Lucien completed the final authority link.
The ring rested above his palm.
Its surface remained plain, marked only by a narrow golden line. Yet inside, countless recognition channels connected to chapels across the five continents.
Lucien admired it for a moment.
Then the Faith Ring activated by itself.
He paused.
The reaction was immediate. It behaved like Auto-Collect.
Lucien did not need to command it each time. Once the rules were established, the artifact understood its purpose and performed it automatically.
Still, the authority remained his.
He could activate or deactivate the ring whenever he wished.
The golden line around its surface brightened.
Across the continents, unseen currents moved.
Faith divine energy gathered within chapels trembled, recognized the call, and rushed toward the ring.
The distance between continents became irrelevant.
The energy crossed the network like water returning through forgotten rivers.
