Chapter 20: The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel Part 4: The Citadel's Final Defense The sky burned gold. The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel had finally revealed its true nature. For thousands of years, this floating city had existed above the clouds, protected by countless formations and guarded by generations of Garuda warriors. To outsiders, it was a home. To enemies, it was a fortress. And now... It had become a battlefield. The Originless Heaven Ark floated before the ancient city, surrounded by endless golden light. Below the Ark, the Naga elders watched silently. None of them had ever imagined seeing a scene like this. The place that had hunted their race for generations was now standing before them. Not as a legend. Not as a distant enemy. But as a real battlefield. Adrian stood at the front of the Ark. The Void Sovereign Skyblade floated beside him. Thousands of Garuda warriors surrounded the sky. Their golden wings covered the clouds. The pressure alone was enough to make ordinary beings lose their courage. But Adrian remained still. The first wave had already failed. The second wave was coming. The Garuda did not hesitate. They had defended their homeland for countless generations. They had fought beasts from the ancient forests. They had fought enemies from the deep seas. They had fought against countless threats that attempted to challenge their existence. They would not retreat because of one human. A Garuda commander raised his weapon. "Attack!" The sky moved. Thousands of figures shot forward. Their wings created storms. Their feathers became blades. Their spiritual energy merged into a golden ocean that rushed toward the Originless Heaven Ark. The battlefield disappeared beneath endless light. Adrian lifted his hand. The Ark responded. Ancient formations appeared across its surface. "Originless Heaven Barrier." A transparent barrier surrounded the artifact. The golden storm crashed into it. BOOM! The entire sky trembled. The impact created waves that spread across the clouds. The Naga warriors looked shocked. The attack from thousands of Garuda warriors had been blocked. But Adrian's expression remained calm. Because the battle had only begun. The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel continued moving. The fortress opened. Hundreds of massive golden weapons emerged from its walls. They were not ordinary weapons. Each one had been created over generations. Each one contained the accumulated knowledge of the Garuda civilization. The weapons aimed toward the Originless Heaven Ark. The second attack arrived. This time, the fortress itself joined the battlefield. The sky turned into a storm of destruction. Adrian stepped forward. The Void Sovereign Skyblade moved. A single slash crossed the sky. "Originless Sword Path." The silver sword light spread outward. The incoming attacks were cut apart. But unlike before... The attacks were not completely destroyed. They were redirected. The golden energy passed around the Ark and exploded behind it. The Garuda elders watching from above narrowed their eyes. This human was not simply stronger than their warriors. He was controlling the battlefield. The third elder finally moved. His wings opened. The clouds beneath him disappeared. "Enough." His voice echoed across the sky. The Garuda warriors immediately moved away. The elder descended. His golden feathers were darker than the younger generation. Every movement carried the weight of countless battles. He looked at Adrian. "You have defeated our warriors." "You have broken our defenses." "But this is still the home of the Garuda." Adrian looked at him. "Then protect it." The elder's eyes became cold. "I will." The next moment— The sky vanished. Only golden light remained. The elder disappeared. Adrian turned. A claw appeared beside him. The Void Sovereign Skyblade blocked. CLANG! The collision shook the entire Ark. The elder appeared in front of Adrian. Their eyes met. For the first time... An ancient Garuda elder had reached Adrian directly. The elder attacked again. His movements were simple. No unnecessary techniques. No wasted energy. Only thousands of years of battle experience. Every strike targeted a weakness. Every movement carried absolute precision. Adrian moved with the sword. Silver light and golden claws collided repeatedly. The sound of metal echoed through the heavens. The Garuda warriors watched silently. They had never seen their elder fight like this. The Naga elders also watched carefully. This was no longer a battle between armies. It was a battle between two existences standing at the peak of their current realms. The elder's wings suddenly expanded. "Ancient Garuda Body Art." A golden aura surrounded his body. His strength increased. His speed increased. The sky itself trembled from his presence. Adrian looked at him. Then he smiled slightly. The Void Sovereign Skyblade released a faint vibration. The sword had been through countless battles. And now... It was facing an opponent worthy of its evolution. Adrian raised the blade. The next clash was about to begin.