Volume Four: Withering in the Human World [Illustration] Someone on the Cross
Loxue was still muttering to herself.
"The Truth Incantation, the Truth Incantation... Although I've long known that gods and such are just lies woven by the Vatican using the power of Divine Item, I never imagined that thing could be used to build some kind of World Crossing Gate..."
"So, you knew about the existence of the Truth Incantation all along?"
"That goes without saying."
"It seems that Blood Fiend brought back a lot of valuable information for the first Grand Commander."
"Huh? No, no, the words 'Truth Incantation' weren't mentioned at all in the last words left by the first Grand Master. It seems the former Blood Emperor didn't tell him, or perhaps she didn't know about it at the time."
"... Huh?"
Wait a minute, I thought this was information that Blood Fiend told the first Grand Master Francis, and then Francis passed it on to the next Grand Master, and so on, passed down from generation to generation. But now it seems that's not the case?
How did Loxue know about the existence of the Truth Incantation?
"Ah, I almost forgot, the exchange of information is based on mutual benefit. I forgot to tell you—the fact that the Divine Law Cult has Truth Incantation was revealed to us by a key sponsor of our revolution."
"... Sponsor?"
"Yes, it's a historically significant group—a large religion that was driven out of the West Saint Continent by the Divine Law Cult 1,500 years ago, the Rakshasa Divine Sect."
"--!!!"
Rakshasa Divine Sect.
If she hadn't suddenly brought it up, it would probably have been a word I'd long ago forgotten.
The Rakshasa True Word within me was originally the treasured artifact of the Rakshasa Divine Sect. Back then, Blood Fiend was forcibly sent to the Rakshasa Sect by an impatient Leader to seize Rakshasa True Word Rakshasa Divine Sect. While protecting the Rakshasa True Word, Blood Fiend killed the Grand Sect Master, one of the two Sect Masters, and countless followers, sustaining severe injuries herself. The intense battle ultimately activated the Rakshasa True Word's power as part of the World Crossing Gate, carrying Blood Fiend, who had lost her physical body and was now just a cloud of Blood Mist, to Earth. There, she encountered me, intending to devour me. However, the unstable Rakshasa True Word exerted its power again, pulling Blood Fiend and me back. Finally, in the spatial turbulence, Blood Fiend, now only a soul, died completely. I inherited a small portion of her power and fragments of her memories, and the Rakshasa True Word resided within me—the only living being beside her at the time.
To be honest, the Rakshasa Divine Sect and I do have many intricate connections.
And it's a very bizarre relationship.
What should we do?
Blood Fiend, who was once the spiritual leader of the Revolutionary Army, turned the Rakshasa Divine Sect upside down two hundred years later, forging an irreconcilable enmity. Now, the Rakshasa Divine Sect has become the sponsor of the Revolutionary Army, and Blood Fiend's successor has become the new Blood Emperor of the Revolutionary Army.
This is unbelievable!
"What's wrong, Blood Emperor?"
"It's nothing, I just didn't expect you to have sponsors... Why are they helping you?"
"You must have heard of that history. Fifteen hundred years ago, at the end of the religious war, the Divine Law Cult drove the Rakshasa Divine Sect out of the West Saint Continent, forcing them to retreat to the remote South Spirit Continent to recover their strength. For thousands of years, the history of the Southern Spirit Continent has been a disgrace to the Rakshasa Divine Sect, so they actually want the Divine Law Cult to collapse even more than we do."
"They... didn't offer a share of the spoils after it succeeded? Like, letting the Rakshasa Divine Sect return to the West Saint Continent and become the state religion or something..."
"Don't be so sure, there really isn't. Don't forget, although the Rakshasa Divine Sect was born in the West Saint Continent, it was defeated by the Divine Law Cult and driven out after only two or three hundred years. For the next fifteen hundred years, it took root in the South Spirit Continent and has long been the largest power there. In other words, compared to the Western Sacred Continent, the Southern Spirit Continent is their true home. Returning to the Western Sacred Continent would be superfluous."
"Then they--"
"The Rakshasa Divine Sect is a very subtle religion. They admire bloody force, but they won't do anything to disrupt peace without reason. They are 'ruthless yet principled.' Moreover, one of their major characteristics is that they take grudges very seriously. If they are insulted, they will definitely seek revenge. In my interactions with them, I found that all they really want is to 'see the collapse of the Divine Law Cult with their own eyes.' In some ways, they are much more pure than our Revolutionary Army."
Well...
When I first heard the name "Rakshasa Divine Sect," I thought it was quite frightening, and I assumed it was some kind of cult. But it turns out they're surprisingly righteous...
"But something went wrong... sigh."
Loxue sighed for the first time in front of me, and Nid, standing beside her, also looked distressed.
"What's wrong?"
"Actually... less than a year ago, the Rakshasa Divine Sect was attacked by a mysterious powerful figure. The Grand Sect Master and one of the two Sect Master died, countless believers were also affected, and even the sect's treasure Rakshasa True Word, was stolen. This cannot be described as merely a minor loss; it was utterly devastating."
... Well, I'm really sorry.
"As a result, naturally, their material aid to us was greatly reduced, so much so that it was more reliable for us to put in more effort to prepare it ourselves. Several major battles that were planned had to be postponed."
... Blood Fiend, you're not only a heartless woman, but also a damn swindler! You even tricked the descendants of the Revolutionary Army, who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the revolution.
"What's worse, after the Rakshasa Divine Sect suffered a great calamity, those who were already wary of its strength immediately rose up against it, all wanting to kill this former powerhouse themselves so they could divide the spoils. With the Rakshasa Divine Sect two pillars dead, its most prized possession gone, and its remaining leadership consisting only of another Sect Master with little fighting ability and a group of old fogies, the sect had also lost most of its followers. How could it withstand such a siege..."
Stop talking, this is just too unlucky, I can't listen to it anymore.
"In the end, it's all that mysterious, powerful figure's fault! I really want to tear that bastard to pieces!"
Hey, sister, do you realize you're insulting your revolutionary martyrs?
"But there is good news too."
What other good news could there be...?
"After going through so much, it seems that the Rakshasa Divine Sect is also prepared to fight to the death. They have sent word that they have decided that the Sect Master will lead the remaining Rakshasa Army to the West Saint Continent to support us. If we succeed, we will turn the tide and rebuild our great cause; if we fail, we will die a quick death and never live a miserable life again."
Having been driven to a dead end, they simply abandoned the path of mere survival and chose to seek a way out. Although it had a hint of recklessness, it was certainly manly enough for the Rakshasa Divine Sect... What?!
Wait, "The Sect Master will directly lead the remaining Rakshasa Army to the West Saint Continent to provide support"?
They're coming to the West Saint Continent? And they're joining forces with the Revolutionary Army?
Let's sort out the situation.
I inherited the power and some memories of their Blood Sea enemies, and their sect's most treasured artifact is also hidden within my body.
Besides, I'm now considered a high-ranking member of Bloodblade, so I'll definitely make an appearance when they arrive to meet the Bradwich siblings.
Direct contact with them is unavoidable.
What's going on here?!
"Um... could I ask first, is that Sect Master the one currently in charge of the Rakshasa Divine Sect?"
"The highest authority in the Divine Sect is the Grand Sect Master, followed by two Sect Masters. The current two Sect Masters are a brother and sister. Of course, the Grand Sect Master and the brother's brother were killed by the mysterious person long ago, so the current leader is naturally the sister's Sect Master."
"What kind of person was he?"
"Her name is very ordinary, it's 'Yun Can'."
What? That sounds like the name of a cleaning lady from the countryside...
"She's a woman who looks about your or my age, but I don't know her exact age."
Could it be that some eternally seventeen-year-old old woman has traveled through time?
But a troublesome new character is about to arrive, what should we do...?
In the very center of the West Saint Continent, in the most fertile region, stands a colossal city.
Holy City Gloria.
It is the most important, prosperous, and sacred West Saint Continent, which has many beautiful names such as "the place where the Lord's glory shines", "the courtyard of the God Realm", "the place where the holy light never dies" and "the center of the Divine Law Cult".
The oppression of civilians, which frequently occurred in other parts of the West Saint Continent, was completely absent here.
Because none of those who were able to stay in the holy city were truly ordinary citizens.
The magnificent scene described in religious texts—where everyone is happy and everything is in order—can only be seen here.
The price paid for the millions of residents here to enjoy a carefree and comfortable life is the poverty and hunger of ordinary people in other places.
In this colossal city, larger than Beijing itself, all buildings are predominantly white and gold, each topped with a pure gold cross and its edges engraved with scenes from the Book of Genesis, all to express devotion to the Most High God. The average height of the buildings gradually increases from the city's outer fortifications inwards, with more skyscrapers and a denser population towards the city center. However, near the city center, a circular river, like a knife, blocks the extension of ordinary buildings, forming a circle that isolates the city from the outside world.
Further in, you'll find the very core of the Divine Law Cult.
The area where the Cathedral of the True God is located is called the "Divine Realm".
If we were to use cities on Earth to illustrate this layout, Gloria would be Rome, and the Cathedral of the True God and its surrounding area would be the Vatican. However, the Vatican is located northwest of Rome, while the divine domain is at the very center of Gloria, like the pupil in the center of an eye.
The ring-shaped river encircling the sacred realm is called the Sacred River, perpetually shrouded in a pale silver-white protective shield. Only four bridges spanning the Sacred River connect to the boundary. The main cathedral occupies almost the entire sacred realm. The east side of the cathedral is where daily activities and important ceremonies, such as Mass and hymns, are held; the south side is the residence of the Pope and Cardinal Archbishop, and also the true administrative center; the west side is the residence of the Paladin Imperial Guard, where the Templar Knight from the Fourth Seat onwards also reside; the north side is usually the only area open to the public, where citizens worship the gods, receive blessings, and commemorate the deceased; and in the center is a separate area called the "Pure Courtyard," the residence of the three Goddess and the Guardian Knight.
But almost no one knows that there is another facility hundreds of meters underground beneath the Cathedral of the True God.
People who know about this place can be counted on two hands; even the Goddess and the Templar Knight don't know about it. This facility is under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition, but only two or three people within the Inquisition know about it.
Monsters are imprisoned here.
In the boundless darkness were countless chains, and in the very center of the chains was a huge cross.
A young girl is strapped to a cross.
This is a young girl with her eyes closed.
By all accounts, she looks no older than fourteen.
With her long gray hair, petite figure, and exquisitely beautiful face resembling that of an angel from mythology, she exudes pure beauty. Based on this alone, everyone would undoubtedly believe that she is an angel descended from the God Realm.
But she isn't.
The things about her were so different from those of an angel.
First of all, the skin was far too pale, devoid of any life, completely indistinguishable from a corpse.
Secondly, there were large nails on her limbs, piercing through her wrists and ankles, pinning her tightly to the cross; the places where the nails touched her flesh were stained with congealed blood.
Then, on the skin exposed beneath her simple dress, there were shocking scars on her right cheek and thigh. From a distance, they looked like burns, but upon closer inspection, one could see neatly arranged, fine, scale-like lines on the scars. Just one glance was enough to evoke an instinctive sense of disgust; they were utterly bizarre.
[img=700,875]http://rs./web/novel/images/UploadPic/2015/08/96b8ce99-c8f5-4d1f-8d27-18035433b35d. jpg[/img]
The girl remained motionless, seemingly asleep, but more like dead.
At that moment, footsteps echoed in the darkness.
A moment later, a cold, middle-aged male voice rang out.
"Hey, can you hear me?"
No response.
"... Forget it, I'll be assigning you an important task in a few days. Tsk... If it weren't for the requirement to give you advance notice according to regulations, I wouldn't bother looking at your pathetic state."
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Then another voice came from afar.
"This time, you'd better complete the mission beautifully, and your Sin Annihilation."
The girl— Sin Annihilation tightly closed eyelids tremble.
But she never woke up.
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The author has finally arrived at school. Since this morning, I've only managed a few bites of bread. Add to that moving luggage, registering, paying fees, and settling into my room, and I'm completely drained... Any consolation? QAQ
There's a new illustration today! Thank you so much, artist!