The next morning, as the sunlight bathed the City of Hope, Alexander awoke from his slumber.
He found himself alone, holding only a pearl-like "Tear of God," the last gift from Laura.
It was a drop of crystal-clear tear, seemingly containing galaxies within, like a miniature model of the universe, mysterious and beautiful. This was the tear Laura left him, symbolizing her endless longing and profound love.
Laura had once said that each deity sheds only a single tear in their lifetime, and yet she had given this most precious gift to him.
Clutching the sparkling tear tightly, Alexander's heart swelled with gratitude and deep love. He understood that this gift represented not just Laura's endless love but also her promise to him.
They could be together once Laura became the God King, or if Alexander's level broke through to 1000.
The Tear of God flickered softly in Alexander's palm, each ray of light like a flowing life, overwhelmingly powerful yet filled with Laura's gentleness, as if it could heal all wounds.
Determined to enhance his strength quickly and honor Laura's sentiment, he decided to use the Tear of God to construct the "Tower of Eternity."
After brief contemplation, Alexander chose to erect the Tower of Eternity to the north of the City of Hope.
This place was yet undeveloped, offering ample space for the tower's construction.
Passing through the city's ruins, Alexander arrived at the chosen site. He gazed at the Tear of God in his hand and closed his eyes.
A mystical power surged within him, the power of the Tear of God. It seemed to respond to his call, merging into his being.
Alexander gently dropped the Tear of God onto the land and then stepped aside, waiting silently.
The Tear of God began to glow more intensely. The light seemed to split the space, piercing through time, reaching the essence of life.
Within the light, the embryonic form of the Tower of Eternity began to emerge. It started to grow and construct itself automatically.
Alexander watched this process closely. Each stone, each piece of wood, seemed to be endowed with life by the light, moving and assembling autonomously, gradually forming the shape of the Tower of Eternity.
In just a few hours, the Tower of Eternity stood proudly to the north of the City of Hope. It was majestic and awe-inspiring.
Simultaneously, the system's voice echoed in Alexander's ears: [Ding, since the owner of this Tear of God is the Child of Destiny, it will bring additional rewards to the Tower of Eternity. The tower will now evolve into a super-miracle structure: The Holy Tower of Eternity.]
[Ding, due to the uniqueness of the Holy Tower of Eternity, its presence has attracted the attention of demons, and a cataclysm is imminent. If you cannot withstand this disaster, the evolutionary process will end prematurely, and the super-miracle will downgrade to the Tower of Eternity.]
[Next, you will face the strongest in history: The Hellish Thunderstorm!]
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, thunderstorms converged on the horizon, then roared down like the wrath of the Thunder God, shaking heaven and earth.
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The Angel Temple, a top-tier defense structure, faced the impending danger with a burst of dazzling holy light. This light converged in the sky, forming a crystal-like shield above the City of Hope, fending off the thunderstorm's assaults.
However, under the relentless onslaught of the storm, the Temple's defenses began to falter, with numerous cracks appearing on the shield.
Just when everyone thought the shield was about to shatter, the Golden Turkey appeared out of nowhere above the City of Hope.
Enveloped in golden flames, it transformed into a thunderbird. With its massive wings unfurled and head raised towards the heavens, it challenged the thunderstorm's ferocity.
Shielding the Holy Tower of Eternity with its body, the Golden Turkey engaged in a fierce battle against the thunderstorm.
With its assistance, the protective shield over the City of Hope stabilized, effectively mitigating the destructive force of the Hellish Thunderstorm.
However, as time passed, the power of the thunderstorm grew increasingly intense. As the thunderstorm raged on, the sacred shield was completely shattered, leaving the City of Hope utterly exposed to the storm's fury.
The people of the City of Hope clasped their hands together, silently praying for safety.
Yet, in this dire moment, the golden thunderbird did not retreat. On the contrary, it stood resolutely, protecting the city below. It channeled the storm's energy towards itself, taking the full brunt of the thunderstorm upon its own body.
Every strike of the thunderstorm caused a violent energy storm between its scales, assaulting its nerves with unbearable pain.
But the Golden Fire Turkey did not flinch. It used its body to block the storm's attacks time and again.
"Ah! I am the Golden Turkey, and only cowards retreat!"
The intense pressure of the Hellish Thunderstorm inflicted severe damage on the Golden Fire Turkey. Its scales were charred, and its golden glow dimmed.
But it did not retreat.
The sky thundered, the storm pouring down like rain. The body of the Golden Turkey was continuously eroded by the dense thunderstorm. It let out painful bird cries, but even so, it showed no signs of submission.
This was the dignity of the holy bird race, a will born from their bloodline: to never surrender to demons, even in death!
Gradually, the sky cleared, signaling the end of the thunderstorm.
The Golden Turkey was on the brink of death, its body charred black, collapsing weakly on the ground. Not a single scale remained unscathed.
"Well done, you were truly amazing!" Alexander praised sincerely.
The Golden Turkey chuckled, revealing its pearly white dragon teeth.
However, the storm had not completely ceased. Hellfire blazed in the sky, and the distant roars of demons could be heard.
With a massive clap of thunder, the final and most powerful strike of the storm approached.
In response to the demons' roars, the Golden Turkey let out a bird cry, attempting to stand up but failing, ultimately fainting.
Without the protection of the Golden Turkey, the City of Hope lay fully exposed to the thunderstorm. At this moment, everything else seemed so insignificant and powerless.
In this critical juncture, Alexander resolved to step forward.
Though his body might not be strong, and his power paled in comparison to the Golden Turkey, as the lord of the City of Hope, his duty forbade him from retreating.
Ignoring the overwhelming thunderstorm ahead, he charged towards the Tower of Eternity.
The power of the thunderstorm was relentless, battering Alexander's body like a raging tide. Each strike was like an earthquake or tsunami, tearing his muscles and scorching his blood.
The pain was indescribable. Yet, Alexander did not falter. He stood firm, redirecting all the thunderstorm's fury aimed at the Tower of Eternity onto himself.
"Ah, it hurts so much, I feel like my soul is being torn apart!"
Just as Alexander plunged into the depths of despair, the soul cloak within him emitted a faint glow. The pain vanished in an instant.
The cloak began to absorb the power of the thunderstorm, like a blade of grass sipping spring rain. Once the thunderstorm was completely absorbed, its power gently surged from within, fully assimilated by his body.
Feeling this newfound strength, Alexander's eyes were filled with even greater determination. Though his power was not immense, facing the Hellish Thunderstorm, he was imbued with an unyielding spirit.
After all, he was the lord of the City of Hope. It was his responsibility and his honor.
Finally, the thunderstorm ceased, and the construction of the Holy Tower of Eternity was complete. The tower soared into the clouds, like a pillar holding up the sky, its top reaching heaven, seemingly connecting earth and sky.
At the top of the tower, the Tear of God shone with a holy light, like a star in the heavens, illuminating the entire world.
A system notification reached Alexander's ears:
[Ding, congratulations, the Tower of Eternity has successfully evolved into a super wonder: The Holy Tower of Eternity (Unique in the Universe), City Level +1]