Kirishima kept walking, flicking a wisp of black flame from his fingertips and burning the massive wooden archway carved with talismans into two lengths of charcoal.
The Golden Divine Palace, the Throne of God.
The entire hall had been cast from exceptionally pure gold. Its floor shone like a mirror, and Thundercloud Dials studded the dome, their leaping lightning making the hall flicker between light and darkness.
Enel sat high upon a floating golden throne, the enormous thunder drums symbolizing "God" behind him.
His upper body was bare, his golden earlobes hung down to his abs, and his divine staff rested diagonally across his knees.
When Kirishima appeared outside the palace doors, lightning blazed from his golden pupils.
"Mortal!" Enel's voice echoed thunderously through the hall, laden with the oppressive might of lightning. "Why do you defy God again and again?!"
He pointed his divine staff outside the hall, where the faint groans of the other three priests could be heard. "Those useless fools don't even deserve the title of priest! Their failure proves precisely that you are qualified to serve God!"
Leaning forward slightly, Enel slowly lowered his throne amid the lightning, his majesty carrying an air of charity. "Kneel and swear your allegiance."
"I, Enel, shall bestow upon you the honor of High Priest, granting you command over all priests and Divine Soldiers!"
"This is God's recognition of your strength, and the sole grace by which your blasphemy may be forgiven!"
Kirishima stopped before the steps to the throne. He tilted his head as though he had not heard clearly and picked his ear with his little finger.
Then he raised his hand and leisurely scratched inside the collar of his black coat, as though there were a nonexistent louse there.
The gesture was so casual it bordered