Erika opened his eyes in the silence. The mad plan to "lure the wolf" was suppressed by reason, but the clouds of despair did not disperse. Steal data? Easier said than done. Getting near a communication node was a monumental task in itself.
His gaze swept the room absently, finally settling on the Mark on his left hand. The searing pain overlapped faintly with the memory of his attempt to connect to the Circuit's energy in the Mark-Forging Hall.
Energy... Connection...
A possibility he had overlooked, obvious in hindsight, lit up his mind like lightning in the dark!
He had been looking outward for a breakthrough, for Blighted, for data streams... But wasn't he carrying a ready-made, high-level access point deeply bound to the Sanctum's energy system?
This Mark!
Wasn't it a shackle? Yes, but it was also an interface, a port forcibly connected to the "Eternal Circuit"!
Those black-clad Clerics could safely observe Cecilia within the shielding field; they themselves must carry similar Marks, with higher permissions, allowing them to "safely" draw upon the energy there without triggering purification.
He couldn't. His permissions were low. Forcibly connecting to the core energy was suicide.
But... what if he wasn't trying to "draw" energy, but to "resonate"?
He recalled the chilling term the Silent One had mentioned—"Resonance Protocol." It seemed to be a deep-level interaction mechanism between the Mark and the system's foundation, one that could even forcibly erase his memories!
Dangerous. Unknown. But it was also a channel, a backdoor directly embedded in the system's underlayer, independent of external physical connections!
Those black-clad Clerics worked within the shielding field; their Marks must also be in some special "operational state." If they needed to exchange data with the outside, or if the system itself needed to record their observation logs... Would these information streams be transmitted through this ubiquitous "Resonance Protocol" network?
An extremely bold, borderline suicidal plan instantly took shape:
He didn't need to capture a Blighted; he could become a weak, controllable "anomaly signal generator" himself!
His goal wasn't to mimic a Blighted—that was impossible. His goal was to attempt, in an extremely subtle and precise way, to slightly perturb the connection between his own Mark and the "Resonance Protocol" network.
Specifically:
Locate and Camouflage: Infiltrate the area near the Angel's descent again, find a relatively safe spot. Then, using the "Harmonic Convergence" technique taught by the Silent One, adjust his mental frequency to near-perfect "resonance" with the ambient energy, hiding himself to the maximum extent.
Create a 'Ripple': He would no longer try to probe outward. Instead, he would contract all perception inward, focusing on his own Mark. Recalling the "brutal" sensation of connecting to the Circuit's energy, but this time, his goal wasn't connection, but to create an extremely faint, localized energy discord. Like using a fingertip to gently stir the water beneath a calm surface, creating a ripple almost invisible to the eye. He wanted his Mark, for an instant, to produce a negligible, non-standard "asynchrony" with the "Resonance Protocol" network.
Observe the 'Reaction': If his speculation was correct—that the "Resonance Protocol" was a tightly knit monitoring network—then any minor anomaly at a node might trigger an automatic system diagnostic or log entry. The purpose of this "ripple" was to passively lure the system into performing a barely detectable "scan" or "log entry" targeting him.
Eavesdrop on the 'Heartbeat': The key was the third step! When the system mechanism (perhaps an automatically running Silent One subroutine) was triggered to scan or log this "anomalous node," the process itself would generate an extremely brief data stream! His task was, at the exact moment he created the "ripple," to push his perception to its limit, not to probe for Cecilia, but to capture this fleeting internal system data stream!
What would this data stream contain?
Likely system timestamps, location data of the triggering node (his location), possibly ambient energy parameters... and, with enough luck, it might carry status information of other nodes within the same high-permission zone (inside the shielding field) that the system temporarily called upon while processing his "anomaly"—such as the Mark IDs of those black-clad Clerics, or, more crucially, tags or indices related to the "specimen," Cecilia!
It was like being in a vast library, deliberately making a near-inaudible sound near the A-section shelves, then straining to hear if the librarian, while checking, might unconsciously utter the call number of an important book located in the nearby B-section.
The essence of this plan was:
No External Tools Required: Solely utilized existing conditions (his Mark and talent).
Extremely Stealthy: The induced "anomaly" was so weak it would likely be classified by the system as negligible noise or a transient fluctuation, not an intrusion.
Clear Objective: Not to obtain specific data content, but to steal the "coordinates" or "key" of the information—the tag that uniquely identified Cecilia's location within the system.
High Risk, High Reward: If successful, he would have the crucial index to locate his target in the vast data ocean. Later, he could potentially use this "tag" to perform more precise "queries" via the Silent One, or find other vulnerabilities to access specific information.
The risks were immense, of course. If the "ripple" was too large, it could immediately attract a direct scan from the Silent One or even an Angel. His understanding of the "Resonance Protocol" was nearly zero; any mistake could trigger unpredictable consequences.
But this was the only method he could conceive that required no additional resources, relying purely on his own "talent" and insight into the system's rules to pry open a sliver of possibility.
He hesitated no longer. Taking a deep breath, he carefully stored Anna's note, his eyes regaining their sharp, focused intensity.
He would return to the shadows beneath the Angel's descent, not as a scout, but as a virus embedded within the system, to execute a precise, silent operation—a resonance eavesdrop.
Erika, a pale shadow, slipped once more into the vast gloom cast by the Angel's descent complex. The festival's din was reduced here to a distant echo; the air hung thick, heavy enough to wring droplets of energy from it. He found an external maintenance recess for a disused energy conduit—a cramped space just large enough to curl into, like an embryo returning to the womb, or a coiled viper.
He closed his eyes, pushing the "Harmonic Convergence" taught by the Silent One to its limit. The strings of his mental power were tightened, adjusted into near-perfect sync with the surrounding energy field. His breathing grew long and shallow, his vital signs suppressed to a minimum, his entire being seeming to merge with the cold, Auric-energy-forged bedrock.
Inward sight.
All consciousness plunged into the searing Mark.
He could "see"—not with his eyes, but with some deeper sense—countless intricate, golden threads of energy, using his Mark as a node, extending into the endless void, connecting to the vast "Eternal Circuit." Was this the "Resonance Protocol" network? So complex. So... severe.
With painstaking care, he separated a thread of energy from his own meager flow, finer than a hair. He couldn't draw external energy; that was too conspicuous. Using only his own power, like the most precise micro-sculptor, he began an extremely subtle "operation" within this Mark that served as his "interface."
He wasn't trying to damage it, but to create a "discordant note."
He guided that thread of energy on a brief, irregular path—a detour through an extremely minor, seemingly redundant energy pathway within the Mark. It was like using a spoon to dig a transient, insignificant diversion channel beside a raging river.
The process demanded unimaginable focus and control. Fine sweat beaded on his forehead; his body trembled slightly from the intense mental strain. Each minute deviation of energy brought a needle-prick of pain from the Mark and a fear that his soul was being torn apart from within.
Now!
At the very instant the tiny, forcibly opened energy path reached its peak, just before dissolution—
Hum...
A vibration, not from the physical world but acting directly on his soul, slammed into him!
It was here! The automatic response of the "Resonance Protocol" network!
He immediately abandoned all control over the energy, converting his entire mental strength into the most sensitive "receiver." He emitted not a ripple outward, only purely, passively "listening" to the system's "ripples" stirred by the "disturbance" he had created.
Countless fragmented, cold, non-human pieces of information flooded his awareness:
...[Node self-check... Coordinates [Encrypted data]... Energy disturbance level: 0.0001... Below logging threshold... Categorized as environmental noise...]
[Associated log updated... Timestamp marked...]
[...Synchronously scanning status of adjacent high-permission zone nodes... (A rapid stream of data flashed)...]
[...Specimen Container "Elysian-Vault-7"... Status: Stable isolation... Observation Links "Oracle-3," "Oracle-5"... Online... Energy Feedback monitoring... Ongoing... Source resolution progress: 12.7%...]
[...Associated Cleric IDs: [Encrypted]... [Encrypted]... Permission verification... Passed...]
Success!
"Elysian-Vault-7"! That was Cecilia's container designation! And the observation link designations!
Erika's mind reeled with triumph, ready to sear these key details into his memory—
A new anomaly!
A different mental probe, carrying a sense of inquiry, even avarice, brushed against his presence like a shark scenting blood, using the brief disturbance caused by the system scan to make a hidden, swift contact!
This perception was icy and experienced, utterly unlike the Silent One's pure, non-human monitoring. It held clear will and purpose! It seemed to also be evading system detection, merely taking advantage of the chaos to quickly "touch" this unusual "noise source."
It wasn't Wolfgang! This presence was colder, more sinister, more... hungry.
Terror-stricken, Erika instantly severed all external perception, retracting his mental force entirely within himself, his heartbeat nearly stopping. Was it one of the black-clad Clerics? Or... another faction lurking within the Sanctum?
He crouched in the darkness, not daring to move for what felt like an eternity, before that second, eerie perception finally receded like a tide, leaving no trace.
Only after a long while did he dare to breathe shallowly, his under-robes soaked through with cold sweat.
He had obtained the coveted "key"—"Elysian-Vault-7."
But the cost was that he seemed to have attracted the attention of other predators in the dark.
The waters of the Sanctum were deeper, and more polluted, than he had imagined.
He carefully crawled out of the recess, feeling as drained as if he'd fought a life-or-death battle, waves of exhaustion washing over him. He had to leave, immediately.
As he merged back into the shadows, preparing to return, a flicker of movement caught the corner of his eye. Far off, in a high tower window, a figure in a dark cloak seemed to vanish, the light in the window snuffing out immediately after.
Erika's heart sank.
He didn't linger, quickening his pace, disappearing into the labyrinthine alleys.
He held the crucial information, but he had also become prey under multiple gazes. Every step from now on would require even greater caution.
Gritting his teeth against the soul-deep tremor and the chill left by the unknown observer, Erika burned every captured information fragment into his mind. Beyond the crucial tag "Elysian-Vault-7", there were also snippets from the black-clad Clerics' routine exchanges, attached by the system's automatic scan of adjacent nodes. Back in his cell, he pieced these fragments together like a scattered puzzle, trying to reconstruct the truth of Cecilia's condition.
The dialog fragments ended there. Erika slowly exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the air around him feeling several degrees colder. He understood. Cecilia had become the living container for a brutal experiment. She wasn't merely infected; she was a battlefield where two absolute, opposing forces warred within her. The black-clad Clerics weren't saving her; they were using energy to 'keep her on life support,' just to prolong the observation period to study the bizarre 'Energy Feedback' and search for the so-called 'source'!
'Sustaining Infusion'... It explained why she needed to be housed near the energy-rich 'Angel's Descent'—undoubtedly the ideal location for such continuous energy transfer. He also vaguely understood why he couldn't sense her presence—the continuously injected, high-purity Auric energy acted like a powerful purification field, not only temporarily sustaining her life channels but also massively masking and neutralizing the external signature of the Blight energy within her, rendering her an anomalous 'void' to external probes.
It all made a terrible kind of sense. But this truth was more despairing than simple death. Cecilia was a sacrifice maintained at a precarious balance point, her very existence a potential bomb and a key for the Clerics to pry into secrets. And he, Erika, now knew the designation of that 'key'—'Elysian-Vault-7.' He clenched his fist, nails digging into his palm. Knowing this, what was his next move? Watch this 'window' close in three days with the activation of the 'Purification Ring,' or use this designation to do something?
In the absolute silence, Erika assembled the fragments in his mind into a clear objective. Saving Cecilia was a fantasy. Stealing isolated data held limited value. He saw something deeper—Cecilia's very existence was a 'living vulnerability' created by the collision of the Auric energy system and the Blight force. The black-clad Clerics were studying it; why couldn't he learn from it? He would use this vulnerability to understand the nature of the energy conflict, even... master a method to preserve himself, or counterattack, under the system's suppression. This was no longer for someone else, but for his own slim chance of survival in this cruel world.
The core of this plan once again fell upon the monitored 'Silent One.' He needed higher-level information, and the key 'Elysian-Vault-7' might unlock deeper doors. The opportunity came sooner than he expected—and more dramatically. Perhaps due to frequent energy rerouting during the festival, or perhaps internal undercurrents caused a brief gap in surveillance. During a seemingly routine meditation exercise, guiding energy flow, he keenly detected a faint, unusual stutter in the energy stream from the miniature ring beneath him.
Now! Without hesitation, using his Mark as a conduit again, with even greater finesse and subtlety than before, he gently 'knocked' on the connection to the Silent One.
Hum... The blinding white light flared again, the simplified 'angel' phantom coalescing rapidly. But this time, its formation was quicker, its synthetic voice carrying a trace of barely perceptible alertness:
[Detected non-standard connection request... Identity verification... Mark signal confirmed... Permission Level: Low-tier (Temporary). Log Marker: Previous anomalous query record exists.]
[Warning: Frequent triggering of non-standard protocols will initiate permission review. State your query.]
It remembered! And was more wary! Erika's heart hammered, but he kept his tone level, directly voicing the carefully prepared, targeted query:
"Query: Detailed mechanism and observation data regarding the 'Energy Feedback Phenomenon' associated with container designation Elysian-Vault-7."
He stared intently at the phantom, waiting for the floodgates of knowledge to open. The ring in the Silent One's 'face' flashed rapidly. After a few seconds, the icy synthetic voice delivered its resolute reply:
[Query received. Keywords: Elysian-Vault-7, Energy Feedback.]
[Permission verification failed. This designation pertains to 'Observation Project' and 'Potential System Interaction Anomaly.' Related information requires 'Keeper'-level or direct event-related 'High-tier Cleric' permissions for access.]
[Your current permissions are insufficient. Request denied.]
[Suggestion: Elevate permission level, or obtain direct participation qualification in related events.]
[Warning: This query has been logged. Connection will be forcibly terminated.]
Still not enough! Permissions, damn permissions! Like an invisible wall, blocking him from the truth.
Just as Erika's mind reeled from the failed query and the Silent One's form began to dissolve—
BOOM!
A dull, thrumming roar of an energy explosion, mixed with a piercing shriek of agony, erupted from the direction of the main Sanctum! Followed by shrieking alarms and violent energy tremors that shook even his secluded cell.
What happened?! Erika instinctively rushed to the window, peering out through the narrow slit. His view was limited, but he could see chaotic streams of energy clashing in the sky near the Sanctum's entrance! Two figures, wearing the white robes with deep crimson trim denoting high-tier Clerics, were pursuing two stumbling, black-clad figures at blinding speed!
The Clerics studying Cecilia! One of the black-clad figures seemed grievously wounded, body limp, flight path erratic. The other black-clad figure was hauling him, desperately fleeing toward the Sanctum's main gate.
"Surrender the artifact, heretics!" one of the crimson-trimmed Clerics shouted, hurling a searing golden spear of light that grazed the injured black-clad's shoulder, leaving a charred mark.
At the brink of capture, a look of grim resolve flashed in the eyes of the severely wounded black-clad Cleric! With his last strength, he grabbed his companion's arm, and all the remaining energy within him—not just Auric energy, but also a faint, unsettling tinge of grayish decay—surged into his companion like a bursting dam!
Energy Feedback! Erika's pupils contracted! He was witnessing the phenomenon described in the logs! But this time, it was a desperate, self-sacrificial 'feedback' used by a black-clad Cleric on his comrade! Infused with this energy, the receiving black-clad Cleric's speed skyrocketed. Burning his life force, he shot into the glowing aura marking the absolute safe zone of the Sanctum's main gate!
Yet, the two crimson-trimmed pursuers didn't hesitate. They followed straight into the Sanctum's domain! One of them manifested a sinister black-flamed blade, its tip aimed directly at the heart of the black-clad Cleric who had just found refuge!
"HALT!"
A voice like a booming bell, carrying annihilating authority, thundered across the area! A massive figure, clad in ornate golden vestments, materialized just inside the Sanctum's great door, placing himself between the black-clad Cleric and his pursuers. His face was stern, his gaze sharp as lightning—the High Priest of the Sanctum, Hongbo.
He glanced at the black blade pointed at his subordinate, then coldly swept his eyes over the two murderous-looking crimson-trimmed Clerics. His voice was not loud, but brooked no argument, filled with authority and anger.
"This is the Sanctum! Not the backyard of your Inquisitorial Tribunal! Do not overstep your bounds!"
The Cleric holding the black blade stiffened, a flicker of wariness and resentment crossing his face. But he didn't lower his weapon immediately, instead replying in a chillingly cold tone,
"High Priest Hongbo, we are tracking heretical energy signatures, acting according to the Law. This individual's energy is tainted, his actions suspicious. He must be taken in for questioning!"
Hongbo snorted coldly, a vast pressure radiating from him, making the two crimson-trimmed Clerics gasp for breath.
"Questioning? Using the 'Soul-Corrosive Blade' for 'questioning' at my Sanctum's doorstep? Go back and tell your master if he wants this man, he can come see me himself with a 'Mandate of Command'! Now, GET OUT!"
The two crimson-trimmed Clerics' faces turned ashen. Exchanging a look, they knew they were defeated for today. The blade-wielder shot a venomous glare at the collapsed, barely breathing black-clad Cleric, snarling,
"Hmph! Harboring heretics... I reckon your tenure as High Priest is nearing its end! Let's go!"
With that, the two transformed into streaks of light and vanished the way they came.
Calm returned to the Sanctum entrance, but the lingering energy tremors and the scent of blood spoke of the recent violence. Erika slowly retreated from the window, leaning against the cold wall, his heart still pounding. He had witnessed the brutality of factional strife, seen the real-world application of 'Energy Feedback,' and observed the bitter antagonism between High Priest Hongbo and the so-called 'Inquisitorial Tribunal.'
'Keeper'-level permissions... High-tier Cleric permissions... Inquisitorial Tribunal... Hongbo... The terms swirled in his mind. The path of querying the Silent One seemed blocked by permissions. But this bloody chase and confrontation before his eyes seemed to have... opened another, more treacherous window for him—one leading directly into the vortex of power struggles.
Which side should he lean towards? Or, how could he find his own piece to play in this narrow space between giants?