Not long after, subtle changes began to emerge, like undercurrents in the water.
At first, it was just a few scattered rumors that were not taken seriously.
In a remote border town, the stronghold of the Dedication Society, known for its cruelty and eeriness, was deserted overnight, leaving only a few emaciated corpses that seemed to have been drained of all life force. Their peaceful deaths were eerily unsettling, a stark contrast to the Dedication Society's usual bloody sacrificial style.
Then, in the heart of the empire, a highly respected old nobleman, while attending a banquet in full view of everyone, suddenly let out a shrill scream that was not human. His body twisted and collapsed like a melting candle, and finally turned into a pool of pale ashes without any energy reaction, as if some kind of foundation supporting his existence had been instantly pulled away.
One case, two cases... similar cases began to appear in various places, and without exception, the deceased were all later confirmed to be members of the infamous Dedication Society under the command of the God of Fusion.
This notorious cult, which relied on fear, temptation, and distorted doctrines of "fusion" to harm countless lives and cause headaches for major orthodox churches and kingdoms, seemed to have its foundations corroded and disintegrated overnight by some invisible force.
At first, all parties thought that a powerful church or organization had launched a covert purge.
But soon, more detailed investigations and higher-level divination and prophecy all pointed to an unbelievable conclusion—the deaths of these believers were not caused by external attacks, but by a chain reaction triggered by the collapse of some kind of "source"!
It was as if... the very existence upon which their faith and power rested had gone wrong!
The news spread like wildfire among the top echelons of various factions.
Doubt, shock, and disbelief intertwined during the secret meeting.
Finally, those beings qualified to communicate with the gods—popes of various churches, reclusive demigods, and guardians of ancient races—began to pray for revelation from the gods they believed in, sparing no expense.
The responses they received were largely the same, yet enough to overturn their understanding.
Deep within the Radiant Cathedral, Cardinal Helios emerged from the prayer room, his face pale. To the waiting August and Priest, he relayed in a dry voice the message indirectly conveyed by Lord Lind, the "Oracle" (whom they now accepted as representing the will of the Holy Spirit):
"...The filth of the foreign land has been severely damaged at its source, and has fled to the sea of stars, its claws and teeth collapsing on their own."
Beneath the ancient Tree of Life of the elves, the eldest priest listened to the rustling sounds of the tree, his face showing a shock unlike anything seen in a thousand years.
In the ancient memories of the Dragon Clan, the warning whispers left by their ancestors about extraterrestrial evil gods echoed.
Those forces that relied more on direct divine revelation received a more straightforward revelation—
The God of Fusion, already outside the plane of the Tyr Continent, was defeated by the combined forces of Lind Truk, Lord of the Blackrock Territory, and Urano the Goldenmane Watcher, God of Beasts. His divine body shattered, leaving only a remnant soul to escape! The foundation of faith on his continent collapsed as a result!
"That's impossible!"
This was the first reaction of almost everyone in the know.
A god! Even an evil god, a being above mortals! Yet he was defeated by a human lord… and an orc god… working together? Or even… banished?
The first reaction of all factions was to block the news!
The Cree royal family feared that this shocking news would disrupt the existing order and trigger unpredictable turmoil.
Some human kingdoms with delicate ties to Blackrock Territory are terrified of the unimaginable prestige and intimidation that Lind has gained as a result.
Even within the Holy Spirit Church, some conservatives secretly worried whether Linde's prestige would completely overshadow the Church's millennia-old traditional authority.
Long-lived races such as elves and dwarves were more cautious, not wanting the news to trigger a dramatic shift in the power structure of the continent.
However, the truth will eventually come out.
Especially when the Orcish Royal Court, under the clever promotion of the Fox Lord Zashira, began to intentionally or unintentionally reveal a sense of pride and triumph, and even in some border trade, Orcish merchants would proudly mention the rumor that "our Great Chieftain (referring to Urano) and the powerful human lord together destroyed an evil god," the leak of the news became inevitable.
Soon, this earth-shattering news spread like wildfire, like a flood breaking through a dam, in every tavern, every market, and every adventurer's guild across the continent, in various embellished and legendary versions.
The bards seized upon this once-in-a-lifetime subject.
They plucked the strings, singing a new epic in passionate tones:
"Listen! Hear the lament of the starry sea, for the god of evil trembles and flees!"
"Behold! Behold the Lord of Blackrock, wielding the eternal spear that pierces the darkness!"
"He stood shoulder to shoulder with the roars of all beasts, burying the filthy fusion to its very end!"
"Glory to the heroes! Peace to the earth! Homage to the name of Lind Truk!"
The lyrics may be rough, and the story may be unrealistic, but the core message—that a human hero joins forces with an ancient beast god to drive out a terrifying evil god for the peace of the continent—has spread like wildfire and been deeply imprinted in the hearts of countless ordinary people.
The name Lind Truck is no longer just associated with the miracles of Blackrock Territory and the "oracles" of the Holy Church.
In the streets and alleys, in the mouths of farmers and craftsmen, he became a living legend, a "human hero" belonging to all races who drove away a world-ending threat.
This bottom-up, surging public opinion and adoration caught those forces that were trying to suppress the news off guard, and quietly ushered in a new and more delicate phase for the situation on the mainland.
Meanwhile, in Blackrock Territory, Lind stood on the high platform of the lord's mansion, listening to the faint cheers of the people and the songs of the bards in the distance. His face showed no joy, only a deep calm.
"hero?"
He murmured to himself, his purple eyes reflecting the distant, undulating mountains, as if he could see even more distant gazes hidden in the shadows of history.
Reputation is a double-edged sword.
It brought prestige and convenience, but also higher expectations, deeper fears, and... earlier exposure.
"It seems some people are getting restless."
He turned and walked towards his study, where letters from all over the mainland, each with its own unique wording, were piled up like a mountain.
A new storm may be brewing quietly amidst this chorus of praise.
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