On the sixth night, as darkness enveloped the land and the forest fell silent, only Alavin's heavy footsteps moved forward. The Restoration Mantra continuously operated, repairing his injuries and renewing his energy.
The eighteen statues remained silent and still, illuminated only by a thousand rays of radiant light.
Crack!
Alavin's stepping foot shattered the stones before him, half his leg sunk into the ground, and his leg muscles and sinews were taut like iron rods. His blood was golden, such that after six days, his eyes, skin, and more all took on a pale golden hue.
For six days and nights, he endured a grueling ordeal, pushing his limits to madness. Though he trembled with excruciating pain, his blood felt as if it were ablaze. Unbeknownst to him, the Golden Heart had already merged flawlessly with his mortal flesh.
As he stamped upon the earth, as his bones were once again torn asunder by chains, a great tumult arose from his spine. With a thunderous crash, twin golden wings burst forth from his back, flecked with droplets of blood, and unfurled with majestic strength. These wings, resplendent as if forged from the purest gold, radiated both beauty and an unyielding authority.
"Are these... the Wings of Eternity?"
Alavin, in awe, gazed skyward as the Golden Heart throbbed powerfully, its pulse echoing in his ears like the tolling of a distant bell.
Flesh, sinew, and veins swiftly enveloped the bony appendages, growing before his eyes and sprouting magnificent feathers adorned in splendor. Soon, the golden wings flapped with great force, scattering a shower of golden radiance across the heavens, breathtaking and grand in their expanse. Had any onlooker been present, they would have been utterly astounded by the sight of those resplendent golden wings, coveting the splendor they bestowed.
Alavin felt as though he had been reborn. All weariness and pain swiftly faded, replaced by a fiery surge of strength that filled his entire being. His eyes turned a complete golden hue, sparkling with the light of truth. Moreover, the perfect union of the Golden Heart and his blood had utterly transformed him, forcing a breakthrough in a critical moment from Stage II to Stage III.
The unique properties of his golden blood, combined with Alavin's six days of relentless determination, also caused the Vigor within him to soar exponentially, shattering the Shell and advancing into Armor!
A series of breakthroughs triggered a complete metamorphosis!
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