"Alert! High-intensity, highly targeted Order Energy scan detected! Source: northeast, approximately fifteen hundred Shadow Units away! Energy signature match: 89.7%—main detection array of the Purification Protocol!" The Seeker's thoughts carried an unprecedented urgency!
"Key Hunters! Have they locked onto this area? Or... is this merely a routine scan with an expanded range?"
The Pillar Soul's thoughts instantly filled with vigilance, along with a trace of... barely perceptible panic?
It clearly did not want to be discovered by the Purification Protocol. That would mean unknown trouble, perhaps even cleansing forces it could not handle.
Ming Xin's heart tightened. He immediately stopped healing and extended his divine sense with all his strength.
He looked toward the darkness at the cave entrance, as though he could see through the stone walls and glimpse the cold light of Order drawing closer.
"The scanning beam is approaching! It is expected to cover the area containing this Pillar of Suppressing the Abyss within thirty breaths!"
The Seeker swiftly calculated and reported, "At the current barrier strength, it is impossible to completely shield against a directional scan of this intensity!
Once directly scanned, the Giant Pillar's abnormal energy response and our life signatures will very likely be exposed!"
The Pillar Soul fell silent for a moment. Then, a resolute and icy thought came through:
"Activating... the Deep Concealment Protocol... Using the Pillar's source reserves to temporarily... distort local spacetime information.
Simulating an Absolute Shadow Matter response... It should... deceive... conventional scans."
"But... this protocol consumes enormous amounts of energy, and it will temporarily weaken part of the suppression over the internal shackles... It may trigger... unpredictable chain reactions..."
It seemed to be rapidly weighing the pros and cons.
"Activate it!" Ming Xin made the decision for it without hesitation. "Exposure means Terminus! We'll deal with the immediate