Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience

Chapter 792: Chapter 8: Have You Arrived?

Lynch furrowed his brow, keenly perceiving that Lanice’s whole demeanor was entirely different from before as she spoke.

That undeniable fervor emanating from the depths of her soul cast a shadow of fanaticism over her originally elegant features. It was more than just Faith, it seemed like a deeply instilled and guided... fanatical belief?

Lynch’s brow furrowed even tighter. He keenly picked up the unusual term in Lanice’s words and tentatively asked, "The ’Father God’ you mentioned... are you referring to Erodion?"

"Do not call Father God’s name directly!" Lanice instinctively, with a natural reverence and protectiveness, rebuked solemnly, her tone carrying unquestionable devotion.

This reaction deepened Lynch’s doubts. He didn’t continue asking about the term, but suddenly raised his hand, seemingly casually snapping his fingers.

"Snap!"

A soft sound.

Even though Lynch stood there, not having moved an inch, Lanice suddenly felt an extremely faint and almost imperceptible pull by her temple.

She instinctively tilted her head back, only to see a lock of her chestnut hair had been cut off at the root at some point, slowly falling. And when she turned back, that lock of hair was already lying in Lynch’s open palm.

Lynch, holding the lock of hair, gave Lanice an inscrutable smile, his tone as relaxed as if he were asking for an ordinary souvenir: "This lock of hair, let me have it, as a... gift for our reunion this time."

Lanice froze, looking at that lock of her own hair, her lips slightly moving, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately, she remained silent, neither agreeing nor opposing. Her eyes were complex and hard to decipher, with confusion, a hint of offense, but deeper emotions made her choose silent acquiescence.

Lynch didn’t seem to need her explicit answer either; he put away the lock of hair, then waved his hand, his tone turning calm again: "Well... goodbye, Lanice."

As he finished speaking, his figure, like a drop of water merging into the air, vanished completely without a trace, under Lanice’s gaze.

Until Lynch’s presence completely disappeared in the valley, Lanice seemed to finally come back to her senses from a dazed state.

She stood alone, staring at the spot where Lynch had stood, her eyes reflecting a tumultuous mix of emotions—waves from a long-lost reunion, shock at his startling identity, subtle anger for having her hair taken against her will, struggles with Faith and past emotions, and a touch of indescribable melancholy and worry.

She stood quietly for a long time, the valley left with only the eternal roar of the waterfall.

Ultimately,

She seemed to come to a decision, hesitating repeatedly, yet finally lifting her eyelids, speaking in a volume only she could hear, but as if hoping someone who had left could hear:

"Go and take a look at the Water Capital... perhaps... you might discover something."

These words, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, carried subtle meaning and hidden hints, dissipating into the moist air.

.....

Original Royal Capital of Lorent Kingdom, Water Capital.

At the city center, the once luxurious and grandiose Royal Palace where the Lorent Royal Family resided had vanished without a trace, replaced by an imposing, awe-inspiring giant structure—

Justice Cathedral.

Constructed with massive white stone blocks, soaring spires piercing the clouds, its walls engraved with Libra reliefs representing "judgment and decision," and countless kneeling, praying figures etched in, the overall style solemn, cold, filled with religious majesty and oppressive presence.

Currently, at the deepest part of the Justice Cathedral, in the central area of a forbidden zone guarded tightly by the finest Libra Knights and devout Church Priests, stood a giant, approximately three-person-high, peculiar Crystal.

This Crystal was entirely a deep, seemingly light-absorbing dark purple color, with an energy seemingly flowing within.

Around the Crystal, several clergy wearing High Priest Robes with gold embroidery stood with closed eyes and bowed heads, like the most loyal sentries, guarding the side. More outwardly, a layer of semi-transparent light shield, flowing with complex runes, tightly enveloped the Crystal, emitting powerful energy waves, isolating all unauthorized proximity.

Most chilling was that this Crystal seemed to possess an invisible, immense Gravity. Though invisible to the eye, the perceptive could "see" strands of strange energy, like colored haze, continuously gathering from all directions, even penetrating the heavy cathedral walls, silent and quietly merging into the giant dark purple Crystal.

If Lynch were here, surely he would instantly recognize these pilgrim-like converging colored energy streams were the purest, yet most mixed—

Power of Faith!

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Just then, a clear and steady footstep echoed in the empty and silent hallway, breaking the heaviness of the place.

A middle-aged man, wearing a magnificent bishop’s robe and donning a solemn face, approached slowly, precisely Leonard, once a student of Erodion, now a prominent bishop within the Church. He walked smoothly, directly to the outer forbidden area where the Crystal lay.

Leonard stopped, casting his gaze toward a leading High Priest before the Crystal, asking, "Is Father God here?"

The High Priest slightly bowed, answering respectfully, "Father God is in the sanctuary."

Leonard nodded, his tone unwavering, "I wish to see Father God."

The guarding priests had no objection, retreating a distance. Simultaneously, the light shield enveloping the Crystal rippled like water, quietly opening an entrance barely enough for one person.

Leonard stepped in, directly approaching the massive dark purple Crystal. He extended his hand, pressing his palm gently against the cold surface of the Crystal.

In the next moment, an extremely eerie scene unfolded!

The portion of Leonard’s body making contact with the Crystal began to soften and distort like a wax figure under high heat. Subsequently, his whole being seemed to lose solid form, getting completely engulfed by an invisible pull from the Crystal, "merging" into the Crystal!

Amid a brief blurring of vision and sensation of space transformation, Leonard found himself in a place utterly different from the sacred Light of the outside cathedral.

This was a dark, eerie underground cavern, with light mainly coming from above, precisely the base of the giant dark purple Crystal. From the Crystal’s base extended countless thick dark red energy conduits, akin to blood vessels or vines, hanging downwards, connecting all the way to the cavern’s bottom.

There, a chair resembling a Throne, carved from rough black stone, stood high. On the Throne, a figure sat quietly, bare-chested.

He could hardly be called a complete "person."

His body exhibited unnatural expansion and distortion, his skin surface covered with bizarre dark red lines resembling those of the energy conduits’ patterns, in some parts even appearing crystalline.

From the Crystal’s hanging "vessels," one by one pierced, or "grew" into his back, arms, and even his head, constantly infusing him with the vast and mixed Power of Faith gathered from the Crystal, like a transfusion.

As Leonard appeared before the Throne, the man’s monstrous eyes slowly opened. They were deep-set eyes containing countless Believers’ prayers and fervor, unsettlingly profound.

He looked at Leonard, his voice low and hoarse yet carrying a peculiar, almost soul-resonating magnetism:

"Leonard... have you come?"