Richard's fingers, which had been rubbing his brow, stopped in midair.
There was no one else in the office. The dark-gold dialogue box hovered abruptly before him, radiating an ancient aura utterly different from that of the Apocalypse System.
False God?
Child?
Richard's heart clenched violently. He instinctively glanced around the room. The office was excellently soundproofed; he could not even hear the footsteps of the guards outside.
How had this thing appeared?
"Your god has not abandoned you."
Those words stabbed at his nerves.
Only moments ago, he had coldly forced everyone to abandon their faith and accept the reality of kneeling before the Eastern Deity.
Now, an unfamiliar deity had sought him out in this manner.
Was this a trap?
Or another psychological test by the Eastern Deity?
Richard forced himself to calm down. He gave no response, merely staring at the dialogue box.
His entire life had been spent dealing with human deceit and the ever-changing circumstances of the battlefield. He would never let a vague sentence shake his judgment.
Silence spread through the office.
Several seconds later, the words on the dialogue box slowly faded, and new writing emerged.
"The Eastern God's power comes from judgment and order. It is the eradication of the individual."
"But My Lord's Strength comes from wrath and resistance, hidden deep within your bloodlines."
"Feel it. Awaken it."
The instant the words vanished, Richard's body shook violently.
A scorching current exploded from the area around his heart without warning, surging through every inch of his body.
It was not the Holy Light Power he was familiar with.
This power was violent and blazing, filled with primal fury and an unyielding will.
A layer of pale-golden flames silently ignited across his body, illuminating the immaculate military uniform he wore with dazzling brilliance.