasting toward the behemoth's weak points.

After rounds of fierce attacks through everyone's concerted efforts, the Dark Behemoth finally could not hold on. It let out one last unwilling roar, and its massive body crashed to the ground, turning into a pile of ice shards. The dark magic also dissipated across the ice field.

Seeing the behemoth destroyed, the Guardians all breathed a sigh of relief. But they knew that this contest with the Dark Forces was far from over, and there were surely more conspiracies waiting for them to uncover and resolve.

"Let's return to the Alliance Headquarters to rest and reorganize first. Although we solved the immediate crisis this time, we must quickly clarify the context behind this series of events and strive to make better preparations before the next crisis arrives," Xiao Xing said tiredly but firmly. Supporting each other, everyone set out on the journey back to the Alliance Headquarters, and their mission to protect the continent continued on this path full of unknowns and hardships.