At the top of the Guardian Pagoda, three young figures stood observing the unfolding situation.
"What are those four lights at the gates?" BlackFang pointed toward the distance.
"It's the invasion signal - the enemy is attacking in full force," Proud Heaven answered gravely.
"The demon king's forces must have made their move," Drakon concluded.
"Should we go reinforce the others?" BlackFang suggested.
"We'll stay here with Master Proud Heaven to protect the villagers and defend this stronghold," Drakon decided.
"Your help is appreciated," Proud Heaven said with gratitude.
A thunderous roar erupted below the pagoda.
"Master Proud Heaven, we've arrived!" An elderly man's voice called out.
The temple courtyard swarmed with thousands of villagers seeking refuge. The white-bearded elder led them, a golden bamboo staff slung over his shoulder, a brown satchel dangling behind him. A peculiar small creature trotted faithfully at his heels.
"I'll be right down!" Proud Heaven's voice echoed across the heights.
With a swift hand seal, the golden bell trembled. Miraculously, the massive bell shrank until it floated palm-sized in the air before settling into Proud Heaven's grasp.
"Golden Warding Bell, join me in vanquishing this evil," he murmured, fastening it to his left wrist with a red cord. The bell pulsed with radiant light, chiming softly in response.
Proud Heaven seized the iron beam that once held the bell as an improvised weapon and leapt from the thousand-meter height, landing effortlessly in the courtyard below.
"Incredible! That drop would shatter ordinary bones," BlackFang marveled.
"Let's follow." Drakon summoned flames to cushion their descent, joining Proud Heaven and the Whisperwind villagers.
"Is everyone accounted for?" Proud Heaven asked.
"All present," the elder confirmed.
A melodic voice interrupted. "Hush now, my curious kitten." Vermeil, the elder's daughter, emerged - her beauty matched only by her gentle demeanor. When her gaze accidentally met Drakon's, she averted her eyes with a blush.
"Village chief, please organize shelter. Couples and children together, others three to a room by gender," Proud Heaven instructed.
The crowd moved with disciplined quietness, maintaining the temple's sacred atmosphere. Within moments, order was restored as if no crisis loomed.
Meanwhile, at Citadel Monastery's western gate facing the Armored Ones' territory, floodwaters raged.
"Windfury squad, positions!" commanded Vanishwind, his voice cutting through the chaos. The disciples of Fallen Zephyr levitated effortlessly, forming a horizontal line ten meters above the citadel.
"Windwall, deploy!"
A turquoise barrier materialized - seemingly fragile yet stronger than steel. Cyclones erupted from its surface, hundreds of tornadoes colliding with the advancing tsunami.
"Boom! Boom!"
The cataclysm of clashing elements shook the earth. Each monstrous wave met swirling tempests, the waters churning violently.
"It's swallowing our storms!" a disciple cried.
Beneath the surface, whirlpools collapsed as the flood's dark energy consumed their power.
"Amplify the barrier tenfold!" Vanishwind ordered.
The windwall blazed emerald, expanding fifty meters thick. When the next tsunami struck, cracks spiderwebbed across its surface before shattering completely.
"We slowed it significantly," Vanishwind noted through gritted teeth.
"Another strike could stop it!" his squad urged.
"Save your strength for the real enemy. Fall back to the citadel!"
As they retreated, the hundred-zhang bronze walls stood unyielding. The flood's final assault crashed against the metal like a hammer striking a bell - the impact reverberated outward, repelling the waters with resonant force.
"It's over," Vanishwind declared.
Though the floodwaters still lapped two-thirds up the walls, their destructive momentum had been broken. A new threat, however, lurked beneath the stagnant waters...