Chapter 20: The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel Part 4: The Citadel's Final Defense (Continuation) The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel continued releasing waves of ancient energy. But the battlefield was no longer controlled by the younger Garuda warriors. The three ancient elders had stepped forward. They floated above the clouds, surrounding Adrian from three different directions. The first elder. The second elder. The third elder. Each one represented a different era of the Garuda clan. They were not simply powerful warriors. They were the ones who had protected this floating city through countless generations. Adrian looked at them quietly. Three opponents. Three different pressures. The first elder carried the weight of endless experience. The second elder carried the sharpness and precision of a hunter. The third elder carried the overwhelming force of pure strength. Their existence alone was enough to affect the battlefield. The younger Garuda warriors slowly retreated. Even they understood. This was no longer their battle. The second elder moved first. His golden wings spread. Unlike the first elder's overwhelming presence, his movements were silent. No explosion. No massive spiritual pressure. Only speed. In an instant, his figure disappeared. Adrian's eyes followed the movement. Behind him. Above him. Below him. Every direction. The second elder appeared from countless angles. His golden feathers transformed into countless sharp blades. "Golden Feather Execution." The sky became filled with golden light. Adrian raised the Void Sovereign Skyblade. Silver energy flowed across the blade. The sword moved. Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal collisions echoed throughout the heavens. Every golden feather was blocked. But the attacks continued. The second elder's technique was not designed to defeat an opponent with a single strike. It was a continuous assault. A battle of speed and endurance. Adrian stepped forward. The sword light changed. A single slash transformed into countless sword shadows. The golden feathers surrounding him were pushed away. The second elder's eyes narrowed. Before he could react— Adrian disappeared. The next moment, the Void Sovereign Skyblade appeared before the elder's chest. However... The third elder suddenly arrived. His enormous golden claw descended from above. Adrian turned his sword. Boom! The collision created a massive shockwave. The clouds beneath them were instantly destroyed. The third elder stood before Adrian. His body was larger than the other two elders. His golden feathers were thicker, carrying the traces of countless years of cultivation. Every movement contained terrifying physical power. "Your sword is powerful." "But can it stop the strength of the Garuda?" The third elder attacked. Unlike the second elder's speed... His attacks were direct. Simple. Overwhelming. Each strike caused the surrounding space to tremble. Adrian blocked one attack. Then another. The Originless Heaven Ark shook beneath his feet. Even the artifact's defensive formations struggled to absorb the force. The first elder finally moved. He had been silently observing the battle. But now... He raised his hand. The entire Celestial Golden Sky Citadel responded. Thousands of ancient formations activated. Golden energy from the fortress flowed toward the three elders. Their powers connected. Their auras merged. The three ancient warriors became one complete battle formation. The Naga elders watching from the Ark were shocked. "They are combining their strength." The Naga King looked toward Adrian with a serious expression. "Can he withstand that?" Adrian stared at the three elders. Their presence had completely changed. They were no longer fighting as individuals. They had become the final shield of the Garuda clan. The first elder spoke. "For thousands of years..." "We have protected this city." "We cannot allow it to fall." The second elder continued. "Our warriors." "Our families." "Our history." The third elder clenched his fist. "Everything behind us depends on this battle." Adrian remained silent. He understood. They were not fighting only because of hatred. They were fighting because there was something they wanted to protect. The sword in Adrian's hand became still. Then... He moved. The Void Sovereign Skyblade released a deep vibration. The next strike was not aimed at killing. It was aimed at breaking through the final defense before him. The sword descended. "Void Severing Blade." A silver line crossed the golden sky. The three elders attacked together. Golden wings. Ancient claws. Endless feathers. The entire battlefield exploded. For a moment... Gold and silver covered everything. No one could see what happened inside the clash. Only the sound remained. The sound of an ancient civilization defending its final fortress. And the sound of a sword moving forward. When the light disappeared... The three elders were still standing. But their expressions had changed. Because behind Adrian... The Originless Heaven Ark had continued moving forward. The final defense of the Celestial Golden Sky Citadel had been pushed back. The first elder looked at Adrian. "This battle..." "Has only reached its beginning." Adrian looked toward the center of the floating city. Deep inside the fortress... An ancient presence was awakening. Something older than the three ancient elders. Something that had slept beneath the Garuda homeland for countless years. The true guardian of the Celestial Golden Sky Citadel. The ancestor. The battle had not reached its end. It had only reached the moment before the final storm.