Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1601 - 553: The Disturbance at Cologne Cathedral

Suddenly, while riding atop the expansive back of the Black Dragon, Rein felt a slight jolt of surprise. Moments later, he whispered to himself:

"The energy tide has grown stronger once more..."

"It's no surprise that the ancient Elf Clan sages foresaw the return of either the Evil God or the Fiend Demon."

Rein had just sensed a clear rise in the density of the surrounding mysterious energy particles. This surge, much like the previous one, wasn't a slow buildup but another abrupt minor boost.

Naturally, the overall quantity remains quite low, barely reaching a fractional level, yet it's strikingly noticeable.

In theory, since the last event happened so recently, such occurrences shouldn't happen this often.

This inevitably brought to Rein's mind the series of minor shakes that serve as precursors to a major quake.

"Does this suggest that soon, the energy tide's oscillations will surge even higher?"

Boosting the energy tide's variations brings both advantages and drawbacks, and for the immediate future, the downsides seem to outweigh the upsides.

For one, it eases breakthroughs for talented humans, sparking a sudden boom in prodigies, but it also hastens the Evil God's revival process.

Regarding the Fiend Demon... it probably won't be long now?

"I must hasten my efforts. Once I handle the Steel Dragon in this area, I'll rush back to the Imperial City right away, link up with Menia, and then proceed to the Federation." Rein pondered gravely.

...

Rein wasn't the sole individual stunned by the intensified energy tide shifts. All Wizards nearing Third Level Crystallization could sense it distinctly.

Imperial City Tamriel.

Deep within the spire-crowned Cologne Cathedral of the Imperial City.

A massive Crystal Coffin holds a dark, ominous form that, upon closer inspection, looks like the upper body of a person.

Yet, in place of ribs, it features scythe-like front limbs akin to those of a mantis.

This unidentified body fragment quivers faintly nonstop, with wisps of black-gray vapor streaming from it, probing the Crystal Coffin like sentient beings in search of an escape route.

Each time these vapors contact the Crystal Coffin, they recoil swiftly, as though shocked by electricity.

The Crystal Coffin gains this protective quality from an expansive Witch Array encircling it.

Currently, the Witch Array glows with thick water-blue radiance, its hexagram's six points each manned by a veteran Archbishop clad in blue robes.

These six exhibit spiritual power auras matching Dawn Wizards.

As essentially the last surviving True God Sect, the Monsoon and Ocean Goddess Church's might is evident in this setup.

Right now, every one of them has conjured a brilliant water-blue orb ahead, each projecting a beam as wide as a bowl that connects to the enormous Witch Array in front.

This setup resembles the Witch Array undergoing a recharge.

A few minutes passed before the recharge concluded entirely, leaving the six archbishop elders to exhale in relief:

"We've managed to contain it at last. That recent energy tide shift came out of nowhere."

"Indeed, even though old scriptures foretold these events, I never anticipated they'd happen so frequently!"

"..."

A thick-browed elder Archbishop swiveled to look at the young priest at his side and inquired:

"Fuller, are you certain nothing slipped out? The Fiend Demon's remains might be stable, but a single wisp of Evil Demon Qi getting loose could stir up major chaos."

"Uh... I don't think so..." The young priest's face drained of color, his gaze filled with unmistakable fear.

To the thick-browed Archbishop, though, his favored student Fuller appeared merely rattled by the latest occurrence.

Honestly, back in his own younger days, he wouldn't have stayed much more composed than the lad standing there.

Yet on this occasion, his assessment missed the mark.

The true source of the young priest Fuller Aphron's alarm stemmed from his delayed report.

Serving as the on-duty watcher that day, he had witnessed a thread of black Fiend Demon Qi forcefully shattering the Witch Array's barriers and escaping.

Still, as the most junior yet brightest First Level Priest, on the verge of assuming a local Bishop role, Fuller weighed his options and chose to withhold this fact.

In the end, it was merely a minuscule amount; surely it wouldn't cause any real harm, he reasoned.

"From this day forward, we'll ramp up the Witch Array's energy input rate, shifting from every seven days to every three days." The thick-browed Archbishop addressed the other archbishop elders.

"Is such intense frequency really necessary?"

"Absolutely, to prevent any mishaps. Should this Fiend Demon fragment break free, we'd face enormous difficulties!"

"How will we handle things going ahead? I fear our small group alone won't suffice."

"Right, I'll inform His Holiness the Pope shortly."

"..."

Legend holds that this venerable Witch Array was set up by the Goddess herself, and performing the energy input demands no fewer than six seasoned Archbishops (Dawn Level) channeling together.

Moreover, every session drains nearly all the spiritual power from those six.

Consequently, the Imperial City's Cologne Cathedral must keep six Dawn Level Archbishop Wizards perpetually ready.

Beyond that, factoring in guards, this explains why, during the Evil God's prior assault on the Imperial City, the Church struggled to send out top-tier fighters.

...

A close look from above would reveal a faint black-gray mist seeping from the pinnacle of the lofty Cologne Cathedral.

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