The Holy Judgment Spear, soaring into the sky like a manifestation of the will of God, carried unparalleled purifying power and precisely pierced the hole in the constantly rotating, hissing head of the Shadow Abyss creation.
boom--!!!
The ultimate light and the ultimate darkness collided violently, unleashing a deafening roar! The blinding white light instantly engulfed the monster's figure, and the powerful energy shockwave spread out in a ring, forcing the Holy Punishment Knights at the forefront to retreat repeatedly.
As the light faded, the once invincible creation of the Shadow Abyss vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a charred, deep pit emitting wisps of blue smoke, and the lingering, strange, burnt smell of holy light mixed with the Shadow Abyss in the air.
The battle is over.
However, an eerie silence fell over the battlefield.
All eyes were focused on the dark figure who had suddenly appeared, severely wounded the monster with a single sword strike, and was now kneeling on one knee, panting slightly.
He wore a tattered, dark-stained judge's robe, with his hood pulled down to reveal a weathered face etched with weariness and resilience.
Most strikingly, his left sleeve was completely empty, revealing that he had lost his entire arm!
Even so, his earth-shattering sword strike, imbued with the purest light vein power, and the faint yet incredibly pure aura of the Inquisitor emanating from him, instantly made all the church members present recognize his identity.
"Judge... Judge Priest?!"
Bishop Helios gasped in disbelief, his face contorted with shock.
The surrounding knights and priests also stirred, staring in shock at the long-lost Supreme Judge who was said to have been martyred or defected.
Prince coughed violently a few times, then used his only remaining right hand to support himself as he struggled to his feet.
His face was as pale as paper, clearly indicating that the sword strike had taken a heavy toll on him, and that he was in extremely poor condition.
He glanced around at his bewildered colleagues, his gaze finally settling on Bishop Helios, his voice hoarse yet carrying an undeniable authority:
“Helios… It seems that things have been worse than I anticipated while I was away.”
"Your Honor! You...you're still alive! Your arm...what happened to it? Where did you go?"
Helios strode forward, pressing for answers with an urgent tone, while also displaying a barely perceptible wariness.
After all, Price had been missing for too long, and his reappearance was too bizarre.
Priss did not answer directly. His gaze passed over Helios, settling solemnly on the scorched crater created by the Holy Judgment Spear, and he said in a deep voice:
"Now is not the time for explanations. 'Shadow Eclipse' has already infiltrated beneath the Holy Throne. What we just saw was merely the tip of the iceberg. The real crisis is far from over."
He used the word "Shadow Erosion," which made Helios's pupils shrink—this was the code name within the Inquisition for some of the deepest, most incomprehensible dark corruption, usually associated with the oldest taboo records.
"Do you know the root cause of this?"
Helios pressed on with an urgent question.
Priss nodded slowly, his one arm clenched into a fist, a flicker of pain and resolve in his eyes:
"I've investigated all of this at a great cost... but I've also found some clues. We must see His Holiness the Pope immediately, or at least a Cardinal! The foundations of the Holy City are being shaken; conventional methods are no longer effective!"
His words were filled with urgency and unquestionable authority, as if bearing the heavy weight of a truth obtained at great sacrifice.
As Bishop Helios looked at Pris's empty left sleeve, at the undisguised heaviness and urgency in his eyes, and recalled the pure light energy in that stunning sword strike (which no evil spirit could fake), his doubts lessened slightly, replaced by a tremendous sense of relief, as if he had found his anchor, and a deeper worry.
“His Holiness the Pope…” Helios was about to say something, but was stopped by Bishop Augustus’s gaze. The Pope’s true condition was a top secret.
August stepped forward, his tone softening yet scrutinizing:
"Judge Presley, welcome back. Your presence... is indeed proof that the Holy Light has not forsaken you. But this is a serious matter, and we need you to provide more details and undergo the necessary... verification procedures."
He implied the need to verify Prince's identity and status, even though he had just performed a great service.
Priest seemed to have expected this, and said calmly:
“I understand. I will accept all scrutiny. But the message I brought cannot be delayed any longer!”
…………
In the shadows in the distance, Lind took in everything. Data streams flickered silently in his purple eyes as he rapidly analyzed Pris's state, words, and the chain reaction they caused.
[Target: Pris. Vital signs: Severely damaged, with traces of spatial tearing and Shadow Abyss erosion remaining at the site of the missing left arm (preliminarily purified).]
Energy Core: The purity of the Light Pulse Power has increased by 17.3%, but the total amount has decreased by about 40%, indicating signs of overdraft.
Mental state: Highly tense, unwavering in belief, concealing profound pain and... a death wish.
[Discourse Analysis: Key words: "eclipse", "below the throne", "tip of the iceberg", "real crisis"]
Information accuracy assessment: High. It is speculated that during his disappearance, he may have come into close contact with or encountered a major event related to the Shadow Abyss Rift beneath the Holy City, and may even have glimpsed some of the truth.
[Behavioral Logic: The sudden appearance to resolve the situation aims to gain trust, deliver a warning, and attempt to reach the core of power. Its urgency aligns with the psychological characteristic of "knowing a huge secret but being unable to solve it alone."]
"Having lost an arm, yet seemingly gaining a purer recognition of the light veins... and even touching upon the core secrets of 'Shadow Eclipse'?"
Linde muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips once more.
"This is...a pleasant surprise."
The appearance of Price did indeed disrupt his original pace of "slowly applying pressure and waiting for help".
But he immediately realized that this was not a bad thing, but an excellent accelerator!
The intelligence and credibility that Presley gained through sacrifice were more effective at breaking through the psychological defenses of the church's leadership than any of his meticulously crafted "miracles."
The words of a Supreme Judge who has been missing for a long time, paid a heavy price, and returned with a deadly warning carry far more weight than those of an unknown "oracle."
Moreover, the appearance of Price perfectly explains the origin of the "help" that Lind is about to provide—it can all be attributed to the judge's "assistance found outside" or "divine revelation".
The plan needs minor adjustments.
He no longer needs to wait for the church to run out of options before coming to him for help.
Now, he can indirectly and more quickly take control of the situation by "helping" Prince.
Pres will become his ideal "spokesperson" and "interpreter" within the church.
With a thought, Linde sent out an extremely subtle mental fluctuation, like an encrypted signal, across space and precisely aimed at Pris, who was being questioned by two cardinals.
This was not coercive control, but a simple "greeting" whose meaning only Pris could understand—a unique spiritual imprint originating from Blackrock Territory and representing Lind's identity.
As Price was describing the critical situation, he suddenly froze, his words stopped abruptly, and the pupil in his one eye shrank sharply, flashing a light of extreme shock, but he quickly suppressed it.
He sensed it! It was Lind?! What was he doing here?
Moreover, the strength and concealment of this spiritual power far exceeded his imagination!
Linde's voice resounded directly in the depths of his mind, calm yet carrying an undeniable power:
"Your Excellency, it's been a long time. It seems you need some 'reliable' help. I think we can talk about the troubles surrounding 'Eclipse' and the Holy See. Stay calm and follow my instructions."
Prince's heart pounded, and he instantly understood many things.
The unfathomable Priest Lind of Blackrock Territory seemed to have foreseen the crisis in the Holy City, and might even... know it deeply! Was his appearance at this moment a coincidence, or...?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Priss only swayed slightly due to his injuries and excitement before being supported by Helios.
"Your Honor? Are you alright?"
"No...it's nothing."
Priss took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his single eye. Whatever Lind's motives, he desperately needed any possible power to save the Holy City! He looked at the two cardinals, his tone growing heavier:
"Lord Helios, Lord August. I know you have doubts, but time is running out. I did not return alone... I have made contact with some... 'external forces,' who may possess unique methods to combat the 'Shadow Eclipse.' But I need the highest authority, I need to meet with the core leadership!"
He cleverly presented Linde's "existence" as an "external force" he had found, in a vague manner.
Helios and August exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with astonishment and uncertainty. The news brought by Pris was too shocking, and the "external force" he suddenly mentioned was even more shrouded in mystery.
But the current crisis, and the reputation that Pris had earned through sacrifice, made it impossible for them to refuse outright.
"……good."
Helios finally gritted his teeth and decided, "We will first take you for treatment and necessary examinations. Afterwards, I will immediately convene an emergency cardinal meeting! You and the 'external force' you mentioned must provide a convincing explanation and solution at the meeting!"
"I am extremely grateful."
Pris lowered his head, drew a holy symbol on his chest with his one arm, and subtly glanced in the direction of Lind out of the corner of his eye.
The plan change was successful.
Linde's figure quietly disappeared into the deeper darkness, like a true behind-the-scenes chess player watching the pieces take their places.
Next, he will use Pres to directly penetrate the core of the Holy Church's power, completely guiding this crisis in the Holy City in the direction he desires.
The real show has only just begun.
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