The guardian's flaming eyes bore into Jin Long and Yue Lan, his towering form radiating an oppressive aura. The air around them quivered, each breath heavy with celestial energy.
"So, you wish to claim the Celestial Starstone?" the guardian's voice echoed, like a thousand voices speaking in unison. "Prove your worth!"
Without warning, the guardian raised his hand, and a wave of starlight surged forward like a tidal wave. Yue Lan leaped to the side, her body twisting as she narrowly avoided the blast. Jin Long braced himself, raising his sword. The Starbound Crystal hummed within him, and a barrier of light formed around him, barely absorbing the impact.
Jin Long skidded backward, his heels digging into the ground. "Yue Lan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" she shouted, her hands already moving in swift, intricate patterns. Ice shards materialized in the air around her, spiraling toward the guardian like a swarm of deadly spears.
The guardian swung his arm, dispersing the ice shards with a gust of celestial wind. "Pitiful."
Jin Long clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "The Starbound Crystal... it's reacting." He could feel the power within him surging, urging him to act. But something felt off—the power was too volatile, too wild.
"Focus, Jin Long!" Yue Lan called out, her eyes darting between the guardian and Jin Long. "If you lose control, we're done for!"
The guardian lifted his hands, and the floating islands around them began to tremble. Massive chunks of rock tore free, hovering in the air before launching toward them with terrifying speed.
Yue Lan spun, her hands forming a seal. A barrier of ice encased them, absorbing most of the impact. But each collision weakened the barrier, cracks spreading like spiderwebs.
"We can't keep defending forever," Yue Lan panted, sweat beading her forehead.
Jin Long nodded, his grip tightening around the sword. "Then we strike."
Summoning the Starbound Crystal's power, Jin Long's sword blazed with radiant energy. He charged forward, his sword slicing through the air in a brilliant arc. The guardian met his strike with a celestial spear, the clash of their weapons sending shockwaves through the Astral Plane.
Yue Lan followed close behind, her hands weaving signs as she summoned a torrent of icy wind, aiming to encase the guardian's legs in a prison of frost. But the guardian stomped his foot, and the ice shattered instantly.
"You are strong," the guardian said, "but not strong enough."
Before Jin Long could react, the guardian's spear lashed out, striking him in the chest. The force sent him flying, his back slamming against a floating island. Stars danced in his vision as he struggled to breathe.
"Jin Long!" Yue Lan screamed, rushing toward him. But the guardian appeared before her in a flash, his hand gripping her throat.
"Do you know what it means to challenge the Celestial Court?" the guardian sneered, lifting her off the ground.
Yue Lan gasped, her vision blurring. The guardian's grip tightened, and darkness began to creep at the edges of her sight.
"No!" Jin Long roared, forcing himself to stand. The Starbound Crystal within him pulsed, its light flaring dangerously. Memories of his training, the battles he had fought, and the promises he had made surged through his mind.
"I won't lose again!"
A surge of power exploded from Jin Long, the Starbound Crystal's energy enveloping him in a blinding aura. The ground trembled as his sword began to change, its blade extending, growing sharper, and pulsing with celestial light.
The guardian's eyes widened. "Impossible... That's—"
Jin Long vanished, appearing behind the guardian in an instant. His sword cut through the air, slicing through the guardian's arm and forcing him to release Yue Lan.
Yue Lan fell, gasping for air. "Jin Long..."
But Jin Long's eyes were fixed on the guardian. The guardian clutched his severed arm, celestial flames leaking from the wound. "You... How did you—"
Jin Long pointed his sword at the guardian, his eyes blazing with newfound power. "You said I wasn't strong enough. Let's test that."
The guardian snarled, his body igniting with celestial flames. "You may have unlocked the Starbound Crystal's first phase, but you're far from mastering it!"
The ground beneath them fractured, and the skies above darkened as the guardian's full power was unleashed. This was only the beginning of the true trial.