"This is precisely why the Church issued this near-maximum-level judgment order—to prepare for such a dire threat."

Divine Snow Sakura’s gaze grew slightly grave.

"As a Provisional Sanctuary Executor, I was fortunate enough to witness the aftermath of that chaos. His Holiness the Pope intervened personally, attempting to block a force infiltrating the seal. Yet in that clash, the Pope gained no advantage. Even with divine artifacts unleashed, a mysterious entity still snatched something from within the seal."

"The will that radiated in that instant carried an aura of eternity. Afterward, the battlefield where the Pope clashed with that being shifted to an unknowable realm—far beyond my perception."

Lyn stared blankly after hearing this. He’d never imagined that during his own ritual sacrifice, the Church of Truth had faced such terrifying upheaval. Most shockingly—the Pope had come out worse off?

*Of course I’d be this unlucky,* he thought bitterly. *After painstakingly orchestrating a sacrifice, I stumble into this senseless disaster. Nearly got swept away and erased by that vortex.*

But confusion quickly followed: "If even the Pope couldn’t stop that power... what use is this Demon-Slaying Decree?"

*Isn’t it just sending others to their deaths? Hunting that monster?*

"The Demon-Slaying Decree targets other Abyssal Followers," Divine Snow Sakura replied calmly. "Moreover, that mysterious entity seemed like a temporarily summoned force—it didn’t persist in battling the Pope. After His Holiness sealed the Church with divine artifacts, hidden threats within the Church finally made their move."

"Current intel remains unclear, but this incident likely involves one of the Eight Holy Thrones who betrayed civilization to worship the Abyss. The assault on the Church—including summoning that entity—appears part of their scheme. Why they chose this moment to strike, however, is beyond my knowledge."

Her final revelation landed heavily, but Lyn had braced himself this time. The Pope was one of the Eight Holy Thrones; only someone of equal stature would dare oppose him.

"So even the Imperial Capital isn’t truly safe, huh~"

Lyn sighed softly, his earlier pride over Xing Luo evaporating. *Better stay low after returning. Focus on the next ritual. Finally advance beyond this third-tier bottleneck—or I really will be worthless.*

He’d poured too many resources and years into today’s summoning. Stuck at the third tier much longer, and he’d start believing he was a failure.

"Then train harder," Divine Snow Sakura urged, her tone laced with frustration of unmet expectations. "Belmond is just a title. It won’t save your life when true danger comes."

Lyn nodded vaguely, then suddenly turned to her: "By the way—do you have any undergarments or socks on you?"

Both Divine Snow Sakura and Xing Luo froze.

Beneath her hood, Xing Luo’s small face slowly went blank, her eyes hollowing into emptiness. Divine Snow Sakura flushed crimson, flustered:

"Why would you ask that?!"

She hadn’t expected his topic to leap so wildly—into something utterly absurd. After a panicked glance at Xing Luo, she glared at Lyn as if ready to kill.

*He wants my private garments? Couldn’t he pick a private moment? A secluded place?*

Her voice turned stern: "I won’t take them off here!"