Doomsday Pillars

With the cave entrance blocked by the pillar ruins, Alex and Aria are forced to rely on artificial lighting or a blazing bonfire for vision.

[Illuminate]

Alex walks over to the corpses of the mutilated gargoyles, examining their shape. The wooden sword made a fine cut on the stone-like body of the gargoyle which was an impressive thing. Admiring the work of his sword, Alex then decided to collect the loot, from a total of 5 gargoyles' bodies, he obtained three yellow spirit stones, an amount that truly incredible when compared to the hellhounds and the critters. As a high tier creature, it is quite common for every gargoyle to drop a yellow spirit stone.

After he's done looting and throwing the bodies just right beside the blocked entrance, Alex immediately reactivate the [Defensive Formation] artifact. He then drags over his tired body to Aria and sits beside her, resting his body and recovering his energy. Aria who heard his words earlier couldn't help but to ask him.

"Alex, Did you just say there are thousands of those things outside?"

"Yeah." He said softly while paying attention to the formation taking effect..

"Will they find out we're here?"

"I don't know. Let's hope not." replied Alex. 

When the formation was set up and completely in place, Alex closed his eyes as he thought of the wooden sword. 'What's happening with this sword? I wonder…" He opened his eyes, stroked the sword for a moment and then cast another [Illuminate] spell, aiming it at the wooden sword in his hand.

Ever since he received this sword from the mysterious man in gray robe, Alex was never in a situation where he really needed to use it. His previous opponents were unable to face the special forces guarding him, let alone facing him. Alex himself had personally examined the sword, trying to find out what's so unique about it to make the mysterious man give it to him. But apart from its unique simple form, its sharpness was no different from his tier 2 sword.

Tier 1 weapon artifacts are an artifact that was made from a material that is stronger and lighter than the metal on earth.

Tier 2 weapon artifacts have special skill that buffs the user or the artifact itself. Ranging from Increased durability, increased speed, increased strength, and many more.

A tier 3 weapon artifact can then be called a magic weapon or spirit weapon. Each artifact has its own spirit element that can only be used by certain spirit magus, which explain its rarity.

As for the tier 3 above weapon artifacts, Alex has never had one in his previous life. From his previous experiences, the strongest weapon he had ever seen was a tier 4 cleaver used by a Saint Realm warrior. He once also heard a rumor about certain artifacts that were capable of moving according to the owner's request, but these rumors were not proven until the end of his life.

Alex studied the one meter long wooden sword carefully. Since entering the Sky realm stage, he has begun to feel a unique aura from this sword, but only now has he been able to see the 7-point engraving of this sword. While the glow that was present during the previous battle had slowly faded away. He then tried to put his spiritual energy on the sword, but the glow didn't come back.

"So… find anything?" Said Aria.

"No, nothing. I guess I'll know when the time comes." Alex said, sighing.

He then continued, "Well, show your realm progress, Aria. I need to know our fighting strength to formulate a plan to escape."

"Sure." she said, showing her information panel.

[Aria]

[Sky realm level 5 - early stage]

[Sky Magus - Water - early stage]

[Sky Magus - Ice - early stage]

Seeing her status, Alex pondered for a few minutes before taking out all the spirit stones in his possession. Plus the 3 yellow spirit stones he looted from the gargoyles, they had a total of 50 yellow spirit stones and 500 white spirit stones. Alex also has a red spirit stone that he get from a tier 4 mutated monster that the mysterious man defeated. However, he was currently unsure if he was able to withstand and absorb the energy from the red spirit stone. After all, he couldn't risk his body blowing up.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Aria.

Alex was silent for a moment before saying, "I think the best plan is to bring your health back and increase the cultivation of both of us before we consider venturing outside."

"Alright, that's the plan then."

Alex then gave Aria the spirit stones, they swallowed the spirit stone every hour as they focused on their cultivation. With the number of spirit stones they possessed, it didn't feel like they'd spent a week worth of time cultivating.

"That's the last one." Aria said as she opened her eyes.

In a week, they managed to increase their cultivation by leaps and bounds, with Aria reaching the Sky realm level 7 and Alex reaching the Sky realm level 9. Before Aria could stand up from her cross-legged position, Alex hurriedly said.

"Actually, I have another one." He said while taking the red spirit stone from his storage ring.

During these 7 days, Alex has consumed 25 yellow spirit stones and more than 200 white spirit stones before he could reach level 9. However, he felt the final push he needed to break through to level 10 was profound. Even 20 or 30 yellow spirit stones is not necessarily enough.

Aria who saw the red spirit stone couldn't help to blurted out, "T-T-That's a red spirit stone! Are you sure about this, Alex?!"

"Yes. Level 10 is the first important breakthrough point that will completely increase our strength if we reach it. I have studied the light element Sky realm initial cultivation for many years in my previous life. I just need the level 10 of early stage spirit cultivation to do it again." he said , staring at the bright red stone in his palm.

Alex knew that trying to absorb red spirit stone in his current realm is an extremely risky thing to do. But with their current situation, it seems that he needs to take that risk. He then returned to his spot and prepared himself to consume the red spirit stone.

Taking a deep breath, Alex threw the spirit stone into his mouth. He then immediately felt a burning feeling inside his mouth as if he was swallowing live embers that were blazing, trying to incinerate his entire mouth from inside out. The three main points in his body, the solar plexus, the chest and the forehead were burning, but he endured the pain with all his strength. If someone saw Alex's current body, they could see his veins bulge and visible all over his body.

Seeing him in agony , Aria was immediately worried. "Quickly spit it out!!" She anxiously shouted as she tried to pry the stone out of his mouth.

But Alex pretended to not listen to her words and just closed his mouth, gritted his teeth and endured the pain he was currently experiencing. Several hours passed and Aria was seen crying inside the cave, seeing Alex's sweaty body and painful expression. "Why are you doing this!?" she screams as tears stream down her face.

On the eighth day, all the pain in Alex's body suddenly disappeared and he felt a feeling of new strength coursing through his body.

[You have reached the Sky realm level 10]

[Your understanding of the light element has increased]

[You have reached the middle stage of light spirit element]

[foundation of light element has been established]

[Alex]

[Sky realm level 10 - middle stage]

[Sky Magus - Light - middle stage]

When a Sky realm magus breakthroughs his initial stage elements. It means his foundation to spirit magic has formed and finally able to fully control his spirit element. 

"I can finally learn the tier 3 light element spell." He said, smiling brightly.

As he was immersed in the excitement of his newfound power, Alex finally noticed that one of the wooden sword marks that had previously shone was shining again.

The next thing that happened completely shocked him.

A voice suddenly resounded inside his head 

[The seven star sword is now yours to use, master]

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Author Note

Dear Doomsday Pilllars reader, Thank you so much for the support. This month again I will again try to do the win win challenge. that's daily chapter update for the whole month. Honestly, I am not sure if i can complete the challenge, but i plan to use the challenge to push myself to give more time and thought for the novel. Hope for your help and continuous support for Doomsday Pillars. Please support the novel by giving just 1 coin for the privilege chapter this way when the win win completed, more people can enjoy the novel. thank you very much. yours sincerely. Avans