SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Chapter 980: Guardian of Illusion

The silence in the abyss was heavier than steel.

As Kent walked forward through the living corridor of sea beasts, a deep hum vibrated in the bones of the trench. The water around him seemed to still entirely—not even a current disturbed his steps. It was as if the ocean held its breath, watching.

At the end of the glowing trench, nestled between two coral-crowned cliffs, stood a colossal gate, half-buried in stone and luminous moss. Symbols danced upon its surface—ancient runes that shimmered with golden-blue light. The structure was no temple, no ruin. It pulsed with life.

Kent stepped forward, hand instinctively reaching toward the gate.

But before he could touch it, the water churned violently.

A vortex of golden mist burst forth from beneath the seabed. The sea beasts retreated in instinctive reverence. Even the serpent-guard coiled itself into a still statue. From the heart of the golden vortex, a figure emerged.

She did not swim. She simply appeared, as if summoned by the will of the sea itself.

Her form was humanoid, but her presence was celestial.

Golden-scaled robes flowed like liquid sunlight. Her long hair streamed like tendrils of kelp lit by bioluminescence. On her forehead shimmered a mark—a trident, glowing faintly.

Her eyes—emerald with waves dancing within—stared into Kent’s soul.

“You carry the blood. The call has been answered.”

Kent stood upright, holding the bow by his side. “Are you the Sea God?” he asked, his voice firm despite the pressure in the air.

She offered a small, patient smile.

“No. I am but a Guardian. A whisper left behind by the God of the Sea. My name has been forgotten by mortals. But my purpose remains. To watch. To test. To choose.”

Kent stepped closer, cautious. “You said I carry the blood… does that mean I am the chosen one?”

Her expression shifted to something colder. Not unkind, but serious.

“No, Kent of the Scaled Blood. You are not the only one.”

Her words echoed like thunder.

Kent’s eyes narrowed. “Then who else?”

“Across the sea realms, there are others. Scaled ones. Humans like you who inherited fragments of the divine sea bloodline. Some are already seeking this legacy. One holds a shard of the Sea God’s memory. Another is favored by the Abyssal Will. One more swims among stars, hidden even from the waters.”

She paused, letting the weight settle.

“This is not a gift. It is a contest. A trial of fate.”

Kent took a breath, gaze steady. “Then what must I do?”

The Guardian raised her hand. The gate behind her pulsed in rhythm with her words.

“To unseal the Sea God Legacy, you must pass Three Trials—not of power, but of essence. Only those who complete them shall earn the right to awaken the legacy fully.”

Kent nodded. “Name them.”

The sea darkened. A current of light formed three circles before him.

“The first,” she said, “is the Trial of the Fated Golden Heart. It tests your soul, your desires, your willingness to carry burdens not yours. Only a heart touched by destiny, but unshackled by selfish greed, may pass.”

One circle turned gold, forming the shape of a heart wrapped in chains.

“The second is the Three Wisdom Steps. You will face three paths of choice—mind, emotion, and instinct. One wrong step, and your journey ends.”

The second circle fractured into three, depicting a man standing at three divergent roads.

“And the final trial: Worthy to Carry the Legacy. A challenge not of battle, but of balance. You must prove you can uphold what the Sea God stood for—Creation, Balance, and Ruin. If you falter, the legacy will reject you, even if you survive.”

The last circle revealed a scale—one side shining with coral, the other drowning in darkness.

Kent looked at them all, face unreadable.

“What happens if I succeed?” he asked finally.

The Guardian’s eyes gleamed.

“Then you shall awaken the Sea God’s true inheritance. A weapon, a throne, and a memory long buried—a force that can remake the balance of oceans and realms.”

“And if I fail?”

“You shall become a part of the Abyss. A forgotten echo.”

The silence returned.

Kent stared at the glowing trials. His bow pulsed lightly in his grip, as if encouraging him.

“I didn’t come this far to turn back,” he said finally. “I’ll face them all. I’ll pass them all.”

The Guardian stepped aside. “Then begin when ready, Scaled One. The sea will judge you not by your name… but by your choices.”

As Kent stepped toward the gate, the sea beasts behind him rumbled in a low, harmonious growl—as though offering their blessing.

The path had opened.

And so began the trial of the Sea God Legacy.

The sea fell away. The world changed around Kent.

There was no pressure. No tension. No bow in his hand. No war to wage.

Kent blinked—and the world before him was paradise.

He stood in a valley that defied description. Mountains curved gently into the horizon like folded silk. Trees shimmered with golden leaves. A gentle breeze carried the scent of heavenly nectar and the distant hum of sacred flutes. Clouds drifted at his feet, and sunlight bathed everything in a warm, tranquil glow.

And then she appeared.

A woman of breathtaking elegance, cloaked in divine radiance. Her eyes were starlit pools of gentleness. Hair like silver moonlight fell around her waist. Her smile… it was home, memory, desire—all woven into one.

“Beloved,” she whispered, her voice like lullabies spun into dew, “you’ve returned.”

Kent stared, confused at first, then—comforted. His body moved on its own as she took his hand. Her skin was warm, soft, eternal.

“I missed you,” she said. “Come, let us go home.”

And home they went.

A golden palace crowned by divine cherry blossoms stood at the heart of the valley. Servants—beautiful men and women of high race and grace—bowed to him as he entered. On the balcony, children with curious golden eyes and soft scales played and laughed, running toward him with gleeful cries.

“Father!”

He felt their arms around him. Heard their laughter in his ears. And something cracked within his heart. It felt… right.

Too right.

Days passed. Then weeks.

Time flowed differently in this world.

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