News came from the lower connected areas: the "contamination" within the containment zone had finally been declared contained.
Some had died in those deep, winding corridors. Some had been temporarily driven back and locked in sturdier rooms. Some had been rescued, while others continued holding the critical intersections below.
Archbishop Semler listened to the latest report, and his furrowed brow eased slightly before he let out a heavy sigh.
"The good news is that the chaos throughout the Underground Palace has been contained. All key passages are back in our hands, and the status of every missing person has been determined. In theory, there should be no more contaminated individuals operating beyond our line of sight within the Underground Palace," Semler said, turning to Magnan beside him. "The bad news is that many people have been injured, and those involved in the fighting have suffered varying degrees of Mental Corruption. Although this shallow contamination has not reached the point of brainwashing them into believers of the Upper Narrator, there's no telling when it might suddenly worsen."
"Separate the contaminated from the uncontaminated. Let the contaminated rest in rooms marked with Deep Sea Runes. Those runes have been tested and can be relied upon," Magnan said, sounding exhausted. "We no longer have the conditions to isolate every contaminated person individually and assign guards to watch them. This is the only way. Hold out until dawn... everything will be all right."
"Some recovered members of the Psionic Choir can help soothe our injured comrades," Wendy said as she approached. "I've mostly recovered as well."
"Archbishop Wendy, the others can help, but you should rest a while longer," Yuri said, shaking his head. "You lost a great deal of blood, and you fought your way out from the containment zone. You're not in