Chapter 340 Chapter339-The Twelve Trials of the Hero Commence
After listening to Shadowswift's explanation, John furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment before saying, "We should prioritize locating the headquarters of this cult organization. Knowing their central location would allow you to strike with precision rather than continuously reacting to their moves."
"If you need assistance, feel free to reach out. I'd be more than willing to help."
Shadowswift met John's earnest gaze and nodded, "Of course. If the situation calls for it, we wouldn't hesitate to utilize your significant capabilities."
John smiled lightly in acknowledgment, well-aware that with great power comes great responsibility.
He had mentally prepared himself for collaboration with the authorities.
After a brief silence, John inquired, "Do you have any new insights into the world of the Godslayer game?"
Shadowswift replied with a rueful smile, "Our understanding of the Godslayer game world is still quite superficial. There hasn't been any substantial breakthrough. The secrets behind this parallel world are profoundly intricate. We've been trying to study it, but the data we can gather is scarce."
After a brief contemplation, John suggested, "Have you considered searching for clues about the Cult of the Abyss within the Godslayer game world? The abilities in the game do bear a resemblance to those in the real world."
Shadowswift paused, an idea dawning in his eyes, "That's an excellent suggestion! While our knowledge of the game world is limited, investigating within the game might lead us to some trails related to the Cult of the Abyss."
...
The two chatted casually for a while before concluding their meeting.
Once back home, John took a short break before re-immersing himself in the game.
[System Notification: You have an invitation from Storm City...]
Upon entering the game, John was greeted with this system notification, sparking his curiosity.
Checking the message, he recognized it was indeed from the ruler of Storm City, Valerie.
"Esteemed Mr. Galewind, the Twelve Trials of the Hero, as previously discussed, are ready. You can begin anytime. Whenever you're available, you're welcome to partake in the trial in Storm City..."
John's interest was piqued.
The long-awaited Twelve Trials of the Hero were finally about to commence.
Without delay, he responded to Valerie's invitation and made his way to Storm City via the Silverglow teleportation point.
Storm City still presented a majestic sight with dark clouds looming overhead, threatening to break at any moment.
The dense, overcast sky seemed as though it might unleash thunder and lightning at any second.
As John stepped out of the teleportation gate, his first sight was of Valerie, the ruler of Storm City, waiting for him at the entrance.
"Mr. Galewind, welcome back to Storm City. Ever since our last agreement, the Storm Church has been tirelessly gathering materials for the trial. We finally have everything in order," Valerie greeted with evident warmth in her voice.
It was likely due to the news she received about John leading the Elite Team in their triumphant hunt of the Devil in the imperial capital.
Naturally, her attitude towards him had shifted.
After all, the strong are respected wherever they go.
John smiled lightly and replied, "Your graciousness is almost overwhelming, my lady."
Valerie laughed heartily and took the lead, guiding him further into the city.
With her at the helm, they headed straight for the Storm Church located in the town's central area.
The headquarters of the Storm Church was an imposing temple.
Large steps led up to its grand doors, guarded by two priests dressed in silver-white robes.
Their faces were emotionless, resembling lifeless machines.
As they approached, the two priests promptly blocked their path.
One of them, with a detached voice, demanded, "Please provide identification."
With a slight smile, Valerie presented her church emblem. The priest inspected it closely, then immediately bowed in respect, "Greetings, Archbishop!"
Valerie was the Archbishop of the Storm Church, second in rank only to the Pope within the religious hierarchy.
Such was the established tradition across the Godslayer Continent's major powers.
For instance, in the Northern Myst Empire, most town rulers were appointed from the local church, facilitating smoother governance.
The ruler of Silverglow, John's bound main city, was also an Archbishop from the Silver Church.
With a gracious nod, Valerie then led John into the heart of the Storm Church.
Upon entering the grand hall, John was met with an even more magnificent sight.
Grandiose murals adorned the corridors on either side, making the entire space feel overwhelmingly vast and majestic.
Soon, Valerie led John to a plaza deep within the church.
At the center of this square stood a towering and formidable figure.
The man had silvery-white hair but still stood erect and proud.
He was dressed in a golden robe, adorned with an intricately decorated crown, and held a scepter that shone with the light of thunder and lightning.
His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, exuded an aura of authority and sanctity.
Silently, John activated the Eye of Artemis:
[Storm Church Pope Xitell: The supreme authority of the Storm Church, heralded as the apostle of the god of storm walking among men. He himself is an incredibly powerful storm player, possessing the unique ability to communicate with the god of storm. His status in the Storm Church is unparalleled...]
[Level: 480]
[Class: Wind-elemental Grand Archmage]
[Attributes: …]
John was slightly taken aback.
He hadn't anticipated that the Pope of the Storm Church would be such a formidable player.
At level 480, he was just a step away from achieving demi-god status...
Pope Xitell, noticing John's arrival, greeted him with a smile, "Welcome, Mr. Galewind. I am Xitell, the Pope of the Storm Church. Valerie speaks highly of you, claiming you possess a strength beyond ordinary mortals. We're eager to witness your performance in the trial."
John bowed slightly in response, smiling, "Your Holiness, I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Twelve Trials of the Hero organized by your esteemed church. I hope that through these trials, I can further enhance my abilities."
The Pope's smile was warm, his demeanor both solemn and tinged with a hint of playfulness, "Succeeding in the trials is no easy task... Throughout the countless years of our Storm Church's history, no one has ever fully passed the Twelve Trials of the Hero. We hope you can create a miracle..."
Upon finishing his words, Pope Xitell gestured effortlessly. Instantly, an energy gate manifested in the midst of the plaza.
The gate's design was ancient, etched with patterns of thunder and storms, occasionally pulsing with surges of energy.
The Pope patiently explained to John, "The Twelve Trials of the Hero consist of 12 stages, each presenting a unique challenge and test. You must harness your wisdom, courage, and strength to overcome these challenges. If you manage to clear all 12 stages, you'll earn the highest respect from our Storm Church."
"This gate is known as the 'Gate of Trials'. It is a vast portal leading to the area where the Twelve Trials of the Hero commence!"
Gazing at the gate, which emanated a mysterious and powerful energy, John's heart brimmed with anticipation.
Seeing John's excited expression, Xitell continued with a smile, "The first trial is named 'Tower of Storm'. You must ascend to the top of this tower and defeat the guardian that awaits you there. Only by defeating this guardian can you pass."
"Trust me, the guardian of the Tower of Storm possesses strength beyond what you might imagine. So, never underestimate your opponent..."
John nodded, his face devoid of any fear or concern.
Having experienced countless battles in the game, this was what he was most familiar with.
Confidently, he replied, "This stage should pose no challenge to me..."
Xitell chuckled and then pulled out a seemingly inconspicuous book from his bag, offering it to John, "This is the guidebook for the Twelve Trials of the Hero. It details the requirements and hints for each stage. Feel free to consult it whenever necessary."
Accepting the guidebook, John skimmed through it meticulously.
Reading about the tantalizing trials, he grew even more eager for the upcoming challenges.
With everything in place, John stood before the Gate of Trials, took a deep breath, and boldly stepped through.
The trial area was a spacious battleground, encircled by towering walls inscribed with myriad sacred runes.
[System Alert: Twelve Trials of the Hero - First Stage: Tower of Storm, has officially begun!]
John looked up and directly above him stood an awe-inspiring tower.
This tower soared into the sky, shrouded in dark clouds and emanating an enigmatic aura.
Quickly locating the entrance, John gave a slight smile and, without hesitation, stepped in, commencing his ascent of the Tower of Storm.
From the moment John entered the Tower of Storm, challenges arose relentlessly.
Howling storms and ferocious thunderbolts came wave after wave, relentlessly assaulting him.
Given the confined space within the Tower of Storm, there was no dodging these elemental onslaughts, leaving him to rely solely on his own defenses to endure.
Despite facing challenges that would deter many storm-affiliated players, John was undaunted, with not a flicker of change in his expression.
With a casual wave of his hand, a pale blue radiance began to glow, soon forming a faint energy barrier shield around him.
[Seashield (Divine Talent): A gift from the God of Sea. Once activated, it creates a temperate realm, granting immunity from all fire-attribute energy damages...]
Against these raging storms, the Seashield divine skill was the perfect counter.
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