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 those enigmatic energy particles in the vicinity. This surge, much like the previous one, wasn't a slow build-up but another abrupt minor boost.

Naturally, the overall quantity remains quite low, barely registering beyond the decimal point, yet it's undeniably noticeable.

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

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

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

While the intensification of energy tide waves brings both advantages and drawbacks, over the immediate horizon, the downsides seem to outweigh the upsides.

For one thing, it eases breakthroughs for talented humans, sparking a sudden burst of prodigies; on the flip side, it hastens the Evil God's revival to an even quicker pace.

Regarding the Fiend Demon... it probably won't lag behind by much?

"I must hasten my efforts. Once I've handled 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 figure stunned by the energy tide's renewed intensity. Any Wizard 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 portion of a person's body.

Yet, in place of ribs, it features forelimbs resembling a mantis's scythes.

This unidentified body fragment quivers faintly without cease, while wisps of black-gray vapor pour from it, probing the Crystal Coffin like sentient beings in search of escape.

Whenever these tendrils brush against the Crystal Coffin, they recoil swiftly, as though shocked by electricity.

The Crystal Coffin gains this unique property from an enormous Witch Array encircling it.

Right now, 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 exude spiritual power auras matching those of Dawn Wizards.

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

Currently, 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 vast Witch Array in front.

This setup resembles nothing so much as the Witch Array undergoing a recharge.

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

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

"Indeed, the ancient records foretold events like this, but I never imagined they'd hit with such regularity!"

"..."

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

"Fuller, can you confirm no breaches occurred? The Fiend Demon's remains might be stable, but even a wisp of Evil Demon Qi slipping free could stir up major chaos."

"Uh... I don't think so..." The young priest's face drained of color, his gaze laced with evident alarm.

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

After all, 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 young priest Fuller Aphron's anxiety stemmed from his delayed report.

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

Nevertheless, as the Sect's youngest and brightest First Level Priest—poised to assume a local Bishop role imminently—Fuller weighed his options and chose to withhold this fact.

In the end, it was merely a minuscule amount; surely no grave issue would arise, he reasoned.

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

"Is that frequency really necessary?"

"Absolutely, to prevent mishaps. Should this Fiend Demon fragment break loose, we'd face enormous peril!"

"How do we handle what's ahead? I fear our small group won't suffice."

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

"..."

Legend holds that the Goddess herself established this ancient Witch Array, and each energy infusion demands no fewer than six seasoned Archbishops (Dawn Level) channeling together.

Moreover, every such session drains the bulk of the six's spiritual energy.

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

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

...

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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