Chapter 159
"This Jeanne Darque is not the savior Maid of Orléans known to the Gaul; she is a remnant from another history." Pierre clasped his hands together, lost in thought. "But whether it's the 'Burning Witch' or the 'Savior Maid of Orléans,' their fates seem to share a common thread..."
That is, they are all closely related to fire.
Needless to say, the Burning Witch was a prime example, but in modern Gaul's history, the Maid of Orléans who saved the nation from collapse ultimately died in flames because of betrayal.
Besides, they have many things in common.
"There can be hundreds or thousands of histories, but why can't the 'Saving Maid of Orléans' and the 'Burning Witch' coexist?" This question popped into Pierre's mind.
After a moment, Eris gave his answer.
The reason lies in the Path of Ascension.
This is both a shackle from fate and a path to upward mobility.
From Eris's perspective, when Joan of Arc in Lostbelt accomplished terrible feats and became known as the Crimson Dawn, she was like a celestial being walking on the earth, possessing immense gravitational pull in the sense of "fate".
Once she stepped into the mortal world, this immense gravitational pull of fate unified the original possibility of her being a "Maid of Orléans who saves the nation" into a secondary possibility.
This is why it is extremely difficult for those who have ascended to the Twilight Realm to truly die.
Even if you go to great lengths to kill this side of her, she can still return from those "different sides" in connection with your achievements!
To truly kill a Twilight, one must either directly destroy her achievements, causing irreversible damage to her life; or take a long time for her achievements to be replaced, forgotten and faded by the world; or destroy all her possible aspects in an instant!
The Skyflint's Excommunication is aimed at all three of the above simultaneously, leaving no room for avoidance or delay.
Similarly, this is why the sword saints of the Higashi are so feared—because the sword intent they wield is aimed directly at the achievements of dusk itself.
Pierre felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of the young swordswoman, sitting alone in the mountains, her face as pink as a cherry blossom.
The attempt to conquer the Borderland of Otogiyama ended in failure.
They managed to deceive the general who held power in the Higashi Kingdom, but the moment they stepped into Otogiyama, they were met with a terrifying sword light that seemed to transcend time and space, eclipsing the sun and moon...
Pierre forced himself to redirect his thoughts.
For example, Arthur, the Eternal King who reigns over Albion, possesses a number of "possibilities" that are beyond imagination.
Those who had the privilege of seeing Arthur described her in various ways: some said she held Golden Holy Sword and sat upon the Iron Throne; others said she was tall and wielded not the sword in the Sword in the Stone, but the Great Holy Lance called Rhongomyniad; still others said that the Eternal King held neither a sword nor a spear, but a staff shaped like a bouquet of flowers...
Of course, the one most well-known to the world is still that king who wielded the holy sword and was clad in armor.
All of this can be attributed to a history that was forcibly twisted into one!
Pierre thought with a sense of satisfaction: when Eris is truly born and ascends to the throne, the five great histories will disintegrate into countless tributaries of history.
These twilights will inevitably fragment, becoming "strangers" living in different histories, locked in a fierce confrontation.
Perhaps his ideas were too radical, for his tightly clenched fingers trembled slightly, forcing the cardinal to take several deep breaths.
Of course, that was inevitable after Eris's successful birth.
It may arrive in the next instant, or it may still be in the distant future.
Before that, Pierre had to do the task of bringing the only Crimson Dawn Eris in the world into Eris's the Swarm.
This sounds quite unbelievable, but what if this Crimson Dawn One himself had been influenced by Eris many times?
Pierre twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
This is the source of his confidence in holding the ceremony.
Unlike the Eternal King had vaguely sensed something and began to purge the Orthodox Church's influence within the country; if the information about the Lostbelt from the Swarm Legion is correct, then "Burning Witch" Joan of Arc should have been a member of the Swarm Legion!
She was essentially bred by Eris to serve as an anchor point for determining history!
"Bishop, the ceremony is ready!"
"Oh!"
Pierre looked up from his deep thought and smiled and nodded at his assistant.
"Then, let's begin the ceremony!"
235. Expulsion!
The priests, holding torches, circled the high platform that resembled a stake.
The sun is moving silently across the sky, five minutes away from arriving at the correct time.
The only sounds were the wind and the crackling of the flames; there was no other noise.
Pierre's brow relaxed; he enjoyed the quiet atmosphere.
Time ticked by, and suddenly, the first flame began to flicker.
Pierre strode forward and began the Mass.
He read aloud verses from the Bible, and the priests repeated them after him with each verse.
"[Alas! I have returned from the eternal eons of the mortal world, my entire spirit opening the gates of heaven and earth.] "
"[By my esteemed name I become an almighty God, crushing all great enemies, and kings are reduced to ashes. Clad in armor and wielding weapons, I am born in glory.]"
The flames in their hands began to leap and rise, connecting above everyone's heads and swirling to form a magnificent ring of fire.
The cross is located at the center of the ring of fire.
Without any apparent action, the cross was suddenly set ablaze.
This tall wooden cross has transformed into a tree engulfed in flames!
The flames on the tree rose and passed over the ring of fire, their color changing to pale and bluish, making one involuntarily shiver.
Pierre looked up, took the torch from the servant, and threw it at the burning tree.
The originally ethereal hymn suddenly changed, turning into rapid syllables.
"The one who holds the key."
[The Path to God of Ultimate Freedom]
"Daughter of the Two Rivers".
[Confusing the gods of history]
"The anointed one of salvation."
[The God who is yet to be born, without self or form]
"The shepherd bathed in fire and light..."
[A free spirit traversing through history]
"The Messiah of Nazareth!!!"
The prayers of the priests shook the heavens.
Pierre glared angrily, pretending to pray along with them, but inwardly he was praising the name of Eris.
Eris the Secret History
The bluish-white flames extended along the two arms of the cross, rising upwards and meeting like raised arms to form another perfect circle of fire.
"That's not enough. Continue to pray for the power of the Holy Mother."
Pierre calmly gave the order.
The priests were already indulging in this false yet grand sense of omnipotence, and everyone unconsciously swayed with Pierre's will.
The eulogy changed again.
"The Great Mother Goddess."
Moths in the Forest
"Mother of the Mountains".
[The crawling worm]
"The insatiable red cup."
[Kings that Evolve and Spread]
"A mother who gives life and takes it away."
[A wild horse that moves with peril and reverses the course of events]
"... Siblings, the wielder of the Holy Grail!"
Eris
Pierre took a knife and slashed it across his fingertip, as did the other priests.
They curled their fingers and flicked them at the burning fire tree, the bluish-white flames leaping.
The rings of fire among the branches of the fire tree turned a deep, dark color, like a dim, black Shemesh.
"Success! The gate to the [Burning Witch] has been opened!" Pierre was thrilled. "The calculations are correct! The power of the two rulers is sufficient; there's no need to risk stealing the power of the [Holy Spirit] Pearl!"
Eris was able to deceive the Messiah and open the gate with His power.
As for the Holy Grail, this ruler, who loves to watch the drama unfold, came uninvited.
He was generous to Eris and favored Hebe. It was like a madman in a casino, betting on both big and small without any regard for the outcome.
This is certainly against the rules, but what rules are there for the Holy Grail? Its actions are the rules!
Among the Twelve Archons, only He and Celestial Flint possessed this kind of unbridled and willful presence!
This is more than just being arrogant!
But since He was willing to give power, Eris was happy to take it.
In contrast, the pearl representing the Holy Spirit among the Three Sages of the Orthodox Church is not so easily deceived.
Once discovered by Pearl, the ruler will not hesitate to retaliate.
The Pearl Empress treated her friends and believers with the warmth of a spring breeze, but she was as ruthless as a harsh winter when dealing with enemies whose identities had been confirmed.
Fortunately, this time, the power bestowed by the Holy Grail was abundant enough, and the resulting imagery was sufficient to complete the Mass, so there was no need to risk being killed by hailstones to deceive Pearl.
The black Shemesh began to collapse towards its center, like a door without doors.
Deep within the dimly colored Shemesh, a pale flame gradually rose, shaped like a human figure.
"It's done! It's done!" Pierre, a happy smile spreading across his face.
The flames grew larger and larger, Joan of Arc's pale, silent face emerged from the darkness. Her gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Pierre's face, which was over fifty years old and already showing signs of sagging flesh.
The cardinal excitedly opened his arms. "Seraphim! I command you to come in the name of the Lord!"
The flames flowed silently along the branches, and Joan of Joan of Arc's face peeked out a little. Her eyes had a dim gold hue, and her shoulder-length hair was pale and gray, like charcoal ash that had been burning for many years.
Before she could make a move, Pierre was suddenly engulfed in a ball of fire.
"How could she have laid a hand on me?!"
The cardinal's eyes widened.
But his reaction was extremely fast; before the flames could penetrate his flesh, they spontaneously combusted on the bodies of the priests along the pre-established connection.
Cardinal Pierre was left with only what appeared to be gruesome charring.
Amidst the fierce struggles and pitiful screams, an invisible white lightning bolt fell from the clouds!
Boom!!!
This voice not only rang in Joan of Arc of Arc's ears, but also in Pierre's ears, and in the ears of all the priests!
Skyflint's Excommunication!
The pale blue flames flickered upwards, while smoke hung down like a curtain. Joan of Arc, clad in armor and robes that looked like ashes, descended from the tree and grabbed Pierre by the neck.
Pierre's eyes bulged out; he couldn't understand, and similar incomprehensible feelings emanated from the Swarm of Eris.
Atlantis is destroyed, and the Bell of Ys has tolled. The ending will not change in any way.
The appearance of the Burning Witch proves that everything is ultimately proceeding according to Eris's plan, and history is repeating itself.
Yes, Joan of Arc's existence should be a symbol of Celestial Flint's defeat... and with her rebirth from the ashes, Skyflint's Excommunication could no longer directly kill her.
Joan of Arc should have been Eris's earthly hand!
Unless... unless.