"He... returns?"

Herbert's question left the Heavy Knight Heroic Spirit stunned, causing the spear in his hand to tremble slightly.

He was caught off guard.

Even though he wore full Heavy Armor, without a single weak point, he was still defenseless against this inquiry.

"..."

After a long silence, the Heavy Knight tightened his grip on the spear and said in a deep voice, "Yes, I... I don't believe it."

"I don't believe He will return!"

The Blood-winged Angel nodded slowly after receiving the answer and said indifferently, "So, it means you have already betrayed your faith."

Upon hearing this, the Heavy Knight Heroic Spirit abruptly raised his head, roaring in anger: "Betrayal? No."

His single eye burned with even more fervor, revealing his surging emotions: "It's not just me! No one believes He will come back anymore."

"No one believes He will return!"

Hearing this, Herbert raised an eyebrow and said lightly, "So, you all have already betrayed Him."

With these words, the already tense atmosphere became more oppressive.

The Heroic Spirits hiding around, watching the commotion, all stared at Herbert with complex expressions.

Have we all betrayed Him too?

"No, we haven't!"

The Heavy Knight stared intently at Herbert and shouted loudly: "It's not us who betrayed Him, it was Him! He abandoned us!"

His words resonated with the emotions of the other Heroic Spirits.

Right.

It's not that we don't believe in Him, it's that He abandoned us!!!

"Ha!"

Feeling the surging emotions gradually rising around him, Herbert let out a cold laugh.

"Abandoned? What are you talking about?"

Herbert interrupted the Heavy Knight's words and said indifferently: "You still exist, I still exist, they all exist."

"Doesn't this fact already prove the point?"

Heroic Spirits exist by relying on the Divine Spirit.

If the Divine Spirit truly had fallen, with no chance of recovery, then these Heroic Spirits would also completely dissipate into wandering souls!

!!!

"Do you really think he has completely fallen?"

When the Blood-winged Angel pointed this out, the surging emotions instantly dropped to freezing point.

The space grew silent.

Do the Heroic Spirits not realize this?

They know, they are more aware than anyone else.

But, all the Heroic Spirits can do is deliberately make themselves forget.

Only by forgetting this can they continue to blame the Divine Spirit without guilt.

It's not us who abandoned Him, it's He who left us.

"..."

Yet, deep inside, these Heroic Spirits, surviving here, actually understand better than anyone how untenable this claim is.

They survive through the Mercy of the Divine Spirit, being the least qualified in the world to complain.

After the Heroic Spirits fell silent, Herbert chuckled inwardly and continued to look at the most silent Heavy Knight Heroic Spirit.

"..."

The Heavy Knight Heroic Spirit remained silent, then silently raised his spear, pointing its tip at Herbert.

He silently expressed his stance, even though he understood he was wrong, he still adhered to the current rules.

After all, the Divine Spirit has already departed, and they can only live in the present.

However, the slight tremor of the spear tip exposed his inner turmoil.

Herbert, guiding Sofia, descended from the sky and slowly approached within a meter of the Heavy Knight's spear, saying softly, "Why do you point your weapon at your comrades?"

The Heavy Knight remained silent, gripping the spear tighter.

As the hoofbeats nudged slightly, only half a meter separated Herbert from the spear tip.

As the crisis grew closer, Herbert's expression became significantly gentler than before as he gently asked, "Are you afraid?"

The Heavy Knight hesitated, subconsciously wanting to release the spear.

But by then, Herbert had already moved ahead, pressing his chest against the spear tip, asking gently, "Believer of my Lord, tell me, what are you afraid of?"

"I..."

Instinctively wanting to retract the spear, but the spear was firmly gripped by the Angel's hand, impossible to withdraw.

"Are you worried that He might blame you for this?"

Herbert released the spear, shook his head slightly, and said warmly, "Deep down, you know, He definitely wouldn't do that."

"He is Merciful; He won't care about such trivial matters."

"Have you betrayed Him? You actually haven't."

The Blood-winged Angel concluded their actions.

He turned to look at the various Heroic Spirits hiding away.

This time, he didn't see eyes dodging, but pairs of excited eyes full of desire.

They had been waiting too long, longing for someone to give them hope.

So, Herbert spoke.

"Most faithful followers of my Lord, my comrades! I don't understand, why would you question your loyalty?"

"The very fact that you continue to exist here already proves you haven't betrayed."

"You merely fell into confusion during the long wait."

"And there's nothing wrong with that!"

"It's not your fault!"

"When He returns, He will surely guide you back to the right path!"

He raised his arms, shouting, stirring the spirits.

Countless Heroic Spirits, who were initially downcast, were invigorated in that moment.

Gradually, the Heroic Spirits began repeating his words.

For every sentence he spoke, those Heroic Spirits followed suit.

"He is Merciful!"

"He is Merciful!!!"

The sound waves resounded, echoing unceasingly throughout the Outer Ring.

And just as Herbert inspired (or manipulated) the Heroic Spirits here...

["Indeed! I am very, very Merciful!"]

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