Seeing Ria and the others rise to take him to meet the Evil God, Hanzō hurried after them with his two subordinates.
"Lord Hanzō, are we really going to meet the Evil God?" Hakai asked quietly, unease in his voice.
"Yes. Let's go see just what kind of power this Evil God possesses."
"But..." Hakai hesitated.
"Hakai, what is it you want to say?"
"Lord Hanzō, I'm afraid the Evil God might harm you."
"Heh. Do you think they would need the Evil God to act if they wanted to harm us?" Hanzō said coldly.
"Yes, Lord Hanzō."
"You know how important intelligence is to us. We must learn the Evil God's strength this time, or we'll lose again next time." Hanzō narrowed his eyes at the three figures ahead.
Sensing the gaze behind her, Ria turned and gave the three of them a faint smile.
At the sight of Ria's eerie smile, Hanzō and his men suddenly felt as though they had plunged into an abyss. It lasted only an instant, but all three instinctively felt a shudder rise from their very souls.
"Ria, what did you do to them?" Meli leaned closer and asked.
"Nothing much, Sister Meli. Just a tiny punishment to make them shut up."
"You really are a mischievous little thing." Meli covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Hmph. Do they really think we can't hear them? They keep calling him an Evil God, and they're about to stand before the Holy Light, too," Axel grumbled under his breath.
"All right, Axel. I know you're angry. Didn't I just get back at them for you?" Ria said with a smile at his unhappy expression.
Hanzō and his two men watched the three whispering ahead of them, their faces dark. This was an utter humiliation. As the Demigod of the Ninja World, he was treated with respect by everyone in the Shinobi World. Yet today, a little girl had humiliated him, and he could not even protest. One day, he would make these Evil Cult followers pay.
"Bishop Ria!"
The Holy Knights guarding the temple entrance hurriedly saluted Ria and her companions.
"Thank you for your hard work!" The three returned their salute.
"It's no trouble!" With that, the Holy Knights stepped back beside the stone doors, their heads high and chests out.
"Lord Hanzō, we're here. I would like to remind you of something: when you stand before the Holy Light, I still hope you will mind your manners. Don't go too far." Ria turned to Hanzō.
"Hmph. There's no need to say any more. If your deity is powerful enough, we will naturally show reverence!" Hanzō looked at Ria with a cold, displeased expression. Remembering that shudder deep in his soul, he had no choice but to bow his head while at their mercy.
Ria said nothing more and nodded to the Holy Knights guarding the entrance.
The two Holy Knights hurriedly pushed open the enormous doors carved with cross patterns.
As the heavy doors slowly opened, warm, holy white light streamed out from within.
Bathed in the white light, Hanzō and his men felt as though their souls were being endlessly elevated. The malice and evil in their hearts vanished in an instant. Every stray thought fell away, leaving them in a state of clarity they had never experienced before.
Their eyes followed the light to its source, where an enormous Light Ball was set into the center of a towering Cross. It was crystal clear, with specks of starlight scattered within it like stars in the night sky, holding an endless universe.
Ria walked to the center of the hall, clasped her hands with solemn reverence, and prayed, "Praise the Holy Light!"
Axel, Meli, and all the Holy Light Clerics in the hall hurriedly pressed their clenched fists to their chests in the Holy Light salute. Their eyes brimmed with adoration as they gazed at the enormous Light Ball filled with flowing starlight. "Praise the Holy Light!"
Hanzō and his men came to their senses. Savoring the lingering sensation of their souls being elevated, they unconsciously copied everyone else's salute, though their peculiar outfits made them look somewhat comical.
Halos of light swirled. Li Ming, who had been organizing and planning his abilities in the knowledge repository, sensed Ria's summons and immediately returned to his Sub-body. As the only deity walking the mortal realm in this world, he actually had plenty to do every day.
First, he had to organize endless information and knowledge, sorting it into tiers so Holy Light Clerics at different stages could learn and understand it more easily.
Second, he had to comprehend his own power and laws. After all, he had not been the Holy Light from the beginning. Only after mastering them himself could he simplify the laws he understood and bestow them upon his believers.
Third, and most importantly, he had to establish his Divine Kingdom. After all, he would not remain solely in the Naruto World forever. Without a Divine Kingdom serving as a bridge, he would lose contact with this world as soon as he left. Yet a Divine Kingdom was immensely complex. Not only did he need to incorporate his own laws, he also had to analyze the laws of the real world. Even a being as powerful as him occasionally found it taxing. Fortunately, the Holy Church was growing fast enough that he could use the power of countless believers' faith to speed up his analysis.
So no one should assume a deity had an easy life. Even enthroned high in the heavens, he had to do right by the people who entrusted everything to him!
"Oh, my dear Little Bishop Ria, what is it?"
"Great Holy Light, there is an important agreement today that must be signed under your witness," Ria said, as devout as ever.
"Then go ahead!" Li Ming had intended to tease Ria, but seeing that this was a formal occasion, he immediately set aside his playful thoughts.
"Today, witnessed by the one in whom I place my faith, I, Artoria, Archbishop of the Holy Church, hereby pledge that so long as the Kage of Amegakure does not violate the terms of this agreement, we shall honor everything promised within it." With that, Ria signed her name on the agreement.
"Lord Hanzō, your turn!" Ria handed him the paper and pen.
Hanzō glanced reverently at the enormous Light Ball. Although the Holy Light exuded no overwhelming pressure, the instinctive awe rising from his soul left him unable to entertain any further blasphemous thoughts.
He quickly signed his name on the agreement.
"Here's to a pleasant partnership!" Ria said with a satisfied smile.
"Artoria, may I ask the Holy Light a few questions?" Hanzō looked at Ria with a solemn expression.
"Of course! The Holy Light is merciful. He welcomes all questions asked in good faith!" Ria replied gently.
"Thank you!"
Hanzō then gave the Holy Light salute. "Great deity, may I ask why you descended into this world?"
Li Ming looked at the figure he had once seen only in anime, now standing before him in reality. After studying Hanzō for a moment, he found him nothing special. My Little Bishop is still much prettier.
"This world needed me, so I came!"
Hanzō was not satisfied with that answer. The evil gods who had descended in the past had invariably sought either to rule the entire world or to demand souls without limit.
While Hanzō was still pondering, Li Ming sensed his thoughts.
"Perhaps you think I want to rule the world, or that I desire people's souls. All I can say is that you do not understand Higher Dimension life. I was born of hope, and so my very existence is hope. If power alone makes a deity, aren't your so-called deities far too cheap? If any person can become a god simply by growing powerful, tell me: are they human or divine? A deity is inherently powerful, but power is merely one of a deity's abilities. Just as you gain no power by crushing an ant, would a god gain power by killing people weaker than himself? I am the keeper of hope, the bearer of light. Nothing more!"
"Humans are humans, and always will be. Gods are gods by their very nature!"
Hanzō listened to Li Ming's answer in astonishment. "The keeper of hope, the bearer of light...?"
"Thank you, great being, for clearing up my doubts!" Hanzō said with heartfelt conviction.
Before you continue