The Holy Church's investigation of Presley ended hastily and in a tacitly agreed manner.
With the Holy City's foundations crumbling and surrounded by powerful enemies (at least that's what they think), the return of a powerful, upright, and recently meritorious Supreme Judge is like a timely rain after a long drought.
Excessive questioning and cumbersome procedures seem inappropriate in the face of an imminent crisis.
Priest's account of how he stumbled upon an unusual dark aura, discovered and ultimately purified a small Shadow Abyss Rift—while thrilling—is logically sound and meticulously detailed.
His lost left arm and the lingering traces of Shadow Abyss erosion on his body—originating from the same source as the Holy City's underground but even more violent—became the most powerful proof of his words.
He admitted that it was during the purification of that rift, at the moment when his own light vein power collided most violently with the Shadow Abyss, that he seemed to touch upon some deeper connection, vaguely sensing the vast and ancient sealing network beneath the Holy City, and the unsettling restlessness that was growing within it.
This realization made him understand that the small rift he had accidentally cleaned was not an isolated incident, but a tiny microcosm of a larger crisis.
The holy city sits atop a volcano about to erupt!
"We must act, immediately! A comprehensive investigation and passive defense are no longer enough!"
At the emergency cardinal meeting, facing all the high-ranking officials remaining at Van Rahil, Pres slammed his remaining right fist heavily on the table. His voice trembled slightly with excitement and weakness, yet carried an undeniable urgency: "'The power of the Shadow Eclipse' is eroding the foundation of the seal. They are like mold corroding tree roots. Once they completely shatter the ancient balance, that monster... and even more terrifying things, will continuously pour forth from beneath the Holy Throne! By then, it will be too late!"
His words, combined with his horrific injuries and the prestige he had accumulated, were deeply etched into the hearts of every attendee.
Panic, like an icy tide, silently engulfed the magnificent council chamber.
Bishop Helios, his face ashen, was the first to break the silence:
"Chief Judge Priest, we trust your judgment and sacrifice. But the question is, what should we do? The power of the Holy Light seems to have limited effect in the face of such deep-seated corruption, and even the combined divine magic can only barely suppress it. Are we just going to watch the Holy City fall?"
"No."
Priss took a deep breath, a strange light flashing in his single eye, a light mixed with unwavering conviction and a hint of… subtly implanted guidance. “When I was purifying that rift, I felt more than just despair. The power of the light veins wasn’t completely dormant; it was just… ‘asleep,’ or rather, blocked by ‘contamination.’ We need a method, a method that can not only purify the surface filth but also delve into the root, ‘activate’ the light veins themselves, strengthen, and even ‘repair’ the ancient seal!”
"Activate the light veins? Repair the seal?"
Bishop August frowned. "This... is unheard of. All the sages of the past have only used and maintained the seal; there has never been a precedent for this..."
"Because the radiance of the Holy Spirit was sufficient to illuminate everything before, there was no need for this!"
Price interrupted him, her tone vehement, "But things are different now! We must seek change, seek...new power!"
He paused at the opportune moment, his gaze sweeping over each of the solemn-looking high-ranking officials present, and slowly delivered the message Linde wanted him to convey: "When I was struggling to survive and searching for clues in the outside world, I encountered a... being. He has a unique understanding of this dark power and possesses a power that is almost... 'miraculous.' Perhaps he can provide us with the help we need."
"outsider?"
A conservative cardinal immediately objected, "Letting an unknown outsider interfere in the heart of the Holy City? That's too risky! Who knows if he has ulterior motives?"
"Do we have a better option?"
Priss retorted without backing down, waving his single arm and pointing out the window in the direction where the battle had just taken place. "Waiting for the next eruption? Waiting for even more powerful monsters to rush into the Radiant Cathedral? Look at my arm! This is the price of hesitation and conservatism! I have personally experienced the power of that sage—pure and powerful, full of vitality, not conflicting with the Holy Light, even... having a wonderful complementarity! And he is right here in the Holy City!"
A murmur rippled through the meeting room. Introducing external forces was undoubtedly a risky move that would break with the Holy Church's thousand-year-old traditions.
But in the face of a desperate crisis, tradition and rules seem so pale.
Helios and Augustus exchanged a glance, both seeing struggle and wavering in each other's eyes.
Finally, Bishop Helios took a deep breath and made his decision:
“Judge Priest, we can give you a chance, and also a chance for the ‘sage’ you trust. Arrange a secret meeting; we need to personally verify his abilities and…intentions. But remember,”
His tone turned stern, "If he does anything improper, or if his power poses any unforeseen risks, the court must eliminate him immediately! And you will bear full responsibility!"
“I understand.” Priss lowered his head heavily, concealing the complex emotions that flashed across his eyes. “I will make the arrangements. May the Holy Light… guide us to a way out.”
The meeting ended in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Escorted by two trusted judges, Priest left the Radiant Cathedral and returned to his long-lost, yet seemingly century-old, residence of the chief judge.
After closing the door and isolating himself from the outside world, he leaned wearily against it, his only remaining hand trembling slightly. His performance, half-real and half-fake, had exhausted him.
At that moment, that calm voice resounded once again deep within his mind:
“Well done, Your Honor. You have brought them what they needed most—a clear enemy, a desperate situation, and… a single hope. Even though this hope wears a strange mask.”
Priss didn't respond, but slowly closed his single eye. He knew he had embarked on a path of no return. To save the Holy City, he might be making a deal with a being even more unfathomable than "Eclipse."
Inside the hotel room, Lin De withdrew his mental energy, a cold smile playing on his lips.
The chess pieces are in place, and the stage is set.
Next, it was his turn, this "hidden presence," to personally step forward and bring the "only" solution to this crisis in the Holy City.
He gently straightened his robes, and the simulated, gentle, and vibrant sacred aura enveloped him once again.
The hunter will approach his prey as a savior.
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