Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

There is also telepathic communication that directly connects to the brain.

Lyle saw the source of his blade: a special device fixed to his arms, from which shadow power spewed out blackish-purple light blades, like hidden blades.

It is an unknown creature, an intelligent life form.

Raymond questioned the unknown creature, the holy light spear gathering in his hand.

Who are you? What are you?

The imprisoned assassin wasn't angry. Looking at the radiance tightly held in Raymond's hand, he actually showed an expression of anticipation, affection, and nostalgia. You can't see this feeling, but it will be directly displayed in your mind.

"I come from beyond the heavens, I am a Star Spirit."

“Unknown Bishop, my name is Lofdi, the Protoss Lofdi.”

Chapter 266 The End of Starlight

Faced with the strange submissiveness displayed by this unusual race, Raymond removed the chains binding him. Before him, no one could plot a scheme or launch a sneak attack.

Raymond's relaxation prompted Lofdi to express his gratitude. He knelt on one knee, lowering his long, narrow head to expose the vulnerable, power-storing back of his skull to Raymond—a Protoss gesture of submission. This meant he was completely unprepared, facing someone who could slice off his head without hesitation with a beam of light.

Raymond showed no favoritism toward the creature's obedience; his voice remained cold and authoritative.

"Why are you so respectful to me? We've never met before."

"The Protoss will show respect to all powerful psionic beings, especially someone as powerful as you. Your radiance and your strength are more than enough to make you a bishop in my race."

"Psionic power?"

"The power of the soul, the power hidden within the hearts of all intelligent beings, the radiant light emanating from you like the blazing sun."

"You mean the Holy Light?"

"Holy Light? Is this how you refer to psychic energy? I understand, Your Excellency, the Unknown Bishop."

Perhaps realizing that Lofdi might also be a fellow member of the Holy Light, Raymond's expression softened slightly.

“I am Raymond, you can call me Mr. Raymond, Lofdy. You mean that other members of your race, besides yourself, have also used powers similar to mine?”

Lofdi lowered his head even further, and the voice echoing in his mind became even deeper.

“Lord Raymond, my race, the Protoss, all of us use psionic energy similar to the Holy Light. Including myself, I once possessed that golden glory.”

"But you are now..."

Lofdi stretched his barren body in the shadows and slowly retreated. "I have been corrupted, Lord Raymond. During our journey through the stars, the shadows of the void corrupted us."

"Above our heads, beyond the heavens, lies an eternally dark void that devours all light. We are forced to wander in that void, and the long period of wandering has not only tainted our bodies with shadow, but also our souls. Most of us have died in madness, and a few, like me, are living on in this undignified state."

Lofdi's voice was filled with a numb sadness and hatred; he hated his current ugly appearance, a disgrace in his eyes.

Lyle didn't want to see a creature that had once saved him debase itself.

“Mr. Lofdi, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Even though the shadows have corrupted you, they cannot erode your will. In the midst of chaos, you still reached out a helping hand to me. In my eyes, that was light that could pierce through the darkness.”

Lofdy opened his blue, pupil-less eyes, still reeling from his own discontent. Lyle saw them; they were like a starry sky, with starlight shimmering within them, but then vanished in the next instant.

"Lyle, do you know what those shadows outside are? Those things you call shadow beasts."

“That’s a Shadow Beast…” Lyle’s pupils suddenly dilated as he looked at Lofdi, who was also tainted by the Shadow, and a bad feeling crept into his mind.

Lofdi's laughter, which sounded like crying, came to mind.

“Those things that resemble moving corpses are my people, and also my future self. The shadows will gradually erode my mind, numbing me until I can no longer even remain numb, becoming a puppet like them, manipulated at will. I once wanted to help them find liberation, but there were too many. Every mournful cry that fades from my ears signifies the demise of a once proud soul. Like sand slipping through my fingers, I grasped nothing.”

Faced with Lofdi's self-pity, Mr. Raymond roared in anger.

"A Lightwalker must never give up! Lofdi, has your honor been forsaken? Shadow may steal your Light, but it cannot break your will. Will you die like a coward, or be remembered as a hero? The Light is not everything, you fool! I know one brother I know who also lost the Light. He, like you, was tainted by shadow, but he lived his life with his own style. Though I see him as a heretic, I must say, he lived happily! I understand your feelings, Lofdi. For people like us, the Light is everything. But in truth, there are many more things in the world worth pursuing, no less than the Light. Lofdi, you deserve more!"

Mr. Raymond's roar seemed to sink the ground where Lofdi was standing, indicating that it wasn't just a matter of psychological oppression.

Lofdi was stunned for a moment, then bowed to Raymond and easily jumped out of the pit.

“Lord Raymond, your preaching is the crudest I have ever heard. No other bishop is like you; they are all too refined, and their words are not as effective as yours. I feel that if I don’t wake up soon, something terrible will happen. Thank you, sir. If we want to purify the source of all this, please come with me.”

“I’m very good at persuading people.” Mr. Raymond loosened his clenched fist and followed Lofdy out.

Lyle followed closely behind.

“Mr. Raymond, you seem to have a lot of feelings.”

"Yes, Lyle. This is the first time I've used George as a positive example of a paladin, and I have mixed feelings. I never thought I would use a damned heretic to inspire another heretic."

Lyle smiled.

“You’ve changed, Mr. Raymond. The Holy Light is no longer your sole standard.”

“No,” Raymond stepped forward, pulverizing the surrounding shadow beasts, “the Holy Light remains my sole standard, only my understanding of it has deepened considerably. Psychic power, the power of the mind, is it?”

Lofdy led the two into the depths of the shadows, and thanks to Mr. Raymond's innate ability to physically dispel evil, the journey was easy. However, as they went deeper, Nia gradually became more active, as if something was drawing her in.

Lofdy led the two into a dilapidated temple. Although severely damaged, Lyle recognized that it wasn't the strange Protoss style. The colors and atmosphere were native Earth architecture—a primitive, ancient temple.

"We were forced to descend upon this planet, corrupted by shadows. In our confusion, our leader, Bishop Camfather, led us to this temple. He was the one among us with the highest understanding of the Holy Light. He told us that a voice was calling to him, a voice that could free our people from suffering. At that time, I was guarding outside as a Shadow Warrior and was fortunate enough to escape the first wave of fear. My people have become the monsters they are today, and so has my leader."

Lofdi led the two to the center of the temple. Within the enormous, distorted pentagram, a colossal shadow was emanating his voice. He was a gigantic human silhouette, standing in the center, his head area radiating a faint glow, appearing to be turned away from you from any angle. The space was small, yet looking at the human silhouette, you felt it was as distant as the horizon; gazing at its radiance or its abyss-like form, you felt a sense of disorientation and a piercing pain in your brain.

"This is what Bishop Camfuser looks like now."

The enormous silhouette made a crackling sound as it ate a huge chunk of meat. Food scraps fell from the writhing flesh with each chew, landing on the ground and transforming into writhing shadows, eventually becoming stiff shadow beasts. The chunk of meat seemed inexhaustible, so these shadow beasts were endlessly produced.

Watching Nia's excitedly waving tentacles and listening to Lofdi's introduction, Lyle's surprise froze in his eyes.

“That thing was originally here. When the strange Bishop Camfelther opened the seal that bound it, a word was conveyed in his rigid mind.”

"Gods."

Chapter 267 The Eternity of Light

“Bishop Camfser won’t attack us. He just keeps gnawing on that lump of flesh day after day, without sleep. But there’s no end to this. At least in the five years I’ve been here, nothing has changed. That lump of flesh hasn’t changed in the slightest.”

Lyle comforted Nia, who was appearing behind him. Her tentacles clung to Lyle's head, conveying through telepathy the idea of ​​getting closer to snatch food from the tiger's mouth.

Raymond stared at the tall, radiant human silhouette, so imposing and majestic. Well, Raymond was assessing whether physically eliminating him would reveal his presence, and how much effort it would take.

“Lofdi, haven’t you ever thought about ending all of this? Ending this cursed state of Camfather, with its endless torment.”

Lofdi lowered his head, looking away. “I can’t do it, Bishop Camfather, he’s my mentor. I can end the suffering of my people, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m not even sure if my attack will bring him relief; his power is greater than mine.” It was as if he were comforting Raymond, or perhaps himself. “The fleshy mass hasn’t changed, but Bishop Camfather has. His light is fading, and his shadow is dissipating. Actually, even without Lord Raymond’s intervention, he will bring about his own end one day.”

"My idea, what I want to do, is to watch him at the moment of his destruction, and let him live on in my memory."

Mr. Raymond looked at the figure gnawing on a piece of meat and said decisively.

"No, this is not the destiny of the Holy Light."

“Even the brightest light will one day fade. In the universe, only darkness is eternal.” Lofdy closed his eyes. “Lord Raymond, we Protoss are wanderers of the universe. We have visited many planets and witnessed many magnificent lives, but they all eventually perish. Brilliance and beauty are worthless before time and darkness. Whether it is you, me, or this planet, this world, we are all too insignificant before darkness. Our glory is insignificant, our will is like a grain of sand in the desert. Darkness is the destination of all holy light. One day, Lord Raymond, your light will also dim.”

Lofdi looked at the faint glow emanating from the silhouette of Bishop Camfelter.

"Like my mentor, the more sacred the radiance, the more worthy it is for us to follow, because its sanctity will elevate us because of its ephemeral nature."

Lofdi looked at the silent Raymond and closed his eyes, offering a prayer to his mentor's remains. "I'm sorry, Lord Raymond, I committed the sin of defaming the Holy Light, but reality is indeed sinful."

Just when he thought Raymond had given in, Raymond took a step forward.

“Lofdi, although I have never been to the star systems you have seen, nor have I witnessed the magnificence of life, I know one thing: the Holy Light exists to bring light to others. In my sight, there is someone who needs light, and I will bring light to him.”

Mr. Raymond walked toward the tall Camführer.

"Followers of the Light should not lose their way in the shadows, I say."

Lofdy stared at the destructive radiance emanating from Raymond, so bright it blinded him. He glared angrily at Raymond's inability to see the truth, and at his futile efforts.

"Don't you understand, Lord Raymond? The Holy Light will one day be extinguished. We are all the same. The Holy Light is fleeting, darkness is eternal. You cannot make the Holy Light eternal in the universe! Stardust will perish, and gods will fall! What can you do?"

Faced with Lofdi's sudden roar, Raymond stared at the enormous silhouette in front of him.

“I can grant him liberation.”

Light burst forth from the body of the one of light, warm and intense. Raymond stretched out his palm toward the enormous silhouette. The surging shadows spontaneously came into contact with the holy light, they eroded each other, and perished one another.

"Is this your method! Consuming your own holy light to extinguish the shadows of others—what good does that do! Your holy light will wither! And others will die! Are you an idiot! Why can't you preserve the status quo properly! Why can't you cherish your own holy light! Do you think you're so great! Consuming your own greatness is just wasting the sacrifices of others! You self-righteous fool!"

Lofdi was deeply moved as he watched Raymond use the holy light he cherished on a dying man, his mentor. A sense of grief and indignation overwhelmed him.

Raymond's holy light was powerful, but that power quickly weakened, just as Lofdi had expected. However, Raymond's state remained unchanged. The giant silhouette was now mostly bathed in his own holy light, its movements ceased, and its empty eyes stared blankly at the person beneath its feet, watching him change his body.

A radiance, far greater than Lofdi had anticipated, was born within Raymond's body. Within the radiance, Raymond was like an angel of light. He was bathed in golden light, looking down upon Lofdi.

"I don't need to be eternal in the universe, I only need to be eternal in you. The Holy Light will shine for those who need it, and I will listen to your pleas and offer my assistance. The universe may indeed be vast, and we may indeed be insignificant, but I only need to be insignificantly great, insignificantly eternal. According to you, that's easy, isn't it?"

The angel spread its wings, and its enormous silhouette was completely enveloped in holy light, like the Holy Spirit.

He put down the piece of meat in his hand and transformed into the form Lofdi was familiar with. Before Kamfather's body turned into particles of light and dissipated, his eyes were filled with peace as he looked at the angel before him.

A shining emblem was passed to Raymond.

"I beg you, benefactor of the Sea of ​​Light."

Lofdi collapsed to his knees, as if his spine had been ripped out, limply watching the points of light dissipate from his sight. Camfser remained true to himself, even as he marched towards destruction. And he himself, as his disciple, had failed to understand his will. Was Lofdi's earlier anger truly a mockery of Raymond's foolishness? Or was it his subconscious laughing at his own powerlessness, his own powerlessness bound by the shadows of reality?

Looking at the emblem floating in Raymond's hand, it had been passed down from a desperate elder to a hopeful one.

Perhaps he truly did not deserve the favor of the Holy Light. Lofdi used his arms to prop up his body, which seemed to have lost all its strength, and struggled to kneel down at Raymond's feet.

“Dark Knight, Lofdi, I confess my repentance to you, Bishop Raymond.”

“…You are innocent, Lofdi. All the principles you upheld have brought you to me.” Raymond shook his head, desperately suppressing the emblem in his palm, which seemed intently trying to etch itself onto his forehead.

“You have upheld your principles, and I have fulfilled my vow.”

"I pledge to extend a helping hand to those who are unfortunate."

Raymond raised his palm, and light descended upon Lofdi's head, merging with the shadows within him.

"You too, my friend."

"Praise be to the Holy Light."