Spark continued to watch the sky, his gaze fixed on the swirling miasma that clung stubbornly above the pagoda.
Despite the flickering signs of thunder and the faint pulses of power from Amelia's breakthrough, there was no indication that the tribulation would descend.
The sky remained choked by the oppressive miasma, blocking the path for the heavens to deliver their judgment.
After a few moments, Spark sighed, shaking his head. He knew the significance of the tribulation—a test that every ascendant had to face when breaking through to the next stage.
If someone advanced without enduring the tribulation, their foundation would be unstable, and future growth might be impeded.
It was a crucial trial, a rite of passage that cleansed the ascendants of impurities, solidified their resolve, and validated their power.
"The tribulation must descend," Spark muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "Without it, her breakthrough won't be complete."
He turned his gaze back to the pagoda, where Amelia's energy was steadily rising, struggling to maintain the delicate balance required for her advancement.
The longer the miasma remained, the more dangerous the situation became. If this opportunity were lost without the tribulation, who knew how long she would have to wait for another chance?
Spark reached down and patted Chaos gently. "It seems they're having trouble maintaining her state."
Chaos snorted, a sound that conveyed a mix of annoyance and understanding. The great beast hesitated, a low growl rumbling in his chest. It was clear he wasn't keen on intervening.
Spark, noticing the reluctance, let out a wry laugh.
"I know you dislike those two," Spark said, his voice tinged with amusement, "but this isn't about them. It's about Amelia. If she fails now, it might be a long time before she gets another chance."
The beast's powerful form tensed, as if debating whether to intervene.
But after a moment of hesitation, Chaos acquiesced, responding to Spark's request with a low growl that rumbled through the air.
Chaos lifted his massive head, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the turbulent sky above the pagoda.
Slowly, he opened his powerful jaws, revealing rows of sharp teeth that gleamed in the dim light.
With a deep, resonant growl, a small vortex began to form in the sky, directly above the pagoda.
The vortex spun rapidly, creating a powerful suction force that started to draw in the thick miasma.
At first, the miasma resisted, swirling and writhing as if trying to hold its ground. But the vortex power was relentless, and it grew stronger, hungrily devouring the miasma.
The dark, oppressive clouds started to thin, their tendrils being pulled into the vortex and swallowed whole.
Slowly, the sky above the pagoda began to clear, the murky gray giving way to patches of bright blue.
Spark watched the transformation with focused intensity, his eyes reflecting the shifting sky.
"That's it... Clear the way," he muttered.
As the miasma was consumed, a small section of the sky seemed to peel away from the rest, revealing a vivid blue that stood out sharply against the lingering gloom.
Within that clear patch, dark clouds began to gather around, but these were different—charged with the power of the heavens.
The clouds stirred violently, lightning crackling within them as they prepared to unleash the tribulation.
A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Spark's lips.
"There we go," he murmured approvingly. "Now, the real test begins."
The ancient light surrounding the pagoda absorbed the blows, dispersing the energy even as the heavens continued their relentless test of the one inside.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the ninth and final bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
This one was different, far more powerful than the ones before it, and it struck the pagoda with a force that shook the very ground.
The ancient light around the pagoda flared brilliantly, almost blindingly, as it absorbed the last of the tribulation's wrath.
And then, there was silence.
The storm clouds began to recede, the darkness pulling back as quickly as it had come.
The once turbulent sky gradually returned to a calm, eerie stillness, as if the heavens themselves were satisfied with the outcome.
The pagoda, though battered and scorched, still stood tall.
Spark's gaze remained on the sky, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he surveyed the aftermath. Spark's
"Nine strikes," he murmured to himself. "A sign of reaching the pinnacle of this world."
The nine strikes weren't just a trial; they were a declaration from the heavens, recognizing Amelia as someone who had touched the peak of what this world could offer.
As the storm clouds dispersed and the sky cleared, Spark continued to watch with quiet anticipation.
Slowly, the sky began to shift.
The deep blue of the heavens took on an ethereal quality, becoming luminous and otherworldly as if something divine was descending from the celestial realms to the mortal world.
The air around the pagoda thrummed with power, each particle vibrating with a sense of impending wonder.
From the heart of the ethereal sky, a ray of divine light began to spiral downward, its glow soft yet incredibly powerful.
The light descended gracefully, like a blessing from the heavens themselves, searching for its chosen recipient.
As the light approached the pagoda, it bathed the structure in a radiant glow, casting long, golden shadows across the ground.
Then, on the very peak of the pagoda, Amelia appeared.
Her silver-white hair, usually soft and flowing, now shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance as the divine light enveloped her. Her entire being seemed to radiate light, every inch of her infused with the essence of the divine.
She hovered above the pagoda, suspended in the air by the sheer force of that ray of light, her eyes closed in peaceful concentration.
The divine light wrapped around her, spiraling gently like a protective cocoon, with Amelia at its very center.
The light pulsed rhythmically, as if breathing with her, growing brighter with each passing moment.
Spark watched with quiet awe as the light and Amelia's presence became one, the line between the mortal and the divine blurring before his eyes.
The cocoon of light shimmered more intensely, its glow becoming almost blinding as the energy within it built to a peak.
Then, with a sudden burst of power, the cocoon exploded into a dazzling shower of light, the particles scattering across the sky like countless stars.
At the center of the explosion, Amelia emerged, her presence more powerful and refined than ever before.
Her silver-white hair flowed like liquid light, and her entire being radiated a purity and strength that seemed to transcend the mortal realm.
She had ascended to a realm where her essence resonated with the divine, her power elevated to a new level of existence—one that few could ever hope to reach, An Ethereal manifestation.