Pris's residence is located deep within the Inquisition complex, in a stone chamber with furnishings so simple they are almost austere.
The cold, rocky walls were undecorated except for a simple hanging emblem, a hard bed, a wooden table, and two chairs.
The air was filled with a faint smell of ointment and a damp, chilly scent that lingered from the depths of the earth.
Dressed in a priest's white robe, Lind, with a calm expression, was guided silently by a silent judge through layers of solemn and oppressive corridors until he finally arrived at the door of this stone chamber.
The judge who had led the way bowed and retreated, as if disappearing into the shadows.
Linde pushed open the unlocked wooden door and went inside.
Prince stood with his back to the doorway in front of the only narrow window, gazing at the small patch of gray sky cut off by the high wall.
Hearing the noise, he slowly turned around.
His only remaining right arm instinctively rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his single eye filled with undisguised weariness, deep worry, and a hint of wariness in the face of the unknown.
He looked much older and more haggard than Lind remembered, his face bearing the marks of time and unhealed scars, and his empty left sleeve silently testifying to the terrible price he had paid.
“Lind…Priest.”
Pris's voice was hoarse and scrutinizing.
Linde nodded slightly and naturally closed the door behind him.
[Deconstructing the Halo] Silently and at full power, the pale golden data stream deep within the purple eyes poured down like a waterfall, instantly enveloping Pris completely from the inside out.
Energy flow, muscle memory, neural responses, mental fluctuations, even the imprints remaining deep within the soul… all information is captured, analyzed, and reconstructed in an instant. Linde “saw”:
An endless, viscous, suffocating darkness… the chilling, all-consuming Shadow Abyss energy, like a leech… a brutal battle, the struggle and annihilation of the Light Vein power before absolute nothingness… the excruciating pain of an arm being instantly shredded and reduced to nothingness by a terrifying devouring force… on the verge of death, his consciousness was pushed into a strange dimension by the collision of extreme forces, vaguely “touching” the vast and ancient sealing network beneath the Holy City, and the despairing decay and restlessness emanating from the depths of the network… and in that final moment, a faint yet incredibly tenacious force of light, carrying a strange “vitality,” pulled him back from the brink of death…
All the images, feelings, and energy imprints were instantly read and digested by Linde.
He understood the source of Pris's increased power (a breakthrough between life and death), the origin of his one arm, and the source of his knowledge about "Shadow Eclipse" and the crisis in the Holy City.
More importantly, he confirmed Prince's current mental state—his faith had not collapsed, but he was filled with a sense of powerlessness, deeply worried about the current state of the church, and desperately wanted to find a solution, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Linde's expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed, as if he were simply making a routine visit.
He slowly took a few steps forward, his gaze falling on Pris's empty left sleeve, his tone carrying just the right amount of heaviness and a hint of undeniable concern:
"Your Honor, you have suffered."
Pris's one eye narrowed slightly. Lind's calmness and his all-seeing gaze made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he was in a state of confusion at the moment and just assumed it was due to the other's personality.
He shook his head, his voice hoarse:
"It's just a small price to pay... insignificant compared to the crisis facing the Holy City. Priest Lind, you... you really have a way?"
His tone carried a last glimmer of hope and immense uncertainty.
Linde did not answer directly. He raised his hand, and a soft, white-gold light shone from his fingertips. The light was not dazzling, but it contained an incomparably pure life force and an indescribable, orderly power that seemed capable of soothing all wounds.
He combined the powers of the [Activation Aura] and the [Bright Aura] in a precise ratio, simulating an effect far exceeding that of ordinary Holy Light Healing.
"Your injuries have not fully healed, and the Shadow Abyss's erosion is still draining your life force. Let me stabilize your injuries first, otherwise you may not be able to hold on for the rest of the conversation."
Linde's voice was gentle, yet carried an irresistible authority.
Prince hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
He truly felt physically and mentally exhausted; that cold, corrosive sensation constantly lingered around his severed arm and inside his body, devouring his strength like a venomous snake.
The light from Linde's fingertips gently touched Pris's severed arm.
The moment the light surged in, Pris's body jolted violently! An indescribable warmth and vigorous power instantly coursed through his limbs and bones, and the persistent, chilling, corrosive feeling melted away as quickly as ice and snow meeting the sun.
The excruciating pain and numbness at the amputation site were replaced by a gentle, vibrant tingling sensation, as if a withered tree had come back to life.
More importantly, the light vein power within his body, which had been somewhat sluggish due to severe injuries and depletion, became exceptionally active and smooth under the guidance of this external yet equally powerful but higher-level force. It began to circulate on its own, accelerating the repair of the internal injuries!
This effect far surpassed any high-level healing spell he had ever received!
Prince suddenly raised his head, his single eye filled with unbelievable shock, and looked at Lind.
Linde withdrew his finger at the opportune moment, the light faded, and his tone remained calm:
"It seems that the power bestowed by 'He' is indeed somewhat effective in resisting the erosion of that darkness."
A seemingly casual remark stirred up a storm in Pris's heart! "He"? The Lord of the Light Veins?! Pris instantly recalled the scene from many years ago when Lind performed a "miracle" and dispelled the darkness, and remembered his once unwavering belief in Lind's identity as an "oracle".
Later, because Linde's power system seemed to differ from the traditional Holy Light, coupled with the Church's fear and alienation of Blackrock Territory, he had a moment of doubt.
But at this moment, personally experiencing this pure, powerful, vibrant, and magical energy that can perfectly draw upon one's own light veins, all doubts vanished instantly!
What else could this be but an oracle? What else could this be but divine grace?! Who else but a true agent of God could possess such miraculous means that transcend the mortal realm and directly address the very source of power?
Overwhelmed by immense excitement and hope, Priscilla was instantly overwhelmed.
His knees, which had never bent even after losing his arm, were now feeling weak, and his one eye even welled up with a little moisture.
“You…you really are…” His voice choked with emotion, filled with the excitement and relief of finding a savior.
Linde slightly raised his hand, stopping him from saying anything more, his gaze deep:
"Your Excellency, it is no coincidence that 'He' has guided me here at this moment. The crisis in the Holy City is far deeper than you can see. The ancient seal has loosened due to the silence of the light veins, and the power of 'Shadow Eclipse' is stealing the sacred foundation."
He directly pointed out the core secret that Price had glimpsed at great sacrifice, his tone resolute, as if he had already known everything. This once again deeply shocked Price, leaving him with no more doubt about Lind's identity as the "oracle"—how could Lind know so clearly if not revealed by a deity?
What should we do?
"I ask you this so eagerly," Pris asked, now completely regarding Lind as his only hope and pillar of support.
Linde took a step forward, closing in on Price, his voice low but carrying an intense sense of pressure and allure:
"Helios and his ilk are still hesitating, clinging to outdated beliefs and ridiculous rules! They cannot see the impending disaster, or rather, they see it but are powerless to deal with it, and can only futilely try to cover it up!"
"Your Honor, you brought the truth and warning with your blood and sacrifice, but what did they give you in return? Suspicion? Censorship? Limited trust?"
Lind's words were like a cold dagger, precisely piercing into the deepest resentment and anxiety in Pris's heart.
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The Holy City does not need another endlessly debated consulate; it needs a strong voice, a leader who can act decisively and bring real solutions!”
Pris's single eye suddenly lit up, and his breathing became heavy.
Lind's words perfectly captured his hidden thoughts.
"You mean..."
“What I mean is,” Lind’s gaze was sharp as a knife, as if it could see into one’s soul, “that the warnings and sacrifices you brought back have already earned you immense prestige and influence. And now, you’ve brought back the ‘solution’—that is, me, and ‘His’ grace.”
“We need to seize this opportunity. In the next meeting, you must demonstrate absolute resolve and decisiveness. I will support you and use ‘His’ power to prove to everyone who is capable of turning the tide.”
"Concentrate power in the hands of those who can solve problems, instead of wasting it on endless arguments and delays!"
Pris's heart was pounding.
Linde's words outlined a clear blueprint for him—to break the deadlock at the top and seize control under the guise of saving the Holy City, with the help of Linde's power as the "oracle"!
This is undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble, but given the current crisis, it seems to be the only option.
For the Holy City! For the Faith! The hesitation in Pris's eyes was quickly replaced by determination.
His only remaining right hand slowly clenched into a fist, and he nodded emphatically:
“I understand. Lord Linde… no, Oracle. I know what to do.”
Seeing the fire burning in Pris's eyes, Lind knew that the first step had been successful.
This battle-hardened judge has been completely bound to his chariot, becoming the sharpest sword he uses to penetrate the core of power in the Holy Church.
"very good."
A barely perceptible curve finally appeared at the corner of Linde's mouth, cold and profound.
"Then, Your Honor, let's go and meet those important figures. It's time to make the voice of the Holy Church 'unified' and 'efficient'."
He turned around, pushed open the door to the stone chamber, and the faint light from outside shone on him, as if draping him in a sacred halo.
Priscilla took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and followed closely behind.
The two walked one after the other toward the cardinal council that would decide the fate of the holy city, toward the center of the storm of power.
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