The guardians wore grave expressions as if facing a formidable enemy. They gripped their divine weapons tightly, while the Divine Bell gave off a low warning chime, as though speaking of the danger to come. The ancient tome trembled faintly as well, seeming to sense the tense atmosphere.
The Emissaries from Beyond Time formed seals with their hands and chanted under their breaths. Strange runes appeared before them, gleaming with mysterious light before shooting toward the guardians like meteors.
Seeing this, the guardians did not dare slack off in the slightest. They swiftly cast all manner of spells, weaving multicolored lights into a solid defensive line that blocked the emissaries' attacks. Yet when the powers of both sides collided, a dazzling flash erupted instantly, blooming like fireworks and illuminating the entire space.
Battle was about to erupt. The emissaries' attacks were strange and unpredictable, impossible to read. Not only could they control the flow of time, but they could also change their positions in an instant, leaving others unable to guard against them. At times, the guardians' movements slowed as though time itself had frozen them; at other times, the emissaries' attacks suddenly quickened, crashing down like a violent storm.
Faced with such powerful enemies, the guardians fell into a bitter struggle. Yet they showed no intention of retreating. Drawing on years of combat experience and their faith in protecting the Immortal and Mortal Realms, they gradually began to uncover the patterns behind the emissaries' attacks.
Just as the battle reached a stalemate, one guardian suddenly discovered that the emissaries' power seemed connected to a gigantic clock within the palace. The clock stood dozens of meters tall, covered in intricate runes and patterns. Its hands turned slowly, producing a steady ticking sound.
The guardians made a swift decision and changed