Isaiah's Dead End

"Swish, swish, swish."

The moment the Warden finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in an uproar. Then, several sealing swords were pressed against Isaiah.

The leading Guardian stared intently at Isaiah, "Do you have anything else to say now, Mr. Isaiah?"

With the Warden's own definitive statement after his resurrection, even Mina, who had the most faith in Isaiah, couldn't help but show a bewildered expression. She seemed unsure if her teacher had actually been the perpetrator. Luo Qi, not far away, looked like he had narrowly escaped a disaster, grateful for his quick reflexes. Otherwise, he would be sitting at the same table as the Warden. While the Warden could be resurrected, Luo Qi would have been the one to be mourned.

Even Isaiah himself couldn't maintain his previous composure, his face quickly turning grim.

But for some reason, Isaiah wasn't particularly surprised by the Warden's answer. Instead, he had a thought, "As expected of you, Hand Eye."

But how did he manage it? Even the victim believed the culprit was himself.

Despite the situation reaching this point, Isaiah didn't lash out. Instead, he suppressed his surging emotions and asked in a low voice, "Are you really sure it was me, Mr. Warden? Are you sure you saw this face?"

"What more excuses do you have?!" The leading Guardian had lost his patience. He took another step forward, his sealing sword piercing Isaiah's mage robe and pressing directly against his flesh. "Do you really think we wouldn't act against you?"

Seeing her teacher pushed to such a point, Mina couldn't afford to think too much about it. This concerned the dignity of the Star Relics!

But before she could do anything, the Guardian had anticipated Mina's actions and shouted, "Take him down!"

The Guardians present drew their sealing swords, instantly subduing all the Star Relic Warlocks who hadn't had time to react.

Tonight was the Spotless Night, arguably the most powerful time for Star Relic Warlocks. Therefore, the leading Guardian had been prepared for the worst-case scenario from the start. After subduing all the Star Relic Warlocks, he cast a magical curtain, obscuring the starry sky and cutting off the Star Relic Warlocks' source of power.

However, this was still not enough, because the most troublesome entity wasn't the Star Relic Warlocks, but their leader, Isaiah, known as the foremost figure under God.

The leading Guardian's gaze never left the seemingly ordinary old man. He knew that the sealing swords and the magical curtain could restrict ninety-nine percent of the Star Relic Warlocks, but they couldn't affect him. So, at his signal, two more Guardians quickly left their posts and moved towards Obedience of Heavenly Voice.

If Isaiah intended to overturn the situation, they would immediately activate Obedience of Heavenly Voice and obliterate him with the power of the Gods.

This scene was also observed by the other representatives. Although the representatives of the various churches were seasoned individuals who had witnessed countless major events, they felt a sense of tension at the rapidly changing situation. Consequently, the escorts from each church quickly stepped forward to protect their respective leaders. Luo Qi, in particular, wished he could stand at the very back to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The scene was chaotic for a moment, but after settling down, it became charged with a palpable tension.

However, as the focal point of it all, Isaiah still did nothing. He merely leaned his body forward slightly, allowing the sword's edge to pierce his chest.

Blood stained the Starry Robe.

"Is this enough?" Isaiah calmly said to the leading Guardian, then looked back at the Warden on the other side, repeating his earlier question, "Mr. Warden, are you really sure it was me?"

Such a composed attitude made the leading Guardian falter. After all, if his sword moved any further, it would reach Isaiah's heart.

Was this man truly fearless, or... was it really not him?

The thought involuntarily crossed the leading Guardian's mind. But while he thought, he didn't lower his sword, merely waiting for the Warden's response.

As long as the Warden gave the order, he would immediately pierce Isaiah's heart with this sword.

Everything felt like a powder keg waiting to ignite, just needing the final spark.

However, that spark didn't fall for a long time, and an oppressive silence persisted.

Everyone looked at the Warden. They saw that the Warden's eyes, as deep as the abyss, were as dim as a dying candle flame. His breaths were like those of a frail old man on his last legs, on the verge of death.

Is he... not fully revived yet?

The question arose in everyone's minds, but no one dared to voice it.

After a long while, as the bloodstain on Isaiah's chest began to congeal, the Warden slowly spoke.

"I... cannot be sure."

Everyone was stunned.

The Warden raised his head and looked directly at Isaiah, "The person who attacked me was very powerful. He not only tore apart my body but also my soul. As you all know now, I have been dead for a long time, and my soul is all I have. My memories reside within my soul, so some of my memories were also torn apart."

Can that happen?

Everyone couldn't help but glance at the Netherworld Envoy beside the Warden. The Netherworld Envoy nodded, "That can happen, and often it's the memories from before death that are destroyed."

It's actually possible.

This completely bewildered everyone present.

"But these memories will return," the Netherworld Envoy said. "Souls are not like bodies; the lost parts will eventually return bit by bit."

"How long will that take?" the leading Guardian asked. "Will it take another week or two?"

"No, it won't take that long. After the overall soul returns, the remaining small portion will quickly return," the Netherworld Envoy said with a smile. "Perhaps a day or two."

A day or two... But two days from now is when Obedience of Heavenly Voice is scheduled to activate.

This timing was truly awkward. But at this moment, the Warden spoke again, looking directly at Isaiah, "I haven't forgotten everything. I still remember that the person who attacked me had a very special eye... it was an eye exactly like yours. And in the end, he used that eye to tear me apart."

In an instant, everyone looked at Isaiah's eyes.

Isaiah had cast a spell on his Right Eye, making it indistinguishable from an ordinary eye.

But whether it was the Warden's words or the fact that his eye was truly special, everyone felt that Isaiah's eyes were incredibly deep, like an endless night sky.

"Mr. Warden," Isaiah maintained his composure, "Are you judging me based solely on one eye? If I recall correctly, the eye you mentioned should be Visas' Left Eye, lost by Rhine. It is on Ulu, not on me. This also confirms my previous guess... Ulu is here."

Here, Isaiah played a subtle trick.

The corpse pieces of Visas had strict positional correspondence. The Left Eye could only be fitted into the left eye socket; fitting it into the right eye socket would be useless.

Therefore, if the Warden believed the Left Eye was the one that killed him, Isaiah could use this to prove his innocence. Because his Left Eye was his own. At the same time, Isaiah could protect his Right Eye and clear his name, as no one except a few in Peach Blossom Paradise knew about the Right Eye's existence.

"But as I recall, it was the Right Eye?" the Warden slowly spoke.

The atmosphere turned grim once more.

But Isaiah still had a plan. He slowly stated, "The Right Eye? Rhine's intelligence report didn't mention the Right Eye. Where did this Right Eye you're thinking of come from? Could it be that you're mistaken?"

This was also the reaction of most people present.

The Right Eye, where did the Right Eye come from?

At least a very small number of people had their suspicions, and they all looked towards Isaiah's Right Eye.

"Warden, you should think clearly," Isaiah said, not giving the crowd much time to observe his Right Eye. "The person who assassinated you tonight was powerful and hid in the shadows. Right now, I might be the only one who can oppose him. If you execute me, no one will be left to stop him."

"Is that so?" the Warden slowly replied. "Then why can't I activate Obedience of Heavenly Voice twice?"

Isaiah narrowed his eyes again.

"Don't look at me like that, Mr. Isaiah," the Warden said. "When you first arrived here, I clearly explained the situation to you, but you refused me."

"How can I give you something I don't have?" Isaiah's voice turned cold.

"I don't want to waste any more energy on this matter," the Warden said. "Previously, I was unwilling to activate Obedience of Heavenly Voice twice in a row due to the immense consumption and cost. But the strength that person displayed tonight made me realize that now is not the time to worry about consumption and cost. Someone like that absolutely cannot be allowed to live. No matter the price, the Gods will forgive me. Even if they can't forgive me, I must do this. I am willing to bear this infamy."

Isaiah was almost amused to the point of laughter. "What meaning does reputation have to you?"

"None at all," the Warden said, looking into Isaiah's eyes. "That's why I can carry this out without any burden… How about it, Mr. Isaiah? Do you wish to prove your innocence by dying?"

It was only now that Isaiah finally realized that the assassination attempt on the Warden tonight by Hand Eye wasn't just about framing him.

So, this might not have been Hand Eye's original intention, but it ultimately made the Warden realize Hand Eye's power, and changed his previous choice between him and Hand Eye to eliminating both.

Indeed, this was the true Warden of the Abyss Prison, the embodiment of the will of the Gods.

One name could kill thousands, and two names would merely double that number.

As long as this hidden danger could be eliminated, the Warden wouldn't hesitate to continue with a third, a fourth name.

And Isaiah, the prime suspect, would be the first sacrifice.

Isaiah stared intently at the Warden. At that moment, he truly felt the urge to flip the table.

But he also knew that flipping the table was impossible, at least not now. He had no idea how Obedience of Heavenly Voice operated, and he might be erased by the will of the Gods the moment he tried to make a move.

Since obtaining this eye, Isaiah had never felt so cornered.

But now, he discovered that there were indeed things in this world that this eye could not accomplish.

In that instant, a strong sense of powerlessness and rage surged into Isaiah's heart. An indescribable pressure spread from his body. Everyone felt as if he were a volcano on the verge of eruption, with heat and panic filling the air.

"Of course, it's not as if there's no chance for a change," the Warden spoke again at that moment. "It depends on whether you can do it yourself."

Isaiah's expression was cold. He no longer had the mood to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the Warden. "Just say what you want."

"Those three corpse pieces," the Warden said. "As long as you hand over those three corpse pieces to me."

"They are not on me."

"Then find them and hand them over to me," the Warden said. "I just need to see the corpse pieces."

Isaiah was momentarily stunned, then finally realized something.

"I'll give you two days… no, three," the Warden said, his mountain-like body leaning forward little by little, enunciating each word. "During these three days, I won't place any restrictions on you. As long as you bring the corpse pieces to me, I don't care how you do it, or who had them before. Once I see the corpse pieces, I will cancel Obedience of Heavenly Voice. If I don't see them…"

"Obedience of Heavenly Voice will begin by calling out your name."

An hour later, Mina, back in her residence, looked at Isaiah, who had been silent for a long time, with a face full of worry.

The Warden's intention was clear: he wanted Isaiah to fight against Hand Eye. Because if Hand Eye were truly present, Isaiah would be the only one capable of confronting him.

If Isaiah could find and kill him, then everything would be fine.

But if not, he would use Obedience of Heavenly Voice to initiate a indiscriminate selection, which would also be fine for him.

The only sacrifices, besides those with the same name who were caught in the crossfire, would be his own teacher.

That was why the Warden hadn't pursued further questions about where Isaiah had been tonight, what he had done, or whether it was truly Isaiah who had assassinated him.

The process was meaningless; he only cared about the final outcome.

"Alright, you may withdraw now," Isaiah, who looked more than ten years older overnight, slowly said. "Let me be alone for a while."

"Teacher…"

"Withdraw."

"…Yes."

Mina had no choice but to leave.

Isaiah sat in front of the mirror, looking at his reflection.

Just a few hours ago, he had been so confident, believing he had seen through everything and could turn the situation around at any moment.

But now, he felt like a toy being played with in the palm of someone's hand, and any struggle seemed like a joke.

No matter how the situation developed, he was already a loser.

"Why is it like this..." Isaiah looked at his reflection, a long-forgotten sense of unspeakable bewilderment rising within him. "What exactly... am I missing?"

Why was he being so pressured by the Warden?

Why was he so controlled by Hand Eye?

What was missing between himself and them?

"Strength is missing."

A voice answered him in his heart, Isaiah's own voice, for he knew the answer himself.

Yes, strength was missing.

But why? He was already the strongest person below God.

"It's not enough."

Yes, the answer was that it wasn't enough.

Having come this far, ordinary strength was no longer sufficient.

The Warden could pressure him because the Warden had the Gods behind him.

Hand Eye could control him because Hand Eye possessed more Corpse Pieces than him, and he only had two, one of which was "bestowed" upon him by Hand Eye.

Isaiah's hand slowly clenched.

Yes, he had no Gods behind him, and his Corpse Pieces were fewer than Hand Eye's. Possessing strength was useless if it couldn't accomplish anything.

He could neither contend with the Warden nor find Hand Eye.

He was trapped in a dead end, with no possibility of breaking free.

"Unless I find a power that surpasses them," the voice told him.

How was that possible?

Where in this world could there be a power that surpassed them?

"Abyss Prison," the voice answered again.

Isaiah's pupils dilated little by little.