Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2577: 1420: Dialogue Deep Within the Grand Hall (Part 2)

The primary reason Leo Ray had selected this specific location for his audience with the White Knight was rooted entirely in the concerns previously raised by Ariel Watson.

Since the White Knight had successfully manifested through the Lion King Temple before, it stood to reason that even if a confrontation with the "Corrosion" inhabiting him resulted in his destruction, he could simply be summoned again through the temple without truly perishing.

“Sarah Shawn, is the Secret Spell prepared?”

Leo Ray shifted his gaze toward the former Chief Priest of the Illusion Spirit Race to confirm.

“My Lord, every detail has been meticulously arranged. Should any mishap occur, I am capable of instantly preserving the White Knight’s life essence and remapping it via the Lion King Temple.”

Placing her hand over her heart, Sarah Shawn offered a respectful salute to Leo Ray, her expression radiating fervor and dedication.

Having been unable to travel to the Outer Region, she had missed the chance to serve on the front lines for some time; now that a new opportunity to exert herself for Leo Ray had arisen, she valued it immensely.

“Excellent. Let us commence.”

Taking a stabilizing breath, Leo Ray activated Mind Talk to signal Crisis, who was stationed outside: “Very well, you may escort the White Knight inside.”

As a precaution, Leo Ray had positioned a detachment of formidable tree fairies around the Lion King Temple. Following Crisis’s submission, these guardians were now under Leo Ray’s absolute command.

“Understood, My Lord!”

Crisis’s sharp, unwavering reply echoed back through the mental link.

Moments later, the sound of rhythmic footsteps reached the hall’s entrance. The White Knight entered, flanked by Gideon Black, Dazhuang, Sarah Shawn, Yoyo, and Crisis.

Aside from Crisis, both Gideon Black and Sarah Shawn were present as holders of the Stone of God, granting them the unique power to withstand "Corrosion." Their inclusion in the group was a calculated necessity.

Thanks to Leo Ray’s earlier explanations, the White Knight fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

He arrived without his legendary white armor, stripped of all weapons and Storage Space items. Instead, he wore simple knight’s garb and a metallic mask that obscured his features.

The White Knight himself had requested these restrictions. Beyond their initial contact over a thousand years ago, he had experienced no further communication with the suspected "Corrosion," nor had he exhibited any strange behavior.

However, since "Corrosion" clearly possessed the potential to seize control of its host, this was the safest method to ensure he remained no threat to Leo Ray.

“This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty!”

Upon approaching, the White Knight dropped to one knee in a formal greeting to Leo Ray.

“White Knight, please, rise.”

Leo Ray gave a small nod, looking at the gathered allies with a faint, wry smile. “I apologize, White Knight. We have fought as brothers-in-arms for a long time, and this is hardly the proper way to welcome a comrade. But under these extraordinary circumstances, I trust you understand.”

“Your Majesty’s praise humbles this servant. It is only by Your Majesty’s grace that I continue to serve Your Majesty and the Human Clan. How could I possibly take offense?”

The White Knight’s tone was profoundly solemn as he nodded firmly. “If I show any signs of abnormal behavior, I implore Your Majesty not to hesitate!”

“I promise you, even if the worst happens, as long as I am standing, you shall not fall here.”

Leo Ray’s eyes shone with a steady confidence, his voice ringing with resolve.

This assurance served a dual purpose: it comforted the White Knight while also sending a clear message to the hidden "Corrosion" that they were prepared for any outcome, warning it against acting impulsively.

With those words, Leo Ray gestured for the White Knight to take off the mask. Only by removing that physical barrier could they truly confront the entity within.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

Without a moment’s pause, the White Knight pulled away the mask, exposing his true countenance to the room.

“Is this what becomes of one infested by ‘Corrosion’?”

At the sight of the mangled face, the assembled powerhouses—particularly those like the Grey Elder seeing it for the first time—could not help but gasp, feeling a sudden chill.

The face radiated an eerie, deep blue light. It was gaunt and bloodless, smothered by a thick crust of dark blue crystals.

These crystalline clusters were wedged deep into the White Knight’s parched skin, pulsing with a disturbing, sinister luminescence.

On the patches of skin not covered by crystals, bulging blue veins snaked across his face like vines choking a wall. Even his scalp was entirely bare, save for the same shriveled, sickly skin.

Furthermore, the White Knight’s eyes were no longer human. The orbs had completely crystallized; the whites were now a deep blue, while the pupils were a stark, ghostly white, looking utterly hollow and alien.

In an instant, it was clear the White Knight had been transformed beyond recognition. Even though a trace of his usual warmth lingered in those vacant crystal eyes, the departure from his human form was so jarring it caused one's skin to crawl.

“It is just like the infected Giant Dragons. No, the manifestation in a human is far more gruesome. I fear his internal state is equally ravaged.”

The Grey Elder’s expression turned grim as he instinctively gripped the hilt of his blade. Despite his vast experience, he had never encountered such a sight; it was like looking at a mutated cadaver that had just risen from the grave.

Leo Ray maintained a calm gaze on the horrific face, asking: “White Knight, are you able to communicate with it at this moment? Has it shown any sign of wanting to speak?”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. This servant feels nothing, much like the silence of the last thousand years.”

The White Knight closed his eyes, focusing inward for a moment before shaking his head in frustration. “Since that first interaction, there has been no further contact. If Your Majesty had not revealed the nature of ‘Corrosion,’ I would not even be certain it still resided within me.”

“Given the nature of ‘Corrosion’ and its parasitic habits, it is undoubtedly still there, as you share a physical symbiosis.”

Leo Ray’s brow furrowed slightly as he concluded: “It seems it has no desire to reveal itself.”

Hearing this, the gathered allies all shared his look of concern.

If dialogue proved impossible, then their preparations might be for nothing.

The crux of the matter was that victory required understanding the enemy; without knowing its nature, how could they hope to survive the coming Great Catastrophe?

“It appears we must resort to more direct measures.”

Leo Ray glanced at Xiao Jing, who understood the signal instantly. She released a potent flow of specialized golden energy that surged toward Leo Ray.

Then, Leo Ray turned his palm upward. A brilliant purple magical light began to pulse, accompanied by the faint, low rumble of celestial thunder that vibrated throughout the hall.

“Your Excellency, I am well aware that you are watching us in silence.”

Leo Ray gave the White Knight a brief nod before speaking coldly to the air: “You must realize that the White Knight will not perish today, but your own situation is quite different. The moment I strike, you will be erased in an instant.”

Leo Ray’s tone grew darker as he pressed on: “What is it? Would you prefer death over a conversation? If so, why have you remained within the White Knight for a millennium?”

Silence followed his words. The White Knight remained unresponsive. Seeing no change, Leo Ray prepared to unleash his attack, but just as he moved, the White Knight suddenly collapsed.

A second later, the White Knight rose back to his feet, but his gaze had shifted into something dark and ominous.