Read Novel Full Chapter 807 - 23: No Way Back
Chapter 807: Chapter 23: No Way Back
Freemasonry Church, Justice Cathedral.
The grand dome towered high, and the light filtered through the stained glass cast a mottled and solemn shadow in the air. Deep within the spacious, empty hall, in front of the altar, Leonard sat cross-legged in a plain white bishop’s robe.
His eyes were slightly closed, his posture dignified, as if immersed in devout prayer. However, if a high-level wizard proficient in spiritual power were present, they would sense that it was not pure divine resonance, but a cleverly disguised spiritual meditation method.
Strands of invisible power of faith, mingled with pure spiritual energy, flowed slowly within him along a special cycle modified by Erodion, blending ancient rune paths. This was both a means of drawing power and a daily reinforcement and display of the church’s core doctrines.
"Da da da——!"
A sudden and urgent sound of footsteps shattered the absolute silence of the cathedral, echoing clearly between the marble floor and columns.
Leonard’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he slowly opened his eyes. There was no annoyance at being disturbed in those eyes, only a deep calm like an abyss.
He looked towards the source of the sound—a middle-aged man in a high-level priest robe was rushing through the long aisle towards him, his face lacking the composure a priest should have, replaced by a barely suppressed yet unmistakable panic and gravity.
The high priest stopped a few meters in front of Leonard, placed his right hand on his chest, and hastily saluted, unable to fully steady his breath before quickly reporting in a low voice:
"Bishop! Something’s wrong! The three Inquisitor Bishops who went to River Town for the purging task—Lord Reo, Lord Codinos, and Lord Saros—they... they suddenly lost all contact just now!"
Leonard’s expression did not change, only his gaze sharpened slightly as he quietly looked at the reporting priest, waiting for him to continue.
The priest swallowed, his voice carrying a barely discernible tremor as he continued: "The brothers on duty in the Holy Hall just reported urgently...the Soul Crystals of the church... Lord Reo and Lord Codinos’... have completely shattered!"
"What?!" Cracks finally appeared on Leonard’s perpetually calm face as he stood up abruptly, his plain white robe fluttering without wind, "The Soul Crystals... shattered?"
He knew very well what that meant. The Soul Crystal contained a core soul mark, bonded with one’s life. Complete shattering of the crystal could only mean one cruel fact—the soul mark had completely dissipated, and the corresponding life had perished!
The priest nodded heavily, adding with a pale face: "Yes... yes, the two lords’ crystals have turned completely to dust. And... and Lord Saros’ situation is even stranger. His Soul Crystal, while not shattered, has completely dimmed, its internal structure presenting a kind of... a solidified gray-white color, completely losing all contact, and its state... extremely abnormal!"
Three Inquisitor Bishops, two confirmed dead, and one missing with a strange status!
This news struck Leonard’s heart like a thunderclap. Inquisitor Bishops Level combat strength, especially someone like Reo who had stepped into the Domain Level, were top forces in the entire Freemasonry Church, the sword and shield of Erodion’s will.
Losing three at once was no trivial matter, and could even be said to be an unprecedented major loss since the church’s founding!
The shock on Leonard’s face slowly faded, replaced by a deep bewilderment.
He stood there, his gaze seemingly piercing through the holy images on the cathedral’s stained glass, reaching into a distant, blurry past. That young face during the time at the Shadow Tower, always quiet, focused, and almost overly "obedient" in public classes, vividly emerged in his mind.
"Lynch..."
He unconsciously murmured, the name carrying a weight almost unreal.
He still clearly remembered the appearance of this apprentice—not because of any impressive talent or background at the time, quite the opposite, it was due to that uncommon calmness and focus amid the restless apprentices.
He had once privately assessed that with this child’s temperament, if he persevered, he would certainly achieve something on the Wizard’s Road. This was the highest expectation he could give to a "muggle" apprentice back then.
However...
"Such a growth rate..." Leonard’s lips curled in a bit of indescribable bitterness, a mix of astonishment, confusion, and even an elusive... relief.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t fathom how Lynch had done it. In the short span of just over two hundred years—merely a blink in a wizard’s longevity—how could he transform from an unremarkable apprentice, break through numerous barriers, first miraculously stepping into secrets, and now possess terrifying power able to crush three Domain Powerhouses simultaneously?
This completely defied logic, upending his understanding of the wizard’s path.
Was it unimaginable fortune? A secretly buried secret? Or... some unforeseen variable even Erodion had not anticipated?
In the chaos of his thoughts, a never-before-had notion arose like a bubble in deep waters, silently crossing Leonard’s heart. He gazed at the emblem above the altar, symbolizing absolute order and the Father God’s brilliance, a trace of profound fatigue and confusion glinted in his eyes.
Maybe...
He inhaled softly, in a voice almost only audible to himself, with a complex mix of meanings, sighed:
"Maybe... someone needs to end it all."
Leonard shook his head forcefully, as if to rid his mind of all the untimely distractions.
He closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and when he reopened them, the last hint of bewilderment and hesitation was completely suppressed, replaced by a nearly ruthless clarity.
He knew very well that ever since choosing to follow his teacher on this path years ago, his identity, his standpoint, everything he bore, allowed no turning back, nor could he afford to be swayed by personal sentiments at such a critical moment.
This path, from the very start, was destined to only move forward, with no retreat.
He turned around, facing the altar. Within the vast cathedral, only his figure stood between the sacred and the silent. The dappled stained glass light fell like destiny upon his plain white bishop’s robe, not dispelling the chill spreading from his heart, but instead adding a touch more of eerie and oppressive weight to the solemn atmosphere.
Without any further hesitation, Leonard adjusted his robe, his expression solemn, as he took a step forward. He must set off immediately to personally report this calamity, enough to shake the entire church, to the one who sits high in the clouds, ruling all order—
Their sole faith and guidance, "Father God" Erodion.