"Abyss Guardian..." King Neptune stared at the statue in shock. "The legendary guardian spirit of the temple... it really exists, and... and it has been corrupted by the Void."
At that moment, the massive statue slowly turned its head and looked toward the group that had just entered the hall. One of its eyes glowed with sacred blue light, while the other burned with evil purple flames. As those two completely different gazes swept over them, everyone felt an overwhelming pressure.
"Intruders..." The Abyss Guardian spoke, its voice like thunder shaking the entire hall. "You dare trespass into this sacred domain... You must face judgment..."
It raised its enormous trident, and the seawater in the hall immediately began to churn violently. The stone pillars also started moving, and the structure of the entire space changed once more.
"Its consciousness has been split," Ace observed the Guardian's condition. "One half is its original protective will, while the other is the Void's evil consciousness."
Jinbe assumed a fighting stance. "No matter what, we have to obtain the Abyss Stone."
The Abyss Guardian swung its trident, sending a massive torrent surging toward them like a tsunami. Ace immediately raised the Starfire Shield, and a golden barrier enclosed the group. But the Guardian's attack power far exceeded their expectations, and the shield teetered on the verge of collapse beneath the tremendous impact.
"Water Release: Thousandfold Water Wall!" Aquila and the other Aurora Tribe warriors joined forces to cast a defensive skill. Countless layers of water walls stacked together, finally blocking the attack.
However, the Abyss Guardian's assault was far from over. It stomped its foot, and the hall's floor began to crack as countless huge stone spikes burst from underground. At the same time, it controlled the seawater to form whirlpools, trying to drag