Holy Grail Summoning
The Persian Pantheon, the Sacred Pool.
A misty haze filled the air, refracting seven colors of light. As the water in the milky pool rippled gently, it revealed the base and surrounding area inlaid with rare minerals such as fire agate, sapphire, purple jasper, and moonstone, creating a magnificent and luxurious scene.
Splash...
A moment later, the clear sound of splashing water came, and the tall, robust, and immaculate Persian king emerged from the pool and stepped up the stairs.
A gentle breeze brought a cool and damp sensation to Cyrus's skin, causing him to frown slightly. He circulated his divine power, radiating warmth from within and evaporating the moisture from his skin.
In the blink of an eye, that flawless body was dried. This exquisite and meticulous control made Cyrus quite proud and satisfied.
However, as soon as he took a step, a deep, trembling sound that made his teeth ache came from below. Cyrus instinctively looked down and stared, suddenly seeing mycelium-like red and black twisted divine patterns, flashing with light.
Click!
In an instant, like a heavy object pressing down on ice, cracks appeared, spreading across his chest in the blink of an eye. The pain was like a raging torrent, corroding his bones and consuming his heart.
Bang...
Cyrus's body went limp, and he immediately knelt down on the ground, pressing his hands together. The veins on his forehead throbbed, blood vessels filled his eyes, and cold sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his cheeks, the back of his neck, and his back.
With the slightest movement, every muscle in this Persian king trembled, every bone groaned, and every drop of blood boiled...
Those growing, tearing red and black light patterns from the inside out seemed like wriggling snakes, ants, and earthworms crawling beneath the skin, constantly eroding the body and gnawing at the flesh, bringing unbearable pain. This made Cyrus's previously flawless body feel like a piece of porcelain that could crack and shatter at any moment.
Immediately, the earth-shattering, turbulent ether currents gathered around him and surged within his body. The self-controlled Cyrus turned pale, spat out a mouthful of dark red Reverse Blood, and became listless.
The blood mist splattered onto the marble floor, instantly melting and disintegrating the hard marble blocks.
In extreme agony, Cyrus the Great disregarded his pride and composure, staggered, and plunged headfirst into the sacred pool.
Sizzle...
Like chunks of meat sizzling on a red-hot iron plate, the sacred pool boiled violently.
Upon contact with the red and black patterns on Cyrus's body, the milky-colored holy liquid instantly evaporated and turned into mist, causing a third of the water in the entire pool to evaporate in the blink of an eye!
However, with the cooling and moisturizing effect of these milky liquids, Cyrus the Great's cracked body was gradually repaired.
After a long while, the figure that had been submerged in the pool finally emerged from the misty, milky-colored water and leaned against the stone wall, exhausted.
Damn it!
Despite expending so much effort and even going to the Pure Land, we still cannot eradicate this curse!
Cyrus's expression shifted between light and dark. He raised his hand to touch his aching shoulder blades and chest, where reddish-black marks, like snakes coiling beneath the skin and resembling maggots on the tarsal bones, remained faintly visible.
What exactly is the origin of that foreign deity? Not only is its combat power excessively strong, but the powers it wields are also terrifying, even surpassing those of Angra Mainyu, one of the two Persian pillar gods...
The Persian king's thoughts drifted back to his two encounters with that man, and he was immediately filled with lingering fear, his eyes filled with apprehension.
After resting for a full three hours, Cyrus felt that his injuries had stabilized and his strength had largely recovered. He paused for a moment, then slowly stood up from the pool, climbed the steps again, and walked out of the area shrouded in mist.
Upon arriving at the rear hall, Cyrus spread his arms, allowing the maids on either side to surround him, wipe his body, and change him into dry clothes.
Based on repeated attempts and experience, as long as he does not recklessly use his divine power, the curse Cursed Seal on his body can be temporarily suppressed.
However, in order to maintain the status quo, he has to spend a lot of time soaking in the pool every day, and he has to treat himself like a crystal doll, being careful in every way.
For a high-ranking deity and an ambitious Lord, this was undoubtedly a self-inflicted wound, leaving them in a rather humiliating situation.
Perhaps by calming down and trying again and again, we can eventually find a way to neutralize the curse.
But now the Huns have withdrawn their troops, Egypt has turned against them, the situation has reversed, and the circumstances are becoming increasingly unfavorable for Persia. He has grand ambitions for hegemony, but he cannot wait that long.
Cyrus, feeling annoyed, waved away the nearby maids and paced back and forth in the shadows of the corridor for a long time.
Finally, as the sun set and the moon rose, and night deepened, the Great Persian Emperor abruptly looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes. He rose and passed through the central hall, which housed the pillars of the gods Khsathra Vairya, Spenta Armaiti, Haurvatat, Ameretat, Vohu Manah, and Asa Vahista, and entered the sealed lower Sanctuary of Ahura.
Inside the ethereal and towering main hall, the radiant statue of the deity, with its condescending posture, instilled a sense of humility and insignificance in those who knelt in worship.
Under the play of light and shadow, Cyrus suppressed his unease, his lips moving as he confessed what he had seen and then earnestly made a plea.
"... Lord of Light and Wisdom, Ahura, our true God, please forgive my sins, heal me, grant me guidance, and help me defeat the powerful enemy!"
Squeak...
A strong wind blew through, and dull thuds echoed from the doors and windows. The Sacred Flame enshrined on either side of the main hall flickered and danced violently, their color changing from orange to a blazing inferno. The kneeling figures below appeared even smaller and more insignificant, like worms crawling on the ground.
"You lost?"
"Yes..."
In the darkness, a murmur echoed in Cyrus's ears, its origin and destination unknown. The Great Persian Emperor gritted his teeth and bowed his head in response.
The scrutiny, like thorns on his back, made each second feel like an eternity, causing his muscles to tremble and him to break out in a cold sweat.
"Alright, you've done a lot, that's quite an achievement. Open your mind and body and embrace the baptism..."
After a long while, the calm and dignified tone softened, and the blazing light gradually became less dazzling. Cyrus's tense heartstrings finally relaxed, and he stretched his body with a sense of relief, closing his eyes in a calm state.
"King of the earth, I will cleanse you of your sins, I will grant you glimpses of divine wisdom, I will bestow upon you the name of invincible warriors!"
A hymn-like, poetic, and impassioned declaration echoed from the void. Streams of milky-white light burst forth from the bricks beneath Cyrus, spreading a warm and gentle aura. The holy and pure light, in wispy strands, seeped into the body of this Great Persian Emperor.
The red and black serpentine mark aroused by divine power gradually dissolved and disappeared, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his soul, making Cyrus more and more relaxed. His consciousness felt as if it were soaking in warm water, and he rested contentedly.
Until... vanish into nothingness!
In an instant, as the last ray of blazing light seeped into it, the flames of the great hall were extinguished in a flash, and its sacred majesty trembled and vibrated in unison with the rhythm of the runes.
In the darkness, the Great Persian Emperor slowly rose, his gaze chilling.
The figure stretched and moved, initially a little stiff, but gradually becoming more fluid.
Immediately, the man stretched out his right arm, his fingers and palms spread out, and the Sorcery Array on the ground was activated and began to operate.
A moment later, a Golden Chalice with intricate patterns emerged inch by inch from the Ley Lines, rose into the air, and landed in the man's hand.
A figure in the main hall raised a cup and poured it out. A rich, purplish-red liquid overflowed and flowed into the grooves of the Sorcery Array runes inscribed on the ground.
At the same time, the man's lips moved, and a chilling, ethereal whisper echoed around the temple.
"Be full,
Fill it to the brim.
Fill it to the brim.
Fill it to the brim.
Let it be full.
Repeating itself
The second is five.
However, when the machine is full, it becomes an abandoned machine.
Declaration:
You shall obey my commands.
My life is bound to your sword.
In response to the call of the Holy Grail,
We humbly respond in accordance with this will and this principle!
This agreement is hereby made:
I wish to be a virtuous person in this world.
I wish to exterminate every evil person in the world.
I will then seize his chains and kill him.
You are bound by the three great incantations for seven days.
Since the Crown has answered the call, and with the precious blood of my people, the world will be reborn from this!
Descend, for my great cause, for my ideal, serve the light!
Suddenly, a gale howled, ether swelled wildly, and Seven Pillars of Light rose and operated in succession. As the radiance dissipated, the kneeling figures slowly rose.
Hahahaha!
The man laughed heartily with satisfaction, tilted his head back and drank the rest of the contents of his cup, then turned to gaze at the night sky, his eyes filled with the inverted Milky Way.
It's time to rebuild this planet!