Judge Priest's eyes, which seemed to burn with cold holy flames, swept over Lind, and his sharp gaze seemed to penetrate the smoke and weariness on Lind's body, landing on a deeper level.
On his cold, marble-sculpted face, the almost imperceptible lines seemed to soften slightly, so subtle that it was enough for the perceptive people inside the tent to sense the change.
“Lind Truk…”
Priest's deep, magnetic voice rang out, no longer merely a question, but carrying a tone of confirmation, "The lord of Blackrock Territory, and... the new priest of the local Holy Church?"
Linde felt a slight chill; the other party's intelligence was indeed accurate. He straightened his back, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard church salute, the movement fluid and solemn.
"Indeed, Your Honor. May the Holy Light guide our path."
He deliberately used a more intimate, internal church term.
Prince nodded slightly, and that almost imperceptible sense of agreement seemed to deepen a little.
Being part of the same Church of the Holy Spirit, and especially since the other party was a priest who had been formally ordained, naturally brought them closer.
In the eyes of Priest, an extremely devout judge who took it upon himself to purify heretics, Lind was no longer just a military nobleman, but also one of "one of their own".
This sense of shared identity is especially important given the current challenging circumstances.
"very good."
Prince's tone remained cold, but within the sense of authority it conveyed seemed to be a subtle undercurrent of trust in his "fellow traveler."
“Then, Priest Lind, please recount to me the details of the blasphemy you encountered. Every detail is crucial.”
He emphasized the identity of "priest".
Linde took a deep breath and once again described to Priss the process of encountering the Shadow Abyss Split and the final aggregate during the Battle of Grinburg in a clear and detailed manner.
Its enormous size, pure black aura of decay, ability to instantly wither life, pollute the earth, and exude a pressure that terrifies warhorses.
The devouring of matter, the corruption of life.
And the largest split entity, after being injured, went berserk, devouring its own kind to form a more powerful aggregate, its power increased dramatically and it seemed to possess a rudimentary "lock-on" intelligence.
"Destructive power far exceeding that of refined bronze, and enhanced resistance to the power of light veins..."
Linde's narration was clear and logical, delivered in a steady tone, with the solemnity befitting a priest and a deep aversion to profanity.
Pris listened silently the entire time, his eyes focused, his sharp gaze seemingly trying to imprint every scene Lind described.
When Lind described how the Holy Spirit's blessing turned the tide of the battle, the cold holy flame in his eyes seemed to flicker.
After the narration was finished, a brief silence fell once more within the tent, the atmosphere even more somber than before. The threat posed by the Shadow Abyss's creations far exceeded ordinary military conflict; it was a direct blasphemy against the very foundations of the Holy Faith.
Priss slowly raised his hand, his fingers, encased in mithril-like armor, gently brushing against the radiant holy emblem on his chest.
A purer and more powerful aura of holiness instantly emanated from him, dispelling the lingering oppression and bloody smell in the tent, bringing an almost tangible sense of oppression, yet containing a reassuring sense of order and power.
"The corrupting influence of Noctoos... dares to defile this land bathed in holy light once again."
Priest's voice was like lava beneath the ice, containing boundless rage and an absolute will to judge.
"Shadow Abyss Splits... Devouring and Merging... These blasphemous creations are the anchors and claws of the Shadow Abyss's power in the material world. They must be thoroughly purified, not even a speck of dust can remain!"
His sharp gaze swept over Earl Sutherland, Lind, and Lillens, finally settling on Earl Sutherland, but his words were clearly meant for everyone:
"Earl Sutherland, Priest Lind. The Holy Spirit bears witness to your sacrifice and struggle. The heroism and suffering of Knight Geoffrey will not be forgotten."
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming resolute and decisive.
"The threat of the Shadow Abyss is beyond the capabilities of ordinary armies. Its corrupting power can only be dispelled by the purest light veins and divine will."
Priss took a step forward, his heavy mithril boots striking the ground with a crisp, resolute echo, symbolizing an unquestionable commitment:
"The Holy Knights, from this day forward, will follow closely behind the army!"
"Our swords will be wielded to purify evil! Our shields will stand firm to protect the living! Our light will burn to incinerate the Shadow Abyss!"
His voice was like a divine pronouncement, filled with unwavering faith and power.
"Any Sassians who dare to command or protect these blasphemous beings will be considered accomplices to heresy and will be judged by holy punishment! And those split beings of the Shadow Abyss..."
A cold yet sacred smile curved at the corners of Pris's lips, a pronouncement of the ultimate fate of evil.
"They will wail and vanish into nothingness under our 'divine purification'!"
His promises were resounding and carried an absolute sense of power.
The air inside the tent seemed to be ignited by this vow. Earl Sutherland's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a new hope finally ignited in his eyes.
The heavy losses and unknown fears seemed to have found a way to cope with the judge and the knightly order behind him, which represented the church's highest military power and purifying will.
Linde breathed a sigh of relief. The intervention of the Holy Punishment Knights, especially their expertise in countering the power of the Shadow Abyss, was undoubtedly a timely help.
He looked at Pris, and solemnly bowed again, placing his hand on his chest:
"May the Holy Light guide the Chief Judge and the Knights of Holy Punishment, cleansing away defilement and protecting all living beings!"
Pris nodded slightly, acknowledging Lind's respect. His cold gaze then turned to Earl Sutherland:
“My lord, please make the arrangements immediately. We need the most detailed intelligence from the front lines, especially the movements of the main Sassin forces, as well as any suspicious locations where these blasphemous creatures might be hidden or summoned. Time is of the essence; purification… is of utmost urgency.”
They stayed at Count Sutherland's temporary residence for several days, assisting the Count in communicating some intelligence with Priest, the chief judge of the Holy Punishment Knights.
After confirming the initial framework for subsequent joint operations, Lind and Lillens, carrying the supplies promised by the Earl to compensate for the heavy losses at Grinburg and for subsequent defense, embarked on their journey back to the front lines.
The heavy supply wagon struggled along the muddy road, laden with food, arrows, spare weapons, metal ingots for repairing armor, and a small amount of holy water.
This aid was a timely help for the Blackstone army, which had just suffered a bloody battle and was severely weakened. It also demonstrated Earl Sutherland's emphasis on the strategic location of Grinburg and his recognition of Lind's abilities—despite the high cost.
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