A figure sat silently on the throne at the center of the temple.
She was a woman with long, deep-blue hair, wearing a gown woven from pure flowing water.
It was Aquilis, the long-missing Guardian of Aquarius.
But what puzzled Lin Ye was the absence of any life in her eyes.
She sat motionless as a statue, without even a detectable breath.
"Aquilis?" Lin Ye called tentatively.
The instant his voice rang out, Aquilis suddenly opened her eyes.
But her eyes had turned an eerie silvery white, devoid of any human emotion.
"Outsider." Her voice was cold as the deep sea, carrying an echo.
"You're too late."
Lin Ye felt a powerful sense of unease. Something was clearly wrong with Aquilis.
"Are you all right? Where is the Aquarius Mark?"
Aquilis slowly rose to her feet, her movements stiff and mechanical.
"The Aquarius Mark is no longer here."
"The people of the Void Empire came a month ago."
The news struck Lin Ye like a bolt from the blue.
"What? The Void Empire has already taken the mark?"
"That's right." Aquilis nodded, her expression still unchanged.
"They brought a powerful Void Lord."
"I couldn't resist. The mark was taken."
"But in exchange, they gave me eternal life."
Lin Ye finally understood why she seemed so wrong.
The Aquilis before him was no longer a true Guardian.
She had been transformed by void energy into something like a puppet.
"They're controlling you!" Lin Ye tightened his grip on the Astral Sword.
"Controlling me?" Aquilis gave a hollow laugh.
"No, this is liberation."
"No more pain, no more fear. Only eternal peace."
"You can receive the same gift."
She raised both hands, and all the water in the temple began to boil.
"Join us, Star Guardian."
"The Void Emperor's mercy is boundless."